OBJECTIVEHigh altitue pulmonary edema (HAPE) impacts seriously people's health at high altitude. Screening of susceptibility genes for HAPE will be used for the evaluation and protection of susceptible people.

METHODSWe performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using Affymetrix SNP array 6.0 in 23 HAPE patients and 17 healthy controls. GO and Pathway analysis softwares were used to analyze and draw gene network.

RESULTSThirty-nine SNPs were found to be significantly different between case and control groups (P < 10(-4)). GO and Pathway analysis of 27 genes around the 39 SNPs indicated that these genes mainly participate in the regulating of cell proliferation, regulation of nitrogen compound metabolic process and G-protein coupled receptor protein signaling pathway and so on.

CONCLUSIONIt suggests that these SNPs and genes found in this study may be associated with the susceptibility of HAPE.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the autophagy activity between rat bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) neural differentiation in order to explore the mechanism involve in this process.

METHODSBMSCs were passed by 3 generation, then was induced with the revulsant 2% (DMSO) + 200 µmol/L (BHA), NSE expression was detected by immunocytochemical stain, the mRNA expression of autophagy associated genes L3B, Beclinl, Atg5, Atg7, Atg10 were detected by RT-PCR, the autophagy protein LC3B was examined by Western blot and flow cytometry analysis.

RESULTSBMSCs were passed by 3 generation, the purity of BMSCs could reach more than 90%, the morphology of cells were like fibroblasts, after the revulsant 2% DMSO + 200 µmol/L BRA induced, cells were extended long neurites, like nerve cells, positive rate of NSE staining was (83±5) %, RT-PCR results showed that the expression of autophagy associated genes LC3B, Beclinl, Atg5, Atg7 Atg0 were rised after BMSCs neural differentiation, Western blot analysis showed that the LC3B-II protein expression was increased after neural differentiation and the MFI of L3B was highten by flow cytometry.

CONCLUSIONAutophagy is increased after rat BMSC neural differentiation.

Animals ; Autophagy ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of novel air neuromodulator H2S on platelet function of L-Arg transport for discussing H2S of effect on platelet function.

METHODSSaturate H2S solution as donate made rat rich platelet plasma and pre-incubation rat platelet with different density of H2S. To measure the velocity of L-Arg transport in platelet by radioactivity technique.

RESULTSAt different concentrations of H2S (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 micromol/L), the velocity of L-Arg transport was lower than that in control. H2S reduced rapidly the Vmax and velocity of L-Arg transport in platelet (P < 0.05) and this effect had no effect to Km.

CONCLUSIONH2S can affect platelet function by changing rapidly platelet L-Arg transport system function.

Animals ; Arginine ; metabolism ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective: To examine and analyze the nm23, p16 gene expression in gastric cancer tissure,and follow up patients 5 years to discuss the relationship between nm23 and p16 gene synergy expression and gastric cancer biological characteristic and prognosis.Methods: nm23 and p16 protein in gastric cancer tissue and control were detected by immunohistochemistry,and the patients had been followed up for 5 years. Results: In 84 samples of gastric cancer, nm23 positive rate was 46.43%, p16 was 44.05%, the positive rate of gastric cancer tissue and metastasitic lymph node was lower than that of normal control, normal tissue near cancer or benign polyp,and these two genes were related to the depth of tumor invasion and clinical stage.The mortality and recurrence-metastasis rate was higher in these low expression group, and had a shorter median survive period. Conclusion: Abnormal expression of nm23 and p16 gene plays a important role in gastric cancer recurrence and devolepment and may be one of markers for evaluating tumor biological behavior and prognosis.

BACKGROUNDOne stage transanal Soave pull-through procedure (TSPP) is a recent popular operation in the treatment of Hirschsprung's disease (HD). With no visible scar and a short hospital stay, it is well accepted by surgeons and mothers. In the conventional Soave procedure, a long rectal muscular cuff left for anocolic anastomosis might increase the incidence of postoperative enterocolitis and constipation. This study presents a modified transanal Soave pull-through procedure (MTSPP) which includes an oblique mucosectomy and an oblique anastomosis with a short split muscular cuff.

METHODSA review of two groups of HD patients was made: 112 underwent conventional transanal Soave procedure from 1999 to 2001 (group 1) and 140 underwent modified transanal Soave procedure from 2002 to 2004 (group 2). A comparison was made between the two groups on operative data and postoperative complications. The data included: age at the operation, operating time, blood loss, time to feeds and hospital stay, occurrence of postoperative enterocolitis or constipation, need for anal dilatation, postoperative bowel function and perianal skin problems.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between two groups with respect to age, gender, length of colon resected, operating time, blood loss and hospital stay. However occurrence of postoperative enterocolitis, constipation, anastomotic stricture and time needed for anal dilatation were evidently less in group 2 (MTSPP). The mean operating time in group 1 was (106 +/- 39) minutes with a range of 60 to 170 minutes; in group 2 was (101 +/- 36) minutes with a range of 66 to 190 minutes. The average length of the bowel resected in group 1 was (24 +/- 7) cm, range 15 to 58 cm; in group 2 was (26 +/- 8) cm, range 15 to 70 cm. Two patients, one in each group, required laparoscopic assistance because of long aganglionic colon. Another patient in group 2 required laparotomy because of total colonic aganglionosis. Postoperative complications in group 1 included: temporary perianal excoriation in 34 patients (26 were < 3 months of age), enterocolitis in 21, anastomotic stricture in 11, recurrent constipation in 12, cuff abscess in 1, anastomosis leak in 1, soiling in 3 and rectal prolapse in 1. In group 2 post operative complications included: transient perianal excoriation in 37 patients (30 were < 3 months of age), enterocolitis in 13, anastomotic stricture in 5, recurrent constipation in 6, anastomotic leak in 1, adhesive bowel obstruction in 1 and soiling in 4. Complete bowel continence was found in 97 children (86.6%) in group 1 and in 129 children (92.1%) in group 2 at one year followup after operation.

CONCLUSIONSModified transanal Soave pull-through procedure for HD with oblique mucosectomy and anastomosis and a short split muscular cuff is a safe and feasible operation with low incidence of postoperative complication. It is an encouraging improvement of the conventional transanal Soave pull-through procedure. MTSPP is a preferable choice in the surgery of HD.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Enterocolitis ; etiology ; Female ; Hirschsprung Disease ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo construct an apparatus for the oxygen uptake measurement of rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia at different simulated altitude.

METHODSThe capacity of this apparatus was about 0.01 m3. It included animal experimental cabin, reference cabin, altimeter, altitude vertical velocity indicator, pressure difference inductor and oxygen compensator, low scale manometer, soda lime and calcium chloride, small fan, thermometer, circulating water system and vacuum pump. The oxygen uptake of the rats at 6 000 m, 4 000 m and 1 000 m simulated altitude was measured using this apparatus.

RESULTSThe oxygen uptake of the rats at 50 m, 4 000 m and 6 000 m simulated altitude was (24.4 +/- 2.1), (10.8 +/- 2.0) and (8.8 +/- 1.6) ml O2/(kg x min) respectively (average +/- s, n = 10). The oxygen uptake decreased as altitude increased.

CONCLUSIONThis apparatus can be used to measure the oxygen uptake of the rats at different simulated altitude.

Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Equipment and Supplies ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Fluoxetine ; Mice ; Stress, Psychological ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

OBJECTIVEHigh altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a life-threatening disease, has no biological markers used for the routine prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to identify serum proteins differentially expressed in patients with HAPE for discovering essential biomarkers.

METHODSA complete serum proteomic analysis was performed on 10 HAPE patients and on 10 high altitude and 11 sea level healthy people as control using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and peptide mass fingerprinting. Finally, two most significantly changed proteins were validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSEight protein spots stained with differential intensity, respresenting 5 distinct proteins were identified in patients compared with healthy controls through analysis of these composite gels. Among them, four proteins, namely alpha 1-antitrypsin(alpha1-AT), Haptoglobin(Hp), apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1) and Complement C3 increased remarkably, while one protein, apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) decreased significantly. The variation of alpha1-AT and Haptoglobin, as detected by ELISA, was consistent with the results from proteomic analysis.

CONCLUSIONSIt is well known that Hp, alpha1-AT and complement C3 are associated with inflammation and apoA-1 and apoA-IV play important roles in lipid absorption, transport and metabolism. Therefore, the significant expression changes of Hp, alpha1-AT and complement C3 and apoA-1 and apoA-IV between HAPE patients and their corresponding healthy controls highlight the role of inflammatory response system and lipid metabolism system in the pathophysiology of HAPE.

Altitude ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Peptide Mapping ; Proteome ; Pulmonary Edema ; blood ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of iptakalim (Ipt), an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, on cardiac remodeling induced by isoproterenol (ISO) in Wistar rats.

METHODSISO was given subcutaneously (85 mg/(kg x d), sc, 7 days) to induce cardiac remodeling in rats. The rats in Ipt treated group were administrated with Ipt 3 mg/kg (po) after ISO injection. After treated with Ipt for 6 weeks, the hemodynamic parameters were tested by an eight channel physiological recorder (RM-6000). Then the heart weight was weighed and the cardiac remodeling index was calculated. HE stain and Masson's stain were employed to perform histological analysis, the hydroxyproline(Hyp) content in cardiac tissue was detected by colorimetric method, radioimmunoassay was used to measure the plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and prostacyclin (PGI2).

RESULTSSix weeks after ISO injection, the cardiac functions of model group were damaged markedly compared with those of normal group. The characteristics of ventricular remodeling in model group included that the heart weight index, myocyte cross-sectional area, myocardial fibrosis, and the hydroxyproline content in cardiac tissue were all increased significantly. The plasma level of ET-1 was increased, while the plasma level of PGI2 was decreased significantly. These changes could be reversed by Ipt treatment (3 mg/(kg x d) for 6 weeks).

CONCLUSIONIpt can reverse cardiac remodeling induced by isoproterenol in rats. The endothelial protective effect regulating effects of Ipt on the balance between the ET-1 and PGI2 system may be involved in its mechanisms.

Animals ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Hemodynamics ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Isoproterenol ; pharmacology ; KATP Channels ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Propylamines ; pharmacology ; Prostaglandins I ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects