Incidental gall bladder cancer in the laparoscopic treatment and magnetic resonance imaging era: A single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Incidental gall bladder cancer (IGBC) is often discovered unexpectedly in patients after cholecystectomy. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely applied in the pre-operative diagnosis of gall bladder diseases as laparoscopic cholecystectomy developed into the preferred method. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the pre-operative MRI application and laparoscopic management in the IGBCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2011 and January 2020, a total of 7917 patients with gall bladder diseases treated by laparoscopy were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Amongst 49 patients diagnosed with IGBCs, the incidence of IGBCs in polypoid lesions, biliary pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholecystocholedocholithiasis and gall bladder stones was 0.42%, 1.19%, 0.62%, 1.20% and 0.49%, respectively. MRI evaluation showed more remarkable pre-operative imaging as compared to ultrasonographic evaluation (40.8 vs. 26.5, P < 0.05). Furthermore, 14 patients were diagnosed with gall bladder cancer through intraoperative histological examination and 11 received laparoscopic extensive resection after cholecystectomy. MRI findings with diffuse thickening of the gall bladder detected IGBCs with 6.1% sensitivity, 96.02 specificity, 0.95% positive predictive values and 99.4% negative predictive values; diffuse thickening of the gall bladder with suspicion of malignancy detected IGBCs with 12.2% sensitivity, 99.1% specificity, 7.6% positive predictive values and 99.5% negative predictive values; focal thickening of the gall bladder detected IGBCs with 16% sensitivity, 99.8% specificity, 32% positive predictive values and 99.5% negative predictive values; moreover, suspicious lesion detected IGBCs with 6.1% sensitivity, 99.6% specificity, 8.8% positive predictive values and 99.4% negative predictive values. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with biliary pancreatitis and cholecystocholedocholithiasis have a higher incidence of IGBC. MRI evaluation could provide more accurate information for the IGBCs, which should be recommended for patients accepting cholecystectomy. MRI findings exhibited an unsatisfactory sensitivity when detecting IGBCs, but they represented high specificity. Pre-operative MRI evaluation and intraoperative histological examination may help some IGBCs to achieve one-stage laparoscopic extensive resection.

A review of different types of volunteer programs for older adults with and without cognitive impairment.

Theoretical models and empirical evidence suggest an association between volunteering and health outcomes in older adults. However, less is known about existing programs that involve older adults engaging in formal volunteering, especially programs for older volunteers with cognitive impairment. In this review, we summarized and evaluated different types of volunteering-based programs involving older volunteers with and without cognitive impairment. After a non-systematic literature search, we presented eight example volunteer programs. Older volunteers participate in the programs in person or remotely. In five of the programs, older volunteers without cognitive impairment participate in intergenerational engagement, support and referral, home visiting, and dementia care services. The other three programs specifically recruit older volunteers with cognitive impairment and provide intergenerational engagement and individualized volunteer activities. Both strengths and challenges identified in the programs were discussed. Different types of volunteering-based programs are available for engaging older volunteers. For volunteers to remain active during the pandemic or for volunteers who live with cognitive impairment, remote programs can be a valuable alternative. Program effects on older volunteers need to be tested in more rigorously designed studies.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and altered sleep quality in cerebral small vessel disease.

Background: Sleep disturbance and neuropsychiatric symptoms are common clinical symptoms of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we investigated the relationship between sleep quality and neuropsychiatric performance in patients with CSVD. Methods: A total of 30 patients with CSVD and 35 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The 13-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Symptom Check List 90 (SCL90) were used to assess depression, anxiety, and other psychological symptoms, respectively. Sleep quality was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and cognitive function was tested using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Results: When compared to the HC group, the patients with CSVD showed increased anxiety and neuropsychiatric symptoms, worse sleep quality, and impaired cognition (p < 0.05). The prevalence of comorbid poor sleep quality in the patients with CSVD was approximately 46%. The patients with CSVD with poor sleep quality also had more severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. After controlling for demographic variables, sex and anxiety significantly predicted sleep quality. Conclusion: This study suggests that the prevalence of CSVD with poor sleep quality is high, and that sex and anxiety are independent risk factors for CSVD comorbid sleep quality.

Risk factors for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents: A meta-analysis.

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents is a significant mental health problem around the world. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically delineate the risk factors for NSSI. Method: We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane for relevant articles and abstracts published prior to 12 November 2021. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confident intervals (CIs) were used to assess various risk factors, and publication bias was assessed by Egger's test, the trim and fill method and meta-regression. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021265885. Results: A total of 25 articles were eventually included in the analysis. Eighty risk factors were identified and classified into 7 categories: mental disorders (ORs, 1·89; 95% CI, 1·60-2·24), bullying (ORs, 1·98; 95% CI, 1·32-2·95), low health literacy (ORs, 2·20; 95% CI, 1·63-2·96), problem behaviours (ORs, 2·36; 95% CI, 2·00-2·77), adverse childhood experiences (ORs, 2·49; 95% CI, 1·85-3.34), physical symptoms (ORs, 2·85; 95% CI, 1·36-5·97) and the female gender (ORs, 2·89; 95% CI, 2·43-3·43). The range of heterogeneity (I2) was from 20·3% to 99·2%. Conclusion: This meta-analysis found that mental disorders, low health literacy, adverse childhood experiences, bullying, problem behaviours, the female gender and physical symptoms appear to be risk factors for NSSI.

Treatment of comminuted fracture of inferior pole of patella with locking suspension and vertical fixation with three steel wires / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical application of lockedge suspension combined with three steel wires vertical fixation in comminuted fracture of inferior pole of patella.@*METHODS@#From August 2016 to May 2019, 23 patients with comminuted fracture of the lower pole of the patella, including 14 males and 9 females, were treated with lockedge suspension combined with three steel wires vertical fixation. The age ranged from 34 to 68 (55.0±1.2) years. One year after operation, the pain and function were evaluated by pain visual analogue scale(VAS) and knee flexion and extension range of motion, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated by Lysholm knee score standard.@*RESULTS@#All 23 patients were followed up for 12 to 14, with a mean of(13.0±0.5) months. One patient had skin irritation by the tail of the steel wire, and the rest had no postoperative complications such as incision infection, internal fixation loosening and fracture displacement. The fractures of 23 patients were healed, and the healing time was 10 to 14 weeks with a mean of(12.0±1.1) weeks. The VAS score decreased from 7.96±0.93 before operation to 0.83±0.65 one year after operation. The range of knee flexion and extension activities increased from(20.30±8.69) ° before operation to 1 year after operation(127.39±6.55) °. Lysholm knee score increased from 18.48±4.00 before operation to 96.09±4.91 one year after operation(P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The treatment of comminuted fracture of the lower pole of patella by lockedge suspension combined with three steel wires vertical fixation has reliable fixation and high fracture healing rate. It can meet the requirements of rapid rehabilitation and functional exercise, and the early clinical effect is satisfactory.

Career choice and influential factors among medical students majoring in psychiatry in China.

BACKGROUND: The undergraduate program of psychiatry has been widely established in recent years to improve the education and recruitment of psychiatrists in China. We aim to investigate the career choice of medical students majoring in psychiatry in China and the influential factors. METHOD: This multicenter study was conducted in 26 medical schools in China from May to October of 2019. Participants included 4610 medical students majoring in psychiatry and 3857 medical students majoring in clinical medicine. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the influential factors of students' choices of psychiatry at matriculation and as a career. RESULTS: 44.08% of psychiatry majored students gave psychiatry as a first choice at matriculation, and 56.67% of them would choose psychiatry as a career, which was in sharp contrast to the proportion of clinical medicine majored students who would choose psychiatry as a career (0.69%). Personal interest (59.61%), suggestions from family members (27.96%), and experiencing mental problems (23.19%) were main reasons for choosing psychiatry major at matriculation. Personal interest (odds ratio [OR] = 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.87-2.40), experiencing a psychiatry clerkship (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.28-3.08), being female (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.30-1.68), experiencing mental problems (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.28-1.56), and suggestions from family members (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.08-1.46) correlated positively with students' choice of psychiatry as career. Students who lacked psychiatry knowledge (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.29-0.85) or chose psychiatry because of lower admission scores (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.63-0.97) were less likely to choose psychiatry as a career. CONCLUSION: More than half of psychiatry majored medical school students planned to choose psychiatry as their career, whereas very few students in the clinic medicine major would make this choice. Increasing students' interest in psychiatry, strengthening psychiatry clerkships, and popularizing psychiatric knowledge are modifiable factors to increase the psychiatry career intention. The extent to which medical students' attitudes toward psychiatry can be changed through medical school education and greater exposure to psychiatry will need further investigation.

Association between stereopsis deficits and attention decline in patients with major depressive disorder.

