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Background@#The accessory tendon of the extensor hallucis longus (ATEHL) muscle is a common abnormal structure, and its clinical significance remains debatable. In this study, we provide the incidence of the ATEHL and characterize its morphological types in Asian cadavers and investigate its clinical applications. @*Methods@#The tendons from 50 adult cadaveric feet, fixed in 10% formalin, were analyzed. We measured the length and width of both the ATEHL and the extensor hallucis brevis (EHB). @*Results@#All dissected specimens had an ATEHL. The first metatarsophalangeal joint was surrounded by an accessory tendon that inserted onto the joint capsule and the dorsal base of the proximal phalanx. We classified the ATEHL into 3 types based on their directions. Differences in ATEHL type based on sex were not statistically significant. @*Conclusions@#We found an ATEHL in all cadaveric specimens in this study. We surmise that the ATEHL acts as an antagonist with the EHB when the toe is extending, which might help prevent the occurrence of hallux valgus deformity.
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OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effect of tea polyphenols and its mechanism in potassium dichromate(PD)-induced acute renal injury in mice. METHODS: The specific pathogen free weaned Kunming mice were divided into control group, model group and low-, middle-and high-dose tea polyphenols groups, with 12 mice in each group. Mice in the control group were given 0.9% sodium chloride solution, and mice in other four groups were given PD solution with 4.275 mg/kg body weight every morning by intragastric administration. Then, mice in the control group and model group were given 0.9% sodium chloride solution in the afternoon, while mice in the low-, middle-and high-dose tea polyphenols groups were given 0.3 mL tea polyphenols solution with a dose of 200, 400 or 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively by gavage, once a day for two consecutive weeks. The body mass of mice was weighed during the experiment. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed. The kidneys were removed and weighed. The kidney organ coefficients were calculated. The levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine in serum were determined by two-point method, the activities of catalase(CAT) and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) in serum of mice were detected by colorimetry. The pathological change of kidney in mice was observed. RESULTS: The body weight of mice in the model group decreased(P<0.05), while the kidney mass, renal organ coefficient, serum levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine increased(all P<0.05), and the serum activities of CAT and GSH-Px decreased(all P<0.05) compared with the control group. The body weight of mice in the three tea polyphenols groups increased(all P<0.05), while the kidney mass, renal organ coefficient, urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in serum decreased(all P<0.05), and the activities of CAT and GSH-Px in serum increased with the increasing intervention dose of tea polyphenols(all P<0.05) compared with the model group. The change of acute renal injury was mainly caused by renal tubular injury in the model group. The pathological changes of renal tissue in the three tea polyphenols intervention groups were improved compared to that in the model group, and the improvement showed a dose-effect relationship with the intervention of tea polyphenols. CONCLUSION: Tea polyphenols have a protective effect on PD-induced acute renal injury with a dose-effect relationship. Its mechanism of action is related to the fact that tea polyphenols can reduce or reverse oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidney.
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Background@#The accessory tendon of the extensor hallucis longus (ATEHL) muscle is a common abnormal structure, and its clinical significance remains debatable. In this study, we provide the incidence of the ATEHL and characterize its morphological types in Asian cadavers and investigate its clinical applications. @*Methods@#The tendons from 50 adult cadaveric feet, fixed in 10% formalin, were analyzed. We measured the length and width of both the ATEHL and the extensor hallucis brevis (EHB). @*Results@#All dissected specimens had an ATEHL. The first metatarsophalangeal joint was surrounded by an accessory tendon that inserted onto the joint capsule and the dorsal base of the proximal phalanx. We classified the ATEHL into 3 types based on their directions. Differences in ATEHL type based on sex were not statistically significant. @*Conclusions@#We found an ATEHL in all cadaveric specimens in this study. We surmise that the ATEHL acts as an antagonist with the EHB when the toe is extending, which might help prevent the occurrence of hallux valgus deformity.
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Melanoma is one of the most malignant forms of skin cancer; with a rapidly increasing prevalence. Early-stage melanoma is curable, but advanced metastatic melanoma is almost always fatal, and patients with such advanced disease have short median survival. Surgery and radiotherapy play a limited role in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Rather, chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment, although other approaches, including biotherapy and gene therapy, have been attempted. The authors hereby, evaluated the use of temozolomide [TMZ] for treating metastatic melanoma compared to dacarbazine [DTIC], the effectiveness of TMZ for treating brain metastases, as well as TMZ resistance and how the efficacy of TMZ in malignant melanoma can be increased. Two chemotherapeutic regimens are commonly used for palliative treatment of malignant melanoma: intravenous administration of DTIC and oral administration of the alkylating agent temozolomide [TMZ]. Compared to DTIC, TMZ is very well tolerated and has an advantage in terms of improving the quality of life of patients with metastatic melanoma. While the prognosis is currently unpromising, chemotherapy plays a palliative role for patients with metastatic melanoma. The toxicity of treatment regimens based on DTIC and TMZ do not differ significantly, although TMZ is costlier. These findings provide a reference for future researchers via a comprehensive analysis of the relevant literature
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Benzene is an established leukotoxin and leukemogen in humans. We have previously reported that exposure of workers to benzene and to benzene metabolite hydroquinone in cultured cells induced DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) to mediate the cellular response to DNA double strand break (DSB) caused by DNA-damaging metabolites. In this study, we used a new, small molecule, a selective inhibitor of DNA-PKcs, 2-(morpholin-4-yl)-benzo[h]chomen-4-one (NU7026), as a probe to analyze the molecular events and pathways in hydroquinone-induced DNA DSB repair and apoptosis. Inhibition of DNA-PKcs by NU7026 markedly potentiated the apoptotic and growth inhibitory effects of hydroquinone in proerythroid leukemic K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with NU7026 did not alter the production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress by hydroquinone but repressed the protein level of DNA-PKcs and blocked the induction of the kinase mRNA and protein expression by hydroquinone. Moreover, hydroquinone increased the phosphorylation of Akt to activate Akt, whereas co-treatment with NU7026 prevented the activation of Akt by hydroquinone. Lastly, hydroquinone and NU7026 exhibited synergistic effects on promoting apoptosis by increasing the protein levels of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 but decreasing the protein expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Taken together, the findings reveal a central role of DNA-PKcs in hydroquinone-induced hematotoxicity in which it coordinates DNA DSB repair, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis to regulate the response to hydroquinone-induced DNA damage.
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Benzene is an established leukotoxin and leukemogen in humans. We have previously reported that exposure of workers to benzene and to benzene metabolite hydroquinone in cultured cells induced DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) to mediate the cellular response to DNA double strand break (DSB) caused by DNA-damaging metabolites. In this study, we used a new, small molecule, a selective inhibitor of DNA-PKcs, 2-(morpholin-4-yl)-benzo[h]chomen-4-one (NU7026), as a probe to analyze the molecular events and pathways in hydroquinone-induced DNA DSB repair and apoptosis. Inhibition of DNA-PKcs by NU7026 markedly potentiated the apoptotic and growth inhibitory effects of hydroquinone in proerythroid leukemic K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with NU7026 did not alter the production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress by hydroquinone but repressed the protein level of DNA-PKcs and blocked the induction of the kinase mRNA and protein expression by hydroquinone. Moreover, hydroquinone increased the phosphorylation of Akt to activate Akt, whereas co-treatment with NU7026 prevented the activation of Akt by hydroquinone. Lastly, hydroquinone and NU7026 exhibited synergistic effects on promoting apoptosis by increasing the protein levels of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 but decreasing the protein expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Taken together, the findings reveal a central role of DNA-PKcs in hydroquinone-induced hematotoxicity in which it coordinates DNA DSB repair, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis to regulate the response to hydroquinone-induced DNA damage.
Subject(s)
Humans , Apoptosis , Physiology , Benzene , Toxicity , Catalysis , Chromones , Pharmacology , DNA Damage , Genetics , DNA Repair , Physiology , DNA-Activated Protein Kinase , Metabolism , K562 Cells , Morpholines , Pharmacology , Protein SubunitsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the possibility of removing nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic pollutants using seeding type immobilized microorganisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Lakes P and M in Wuhan were chosen as the objects to study the removal of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic pollutants with the seeding type immobilized microorganisms. Correlations between the quantity of heterotrophic bacteria and the total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total organic carbon (TOC) in the two lakes were studied. The dominant bacteria were detected, inoculated to the sludge and acclimated by increasing nitrogen, phosphorus and decreasing carbon source in an intermittent, time-controlled and fixed-quantity way. The bacteria were then used to prepare the seeding type immobilized microorganisms, selecting diatomite as the adsorbent carrier. The ability and influence factors of removing nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic pollutant from water samples by the seeding type immobilized microorganisms were studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The coefficients of the heterotrophic bacterial quantity correlated with TOC, TP, and TN were 0.9143, 0.8229, 0.7954 in Lake P and 0.9168, 0.7187, 0.6022 in Lake M. Ten strains of dominant heterotrophic bacteria belonging to Pseudomonas, Coccus, Aeromonas, Bacillus, and Enterobateriaceae, separately, were isolated. The appropriate conditions for the seeding type immobilized microorgansims in purifying the water sample were exposure time=24 h, pH=7.0-8.0, and quantity of the immobilized microorganisms=0.75-1 g/50 mL. The removal rates of TOC, TP, and TN under the above conditions were 80.2%, 81.6%, and 86.8%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The amount of heterotrophic bacteria in the two lakes was correlated with TOC, TP, and TN. These bacteria could be acclimatized and prepared for the immobilized microorganisms which could effectively remove nitrogen, phosphorus, and mixed organic pollutants in the water sample.</p>
Subject(s)
Bacteria , Metabolism , Environmental Pollutants , Nitrogen , Organic Chemicals , Phosphorus , Water MicrobiologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The toxicology of TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) has been studied mainly with regard to the carcinogenicity of its metabolites, but its phototoxicity is not well understood. Although some studies have indicated the lethal phototoxicity of TCDD, this study was designed to investigate its effect on SPC-A1 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SPC-A1 cells were cultured in 1640 medium and treated with 10 nmol/L, 0.1 micromol/L, 1 micromol/L TCDD for either 24 h or 96 h at each concentration. SPC-A1 cells were co-cultured with TCDD at different concentrations. Then the cell morphology, DNA fragment electrophoresis, and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry, and enzyme assays were used to observe the effect of TCDD on the morphology, growth rate, and enxyme change of SPC-A1 cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the increasing concentrations of TCDD and prolongation of culture time, the morphology of SPC-A1 cells was changed from round shape to spindle, and the ability of SPC-A1 cells to adhere to wall was decreased. With debris emitted around the cells, the morphologic changes included reduction in cell volume. Nuclear chromatin condensation and PI were observed. With the increasing concentrations of TCDD, DNA ladder occurred. After treatment with TCDD, extraction of cancer cells exhibited typical DNA fragmentation, and flow cytometry analysis showed apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. As the concentration of TCDD rose from 10 nmol/L to 1 micromol/L, the ratio of apoptotic cells increased from 10.76% to 21.82%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TCDD has in vitro cytotoxicity on SPC-A1 cells, and the cytotoxicity is positively related to its concentration and culture time. TCDD may inhibit the growth and proliferation of SPC-A1 cells through the pathway of apoptosis introduction.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Cell Line, Tumor , DNA Fragmentation , Environmental Pollutants , Toxicity , Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins , ToxicityABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a coated electrode of immobilized denitrificants and to evaluate the performance of a bioelectrochemical reactor to enhance and control denitrification.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Denitrifying bacteria were developed by batch incubation and immobilized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on the surface of activated carbon fiber (ACF) to make a coated electrode. Then the coated electrode (cathode) and graphite electrode (anode) were transferred to the reactor to reduce nitrate.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After acclimated to the mixtrophic and autotrophic denitrification stages, the denitrifying bacteria could use hydrogen as an electron donor to reduce nitrate. When the initial nitrate concentration was 30.2 mg NO3- -N / L, the denitrification efficiency was 57.3% at an applied electric current of 15 mA and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 hours. Correspondingly, the current density was 0.083 mA/cm2. The nitrate removal rate of the reactor was 34.4 g NO3- -N/m3 x d, and the surface area loading was 1.34 g NO3- -N / m2 x d.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The coated electrode may keep high quantity of biomass, thus achieving a high denitrification rate. Denitrification efficiencies are related to HRT, current density, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH value, and temperature.</p>
Subject(s)
Adsorption , Bacteria , Metabolism , Biodegradation, Environmental , Bioreactors , Carbon , Chemistry , Electrodes , Electrolysis , Nitrates , Metabolism , Oxidation-Reduction , Oxygen , Polyvinyl Alcohol , Temperature , Time Factors , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Metabolism , Water Purification , MethodsABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the possible mechanism of curcumin inhibition to murine melanoma growth.Methods Melanoma cell line B16F10 was injected subcutaneously into the outer side of mouse right thigh to establish a melanoma-bearing mouse model.Seven days after the establishing the model, these mice were treated with intraperitoneal injection of curcumin at 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively or RPMI 1640 culture medium as control.Fourteen days later,the mice were killed,tumor weight was calculated;the tumor nuclear factor?B activity and survivin mRNA expression were measured by Western blot and RT-PCR,respectively.Results The tumor weight was significantly lower in the curcumin-treated mice than that in the controls (P