Objective To observe the effect of nerve growth factor(NGF) on Caspase-3 expression in hippocampus of epileptic rats induced by kainic acid(KA) and explore the protective effect and mechanisms of NGF on the epileptic neurocytes.Methods Sixty healthy rats aged 21 to 30 days were randomly divided into 3 groups,each of which included 20 rats.Rats in group A were treated with 9 g?L-1 sodium,rats in group B were treated with KA,rats in group C were treated with KA and NGF.Concentration of KA was 2 g?L-1 diluted by 9 g?L-1 sodium;KA was injected into rats in group B and group C,intraperitoneally.Then state of seizure was recorded,and EEG and pathological section were performed.Five rats in each group were sacrificed by perfusion with paraform respectively at 6 hour,on the 1st day,on the 3rd day after injection of KA.Specimen was sampled and made into frozen section.Expression of Caspase-3 in hippocampus of epileptic rats was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.And microscope image measuring and analysis instrument was used to analyze image of expression.Results Symptoms of seizure appeared 30 min after injection of KA.Seizure was proved by detection of EEG and pathological section.Expressions of Caspase-3 detected by immunohistochemistry in group C decreased at every time spot were higher than those in group B,and the defferences between 2 groups had statistically significant(Pa

Objective To set up an apoptosis model of prostate cancer cell line and to clone and study the apoptosis related genes. Methods An apoptosis model of prostate cancer cell line DU-145 has been set up through induction by all transretinoic acid (ATRA).During the process of cell apoptosis the apoptosis-related gene was cloned by means of improved PCR-based subtractive hybridization from the apoptosis prostate cancer cell line DU-145 prostate cancer cells. Results During the process of DU-145 cell apoptosis,c-erb B-2 expression,TNF genes and some unknown apoptosis-related gene were observed.This has been accepted by Genebank,the accession number being AF174394. Conclusions ATRA-induced apoptosis of DU-145 cells is a complex process with multiple genes involved,some of which being unknown yet.

Objective To explore mechanism of action of rhubarb on intrahepatic cholestasis in infantile rats.Methods Ninety Sprague-Dawley(SD)infantile rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:treatment group of rhubarb,untreated group,treatment control group 1 of ursodeoxychlic acid(UDCA),treatment control group 2 of UDCA and deltasone,and control group not treated with ?-naphthyl isothiocyanate(ANIT)and any other treatments.Jaundice model of intrahepatic cholestasis was established in infantile rats by ANIT.At the time of the 2nd,3rd,and 4th week,the concentrations of serum total bilirubin(TB),direct bilirubin(DB),ALT,alkaline phosphatase(ALP),total bile acid(TBA)and TBA were assessed by automatic biochemical analyzer.The concentrations of nitrogen monoxide(NO),maleic dialdehyde(MDA)and the ability of total antioxidation(T-AOC)in liver tissues were measured.Results It was demonstrated that the animal model of hepatic jaundice with cholestasis was successfully established.The levels of serum DB,TB,ALP,ALT and TBA were significantly lower in the treatment group of rhubarb compared with those in the untreated group(Pa

Objective To evaluate the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and their relation with tumor invasion and metastasis in transitional cell carcinoma of bladder (TCCB). Methods Immunohistochemistry of EliVision were respectively used to determine the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in tumor tissues of 46 patients with TCCB and 14 cases of control group which were screened quantitatively (3-5 cm of surrounding tumor) between August 2006 and August 2008. Results Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in TCCB are obviously higher than the normal control group (P <0.01), expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in level Ⅱ,Ⅲ are obviously higher than in level Ⅰ (P <0.01), but there was no significant relationship between high stage or level Ⅲ and low stage or level Ⅱ (P >0.05). Conclusion The positive expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in tumor tissues correlated with the malignant degree, invasion and metastasis of TCCB, MMP-2, MMP-9 could be useful indicators for the assessment of prognosis of TCCB.

Objective To evaluate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2 O3 ) on the proliferation of human renal carcinoma cell line 786-O ,and to explore the changes of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway .Methods Human renal cancer cells 786-O was cultured in 96-well plates ,and divided into the control group (n= 45 holes) and the experimental group (n= 45 holes) .After stimulation by 1 μM As2 O3 and saline ,the cells in 15 holes were collected at 0 ,12 ,and 24 h .BrdU assay was performed to quantify DNA synthesis to evaluate the cells proliferation ,the quantitative PCR was used to measure PI3K and Akt relative mRNA expression ,and Western blot was used to quantify the relative expression levels of of intracellular PI 3K and Akt .Results After 12 ,24 h of As2 O3 stimula-tion ,the amount of DNA synthesis in the observation group was gradually lower than that of the DNA synthesis at 0 h(P<0 .05) and significantly lower than that of the control group at 12 h and 24 h(P<0 .05) .At 0 ,12 ,24 h ,the relative expression level of in-tracellular PI3K and Akt mRNA and protein in the observation group had no significant difference (P>0 .05) ,and the relative ex-pression levels of PI3K and Akt mRNA and protein in the control group were increased as the proliferation was gradually increased . Conclusion As2 O3 inhibits human renal carcinoma cell line 786-O proliferation through inhibiting the PI3K-Akt transduction path-way ,and has potential clinical value for the treatment of kidney cancer .

OBJECTIVETo compare the changes of nucleus pulposus after in vitro culture of rabbit whole intervertebral disc and spinal motion segment.

METHODSTwenty-one New Zealand white rabbits which were randomly divided into organ group with 8 rabbits and segment group with 13 rabbits. Fifty intervertebral discs and 50 spinal motion segments were harvested respectively under aseptic conditions from two groups. These specimens were maintained in organ culture with hyperosmotic media (410 mOsm/kg), then 10 discs of the two groups were observed respectively by HE staining, immunohistochemistry of collagen type III, proteoglycan content and cells viability of nucleus pulposus before culture and at 3, 7, 14, 21 days after culture.

RESULTSHE staining showed the intervertebral disc tissue structure remained intact after culture of 21 days organ group and 14 days segment group,but there was severely degenerated of 21 days segment group. The intensity value of type II collagen immunohistochemical staining in the nucleus pulposus were not changed significantly between 21 days organ group and 14 days segment group (P > 0.05), but the staining of segment group at 21 days became shallower, there was significant difference compared with before each time points and organ group at 21 days (P < 0.05). PAS/AB staining of proteoglycan of nucleus pulposus showed that there were not decrease of tinting strength of two groups within 7 days, but the strength weakened slightly of two groups at 14 days, and the tinting strength became weaker at 21 days segment group, the change is more obvious than the organ group. The intensity value of fluorescence staining of nucleus pulposus cells was not changed significantly within 7 days of two groups (P > 0.05), the intensity value decreased slightly at 21 days organ group and 14 days segment group, but there were no significant difference compared with before time points (P > 0.05) however at 21 days segment group the intensity decreased as cells viability of nucleus pulposus decreased,and there was a significant difference compared with before each time points and organ group at 21 days (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt is not obviously degenerated of the discs of organ group cultured within 21 days and segment group cultured within 14 days, but there was significant degeneration of the intervertebral disc of segment group after cultured 21 days, so the rabbit spinal motion segment can be used on research about the biomechanics of intervertebral disc as a vitro experimental model within 14 days.

Animals ; Collagen Type II ; analysis ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intervertebral Disc ; chemistry ; pathology ; Male ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Rabbits

Objective To measure the expression of Caspase-3 and P-gp in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent tissues, and to examine these two proteins' relationships with HCC clinical and pathological characteristics and the associations between the two proteins. Methods The expression of Caspase-3 and P-gp were measured in 50 HCC tissues and adjacent tissues by EnvisionTM immunohistochemistry. HCC clinic and pathological characteristics and follow-up data were also collected and analyzed. Results The expression of Caspase-3 in HCC tissues was significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues(P <0.05). The expression of Caspase-3 in HCC tissues was significantly associated with HCC's Edmonson grade and the presence of hepatitis envelope(P <0.05). On the other hand, the expression of P-gp in HCC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues( P <0.05 ). P-gp expression in HCC tissues was significantly correlated with HCC's Edmonson grade and the presence of cirrhosis(P < 0.05 ). The expression of Caspase-3 and P-gp was negatively correlated ( r = - 0. 600,P = 0.000). A better prognosis was observed among HCC patients with either positive Caspase-3 expression or negative P-gp expression(P < 0.05). Conclusion Caspase-3 may promote apoptosis and inhibit the development of HCC, while P-gp may have an anti-apoptosis function and play a role in HCC's drug resistance. P-gp can inhibit the function of Caspase-3 and an absence or low expression of Caspase-3 may be related to apoptosis resistance and multidrug resistance.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; complications ; physiopathology ; Atrioventricular Block ; complications ; physiopathology ; Coronary Circulation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Syncope ; complications ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the value of ankylosing spondylitis(AS)disease activity score (ASDAS)and the Bath AS disease activity index(BASDAI)in evaluating disease activity in AS.Methods ASDAS and BASDAI were used to evaluate disease activity in patients with AS,taking the patients' global scores,physician global scores and treatment decision as the “gold standard” for disease activity.According to the “gold standard”,the patients were divided into low and high disease activity groups.Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics,linear correlation and regression and ROC curve.Results A total of 227 patients with AS were included.ASDAS and BASDAI showed good correlation with disease activity as reflected by the patients' global score[r for BASDAI,ASDAS based on ESR(ASDAS-ESR)and ASDAS based on C-reactive protein(ASDAS-CRP)were 0.713,0.698 and 0.725,respectively,P =0.000]and the physician global score(r for BASDAI,ASDAS-ESR and ASDAS-CRP were 0.771,0.782,0.847,respectively,P =0.000).Both scores showed good discriminative ability for high and low disease activity states.ASDAS-CRP had the highest sensitivity.Conclusion ASDAS is a promising tool for evaluating disease activity in AS patients.

Objective To observe the characteristic features of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) in gouty arthritis (GA) and to assess its value in GA diagnosis.Methods Patients with GA and non-GA who underwent MSUS examination in Chinese PLA General Hospital were enrolled in this study. The synovitis,tenosynovitis,soft tissue swelling,bone erosion,bursitis and ossification were measured by greyscale ultrasound,and the synovial vascularity was measured by power Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the degree of inflammation.Results The ultrasound images of GA were intended to have specific features like tophus,hyperechoic deposition on the surface of the articular hyaline cartilage ( double contour sign ),hyperechoic deposition in the synovium appearing as bright stippled foci,and bright strap in tendons with a significant difference when compared with non-GA group (P ＜ 0.05).The percentage of tenosynovitis and bone erosion in non-GA group was higher than that in the GA group with a significant difference (P ＜0.05 ). Tophus,double contour sign,bright stippled foci or bright stippled foci in tendons together suggested gout with a specificity of 92.4％ and a sensitivity of 60.3％,the AUC of ROC was 0.764 ( P ＜0.05).Conclusion Tophus,double contour sign,bright foci and bright strap detected by MSUS are of diagnostic value on GA and MSUS may be a promising tool in diagnosing GA.