Cognitive and sensory deficits were considered a core feature of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, few studies investigated stereopsis integrity in patients with MDD. Thus, the objectives of this study investigated stereopsis integrity and its correlations with cognitive function and depressive symptom in patients with MDD. 90 patients with MDD and 116 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this study. Their stereoacuity was evaluated using the Titmus Stereopsis Test as well as assessing their cognitive function and depressive symptom by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Log seconds of arc was significantly higher in patients than HCs (1.92 ± 0.41 versus 1.67 ± 0.16, t = 5.35, p < 0.0001). The percentage of patients with correct stereopsis detection was markedly declined in 400 (z = 3.06, p = 0.002), 200 (z = 3.84, p < 0.001), 140 (z = 4.73, p < 0.001), 100 (z = 4.58, p < 0.001), 80 (z = 5.06, p < 0.001), 60 (z = 4.72, p < 0.001), 50 (z = 4.24, p < 0.001), and 40 (z = 4.85, p < 0.001) seconds of arc compared with HCs. Log seconds of arc was significantly correlated with the RBANS total score (r = -0.38, p < 0.0001), subscores of attention (r = -0.49, p < 0.0001) and language (r = -0.33, p = 0.001) rather than HAMD score (r = 0.03, p = 0.78) in MDD patients. In addition, log seconds of arc was significantly related to the RBANS total score (r = -0.58, p < 0.0001) and language score (r = -0.45, p = 0.006) rather than attention score (r = -0.30, p = 0.07) in HCs. Further stepwise multivariate regression analyses showed the negative correlation of log seconds of arc with attention score (ß = -0.80, t = -3.95, p < 0.0001) rather than HAMD score (ß = -0.008, t = -0.09, p = 0.93) in MDD patients. However, there was no relationship between log seconds of arc and attention score in HCs (ß = 1.52, t = 1.19, p = 0.24). Our results identified the marked deficits of stereopsis in MDD patients that were tightly correlated with their attention functioning rather than depressive symptom.

Clinical oberservation on rotator cuff suture threader and strapping suture in meniscus tear under arthroscopy / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore clinical effect of arthroscopic meniscus tear strapping suture by rotator cuff suture threader.@*METHODS@#Forty patients with meniscus tear injury admitted from July 2015 to May 2019, including 27 males and 13 females, aged from 20 to 55 years old with an average of (36.0±1.4) years old. Menisci laceration was sutured with rotator cuff suture thread under arthroscopy. Postoperative complication was observed, Lysholm knee joint score before and after operation at 12 months were used to evaluate clinical effects, visual analogue scale (VAS) and range of knee flexion and extension were applied to evaluate recovery of pain and function.@*RESULTS@#All patients were followed up from 12 to 15 months with an average of (12.6±0.7) months.No complication such as joint effusion, suture failure occurred. Two patients occurred mild pain after activity without clinical physical abnormality, and 1 patient manifested moderate pain with joint space tenderness, the other rest without abnormal. Lysholm knee joint score was increased from (49.55±1.21) preoperatively to (98.95±0.42) at 12 months after operation, VAS score decreased from (5.18±0.78)preoperatively to (1.03±0.77) at 12 months after operation, and range of knee joint flexion and extension activity increased from (50.63±9.20)°preoperatively to (130.38±4.99)°after operation, and there were statistical differences in Lysholm knee joint score, VAS and range of knee joint flexion and extension activity (@*CONCLUSION@#Arthroscopic strapping suture by rotator cuff suture threading device applies to most meniscus injuries, including medial meniscus posterior horn tears, lateral meniscus body tears and lateral meniscus posterior horn tears. This technique meets the need of full-internal meniscus suture without specialmeniscus suture, and has advantages of convenient operation, less complications and good postoperative function.

Associations among gonadal hormone, triglycerides and cognitive decline in female patients with major depressive disorders.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment has been identified as a core feature of depression. Serum triglycerides (TG), gonadal hormone and sex difference were shown to influence cognitive performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations among serum TG, gonadal hormone, sex difference and cognitive performance in patients with major depressive disorders (MDD). METHODS: The enrolled 183 patients (male/female = 80/103) meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD were divided into high TG group (patients-HTG) and normal TG group (patients-NTG) according to TG level. Serum TG, estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) levels were measured by the glycerokinase peroxidase-peroxidase and chemiluminescence methods. Cognition was assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The study was conducted between August 2016 and January 2020. RESULTS: In female, patients-HTG had lower immediate memory, language, attention, delayed memory and RBANS total scores than patients-NTG after adjusting for covariates. There were significant differences in serum E2 and T levels between patients-HTG and patients-NTG in female after controlling for covariates. In female patients-HTG, serum E2 level was positively associated with immediate memory, delayed memory and RBANS total scores, and serum T level was positively related to immediate memory, language and RBANS total scores. These findings were not seen in male patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that patients-HTG exhibited poorer cognitive function compared with patients-NTG in female. Moreover, the decline in serum gonadal hormone level might contribute to the high TG development of female MDD, and was further implicated in their cognitive decline.

