Objective To evaluate cerebral parenchymal atrophy of patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD)through the compara-tive analysis of the volume and morphology of the brain ventricle between patients with AD and normal elderly.Methods 20 patients with AD and 20 normal elderly people were scanned at 3.0T MR,and lateral ventricle section images were achieved,and the lateral ventricle volume and the anterior horn,posterior horn and temporal horn of the lateral ventricle were calculated by analyzing the re-construction of section images with MIMICS software from Belgian.Results As compared with normal elderly group,the patients with AD exhibited significantly increased the volume of left ventricular volume(LV),right ventricular volume (RV)and total vol-ume (TV)(P<0.05).Angle of bilateral anterior horn and temporal horn but not posterior horn of the lateral ventricle in patients with AD were significantly higher than that in normal elderly (P<0.05).The volume of the left,right and total cerebral ventricle, the angle of the anterior horn of the left and right lateral ventricle and the angle of the temporal horn of the left and right lateral ven-tricle were negatively correlated with MMSE (P<0.05).Conclusion Patients with AD exhibites significantly greater volume and an-gle of the lateral ventricular than normal elderly people.These related data measured can predict brain parenchymal atrophy of pa-tients with AD more conveniently and accurately.

Objective To investigate the practical value of a logistic regression model of serum indexes in distinguishing between geriatric depression and geriatric depressive state. Methods A total of 160 patients were recruited from the outpatient department from January 2013 to January 2016 ,and were divided into a depression group (n= 80)and a depressive state group (n= 80) ,with retrospective diagnoses based on the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders-Third-Edition(CCMD-3).Serum samples were collected and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA)were used to determine the concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF ) ,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) ,fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF-2) ,vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ,interleukin-1β(IL-1β) ,interleukin-6 (IL-6) ,interleukin-10 (IL-10) ,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) ,cortisol (CORT ) ,and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).Binary logistic regression analysis was used to establish the regression model ,and the ROC curve was drawn to explore its value of differentiating geriatric depression from depressive state. Results The levels of serum BDNF , GDNF and VEGF in the depression group were lower than those in the depressive state group (BDNF :208.7 ± 41.4 vs.262.9 ± 84.6 ng/L ,GDNF :92.3 ± 18.6 vs. 101.4 ± 30.9 ng/L ,VEGF :223.1 ± 98.2 vs. 257.8 ± 77.2ng/L) ,while the levels of IL-1βand CORT in the depression group were higher than in the depressive group(IL-1β:27.0 ± 4.9 vs.19.6 ± 5.7 μg/L ,CORT :96.3 ± 16.7 vs.83.0 ± 17.3 nng/L).In multivariate logistic regression analysis ,BDNF(OR = 0.987 ,P = 0.001) ,IL-1β(OR =1.29 ,P = 0.000)and CORT (OR = 1.065 ,P = 0.000)were selected to build the regression model. The regression equation was P=1/[1+e-(- 8.546 - 0.013(BDNF)+ 0.258(IL -1β)+ 0.063(CORT)) ]and the area under the ROC curve was 0.966.Compared with retrospective diagnoses made two weeks later ,the correct diagnosis rate of the logistic model was 90.47％. Conclusions The Logistic regression model of serum indexes can further differentiate between geriatric depression and depressive state which also offers additional benefits for the diagnosis ,differential diagnosis ,and treatment of depression.

Objective To investigate the variation of serum fibroblast growth factor-22 (FGF-22) of first episode depressive patients before and after treatment,and its relations with serotonin (5-HT) and interleukin-1[β (IL-1β) levels and Hamilton's depression scale (HAMD) scores to provide assistance for further study of pathogenesis of depression.Methods Ninety patients with first episode depression accepted treatment in our hospital from June 2015 to June 2016 and 90 healthy controls were enrolled.The serum FGF-22 level was detected and Hamilton's depression scale (HAMD) was performed before and after drug treatment.The relations of FGF-22 level with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and interleukin (IL)-1[β levels were analyzed.Results (1) Before treatment,the first episode depressive patients had significantly lower scrum FGF-22 level ([180.44±17.02] ng/mL) and statistically higher HAMD scores (17.84±5.92) as compared with the healthy controls ([200.74±16.63] ng/mL,1.88±2.67,P＜0.05).(2) The serum FGF-22 level after treatment ([195.74+19.57] ng/mL) was significantly higher than that before treatment,and the HAMD scores after treatment (7.64±4.09) were significantly lower than those before treatment (P＜0.05).(3) In the patient group,serum FGF-22 level and HAMD scores were negatively correlated (r=-0.644,P=0.000);serum FGF-22 level had positive correlation with 5-HT level (r=0.718,P=0.000),and negative correlation with IL-1β level (r=-0.763,P=0.000).Conclusion The serum FGF-22 level is abnormal in first episode depressive patients,and it could be a good indicator of peripheral blood in response to depression,which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of depression.

Objective Aselectivitystudywasconductedthroughtheexaminationofradionuclides137Cs(Cesium-137)for foodbasedondifferentdetectionconditions.Methods Atotalof48foodsampleswereselectedfromthreeareasincluding Qinshan nuclear power plant,Sanmen nuclear power plant and Hangzhou and Zhoushan respectively.1 37 Cs of these samples were determined by γspectrometry and Phosphoric acid ammonium molybdate method.The level of 48 foods were statistically analyzed,and then the time consuming,sample size requirements,influence factors were comprehensively discussed,thustheselectionreferenceproposaloftheexaminationmethodcouldbeprovided.Results Therewereno significant difference for the data of two examination method (P>0.05 ).The limit of detection of the γspectrometry was lower (P <0.05 ).Compared with Phosphoric acid ammonium molybdate method,γspectrometry had lower limit of detection,and could detect a variety of radionuclides at a time,but need more sample and time-consuming when multi-sample were detected.The limit of detection of the Phosphoric acid ammonium molybdate method was high,and the chemicalprocessingstepswerecumbersomeandwaseasytobeinterferedby134Cs.Conclusion Thelimitofdetectionof the γspectrometry is low,and the sensitivity of the Phosphoric acid ammonium molybdate method is high.Most food are recommended to be detected by γspectrometry in the practical work,and the food which were difficult collected,less ash or low content,are recommended to be detected by Phosphoric acid ammonium molybdate method.

OBJECTIVETo approach the associated mechanism by which alpha-synuclein (alpha-Syn) might regulate the metabolism of dopamine.

METHODSA DNA fragment, located at -495 to +25 of the human tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene, was amplified by PCR and inserted into the pGL(3)-Basic luciferase reporter vector. The recombinant plasmid pGL(3)-THprom was transfected into a dopaminergic cell line MES23.5 or a alpha-Syn over-expressed MES23.5 (named MES23.5/halpha-Syn(+)). The promoter activity was detected by the Dual Luciferase Assay System.

RESULTSThe luciferase activities in the MES23.5 cells transfected with pGL(3)-Basic, pGL(3)-THprom, and pGL(3)-Control vectors were 5.60+/-0.67, 26.80+/-4.11, and 32.90+/-4.75, respectively. On the other hand, the luciferase activity of pGL(3)-THprom in the MES23.5 (26.80+/-4.11) was significantly higher than that in the MES23.5/halpha-Syn(+) (14.40+/-0.61) (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that the - 495 to +25 region in the TH gene possesses promoter activity for controlling the gene expression, and that alpha-Syn may negatively regulate the metabolism of dopamine by affecting the function of TH promoter as a trans-acting factor.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dopamine ; biosynthesis ; Down-Regulation ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; genetics ; Genes, Reporter ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Hybridomas ; Luciferases ; genetics ; Mice ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Rats ; Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional ; genetics ; Substantia Nigra ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Transfection ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; genetics ; alpha-Synuclein ; genetics

An anti-alpha-synuclein (alpha-SYN) monoclonal antibody produced in our laboratory was used to investigate the effect of repeated acute hypoxic treatments on the expression of alpha-SYN in the mouse cerebral cortex. Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of alpha-SYN in the cortex changed accordingly upon hypoxic exposure times, as that the alpha-synuclein level significantly increased after the first hypoxic exposure and then dropped down to the background level after the fourth hypoxic exposure. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the alpha-SYN-immunopositive substance was localized not only in the nerve endings, but also within the nuclei of some neurons. The cell density of the neurons with alpha-SYN immunopositive nuclei was increased significantly after the first hypoxic exposure but returned back to control levels after the fourth hypoxic exposure. Our results indicate that both of the alpha-SYN expression level in the brain and the number of the neurons with alpha-SYN positive nuclei are affected by the repeated acute hypoxic treatments and that this modification is hypoxic time-dependent. The mechanism and the physiological significance underlying these changes need to be further investigated.
Animals ; Brain ; blood supply ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Phosphoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Synucleins ; alpha-Synuclein

Objective To investigate the effect on radioactivity in drinking water around Qinshan nuclear power station (QNPS)in normal operational condition.Methods The field monitoring and laboratory analysis methods were adopted to detect the total radioactivity level in drinking water in 2015,according to different distances from the nuclear island and different types of water.Results The total alpha and total beta radioactivity level in drinking water around QNPS were 0.027(0.098)Bq /L and 0.263(0.071)Bq /L respectively,which were obviously lower than the national health standard limits(total alpha and total beta are 0.5,1.0 Bq /L respectively).Total radioactivity level had no relation with the distance from the nuclear island (P >0.05).The total alpha radioactivity in deep well water was the highest among the investigated three types of drinking water,and the highest value was 0.224 Bq /L.The beta radioactivity level in river water was the highest,and the highest value was 0.408 Bq /L.The total alpha radioactivity level was 0.017 (0.013)Bq /L in 2015, higher than the average level during 2010—2014.The beta radioactivity average level was 0.319 (0.102)and 0.289 (0.055)Bq /L,also higher than the average level during 2010—2014.Conclusion The total radioactivity in drinking water among nuclear power plant is in normal background level,so at present there is no effect of the radioactive contamination on drinking water around QNPS in nuclear power plant's normal operational condition.

Objective To establish a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) through the optimization of the chromatographic conditions, which can detect the contents of clenbuterol hydrochloride (CL) residues in animal edible product in a large quantity. Methods The animal edible product were extracted by perchloric acid, and then impurities were removed by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) which used ethyl acetate- isopropanol. After the organic phase was concentrated, C18 column (150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used to separate CL. Mobile phase were methanol-sodium dihydrogen phosphate, and then determined by HPLC. Results A good linear response was obtained over the range of 0.2-10.0 μg/mL with the correlation coefficient (r) 0.99984. The method determination limit was 0.15 μg/kg which was lower than the National standard method 0.5μg/kg. The retention time of the CL was 6.51 min, the chromatographic peak was good. The recovery rates spiked with standards 1.6-12 μg were 92.86％-100.93％, which was higher than National standard method (89.79％-92.36％) . The precision of intra-day and inter-day were both under 5％, which lower than National standard. Conclusion The optimized chromatographic conditions are suitable for the large quantity determination of clenbuterol hydrochloride in animal edible product.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Jianpi Tongluo Jiedu Recipe (JTJR) on protein expression levels of COX-2, NF-kappaBp65, Bcl-2, and Bax, mRNA expression levels of COX-2 and Bcl-2, and the apoptotic index (Al) in gastric mucosa of patients with precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PL-GC).

METHODSTotally 65 PLGC patients were recruited and treated by JTJR (modified by syndrome typing), one dose per day for six successive months. Protein expression levels of COX-2, NF-KBp65, Bcl-2, and Bax were detected in 65 patients using immunohistochemical (IHC) assay before and after treatment. mRNA expression levels of COX-2 and Bcl-2 were detected in 54 patients using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Meanwhile, changes of Al was detected in 65 patients using TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) fluorescence method.

RESULTSAfter treatment with JTJR, positive protein expression levels of COX-2, NF-KBp65, and Bcl-2 were obviously decreased in the gastric mucosa of PLGC patients (P <0.01), but Bax positive protein expression was found to be higher (P < 0.05). At the same time mRNA expression levels of COX-2 and Bcl-2 were significantly lower after treatment than before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); Al also increased after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJTJR could promote apoptosis possibly via NF-kappaBp65/COX-2, COX-2/Bcl-2, and NF-kappaBp65/Bcl-2 signaling pathways, thereby affecting PLGC patients.

Apoptosis ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Precancerous Conditions ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To clone the cDNA of rat alpha-Syn gene, investigate its prokaryotic expression and produce purified recombinant rat alpha-Syn protein. Methods Rat alpha-Syn cDNA was amplified from the rat brain total RNA by RT-PCR and was cloned into pGEX-4T-1, a prokaryotie expressing vector. The recombinant plasmid containing rat alpha-Syn gene was transformed into E. Coli BL21 to express a fusion protein with rat alpha-Syn protein tagged by glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The fusion protein was then cleaved by thrombin during passing through the GST-agarose 4B column to release the recombinant rat alpha-Syn protein. The recombinant rat alpha-Syn protein was further purified using Superdex S200 gel filtration.Results DNA sequencing confirmed that the cloned cDNA contained 420 base pairs encoding 140 amino acids, which was identical to the reported amino acid sequence of rat alpha-Syn. After transformation, the recombinant plasmid pGEX-raSyn expressed a soluble protein that was inducible by IPTG. The purified recombinant protein was shown to be single band on SDS-PAGE, with a molecular size of around 18000, which was identical to the reported molecular size of rat alpha-Syn.Western blot analysis demonstrated that the recombinant protein was recognized by specific antibody against alpha-Syn. Conclusion The rat alpha-Syn gene was successfully expressed in prokaryotic expression system and highly purified rat alpha-Syn recombinant protein was produced.