Objective To explore the effect and molecular mechanism of N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) on transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human lung cancer cells.Methods Lung cancer A549 cells were transfected with NDRG1 overexpressed vector,and then treated with 5 μg/L TGF-β1.The abilities of invasion were detected by Transwell assay.The expressions of NDRG1 mRNA and protein were analyzed by teal-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were examined with Western blot.The expressions of EMT-associated markers E-cadherin and Vimentin,and EMT-associated signaling molecules Snail,AKT and Smad were detected with Western blot.Results We found that TGF-β1 treatment could induce morphological alteration of A549 cells from epithelial morphology to mesenchymal morphology.TGF-β1 significantly increased the migration of A549 cells,and increased the expression of mesenchymal maker vimentin and decreased epithelial marker E-cadherin.More importantly,overexpression of NDRG1 significandy reversed the effects of TGF-β1 on A549 cells.Moreover,NDRG1 significandy decreased the levels of phospho-AKT,and suppressed the expression of EMT-related transcription factor Snail.Conclusions NDRG1 could reverse the effects of TGF-β1 on EMT in A549 cells,by which mechanism is related to reduction of the expressions of phospho-AKT and Snail.

Objective To develop a method for determination of mercury in blood by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Methods Using a thiourea extraction method, the mercury in blood is determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Results The linearity of calibration curve of mercury was in the concentration of 0.000-10.00 ?g/L. The detection limit was 0.06 ?g/L. The recovery rates were 95.5%-100.3%.The RSDs were 4.1%-4.5%. Conclusion The method has the advantages of simple operation, high sensitivity, good repeatability and is applicable to the determination of mercury in blood.

Objective To investigate the correlation between carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) and cerebrovascular hemodynamic analysis (CVA) and the diagnostic value in ischemic stroke.Methods Using colour Doppler IMT,IMT/D ratio and CVA were performed in 120 patients with hyperacute and acute ischemic stroke as compared with the health controls.Results IMT and IMT/D ratio were higher in patients with ischemic stroke than the health aduts. Vmean and Qmean in ischemic stroke hyperacute group were lower, and R,DR were higher obvious in hyperacute group than that of acute group. IMT and IMT/D ratio were negatively correlation with Vmean and Qmean and positively correlation with R and Zc.Conclusion The measurement of carotid artery IMT and CVA have clinical significance in early diagnosis of ischemic stroke.

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.

[Summary] Type 2 diabetic rat model accompanied by insulin resistance was established by high fat/high glucose diet and streptozotocin.Following metformin treatment for 4 weeks,realtime PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of SIRT3 mRNA and protein in skeletal muscle tissue,respectively.The results showed that insulin sensitivity,superoxide dismutase (SOD),and glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly reduced in diabetic group compared with the control group (P＜0.05),while methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) level was increased (P＜0.05),along with the decreased expressions of SIRT3 mRNA and protein in skeletal muscles (P＜0.01).After metformin treatment,the insulin sensitivity,SOD,GSH,and SIRT3 mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased (P＜ 0.05 or P＜ 0.01),while MDA level was decreased (P ＜ 0.05),suggesting that metformin may ameliorate insulin resistance via upregulating SIRT3 expression in skeletal muscles of diabetic rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of parecoxib pretreatment on the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) during focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods One hundred and twenty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 6-8 weeks,weighing 230-280 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =32 each):sham operation group (S group),I/R group,parecoxib 5 mg/kg group (group P5) and parecoxib 10 mg/kg group (group P10).The rats were anesthetized with 10％ chloral hydrate 3.5 ml/kg.Focal cerebral I/R was induced by 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion.Parecoxib 5 and 10 mg/kg were injected via the right internal jugular vein at 30 min before middle cerebral artery occlusion in groups P5 and P10,respectively.The equal volume of normal saline was injected instead of parecoxib in groups S and I/R.Neurological deficit score (NDS) was assessed at 2 and 24 h of reperfusion.The rats were then sacrificed and brains were removed for determination of infract volume (by TTC staining).Brain water content was measured by wet/dry brain weight ratio.Their brains were cut into sections which were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and examined under microscope.The expression of AQP4 in brain tissues was measured.Results Compared with S group,NDS and brain water content were significandy increased,the infarct volume was enlarged,and the expression of AQP4 in brain tissues was up-regulated in I/R group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).NDS and brain water content were significantly lower,the infarct volume was smaller,and the expression of AQP4 in brain tissues was lower in groups P5 and P10 than in I/R group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Microscopic examination showed that brain injury was significantly attenuated in groups P5 and P10 as compared with I/R group.Conclusion The mechanism by which parecoxib pretreatment alleviates the focal cerebral I/R injury in rats is related to down-regulation of the expression of AQP4.

Objective To study the expressions of progesterone receptor A (PRA) and B (PRB) in breast cancer and adjacent non-malignant tissues and the correlations between their expressions and the clinical characteristics. Methods The expressions of PRA and PRB in 50 specimens of female human breast cancer and adjacent non-malignant tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlations between the expressions of PRA and PRB and the clinical characteristics were analyzed.Results PRA and PRB expressed in both the nuclei and the cytoplasma of tumor cells and epithelial cells of the acini and ducts.The percentages of PRA and PRB positive cells were 42%,42% and 52%,36% in the cancer and the adjacent non-malignant tissues,respectively,there was no significant difference.The expression of PRA was significantly correlated with the age of patient(r=-0.316 8,P

Human proximal tubule epithelial cell line,HK-2 cells,were cultured with various concentrations of insulin for 48 h.Human urate transporter (hUAT) mRNA was detected by realtime quantitative PCR.hUAT mRNA levels were down-regulated by insulin (5,25,125,500 μIU/ml)in a dose-dependent manner (relative expression median were 0.95,0.40,0.24,and 0.23).In vitro,the expression of hUAT mRNA in HK-2 cells is associated with the concentration of insulin.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of Candida albicans ( C. albicans) hyphae on autophagic flux in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) . Methods:BMDM were in vitro stimulated with C. albicans hyphae for 0.5, 4 and 12 hours, and the 0-hour group treated without hyphae served as a control. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the conversion of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) -Ⅰto LC3-Ⅱ, and determine the expression of phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) at each time point. Some BMDM were divided into several groups: control group receiving no treatment, hyphae group treated with C. albicans hyphae, lysosomal inhibitor groups treated with different lysosomal inhibitors, including E-64d (a cysteine proteinase inhibitor) + pepstatin (a pepsin inhibitor) , bafilomycin-A1 (BAF-A1) , ammonium chloride and chloroquine, and hyphae combined with lysosomal inhibitor groups treated with lysosomal inhibitors immediately followed by C. albicans hyphae. After 4- or 12-hour treatment, the effect of C. albicans hyphae on basal autophagic flux in murine BMDM was evaluated. Statistical analysis was carried out by using unpaired t test, factorial design analysis of variance and least significant difference- t test. Results:After 0.5-, 4- and 12-hour in vitro treatment with C. albicans hyphae, the conversion of LC3-Ⅰ to LC3-Ⅱ significantly increased in murine BMDM (1.254±0.118, 1.629±0.391, 1.598±0.379, respectively) compared with the 0-hour group (0.983±0.030; t=3.875, 2.856, 2.804, respectively, all P< 0.05) , while there was no significant difference in the protein expression of p-mTOR among the 0-, 0.5-, 4- and 12-hour groups. After 4- and 12-hour in vitro treatment with C. albicans hyphae combined with lysosomal inhibitors E-64d and pepstatin, the accumulation level of LC3-Ⅱ significantly increased in BMDM compared with those treated with E-64d and pepstatin alone ( t=3.691, 6.648, respectively, both P< 0.05) . Compared with the corresponding lysosomal inhibitor groups, the accumulation level of LC3-Ⅱsignificantly increased in BMDM treated with C. albicans hyphae combined with BAF-A1, ammonium chloride or chloroquine for 4 and 12 hours (all P< 0.05) . Conclusion:In vitro treatment with C. albicans hyphae can increase the conversion of LC3-Ⅰto LC3-Ⅱ in the basal autophagic flux in murine BMDM.

Objective To evaluate the effect of Aiyishu injection on the cellular immunity state of body and toxic and side reaction in post-operation patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy .Methods Seventy patients with breast carcinoma at stage Ⅰ-ⅢA were randomly divided into treatment group (Aiyishu associated CAF regimen) (n=36) and control group (CAF regimen) (n=34).The activities of T cells and NK cells were examined in two groups before and after treatment,and the toxic, side reaction and living quality were also compared.Results The levels of CD3,CD4,CD8 and the ratio of CD4/CD8 and the activity of NK cells in treatment group were higher than those in control group (P