Molecular characterization of Beclin 1 in rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) and its expression after waterborne cadmium exposure.

Beclin 1 plays an important role in autophagy and apoptosis which are well documented in mammals. However, relevant reports are rare in fish. This study characterized Beclin 1 of the rare minnow Gobiocypris rarus (rmBeclin 1), which encodes a peptide of 447 amino acids using RT-PCR and RACE. The deduced peptide showed 96.4 and 80.8% similarity to Beclin 1 of common carp and human, respectively. Semiquantitative RT-PCR revealed that rmBeclin 1 was ubiquitously expressed in all tested tissues of male and female fish in all developmental stages, even unfertilized eggs. RT-qPCR revealed that rmBeclin 1 mRNA transcripts were significantly up-regulated in gills after a 12 h treatment with waterborne CdCl2 but were decreased thereafter. However, rmBeclin 1 expression was decreased in the brain, but it was not significantly changed in other tissues. Subchronic CdCl2 exposure significantly increased rmBeclin 1 in the brain, but it distinctly decreased rmBeclin 1 in the gill and hepatopancreas. A dose-dependent effect was not observed in mature fish treated for 96 h, but a dose-dependent effect existed in immature fish treated for 10 days. Longer treatment (10 day) caused a significantly higher expression of rmBeclin 1 in the larvae groups. These data suggest that alterations in rmBeclin 1 after CdCl2 exposure are tissue-specific and time-related and that the dose-dependent effect was restricted to a certain concentration range and exposure time.

Nuclear-Spin-Induced Circular Dichroism in the Infrared Region for Liquids.

Recently, the nuclear-spin-induced optical rotation (NSOR) and circular dichroism (NSCD) for liquids were discovered and extensively studied and developed. However, so far, nuclear-spin-induced magnetic circular dichroism in the IR region (IR-NSCD) has not been explored, even though all polyatomic molecules exhibit extensive IR spectra. Herein, IR-NSCD is proposed and discussed theoretically. The results indicate that in favorable conditions the IR-NSCD angle may be much larger than the NSOR angle in the UV/Vis region due to a vibrational resonance effect and can be measurable by using the NSOR experiment scheme. IR-NSCD can automatically combine and give NMR spectra and IRCD spectra of the nuclear spin prepolarized samples in liquids, which, in principle, could be developed to become a unique, novel analytical tool.

METTL3/YTHDF2 m6A axis promotes the malignant progression of bladder cancer by epigenetically suppressing RRAS.

The present study aimed to explore the potential roles of the methyltransferase­like 3 (METTL3)­mediated methylation of RAS related (RRAS) mRNA in the tumorigenesis and development of bladder cancer (BCa). For this purpose, the relative expression levels of METTL3 in BCa specimens and cell lines were measured using reverse transcription­quantitative PCR (RT­qPCR) and western blot analysis. The association between the METTL3 expression level and the clinical characteristics of patients with BCa was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis databases. Cellular experiments were performed to confirm the effects of METTL3 on the proliferative, migratory and invasive capacities of BCa cells. RT­qPCR, western blot analysis, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP)­qPCR and dual­luciferase report assays were utilized to verify the METTL3/RRAS/YTH N6­methyladenosine (m6A) RNA binding protein 2 (YTHDF2) regulatory axis in BCa. The results revealed that METTL3 expression was markedly increased in BCa specimens and cell lines, and was associated with poor clinical characteristics of patients with BCa. In vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated that the silencing of METTL3 markedly suppressed the proliferative, migratory and invasive capacities of BCa cells. MeRIP­PCR and dual­luciferase report assays indicated that METTL3 could bind to the m6A sites of RRAS mRNA and suppress the transcriptional activity of RRAS. YTHDF2 could recognize the m6A sites of RRAS and mediate RRAS degradation. On the whole, the findings of the present study reveal the pivotal role of METTL3­catalyzed m6A modification in BCa tumorigenesis and development. The change could facilitate BCa tumor growth and metastasis by suppressing RRAS expression in an m6A YTHDF2­dependent manner. Targeting the METTL3/RRAS/YTHDF2 regulatory axis may thus prove to be a promising strategy for the diagnosis and therapy of BCa.

New nuclear-spin-induced Cotton-Mouton effect in fluids at high DC magnetic field.

Based on Buckingham and Pople's theory of magnetic double refraction, a theoretical expression is derived for a new Cotton-Mouton effect φ(C-M)((IB)) in liquid induced by the crossed effect between the high dc magnetic field B(0) and the nuclear magnetic moment m(z)((l)). It contains temperature-independent and -dependent parts. The latter is proportional to the product between anisotropy of polarizability and the nuclear magnetic shielding tensor. For this new effect φ(C-M)((IB)), its order in magnitude for a molecule with large polarizability anisotropy is estimated to be comparable to the nuclear-spin-induced optical Faraday rotation (NSOFR). In the multipass approach, φ(C-M)((IB)) can be eliminated by time-reversal symmetry arguments, but NSOFR is enhanced.

Identification of Hub Biomarkers and Immune-Related Pathways Participating in the Progression of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Glomerulonephritis.

Background: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a systemic autoimmune disease that generally induces the progression of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (GN). The purpose of this study was to identify key biomarkers and immune-related pathways involved in the progression of ANCA-associated GN (ANCA-GN) and their relationship with immune cell infiltration. Methods: Gene microarray data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Hub markers for ANCA-GN were mined based on differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and lasso regression, followed by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of the differential genes. The infiltration levels of 28 immune cells in the expression profile and their relationship to hub gene markers were analysed using single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA). In addition, the accuracy of the hub markers in diagnosing ANCA-GN was subsequently evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results: A total of 651 differential genes were screened. Twelve co-expression modules were obtained via WGCNA; of which, one hub module (black module) had the highest correlation with ANCA-GN. A total of 66 intersecting genes were acquired by combining differential genes. Five hub genes were subsequently obtained by lasso analysis as potential biomarkers for ANCA-GN. The immune infiltration results revealed the most significant relationship among monocytes, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. ROC curve analysis demonstrated a prime diagnostic value of the five hub genes. According to the functional enrichment analysis of the differential genes, hub genes were mainly enhanced in immune- and inflammation-related pathways. Conclusion: B cells and monocytes were closely associated with the pathogenesis of ANCA-GN. Hub genes (CYP3A5, SLC12A3, BGN, TAPBP and TMEM184B) may be involved in the progression of ANCA-GN through immune-related signal pathways.

Surgical management of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas: A retrospective analysis of 33 patients.

The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) is the primary treatment for growth hormone (GH) adenoma. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of EETA in 33 patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenoma (PA).Thirty-three patients who underwent EETA in Eighth People's Hospital of Shenzhen between January 2013 and December 2017 were included in the comprehensive analysis. Factors affecting the extent of resection and postoperative remission rates were also reviewed.The total cut rate was 63.6% (21), and the total remission rate was 66.7% (22) in all patients after surgery. The cure rate was 60.6% (20) for 33 patients. The total removal rate and remission rate were significantly different (P = .01, P = .007) for microadenomas, macroadenomas, and giant adenomas. In addition, the total removal rate and remission rate were significantly different (P = .004, P = .007) for patients with noninvasive and invasive GH-secreting PAs. Furthermore, there were significant differences (P = .003, P = .005) in the total removal rate and remission rate of patients with different preoperative GH levels. All patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus were normalized. Three patients exhibited recurrence after surgery. Several patients suffered from postoperative complications, including transient diabetes insipidus in 3 (9.1%) patients and postoperative transient cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 2 (6.1%) patients.EETA is an effective therapeutic approach for treating patients with GH-secreting PA with high remission and low complication rates. Therefore, EETA should be considered a primary treatment for patients with GH-secreting PA.

LncRNA SNHG5: A new budding star in human cancers.

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) belongs to non-coding RNAs longer than 200 nucleic acids. More and more studies have revealed that lncRNA can participate in the occurrence and pathophysiology of diseases, especially in cancers. Although research on lncRNAs has doubled year by year, little is known about the specific regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in diseases. The main purpose of this review is to explore the molecular mechanism and clinical significance of SNHG5 in cancers. We systematically search Pubmed to obtain relevant literature on SNHG5. In this review, the functional role, molecular mechanism, and clinical significance of SNHG5 in human cancers are described in detail. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 5 (SNHG5) has been shown to be involved in the development and tumorigenesis of a variety of cancers (colorectal, bladder, gastric, endometrial, acute lymphocytic leukemia, osteosarcoma, etc.). Its disorder is closely related to metastasis, pathological staging, and prognosis. LncRNA SNHG5 might be a potential and novel diagnostic marker for cancer patients, a target for molecular targeted therapy, and a prognostic diagnostic marker.

The effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in patients with post-stroke depression: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). METHODS: The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and 4 Chinese databases were electronically searched for articles published between January 1, 2010 and May 31, 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of acupuncture on PSD were included. The quality of all included trials was assessed according to guidelines published by the Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: Seven trials compared the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy with that of control in alleviating the symptoms of PSD. Pooled analysis demonstrated that patients in the acupuncture intervention group experienced a significantly higher treatment effect than controls (RR 1.16 [95% CI 1.08-1.24]; P < .0001), with low study heterogeneity (I = 4%). Based on intervention methods, further analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in effectiveness between the acupuncture alone and medicine groups (RR 1.25 [95% CI 1.11 1.41]; Z = 3.78; P = .0002). There was no statistically significant difference in efficacy between the acupuncture combined with medicine and medicine groups (RR 1.07 [95% CI 0.98-1.17]; P = .11). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides evidence supporting the viewpoint that acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for PSD. Subgroup analyses further revealed that acupuncture alone resulted in better outcomes than drug therapy in improving depressive symptoms. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for PSD and develop standardized acupuncture protocols.

Intracranial solitary fibrous tumor: Report of two cases.

RATIONALE: Intracranial solitary fibrous tumor (ISFT) is a rare spindle cell tumor derived from dendritic mesenchymal cells expressing CD34 antigens, which are widely distributed in human connective tissues. PATIENT CONCERNS: In two case reports, we describe a 61-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man who present with intracranial malignant SFTs. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of head revealed that the largest size is about 3.3 × 3.0 cm in left occipital part and 4.0 × 3.0 cm in right skull base. DIAGNOSIS: Postoperative pathological results demonstrated that all of two cases are SFT. Case one: Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated a strong immunoreaction for cluster of differentiation (CD)34, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Vimentin (Vim). Case two: The tumor was distinctively positive for Bcl-2, but not for CD34 and Vim. INTERVENTIONS: One of the two patients recurred 6 years after the first tumor resection. After the recurrence, two gamma knife treatments were given, and another operation was performed about five years later. In one case, only tumor resection was performed. OUTCOMES: Case one: The postoperative neurological status was substantially improved and regular follow-up examinations for 6 months postsurgery have shown that the patient is currently disease-free. Case two: The patient achieved a good outcome, with no epilepsy or other neurological symptoms experienced on a regular 6-month follow-up. The patient is currently disease free. LESSONS: Imaging findings can be used to assist the diagnosis. The diagnostic method is pathology, and total surgical resection is the most effective treatment. The main treatment methods were total resection, supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy if necessary.

Retrospective analysis of 52 patients with prolactinomas following endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Prolactinomas affect patients' quality of life and even endanger lives. The study aimed to investigate the effect of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) on 52 patients with prolactinomas. METHODS: A total of 52 patients with prolactinomas who had previously undergone EETA in the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between January 2013 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Factors affecting the extent of resection and postoperative remission rates were also investigated. RESULTS: All the patients were pathologically diagnosed with prolactinomas. Compared with giant adenomas, the total removal rate of microadenomas and macroadenomas was significantly increased (P < .05). In addition, the total removal rate of patients with noninvasive prolactin adenomas was significantly higher than patients with invasive prolactinadenomas (P < .05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in postoperative remission rates among patients with prolactin adenomas from different ethnic groups (P > .05). Also preoperative administration of bromocriptine and preoperative prolactin (PRL) levels did not significantly affect therapeutic outcomes postsurgery (P > .05). Postoperative menstruation was improved or normalized in 20 (38.5%) female patients, vision was improved or normalized in 15 (28.8%) patients, and headaches were improved or normalized in 22 (42.3%) patients. Sexual function was improved in 2 male patients following surgery. A total of 6 patients exhibited a recurrence following surgery. A number of patients suffered from postoperative complications, including transient diabetes insipidus in 5 (9.6%) patients and postoperative transient cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 2 (3.8%) patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that tumor size, preoperative PRL levels, and invasion of adenomas represent independent factors that can affect the success of surgery. The results suggested that EETA represents a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with prolactinoma with high remission rates and low complication rates. Therefore, EETA should be considered a primary treatment for patients with prolactinomas who are not responsive to treatment with medical therapy.

RRM1 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with gemcitabine.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of ribonucleotide reductase catalytic subunit M1 (RRM1) for predicting the therapeutic effects of gemcitabine-containing chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. RRM1-positive patients show unique clinicopathological features. METHODS: Here, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the relationship between RRM1 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC patients treated with gemcitabine-containing regimens. A comprehensive electronic and manual search was performed to identify relevant articles. The pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% CI were used to estimate the relation between the clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC patients and RRM1 expression. RESULTS: The study included 31 observational studies and 3,667 patients. The analysis showed no significant association between RRM1 expression and pathological type, stage, and smoking status; however, RRM1 positivity was significantly lower in women than in men (43.0% vs 51.7%, RR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.74-0.94, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: The present pooled analyses demonstrated that RRM1 positivity in women with advanced NSCLC was associated with a higher rate of response to gemcitabine-containing regimens. Immunohistochemistry may be valuable to prescreen for RRM1 expression in clinical practice, whereas PCR can be routinely used as a verification method. These findings will help design suitable molecular-targeted therapies for NSCLC.

[Characterization of cadmium uptake kinetics in cadmium pollution-safe rice material.] / æ°´ç¨»é•‰å®‰å ¨ææ–™çš„é•‰å¸æ”¶åŠ¨åŠ›å­¦ç‰¹å¾.

The characteristics of cadmium (Cd) uptake kinetics in a pollution-safe rice variety of D62B were studied in a hydroponic experiment under different Cd levels and stress time, with a common variety Luhui17 as the control. The results showed that Cd uptake in root of D62B was significantly lower than that of Luhui17 under different stress times. The differences in Cd uptake of the two rice varieties increased with the extension of absorption time. Total Cd amount of Luhui17 was 1.3 times as much as that of D62B when the absorption time was 72 h. Meanwhile, the Cd uptake kinetic of the two varieties accorded to Michaelis-Menten equation, and little difference in Michaelis constants (Km) was observed in the two varieties. However, the maximum uptake rate (Vmax) of Luhui17 was 2 times as much as that of D62B. Once the stress time was more than 48 h, the transfer coefficients of D62B was lower than that of Luhui17, and the Cd distribution ratio in root of D62B was much higher, indicating that D62B had greater accumulation ability in root compared with Luhui17. In conclusion, the Cd uptake and transfer ability of D62B were lower than those of Luhui17.

Density functional theory studies on the electronic and vibrational spectra of octaethylporphyrin diacid.

The ground-state structure and electronic and vibrational spectra of octaethylporphyrin diacid (H4OEP2+) have been studied with the density functional theory. The geometrical parameters computed with B3LYP, PBE1PBE and mPW1PW91 functionals and 6-31G* basis sets are well consistent with the experimental values. Electronic absorption spectrum of H4OEP2+ has been studied with the time-dependent DFT method, and the calculated excitation energies and oscillator strengths are compared with the experimental results. The Raman and IR spectra of H4OEP2+ and the Raman spectrum of its N-deuterated analogue (D4OEP2+) were measured. The observed Raman and IR bands have been assigned based on the frequency calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory.

Theoretical investigation of doubly resonant IR-UV sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy of binaphthol chiral solution.

The doubly resonant IR-UV sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS) of 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (BN) solution and its dispersion spectra are analyzed and computed using the ZINDO//AM1 calculation and the direct approach of Raman scattering tensor calculation, which is based on calculations of Franck-Condon factors and on differentiation of the electronic transition moments with respect to the vibrational normal modes. The calculated results indicate that, for the most intense vibrational bands observed in the SFVS experiment, the calculated frequencies, symmetry, order, intensities, and pattern of the enhanced vibrational modes agree with experiment qualitatively, and due to the Franck-Condon progression, there are the doublet peaks in the corresponding resonant sum-frequency dispersion spectra. The polarization resonance Raman spectra of BN for the vibrational modes appearing in SFVS are also computed and associated with the experiment SFVS of BN. This direct evaluation approach of Raman tensors may provide a way of assigning the doubly resonant IR-UV SFVS.

Density functional theory studies on the Raman and IR spectra of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin diacid.

The vibrational spectra of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin diacid (H4TPP2+) have been studied with the density functional theory. Raman and IR spectra of H4TPP2+ and its N-deuterated analogue (D4TPP2+) are measured and compared with the computational results. Complete assignments of observed IR and Raman bands were proposed on the bases of calculation results. The DFT calculations reproduce 140 observed fundamentals with the RMS 8.6 cm-1. The computational as well as the experimental results reveal that the saddle-distortion of porphyrin macrocycle for the diacid leads to a significant effect on its vibrational spectra. Especially, several out-of-plane skeletal modes, which were either unobserved or very weak in the Raman spectra of CuTPP and H2TPP, are activated in the Raman spectra of the diacids. In addition, enhancement for the Raman bands of phenyl CC stretching modes were observed and attributed to the conjugation effect of pi-systems of the phenyl and the porphyrinato macrocycles.

[Expression of nestin and neurogenin 3 in the human fetal pancreas].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of nestin and neurogenin 3 (Ngn3), the markers of pancreatic stem cells, in the human fetal pancreas. METHODS: The human fetal pancreas tissue of 12 and 14 weeks were examined for the expression of nestin and Ngn3 using the techniques of immunofluorescence dye and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Both nestin and Ngn3 expressed widely in 12 and 14 weeks before in human fetal pancreatic tissue. In these positive cells there was no co-expressing insulin or glucagon. There were nestin and Ngn3 co-expressing cells in ducts but not in the islets. The results of RT-PCR also indicated the expression of nestin and Ngn3. CONCLUSIONS: There was no expression of the markers of mature endocrine cells in the nestin and Ngn3 positive cells, and they were the marks of no-differentiation cells in the human fetal pancreatic tissue.

Acceptability of physical examination by male doctors in medical care: Taking breast palpation as an example.

In this study, we conducted an investigation among medical workers, patients and college students concerning their acceptability of breast palpation performed by male doctors (hereinafter referred to as "acceptability", or "the examination", respectively, if not otherwise indicated), to get the information about their acceptability and reasons for accepting or declining the examination among the three population. A questionnaire investigation was conducted in 500 patients with breast diseases, 700 students of medical colleges, and 280 medical workers working in hospitals. The subjects were asked to choose between two options: accept or do not accept (the examination). The subjects were asked to fill out the questionnaire forms on free and anonymous basis and the questionnaire forms were collected on spot, immediately after completion. The questionnaires collected were coded, sorted out and checked. Data of the eligible questionnaires were input into Epidata software and analyzed by SPSS. Upon the establishment of the database, the intra-group data were tested by utilizing χ(2) test. Among 1480 questionnaires, 1293 (90.41%) questionnaires were retrieved. Our results showed that 56.78% of patients reported that they could accept breast palpation by male doctors. About 59.66% of medical staff expressed their acceptance of the examination, but only 35.03% of students said the examination. On the basis of this study, we were led to conclude that the examination is not well accepted by different populations, and therefore, (1) medical professionals and administrators should pay attention to the gender-related ethics in their practice and the feeling of patients should be respected when medical examinations involve private or sensitive body parts; (2) to this end, related departments should be properly staffed with doctors of both sexes, and this is especially true of the departments involving the examination or treatment of private or sensitive body parts; (3) health education should, among other things, include helping female patients to overcome the fear and anxiety in such examinations. This is of great importance since some women may miss the opportunity to get timely diagnosis.

Raman and infrared spectral study of meso-sulfonatophenyl substituted porphyrins (TPPSn, n = 1, 2A, 2O, 3, 4).

Raman and IR spectra of the free base p-sulfonatophenyl and phenyl meso-substituted porphyrins [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS4); 5,10,15-tris(4-sulfonatophenyl)-20-phenyl-porphyrin (TPPS3); 5,10-bis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-15,20-diphenylporphyrin (TPPS2A); 5,15-bis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-10,20-diphenylporphyrin (TPPS2O); and 5-(4-sulfonatophenyl)-10, 15,20-trisphenylporphyrin (TPPS1)] and their N-diprotonated derivatives (porphyrin diacids) were studied. The Raman spectra of the deuterated analogues of these porphyrins, in which the central hydrogen atoms were substituted with deuterium, were also measured. The observed vibrational bands were assigned on the basis of the deuteration shifts and compared with the structural analogues of these compounds. In IR spectra of the free-base porphyrins, the p-sulfonation of phenyl groups results in evident alteration for the phenyl modes and the porphyrin skeleton modes that are strongly coupled with phenyl vibrations. While the p-sulfonation of phenyl groups causes only slight changes for the high-frequency Raman bands (> 850 cm(-1)), dramatic shifts and band splitting were observed in the low-frequency region (< 500 cm(-1)) of Raman spectra. The observed differences of low-frequency Raman spectra were attributed to the alteration of the structure of the porphyrin ring, especially the CalphaCmCalpha bond-angles, by different meso-sulfonatophenyl substitutions. In addition, different packing style of TPPSn molecules in the aggregates is also responsible for the alteration of the vibrational spectra of the aggregated TPPSn.

Raman and UV-visible absorption spectra of ion-paired aggregates of copper porphyrins.

Raman and UV-visible absorption spectra of ion-paired aggregate constructed from two copper porphyrins, copper tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin (CuTMPyP) and copper tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)pophyrin (CuTSPP), are reported in this paper. The absorption bands of the aggregate was found exhibiting obvious shift and broadening, which are attributed to the excitonic coupling between the two paired porphyrin rings. The excitonic coupling in the aggregates also induces evident alteration for Raman intensities compared with monomer spectrum. Aggregation results in only small shifts (2-3 cm(-1)) for Raman lines connecting with the vibrations of porphyrin rings, manifesting only slight structural change of porphyrin skeletons. On the other hand, evident downshift (5 cm(-1)) was observed for the Cm-pyridyl stretch mode (1254 cm(-1)) of CuTMPyP, suggesting weakening of the Cm-pyridyl bonds by aggregation. Raman depolarization ratios of the aggregates are different from those of the monomers, implying a lowering of effective symmetry due to the molecular packing in the aggregates.

[Comparison of the mechanisms of intralesional steroid, interferon or verapamil injection in the treatment of proliferative scars].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of intralesional steroid, interferon alpha-2b or verapamil injection on proliferation, apoptosis and TGF-beta1 expression in keloid and hypertrophic scar in vivo. METHODS: 6 patients with keloids and 6 patients with hypertrophic scar were treated with intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/ml) or IFN alpha-2b (15 x 10(5) U/ml) or verapamil (2.5 mg/ml). Samples were collected on the 7th day after intralesional injection. Samples of untreated keloid and hypertrophic scar and normal skin were used as control. Expression of PCNA and TGF-beta1 was detected in situ by immunohistochemical staining, and apoptosis was detected in situ by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS: 1) Triamcinolone acetonide could prohibit proliferative scars through inhibiting cell proliferation and TGF-beta1 expression, as well as inducing apoptosis. 2) IFN alpha-2b could prohibit proliferative scars through inhibiting cell proliferation and TGF-beta1 expression, but not inducing apoptosis; 3) Verapamil could also prohibit proliferative scars through inhibiting proliferation and TGF-beta1 expression in fibroblasts, as well as inducing apoptosis. While the effect of inducing apoptosis was stronger than that of triamcinolone acetonide, the effect of inhibiting TGF-beta1 expression was weaker than those of triamcinolone acetonide and IFN alpha-2b. CONCLUSIONS: Although intraleional injection of steroid, interferon alpha-2b or verapamil were all effective in the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scar, their mechanisms are not similar.