Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polycythemia ; etiology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications

Cyclosporine ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the damage effect of oxidized low density lipoprotein (OX-LDL)on the endothelial cells and its influence in the expressions of Toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4)and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM).Methods The human endothelial cells ECV-304 were cultured in vitro and treated by different concentrations of OX-LDL for 24 h,and the cell vitality was measured by Taipan blue rejection test.The reactive oxygen species (ROS)level,mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP),cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry (FCM).The expression of TLR-4 and EpCAM were also analyzed by FCM.Results Compared with control group,the ROS levels in ECV-304 cells in 25,50,100,and 200 mg·L-1 OX-LDL were increased, but the cell vitalities and MMP were decreased (P < 0.05).Compared with control group,the percentages of S phase cells in 25 and 50 mg·L-1 OX-LDL groups were increased,the G0 G1 phase cells were slightly reduced,and the SubG1 phase cells (apoptotic cells)were increased with the increasing of OX-LDL concentration.Compared with control group,the TLR-4 and EpCAM expression levels in ECV-304 cells in 50 mg·L-1 OX-LDL group at 24 h were significantly increased (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion OX-LDL could increase the ROS level and induce the apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells,while increase the cell vitality and MMP.During the damage process,the expresion levels of TLR-4 and EpCAM are up-regulated.

Objective To investigate the inactivating effect of heat and ultraviolet(UV) light on HCV JFH-1 strain using the cell culture system. Methods The HCV JFH-1 virus stock, with an initial titer of 2.5 × 104 FFU/ml, was exposed in 56℃ water bath or to UV light for varying durations of time for explo-ring their inactivating effects on the virus. The kinetics of virus titer reduction was determined by an indirect immuno-fluorescence assay (IFA). If the cells infected with the exposed virus stock were IFA negative after three blind passages, the virus stock was considered to be inactivated completely. Results After incubation of the HCV JFH-1 virus stock (2.5 × 104 FFU/ml)in 56℃ water bath for 10 min, 20 min and 30 min, the virus titers were reduced to 1.6 × 103 FFU/ml, 3.1 × 102 FFU/ml and 3.3 × 10 FFU/ml, respectively. The exposure of the virus stock to UV light (wavelength 253.7 nm, intensity ≥60 μW/cm2, 30 cm below the UV lamp) for 15 s, 30 s and 45 s resulted in virus fiter reduction to 1.0 × 103 FFU/ml, 1.1 × 102 FFU/ml and 2.7 × 10 FFU/ml, respectively. After 40 min incubation of the virus stock at 56℃, or 1 min exposure to UV light (wavelength 253.7 nm, intensity ≥60 μW/cm2) the virus infectious titer was reduced below the detection limit of IFA, and the IFA was still negative even after three blind passages, indicating that the virus was inactivated completely. Conclusion HCV is sensitive to heat and UV light treatment. For HCV JFH-1 virus stock containing 2.5 × 104 FFU/ml virus, heat treatment at 56℃ for 40 min, or UV light expo-sure at an intensity of ≥60 μW/cm2 for 1 min, resulting in complete virus inactivation.

Objective To explore the relationship between high altitude de-adaptation syndrome and training burnout of plateau-garrisoned soldiers after returning to the plain.Methods A total of 140 plateau-garrisoned soldiers who had returned to the plain were chosen by random cluster sampling and measured with the Training Burnout Test.They were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of acute mountain sickness.We compared the differences in training burnout between the two groups and analyzed the relationship between acute mountain sickness and training burnout. Results ①The incidence of high altitude de-adaptation syndrome of plateau-garrisoned soldiers was 80.00% after returning to the plain.There was statistically significant difference between plateau soldiers after returning to the plain,the plateau stability-keeping forces that returned to the plain (78.36%) (χ2 =0.188, P=0.664) and plateau migrants who returned to the plain (75.10%) (χ2 =1.279, P=0.258).Main symptoms of high altitude de-adaptation were fatigue (12.86%), dizziness (11.43%) and meakness (10.00%).②Compared with soldiers who had no high altitude de-adaptation syndrome, victims of de-adaptation syndrome had higher scores of training burnout, physical and psychological exhaustion and training-alienation (P<0.01).Compared with soldiers who had normal body mass indexes, those who were overweight had higher incidence of altitude de-adaptation (P<0.05).③The regression equation between plateau de-adaptation syndrome and training burnout of plateau soldiers after returning to the plain (P<0.01) is:Training burnout =0.498 ×plateau de-adaptation syndrome -0.126 ×age+0.038 ×length of military service +0.069 ×educational degree+0.029 ×body mass index.Conclusion There exist correlations between high altitude de-adaptation syndrome and training burnout of plateau soldiers after returning to the plain.Reducing the occurrence of high altitude de-adaptation syndrome can help reduce the degree of training burnout.

Cerebral Infarction ; etiology ; Dextrocardia ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Spleen ; abnormalities ; Syndrome

RNA silencing is increasingly employed as an experimental strategy to probe for gene function in several organisms. The purpose of the present study was to test the effect of gene silencing by dsRNA in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. GRE3 gene encoding an NADPH-dependent aldose reductase was chosen as an example. A recombinant plasmid psiLENT-GRE3 was constructed based on the pESC-LEU backbone and used to transform S. cerevisiae YPH499. The down regulation of GRE3 gene expression by inducing 1 kb RNA duplex and a 136 bp loop was investigated using reverse transcription- PCR. The results showed that double-stranded RNA mediated gene silencing could be used as a functional tool to decrease the expression level of a specific gene in S. cerevisiae, which would contribute to the understanding of RNA interference in budding yeast.

Objective To explore the changes of serum lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) and the level of lipids in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods A total of 94 candidates with sleep disorders between January-July 2011 at outpatient department were monitored with polysomnography.According to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI),they were divided into mild-to-moderate OSAHS (5 ≤ AHI ≤ 30) (n =27),severe OSAHS (AHI ＞ 30) (n =37) and normal control groups (AHI ＜ 5) (n =30).After polysomnography,their blood samples were obtained to measure the levels of serum LOX-1,triglycerides (TG),cholesterol (TC),high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C).Results The serum level of LOX-1 in severe OSAHS group was significantly higher than that in the mild-to-moderate and control groups (P ＜ 0.01).The serum level of LOX-1 in OSAHS patients was positively correlated with AHI and longest apnea time (LAT)(r =0.645 & 0.501 respectively,both P ＜ 0.01) and was negatively correlated with SaO2 (r =-0.647,P ＜0.01).No significant difference existed in serum lipids in all groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Intermittent hypoxia caused by OSAHS increases the level of LOX-1 to further promote the formation and development of atherosclerotic in patients with OSAHS.The levels of lipid can not effectively predict the severity of lipid metabolism disorder in patients with OSAHS.

Humans ; Prune Belly Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and mechanism of methyl protodioscin (MPD), an active ingredients of yamogenin, in protecting cardiomyocytes (CMC) against anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury.

METHODSCultured CMCs of neonatal SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, cells in Group A were untreated normal cells, cells in Group B and C were made to injury CMC model by A/R, and only those in Group C were treated with MPD. Levels of ATPase activity and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in cell membrane of CMCs were determined. Besides, the mRNA expression of sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) in MPD treated CMCs was detected.

RESULTSAs compared with Group B, the degree of CMC injury was significantly milder and the activities of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase were higher in Group C after cells were treated with MPD in concentration of 10 microg/mL and 50 microg/mL. The mRNA expression of NCX in CMCs was down-regulated after MPD treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMPD could maintain the low calcium internal environment in CMCs by way of protecting the membranous function of Na+ -pump and Ca2+ -pump, and influencing the Ca2+ transmembrane transportation in CMCs.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Diosgenin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology