Microscopic Insights and Optimization of the CH4-CO2 Replacement in Natural Gas Hydrates.

Using the CO2 replacement method to exploit natural gas hydrates and store CO2 has great significance in energy access and environmental protection. Herein, the molecular dynamic method is utilized to analyze and evaluate the CH4-CO2 replacement at different constant temperatures and pressures. For optimization, various temperature oscillations are introduced in the CH4-CO2 replacement. It illustrates that increasing the temperature can improve the amounts of CH4 escape and CO2 capture but is unfavorable to the long-term CO2 storage and hydrate stability. The effects of pressure are not as significant and definite as those of temperature. Appropriate temperature oscillations can achieve comprehensive improvements, which benefit from both the deep diffusion of CO2 in the higher temperature stage and the rapid rebuilding of CO2 hydrate within just nanoseconds caused by the memory effects in the lower temperature stage. The results also reveal that the optimal lower temperature duration and frequency should be moderate. Decreasing the lower temperature value can distinctly enhance CO2 capture and hydrate stability. This study can help understand the mechanisms of CH4-CO2 replacement under different temperature and pressure conditions, especially at temperature transitions, and proposes a potentially effective method to achieve large-scale carbon sequestration in the hydrate.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia with t(14;18)(q32;q21): report of 3 cases and review of literature / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To improve the understanding of chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL) with t(14;18)(q32;q21).Methods:The clinical data of 3 cases diagnosed as CLL with t(14;18)(q32;q21) in the Tianjin KingMed Medical Laboratory from January 2020 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinicopathological data, morphological examination, immunophenotype, cytogenetics and somatic mutation of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region genes of patients were comprehensively analyzed, and the literature was reviewed.Results:All the 3 patients showed lymphatic proliferative diseases, and their morphological characteristics and immunophenotype were typical characteristics of CLL.Conclusions:The diagnosis of CLL is mainly based on the typical morphology and immunophenotype of tumor cells. The presence of t(14;18) should not be used to exclude the diagnosis of CLL.

[Assessment of efficacy of acupuncture combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients with delayed encephalopathy of CO intoxication by magnetic resonance voxel incoherent motion imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on cerebral blood perfusion in patients with delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP). METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with DEACMP were randomly divided into acupuncture group (n=14 cases) and control group (n=14 cases). Patients of the acupuncture group were treated by using "Xingnao Kaiqiao" needling technique (specific set of acupuncture points as Yintang ï¼»EX-HN3ï¼½, Shangxing ï¼»GV23ï¼½, Baihui ï¼»GV20ï¼½, Sishenchong ï¼»EX-HN1ï¼½, Fengchi ï¼»GB20ï¼½, Taichong ï¼»LR3ï¼½, etc., and strong stimulation) combined with HBO in an air pressurized tank, and those of the control group treated by simple HBO. The treatment was conducted once a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. All the patients underwent head routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intravoxel incoherent motion imaging(IVIM) scan before and after the treatment. The values of pseudo-diffusion coefficient D (D*) and perfusion fraction (f) of the bilateral semi-oval centers were measured by using MITK software package to calculate the ave-rage fD* value (f×D*). The Barthel index (BI) score was used to assess the patients' daily living ability, and the correlation between parameter values was evaluated by Pearson method. RESULTS: After the treatment, the values of f, fD* and BI scores were significantly increased in both acupuncture group and control groups (P<0.05). The values of the 3 indexes were significantly higher in the acupuncture group than those in the control group (P<0.05). The values of f and fD* were positively correlated with BI score (P<0.05), with the correlation coefficients being 0.822, 0.636 and 0.601, respectively between the fD* and f, BI and f, and BI and fD*. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with HBO can significantly improve the low-perfusion of bilate-ral semi-oval center and daily living ability in patients with DEACMP, being significantly superior to simple HBO therapy in the curative effect.

BMP9 mediates the anticancer activity of evodiamine through HIF­1α/p53 in human colon cancer cells.

Colon cancer is one of the most common malignancies. Although there has been great development in treatment regimens over the last few decades, its prognosis remains poor. There is still a clinical need to find new drugs for colon cancer. Evodiamine (Evo) is a quinolone alkaloid extracted from the traditional herbal medicine plant Evodia rutaecarpa. In the present study, CCK­8, flow cytometry, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis and a xenograft tumor model were used to evaluate the anti­cancer activity of Evo in human colon cancer cells and determine the possible mechanism underlying this process. It was revealed that Evo exhibited prominent anti­proliferation and apoptosis­inducing effects in HCT116 cells. Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) was notably upregulated by Evo in HCT116 cells. Exogenous BMP9 potentiated the anti­cancer activity of Evo, and BMP9 silencing reduced this effect. In addition, HIF­1α was also upregulated by Evo. The anticancer activity of Evo was enhanced by HIF­1α, but was reduced by HIF­1α silencing. BMP9 potentiated the effect of Evo on the upregulation of HIF­1α, and enhanced the antitumor effect of Evo in colon cancer, which was clearly reduced by HIF­1α silencing. In HCT116 cells, Evo increased the phosphorylation of p53, which was enhanced by BMP9 but reduced by BMP9 silencing. Furthermore, the effect of Evo on p53 was potentiated by HIF­1α and reduced by HIF­1α silencing. The present findings therefore strongly indicated that the anticancer activity of Evo may be partly mediated by BMP9 upregulation, which can activate p53 through upregulation of HIF­1α, at least in human colon cancer.

[Epidemic situation of malaria in Dalian City from 2005 to 2016].

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze the epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Dalian City, so as to provide the evidence for adjusting and formulating malaria control strategy and measures, being in accordance with the practical situation in Dalian City. METHODS: The data of malaria cases in Dalian City from 2005 to 2016 were collected from China Diseases Surveillance Information Reporting Management System (DSIRMS), to describe and analyze the epidemiologic characteristics of malaria in Dalian City. RESULTS: A total of 143 malaria cases were reported in Dalian from 2005 to 2016, including 115 laboratory diagnosed cases, 27 clinically diagnosed cases, and 1 suspected diagnosed case. Among the 115 laboratory diagnosed patients, 65 patients were infected with Plasmodium falciparum, 19 were infected with P. vivax, and 15 had mixed infection, 4 were infected with P. ovale, 3 were infected with P. malariae, and 9 were unclassified. All the cases were imported, 127 were imported from Africa, accounting for 88.81%, mainly were imported from Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria. Most of the cases were imported from May to October, accounting for 58.74% (84/143), and the imported cases emerged a small peak in August. The ratio of males to females was 10∶1, and the median age was 42 years. Among the total cases, fishermen, migrant workers, and work-man accounted for 55.24% (79/143). Seventy-five patients lived in rural districts, and 68 patients lived in urban districts. The median interval from backing to China to disease onset was 8 days. The proportion of disease onset within one month after backing to China was 76.27% (90/118). The median interval from disease onset to diagnosis was 4 days, and the longest interval was 71 days. Totally 141 patients were cured and 2 died. CONCLUSIONS: In order to avoid malaria death, we should strengthen the malaria prevention and control, especially in rural districts, enhance the training for professionals in the county health facilities, and the surveillance and health education for those who are returned from malaria-endemic areas.

[Current state of researches on mechanisms of acupuncture in improvement of hypoxia-ischemic diseases of the central nervous system].

Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of ischemic diseases of the central nervous system in different clinical stages and has achieved a good clinical effect. The current research showed that acupuncture can improve cerebral blood flow perfusion via increasing blood flow volume, blood flow velocity, the levels of vasomotor substances and reduction of blood viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation index. In recent years, many studies focused on the pathophysiological mechanism of acupuncture in improving cerebral ischemia via triggering the cholinergic vasodilatation, up-regulation of expression of vascular-related proteins and genes，attenuation of inflammatory reaction, etc. Currently, the methods for evaluating the effect of acupuncture are mostly noninvasive functional magnetic resonance imaging in healthy subjects. Future studies should include united selection of acupoints and acupuncture needle manipulations, more reasonable combination of different acupoints, united outcome evaluative standards, better repeatability, employment of big data, etc.

Effects of lipopolysaccharide structure on lycopene production in Escherichia coli.

Lipopolysaccharides, the major molecules in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, affect the behavior of bacteria including outer membrane permeability, but its influence on lycopene production in E. coli has never been reported. In this study, the effects of lipopolysaccharides with different structures on lycopene biosynthesis were investigated. Firstly, the heterogenous crtEBI operon were overexpressed in 10 LPS mutant strains of E. coli W3110 (ΔwaaC, ΔwaaF, ΔwaaY, ΔwaaG, ΔwaaR, ΔwaaO, ΔwaaU, ΔwaaP, ΔwaaY and ΔwaaB), and their ability to produce lycopene were compared. ΔwaaC/pWSK29-crtEBI, ΔwaaF/pWSK29-crtEBI and ΔwaaY/pWSK29-crtEBI produced 4.19, 4.20, and 3.81 mg/g lycopene, respectively, while the control W3110/pWSK29-crtEBI produced 3.71 mg/g lycopene; the other strains produced less lycopene than the control. In order to enhance lycopene production, genes dxr, dxr, ispA, and idi were overexpressed in ΔwaaC/pWSK29-crtEBI, ΔwaaF/pWSK29-crtEBI individually or in combination, and the lycopene production in each strain was analyzed. The maximum yield of 5.39 mg/g was achieved in ΔwaaC/pWSK29-crtEBI-SRA, which is 142% higher than that in W3110/pWSK29-crtEBI. The results indicate that the length of lipopolysaccharide affects lycopene biosynthesis in E. coli, and the shorter lipopolysaccharide and higher outer membrane permeability might be beneficial to lycopene biosynthesis.

The effect of resilience on fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients: the moderating role of perceived social support / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective@#To investigate the effect of resilience on fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients and to find the specific role of perceived social support between them.@*Methods@#From April 2018 to January 2019, we invited 456 breast cancer patients hospitalized in the Department of Breast surgery in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University in Jinan to participate in the study and to finish a questionnaire survey which including the general information questionnaire, Chinese version of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Perceived Social Support Scale.@*Results@#The average score of fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients was (41.5±7.7), and 85.99% (313/364) of the patients′ score was clinically significant (total score ≥ 34). Resilience could negatively predict the fear of cancer recurrence (β=-0.240 P < 0.01). Perceived social support is the moderation between resilience and fear of cancer recurrence (β=-0.179, P<0.01).@*Conclusions@#The level of resilience could affect the level of fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients, and the increase in the level of perceived social support could enhance the effect of resilience on the fear of cancer recurrence, thus further reducing the level of patient′s fear of recurrence.

Epidemic situation of malaria in Dalian City from 2005 to 2016 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To describe and analyze the epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Dalian City, so as to provide the evidence for adjusting and formulating malaria control strategy and measures, being in accordance with the practical situation in Dalian City. Methods The data of malaria cases in Dalian City from 2005 to 2016 were collected from China Diseases Surveillance Information Reporting Management System (DSIRMS), to describe and analyze the epidemiologic characteristics of malaria in Dalian City. Results A total of 143 malaria cases were reported in Dalian from 2005 to 2016, including 115 laboratory diagnosed cases, 27 clinically diagnosed cases, and 1 suspected diagnosed case. Among the 115 laboratory diagnosed patients, 65 patients were infected with Plasmodium falciparum, 19 were infected with P. vivax, and 15 had mixed infection, 4 were infected with P. ovale, 3 were infected with P. malariae, and 9 were unclassified. All the cases were imported, 127 were imported from Africa, accounting for 88.81%, mainly were imported from Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria. Most of the cases were imported from May to October, accounting for 58.74% (84/143), and the imported cases emerged a small peak in August. The ratio of males to females was 10∶1, and the median age was 42 years. Among the total cases, fishermen, migrant workers, and work-man accounted for 55.24% (79/143). Seventy-five patients lived in rural districts, and 68 patients lived in urban districts. The median interval from backing to China to disease onset was 8 days. The proportion of disease onset within one month after backing to China was 76.27% (90/118). The median interval from disease onset to diagnosis was 4 days, and the longest interval was 71 days. Totally 141 patients were cured and 2 died. Conclusion In order to avoid malaria death, we should strengthen the malaria prevention and control, especially in rural districts, enhance the training for professionals in the county health facilities, and the surveillance and health education for those who are returned from malaria-endemic areas.

Epidemic situation of malaria in Dalian City from 2005 to 2016 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To describe and analyze the epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Dalian City, so as to provide the evidence for adjusting and formulating malaria control strategy and measures, being in accordance with the practical situation in Dalian City. Methods The data of malaria cases in Dalian City from 2005 to 2016 were collected from China Diseases Surveillance Information Reporting Management System (DSIRMS), to describe and analyze the epidemiologic characteristics of malaria in Dalian City. Results A total of 143 malaria cases were reported in Dalian from 2005 to 2016, including 115 laboratory diagnosed cases, 27 clinically diagnosed cases, and 1 suspected diagnosed case. Among the 115 laboratory diagnosed patients, 65 patients were infected with Plasmodium falciparum, 19 were infected with P. vivax, and 15 had mixed infection, 4 were infected with P. ovale, 3 were infected with P. malariae, and 9 were unclassified. All the cases were imported, 127 were imported from Africa, accounting for 88.81%, mainly were imported from Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria. Most of the cases were imported from May to October, accounting for 58.74% (84/143), and the imported cases emerged a small peak in August. The ratio of males to females was 10∶1, and the median age was 42 years. Among the total cases, fishermen, migrant workers, and work-man accounted for 55.24% (79/143). Seventy-five patients lived in rural districts, and 68 patients lived in urban districts. The median interval from backing to China to disease onset was 8 days. The proportion of disease onset within one month after backing to China was 76.27% (90/118). The median interval from disease onset to diagnosis was 4 days, and the longest interval was 71 days. Totally 141 patients were cured and 2 died. Conclusion In order to avoid malaria death, we should strengthen the malaria prevention and control, especially in rural districts, enhance the training for professionals in the county health facilities, and the surveillance and health education for those who are returned from malaria-endemic areas.

The effect of resilience on fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients: the moderating role of perceived social support / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of resilience on fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients and to find the specific role of perceived social support between them. Methods From April 2018 to January 2019, we invited 456 breast cancer patients hospitalized in the Department of Breast surgery in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University in Jinan to participate in the study and to finish a questionnaire survey which including the general information questionnaire, Chinese version of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Perceived Social Support Scale. Results The average score of fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients was (41.5 ± 7.7), and 85.99%(313/364)of the patients′ score was clinically significant (total score ≥ 34). Resilience could negatively predict the fear of cancer recurrence (β=-0.240 P<0.01). Perceived social support is the moderation between resilience and fear of cancer recurrence (β =-0.179, P＜0.01). Conclusions The level of resilience could affect the level of fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients, and the increase in the level of perceived social support could enhance the effect of resilience on the fear of cancer recurrence, thus further reducing the level of patient′s fear of recurrence.

Efficacy evaluation of two commercial modified-live virus vaccines against a novel recombinant type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

NADC30-like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causing clinical disease outbreaks has been recently reported in China. The recombination occurring among PRRSV strains could lead to the emergence of novel and more virulent viruses. In our previous study, a novel recombinant type 2 PRRSV (TJnh1501) between NADC30-like and modified-live virus (MLV)-like derived from the Chinese highly pathogenic PRRSV was shown to have higher pathogenicity than NADC30-like PRRSV. It remains unknown whether the emergence of the novel recombinant PRRSV strain can lead to variable protection efficacy of the MLV vaccines. In this paper, two typical commercial MLV vaccines were used to evaluate their efficacy to block TJnh1501 infection and onset of clinical symptoms. Our results showed that both MLV vaccines could shorten the period of fever and reduce viral loads in sera, but were not able to reduce the clinical signs and lung lesions indicating that the two commercial MLV vaccines provide limited cross-protection efficacy against the novel recombinant type 2 PRRSV infection. This study gives valuable suggestions for the use of MLV vaccines to control PRRSV infection in the field.

The Correlation Analysis of Turnover Intention,Moral Distress and Stressor in Nurses / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To explore the turnover intention of nurses in Quzhou and its influential factors.@*Methods@#From July to August in 2017 cross-sectional study and self-filled questionnaire are used to investigate 980 nurses from 7 hospitals in Quzhou, including two third-level hospitals and five second-level ones. T-test, F-test, Pearson and linear regression are used in data with the method of statistical analysis.@*Results@#The total score of turnover intention of nurses was (14.95±3.17) points, and the index value was 62.27%, of which the turnover intention was above 78%. The analysis of Single factor showed that age (F=4.895) , Department (F=2.971) , title, nursing age (F=5.863) , self-assessment of physical conditions (F=4.092) were closely related to nurses’ turnover intention(P<0.05). According to Person’s correlation analysis, there are positive correlations between turnover intention and source of stressor, and moral distress (P<0.05) . Multiple linear regression showed that the nurses’ turnover intention was age, Department, health selfevaluation, stressor and moral distress.@*Conclusion@#The turnover intention of nurses is high, which is related to age, Department, self-evaluation of health, stressor and moral distress.

Status and influencing factors of psychological stress in late pregnant women / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the psychological pressure levels of pregnant women in late pregnancy and to analyze the influencing factors. Provide the basis for the intervention measures. Methods Totally 160 pregnant women in late pregnancy who took part in the antenatal examination were recruited and investigated using Pregnancy Pressure Scale (PPS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and demographic questionnaire. Results Total score of PPS was (53.06 ± 10.24) points. In order to protect the health and safety of the fetus in pregnant women caused by maternal psychological stress score ranked first in three pressure source bit highest score of (16.46 ± 5.16) points. Total score of PSQI was (7.51± 2.89) points. Compared with the different dimensions of sleep quality, the two dimensions of sleep time and falling asleep time were negatively correlated with pregnancy stress, and the rest were positively correlated. Age, pregnancy, parity, plan the actual sleep time, sleep disorders will be planned to as independent variables. In the late pregnant women psychological pressure as the dependent variable, multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, found that there are 3 variables into the regression equation: parity, pregnancy in plan, sleep disorders (P＜0.05). Conclusions Pregnant women have greater psychological pressure in late pregnancy, influenced by the conception, planning pregnancy, sleep disorders and other factors. Nursing staff should take care and guidance for the specific situation, so as to reduce the pregnancy pressure of pregnant women in late pregnancy, and better help them successfully pass the gestation period and delivery period.

Amaryllidaceae alkaloids from the bulbs of Lycoris radiata with cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Four new Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, (+)-1-hydroxy-ungeremine (1), (+)-6ß-acetyl-8-hydroxy-9-methoxy-crinamine (2), (+)-2-hydroxy-8-demethyl-homolycorine-α-N-oxide (3), (+)-N-methoxylcarbonyl-2-demethyl-isocorydione (4), together with two known compounds, (+)-6ß-acetyl-crinamine (5) and 8-demethyl-homolycorine-α-N-oxide (6) were isolated from the ethanol extract of the bulbs of Lycoris radiata. Structural elucidation of all the compounds were performed by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. All the isolated alkaloids were in vitro evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against eight tumor cell lines (BEN-MEN-1, CCF-STTG1, CHG-5, SHG-44, U251, BGC-823, HepG2 and SK-OV-3) and anti-inflammatory activities against Cox-1 and Cox-2. As a result, alkaloids 1 and 4 exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against all tested tumor cell lines except against BEN-MEN-1. Additionally, alkaloids 1 and 4 possessed selective inhibition of Cox-2 comparable with the standard drug NS-398 (>90%).

Acetylation of H4K12 in porcine oocytes during in vitro aging: potential role of ooplasmic reactive oxygen species.

Deterioration in the quality of mammalian mature oocytes during metaphase-II (M-II) arrest is called "oocyte aging". Although histone acetylation may affect the progression of aging in murine oocytes, the mechanism is unknown. The objective was to determine the role of ooplasmic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in acetylation of histone H4 at lysine 12 (acH4K12) in porcine aged oocytes in vitro. Based on immunostaining with a specific antibody, acetylation of H4K12 in porcine oocytes increased during in vitro aging, which coincided with changing patterns of ooplasmic ROS content. Furthermore, both hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), and the mitochondrial membrane potential disrupter, carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), which can moderately elevate oocyte ROS content, significantly increased acetylation levels of H4K12 in porcine oocytes. It was noteworthy that acetylation in the CCCP group was decreased when ROS was counteracted by cysteine, a common antioxidant. In addition, the intracellular mRNA abundance of acetyltransferase gene HAT1 in aged and H(2)O(2) treated oocytes was higher than in M-II phase oocytes, suggesting that HAT1 was involved in this reaction. After parthenogenetic activation, a lower proportion of oocytes developed to the blastocyst stage after CCCP or H(2)O(2) treatment when compared with M-II phase oocytes (20 and 0% for CCCP and H(2)O(2) groups, respectively, versus 42% for the M-II group, P < 0.05). In conclusion, elevated levels of H4K12 acetylation were attributed to increased ooplasmic ROS content during porcine oocyte aging in vitro.

[Effects of rosiglitazone on the expression of connective tissue growth factor in the pulmonary arteries of rats suffering from fibrosis in lung].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of rosiglitazone (RSG), an agonist of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), on the up-regulation of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and the deposition of type I and type III collagens in the pulmonary arteries of rats suffering from fibrosis in lung. METHODS: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: bleomycin (BLM) plus normal saline (NS) group (n=21), BLM plus RSG group (n=9), NS plus NS group (n=9), and NS plus RSG group (n=9). The rats were received single intratracheal instillation of BLM (5 mg/kg bw) or equal volume of NS as control, and received intra-gastric adminnistration of RSG (3 mg/(kg x day), 14 day) or the same volume of NS as vehicle. In vio, the observation was conducted on day 14 after intratracheal instillation. In vitro, the pulmonary arteries of rats on day 14 after BLM were isolated and incubated with DMEM alone or with RSG (37 degrees C, 5% CO2, for 24 h. RESULTS: In vivo, the expression and the content of CTGF, the contents of type I and type III collagens, and the ratio of type I collagen and type III collagen were increased in the pulmonary arteries of BLM-instilled rats, compared with those of NS-instilled rats (All P < 0.05). The above abnormal changes were ameliorated by RSG (All P < 0.05). In vitro, RSG blocked the up-regulation of CTGF (P < 0.05), but not the deposition of type I collagen and type III collagen in the pulmonary arteries isolated from the BLM-instilled rats (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that RSG directly blocks the up-regulation of CTGF in pulmonary arteries of rats suffering from fibrosis in lung, and this might be one of the mechanisms underling the ameliorated pulmonary arterial remodeling by RSG.

Abnormal changes in mitochondria, lipid droplets, ATP and glutathione content, and Ca(2+) release after electro-activation contribute to poor developmental competence of porcine oocyte during in vitro ageing.

The present study aims to investigate major changes in porcine oocytes during ageing in vitro. After the oocytes were cultured for 44, 56, 68 and 80 h, changes to porcine oocytes in ultrastructure, mitochondrial distribution, glutathione (GSH) and ATP content, Ca(2+) release patterns and developmental competence after electro-activation were observed. Mitochondria were evenly distributed in oocytes at 44 h, aggregated in clusters or in peripheral cytoplasm at 68 h and dimly dispersed throughout ooplasm at 80 h. Mitochondrial shape during ageing was also observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at the same time intervals. Most mitochondria were spherical at 44 h, and became elongated when the culture time was extended to 68 h and 80 h. Moreover, mitochondrial clustering became increasingly loose from 56 h. Lipid droplets in oocytes appeared prominent and electron-dense at 44 h, but electron density was lost at 56 h. Lipid droplets were solidified as of 68 h. There was an age-dependent decrease in ATP content per oocyte. Glutathione content per oocyte decreased significantly and remained lower after 56 h. Amplitudes of [Ca(2+)] rise decreased dramatically following 56 h, and the time required for [Ca(2+)] to plateau became shorter after electro-activation with prolonged culture time. Cleavage and blastocyst rates of aged oocytes progressively decreased, while the fragmentation rate gradually increased after electro-activation. It is concluded that abnormal changes in mitochondria, lipid droplets, Ca(2+) release after electro-activation, and ATP and GSH content in oocytes during ageing may result in poor developmental competence of parthenotes.

[Effects of chronic partial sleep deprivation on growth and learning/memory in young rats].

OBJECTIVE: The effects of sleep deprivation on the immature brain remain unknown. Based on a computer controlled chronic sleep deprivation animal model, the effects of chronic partial sleep deprivation on growth, learning and memory in young rats were explored. METHODS: Twelve weaned male Spraque-Dawley rats (3-week-old) were randomly divided into sleep deprivation, test control and blank control groups. Sleep deprivation was performed using computer-controlled "disc-over-water" technique at 8-11 am daily, for 14 days. The temperature and weights were measured every 7 days. Morris water maze was used to test spatial learning and memory abilities before and 7 and 14 days after sleep deprivation. After 14 days of sleep deprivation, the rats were sacrificed for weighting their major organs. RESULTS: After 14 days of sleep deprivation, the rats' temperature increased significantly. During the sleep deprivation, the rate of weight gain in the sleep deprivation group was much slower than that in the test control and blank control groups. The thymus of the rats subjected to sleep deprivation was much lighter than that of the blank control group. After 7 days of sleep deprivation, the rats showed slower acquisition of reference memory, but were capable of successfully performing the task by repeated exposure to the test. Such impairment of reference memory was not seen 14 days after sleep deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic sleep deprivation can affect growth of immature rats, as well as their abilities to acquire spatial reference memory.

Effects of SOF and CR1 media on developmental competence and cell apoptosis of ovine in vitro fertilization embryos.

The present study was to investigate effects of synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) and Charles Rosenkrans medium (CR1) culture systems on developmental competence and cell apoptosis of ovine in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos. Ovine presumptive IVF zygotes were cultured in the following six media: (1) SOF supplemented with amino acids (SOFaa) and 8 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 9 days (SOFaaBSA); (2) SOFaa supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 9 days (SOFaaFBS); (3) SOFaaBSA for first 3 days and then SOFaaFBS for later 6 days (SOFaaBSA-FBS); (4) CR1 supplemented with amino acids (CR1aa) and 8 mg/ml BSA for 9 days (CR1aaBSA); (5) CR1aa supplemented with 10% FBS for 9 days (CR1aaFBS); (6) CR1aaBSA for first 3 days and then CR1aaFBS for later 6 days (CR1aaBSA-FBS). The rates of blastocyst and hatched blastocyst in group 1, group 3 and group 6 were not different (P>0.05), but were greater than in other three groups (P<0.05). In SOF and CR1 cultural system, SOFaaBSA and CR1aaBSA-FBS provided the highest blastocyst rates respectively. Both numbers of total cell and trophectoderm (TE) in expanded or hatched blastocyst from SOFaaBSA were significantly higher than CR1aaBSA-FBS (P<0.05). However, the inner cell mass (ICM) cell number and ratio of ICM to TE cell in expanded or hatched blastocysts were not different between two groups (P>0.05). The apoptotic signals were firstly observed at 8-cell stage in two groups and became stronger and stronger with the development of embryos. Rates of embryos with apoptotic signals in group 6 at morula or blastocyst were greater than in group 1 (P<0.05). The apoptotic nuclei numbers of morula or blastocyst in group 6 were also significantly higher than group 1 (P<0.05). It is concluded that CR1aaBSA-FBS can support in vitro development of ovine IVF embryos, but SOFaaBSA is more suitable.