Objective To explore the damage of spiral ganglion neurons(SGNs),the protective effects of different dosages of healthy ear compound (HEC)from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) against age-induced SGNs degeneration and its possible mechanism in spiral ganglion neurons(SGNs)of C57BL/6J mice.Methods Totally 36 C57BL/6J mice just after ablactation were randomly divided into four groups.Normal control group (n =6)drank tap water daily from ablactation to 2 months old.Ageing-related SGNs apoptosis control group(n=12)drank tap water daily from ablactation to 7 months old.High dose TCM group(n=12)at drank 3.65 g/kg/d of HEC from ablactation to 7 months old.Low dose TCM group(n=6)drank 0.91 g/kg/d of HEC from ablactation to 7 months old.The animal cochleae were immediately removed at the termination of the experiment.In each group,the cochleae of 6 animals were used for paraffin embedding,slicing and toluidine blue staining to observe neuronal morphological changes.The caspase-3 mRNA expression study was performed by real-time PCR technique in 6 cochleae of High dose TCM group and ageing-related SGNs apoptosis control group.Results The morphological structure of cochlear SGNs represented healthy and normal density in normal control group at 2 months old.In contrast,amount or density of SGNs in cochlear basilar part was significantly damaged and reduced in ageing-related SGNs apoptosis control group at 7 months old(P＜ 0.001).But the high dose TCM group at 7 months of age was similar to the normal control group at 2 months old in morphological structure,amount or density of SGNs(P＞0.05).The low dose TCM group was significantly different from other 3 groups in amount or density of SGNs (P＜0.001).However,SGNs in the middle part and apical part showed integrity in each group.In addition,the expression level of caspase-3 in the cochlea of high dose TCM group was also obviously different with age-related SGNs apoptosis control group(P＜0.01) Conclusions Ageing-related damage of SGNs in C57BL/6J mice begins from the base of cochlea and progresses towards the apex.The HEC of TCM could significantly protect SGNs against age-induced apoptosis in SGNs.The efficacy of the high dose TCM is better than that of the low dose TCM.Its SGNs protective mechanisms might be related to involving the caspase-mediated cell apoptotic pathway.

Objective:To investigate the clinical feasibility of the Unity radiotherapy system guided by magnetic resonance imaging.Methods:Twenty-four patients were enrolled and received a total of 384 fractions of treatment at Unity system. According to the treatment site, all patients were divided into head-neck, abdomen-thorax, pelvic, spine and limb groups. The patients were set-up without external laser. And then, the time required at different stages in online treatment process and the registration error of each fraction were separately calculated. The geometric deformations of MR images were weekly measured by using MR geometric deformation phantom. At last, the Arccheck was used to perform the dose verification of reference plan, online plan and offline plan.Results:The mean duration of radiotherapy in the five groups were 29.1, 27.6, 26.6, 25.6 and 32.0 min, respectively. The set-up errors in the left-right, superior-inferior and anterior-posterior direction in the five groups were: head-neck group (0.08±0.06 cm, 0.16±0.13 cm, 0.08±0.05 cm), abdomen-thorax group (0.23±0.18 cm, 0.50±0.47 cm, 0.12±0.1 cm), pelvic group (0.25±0.19 cm, 0.32±0.25 cm, 0.11±0.09 cm), spine group (0.46±0.38 cm, 0.26±0.26 cm, 0.13±0.07 cm) and limb group (0.33±0.30 cm, 0.34±0.23 cm, 0.08±0.06 cm), respectively. In the central region, the geometric deformation of MR was less than 0.3 mm, and that of the sphere with a diameter of 500 mm was less than 2.1 mm. The meanγ pass rate of the reference plan, online plan and offline plan were 97.92%, 97.84% and 94.58%, respectively.Conclusions:MR-guided radiotherapy has great potential for clinical application, whereas the process of Unity system is relatively complex. The synergy of different departments has a great impact on the treatment, which needs further optimization.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism and efficacy of tetramethylpyrazine-eluting stents (TES) on inhibiting neointima formation in porcine coronary artefies.Methods TES was prepared by tetramethylpyrazine spray-coated in bare metal stents(BMS).Pigs were implanted with TES or BMS(n=7 each),respectively.Quantitative coronary angiography(QCA)and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed before,immediately after stenting and at 28 days after stenting.Coronary arteries segments (5 cm) before and post stenting area (5 cm) as well as at stenting location were harvested at 28 days post stenting for histopathological examinations(inflammation,vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and apoptosis).Results Follow up QCA at 28 days showed that percentage diameter stenosis were significandy lower in the,TES group than that in the BMS group[(10.0±2.1)%VS (60.2±23.5)%.P=0.01].Tlle lumen area determined by IVUS was similar between the two groups and there was no in-stent thrombosis in TES or BMS treated animals.Internal elastic lamina area was significantly largerwhile the neointimal ares [(1.51±0.45)mm2 vs(4.60±1.39)mm2,P=0.04] Was significantly smaller in the TES group than that in the BMS group.Histopathologieal assessments showed fewer inflammatory cells in the stented-coronary artery walls than those at the border zones of stenting in both groups.The number of proliferating cells were significantly decreased while apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the TES group compared with the BMS group (all P<0.05).Conclusion TES could effectively reduce in.stent restenosis in this porcine model by attenuating Vascular smooth muscle proliferation and enhancing vascular smooth muscle apoptosis post stenting.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of A-kinase anchor protein 95 (AKAP95), cyclin E(2), and connexin 43 (Cx43) in lung cancer tissue, the clinical significance of their expression, and the expression correlation among the three proteins.

METHODSFifty-one samples of lung cancer tissue were examined by immunohistochemistry to measure the expression of AKAP95, cyclin E2, and Cx43.

RESULTSThe positive rate of AKAP95 expression in lung cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissue (82.35% vs 33.33%, P < 0.05); AKAP95 expression was associated with the cell differentiation and histopathological type of lung cancer (P < 0.05). The positive rate of cyclin E(2) expression in lung cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissue (43.14% vs 13.33%, P < 0.05); cyclin E(2) expression was associated with the lymph node metastasis and histopathological type of lung cancer (P < 0.05). The positive rate of Cx43 expression in lung cancer tissue was lower than that in paracancerous tissue (60.78% vs 80.00%); Cx43 expression was associated with the cell differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and histopathological type of lung cancer (P < 0.05). There was correlation between each two of AKAP95 expression, cyclin E(2) expression, and Cx43 expression in lung cancer tissue.

CONCLUSIONHigh expression of AKAP95 and cyclin E(2) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of lung cancer. AKAP95 expression is associated with the cell differentiation and histopathological type of lung cancer, and cyclin E2 expression is associated with lymph node metastasis and histopathological type. There is correlation between each two of AKAP95 expression, cyclin E(2) expression, and Cx43 expression in lung cancer tissue.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Cyclins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors regarding the recovery of postoperative blood pressure of aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) patients.

METHODSSixty-eight patients with APA were recruited and their data including retinal blood vessel by Doppler sonography, urinary trace albumin, pathological changes of renal biopsy and the adrenal tissues around the adenoma were analyzed in order to determine the correlation between these data and postoperative durative hypertension.

RESULTSPostoperative durative hypertension occurred in 14 cases (41.2%) with increased resistance of unilateral or bilateral central artery of retina, in 16 cases (66.7%) with increased level of urinary trace albumin. Fifteen cases underwent renal biopsy and all of them showed different pathological alterations, 11 cases (73.3%) of which presented with postoperative durative hypertension. The pathological changes of the adrenal tissues around the adenoma is either atrophy or non-atrophy (normal or hyperplasia), 8 cases (40%) and 10 cases (22.2%) of which showed postoperative durative hypertension, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe renal pathological changes and increased resistance of retinal blood vessel are the main reasons leading to postoperative hypertension in patients with APA.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adrenal Glands ; pathology ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; etiology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retinal Artery ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Resistance ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the population genetic data of 3 SNP loci (rs25533, rs34388196 and rs1042173) of 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5-HTT) gene and the association with paranoid schizophrenia. METHODS: Three SNP loci of 5-HTT gene were examined in 132 paranoid schizophrenia patients and 150 unrelated healthy individuals of Northern Chinese Han population by PCR-RFLP technique. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test was performed using the chi-square test and the data of haplotype frequency and population genetics parameters were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Among these three SNP loci, four haplotypes were obtained. There were no statistically significant differences between the patient group and the control group (P > 0.05). The DP values of the 3 SNP loci were 0.276, 0.502 and 0.502. The PIC of them were 0.151, 0.281 and 0.281. The PE of them were 0.014, 0.072 and 0.072. CONCLUSION The three SNP loci and four haplotypes of 5-HTT gene have no association with paranoid schizophrenia, while the polymorphism still have high potential application in forensic practice.
Adult ; Asian People/genetics* ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics* ; Schizophrenia, Paranoid/genetics* ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the genetic polymorphisms of four SNP loci (rs77434921, rs2076907, rs6283, rs1800762) in D5 gene of dopamine receptor (DRD5) in Northern Chinese Han population. METHODS: Four SNP loci of the DRD5 gene of 206 unrelated individuals in Northern Chinese Han population were separately amplified and sequenced by PCR technique and statistically analyzed by Haploview v4.1 software. RESULTS: In Northern Chinese Han population, the genotype frequency distribution of rs77434921, rs2076907, rs6283 and rs1800762 loci in the DRD5 gene were all in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. DP value was 0.145, 0.532, 0.602 and 0.159, while PE value was 0.004, 0.079, 0.196 and 0.007. A linkage disequilibrium among these four SNP loci was also demonstrated, which might infer five haplotypes. CONCLUSION rs2076907 and rs6283 loci of DRD5 gene in the Northern Chinese Han population have high genetic polymorphisms, which can be useful for forensic identification of individuals.
Asian People/genetics* ; China/ethnology* ; DNA Primers/genetics* ; Forensic Genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Markers ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Dopamine D5/genetics*

Aged ; Base Sequence ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vasospasm ; genetics ; physiopathology ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 ; genetics

OBJECTIVEDue to their lower risk for induction of resistance, antimicrobial peptides with selective anticancer effect could be developed into a new generation of anticancer drugs. We conjugated an antimicrobial peptide with tumor-targeting peptides (TMTP1) to explore whether it has inhibiting effect on the progression and metastasis of transplanted prostate cancer and gastric cancer in nude mice.

METHODSSubcutaneously transplanted human prostate cancer and orthotopically transplanted human gastric cancer in nude mice were prepared. 50 µmol/L PBS (control group), 50 µmol/L TMTP1 (TMTP1 group) or 50 µmol/L TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) (treatment group) were injected i.p. to the three groups of nude mice, respectively. The binding ability of the novel fusion polypeptide TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) to the tumors and its antitumor effect were assessed by measurement of tumor volume, histopathological examination of the tumor tissues, testing apoptosis index of tumor cells with TUNEL staining, and survival curve plotting of the mice.

RESULTSThe median survival time of subcutaneous prostate cancer-bearing mice was 50 days in the control group, 55 days in the TMTP1 group, and 70 days in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.05). The median survival time of the subcutaneous gastric cancer-bearing mice was 25 days in the control group, 30 days in the TMTP1 group, and 45 days in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.01). The tumor volume in the subcutaneous prostate cancer-bearing mice was (2.5 ± 0.3)cm(3) in the control group, (1.8 ± 0.2) cm(3) in the TMTP1 group, and (0.3 ± 0.1)cm(3) in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.01). The tumor volume of the subcutaneous gastric cancer-bearing mice was (3.8 ± 0.4) cm(3) in the control group, (3.2 ± 0.2)cm(3) in the TMTP1 group, and (0.4 ± 0.1) cm(3) in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.01). Large tumors were observed in the stomach of the orthotopic gastric cancer-bearing mice of the control and TMTP1 groups. The tumor volume of the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group was obviously reduced. White metastases in the liver, spleen and abdominal wall were observed in the control and TMTP1 groups (P < 0.01). TUNEL staining revealed that the apoptosis index of the control group was (31.9 ± 1.5)%, TMTP1 group (37.2 ± 2.3)% and TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (69.7 ± 2.1)% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results of our study demonstrate that the novel fusion peptide of antimicriobial peptide conjugated with TMTP1 can effectively inhibit tumor progression and metastasis, therefore, is promising to be a novel effective anticancer drug.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Splenic Neoplasms ; secondary ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Diseases ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pigmentation Disorders ; complications ; pathology ; surgery