ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution and expression of y-secretase subunit (APH-1)in the central nervous system (CNS) of APP/PS1 double transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) adult mouse model,and to detect the expression difference of APH-1 in developmental brain between AD model mouse and wild-type littermates in order to further clarify the relationship between APH-1 and AD. MethodsOffspring bred by APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice were genotyped.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect APH-1 distribution and expression in the CNS of adult APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mouse model,in the brain of AD model mouse and its wild-type littermates on postnatal day 1,7,21 and 120.Results APH-1 was widely expressed in almost all regions of the CNS,especially in the cerebral cortex,hippocampus,olfactory bulb,hypothalamus,ventral striatum,caudate putamen,raphe magnus nucleus,cerebellum,brainstem and spinal cord of the adult APP/PS1 double transgenic mice.APH-1 expression was higher in the cortex of both AD and wild type mouse on postnatal day 1 than on postnatal day 7 and 21 with increased level of APH-1 protein in adult mouse brain.APH-1 expression in the brain of AD mice was higher than in its wild type littermates at any stage(P＜0.05).Conclusions Distribution of APH-1 is ubiquitous and region-dependent in the CNS.The different distribution and expression between APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model and its wild type littermate indicate that APH-1 may be related to AD.

Objective To investigate whether ultrasound (US)-targeted microbubble (MB) destruction (UTMD) can influence the biofilm and bacteria in morphology.Methods Twenty-hour biofilms of Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62A were treated with US or UTMD.The acoustic intensity was 0.5-1.5W/cm2,the duty cycle was 50％ and the duration was 10 minutes.After treatment,the absorbance values (A570) of biofilms stained with the crystal violet were measured to assess the biofilm density.The biofilms were observed with macroscopy and light microscopy.The biofilms were examined by confocal laserscanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Results A thick and compact biofilm was observed in the untreated control group,and there were no obvious micropores in biofilms under macrology and light micrology.Although there were no significant changes under macroscopy in both biofilms treated with US only and UTMD with 0.5 W/cm2 acoustic intensity,interestingly,many micropores could be found under microscopy.The diameters of micropores increased with increasing acoustic intensity,and the micropores in biofilms treated with UTMD were bigger than those treated with US-only in the same condition of acoustic intensity (P ＜0.05).The largest diameters of micropores were up to 1 mm in biofilms treated with UTMD using 1.5 W/cm2 (P ＜0.05).The biofilm density (A570 value) decreased with increasing of the acoustic intensity,and the values in UTMD group of 1.5 W/cm2 were the lowest (P ＜ 0.05).Micropores also could be observed under CLSM.There were no obvious dead bacteria in biofilms treated with US and UTMD compared with untreated control group (P ＞0.05).Under SEM,the shape of bacteria in biofilms treated with US and UTMD became irregular,and many rounded projection could be observed in the surface of the bacteria treated with UTMD.Conclusions US and UTMD can produce micropores in biofilms,which might help to promote antibiotic activity against biofilms

