Aim To evaluate the effect of expression inhibition of spermine oxidase(SMO)on the actitumor activity of polyamine analogue CPENSpm (N~1-cyclopropylmethyl-N~(11)-ethylnorspermine).Methods siRNA technique was used to inhibit expression of SMO in human lung cancer line A549.QT-RT-PCR and enzyme activity assay was performed to determine the expression level of SMO.The cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay.The apoptosis of A549 cells were evaluated by DNA degradation and Sub-G_1/flow cytometry assay.Results The A549 cell line with silenced SMO expression was successfully obtained.Basic SMO mRNA and enzyme activity levels in the SMO-siRNA plasmid transfected cells were 0.53% and 14% lower than that in the control cells respectively. Treating A549 control cells by 10 μmol·L~(-1) CPENSpm for 24 hours resulted in a 10-folds up-regulation of SMO in mRNA level and 20-fold increase in enzyme activity,but this drug-induced SMO expression was obviously prevented in SMO-siRNA plasmid transfected cells.MTT assay demonstrated that SMO expression inhibition decreased the sensitivity of A549 cells to CPENSpm exposure(0～20 μmol·L~(-1)).DNA degradation and sub-G_1 assay proved a deceased ability of CPENSpm to induce apoptosis in SMO-siRNA plasmid transfected cells.Conclusion Up-regulation of SMO by CPENSpm is possibly one of the molecular basics for its antitumor activity.

Objective To investigate whether difluromethylornithine (DFMO) can be used in the treatment of human leukemia. Methods The cell proliferation was detected by MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium)] assay after treatment of human lymphocyte Jurkat cells by DFMO (0 to 10 mmol/L) for 24 to 72 h. Enzyme activity of spermine oxidase (SMO) and acetylpolyamine oxidase (PAO) was determined by chemiluminesence assay. DNA fragmentation assay was used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Fluorescent dye assay was performed to determine the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blotting was used to determine Bax content. Casepase-3 enzyme activity was measured by spectrophotometric method. Results DFMO treatment inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells significantly in a dosage- and time-dependent manner (P

AIM: To prepare recombinant human spermine oxidase (SMO) and polyclonal antibody against human SMO by gene recombination techniques. METHODS: Human SMO cDNA was amplified from total RNA of A549 cells through reverse transcription PCR. The cDNA was then cloned into pET-15b to construct SMO prokaryotic expression vector. After transforming, the vector was induced to express recombinant SMO by IPTG in E. coli BL21 (DE_3). Recombinant SMO was purified by Ni-NTA resin under denaturing condition and then was dialyzed to renature. The enzyme activity of recombinant SMO was analyzed by chemical fluorescent method. SMO polyclonal antibody was prepared by using recombinant human SMO protein purified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as antigen to inoculate rabbit intradermally. The titer and specificity of anti-sera were determined by ELISA, Western blot and Immune Cell Chemistry. RESULTS: Purified and dialyzed recombinant human SMO has the specificicity of oxidizing the spermine. The polyclonal antibody has high titer and specificity against human SMO. CONCLUSION: This research established a method for prokaryotic expression, purification and polyclonal antibody preparation of human SMO. The method lays a foundation for the future functional research of SMO.

Objective To investigate the effects of music therapy in treating cognitive dysfunction in early stroke patients. Methods Forty patients who had suffered a stroke in the previous four weeks were randomly di-vided into two groups of 20. One received music therapy as part of their cognitive training ( observation group) , and the other did not (control group). Before and after 6 weeks of treatment, cognitive functioning was evaluated using the second Chinese edition of Loewenstein's occupational therapy cognitive assessment (LOTCA). The patients' a-bility in the activities of daily living was also evaluated using the modified Barthel index (MBI). Results After treatment, the total LOTCA and MBI scores in both groups were significantly higher than before. Both LOTCA and MBI scores in the observation group were significantly higher than in the control group, and there were also signifi-cant differences between the observation and control groups on all of the LOTCA sub-items except spatial percep-tion. Conclusions Music therapy can improve the effects of rehabilitation on cognition and the ADL ability of early stroke patients.

Objective To establish an early cognitive disorder model in rats and investigate the early cognitive functioning after ischemic hypoxic brain injury during the neonatal period. Methods Forty-six newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into a 21-d-old group and a 31-d-old group. These 2 groups were then subdivided into model and sham-operated subgroups (M21, n=12; SH21, n=11; M31, n=12; SH31, n=11). A model of neonatal early cognitive disorder was established in the rats of the M21 and M31 groups using a modification of Rice's method. Rats in the SH21 and SH31 groups received skin incisions and common carotid artery separation without ligation or hypoxia. Each group was tested with a Morris water maze. The rats were sacrificed after testing, and brain tissue was examined under the electron microscope. Nissl staining allowed Nissl body quantification and neurocyte acin the M21 group was significantly longer than in the SH21 group. The 31-d-old subgroups had shorter average escaping latencies than the corresponding 21-d-old subgroups. (b) Spatial memory: The average platform times, Ⅰ region times and Ⅰ region distances showed no significant differences among groups. ②Brain pathology (a) Gross appearance: Obvious ischemic hemisphere atrophy was observed in the M group, and no abnormality was observed in the SH group. (b) Electron microscopic observation: In the SH group cell ultrastructures in the ischemic hippocampus were normal. Karyopyknosis and dilated endoplasmic reticulums were found in the M group. More mitochondria were found in the presynaptic membranes of the ischemic hippocampus in the M group than that in the SH group. (c) Nissl body quantification and neurocyte activity analysis: Significantly less activity in the ischemic cortex was found in the M21 group compared to the SH21 group. More activity was observed in the 31-d-old subgroups than in the corresponding 21-d-old subgroups. Conclusions ①The neonatal rats with ischemic hypoxic brain injury had prolonged average escaping latency and depressed neuronal activity. ②The 31-d-old rats had better spatial localization learning ability than the 21-d-old rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of oxycodone preconditioning on liver injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats and the role of different opioid receptors.Methods Fiftyfour adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200-300 g, were randomly divided into 9 groups (n =6 each) using a random number table: sham operation group (group S), group I/R, oxycodone preconditioning group (group OP) , μ receptor antagonist CTOP group (group CTOP) , δ receptor antagonist naltrindole group (group NTD), κ receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimne group (group BNI), CTOP + oxycodo ne preconditioning group (group CTOP+OP) , naltrindole + oxycodone preconditioning group (group NTD+ OP) , and nor-binaltorphimne + oxycodone preconditioning group (BNI+OP).The model of intestinal I/R was established by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 45 min followed by 2 h reperfusion in anesthetized rats.The superior mesenteric artery was only exposed, but not occluded in group S.In OP,COTP+OP, NTD+OP and BNI+OP groups, oxycodone 0.5 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 10 min prior to ischemia.COTP 1 mg/kg and naltrindole 5 mg/kg were injected intravenously at 20 min prior to ischemia in COTP+OP and NTD+OP groups, respectively.Nor-binaltorphimne 5 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 25 min prior to ischemia in group BNI+OP.In CTOP and NTD groups, the corresponding doses of CTOP and naltrindole were injected intravenously at 10 min prior to ischemia.In group BNI, the corresponding dose of nor-binaltorphimne was injected intravenously at 15 min prior to ischemia.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h of reperfusion, and left hepatic lobes were removed for microscopic examination and for detection of apoptosis in liver cells (using TUNEL).The apoptosis index (AI) was calculated.Results Compared with group S, the AI was significantly increased in the other groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group I/R, the AI was significantly decreased (P＜0.05) , and the pathological changes of livers were reduced in OP, COTP+OP, NTD+OP and BNI+OP groups, and no significant change was found in AI and pathological changes of livers in CTOP, NTD and BNI groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group OP, the AI was significantly increased (P＜0.05), and the pathological changes of livers were aggravated in COTP+ OP, NTD+OP and BNI+OP groups.There was no significant difference in AI and pathological changes of livers among groups COTP+OP, NTD+OP and BNI+OP (P＞0.05).Conclusion Oxycodone preconditioning can mitigate liver injury induced by intestinal I/R in rats, and μ, δ and κ receptors mediate the role with comparable effects.

