AIM:To explore the effects of endothelial indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) on the migration and the expression of contractile proteins in the pericytes.METHODS: Human pulmonary artery endothelial cells ( HPAECs) and rat cerebral microvascular pericytes were cultured in vitro.Over-expression of IDO in the HPAECs ( IDO-HPAECs) was established.The pericytes were treated with HPAEC-conditioned medium (control group), IDO-HPAEC conditioned medium (treatment group), or IDO-HPAECs-conditioned medium containing 1-methyl-DL-tryptophan (1-mT) ( inhibition group) .The concentrations of nitric oxide ( NO) , tryptophan and kynurenine in the co-culture system were de-termined.The viability, migration and the expression of the contractile proteins in the pericytes were compared.RE-SULTS:No statistical difference of the pericyte viability after treatment with IDO-HPAEC-conditioned medium at 6~48 h was observed (P>0.05).The migratory ability of the pericytes significantly decreased in treatment group compared with control group (P<0.01), and significantly increased in inhibition group compared with treatment group (P<0.01).The concentration of NO in the co-culture system had no significant difference among groups (P>0.05).The concentration of tryptophan was significantly lower in treatment group than that in control group (P<0.01), and significantly higher in in-hibition group than that in treatment group (P<0.01).The concentration of kynurenine was significantly higher in treat-ment group than that in control group (P<0.01), and significantly lower in inhibition group than that in treatment group (P<0.01).The expression ofα-smooth muscle actin and desmin was significantly lower in treatment group than that in control group (P<0.01), and significantly higher in inhibition group than that in treatment group (P<0.01).CON-CLUSION:Endothelial IDO inhibits the migration and the expression of the contractile proteins in the pericytes, and may play essential roles in the regulation of microvasculatures.

AIM:To observe the effects of infrasound on sperm quality and explore some underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Adult male SD rats were exposed to infrasound of 8 Hz at 90 dB or 130 dB for 1,7,14 or 21 d(2 h/d), whose epididymises were obtained for sperm count, abnormity and activity ratio inspection and whose testes for GSH-Px and MDA inspection. RESULTS: With prolonged exposure, sperm quality and GSH-Px in 90 dB and 130 dB groups decreased, while MDA increased, and at the same time point, the indexes of 130 dB groups changed more profoundly than those in 90 dB groups. CONCLUSION: Biological effect of infrasound on testes depends on the exposure parameters. The mechanisms of which could be unbalanced antioxidant system induced by infrasonic exposure.

Background Mitochondria are the primary sites for ROS production within cells,Tempol(4-Hydroxy 2,2,6,6,tetramethyl piperidine)is a classic compounds targeting ROS scavengers in mitochondria.Objective To investigate the effects of Tempol on aortic function and remodeling in renovascular hypertensive rats.Methods The 2 kindey 1 clip hypertensive model was established in 24 male Wista rats and randomized to untreated hypertensive rats(n=6) or treated with Tempol(1 mmol/L) in drinking water(n=6) for 8 weeks.BP blood plasma angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ),nitric oxide(NO),8-iso-PGF_(2?) level were determined.Isometric tension change of aortic rings were recorded;RT-PCR were used to measure the expression of NADPH p22 phox mRNA of aorta.Results Hypertensive rats had highter BP,AngⅡ,8-iso-PGF_(2?),media wall,media wall/lumen(W/L)(P

BACKGROUND:A series of pathological changes were found in atlas, including atlas dislocation, atlanto-occipital junction instability and vertebral fractures. Atlantoaxial pedicle screw, nail and rod fixation or nail plate fixation is a novel repair method recently proposed, and has certain advantages. OBJECTIVE:To compare the repair effects of atlas pedicle screw on different types of atlas lesions. METHODS:A total of 42 fresh vertebrae were obtained from Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical School, Inner Mongolia Medical University. In accordance with bone thickness of sagittal vertebral artery groove bottom, vertebrae were divided into three types:type I (common type), type II (light variation), and type III (severe variation). Al samples were subjected to atlas pedicle screw fixation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The screw pul out force in different bone densities of vertebrae was not the same. Vertebrae with great thickness and great bone density had big screw pul out force (P<0.05). However, the screw in different cortical bone of vertebrae had the same function. No compression on blood vessels or phenomenon affecting vertebral activity was visible. These results indicated that atlas pedicle screw implantation showed good safety, no side effects, did not affect the normal work and life of patients.

Objective To observe the effects of infrasound on rat myocardial cells and to study its underlying mechanism. Methods One hundred Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a normal control group and a infrasound exposure group, composed of various subgroups subject to exposure to infrasound for 2 hours daily for 1 d,7 d,14 d,21 d,and 28 d, respectively. The ultra-microstructure and apoptosis of the rat myocardial cells were observed, and SOD and MDA were measured. Results After exposure to infrasound, significant ultra-microstructural impairment and increased apoptosis of the myocardial cells were observed in the infrasound exposure group as compared to those of the normal control group,(P

Objective To observe the effect of low level infrasound on neuropathic pain and explore its underlying mechanism. Methods Rats were divided into experimental and control groups after their L5 spinal nerves had been ligated to create a neuropathic pain model. The experimental group was subjected to 40 to 80 dB infra sound. The control group received no infrasound treatment. Paw withdrawal latency in response to heat radiation was measured and the average gray scale of the microglia in a slice of the L5 spinal cord was compared. Results The experimental group expressed significantly lengthened paw withdrawal latency on the 12th and 14th day. The average gray scale showed significantly weakened activation of spinal microglia in the 2nd week of infrasound treatment compared with the control group. Conclusion Low level infrasound can ameliorate neuropathic pain to a certain extent,which might be related with inhibition of spinal microglia.

BACKGROUND:Pulmonary infection after kidney transplantation evolves rapidly. There is a high mortality rate in patients with server pulmonary infection. It has the important significance of early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary infection, but some patients appear to have impaired kidney function because of the adjustment of immunosuppressants. OBJECTIVE:To explore the approaches to applying the immunosuppressants during the treatment of pulmonary infection after kidney transplantation. METHODS:The clinical data of 85 kidney transplantation patients who suffered from pulmonary infection were retrospectively analyzed. There were 43 cases in which the infection occurred within 1-6 months after kidney transplantation, 39 of which within 2-4 months; 7 cases of infection occurring within 6-12 months; 7 cases of infection within 12-24 months; 6 cases of infection within 24-36 months; 22 cases of infection occurring beyond 36 months. The immunosuppressant dose was adjusted based on a per-case basis. As a complement, the smal-dose hormone was used for anti-inflammation. Etiological treatments for resisting infections were also conducted accordingly. Ventilators were utilized for patients with respiratory failures. The body temperature of patients was monitored and controled. Appropriate nutrition support was also provided accordingly. There were 44 cases of decreasing or stopping the use of immunosuppressants during the early period of pulmonary infection; 19 cases of decreasing or stopping the use of immunosuppressants during the treatment of pulmonary infection;5 cases of stopping the use of immunosuppressants during the period of severe pneumonia; 15 cases of gradualy changing the dose of immunosuppressants during the early and progressive period of pneumonia; 2 cases of decreasing the use during the early period of pneumonia and stopping the use during the period of severe pneumonia. The duration of decreasing or stopping the use of immunosuppressants ranged from 3-51 days, with an average of 10.7 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among the 85 patients, there were 81 cases cured and 4 cases of death. Among the four death cases, two cases died of acute respiratory failure and two cases died of multiple organ failure. Of the cured 81 cases, acute rejection occurred in 3 cases, while renal alograft dysfunction occurred in 6 cases. Decreasing or temporarily stopping the use of immunosuppressants during the treatment of pulmonary infection caused by the kidney transplantation increases the cure rate and decreases the mortality rate; while timely resuming the usage of immunosuppressants effectively protects the renal graft function, especialy for patients with renal graft dysfunction.

The differentially expressed genes between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with or without lymphatic metastasis were investigated by gene chip, and the lymphatic metastasis-associated genes were screened out. Expression array was used to detect the mRNA from both the primary carcinoma and the corresponding esophageal epithelium in 15 cases of human ESCC. The lymphatic metastasis-associated genes were screened by bioinformatics between ESCC with or without lymphatic metastasis. The results showed that 43 (4.85 %) genes significantly differed between the ESCC with and without lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05), of which 18 (2.03 %)were upregulated and 25 (2.82 %) down-regulated. The up-regulated genes were involved in cell adhesion molecules and cell membrane receptors and the down-regulated genes were mostly cell cycle regulators and intracellular signaling molecules. It was suggested that lymphatic metastasis-associated genes were screened by gene chip, which was helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of ESCC lymphatic metastasis and lymphatic metastasis-associated genes might be used as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for lymphatic metastasis.

Objective To evaluate the effect of propofol on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced increase in monolayer permeability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).Methods Primary HUVECs were cultured and purified by immuno-magnetic separation.The expression of VE-cadherin in endothelial cells was determined by immunofluorescence.The HUVEC monolayer permeability was detected by the Transwell system.The cells were seeded on the upper chamber (2 × 105 cells/well) and cultured for 3 days after confluence.The cells were treated in two ways.The cells were randomly divided into 6 groups (n =36 each) and 5 of the 6 groups treated with 1,2,5,10 and 20 ng/ml IL-1β for 24 h except for control group.The cells were also randomly divided into 5 groups (n =30 each) and 4 of the 5 groups were pretreated with 0,10,50 and 100 μmol/L propofol for 30 min,and then treated with 10 ng/ml IL-1β for 24 h except for control group.The cells were radomly divided into 3 groups (n =18 each) and 2 of the 3 groups were pretreated with 50 μmol/L propofol for 30 min,and then treated with 10 ng/ml IL-1β for 24 h or 30 min.The expression of occludin protien,p38 mitogen activiated protienkinase (p38 MAPK) and phosphorylated p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK) was determined by Western blot.Results Compared with control group,5,10 and 20 ng/ml IL-1β significantly increased HUVEC monolayer permeability in a concentration-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).10,50 and 100 μmol/L propofol inhibited IL-1 β-induced increase in the permeability of HUVEC monolayer permeability in a concentration-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.01).IL-1β could down-regulate HUVEC occludin protein expression,and activate p38MAPK signaling pathway,and propofol inhibited IL-1β-induced down-regulation of HUVEC occludin protein expression and activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Propofol can alleviate IL-1β-induced increase in the permeability of HUVEC monolayer via inhibiting activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the differentially expressed genes of primary esophageal squamous cell carci-noma and of normal esophageal mucosa. Methods LCM-GMA-cDNA microarray was used to detect the mRNA from both the primary carcinoma and the corresponding esophageal epithelium in 15 cases of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). After high-stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluores-cent signals. Results Among the 886 target genes, 34 genes had significant difference in Ⅰ / Ⅱ and Ⅲ/Ⅳ group. Cell cycle regulators possibly promoting the growth of tumor cells were highly expressed in the early stages of ESCC, whereas adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix-related molecules possibly promoting invasiveness increased in the later stages. Conclusion More than one gene contributed to esophageal cancer. The profiles of gene expression will bring us chance to understanding the molecular mechanism of tumor progression and to support clinical treat-ment.