Objective To investigate the CD34~+ umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (CD34~+ UBSC) transfected with interleukin 21 (IL-21) against the ovarian cancer effect in tumor-bearing nude mice. Methods CD34~+ UBSC were obtained from the UBSC by a magnetically activated cell sorting technique and then transfected with recombinant plasmid plRES2-IL-21-EGFP after the CD34~+ UBSC were proliferated in vitro. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by the size of the tumor and the life span in nude mice treated with the CD34~+ UBSC-IL-21. The expression of IL-21 and its bioactivity in CD34~+ UBSC-IL-21 and in local neoplasitc tissues were respectively detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immune fluorescence technique, ELISA, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and splenocyte proliferative activity. The NK cell cytotoxicity and the numbers of NK cells, serum level of IFN-γ and TNF-αwere simultaneouly detected by FCM and ELISA, respectively. Results CD34~+ UBSC were cultured and transfected with pIRES2-IL-21-EGFP successfully. CD34~+ UBSC-IL-21 could inhibit the tumor growth and extended nude mice life span compared with other groups (P < 0.01). The expression of IL-21 in the neo-plastic tissue, serum level of IFN-γ and TNF-α , NK cell activity and the numbers of NK cells of mice origin and of human origin in splenocytes were increased significantly in the nude mice treated with CD34~+ UBSC-IL-21 compared with other groups(P <0.01). Conclusion The CD34~+ UBSC transfected with IL-21 have competent against ovarian cancer in tumor-bearing nude mice. The findings may establish a foundation for gene therapy of the ovarian cancer by CD34~+ UBSC-IL-21 in clinic application.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism and effect of Qingfei Paidu decoction on transient receptor potential vanilloid-1/Transient receptor potential ankyrin1 （TRPV1/TRPA1） based on heat-sensitive channel and inflammatory response. MethodAccording to body weight， 80 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， dexamethasone group （5 mg·kg^-1）， and low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of Qingfei Paidu decoction （14.865， 29.73， 59.46 g·kg^-1）， with 12 mice in each group. In addition to the normal group， the other groups were administered 20 μL （1×10^-3 g·kg^-1） to each mouse by airway infusion to establish the acute lung injury （ALI） model. In the administration group， the drug was given 1 h after modeling and again after an interval of 24 h. The lung tissue was taken 36 h after modeling. Double lung wet/dry weight ratio（W/D）， hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and Western blot were used to observe and detect the pathological changes of lung tissue， expression levels of inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and expressions of TRPV1 and TRPA1 proteins in heat-sensitive channel， nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB）， inhibitor of NF-κB （IκBα） in inflammatory pathway， and phosphorylated proteins. The phosphorylated protein/total protein ratio was calculated. ResultCompared with that in the normal group， the lung tissue of mice in the model group was seriously damaged， and pulmonary capillary permeability increased. Alveolar capillary congestion and dilation destroyed the complete structure of the alveolar， and the alveolar wall thickened. A large number of inflammatory cells and red blood cells were infiltrated， and pulmonary edema was significantly aggravated. The expressions of TNF-α， IL-6， TRPV1， TRPA1， phosphorylated NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65， and phosphorylated IκBα/IκBα were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the whole lung W/D was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the dexamethasone group and low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of Qingfei Paidu decoction could significantly improve pulmonary edema. TNF-α， IL-6， TRPV1， TRPA1， lung tissue NF-κB p65， and IκBα phosphorylated protein/total protein ratio decreased significantly （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The whole lung W/D also decreased significantly （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionQingfei Paidu decoction has anti-inflammatory and protective effects on LPS-ALI mice， which can effectively reduce inflammation， induce diuresis， and alleviate edema. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the expression of TRPA1 and TRPV1 and the inhibition of the activation of the NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in gastric carcinoma and their clinicopathological significance.

METHODSExpressions of MMP-2 and IGF-1 were examined by using immunohistochemical SP staining and cross-compared with clinicopathological features of gastric carcinoma.

RESULTSHigh expression of MMP-2 and IGF-1 were observed in 70.4% (307/436) and 49.5% (216/436) of gastric carcinoma tissues respectively, significantly higher than those in non-tumor gastric mucosa (3.3% and 5.4%, respectively; all P < 0.05). The high expression rate of MMP-2 and IGF-1 were significantly associated with the patient age, tumor size, tumor location, Lauren classification, TNM staging, depth of tumor infiltration, presence of vessel invasion, lymph node and distant metastasis (all P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of MMP-2 was positively linked with the expression level of IGF-1 (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that high expression of MMP-2, was significantly associated with poor prognosis of tumor of TNM stage I and II (all P < 0.05), high expression of IGF-1 was significantly correlated with poor prognosis of patients with TNM stage I, II and III tumor (all P < 0.05). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that the high expressions of MMP-2 and IGF-1 could be independent prognostic indices for gastric carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSHigh expression of MMP-2 and IGF-1 proteins are significantly correlated with the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma, it is helpful to simultaneously detect the expressions of MMP-2 and IGF-1 proteins in predicting prognosis of patients with gastric carcinoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of HCV RNA on virological and immunological response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART),liver function and blood lipid levels in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.Methods In a cohort study,275 HIV/HCV co-infected former blood donors receiving HAART were followed up every six month in Henan province in China.HCV RNA,HIV RNA,CD+4 T cell counts,indexes of liver function and lipid levels were periodically tested.The differences of HIV viral load suppression,immunological response,liver injury and blood lipid levels between HCV RNA positive group and negative group were compared by x2 test and two independent-samples tests.Result There was no significant difference of HIV viral load suppression between HCV RNA positive group and HCV RNA negative group six-month treatment (45.6% vs.38.5% ,X2=1.150,P>0.05) and CD+4 T cell counts before (286 cells/μ1 vs.209 cells/μ1,Z=0.734,P=0.463)and after 6-month (310 cells/μ1 vs.362 cells/μl,Z=0.562,P=0.574) ,12-month(378 cells/μ1 vs.289 cells/μ1,Z=1.091,P=0.275),18-month(363 cells/μ1 vs.288 cells/μl,Z=1.435,P=0.151) ,24-month(413 cells/μ1 vs.348 cells/μ1,Z=0.939,P=0.348) HAART.The mean levels of serum ALT (55.0 U/L vs.29.5 U/L,Z=6.789,P<0.01),AST(46.0 U/L vs.33.0 U/L,Z=4.890,P<0.01)、TBIL(9.3 mmol/L vs.7.2 mmol/L,Z=3.748,P<0.01)were significantly higher in HCV RNA positive group than that in HCV RNA negative group.HCV RNA was the independent variables associated with liver injury after HAART (aOR=3.8,P<0.01).The serum triglyceride level was higher in HCV RNA positive group than that in HCV RNA negative group(1.2 mmoL/L vs.1.4 mmol/L,Z=1.936,P=0.043) .The serum HDL level was higher in HCV RNA positive group than that in HCV RNA negative group (1.5 mmol/L vs.1.3 mmol/L,Z=2.251,P=0.024).Conclusions HCV RNA does not affect HIV virological responses to HAART and CD+4 T recovery.HCV RNA is an independent risk factor associated with liver injury in HIV/HCV co-infected patients receiving HAART,but appears to provide significant protection against HAART-ieduced hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of alpha-galactosidase A (Gla) deficiency on FV Leiden (FVL) associated thrombosis in vivo.

METHODSTo generate the mice carrying mutations in Gla and FVL and analyze the tissue fibrin deposition in organs and thrombosis.

RESULTSIn the presence of FVL, Gla deficiency greatly increased tissue fibrin deposition compared with that in wild-type [Gla(-/0) FV(Q/Q) vs. Gla(+/0) FV(Q/Q) = (0.24 +/- 0.07)% vs. (0.086 +/- 0.049)%, P < 0.0001; Gla(-/-) FV(Q/Q) vs. Gla(+/+) FV(Q/Q) = (0.32 +/- 0.03)% vs. (0.06 +/- 0.005)%, P < 0.05]. With Gla deficiency, the number of thrombi on organ sections in FVL mice was significantly increased [(Gla(-/-) FV(Q/Q) and Gla(-/0) FV(Q/Q)) vs. (Gla(+/+) FV(Q/Q) and Gla(+/0) FV(Q/Q)) = 1.9 +/- 0.7 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.1, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONSGla deficiency could be an important genetic modifier for the enhanced thrombosis associated with FVL.

