Homo sapiens longevity assurance homologue 2 (LASS2) is a novel gene isolated from a human liver cDNA library by our laboratory, and it is a human homologue of the yeast longevity assurance gene LAG1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae longevity assurance gene). According to our previous results, LASS2 could interact with subunit c of vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase), and the overexpression of LASS2 could inhibit the cell growth of a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line, SMMC-7721. In order to understand the role of the interaction between LASS2 and V-ATPase in HCC cell growth, we transiently transfected plasmid pCMV-HA2-LASS2 into HCCLM3, a HCC cell line without the significant expression of endogenous LASS2. The pH-sensitive fluorescence probes, BCECF and BCECF-AM, were used to measure the intracellular and extracellular H(+) concentrations of HCCLM3 cells respectively. The effect of LASS2 gene on apoptosis was evaluated with Annexin-V/FITC and propidium iodide (PI) by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect cytochrome c (Cyt c) in the cytosol and mitochondria, as well as pro-caspase-3 in cytosol. The results showed that the cell growth of LASS2-transfected HCCLM3 cells was significantly inhibited compared with that of the mock control. LASS2 transfection increased intracellular H(+) concentration of HCCLM3 cells, while decreased extracellular H(+) concentration. Moreover, LASS2 transfection significantly enhanced the apoptosis of HCCLM3 cells. In LASS2-transfected cells, the amounts of Cyt c increased in the cytosol, while decreased in the mitochondria. Meanwhile, the expression of pro-caspase-3 in the cytosolic extracts was decreased. These results implicate that LASS2 gene might increase intracellular H(+) of HCC cells via the interaction with V-ATPase, thereby inducing cell apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Sphingosine N-Acyltransferase ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of tea polyphenols (TP) on the apoptosis of germ cells in rats with experimental varicocele.

METHODSThirty-two adolescent male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into groups A (sham-operation), B (high-dose TP), C (low-dose TP), and D (experimental left varicocele). Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in the latter three groups of rats. The animals in groups A and D were fed with normal saline, while those in B and C with TP at 40 and 10 mg per kg per d, respectively, all for 4 weeks. Then, all the rats were sacrificed and the left testes harvested for determination of the expression of HIF-1, Bcl-2, Bax, CytC, and caspase-3 by immunohistochemistry and measurement of the apoptosis index (AI) of spermatogenic cells.

RESULTSThe expression of Bcl-2 was higher in groups B and C than in D but lower than in A (P < 0.05), and lower in C than in B (P < 0.05). However, the expressions of HIF-1, Bax, CytC, and caspase-3 were lower in groups B and C than in D but higher than in A (P < 0.05), and higher in C than in B (P < 0.05). The AI of spermatogenic cells was the lowest in group A, higher in D than in the other groups but lower in B than in C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTP can reduce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in a dose-dependent manner in varicocele rats.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Ligation ; Male ; Polyphenols ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Renal Veins ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Tea ; chemistry ; Testis ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; complications ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate and compare the outcome of two kinds of diameter hollow screws for the treatment of femoral neck fractures.

METHODSFrom June 2008 to June 2013, 117 patients with femoral neck fractures were treated by closed reduction and hollow screws fixation. Among them,48 patients were fixed by 6.5 mm screw including 30 males and 18 females with an average age of (45.61 ± 11.99) years old ranging from 19 to 60 years old, involving 17 cases in Garden I/II and 31 cases in Garden III/IV; 69 patients were fixed by 8.0 mm screw including 40 males and 29 females with an average age of (45.17 ± 9.95) years old ranging from 18 to 60 years old, involving 31 cases in Garden I/II and 38 cases in Garden III/IV. The general information, operative time, hospital stay time, reduction quality, diameter of femoral head and neck, fracture healing time, the rate of fracture healing, postoperative complications were recorded and evaluated. Harris scoring was used to evaluate the hip joint function.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 19.6 months (18 to 24 months). The difference of operative time, duration of hospitalization, quality of reduction were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was no difference between two groups about the average diameter of the femoral head and neck, the fracture healing time, the rate of healing and the postoperative complications (P > 0.05). There were no difference between two groups about Harris scale. There were significant difference between Garden III/IV and I /II (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONClosed reduction and internal fixation with hollow screw in treating the young adult patients with femoral neck fracture is the first choice, both different diameters hollow screws could meet the requirements of fixation of femoral neck fracture, and not affect on fracture healing time and postoperative complications.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)complicating cardiogenic shock underwent various treatments.Methods From January,2002 to May,2007,47 AMI patients with cardiogenic shock were treated in our department by optimal medication (dopamine,epinephrine,norepinephrine,etc.),intrar-aortic balloon pump(IABP),mechanical ventilation when indicated,percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).Outcome and factors related to mortality for these patients were analyzed in this retrospective study.Results Besides optimal medication and IABP in all patients,31 patients underwent PCI(66.0%),6 patients received emergency CABG(12.8%).The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 36.2%(17/47),6 patients(14.9%)died before coronary revascularization and 11 patients(21.3%)died after revascularization.Nine patients died of pump failure and 8 patients died of renal and(or)respiratory failure.Regression analysis showed that acute renal failure(r=0.734,P=0.000),acute respiratory failure (r=0.606,P=0.000)and diabetes(r=0.372,P=0.012)were positively related to in-hospital mortality.Conclusion Despite improvements in treatment options for AMI patients complicating cardiogenic shock,in-hospital mortality remained high,especially for patients complicating further with acute renal failure and acute respiratory failure.

