Simultaneous Study of Mechanical Stretch-Induced Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis on C2C12 Myoblasts.

Mechanical stretch may cause myoblasts to either proliferate or undergo apoptosis. Identifying the molecular events that switch the fate of a stretched cell from proliferation to apoptosis is practically important in the field of regenerative medicine. A recent study on vascular smooth muscle cells illustrated that identification of these events may be achieved by addressing the stretch-induced opposite cellular outcomes simultaneously within a single investigation. To define conditions or a model in which both proliferation and apoptosis can be studied at the same time, we exposed in vitro cultured C2C12 myoblasts to a cyclic mechanical stretch regimen of 15% elongation at a stretching frequency of 1 Hz for 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 h every day, consecutively, for 3 days. Both proliferation and apoptosis were observed. Moreover, as the duration of the stretch was prolonged, cell proliferation increased until it peaked at the optimal stretching duration. Afterwards, apoptosis gradually prevailed. Therefore, we established a model in which stretch-induced cell proliferation and apoptosis can be studied simultaneously.

[Effects of LncRNA H19 on Proliferation of Human Colorectal Cancer SW620 Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression level of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) imprinted maternallyexpressed transcript (H19) in colorectal cancer tissues and its effect on proliferation of colorectal cancer SW620 cells. METHODS: Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied to detect the expression of H19 in 20 paired tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues,and in normal NCM460 cells and colorectal cancer SW480,HCT116 and SW620 cells. The specific small interfering RNA for H19 (si-H19 group) or negative control sequence (si-NC group) were transfected into SW620 cells. Proliferation of the transfected cells was detected using flow cytometry,CCK8 assay and clone formation experiment. The expressions of CyclinD1 and cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: The expression levels of H19 in colorectal cancer tissues and cells were higher compared with those in adjacent normal tissues and normal NCM460 cells. Lower H19 level,cell activities and cell clone numbers were found in si-H19 transfected cells compared with those in si-NC transfected cells ( P<0.05). si-H19transfected cells had decreased expression of CyclinD1 and CDK4 ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION: H19expression in colorectal cancer is high. Knock-down H19 expression can inhibit proliferation of colorectal cancer cells,which provides a potential strategy for targeted therapy of colorectal cancer.

[Status of knowledge and behavior of drug use among residents in 5 provinces in China in 2011].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status of knowledge and behavior of drug use among urban and rural residents in 5 provinces in China to suggest priority intervention strategies and measures for drug use health education. METHODS: From March to May of 2011, 6159 urban and rural residents were selected from Beijing, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Shaanxi provinces by the multistage stratified sampling method and were investigated by the questionnaires on drug use knowledge and behavior. RESULTS: The residents' average awareness rate for 11 pieces of basic drug use information was 48.3% (32,750/67,749). The residents' average awareness rate in the rural (40.3%, 9189/22 792) was lower than that in metropolitan (51.9%, 11 483/22 110) and small and middle-sized cities (52.9%, 12,078/22,847) and the differences had statistical significance (χ2=889.30, P<0.01). Overall, 77.0% (4742/6159) of residents purchased drug according to the doctors' prescription; 36.9% (2271/6159) of residents bought by their experiences; 33.3% (2049/6159) of residents did not know whether they had bought faked drugs; 32.7% (2016/6159) of residents did not read instructions carefully before using drug; 83.4% (5134/6159) of residents stored drugs in their house and only 29.2% (1798/6159) of residents would check up expired drugs regularly; 59.6% (3673/6159) of residents changed drug by themselves after suspected adverse reaction of drugs. CONCLUSION: Chinese urban and rural residents' knowledge level of drug use is inadequate and drug use behaviors are not optimistic. Drug use health education should be enhanced among urban and rural residents.

Effect of Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil on the expression ET-1 and NO in rats with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to study the effect of Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil on the expression endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in rats with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH). METHODS: Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, model group (HPH group) and HPH+fasudil group. The rat HPH model was established by intermittent hypoxia (IH) at atmospheric pressure. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI), ET-1 and NO levels, and pulmonary vascular structural changes were observed in all groups. RESULTS: MPAP, RVHI and ET-1 levels were significantly higher in HPH group than in control group, while NO was significantly lower than in control group. In addition, mPAP, RVHI and ET-1 were significantly lower in the HPH+fasudil group than in the HPH group. In the HPH group, ET-1 level was significantly and positively correlated with mPAP and RVHI, NO was negatively correlated with mPAP and RVHI levels, and ET-1 level was significantly and negatively correlated with NO level. In the HPH group, pulmonary arteriolar walls were generally thickened, and lumen stenosis was obvious; while after fasudil treatment, pulmonary arteriolar wall thickening and stenosis degree were significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: Fasudil can significantly reduce ET-l level and increase NO level in HPH rats, suppressing the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Level of uric acid and uric acid/creatinine ratios in correlation with stage of Parkinson disease.

This study aims to investigate relationship between the level of uric acid (UA) and UA/creatinine ratios (UA/Cr) to the stage of Parkinson disease (PD).A total of 120 cases of PD patients who were admitted in our hospital between 2013 and 2015 were enrolled into this study; these 120 cases of PD patients were divided into 3 groups, according to Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) classification: early stage (1-2 classification), medium stage (2.5-3 classification), and advanced stage (4-5 classification); UA and UA/Cr level in each group was compared. Then, factors including age, gender, dopamine dosage, UA, and UA/Cr levels were analyzed to find the independent predictive factors of PD by logistic regression.UA and UA/Cr levels in the early and medium stage PD patients were significantly higher than in the advanced stage ones. UA and UA/Cr levels in patients with good prognosis were significantly higher than in the poor ones.UA and UA/Cr levels are negatively correlated with the stages of PD and are independent negatively predicting biological indexes of PD incidence and progression.

[Effects of dietary corn peptide and exercise on hepatic ATGL and TNF-α in obese rats].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dietary corn peptides supplementation with or without exercise on body composition and fac-tors related to hepatic lipid metabolism in obese rats induced by a high fat diet. METHODS: Male SD rats were fed a high-fat diet (40% calorie as fat) for 8 weeks as a dietary induced obesity model (DIO, n=32). They were then randomly divided into four groups, control, corn pip-tide(CP) group, exercise group and CP + exercise group (n=8). Supplement (CP:200 g/kg) and exercise(tread mill Ex was performed 15 m/min for 60 min/d, 5 days a week) protocol for 4 weeks. Body weight and dietary levels of rats were monitored during the experimental peri-od. At the end of the 4th weeks, rats of all groups were sacrificed. Perirenal fat and liver were harvested, and hepatic adipose triglyceride li-pase(ATGL) and TNF-α were analyzed via Western blot. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, compared with DIO control group, body weight and perire-nal fat mass index in CP + exercise group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Hepatic ATGL was significantly higher in corn peptides supplementation, especially in combination with exercise (P < 0.05). At the same time, the values of TNF-α expression were decreased signif-icantly in exercise groups compared with DIO group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Corn peptides combined with aerobic exercise has a weight re-duction by lowering adipose tissue in experimental animals, it may be related to the expression of ATGL and TNF-α in the liver, and promote lipid metabolism.

Epigenetic Regulation of miR-129-2 Leads to Overexpression of PDGFRa and FoxP1 in Glioma Cells.

miR-129-2 is frequently downregulated in multiple cancers. However, how it is silenced in cancers remains unclear. Here we investigated the expression profile and potential biological function of miR-129-2 in glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and lethal form of brain tumors in adults. We showed that miR-129-2 is lost in GBM patient specimens and cultured cell lines. miR-129-2 expression could be restored upon treatment with a histone deadetylase inhibitor (trichostatin A) but not a DNA methylation inhibitor (5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine), and more profound effect was observed with the treatment of these two drugs in combination. Furthermore, forced expression of miR-129-2 repressed the expression of major oncogenic genes such as PDGFRa and Foxp1 in GBMs. Consistently, expression of miR-129-2 significantly inhibits GBM cell proliferation in vitro. These results reveal that miR-129-2 is epigenetically regulated and functions as a tumor suppressor gene in GBMs, suggesting it may serve as a potential therapeutic target for GBM treatment.

Health disparities among the western, central and eastern rural regions of China after a decade of health promotion and disease prevention programming.

Health disparities between the western, central and eastern regions of rural China, and the impact of national health improvement policies and programming were assessed. A total of 400 counties were randomly sampled. ANOVA and Logistic regression modeling were employed to estimate differences in health outcomes and determinants. Significant differences were found between the western, central and eastern rural regions in community infrastructure and health outcomes. From 2000 to 2010, health indicators in rural China were improved significantly, and the infant mortality rate (IMR), maternal mortality rate (MMR) and under 5 mortality rate (U5MR) had fallen by 62.79%, 71.74% and 61.92%, respectively. Central rural China had the greatest decrease in IMR (65.05%); whereas, western rural China had the greatest reduction in MMR (72.99%) but smallest reduction in U5MR (57.36%). Despite these improvements, Logistic regression analysis showed regional differences in key health outcome indicators (odds ratios): IMR (central: 2.13; western: 5.31), U5MR (central: 2.25; western: 5.69), MMR (central: 1.94; western: 3.31), and prevalence of infectious diseases (central: 1.62; western: 3.58). The community infrastructure and health outcomes of the western and central rural regions of China have been improved markedly during the first decade of the 21st century. However, health disparities still exist across the three regions. National efforts to increase per capita income, community empowerment and mobilization, community infrastructure, capacity of rural health facilities, and health literacy would be effective policy options to attain health equity.

Effect of fasudil on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether right ventricular hypertrophy in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) rats could be prevented by treatment with Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil. METHODS: The rat model of pulmonary hypertension was established by exposing rats to normobaric intermitent hypoxia [(10 ± 0.5)% O2]. Twenty-four Spraque-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into control group, hypoxic model group and hypoxia with fasudil groups (n=8 each). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), and right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVHI) were measured. Ultrastructure of the right ventricular myocardial cells was observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM). - RESULTS: The level of mPAP (31.38 ± 1.98) mmHg and RVHI (0.47 ± 0.03) were significantly higher in the hypoxic model group than (15.25 ± 0.91) mmHg and (0.25 ± 0.02) in control group respectively (P<0.01). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed the model group right ventricular mitochondria increased significantly, swelling, cristae blurred, lost, heart muscle Siming dark band was not clear. The level of mPAP (16.63 ± 1.53) mmHg and RVHI (0.27 ± 0.02) were significantly lower in fasudil treatment group than in model group respectively (P<0.01). After the intervention of fasudil right ventricular myocardial injury was significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Fasudil may partly prevent and reverse the development of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial cell injury.

[Study on the relationship between smoking behavior and other unhealthy behaviors among middle school students in 4 cities of China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the situation of smoking behavior among the students of middle school in Beijing, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Urumchi and to analyze the relationship between smoking behavior and several unhealthy behaviors together with psychological troubles to provide evidence in developing an early intervention plan. METHODS: The National Health Education Institute (NHEI) of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided relevant data on all middle schools in the 4 cities and then U.S. CDC randomly sampled 100 common middle schools from them with a special sampling process. The core questionnaire developed by the experts from WHO and other countries was used in the survey among 9015 sampled students. RESULTS: Among all the sampled students, 29.4% of them had ever attempted cigarettes smoking while 6.6% of them tried tobacco in the 30 days before survey, 27.0% of the students with smoking behavior began smoking at the age of 9 or younger, 31.8% had learned how to refuse smoking from school education. The students with smoking behavior were more likely to drink alcohol, use drugs, bully others, be injured, miss classes, and have some psychological troubles than those without smoking behavior. CONCLUSION: There were increasing trends noticed on the incidence of attempt and smoking cigarettes. Smoking was closely related to other unhealthy behaviors and psychological troubles. Comprehensive education activities on "no-smoking" should be implemented as early as possible among adolescents, as well as to promote training on life skills.

[Study on health related behaviors and its protective factors of junior middle school students in 4 cities of China].

OBJECTIVE: To provide accurate data on health related behaviors and protective factors among students in middle schools in China, for developing priorities, programs and policies on health education. METHODS: We used a standard scientific sample selection process developed by American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct the questionnaire survey among middle schools from four cities--Beijing, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Urumchi. RESULTS: Data were found as: 3.2% of students are overweight; 25.3% of students rarely washing hands before eating at school, 20.5% of the students had seriously injured in the past 12 months, 30.4% of male students having had physical fighting, 17.1% of the students having serious attempted suicide, 29.7% of the students ever tried or experimented cigarette smoking, 13.0% having drunk from alcohol and 14.5% having been offered or selling drugs during the past 30 days, 78.9% were in an insufficient amount of physical activity and only 14.3% often used seat belt when riding in a car. CONCLUSIONS: There were many problems on health related behaviors among middle school students in these four cities, especially on hygiene, physical activities, psychological situation, smoking and drinking etc. It is absolutely necessary to develop health education for children and adolescence to promote their healthy behaviors and lifestyle.