Objective To evaluate the influence of preconditioning with and anti-myosinmonoclonal antibody (mAb2G4)-nuclear factor-kappa B decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)-lipofectamine (lip) on hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.Methods H9c2 cardiomyocytes were seeded in 6-well plate at the density of 1×105/ml (2 ml/well),and were divided into 3 groups (n=9 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),H/R group and mAb2G4-ODN-lip group (group MOL).The cells underwent 2 h of hypoxia in an air-tight bag,followed by 1 h reoxygenation.In MOL group,the cells were treated with mAb2G4-ODN-lip (2 μg ODN) for 4 h and then cultured in the common culture medium for 8 h before hypoxia.At the end of reoxygenation,proliferation of cells was measured using MTT assay,and the cells and supernatant of the culture medium were collected to determine the activity of lactate dehydrogenas (LDH),content of malondialdehyde (MDA),concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (by ELISA).The rate of proliferation inhibition was calculated.Results Compared with group C,the rate of proliferation inhibition,LDH activity,MDA content,and concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased in the other two groups.Compared with group H/R,the rate of proliferation inhibition,LDH activity,MDA content,and concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly decreased in MOL group.Conclusion mAb2G4-ODN-lip can mitigate H/R injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Aim To investigate the optimum trypsin digestion time and the optimum trypsin concentration of the long-term formalin-fixed retina in rats.Methods Male SD rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The removed eyes were fixed in 4% formaldehyde fixa-tive for 2 days,2 weeks,4 weeks,3 months,5 months and 7 months respectively.Fixed retinas at dif-ferent time were separated and put in 3%,6% and 9% trypsin at 37℃ in incubator.The time required was recorded for complete digestion of retinas,which fixed for different time and digested in different con-centrations of trypsin.The retinal blood vessels were recorded under a microscope after PAS staining of stretched retinal blood vessel.Results After conven-tionally fixed for 48 hours,retinas were digested com-pletely in 3% trypsin at 37℃ for 3.5 hours.The di-gestion time extended to 9 hours and 1 4 hours for the 2 weeks and 1 month fixed eyes,using 3% trypsin, which achieved the same result as conventional fixed eyes.For the 3 months fixed eyes,a complete retinal blood vessel could also be attained by using conven-tional concentrations of trypsin,and only by extending digestion time to 22 hours.It is also indicated that the increased concentration of trypsin did not shorten the time of digestion.In addition,for the fixed eye from 5 months to 7 months,6% and 9% trypsin could short-en,to some extent,the time to 22 hours and 28 hours respectively,which was conductive to obtaining rela-tively complete retinal blood vessels.Conclusions Retinal tissues which fixed time shorter than 3 months can completely be digested using 3% trypsin.Howev-er,for retinal tissue,which fixed from 5 months to 7 months,both the extending time of digestion and the increasing concentration of trypsin to 6% are necessary to get optimum retinal vascular digestion.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of astragaloside IV (AS-Ⅳ) on human retinal pigment epithelium injury induced by methylglyoxal (MGO), and explore its molecular mechanism.Methods The injury of ARPE-19 cells was induced by MGO and the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 method.The morphology of cell nucleus was analyzed by Hoechst 33342 staining and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry to detect labbled Annexin V-FITC/PI.JC-1 staining and fluorescence probe DCFH-DA were employed to evaluate the change of mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS).The levels of SOD, MDA, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were determined by respective kits.Western blot was used to analyse the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and PARP.Results AS-Ⅳ could significantly inhibit the decrease of cell viability induced by MGO, improve the morphology of cell nucleus, reduce the ARPE-19 cell apoptosis rate and the level of ROS and MDA, and increase the activity of SOD.Furthermore, AS-Ⅳ could enhance mitochondrial membrane potential, the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the expression of PARP, and inhibit the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3.Conclusion AS-Ⅳ may protect ARPE-19 cells from the injury induced by MGO by increasing the antioxidant ability of ARPE-19 cells and inhibiting cell apoptosis.

Objective: To analyze the causes of equinus deformity caused by intramuscular venous malformation onset posterior muscles of leg, and discuss the corresponding treatment methods. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 69 cases of intramuscular venous malformations with equinus deformity from January 2012 to December 2017. Based on patient's main complain, physical examination and imaging data, the causes were divided into two categories: pain disorder and contracture disorder. Classification was on the basis of definite diagnosis of MRI. When the main complaint of medical history and physical examination indicated pain relief or passivity of the affected limb, and when the back extension of ankle joint was greater than 75 degrees, it was a pain disorder; when the medical history and physical examination indicated pain relief or passivity of the affected limb, the back extension of ankle joint was less than 15 degrees, it was a contracture disorder. Therapeutic methods included drug conservative treatment and surgical treatment. For the patients with pain disorder, the first choice was drug conservative treatment, and for the patients with contracture disorder, the first choice was surgery. Operative methods include simple venous malformation resection, venous malformation resection and Z-type Achilles tendon anastomosis lengthening. After operation patients received systematic functional rehabilitation exercise and calculated the satisfaction rate. Results: 13 cases of painful disorders were firstly treated by conservative medicine, but 4 cases were treated by operation after series of conservative treatments, satisfaction rate was 69.2%(9/13). 56 contracture cases were treated by operation, including 11 cases of simple venous malformation resection, 45 cases resection and Z-type anastomosis lengthening of Achilles tendon. All the patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years after operation. 53 patients recovered to normal walking after operation, and 3 patients had mild limp, satisfaction rate was 94.6%(53/56). Patient satisfaction was 100%. Conclusions The equinus deformity caused by intramuscular venous malformation onset posterior muscles of leg affect the quality of life. Muscle/tendon contracture was the main cause. Correct surgical treatment combined with early rehabilitation exercise post operation can restore normal walking posture.