UVB induces apoptosis via downregulation of CALML3-dependent JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 pathways in cataract.

The aim of the current study was to understand the mechanisms of apoptosis occurring in cultured human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) following ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation. The investigations intended to confirm the presence of apoptosis and to reveal the roles of oxidative stress, calcium (Ca2+), c­Jun NH2­terminal kinase (JNK)1/2, and extracellular signal­regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 signaling pathway in these progresses. Cell apoptosis, ROS generation and intracellular Ca2+ concentration was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of CALML3, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, p-JNK1/2, JNK1/2, p-ERK1/2 and ERK1/2 was measured by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Annexin V­fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining demonstrated that UVB irradiation increased the apoptotic rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and intracellular Ca2+ concentration of HLECs in dose­ and time­dependent manners. Overexpression of calmodulin like 3 (CALML3) reversed the effects of UVB irradiation on apoptosis, ROS production and Ca2+ concentration of HLECs, and decreased expressions of caspase­3 and Bax, with increased expressions of Bcl­2. Notably, silencing of CALML3 had similar effects to UVB irradiation and inhibited the activation JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 pathways. Nimodipine, a Ca2+­channel antagonist, significantly attenuated the damages induced by CALML3 downregulation. In conclusion, UVB irradiation induced increase in apoptosis, ROS production and Ca2+ concentration of HLECs, in part, by downregulating the expression of CALML3 and involved oxidative stress, Ca2+, JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways, suggesting that investigating CALML3 may useful for developing cataract treatment.

The accuracy of glial fibrillary acidic protein in acute stroke differential diagnosis: A meta-analysis.

We performed a systematic review of English-language studies published during the past three decades to investigate the diagnostic performance of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for the differential diagnosis of acute stroke, including intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and cerebral ischemia (CI). QUADAS tools were used to evaluate the quality of the study. Performance characteristics (diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and other measures of accuracy) were pooled and examined using fixed-effects models. Four studies met the inclusion criteria, and included 109 patients with ICH and 381 patients with CI. The summary estimates for GFAP in the ICH diagnoses had a diagnostic sensitivity of 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.71-0.88), a specificity of 0.97 (95% confidence interval, 0.94-0.98), and a diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of 119.55 (95% confidence interval: 51.75-276.19). The area under curve (AUC) and Q value for the sROC curves were 0.97 and 0.92, respectively. Therefore, GFAP showed high diagnostic accuracy for acute stroke differential diagnosis.

[MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA expression and its relationship with muscular contractility following free muscle transfer].

OBJECTIVE: To study muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx) and muscle ring finger 1 (MuRF1) mRNA expression and its relationship with muscular contraction following free muscle transfer. METHODS: The gracilis muscle was orthotopic transferred in adult rat to establish the animal model. The muscle at the unoperated side was used as control. The expression of MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA, the muscle contraction and muscle function were measured by real-time PCR and multiple function physiological device. The relationship among the expression of MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA, the muscle contraction and muscle function was analyzed. RESULTS: After muscle free transfer, muscle wet weight reservation, the maximum contraction and tetanus strength reduce first and increased later, but still lower than those at control side. The expression of MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA reached peak level 3 - 4 weeks after muscle transfer which was 7.1 and 4.1 times as that at control side. It decreased later, but still higher than that at control side, showing a significant difference between them (P< 0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent over-expression of MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA after muscle transfer has a close relationship with muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction. MAFbx and MuRF1 can be used as markers for early muscle atrophy, and also as potential target for drug treatment of muscle atrophy.

[Association of two polymorphisms in ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1 gene with Parkinson's disease in Shanghai].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship of polymorphisms in the ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) gene with Parkinson's disease(PD)in Shanghai Han Nationality. METHODS: The distribution of a Serine18Tyrosine polymorphism in exon 3(C/A) and a Serine89Phenylalanine polymorphism in exon 4(C/T)of UCH-L1 gene were detected in 164 PD cases and 172 healthy controls, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) method. RESULTS: (1)The C allelic frequency in exon 3 of UCH-L1 gene in PD patients(62.2%) was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls(51.7%) (OR=1.53, P=0.006), as was the C/C genotype(OR=1.90, P=0.008). (2)There was no significant difference in the distribution of the C/T allele and genotypes in exon 4 between PD patients and healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The C allele in exon 3 of UCH-L1 gene might be one of the risk factors for PD in Shanghai Han Nationality, but the polymorphisms of C/T in exon 4 showed no association with the onset of PD.