The complete nucleotide sequence of two human enterovirus 71 strains (KMM09 and KM186-09) isolated in Yunnan,China, were determined by RT-PCR and sequencing. As with other human enteroviruses, the genomes were 7 409 nucleotides (nts) in length and encoded 2 193 aa. Phylogenetic analysis based on VP1 regions revealed that the two isolates belonged to subgenotype C4a. In structural genomic regions, subgenotype C4 was most homologous to other strains of C genotype when compared to other genotypes. In non-structural genomic regions, subgenotype C4 was more homologous to CA16/G10 and other strains of B genotype than to other strains of C genotype. RDP3 and Blast analysis displayed evidence of recombination in non-structural genomic regions between subgenotype B3 and C4, C4 and CA16/G10. The full-length genome of the human enterovirus 71 strains provided an overview of the diversity of genetic characteristics of a circulatinghuman enterovirus 71.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; China ; Enterovirus A, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Feces ; virology ; Genome, Viral ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Vero Cells

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of endovascular repair for patients with DeBakey Ⅲ aortic dissection.Methods From December 2002 to June 2007,endovascular TALENT stent-graft exclusion was performed in 75(65 males,mean age 54.4±12.6 years)patients with DeBakey Ⅲ aortic dissection(1 young woman due to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome,2 young men due to primary aldosteronism and trauma respectively).All patients were diagnosed by contrast enhanced computed tomography(CT)or MRI.Stent-grafts were deployed via femoral artery to exclude the tear of dissection.Aortic angiography was performed immediately after procedure.Results Eighty-one stent-grafts were installed in 75 patients successfully without operation related dissection.Endoleakage immediately after stent-graft deploying was evidenced in 25 patients and disappeared after stent placements(n=6)or balloon dilation (n=19).Two patients died from aortic rupture within 2 days after procedure.Iliac artery was torn in a female patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome,this patient developed hemorrhagic shock after stent-graft placement and recovered after anti-shock treatments and iliac artery replacement with synthetic artery.During the follow-up of 1-24 months,2 patients(including the woman with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome)suddenly died half a year after procedure.The remaining patients were alive and well.Repeat CT during follow up showed that reduced lumen size and thrombosis in the false lumen.There was no aortic rupture,endoleak and stent migration during the follow-up period except descending aortic dissection distal of the stent-graft in 1 patient 1 year after procedure and the patient were successfully treated surgically without complication.Conclusions Endovasular repair is a safe and effective treatment for patients with DeBakey Ⅲ aortic dissection,suitable for old patients with high risk of surgery.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome should be considered in young DeBakey Ⅲ aortic dissection patients without hypertension.Further studies are warranted on endovasular repair therapy for artery complication of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Objective To clarify the effect of histamine H4 receptor antagonist, JNJ 7777120, and histamine H1 receptor antagonist, Loratadine, on allergic rhinitis ( AR) in rats and to study the role of histamine H4 receptor antagonist and histamine H1 receptor antagonist in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis and therapeutic value of their antagonist. Methods AR animal model were induced by ovalbumin ( OVA) in the Wistar rats, which treated with histamine H4 receptor antagonist and (or) histamine H1 receptor antagonist. The allergic symptoms (sneezing and nasal rubbing) , serum total IgE and the levels of cytokines in serum or nasal lavage fluid were measured, the diversity between two groups were observed. Statistical analysis was performed using a SPSS 13. 0 software. Results Compared with AR group with no treatment, the inhibition of nasal symptoms ( P < 0. 01), a significant decrease in the levels of IgE, IL-4 in serum and Eotaxin in nasal lavage fluid(P <0. 01), a significant increase in the levels of IFN-μ in serum(P <0. 01 ) after treatment was found. Compared with group treated with Loratadine, inhibition of nasal symptoms (q value were 3.72, 4. 16, P < 0. 01), a significant increase in the levels of IgE and IL-4 in serum (q value were 8. 01, 4. 96, P <0. 05) , a significant decrease in the levels of IFN-γ in serum( q =3. 18, P <0. 05) ingroup treated with JNJ 7777120 also,but no significant differences in the levels of Eotaxin in nasal lavage fluid(P > 0.05). Administration of JNJ 7777120 and Loratadine jointly, neither additive effect nor synergistic action were found ( P > 0. 05). Conclusions Histamine H4 receptor is closely related with allergic rhinitis and is important in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, the same as histamine H1 receptor. Histamine H4 receptor antagonist, JNJ 7777120, could relieve symptoms and inflammatory conditions in allergic rhinitis, the effect was weak compared with Loratadine. Neither additive effect nor synergistic action were found between them.

OBJECTIVETo prepare polyelectrolyte multilayer film-coated microbubble ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) and evaluate its effects in contrast imaging on normal rabbit's liver parenchyma.

METHODSPerfluorocarbon (PFC) -containing microbubble UCA (ST68-PFC) were prepared by sonication-based on surfactants (Span 60 and Tween 80). Subsequently, the resulting ST68-PFC microbubbles were coated using oppositely charged polylysine (PLL) and alginate (Alg) by microbubble-templated layer-by-layer self-assembly technique via electrostatic interaction. The enhancement effects in contrast imaging on normal rabbit's liver parenchyma were assessed.

RESULTSThe obtained microbubble UCA exhibited a narrow size distribution. The polyelectrolytes were successfully assembled onto the surface of ST68-PFC microbubbles. In vivo experiment showed that polyelectrolyte multilayer film-coated UCA effectively enhanced the imaging of rabbit's liver parenchyma.

CONCLUSIONSThe novel microbubble UCA obtained via layer-by-layer self-assembly, when enabling more functions, has no obvious difference in enhancement effects compared with the premodified microbubbles. The polymers with chemically active groups (such as amino group and carboxyl group) can be used as the outermost layer for the attachment of targeting ligands to microbubbles, which allows the selective targeting of the microbubbles to desired sites.

Alginates ; chemistry ; Animals ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Fluorocarbons ; chemistry ; Glucuronic Acid ; chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids ; chemistry ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Microbubbles ; Polylysine ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and the distribution pattern of lesion site of intracranial vascular stenosis and to identify risk factors for the stenosis in patients with essential hypertension.

METHODSA total of 231 consecutive inpatients with essential hypertension were included in this study. Patients with the history of cerebrovascular diseases and relevant neurological symptoms were excluded. Intracranial vascular stenosis (>50% diameter reduction) was detected using CT angiography (CTA).

RESULTSOf 231 patients, 69 (29.87%) had intracranial artery stenosis. The most common stenosis site is middle cerebral artery (43.69%), followed by carotid siphon (20.39%). The stenosis in internal carotid arterial system (78.64%) was more common than in vertebrobasilar arterial system (21.56%, P < 0.05). The patients with intracranial vascular stenosis were older, had longer history of hypertension, higher levels of systolic blood pressure, higher plasma cholesterol, higher LDL-C. Lp (a), higher urinary microalbumin excretion, thicker ventricular septum, and lower levels of HDL-C than the patients without stenosis. Logistic analysis showed that systolic blood pressure (OR 1.650, 95% CI 1.134 - 2.400, P = 0.023), course of hypertension (OR 1.238, 95% CI 1.072 - 1.429, P = 0.006), LDL-C (OR 2.103, 95% CI 1.157 - 3.823, P = 0.014) and type 2 diabetes (OR 2.325, 95% CI 1.161 - 4.341, P = 0.011) were the independent risk factors of asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis.

CONCLUSIONSNearly 30% inpatients with essential hypertension had asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis. The most common site of stenosis was middle cerebral artery. Hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes were risk factors for the development of intracranial arterial stenosis.

Aged ; Cerebral Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Intracranial Arterial Diseases ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the radiological diagnosis of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of bone.

METHODSSixteen patients with biopsy-or surgery-confirmed MFH received both plain X-ray and CT examinations, among whom six patients simultaneously received MRI. The imaging features were analyzed and the differential diagnoses were assessed.

RESULTS(1) Plain X-ray findings: All these lesions showed irregularly osteolytic, accompanied by cortical destruction. Five patients had varied degrees of cortical expansion, 12 had large soft tissue masses adjacent to the lesions, and only 2 had periosteal reaction. (2) CT findings: All lesions were osteolytic areas but had no evidences that its internal architecture had been replaced by soft tissue mass, and the cortical adjacent to the lesions were permeative osteolysis. Four patients had internal or marginal crest within the lesions and marginal inconsecutive osteosclerosis. Twelve had large soft tissue masses but without any calcification and residual architecture adjacent to the lesions, among which 3 patients had solitary or multiple cystic attenuation areas within the masses. No clear periosteal reaction was observed on CT. (3) MRI findings: All of lesions in 6 patients who received MRI showed inhomogeneous long T1 and long T2 abnormal signal intensity with soft tissue masses adjacent to the osteo-destructions.

CONCLUSIONSThe imaging manifestations of MFH were specific to some extent. Combined utilization of plain X-ray, CT, and MRI is helpful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MFH.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; X-Ray Film