5, 7, 2', 4', 5'-Pentamethoxyflavanone regulates M1/M2 macrophage phenotype and protects the septic mice / 中国天然药物

Flavonoids have been reported to exert protective effect against many inflammatory diseases, while the underlying cellular mechanisms are still not completely known. In the present study, we explored the anti-inflammation activity of 5, 7, 2', 4', 5'-pentamethoxyflavanone (abbreviated as Pen.), a kind of polymethoxylated flavonoid, both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Pen. was showed no obvious toxicity in macrophages even at high dosage treatment. Our results indicated that Pen. significantly inhibited both mRNA and protein level of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS, which was characteristic expressed on M1 polarized macrophages. These effects of Pen. were further confirmed by diminished expression of CD11c, the M1 macrophage surface marker. Further researches showed that the mechanism was due to that Pen. downregulated the activity of p65, key transcription factor for M1 polarization. On the other hand, Pen. also enhanced M2 polarization with upregulation of anti-inflammatory factors and increase of M2 macrophage surface markers, which lead to the balance of M1 and M2 macrophages. Moreover, in vivo research verified that Pen. treatment alleviated LPS-induced sepsis in mice by increasing survival rate, decreasing inflammatory cytokines and improving lung tissue damage. In summary, our results suggested that Pen. modulated macrophage phenotype via suppressing p65 signal pathway to exert the anti-inflammation activity.

Association between PLA2G12A polymorphism and patients with schizophrenia in a southern Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: Elevated phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity is reported to be involved in the development of schizophrenia. Further study revealed an association between PLA2 groups XIIA (PLA2G12A) polymorphism and patients with schizophrenia in a northeast Chinese Han population. OBJECTIVE: This study will further examine whether PLA2G12A rs3087494 polymorphism is associated with patients with schizophrenia in a southern Chinese Han population. METHODS: This polymorphism was genotyped in 438 patients with schizophrenia (diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV) and 876 healthy controls using a case-control design. Demographic and clinical data were collected in all subjects. RESULTS: The allele and genotype frequencies of PLA2G12A rs3087494 polymorphism significantly differed between groups (both, p < .001). These differences still were significant by adjusting for sex and age. However, there was no difference in age at onset among 3 genotype groups in patients with schizophrenia by adjusting for the variables (F = 0.22, p = .80). Stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed that this polymorphism was not associated with age at onset in patients with schizophrenia (ß = .008, t = .07, p = .94). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that even though PLA2G12A rs3087494 polymorphism did not influence age at onset in patients with schizophrenia, it may play an important role in the susceptibility to schizophrenia in a southern Chinese Han population.

Association between increased serum interleukin-6 levels and sustained attention deficits in patients with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in patients with the major depressive disorder (MDD) may involve neuroinflammation mediated by cytokines. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, sustained attention, and their association in patients with MDD. METHODS: Thirty patients with MDD and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Sustained attention was measured using the Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP) task in the Cambridge Neuropsychological Tests Automated Battery. The serum IL-6 levels of all subjects were assessed by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the log10RVP total hits, log10RVP total misses, and log10RVP mean latency between patients with MDD and healthy controls (F = 6.04, p = 0.017; F = 19.77, p < 0.0001; F = 14.42, p < 0.0001, respectively). The serum levels of Log10IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with MDD than in healthy controls (F = 192.27, p < 0.0001). The log10IL-6 levels were also positively correlated with the log10RVP mean latency in patients with MDD (r = 0.45, p = 0.013). A further stepwise multivariate regression analysis indicated that the log10IL-6 levels were significantly associated with the log10RVP mean latency in patients with MDD (ß = 0.31, t = 2.41, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that increased IL-6 levels were associated with the psychopathology of MDD, and that abnormal IL-6 levels were implicated in the impairment of sustained attention in patients with MDD.

Elevated triglyceride levels are associated with cognitive impairments among patients with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficits have been identified as one of core clinical symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). Accumulating evidence indicated that triglycerides (TG) might be associated with MDD and cognitive decline. OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether patients with MDD had poorer cognitive functions than healthy controls, and further investigate whether TG levels were involved in MDD, and its cognitive impairments in a Han Chinese population. METHOD: 115 patients with MDD and 119 healthy controls were enrolled. Cognitive functions were assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), and serum TG levels were examined using enzymatic colorimetry. RESULTS: TG levels were higher in patients with MDD than healthy controls after controlling for the variables. Cognitive test scores were lower in patients with MDD than healthy controls except for visuospatial/constructional index after controlling for the variables. TG levels were negatively correlated with visuospatial/constructional score, delayed memory score and RBANS total score of MDD. Further multivariate regression analysis showed that TG levels were negatively associated with visuospatial/constructional score, attention score, delayed memory score and RBANS total score of MDD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings supported that serum TG levels might be involved in MDD, and play an important role in cognitive impairments of MDD, especially in delayed memory. Moreover, patients with MDD experienced greater cognitive impairments than healthy controls except for visuospatial/constructional index.

Analysis on treatment and diagnosis of Segond fracture combined with injuries / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics of Segond fracture combined with injuries, and to explore the operative method and opportunity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2010 to December 2014, 10 patients with Segond fracture were treated. There were 10 males, ranging in age from 26 to 69 years old, with a mean of 42 years old. Under arthroscopy examination within 7 to 10 days after injury, 6 patients had compete rupture of anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injury; 2 patients had tibial avulsion fractures of the ACL combined with meniscus injury. At 4 to 8 weeks after injury, 2 patients were performed with arthroscopy examination; 1 patient had complete rupture of anterior and posterior cruciate ligament combined with meniscus injury; and the other patient had complete rupture of anterior cruciate ligament alone. All the patients with cruciate ligament rupture were treated with reconstruction of cruciate ligament; 9 patients had meniscus injuries were treated with menisus plasty or suture; and 2 patients had tibial avulsion fractures of the ACL were treated with non-absorbable Ethicon suture fixation under arthroscopy. After operation, the Lysholm scoring system was used to evaluate clinical effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight patients were operated within 10 days after injury, the knee joints swelling was obvious at the 3rd day after operation, and blood oozing was found by joint puncture. These 8 patients did out-of-bed activity with assistance at 1 week postoperatively. Other 2 patients performed operation in 4 to 8 weeks after injury without knee joint obvious swelling at the 3rd day after operation, and no blood oozing was found by joint puncture. These 2 patients did out-of-bed activity with assistance after 3 days postoperatively. All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 24 months, with an average of 18 months. Postoperative Lysholm score of all patients was higher than preoperative scor, and the results were satisfactory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For Segond fractures, firstly, it is important to gain early diagnosis for treatment. Secondly, it is often associated with the rupture of anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries, and the best time of cruciate ligament rebuilding and meniscus repairing maybe between 4 to 8 weeks after injury. Thirdly, personalized treatment should be chosen according to different complications.</p>

Ethanol promotes saturated fatty acid-induced hepatoxicity through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response / 中国天然药物

Serum palmitic acid (PA), a type of saturated fatty acid, causes lipid accumulation and induces toxicity in hepatocytes. Ethanol (EtOH) is metabolized by the liver and induces hepatic injury and inflammation. Herein, we analyzed the effects of EtOH on PA-induced lipotoxicity in the liver. Our results indicated that EtOH aggravated PA-induced apoptosis and lipid accumulation in primary rat hepatocytes in dose-dependent manner. EtOH intensified PA-caused endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in vitro and in vivo, and the expressions of CHOP, ATF4, and XBP-1 in nucleus were significantly increased. EtOH also increased PA-caused cleaved caspase-3 in cytoplasm. In wild type and CHOP(-/-) mice treated with EtOH and high fat diet (HFD), EtOH worsened the HFD-induced liver injury and dyslipidemia, while CHOP knockout blocked toxic effects of EtOH and PA. Our study suggested that targeting UPR-signaling pathways is a promising, novel approach to reducing EtOH and saturated fatty acid-induced metabolic complications.

Calcineurin is involved in cardioprotection induced by ischemic postconditioning through attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Ischemic postconditioning (I-postC) is a newly discovered and more amenable cardioprotective strategy capable of protecting the myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a principal site for secretary protein synthesis and calcium storage. Myocardial I/R causes ER stress and emerging studies suggest that the cardioprotection has been linked to the modulation of ER stress. The aim of the present study was to determine whether cardioprotection of I-postC involves reduction in ER stress through calcineurin pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In the in vivo model of rat myocardial I/R, myocardial infarct size was measured by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and apoptosis was detected using terminal eoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Expression of calreticulin, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), caspase-12, and activation of caspase-12 in myocardium were detected by Western blotting. The activity and expression of calcineurin in myocardium were also detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>I-postC protected the I/R heart against apoptosis, myocardial infarction, and leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB). I-postC suppressed I/R-induced ER stress, as shown by a decrease in the expression of calreticulin and CHOP, and caspase-12 activation. I-postC downregulated calcineurin activation in myocardium subjected to I/R.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>I-postC protects myocardium from I/R injury by suppressing ER stress and calcineurin pathways are not associated with the I-postC-induced suppression of ER stress-related apoptosis.</p>

[Involvement of metallothionein in the protection of lung ischemic preconditioning].

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether metallothionein was involved in the protection of lung ischemic preconditioning (IP) against lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups based upon the intervention (n=8): control group (C), lung I/R group (I/R), lung I/R+IP group (IP). At the end of the experiment, the content of metallothionein was tested in lung tissue. Blood specimens collected from the arteria carotis were tested for the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). The pneumocyte apoptosis index (AI) was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Ultrastructural changes of lung tissue were observed by using transmission electron microscope. The results showed that in I/R group, the content of metallothionein was decreased (P<0.05), the content of MDA and MPO activity were increased (P<0.01), and SOD activity was decreased (P<0.01), compared with those in control group. IP treatment significantly increased the content of metallothionein (P<0.01), attenuated the MDA level (P<0.05) and MPO activity (P<0.01), and improved SOD activity (P<0.01) in blood serum. The number of TUNEL-positive cells in IP group was significantly reduced compared with that in I/R group (P<0.01). There were abnormal ultrastructural changes in I/R group, which were markedly reversed in IP group. In conclusion, IP may protect lung against I/R injury by inducing the expression of metallothionein.

Silencing PPARγ gene inhibits proliferation and inducs apoptosis of hepatoma HCCLM3 cells / 肿瘤

Objective: To observe the effects of knocking down the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) with RNA interference techniques on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma HCCLM3 cells. Methods: A short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) eukaryotic expression vector against PPARγ was constructed and transfected into HCCLM3 cells. The changes of PPARγ expression were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. The proliferation of HCCLM3 cells was tested by MTT assay. Apoptosis ratio of HCCLM3 cells was detected by TUNEL method and flow cytometry (FCM). Expressions of PCNA and wide-type p53 protein were analyzed by immunocytochemistry (ICC) methods. Results: The sequence-specific shRNA (pshPPARγ) efficiently blocked the expression of PPARγ mRNA by 80.5%. At 48 h after transfection of pshPPARγ, proliferation of HCCLM3 cells was significantly suppressed by 71.5%. The positive rate of PCNA expression was (23.8 ± 7.2)% at 40 h transfection. The apoptotic rates were (24.2 ± 4.7)% as detected by TUNEL assay and (23.2 ± 4.2)% of cells as measured by FCM test, respectively. The detection results of the two methods were consistent. In pshPPARγ transfection group, cell cycle of HCCLM3 cells was arrested in G0/G1 phase and the proportion of cells in G2/M phase decreased. Moreover, expression of wide-type p53 protein increased significantly. Conclusion: Knockdown PPARγ expression with RNA interference technology can significantly suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis of HCCLM3 cells. It is related with up-regulation of wide-type p53 protein expression.

Expression pattern of polycomb gene Nspc1 at the early developmental stage in zebrafish / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression pattern of Polycomb gene Nspc1 at the early developmental stage in zebrafish.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In situ hybridization probe for Nspc1 was designed according to the GenBank information. Collecting zebrafish embryos at different stages including one cell stage, two-cell stage, bud stage, and somites stage, we hybridized them with the prepared probe. Then the hybridization signals at different intervals were observed and photographed at the right time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nspc1 was expressed globally at the early stage. Its expression specificity began at the somites stage, mainly in the nervous system of the head.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Nspc1 may play essential roles in the early stage development of zebrafish, especially in the nervous system.</p>