OBJECTIVETo study a feasible method of measuring right ventricular pressure by catheterization in mice.

METHODSMeasuring the right ventricular pressure and the pulmonary artery pressure by homemade PE pipe through venous cannula in external jugular vein, using catheterization in mice with powerlab multimodal biometric signal recording system.

RESULTSForty-six out of 51 mice were experimented with this method smoothly and got a total success rate of 90.2%. Thirty of 33 normal mice and 16 of 18 mice with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were catheterized successfully. The right ventricular pressure were as follow: systolic blood pressure: (23.4 +/- 5.7) mmHg in normal group vs (32.2 +/- 2.8) mmHg in mice with PAH, diastolic blood pressure: (3.7 +/- 2.6) mmHg vs (3.8 +/- 2.0) mmHg, mean pressure: (12.0 +/- 3.7) mmHg vs (14.9 +/- 2.3) mmHg. After autopsy for those 5 failed cases, we found that 2 cases were into the inferior vena cava, another 2 cases pierced the right auricle and the last one punctured the axillary vein into the chest wall.

CONCLUSIONMeasuring the right ventricular pressure through venous cannula in external jugular vein with homemade PE pipe in mice gets not only a high success rate but also help to save time. Moreover, this method can be popularized easily. It is a good and feasible method for measuring right ventricular pressure in mice.

The dynamic changes of germination percentage, germination potential, thousand-seed weight, antioxidase activity in Desmodium styracifolium seeds with different storage time were tested, and electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, starch in seed leach liquor were also determined in order to reveal the mechanism of seed deterioration. The results as the following. (1) The germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds declined, while the seed coat color darkened with the extension of storage time. (2) The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) decreased with the prolongation of storage period. The SOD activity declined fastest in 1,095-1,185 d of storage, while the POD activity declined significantly in 365-395 d of storage. (3) The electrical conductivity and the contents of soluble sugar, starch in seed leach liquor increased, while the content of soluble protein declined with the extension of storage time. (4) Correlation analysis indicated that the germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds have a significantly positive correlation with SOD and POD activity, while have a significantly negative correlation with the electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar and starch. It can be concluded that during the storage of D. styracifolium seeds, physiological and biochemical changes including decrease in antioxidase activity, rise in electrical conductivity, degradation effluent of soluble sugar and starch, degradation of soluble protein were the main factors leading to the seed deterioration.
Color ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Germination ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Seeds ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Starch ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Time Factors

To investigate the adjuvant effect of plasmid DNA encoding superantigen SEA (D227A) (pmSEA) on immune responses induced by HBV DNA vaccine containing HBV preS2 and S antigen in BABL/c (H-2d). BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscular injection with HBV DNA vaccine (pHBVS2S) mixed with or without pmSEA plasmid. Antibodies againat HBV PreS2 and S antigen in the sera were accessed by Anti-HBs ELISA, and the HBsAg specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) activity was determined by 5 Chromium Release Assay. The HBs peptide-specific IFN-gamma secreting T cells were detected by ELISPOT. Anti-HBs antibody titers and CTLs activity in mice immunized with pmSEA + pHBVS2S group were significant higher (P < 0.05) than pHBVS2S DNA vaccine group. The ratio of IgG1/IgG2a (0.282) was apparently different from the group immunized with peptide (10). Mice immunized with HBV DNA vaccine plus adjuvant produce higher titer of IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies against HBV S antigen 1.36 and 1.73 time higher than that without adjuvant respectively. HBs peptide--specific IFN-gamma secreting T cells increased 2 - 3 times by the pmSEA adjuvant, compared to DNA vaccine group. HBV DNA vaccine (pHBVS2S) induces humoral and cellular immuno-responses in BALB/c mice, and the responses could be significantly boasted by the plasmid encoding mSEA. Therefore the pmSEA was a potential adjuvant for DNA vaccines.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Animals ; Enterotoxins ; immunology ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Staphylococcus aureus ; immunology ; Superantigens ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology

Objective To conduct research of β-Thalassemia incidence and genotypes on children below 7 years of age in Nanning, Liuzhou and Baise areas, Guangxi province. Methods A total of 2261 children aged below 7 in Nanning, Liuzhou and Baise areas were studied. Venous blood was detected by routine blood test, hemoglobin analysis and β-Thalassemia genotyping. Results Among 2261 samples, 125 showed high level of HbA2 and were diagnosed as β-Thalassemia (5.53%). Genotypes of the patients were classified as: 59 cases with β-globin gene eondon (CD) 41-42 mutation, 33 cases CD17 mutation, 18 cases with TA TA box nt-28 mutation, 7 with IVS-Ⅱ-654 mutation, 3 with CD43 mutation, 3 with HbE mutation, one with CD71-72 and TATA box nt-29 mutation, respectively. The genotyping frequencies of β-Thalassemia were as follows: 47.20% for CD41-42 mutation, 26.40% for CD17 mutation, 14.40% for TATAbox nt-28 mutation, 5.60% for IVS-Ⅱ -654 mutation, 2.40% for CD43 mutation, 2.40% for HbE mutation, 0.80% for CD71-72 mutation and TATAbox nt-29 mutation respectively. Conclusion This study on children in the area with high incidence of β-Thalassemia reflected the incidence and characteristics of genotypes in this area. Our data also provided evidence for the development of a program on genetic counseling and prevention for thalassemia.

Little is known about the factors that control the initiation of growth of primordial follicles. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of c-erbB₂ on the onset of primordial follicle development, and whether c-erbB₂ mediates the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in this process. We synthesized three pairs of siRNAs targeting the c-erbB₂ mRNA and transferred them into the newborn rat ovary cultured in vitro with Metafectene. After siRNAs transfection, the efficiency of siRNAs was tested by examining c-erbB₂ mRNA and protein levels. The level of c-erbB₂ mRNA was reduced by 49.6%, 46.7% and 82.6% respectively after transfecting siRNA1, siRNA2 and siRNA3, and the level of ErbB₂ protein also reduced remarkably after siRNA3 transfection. c-erbB₂ siRNA3 significantly inhibited the primordial follicle initiation and development; EGF augmented primordial follicles formation, but the effect was abolished by c-erbB₂ siRNA3. All of these results suggest that c-erbB₂ plays an important role in primordial follicle development and folliculogenesis initiation, and mediates the effect of EGF on primordial follicle development.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Female ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Ovarian Follicle ; growth & development ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rats ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; physiology

0.05)in the former part of the surgery that was before the beginning of the surgery via anterior route.But in group B,only propofol for sedation was used for the patients during the latter part of the surgery via the anterior route or while the nerve plexus was blocked; during this time in group A,the addition of fentanyl and vecuronium were still intermittently necessary to maintain the general anesthesia.The duration between the completion of surgery and the recovery of spontaneous breathing,times for initial conscious reaction such as opening the eyes following an order, extubation and from extubation to complete recovery were significantly shorter in group B than those in group A(all P

Objective To examine the gene expression profile of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) by combination of laser capture micmdissection (LCM) and microarray and to identify genetic changes in disease pathogenesis.Methods The study analysed 8 matched pairs of specimens of glottic carcinoma of larynx and histologically normal epithelium tissues adjacent to the carcinoma preserved in the RNAlater reagent.A genome-wide transcriptome analysis was performed by probing 16 cDNA microarrays with fluorescent-labeled amplified RNA derived from higer capture microdissected cells.Real-time quantitative (RT-PCR) of tissue mieroarmy was used to validate the reliability of cDNA miemarrays.Results Significant analysis of microarray(SAM) floftware and hierarchical cluster analysis of the expressed genes showed that 2351 genes was signiilcantly expressed respectively according to different analysis method (false discover rate=0.63%).A selected set of MMP12,KRT16,RARB,PRB1 genes was identified to be consistent with array data by RT-PCR. Condusiom The analysis of gene ontology and pathway distributions futher highlighted genes that may be critically important to laryngeal carcinogenesis.The results strongly suggest that this new approach may facilitate the identification of clinical molecular markers of disease and novel potential therapeutic targets for LSCC.

Objective： The current study was designed to investigate the effect of heat shock protein 70(HSP70) on stability of mutant p53 protein. Methods： Retroviral recombinant expressing antisense HSP70 RNA was constructed and transfected into MCF7/Adr breast cancer cells. The existence of foreign DNA was identified by PCR method and the HSP70 protein level was determined by Western blot analysis. The half-life of mutant p53 protein(mtp53) was measured by p53 stability assay. Results： The stable expressing strain(MAp70) from transfected cells was obtained through G418 selection. The foreign DNA in transfectant cells were confirmed by PCR, and the repression rate of HSP70 protein was 42％ . The half-life of mutant p53 in MAp70 cell was 12 hours, significantly lower than that of the control cells. Conclusion： Antisense HSP70 RNA can decrease the HSP70 protein level and significantly increase instability of mutant p53 protein in MCF7/Adr breast cancer cell.

Objective To investigate the effects of EphA2 on the angiogenesis and cervical lymph node metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in vivo.Methods EphA2 short hairpin (shRNA) lentiviral particles were used to knockdown the expression of EphA2 in SCCHN cell line M2 with high lymph nodes metastasis rate. Stable clones,obtained by puromycin screening,were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blot to validate the gene silencing efficiency and were used to establish SCCHN metastatic xenograft mouse model.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to identify cervical lymph node metastasis of SCCHN in xenografted tumors.Immunohistochemistry was used to observe microvessel density.Western blot was used to investigate the protein expressions of EphA2 and vascular endothelial,growth factor (VEGF). Results EphA2 shRNA lentiviral particles efficiently decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of EphA2 in SCCHN cell line M2,which were further successfully utilized to establish SCCHN metastatic xenograft mouse model.Compared with xenografted tumors in control group,xenografted tumors in M2EphA2RNAi+ group decreased significantly tumor volume [ (430.7 ± 190.0) mm3 ((x) ± s) vs(1179.0±289.4) mm3] and weight [(0.26-±0.10) gvs (0.54±0.12) g] (bothP＜0.05).More importantly,bilateral cervical lymph node metastasis rate in M2EphA2RNAi+ was also greatly declined (Mann-Whitney U =10.0,P ＜ 0.05).Decreased protein expressions of EphA2 and VEGF and microvessel density were observed in M2EphA2RNAi+ group (t =26.751,P ＜0.01).Conclusions Knockdown of EphA2 expression led to the inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis in SCCHN nude mouse model.More importantly,SCCHN angiogenesis was also impeded,which might be associated with the decreased expression of VEGF.

Objective To study the acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent the transmission of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangxi, China.Methods Snow-balling methods were used to recruit 650 MSM in Guangxi. Questionnaires and interview were administrated to these 650 men, using a self-designed questionnaire and face to face interviews to collect information on HIV-related risk behaviors, knowledge and acceptability of PrEP.effective, safe and free of charge', 597 (91.9%) of the 650 MSM claimed that they would accept it,who refused to use it, most of them said that were afraid of the side-effect and doubted on the effectiveness of PrEP. Data from logistic regression analysis showed that those who had found partners through friends (OR=6.21, P=0.020) and those who would advise his friend to use PrEP (OR=39.32, P=0.000) were more likely to accept PrEP. Those who thought they could protect themselves from HIV infection (OR=0.32, P=0.010) or not having sex with the ones who refused to use a condom (OR=0.34, P=0.010) were less likely to accept PrEP. Conclusion Effectiveness, safety and cost seemed to be the main influential factors related to the acceptability of PrEP. Peer education might improve the acceptability of PrEP.