OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of hypothermia combined with dexamethasone on spermatogenesis and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) after testicular torsion-detorsion.

METHODSWe made unilateral testicular torsion models in 100 pubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats by 720 degree torsion of the left testis and then randomly divided them into four groups of equal number to be treated with normal temperature + physiological saline (group A), hypothermia + physiological saline (group B), normal temperature + dexamethasone (group C), and hypothermia + dexamethasone (group D). After 48 hours, we collected the testes, observed pathological changes of the testicular tissue by HE staining under the light microscope, detected the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells by TUNEL, and determined the expression of ICAM1 by Western blot.

RESULTSHE staining showed different degrees of testicular tissue injury in the four groups of rats, most obvious in group A, but mild in the other three. The ICAM1 protein expression was significantly higher in group A (0.68 +/-0. 03) than in B (0. 49 +/- 0. 06, P <0. 05) , C (0. 46 +/- 0. 09, P < 0.05) , and D (0.17 +/- 0.08, P <0.01). The nuclei were deep brown or brown. Lots of apoptotic spermatogenic cells were seen in the torsion testis of group A, with a significantly higher apoptosis index ( [33. 13 +/- 3.21 ]%) than in B ( [ 17. 12 +/-5.23 ]%, P < 0.05), C ([14.13 +/- 2.03]%, P <0.05), and D ([9.05 +/- 1.03]%, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONHypothermia combined with dexamethasone can protect the testis from injury as well as the reproductive function of the testis after testicular torsion-detorsion and reduce the expression of ICAM1.

Animals ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects

Sudden cardiac death(SCD) from early myocardial ischemia is often lack of typically morphological findings and clinical manifestation, thus cases of SCD may be suspected as criminal cases. It is necessary to clarify the cause of death, which is significance for medico-legal investigation. This article reviewed the latest advancement in the studies on the application of inorganic ions, CK-MB, cTn, ANP and BNP for certification of death from SCD in order to provide a practical way for diagnosis of SCD in forensic pathology.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor/metabolism* ; Autopsy ; Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Cause of Death ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form/metabolism* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac/pathology* ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction/pathology* ; Myocardial Ischemia/pathology* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/metabolism* ; Troponin/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo investigate lead distribution and the change of 78 000 glucose regulated protein (GRP78) in various organs of weaned rats challenged with low-level maternal origin lead.

METHODSMale littermates, bred from the female Fisher 344 rats gavaged with lead acetate or sodium acetate (1 ml of 10 mg/ml per day per animal) with male Fisher 344 rats without lead treatment, were divided into 4 groups including control (group A), gestation plus lactation (group B), gestation only (group C), and lactation only (group D). Each group had 6 litters. These littermates were weaned and terminated at postnatal day 21. Lead contents and GRP78 levels in various organs of these littermates were determined by atomic absorbance spectrometry (AAS) and Western blotting analysis, respectively.

RESULTSMaternal lead was observed to transfer to littermates through gestation and lactation. Concentrations of littermate blood lead in groups A to D were (0.0010+/-0.0010), (0.1420+/-0.0190), (0.0250+/-0.0040), and (0.1490+/-0.0160) microg/ml, respectively. Concentrations of littermate brain lead in groups A to D were (0.0005+/-0.0005), (0.1120+/-0.0130), (0.0125+/-0.0042), and (0.0700+/-0.0058) microg/g, respectively. Concentrations of littermate kidney lead in groups A to D were (0.0050+/-0.0050), (1.0400+/-0.1000), (0.1040+/-0.0330), and (0.9920+/-0.0850) microg/g, respectively. Concentrations of littermate liver lead in groups A to D were (0.0030+/-0.0050), (0.3600+/-0.0550), (0.0567+/-0.0126), and (0.3030+/-0.0310) microg/g, respectively. Blood, brain, kidney and liver lead concentrations in groups B and D were significantly higher than those in group C and differences were 5-10 folds. Arbitrary units of littermate leukocytic GRP78 concentration normalized with actin protein in groups A to D were 1.000+/-0.038, 1.180+/-0.060, 0.998+/-0.109, and 1.290+/-0.110, respectively. Arbitrary units of littermate brain GRP78 concentration normalized with actin protein level in groups A to D were 0.996+/-0.128, 0.922+/-0.246, 1.150+/-0.170, and 0.750+/-0.126, respectively.

CONCLUSIONLead in maternal bodies could be transferred to litter bodies through gestation and lactation and distributed in various organs. Lead might also changed GRP78 expression in leukocytes.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; metabolism ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Kidney ; chemistry ; Lead ; metabolism ; Leukocytes ; metabolism ; Liver ; chemistry ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of crypotanshinone (CPT) on the proliferation and apoptosis of DU145 prostate cancer cells as well as on the metadherin expression and the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the DU145 cells.

METHODSWe treated DU145 prostate cancer cells with different concentrations of CPT for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by evaluation of the proliferation and apoptosis of the cells by MTT assay and TUNEL, respectively. We determined the expressions of metadherin protein and mRNA in the DU145 cells by Western blot and RT-PCR respectively at different time points after CPT treatment. We also detected the expressions of the proteins metadherin, AKT, p-AKT, and Bcl-2 in the CPT-treated DU145 cells at 48 hours.

RESULTSCPT significantly inhibited the proliferation of the DU145 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). After treatment with 10 µmol/L CPT for 24, 48, and 72 hours, the apoptosis rates of the DU145 cells were (29.42 ± 4.51), (55.07 ± 5.67) and (70.84 ± 4.66)%, respectively, significantly higher than (3.1 ± 2.48)% in the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of metadherin was remarkably downregulated at the transcription and translation levels (P < 0.05) and the expressions of the AKT signaling pathway and the Bcl-2 protein were markedly inhibited in the DU145 cells after treated with 10 µmol/L CPT for 48 hours (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCPT can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of DU145 prostate cancer cells, which may be associated with its suppression of the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by reducing the expression of metadherin in the DU145 cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; pharmacology ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Time Factors

Objective:To compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Hyper-CVAD/MA regimen and CHOP/CHOP-like regimen in the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). Methods:The 78 primary PTCL-NOS patients who were initially diagnosed and treated in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital and Tianjin Union Medical Center from June 2004 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were then divided into two groups:Hyper-CVAD/MA group (n=21) and CHOP/CHOP-like group (n=57). Curative efficacies and toxicities were analyzed by Chi-square test, and survival was estimated by Ka-plan-Meier method. Results: In the Hyper-CVAD/MA group, complete response (CR) was 42.9%, overall response rate (ORR) was 85.7%, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 20 months, and the three-year overall survival (OS) was 56.9%. In the CHOP/CHOP-like group, the CR, ORR, and three-year OS were 28.1%, 59.6%, and 49.6%, respectively, and the median PFS was 13 months. Compara-tive analysis showed that the ORR and three-year OS were statistically significant (P<0.05), but the relapse rates (57.1%versus 77.2%) and three-year OS were similar (P>0.05). The incidence rates ofⅢ/Ⅳneutrocytopenia and thrombocytopenia in Hyper-CVAD/MA group (66.7%and 61.9%, respectively) were significantly higher than those of the CHOP/CHOP-like group (22.8%and 14.0%, respec-tively) (P<0.05). Conclusion:Hyper-CVAD/MA regimen can achieve satisfactory efficacy in parents with PTCL-NOS, and toxicity can be controlled with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF).

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of calponin-1 expression inhibition on the proliferation , invasiveness, apoptosis and cytoskeleton of uterine smooth muscle cells, and explore the molecular mechanism of calponin-1 in the uterine smooth muscle cells for labor onset.

METHODSsiRNA-calponin-1 adenovirus plasmid was constructed and transfected into primarily cultured uterine smooth muscle cells. The proliferation, invasiveness and apoptosis of the cells were determined by MTT assay, matrigel invasion assays and flow cytometry, respectively. Rhodamine-Phalloidin was used for labeling filamentous actin (F-actin), and the morphology and the distribution of F-actin was observed under fluorescence microscopy and analyzed quantitatively.

RESULTSThe motor ability of uterine smooth muscle cells decreased significantly after transfection with siRNA-calponin-1 adenovirus plasmid (P<0.05). The transfected cells showed thinner, loosened and irregular F-actin microfibers, and the cells in the empty vector and blank control groups showed thicker and longer F-actin microfibers.

CONCLUSIONInhibition of calponin-1 expression can inhibit uterine smooth muscle cell migration and cause the morphological change and rearrangement of F-actin without affecting its proliferation and apoptosis in vitro, suggesting that the morphological change and rearrangement of F-actin of uterine smooth muscle cell may be one of the important mechanisms in the labor onset.

Apoptosis ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Uterus ; cytology ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effects of postoperative compression cryotherapy at different durations on patients underwent shoulder joint arthroscopy. Methods Sixty patients underwent shoulder joint arthroscopy were divided into 3 study groups by random digits table method: group 1 (20 cases), group 2(20 cases),group 3(20 cases).The study populations with routine care were offered compression cryotherapy at different durations:group1 was managed with 30 mins postoperative cryotherapy every 8 h within 24 h, group2 with the same treatment within 48 h, group 3 within 72 h. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)was used to assess preoperative as well as postoperative pains,and perimeters of three parts(20 cm and 25 cm above lateral epicondyle of humerus,and armpit)were measured to assess swelling at different durations-preoperatively and 24,48,72 h after operation. Results There was no significant difference in the scores of VAS at 24 h after operation among three groups(P>0.05).The score of VAS at 48 h after operation in group 1,group 2,group 3 was(3.65±1.23),(2.65±1.50),(1.80±1.11)points,and there was significant difference(F=6.838,P=0.002),a further comparison,there was significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).The score of VAS at 72 h after operation in group 1,group 2,group 3 was(3.50± 1.10),(2.65±1.50),(2.05±1.10)points,and there was significant difference(F=10.366,P=0.000),a further comparison, there was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the swelling of 20 cm and 25 cm above lateral epicondyle of humerus, and armpit at 24 h after operation among three groups(F=1.208, 2.097, 0.427, P>0.05). There was significant difference in the swelling of 20 cm and 25 cm above lateral epicondyle of humerus,and armpit at 48 h after operation among three groups(F=15.577, 17.128, 5.109, P<0.05), a further comparison, there was significant difference between group 1 and group 2, group 1 and group 3(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between group 2 and group 3(P>0.05).There was significant difference in the swelling of 20 cm and 25 cm above lateral epicondyle of humerus,and armpit at 72 h after operation among three groups(F=24.159, 20.963, 8.496, P<0.05), a further comparison, there was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusions 72 h postoperative compression cryotherapy for patients underwent shoulder joint arthroscopy can be the most statistically significant factor to alleviate pain and swelling effectively,beneficial to early functional exercise and shoulder joint recovery.

ObjectiveToinvestigatetheinflammatoryresponseandapoptosisof peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and their regulation by triptolide(TP) in IgA nephropathy(IgAN) patients.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 29 IgAN patients and 16 healthy individuals.TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations were measured by ELISA and NO concentration by Griess reagent in the plasma of samples.PBMCs were isolated from IgAN patients and cultured in vitro,and subsequently activated by PHA(10 mg/L).The cytotoxicity of different TP concentrations was assayed by MTT and two non-toxic concentrations (12.5 μg/L or 25.0 μg/L)were selected for treatment.TNF-α,IL-6 and NO concentrations were measured in the culture media collected from PBMCs cultures activated by PHA (10 mg/L) and treated with TP (12.5 μg/L or 25.0 μg/L).The PHA-activated,TP-treated cells apoptotic rate was analyzed by FACS using Annexin V-FITC staining.The expression of Bcl-2,Bax,caspase-9 and caspase-3 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting from lyses of PHA-activated with or without TP-treated cells.ResultsThe serum concentrations of TNF-α[(131.57±50.61) ng/L vs(30.24±18.93) ng/L,P＜0.01],IL-6[(76.36±25.21) ng/L vs(35.08±16.59) ng/L,P＜0.01] and NO[(46.36±12.93) μmol/Lvs (26.61 ±10.87) μmol/L,P＜0.01] were significantly increased in IgAN patients compared to healthy individuals.PBMCs viability in culture decreased after TP treatment in a dose-dependent manner.TP also inhibited TNF-α,IL-6 and NO levels in the media of PHA-activated PBMCs in culture and induced PBMCs apoptosis.The expression of Bcl-2 decreased markedly and Bax,caspase-9 and caspase-3 increased significantly after TP treatment (all P＜0.05).Conclusions The PBMCs from IgAN patients are in a highly activated state,and have a high apoptotic rate.TP treatment induces benificial effects in IgAN patients by inhibiting the activation of PBMCs by activating pro-apoptotic pathway.

Objective To implement and evaluate evidence-based guidelines for enteral nutrition support in acute stroke patients with dysphagia.Methods This study is a prospective before and after comparison study.Collected 200 acute stroke patients with dysphagia and divided them into test group (trained medical staffs) and control group(untrained medical staffs) equally according to the time order.Two groups of 100 patients were surveyed using a checklist before and after implementation of 10 guidelines about nutrition support.Before the implementation of guidelines,the staffs were enforced training,and summarized regularly.Compliances with guidelines by doctors and nurses were compared,and outcomes of patients were assessed.Results Compared with the control group,the correct implementation of the project significantly improved in the experimental group on nutritional risk screening (92.0％,64.0％; x2 =22.840),nutritional supplements selection (80.0％,48.0％; x2 =22.220),nutrition infusion methods (90％,18％ ; x2 =1.040) and nutrition infusion adjustment (abdominal distension/adjusted:21/10,6/4;x2 =9.634,constipation/adjusted:41/40,57/53 ; x2 =5.122,all P ＜ 0.05).The mortality rate,poor prognosis and length of stay in department of neurology intensive care unit and in hospital were not significant different between the experimental group and the control group.The incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia was significantly lower in the experimental group (44.3％) than that in the control group (67.5％,x2 =7.281,P =0.007),but other patient outcomes were unaffected significantly.Conclusion Implementation of evidence-based guidelines for enteral nutrition support in acute stroke patients with dysphagia is associated with improvements in clinical quality and selected patient outcomes.

A sensitive high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) method was established for the determination of eplerenone (EP) in human plasma. The plasma samples of EP were extracted with ethyl acetate and separated by HPLC on a reversed phase C18 column with a mobile phase of 10 mmol x L(-1) ammonium acetate water solution-methanol (30 : 70, v/v). EP was determined with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 2-4 000 ng x mL(-1) for EP. The lower limit of quantification was 2 ng x mL(-1). The method has been successfully applied in the pharmacokinetic study of the EP tablets. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of EP after oral administration of 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg were as follows, t1/2: (4.9 +/- 2.1), (4.7 +/- 1.5), (5.9 +/- 1.2) h; AUC(0-infinity): (4 402 +/- 1 735), (8 150 +/- 2 509), (13 783 +/- 4 102) microg x h x L(-1); and MRT: (6.2 +/- 2.1), (6.6 +/- 1.3), and (7.2 +/- 1.6) h. Parameters of EP after oral administration of multiple doses of 50 mg were as follows, t1/2: (6.1 +/- 1.7) h; AUC(ss): (10 071 +/- 4220) microg x h x L(-1); MRT: (8.1 +/- 2.3) h; and DF: (3.2 +/- 1.0).
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Humans ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Spironolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics