Objective To evaluate the effects of mechanical stretch on pentraxin-3(PTX-3)mRNA and protein expression in human alveolar epithelial cells (A549 cells).Methods The human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cells A549(A549 cells)were purchased from cell biology laboratory,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology.The cultured A549 cells were inoculated on collagen Ⅰ BioFlex plates and divided into 5 groups(n=3 wells each):group Ⅰ normal control;groupⅡsham mechanical stretch;group Ⅲ mechanical stretch;groupⅣsiRNA and groupⅤ siRNA+mechanical stretch.In group Ⅲ the cells underwent square cyclic mechanical stretch for 4 h using the Flexercell Systcm.In group Ⅳ the cells were transfected with chemosynthetic PTX-3 specific siRNA by RNAi technique.In group Ⅴ at 24 h after being transfected with PTX-3 siRNA the cells underwent mechanical stretch for 4 h.In groupⅡ mechanical stretch of the cells were prevented by Flexstep.The expression of PTX-3 mRNA in the cells was detected by real-time PCR and the expression of PTX-3 protein in the culture media was determined by Western blotting.Apoptosis of the cells was measured bv flow cytometry(Beeten-Dickinson,USA).Results PTX-3 mRNA and protein expression was signlficantly up-regulated by mechanical stretch in groupⅢand decreased by transfection with siRNA in group Ⅳand Ⅴ as compared with group Ⅰ andⅡ(P＜0.05 or 0.01).The apoptosis ratio was significantly higher in group Ⅲ and Ⅴ than in groupⅡ and was significantly lower in group Ⅴ thanin group Ⅲ(P＜0.01).Conclusion Mechanical stretch can up-regulate PTX-3 mRNA expression in A549 cells.

Objective To assess regional cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and cognition impairment of subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD). To show whether CVR affects cognitive impairment of SIVD patients. Methods Arterial spin-labeling (ASL) by MR image was applied in measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobes after 5% CO2 inhalation, and the CVR was demonstrated by increase rate of rCBF in all the subject areas. Results (1)The patients with SIVD had reduced CVR in cortex of frontal lobes, white matter of frontal lobes, temporal lobes and occipital lobes(P < 0.05). (2) CVR in the SIVD patients with cognitive impairment decreased in frontal cortex and white matter when compared with the patients without cognitive impairment(P < 0.01). Conclusion These results showed that CVR decreased significantly in cortical gray matter and white matter in elderly patients with SIVD. Also the reduction of CVR in the frontal cortex and white matter was associated with cognitive impairment.

The evaluation of quality of life after stroke primarily includes body,psychology, society,and the ability of activities of daily living,and they can be mainly obtained from self rating quality of life by the patients,The commonly used evaluation methods include six generic measurement scales and four updated Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scales.The latter includes the Stroke Adapted Sickness Impact Profile,the Stroke Impact Scale,Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scales,and Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale.This article reviews the generic meas- urement scales,Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scales and the various factors that influencing quality of life after stroke.

The solid-phase method to synthesis HCV polypetides was used.The connecting rate and the polypeptides' productivity and purity were compared when Wang resin and 2-chlorotrity choloride resin acting as vectors.By the identification of mass spectrum,the products' molecular weight was analysed.By ninhydrin method we compared to the connecting rate between two resins and amino acid.By RP-HPLC we carried out the analysis and purity of hetero peptides.The result showed the first amino acid's connecting rate along with the purity and productivity which we need when 2-chlorotrityl choloride resin acted as vector was notably higher than those when Wang resin acted as vector.So 2-chlorotrityl choloride as vector is used to synthesize HCV polypeptides,which adapts to the demand of big scale's industrialization production.

To generate recombinant adenovirus expression vector of human Sema4C gene and observe its expression in mouse myoblasts cell line C2C12 for ensuring easy access to investigate the role of Sema4C gene during myogenesis. The recombinant plasmid was packaged and amplified after being transfected in HEK293 cells through Lipofectamine. After infecting C2C12 myoblasts with recombinant adenovirus vector, the adenoviral infection efficiency was determined by confocal microscope which showed that the expression of green fluorescence could be detected at 12h and then reached peak at 24h after recombinant adenovirus infection. The infection efficiency was almost 100% confirmed by FACS examination. Detection of WB indicated that the expression of Sema4C in C2C12 of recombinant adenoviral infection group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of high altitude on cognitive flexibility.

METHODSSimulated hypoxia at an altitude of 3 600 m was performed in a hypobaric chamber. Twenty-three volunteers without hypoxic experience were selected and the mean age was about 25.1 years. The physiological parameters (heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation) were measured. Task switch paradigm was used to explore the cognitive flexibility in each phase, and the changing anxiety state was evaluated simultaneously.

RESULTSReaction time (RT) switch cost in hypoxia phase showed a significant increase compared with the baseline; anxiety level in hypoxia phase was higher than the adaptation phase; a remarkable negative correlation between anxiety level and RT switch cost was found in adaptation phase, whereas a positive correlation was found in landing phase.

CONCLUSIONHigh altitude (3 600 m) affects cognitive flexibility and anxiety state. Anxiety before the hypoxia exposure improves the cognitive flexibility performance, while anxiety after the hypoxia exposure hampers the performance because of the post-hypoxia effect.

Adult ; Altitude ; Anxiety ; Cognition ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; psychology ; Male ; Reaction Time

In response to viral infection, RIG-I-like RNA helicases detect viral RNA and signal through the mitochondrial adapter protein VISA. VISA activation leads to rapid activation of transcription factors IRF3 and NF-κB, which collaborate to induce transcription of type I interferon (IFN) genes and cellular antiviral response. It has been demonstrated that VISA is activated by forming prion-like aggregates. However, how this process is regulated remains unknown. Here we show that overexpression of HSC71 resulted in potent inhibition of virus-triggered transcription of IFNB1 gene and cellular antiviral response. Consistently, knockdown of HSC71 had opposite effects. HSC71 interacted with VISA, and negatively regulated virus-triggered VISA aggregation. These findings suggest that HSC71 functions as a check against VISA-mediated antiviral response.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Aggregation ; genetics ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; metabolism ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; HEK293 Cells ; HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; genetics ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-beta ; genetics ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; Prions ; metabolism ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid ; metabolism ; Viruses ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathogenicity

Conventional randomized controlled trial is considered as the gold standard of clinical trials in evalua ting pharmacologic effectiveness. Whereas, it still has some faults in the non-pharmacy interventions, such as surgery, acupuncture, massage, etc. Expertise-based randomized controlled trial makes up for some deficiencies of conventional randomized controlled trial, which has made better developments in the field of surgery, however, there is no any relevant retrieval literature found in the acupuncture field. It is feasible and practical of the expertise-based randomized controlled trial to be applied and promoted in the acupuncture-moxibustion clinical research for a further degree. Expertise-based randomized controlled trials might become the trend of acupuncture-moxibustion clinical stu dies in the future.
Acupuncture Therapy ; standards ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; methods ; standards ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; methods ; standards

Objective To develop and test a high precision medical device which allows measurement of bioimpedance in regions below skin surface,and to enable the assessment of strained muscle's situation and instruct patient's rehabilitation exercise.Methods The system was based on the four-electrode impedance measurement mode and designed by using impedance converter network analyzer AD5933 and monolithic operational amplifier AD844.The hardware consisted of an excitation current source,a response signal adjustment circuit,a digital demodulation circuit and a shield driving circuit.This hardware circuit was combined with a LCD screen and a keyboard,which turned it into a portable precision bioimpedance testing device.Results Using an model of three components as test target,a comparison between the device and the Agilent 4294A precision impedance analyzer was presented.In the range of 1 kHz to 100 kHz,the device showed the similar relative error of the complex impedance's modulus and 1 degree absolute error of the complex impedance's phase.The strained muscle's bioelectrical impedance changes in a clinical case during the convalescent were presented and discussed with the results proven to be clinical meaningful.Conclusions The device is accurate,simple and convenient,which is proved qualified on helping doctors to assess the injury states of the strained muscle and to instruct patient's rehabilitation exercise.

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between uPA and NF-?B p65 expression and its clinical significance in breast cancer. METHODS: The uPA mRNA was measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR in 46 cases of breast cancer tissues and their adjacent counterparts. NF-?B p65 were measured using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expression of uPA gene was elevated in 63% of cases, and there was a strong correlation between NF-?B p65 and uPA expression (r=0.451,P