Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) on epithelial cadherin (E-cd) expression in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) in vitro.

METHODSThe effect of CGRP on E-cd protein and mRNA expression in both normal and O3-challenged HBECs were determined by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. The signal transduction pathways of CGRP were observed by using protein kinase C(PKC) inhibitor (H-7), calmodulin(CaM) inhibitor (W-7) and PKA inhibitor (H-89).

RESULTSCGRP increased E-cd mRNA and protein expressions of normal and O3-challenged HBECs in a dose-dependent manner. CGRP had no effect on cytoplasm E-cd expression. Pre-treatment with H-89, H-7 and W-7, the up-regulatory effect of CGRP on E-cd expression was partly abolished.

CONCLUSIONCGRP increased in cytomembrane E-cd expression of normal and O3-challenged HBECs in a dose-dependent manner. E-cd expression on HBECs was strengthened by CGRP via PKA, PKC and CaM pathways.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Ozone ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy on tic disorders (TD) treated with local acupuncture.

METHODSThe entire data of 196 cases, of which, 114 cases in acupuncture group were treated mainly with local acupuncture and 82 cases in western medication group were taken Tiapride tablets orally. YGTSS method was adopted for scoring and assessing the clinical efficacy.

RESULTSThe apparent improvement was achieved in YGTSS motor tic score in two groups. The markedly effective rates were 90.4% and 84.2% in acupuncture group and western medication group, respectively (P < 0.05), without significant difference in statistics. The effective rates of transient tic disorder (TTD) in acupuncture group and western medication group were 100.0% and 83.3%, respectively (P < 0.05), which indicated that the efficacy of acupuncture on TTD was advantageous to medical therapy. The effective rates of three kinds of TD in acupuncture group were 100.0%, 88.2% and 84.2% separately, of which, the efficacy of acupuncture on TTD was advantageous as compared with that on chronic tic disorder (CTD) and Toureett's syndrome (TS) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe overall efficacy on TD is similar between acupuncture and medical therapy, but the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on TTD is superior to medical therapy. Meanwhile, the efficacy of acupuncture on TTD is advantageous to that on CTD and TS. Hence, the intervention at early time can achieve satisfactory efficacy and probably prevent from CTD or TS.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tic Disorders ; therapy

To investigate the inhibition of cyclosporin A (CsA) on neutrophil adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs, ECV-304) induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation and further explore its mechanism, a 1 h hypoxia/4 h reoxygenation model was reproduced using ECV-304. The adhesion rate of neutrophils to ECV-304 was determined by measuring the activity of endogenous hexosaminidase. The expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules of E-selectin and ICAM-1 was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of cyclophilin A (CyPA) and the activation of ERK1/2 was compared among experimental groups by Western blot. The content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by Fenton reaction. After being stimulated with 1 h hypoxia/4 h reoxygenation, ECV-304 showed an enhanced neutrophil adhensiveness in association with an increased surface expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1. In parallel, the content of ROS was also increased. These effects were significantly suppressed by the addition of CsA. Most importantly, the expression of CyPA was significantly increased following 1 h hypoxia/4 h reoxygenation, which was accompanied with an increased activation of ERK1/2. Treatment with CyPA inhibitor CsA and CyPA antisense oligonucleotides significantly inhibited the activation of ERK1/2 and decreased the adhesion of neutrophils to ECV-304. The specific ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 caused an inhibition of neutrophil adhesion to hypoxia/reoxygenation-stimulated ECV-304. Our data confirm that CsA inhibits neutrophil adhesion to hypoxia/reoxygenation stimulated ECV-304 by a mechanism involving inhibition of the signal transduction of ROS, CyPA and ERK1/2.
Cell Adhesion ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclophilins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Signal Transduction ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of proportional assist ventilation (PAV) on physiology and respiratory mechanics in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with ventilator dependence by comparison with conventional assist/control (A/C) ventilation.

METHODSForty-six infants with ventilator dependence were randomly divided into two groups according to the ventilation model: PAV (n=23) and A/C (n=23). The gain of resistive and elastic unloading was set based on the runway method in the PAV group. Ventilation parameters were set based on the conventional method in the A/C group. Infants were observed for 30 minutes three times per day for three consecutive days. Arterial gas analysis results, transcutaneous saturation of oxygen (SPO2), heart rate, blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), mean airway pressure (MAP), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), tide volume (VT), minute volume (MV) and oxygenation index (OI), were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the A/C group, PaO2 and OI in the PAV group were significantly higher while PIP and MAP were significantly lower. There were no significant differences in FiO2, SPO2, pH, PaCO2, PEEP, VT, MV and RR between the two groups. Although mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate in the PAV group were not different from the A/C group, beat-to-beat variabilities in systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure were significantly lower in the PAV group than in the A/C group.

CONCLUSIONSPAV may safely maintain gas exchange at lower airway pressures compared with A/C ventilation in VLBW infants. It can also improve oxygenation and infant-ventilator synchronization.

Blood Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Male ; Oxygen ; blood ; Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUNDPlatelet activation often occurs in intermediate and advanced tumors, with increases of expression and release of platelet adhesion molecule. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of activation markers of platelet and their significance in lung cancer.

METHODSThe activation markers of platelet, CD62P and CD63, were detected in peripheral blood of 120 patients with lung cancer and 60 healthy persons by FCM method.

RESULTSThe levels of peripheral blood CD62P and CD63 of lung cancer patients were significantly higher than those of healthy people (P < 0.01). In lung cancer group, the levels of peripheral blood CD62P and CD63 on the seventh postoperative day were significantly lower than those before operation and on the first postoperative day (P < 0.01). The levels of peripheral blood CD62P and CD63 before operation were closely related to size of tumor, lymph node status and TNM stages (P < 0.01), but not to cell differentiation, histology, age and sex of lung cancer patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSActivation markers of platelet obviously increase in peripheral blood of lung cancer patients and they may play important roles in tumor growth and lymphatic metastasis. The levels of activation markers of platelet may be useful predictors for prognosis.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Telomerase ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVEBloom's syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by genomic instability and a predisposition to many cancers. Mutations of the BLM gene (encoding a BLM helicase) may form a structure of the etiology of this disease. As a global pollutant, mercury poses a major threat to human health. The current study was conducted to elucidate the effects of Hg(2+) on the structure and activity of BLM642-1290 recombinant helicase, and to further explore the molecular mechanisms of mercury toxicity to the DNA helicase.

METHODSThe effects of Hg(2+) on biological activity and structure of BLM642-1290 recombinant helicase were determined by fluorescence polarized, ultraviolet spectroscopic, and free-phosphorus assay technologies, respectively.

RESULTSThe helicase activity, the DNA-binding activity, and the ATPase activity of BLM642-1290 recombinant helicase were inhibited by Hg(2+) treatment. The LMCT (ligand-to-metal charge transition) peaks of the helicase were enhanced with the increase of the Hg(2+) level. The LMCT peaks of the same concentration of helicase gradually increased over time.

CONCLUSIONThe biological activity of BLM642-1290 recombinant helicase is inhibited by Hg(2+) treatment. The conformation of the helicase is significantly altered by Hg(2+). There exist two binding sites between Hg(2+) and the helicase, which are located in the amino acid residues 1063-1066 and 940-944 of the helicase, respectively.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Fluorescence Polarization ; Humans ; Mercury ; toxicity ; Protein Conformation ; RecQ Helicases ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum ; genetics