BACKGROUND: More and more researches prove that cell apoptosis could be induced by glutamine, also there are more researches on studying the indirect and direct nervous-protective effects of insulin, but the nervous-protective effects of insulin on impairment induced by glutamine, as well as its mechanism still need further investigation.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nervous-protective effects of insulin on impairment induced by glutamine in PC12 cells, and to explore its molecular mechanism.DESIGN: A prospective controlled study based on cells.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Hospital; Department of Neurology of Sun Yat-wen University Hospital.MATERIALS: The study was carried out at the Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital and the Experimental Animal Center of Sun Yat-sen University from March 2002 to March 2003. PC12 cells were purchased from the same animal center.METHODS: Traumatic models were made in PC 12 cells by treated with 0.5 mmol/L glutamine for 20 minutes, and the insulin of different concentration were used for protection, after 24 hours, protective effects of insulin were assessed with MTT method, Hoechst33258 fluorescence staining, DNA agar gelatin electrophoresis, meanwhile the expression of PKB/Akt protein were also detected./Akt protein in experimental group.RESULTS: The A value of50 mU/L, 100 mU/L, 200 mU/L, 400 mU/L insulin groups were 0. 214 ±0. 062, 0. 234 ±0. 067, 0. 260 ±0. 076 and 0. 265 ± 0. 069, respectively, but the value of single glutamine group was 0. 201 ± 0. 079, statistical analysis indicated that compared with single glutamine group, there were no significant difference in 50 mU/L, 100 mU/L insulin groups( P > 0.05), but 200 mU/L, 400 mU/L insulin groups were found statistically different from single glutamine group(t=-2.398,-2. 716, P < 0.05); "DNA Ladder" could not be observed in 400 mU/L insulin group by electrophoresis;It was proved that Insulin could enhance the expression of PKB/Akt protein.CONCLUSION: Insulin has nervous-protective effects on impairment induced by glutamine in PC12 cells, furthermore it also has property of anti-apoptosis, and its protective mechanism might be associated with enhancement of the expression of PKB/Akt protein.

Objective To investigate the clinical features and effective treatment of patients with severe type A H1N1 flu in Wenzhou. Methods The clinical data of 42 hospitalized patients with severe type A H1N1 flu were analyzed and the clinical features were summarized. Results A total of 42 patients with severe type A H1N1 flu all began with fever and cough. The symptoms of expectoration, pharyngalgia, chilly accounted for 92. 9%, 90. 5% and 42. 9%, respectively. The peripheral leucocyte counts were normal or reduced. C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels both increased in 30 patients (71.4%). About 95.2% (40/42) patients had changes of pulmonary imaging. All of the patients were treated with oseltamivir and effective antibiotic drugs as well as symptomatic management. No patients was treated with glucocorticoid. The patients with underlying diseases were given proper treatment. Three cases were treated with antifungal therapy and 3 pregnant patients were timely terminated of pregnancy. Conclusions Severe type A H1N1 flu progresses rapidly and the lower respiratory tract is involved soon after onset. Therefore, the patient should be diagnosed early and treated promptly after presenting fever, which will lead to good prognosis.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of restenosis after carotid stent and balloon angioplasty for the Guangxi swines by intravascular ultrasound(IVUS). Methods Twelve Guangxi swines fed by a high cholesterol diet were randomly divided into two groups. Seven stents were implanted in the left carotid artery of six swines in the first group, and balloon angioplasty was performed in the left carotid artery of swines in the other group. Digital subtraction angiography(DSA) and IVUS were conducted respectively before and after the intervention and in the 13th week. Results IVUS found that the percentage of area stenosis in stent group was (18.31±7.79) % and in balloon group (37.28±7.89) % in the 13th week. The percentage of area restenosis in stent was obviously related to neointimal hyperplasia (r = 0.897, P<0.05), the percentage of area restenosis due to balloon angioplasty was markedly related to area decrease of external elastic lamina (r = 0.856, P<0.05). Conclusions The restenosis in stent was related to intimal hyperplasia of blood vessel,and restenosis after balloon angioplasty had some connection with area decrease of external elastic lamina.

Objective    To explore the potential role of tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) as a prognostic indicator of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through meta-analysis. Methods    PubMed, EMbase and Web of Science, from inception to February 2022 were searched by computer about the research of the 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) of NSCLC patients with or without STAS. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of each study. Results    Totally 13 published articles were included with 4 647 patients, and 1 424 (30.6%) patients had STAS. The NOS score of all studies≥6 points. The meta-analysis showed that compared with the NSCLC patients without STAS, those with STAS had a worse prognosis of 5-year RFS, and the combined HR was 1.89 (95%CI 1.61-2.23); they had a shorter 5-year OS, and the combined HR was 2.25 (95%CI 1.79-2.84). There was no statistical heterogeneity among studies. Conclusion    The presence of STAS may be a poor prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC, and enough attention should be paid. The STAS should be recorded in the pathological report to guide the comprehensive treatment and evaluate the prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVETo inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of colon cancer cells by increasing the expression level of B-cell translocation gene-2 (BTG2).

METHODSWestern blot assay was used to detect the expression level of BTG2 protein in the normal intestinal epithelial HIEC cells and three colon cancer cell lines SW620, HT-29 and LS174T. The expression of BTG2 protein in normal colonic epithelial tissue, colon adenoma and colon cancer tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. The plasmid with BTG2 gene full-length sequence was transfected into colon cancer SW620 cells, and the expression of BTG2 protein was detected by Western blot. The cell growth curve was drawn by MTT test. The Ki-67-positive rate was calculated using immunofluorescence staining. The cell migration of colon cancer cells was detected by scratch test and Transwell double chamber culture system, and the pseudopodia growth of tumor cells was detected by Matrigel 3D culture system.

RESULTSWestern blot results showed that BTG2 relative expression levels were 0.83 ± 0.12, 0.18 ± 0.04, 0.20 ± 0.05 and 0.36 ± 0.07 in normal human intestinal epithelial cells HIEC, and human colon cancer cell line SW620, HT-29 and LS174T, respectively. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of BTG2 protein in normal colorectal tissue, colorectal adenoma and colorectal carcinoma tissues were 82.5% (33/40), 77.5%(31/40) and 17.5% (7/40), respectively, with a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence results showed that the positive rate of Ki-67 in the control group, empty vector group and BTG2 transfection group was (76.2 ± 8.0)%, (81.4 ± 9.7)% and (50.1 ± 7.1)%, respectively, showing a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). The scratch test results showed that in the control group, empty vector group and BTG2 transfection group, the distance of SW620 cells between two sides was (79.27 ± 11.24) µm, (80.65 ± 12.17) µm and (124.77 ± 19.63) µm, respectively, with a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). Transwell results showed that in the control group, empty plasmid group and BTG2 transfection group, the SW620 cell migration rate was (78.5 ± 13.1)%, (73.2 ± 12.9)% and (47.4 ± 9.1)%, respectively, showing a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). The number of neurospheres of BTG2 transfection group was decreased SW620, which had poor ductility.

CONCLUSIONSBTG2 gene is involved in colon cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, and effectively restores the function of BTG2 protein. Therefore, it may be expected to become a new option in gene therapy for colon cancer.

B-Lymphocytes ; physiology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; genetics ; Immunohistochemistry ; Plasmids ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics