ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Conformation ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective: To construct eukaryotic expression vector of tumor-associated gene SNC90 and transfect it into human colorectal cancer cell lines. Methods: A 1.5 kb tumor-associate gene SNC90 full length cDNA was inserted into a mammalian expression vector pREP9 to make recombinant vector pREP9-SNC90, which was then introduced into three kinds of colorectal cancer cell lines, SW1116, COL0205 and SW620, by lipofection or electroporation. The cells resistant to G418 drug were selected. Results: Cells transfected with pREP9-SNC90 showed fewer G418-resistant colonies than those transfected with void vector, the inhibitory rates are 72.2%, 74.2% and 59.7%, respectively. Conclusion : SNC90 may play a negative role in regulating growth of colorectal cancer cell.

Acute Disease ; Atropine ; therapeutic use ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; therapeutic use

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Asthma ; pathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; Guinea Pigs

Rationale: Disseminated nocardiosis due to Nocardia otitidiscaviarum is rarely reported in immunocompetent hosts. Patient concerns: A 59 year old male patient complained of painful soft tissue swellings and fever for two days. Diagnosis: Disseminated nocardiosis due to Nocardia otitidiscaviarum. Interventions: Initial antimicrobial therapy with imipenem and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was switched to 6 weeks of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, linezolid and tigecycline after sensitivity test results were available. Thereafter, the patient was switched to maintenance trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and moxifloxacin. Prednisolone was gradually tapered. Outcomes: Soft tissue swelling and pain disappeared and the patient was discharged uneventfully. Lessons: Disseminated nocardiosis due to Nocardia otitidiscaviarum should be suspected in immunocompetent hosts with risk factors such as medication with prednisolone. Early identification of the causative species and susceptibility results is crucial given the diverse resistance patterns amongst various Nocardia species.

This article is to summarize the molecular and functional analysis of the gene "suppression of tumorigenicity 13" (ST13). ST13 is in fact the gene encoding Hsp70 interacting protein (Hip), a co-factor (co-chaperone) of the 70-kDa heat shock proteins (Hsc/Hsp70). By collaborating with other positive co-factors such as Hsp40 and the Hsp70-Hsp90 organizing protein (Hop), or competing with negative co-factors such as Bcl2-associated athanogen 1 (Bag1), Hip facilitates may facilitate the chaperone function of Hsc/Hsp70 in protein folding and repair, and in controlling the activity of regulatory proteins such as steroid receptors and regulators of proliferation or apoptosis. Although the nomenclature of ST13 implies a role in the suppression of tumorigenicity (ST), to date available experimental data are not sufficient to support its role in cancer development, except for the possible down-regulation of ST13 in gastric and colorectal cancers. Further investigation of this gene at the physiological level would benefit our understanding of diseases such as endocrinological disorders, cancer, and neurodegeneration commonly associated with protein misfolding.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Folding ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology

The evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a compound process which involves many kinds of genes and transductional pathways. The expression of the peptidyl-proplyl-isomerase PIN1 gene, the mutation in exon 3 of beta-catenin and its correspondent abnormal expression and their roles in the hepatocellular carcinogeneisis were investigated. Among 29 pair cases of HCC and non-carcinoma tissues, the expression of PIN1 gene was detected by immunochemical staining. Mutations in exon 3 of beta-catenin gene and differential expression of beta-catenin gene were investigated by the methods of PCR-SSCP, direct sequencing and immunohistochemical technique as well. The results indicated: (1) 44.8% (13/29) cases of HCC presented higher level of PIN1 gene expression than non-cancerous tissues (chi2=32.63, P<0.05), especially in cytoplasm and nucleus, while there was lower level of PIN1 expression in non-cancerous tissues; (2) 58.6% (17/29) HCC tissues showed beta-catenin protein accumulation in cytoplasm and nucleus. 46.2% (6/13) HCC tissues indicated beta-catenin protein accumulation with higher level of PIN1 expression, while 53.8% (7/13) HCC tissues indicated beta-catenin protein accumulation with lower level or trace of PIN1 expression (chi2=0.00, P>0.05); (3) 24.1% (7/29) of primary tumor lesions carried gene mutations in exon 3 of beta-catenin, and accompanied by beta-catenin protein accumulation. There was no mutation in non-cancerous tissues. All the mutation presented in tissues with low level of PIN1 expression. There was no mutation of beta-catenin gene in tissues with high PIN1 expression level (chi2=58.12, P<0.05). So it was postulated that the increase of PIN1 gene expression could promote hepatocellular carcinogenesis via a way different from beta-catenin gene mutation.

In order to investigate the origin of neointimal smooth muscle cells in transplant arteriosclerosis in rat aortic allograft, sex-mismatched bone marrow transplantation was performed from male Wistar rats to female Wistar rats. Four weeks after transplantation, the aortic transplant model was established by means of micro-surgery in rats. The recipients were divided into 4 groups: female Wistar-female Wistar aortic isografts, female SD female Wistar aortic allografts, male SD-male Wistar aortic allografts, female SD-chimera Wistar aortic allografts. Eight weeks after transplantation, aortic grafts were removed at autopsy and processed for histological evaluation and immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that excessive accumulation of alpha-SMA-positive smooth muscle cells resulted in significant neointima formation and vascular lumen stricture in rat aortic allografts. Neointima assay revealed that the neointimal area and NIA/MA ratio of transplanted artery were significantly increased in all of aortic allograft groups as compared with those in aortic isograft group (P<0.01). Neointimal smooth muscle cells were harvested from cryostat sections of aortic allograft by microdissection method. The Sry gene-specific PCR was performed, and the result showed that a distinct DNA band of 225 bp emerged in the male-male aortic allograft group and chimera aortic allograft group respectively, but not in the female-female aortic allograft group. It was suggested that recipient bone-marrow cells, as the origin of neointimal smooth muscle cells, contributed to the pathological neointimal hyperplasia of aortic allograft and transplant arteriosclerosis.

This study examined the role of PI3K/Akt pathway in radiosensitization of DNA damage of cervical carcinoma cells. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)) of cisplatin and docetaxel in HeLa cells was detected by Mono-nuclear cell direct cytotoxicity assay (MTT) in vitro. HeLa cells were treated by cisplatin/docetaxel of 10 percent of IC(20) alone or combined with LY294002 for 24 h, and then radiated by different doses of X-ray. The cell survival ratio was obtained by means of clone formation. One-hit multi-target model was fitted to the cell survival curve to calculate dose quasithreshold (Dq), mean lethal dose (D(0)), 2Gy survival fraction (SF(2)) and sensitization enhancement ratio (SER). The pAkt and total Akt expression was detected by Western blotting and DNA damage by neutro-comet electrophoresis. The HeLa cells were randomly divided into 7 groups in terms of different treatments: Control; radiation treatment (RT) group; LY294002+RT group; cisplatin+RT group; docetaxel+RT group; LY294002+cisplatin+RT group; LY294002+docetaxel+RT group. The apoptosis ratio of each group was measured by flow cytometry. The results showed that docetaxel and cisplatin significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of Akt in radiation-treated HeLa cells. The Dq, D(0) and SF2 in LY294002-contained groups were lower than those in docetaxel or cisplatin+RT group. The SER in the LY294002+docetaxel+RT group was 1.35 times that of the docetaxel+RT group, and that in the LY294002+cisplatin+RT group 1.26 times that of the cisplatin+RT group. The Comet electrophoresis showed that tail distance in the LY294002+cisplatin+RT group or LY294002+docetaxel+ RT group was longer than in the cisplatin+RT group or docetaxel+RT group. The apoptosis ratio in the LY294002+cisplatin+RT group or LY294002+docetaxel +RT group was higher than in the cisplatin+RT group or docetaxel+RT group. It was concluded that inhibiting PI3K/Akt pathway can increase the effect of docetaxel and cisplatin on the radiosensitivity of HeLa cells and DNA damage resulted from radiation.

Objective To determine the optimal pressure for facemask ventilation during induction of general anesthesia by real-time ultrasonographic measurement of antral cross-sectional area (CSA) in adult patients.Methods Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 18-60 yr,with body mass index of 20-25 kg/m2,scheduled for elective operation under general anesthesia,were divided into 5 groups (n=12 each) using a random number table:P10 group,P13 group,P16 group,P19 group and P22 group.After induction of anesthesia,an oropharyngeal airway was inserted,and the patients were ventilated for a 2-min period in a pressure-controlled mode using the two-handed mask ventilation technique.The pressure for facemask ventilation was 10,13,16,19 and 22 cmH2O in P10,P13,P16,P19 and P22 groups,respectively.The antral CSA was measured using real-time ultrasonography before and after facemask ventilation.Respiratory parameters were recorded.Results Compared with group P1O,the number of patients in whom CSA＜340 mm2 after facemask ventilation was significantly decreased in P16,P19 and P22 groups,and the number of patients in whom the tidal volume ≥ 6 ml/kg was increased in P13,P16,P19 and P22 groups (P＜ 0.01).The number of patients in whom optimnal pressure for facemask ventilation was achieved was 2,10,6,4 and 1 in P10,P13,P16,P19 and P22 groups,respectively,with the most cases in group P13 (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The optimal pressure is 13 emH2O for facemask ventilation during induction of general anesthesia when determined by realtime ultrasonographic measurement of antral CSA,and it can ensure adequate oxygen supply and reduce gastric insufflation in adult patients.