Animals ; Fabry Disease ; genetics ; Factor V ; genetics ; Genotype ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Mutation ; Thrombosis ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVE To study the differentiation of PC12 cells induced by total salvianolic acid (Tsa) and the mechanism. METHODS MTT assay was used to detect the effect of Tsa 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 μg·L-1on proliferation of PC12 cells and on the cells damaged by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD).The number of projections of PC12 cells was statistically analyzed.Western blotting was applied to detect the levels of microtubule-associated protein2 (MAP-2), extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), phosphorylated ERK1/2(p-ERK1/2), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase1/2(MEK1/2) and p-MEK1/2 proteins.MEK inhibitor U0126 was examined for its effect on expressions of p-ERK1/2 and ERK1/2 protein in PC12 cells induced by Tsa 1.0 μg·L-1.RESULTS Compared with normal control group, Tsa 1.0 μg·L-1could promote PC12 cell proliferation, and the survival rate was increased by 90%, but the survival rate of PC12 cells was not affected by Tsa 0.01 or 0.1 μg·L-1. Compared with OGD injured group,PC12 cells injured by OGD could be repaired by Tsa 0.1 or 1.0 μg·L-1,and the survival rate was increased to (47.7±1.8)% and (63.2±13.0)%, respectively (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with normal control group,Tsa 0.01,0.1 and 1.0 μg·L-1could promote the growth of PC12 cell projections (P<0.01). Western blotting results showed that Tsa could promote the expressions of MAP-2, p-ERK1/2 and p-MEK1/2 proteins, and this effect could be blocked by U0126 inhibitor (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Tsa can induce the proliferation and differentiation of PC12 cells, the mechanism of which is possibly the activation of p-MEK and p-ERK1/2.

This article reported the clinical characteristics and SRD5A2 gene mutation pattern of a child with steroid 5-α reductase type 2 deficiency. The 2-month-old boy showed hypospadias and short penis shortly after birth. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the child and his parents. The endocrine disease-related genes were captured and sequenced by high-throughput sequencing technology, and the family DNA samples were verified by Sanger sequencing. The results showed that c.680G>A(p.R227Q) and c.608G>A(p.G203D) compound heterozygous mutations existed in the SRD5A2 gene of the child. The c.680G>A mutation inherited from his father, which was a known pathogenic mutation. The c.608G>A mutation originated from his mother, which was a novel mutation discovered in this study. These results provide molecular evidence for the etiological diagnosis of the child and genetic counseling for the family, as well as extend the mutation spectrum of SRD5A2 gene.
3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; Infant ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation

OBJECTIVESTo explore the category, quantity and clinical significance of autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic cells in patients with immunorelated cytopenia and evaluate the sensitivity of direct antiglobulin reaction (Coombs test ) of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC).

METHODSThe category and the positive rate of autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells, nucleated erythrocytes, granulocytes in 32 patients with uncertain immunorelated cytopenia were investigated by using BMMNC-Coombs test and double immunofluorescence flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe positive rate of autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic cells tested by flow cytometry was 90.63% which was higher than that by BMMNC-Coombs test (50.0%) (p < 0.05). In 29 positive cases, IgG autoantibody accounted for 6.90%, IgM13.8%, IgG+IgA 3.4%, IgG+IgM 31.0%, and IgG+IgM+IgA 44.8%. Of the 29 Patients, 25 (86.2%) with IgG autoantibody, 26 (89.7%) with IgM and 14 (48.3%) with IgA. The patients with IgG autoantibody alone had the lowest hemoglobin levels, and those with IgM autoantibody might have intravascular hemolytic findings. The response time of patients with IgG and IgG+IgM was shorter than that of the other patients. 91.3% of the patients had autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells and showed pancytopenia, and 50% of the patients had autoantibodies on nucleated erythrocytes and granulocytes. Eleven of 13 patients with negative BMMNC-Coombs tests had autoantibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells detected by FACS. There was no significant difference of the quantities of the three categories of autoantibodies of nucleated erythrocytes and stem cells. The quantities of IgA on granulocytes were lower than that of IgG and IgM. There was no significant difference between IgG and IgM on granulocytes. The quantity of IgA on hematopoietic stem cells was significantly higher than that on nucleated erythrocytes or granulocytes.

CONCLUSIONSThe sensitivity of double immunofluorescence flow cytometry assay was higher than that of BMMNC-Coombs test for detecting autoantibodies. In immunorelated cytopenia patients, the predominant autoantibody was IgM which could cause intravascular hemolysis, and the second one was IgG which could cause severe anemia. Most immunorelated cytopenia patients had autoantibodies on hematopoietic stem cells and showed pancytopenia. IgA was more easily seen on the hematopoietic stem cells.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Autoantibodies ; classification ; metabolism ; Autoimmune Diseases ; immunology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; Child ; Coombs Test ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin M ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; immunology