Daclatasvir plus asunaprevir in treatment-naïve patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection.

AIM: To assess daclatasvir plus asunaprevir (DUAL) in treatment-naïve patients from mainland China, Russia and South Korea with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned (3:1) to receive 24 wk of treatment with DUAL (daclatasvir 60 mg once daily and asunaprevir 100 mg twice daily) beginning on day 1 of the treatment period (immediate treatment arm) or following 12 wk of matching placebo (placebo-deferred treatment arm). The primary endpoint was a comparison of sustained virologic response at posttreatment week 12 (SVR12) compared with the historical SVR rate for peg-interferon plus ribavirin (70%) among patients in the immediate treatment arm. The first 12 wk of the study were blinded. Safety was assessed in DUAL-treated patients compared with placebo patients during the first 12 wk (double-blind phase), and during 24 wk of DUAL in both arms combined. RESULTS: In total, 207 patients were randomly assigned to immediate (n = 155) or placebo-deferred (n = 52) treatment. Most patients were Asian (86%), female (59%) and aged < 65 years (90%). Among them, 13% had cirrhosis, 32% had IL28B non-CC genotypes and 53% had baseline HCV RNA levels of ≥ 6 million IU/mL. Among patients in the immediate treatment arm, SVR12 was achieved by 92% (95% confidence interval: 87.2-96.0), which was significantly higher than the historical comparator rate (70%). SVR12 was largely unaffected by cirrhosis (89%), age ≥ 65 years (92%), male sex (90%), baseline HCV RNA ≥ 6 million (89%) or IL28B non-CC genotypes (96%), although SVR12 was higher among patients without (96%) than among those with (53%) baseline NS5A resistance-associated polymorphisms (at L31 or Y93H). During the double-blind phase, aminotransferase elevations were more common among placebo recipients than among patients receiving DUAL. During 24 wk of DUAL therapy (combined arms), the most common adverse events (≥ 10%) were elevated alanine aminotransferase and upper respiratory tract infection; emergent grade 3-4 laboratory abnormalities were infrequently observed, and all grade 3-4 aminotransferase abnormalities (alanine aminotransferase, n = 9; aspartate transaminase, n = 6) reversed within 8-11 d. Two patients discontinued DUAL treatment; one due to aminotransferase elevations, nausea, and jaundice and the other due to a fatal adverse event unrelated to treatment. There were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION: DUAL was well-tolerated during this phase 3 study, and SVR12 with DUAL treatment (92%) exceeded the historical SVR rate for peg-interferon plus ribavirin of 70%.

[Analysis of XPS in the Removal of Cr(â ¥) from Groundwater with rGO-nZâ ¥].

Iron nanoparticles are widely used in heavy metal ions removal from water, but because of the characteristics of easily aggregation and transference in the groundwater, remediation effect was reduced. GO with a negative charge containing oxygen-containing functional groups on the surfaces of graphene, are widely used for the removal of heavy metal ions from water, but it has little on remediating hexavalent chromium (Cr2O2-7, CrO2-4) with negatively charged electrons. Therefore, rGO-nZⅥ was synthesized via liquid phase reduction method to overcome the aggregation and transference of FeO, changing the negative charged Cr2O2-7 or CrO2-4 to positive charged Cr3+. The material behavior characteristics of Cr(Ⅵ) removal were discussed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to test the prepared rGO-nZⅥ. Results indicated that nZⅥ was successfully loaded on the surface of GO, and the shape of the particles was approximate ball and the granular diameter ranged from 20 to 100 nm. Removal efficiency of Cr(Ⅵ) (40 mg·L-1) from water was nearly 100% within 24 h using rGO-nZⅥ. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses using the XPSPEAK41 program indicated that FeO firstly reduced negatively charged Cr(Ⅵ) to positively charged Cr(Ⅲ) by providing electron, then the chromium in the solution can be removed as chromium hydroxide (Cr(OH)3) by a hydrolysis precipitation process. As the reaction progress, materials charges were changing, which benefited adsorpting Cr(Ⅵ). After 24 h reaction, the residual nZⅥ loading on rGO-nZⅥ remained, which showed the potential of sequentially remediating contamination. The results showed important theoretical value and practicability.

Diagnostic evaluation of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: ultrasonographic, mammographic and histopathologic correlations.

The aims of the study described here were to illustrate the spectrum of ultrasonographic features of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and to evaluate the ability of ultrasonography (US) to predict the grade and recurrence of DCIS on the basis of mammographic and histopathologic findings. We retrospectively evaluated the ultrasonographic features of 129 DCIS lesions from 127 consecutive women and compared these with their mammographic and histopathologic features. The mean size of DCISs on ultrasonography and mammography (MMG) was 3.67 ± 1.40 and 4.00 ± 1.74 cm, respectively, which do not differ statistically (p = 0.09). Despite the statistical difference in Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification on US and MMG (p = 0.000), the median BI-RADS classification is category 4c on both US and MMG (p = 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of microcalcification on MMG and US. Clusters <5 mm in greatest diameter are easily seen on MMG. At US, a scattered/linear distribution on MMG had a higher level of visibility than clustered distribution on MMG. The correlation between tumor size and DCIS with micro-invasion evaluated using US is higher than that obtained using MMG (p = 0.001 and 0.024, respectively). When US was used for the detection of DCIS, diagnostic accuracy was significantly associated with higher Van Nuys groups, the presence of micro-invasion and comedo carcinoma (p = 0.000, 0.022 and 0.011, respectively). However, mammographic diagnostic accuracy was found not to associate with higher Van Nuys groups, the presence of micro-invasion and comedo carcinoma (p = 0.054, 0.093 and 0.256, respectively). Ultrasonography may play an important role both in detecting DCIS and in evaluating its histopathologic features. Detection of DCIS using MMG alone may be suboptimal for patients with dense breasts, especially among Chinese women.

Gray-scale ultrasonography combined with elastography imaging for the evaluation of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: as a prognostic clinicopathology factor.

Ultrasonography (US) is the preferred imaging modality for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of gray-scale ultrasound combined with elastography to predict extrathyroidal extension and cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with PTMC. We retrospectively evaluated gray-scale ultrasonic and elastographic results from 119 consecutive cases of PTMC with 138 nodules and correlated the histopathological findings. The results indicated that pathological extrathyroidal extension was significantly associated with T staging on US, extrathyroidal extension on US, bilaterality on US, boundary, strain ratio and hard malignancy as measured with the Rago score. Central LN metastasis on pathology was significantly associated with central LN metastasis on US, lateral LN metastasis on US, multifocality on US and bilaterality on US. Lateral LN metastasis on US was significantly associated with lateral LN metastasis on pathology. On multivariate analysis, T staging on US, extrathyroidal extension on US and hard malignancy as measured with the Rago score were significantly associated with pathological extrathyroidal extension. Lateral LN metastasis on US and bilaterality on US were independent factors in predicting central LN metastasis on pathology. Lateral LN metastasis on US was the predictive factor for lateral LN metastasis on pathology. US should be helpful in the diagnosis of PTMC and in the evaluation of possible PTMC recurrence on US in routine clinical practice.

[Reconstitution of humoral immunity by the transplantation of human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells into NOD/ SCID mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immune reconstitution by the transplantation of human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells in the NOD/SCID mouse. METHODS: Mononuclear cells (MNC) were isolated from human fresh cord blood and CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells were selected by magnetic activated cell sorting method. The selected cells were transplanted via tail vein injection into 16 NOD/SCID mice after sublethal whole-body irradiation. Four mice were sacrificed respectively at 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th week after the transplantation, the harvested spleen and peripheral blood cells were used to cell phenotype analysis and humoral immune analysis, respectively. There were 14 mice in another two groups, 7 mice did not receive the transplantation after irradiation, 7 were used as blank control (no irradiation, no transplantation). RESULTS: The mice without transplantation all died within 2 weeks after irradiation. The survival rate of the mice with transplantation was 37.5% at 6th week after the irradiation, while the survival rate of blank control was 100%. At 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th week, the percentage of human CD45+ cells in transplantation group were 4.7 +/- 1.23, 9.22 +/- 2.07, 12.34 +/- 2.38, 8.14 +/- 2.36, respectively, and the percentage of CD19+ B lymphocytes were 1.07 +/- 0.50, 2.17 +/- 0.95, 3.34 +/- 0.90, 1.67 +/- 0.90, respectively. 10 weeks after the transplantation, human CD19+ B lymphocytes distribution were found in the transplanted mice spleen. CONCLUSION: The human-mouse chimeric immune model can be built in irradiated NOD/ SCID mice by the transplantation of human cord blood CD34+ cells. CD34+ cell differentiation declined with time, which might be due to the lack of appropriate cytokines.

[The inspiration of the development of National Museum of Health and Medicine of USA].

The National Museum of Health and Medicine, primary named Armed Medicine Museum, is subordinated to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and is one of the few museums in the United States that collects archives and displays human remains. The museum was founded in 1862 to document the effects of war wounds and disease on the human body, the museum has a long history of collecting and preserving human remains from military and civilian sources. This collection provides a rich source of data for researchers in forensic medicine, anthropology, pathology and military medicine. The specimens comprising the anatomical collections are available for research, exhibition, and other educational purposes. The collections have attracted hundreds of domestic and foreign researchers.

[Pathological study of testicular injury induced by high power microwave radiation in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathological characteristics and the dynamic change regularity of the testis induced by high power microwave (HPM) radiation. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-five male Wistar rats were exposed to 0, 3, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 HPM radiation for five minutes, and changes of testicular morphology and teratogenic ratio of epididymal spermatozoa were observed through light microscope and electron microscope at 6 h, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 90 d after radiation. RESULTS: Injury of testicular spermatogenic cells in rats might be induced by 3 to approximately 100 mW/cm2 HPM radiation, and the main pathological changes were degeneration, necrosis, shedding of spermatogenic cells, formation of multinuclear giant cells, decrease or loss of sperm and interstitial edema. Injury of spermatogenic cells underwent such phases as death and shedding, cavitation, regeneration and repair, characterized by being focalized, inhomogenous and phased. And the severity of pathological changes of the testis increased with power density. There was only scattered degeneration, necrosis, shedding of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubule one day after 3 mW/cm2 radiation, and the pathological changes six hours after 10 mW/cm2 radiation was similar to those one day after 3 mW/cm2 radiation, but with the formation of multinuclear giant cells, and the above-mentioned pathological changes aggravated from one day to seven days after radiation. There was a significant increase in degeneration, necrosis, shedding of spermatogenic cells, as well as a significant decrease in spermatozoa and focal necrosis in simple seminiferous tubules six hours after 30 and 100 mW/cm2 radiation, and the subsequent changes were similar to those of 10 mW/cm2 radiation. There was a significant increase in teratogenic ratio of epididymal spermatozoa at 3 d, 1 to approximately 7 d, 6 h to approximately 7 d after 3, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 microwave radiation respectively (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: HPM radiation may cause injury of testicular spermatogenic cells in rats, which has a positive correlation to radiation dosage and time.

Effect of recombinant human interleukin-11 on expressions of interleukin-11 receptor alpha-chain and glycoprotein 130 in intestinal epithelium cell line-6 after neutron irradiation.

AIM: To explore the effect of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) on the expressions of interleukin-11 receptor alpha-chain (IL-11Ralpha) and an additional signal transducer glycoprotein 130 (gp130) in intestinal epithelium cell line-6 (IEC-6) after neutron irradiation. METHODS: Cultured IEC-6 cells were exposed to 4.0Gy neutron and treated with 100 ng/mL rhIL-11 12 h prior to or immediately after irradiation. The apoptosis and necrosis rates and expressions of IL-11Ralpha and gp130 were observed by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, Western blot and image analysis. RESULTS: The apoptosis rate of IEC-6 cells was increased by irradiation at 6 h (P < 0.01), IL-11 stimulation resulted in a decreased apoptosis rate in irradiated IEC-6 cells (P < 0.05). In normal control IEC-6 cells, intense immunoreactivity of IL-11Ralpha was located within the cell membrane and cytoplasm. The level of IL-11Ralpha expression significantly decreased at 6 h after irradiation (P < 0.01) and restored at 24 h after irradiation. In IEC-6 cells treated with both radiation and rhIL-11, the level of IL-11Ralpha expression was higher than that of irradiated cells (P < 0.05). When it came to gp130 protein, it was located in the cytoplasm of IEC-6 cells. After irradiation, we found a progressive decrease in the expression of gp130 protein (P < 0.05) in 48 h post-radiation, while in rhIL-11-stimulated cells, it came back to normal level at 24 h after irradiation and decreased at 48 h, but was still higher than that of only irradiated cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: rhIL-11 can protect IEC-6 cells from neutron irradiation. The protective effect of rhIL-11 might be connected with its ability to up-regulate the expressions of specific ligand-binding subunit IL-11Ralpha and signal-transducing subunit gp130.

[Changes of apoptosis, mitochondrion membrane potential and Ca2+ of hypothalamic neurons induced by high power microwave].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the injury effect and mechanism of hypothalamic neurons after high power microwave (HPM) exposure. METHODS: Primarily cultured hypothalamic neurons were exposed to 10 and 30 mW/cm(2) HPM, and the inverted phase contrast microscope (IPCM) and flow cytometry (FCM) were employed to detect the injury of cells and change of mitochondrion membrane potential (MMP) and Ca(2+) in the cytoplasm of neurons. RESULTS: The ratio of apoptosis was significantly higher than that of the sham exposure (P < 0.05) induced by 10 and 30 mW/cm(2) HPM and necrosis increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the group of 30 mW/cm(2) at 6 h after exposure. The content of Ca(2+) in the cytoplasm of neuron cells increased (P < 0.01) while MMP decreased significantly (P < 0.01) after radiation of 30 mW/cm(2) HPM at 6 h after exposure. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis is one of the major death ways of hypothalamic neurons. The overloading of Ca(2+) and the decline of MMP are involved in the process.

[The expression of TNF-alpha in the intestine of mice irradiated by neutron and gamma rays].

AIM: To study the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in the intestine of mice irradiated by neutron and gamma rays. METHODS: 350 male BALB/c mice were irradiated with neutron and gamma rays of different doses, and sacrificed at 6 and 12 hours, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days after irradiation. The TNF-alpha in the mice intestinal tissue was detected by means of immunohistochemical staining and image analysis. RESULTS: In normal control mice, TNF-alpha was expressed in the cytoplasm of macrophages in intestinal villus interstitium, submucosa and lymph tissue. After 2.5Gy neutron radiation, TNF-alpha was decreased progressively within 2 days, increased obviously in macrophages and crypt cells during the 3rd-7th day, reached the peak at the 5th day and recovered to normal level at the 14th day. TNF-alpha was decreased progressively within 4 days after 4.0 and 5.5Gy neutron and 12Gy gamma ray irradiation. TNF-gamma was increased obviously in 6-12 hours, decreased on the first day, increased at the 2nd-5th day, peaked at the third day and recovered at the 10th day after 5.5Gy gamma ray irradiation. CONCLUSION: Neutron and gamma ray radiation induce different expression profile of endogenous TNF-gamma in small intestine, which may be related with the pathologic courses of irradiation-induced damage and repair of intestine.

[Changes of the expression of beta1-adrenergic receptor and M2-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in rat hearts after high power microwave radiation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of high power microwave (HPM) radiation on the expression of beta(1)-adrenergic receptor (beta(1)-AR) and M(2)-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M(2)-AchR) in cardiomyocytes. METHODS: S-band HPM device of mean power density 2 approximately 90 mW/cm(2) was used to irradiate 150 healthy Wistar male rats. Immunohistochemistry and image analysis were used to study the pathological characteristics of heart tissue and the expression of beta(1)-AR and M(2)-AchR. RESULTS: Radiation of over 10 mW/cm(2) made myocardial fibers disordered in arrangement, degeneration even sarcoplasm condensation, Pace cells necrosis, and Purkinje cells lysis in a dose-dependent manner (r = 0.968, P < 0.05). beta(1)-AR expression in endocardium, membrane and cytoplasm of myocardium of left ventricle was increased on d1 after radiation, peaked on d3 (P < 0.05) and recovered on d14. M(2)-AchR expression was peaked on d1 (P < 0.01) and recovered on d14. CONCLUSION: Certain degree intensity of HPM radiation may cause heart injury, and increased expressions of beta(1)-AR and M(2)-AchR, which may play an important role in the pathophysiology of heart injury induced by HPM.

[Effect of a hypothetical gene Af116609 on multi-drug resistance of gastric cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of gene Af116609 on gastric cancer multi-drug resistance (MDR) by introducing it into gastric cancer multi-drug resistant (MDR) cell line SGC7901/VCR. METHODS: Gene Af116609 was cloned from SGC7901/VCR by RT-PCR and its differential expression between gastric cancer MDR cells and its parental cells was displayed by Northern blot. The gene was introduced to gastric cancer cells by transfection of recombinant eukaryotic expression vector by electroporation. MTT assay in vitro was applied to investigate its effect on multi-drug resistance phenotype of gastric cancer cells. RESULTS: The full length CDS of gene Af116609, as long as 327 bp, was cloned from gastric cancer MDR cell line SGC7901/VCR and its sequence was coincident with the hypothetical gene Af116609 in GenBank. It was overexpressed in MDR cells than its parental cells at mRNA level. In the MTT assay in vitro, the drug sensitive cells transfected with sense eukaryotic expression vector showed upregulated targeted gene, with increased resistance to vincristine, 5-fliorouracil and arabinoside, and decreased resistance to adriamycin, but no influence on resistance to methotrexate. However, the drug resistant cells transfected with anti-sense eukaryotic expression vector, showed down regulated targeted gene, with less resistance to all the five anticancer drugs to different degrees. CONCLUSION: Gene Af116609 is related to MDR phenotype of gastric cancer cells and may become a candidate molecular target to reverse the MDR of gastric cancer.

[Multidrug resistant effect of alternative splicing form of MAD2 gene-MAD2beta on human gastric cancer cell].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of alternative splicing form -MAD2beta of mitotic arrest deficient protein 2 (MAD2) on the formation of multidrug resistance in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell SGC7901. METHODS: RNA was extracted from a multidrug resistance cell line SGC7901/ADR. The full-length MAD2beta cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR and cloned into the pUCm-T vector, and then recombined into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 in forward direction. Subsequently, pcDNA3.1/MAD2beta vectors were then transfected into SGC7901 cells by lipofectamine. Sensitivity to drug was detected by MTT assay. Cell cycle alteration and intracellular fluorescence intensity were determined by FACS. RESULTS: A fragment of 0.53 Kb was obtained and confirmed by DNA sequencing which was a new alternative splicing form of MAD2 named as MAD2beta. pcDNA3.1/MAD2beta transfected SGC7901 cells (SGC7901/MAD2beta) were more resistant to ADR, VCR and MMC than the control cells (SGC7901/pcDNA3.1), and also ADR fluorescence intensity of SGC7901/MAD2beta cells was lower (P < 0.05) than that of SGC7901/pcDNA3.1 cells. CONCLUSION: MAD2beta could increase the multidrug resistance of SGC7901 cell line.

[Studies on the injury effects of hippocampus induced by high power microwave radiation in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of morphology and function in rat hippocampus induced by high power microwave (HPM) radiation. METHODS: Fifty male Wistar rats were radiated by HPM. Then their learning and memory abilities were tested with Y maze and were sacrificed 6 h, 1 d, 3 d and 7 d after radiation. The hippocampus was taken out to study the basic pathologic changes, apoptosis and the expressions of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by means of HE staining, Nissel body staining, in situ terminal end labeling and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The learning and memory abilities of rats reduced significantly after HPM radiation. HPM also resulted in rarefaction, edema and hemangiectasia of hippocampus, nervous cells degeneration and necrosis, decrease or disappearance of Nissel bodies. The injuries were more serious in field CA4 and dentate gyrus, which showed dose-effect relationship, and were progressively aggravated within 7 days. The apoptosis cells were significantly increased. NSE was increased in neurons. The NSE positive areas were also seen in the interstitial matrix and blood vessels. GFAP was increased in astrocytes, which became shorter and thicker. CONCLUSION: HPM can damage the abilities of learning and memory and results in morphologic changes in hippocampus. The major pathologic changes are degeneration, apoptosis and necrosis of neurons and edema in interstitium. NSE and GFAP play an important role in the pathologic process.

[Effect of electromagnetic pulse irradiation on structure and function of Leydig cells in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) irradiation on structure and function of Leydig cells in mice. METHODS: One hundred and fourteen male Kunming mice were randomly divided into irradiated and control group, the former radiated generally by 8 x 10(3) V/m, 2 x 10(4) V/m and 6 x 10(4) V/m EMP respectively five times within two minutes. Pathological changes of Leydig cells were observed by light and electron microscope. Serum testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) were measured dynamically by radioimmunoassay at 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d after irradiation. RESULTS: Main pathological changes were edema and vacuolation, swelling of cytoplasmic mitochondria, reduce of lipid droplets, pale staining of most of lipid droplets, and partial or complete cavitation of lipid droplets in Leydig cells within 28 days after EMP radiation. Compared with normal controls, serum T decreased in all in different degrees within 28 days, and dropped significantly at 6 h-14 d, 6 h-7 d and 1 d-28 d after 8 x 10(3) V/m, 2 x 10(4) V/m and 6 x 10(4) V/m EMP irradiation(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). EMP irradiation caused no significant changes in serum LH and E2. CONCLUSIONS: Leydig cells are among those that are the most susceptible to EMP irradiation. EMP irradiation may cause significant injury in structure and function of Leydig cells in mice, whose earlier and continuous effect is bound to affect sexual function and sperm production.

[Study on the expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor and nervous growth factor genes in rat cerebral concussion].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and nervous growth factor(NGF) genes in rat cerebral concussion. METHODS: Eighty Wistar male rats were used for animal model of cerebral concussion, which were sacrificed on 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days after injury and the brain tissue was taken out. The expressions of bFGF and NGF genes were studied in the course of cerebral concussion by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Rats in 100 g group were seen the clinical manifestation for typical cerebral concussion. The protein and mRNA of bFGF were increased on day 1, obtained at peak on day 3-7, decreased on day 14 and also increased on day 30 compared with controls. The positive area was seen in the plasma of neurons in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus and cerebellum. NGF protein and mRNA showed strong positive and increased in the plasma of neurons in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus and cerebellum on day 1, and they were continuously positive but gradually decreased within 30 days after injury. CONCLUSION: The expression of bFGF gene participates in the course of cerebral concussion, might play an important role in the nervous cells degeneration and necrosis; NGF gene expression participates in the whole course of cerebral concussion, especially in the early phase.

Relationship between expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins and apoptosis in radiation compound wound healing of rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 proteins, and apoptosis in radiation compound wound healing of rats. METHODS: Apoptosis, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were estimated by in situ terminal labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: (1) Changes of the apoptosis in wound healing showed three typical characteristics: early occurrence, high frequency and delayed disappearance after radiation to rats when compared with those of simple wound group, which might be an important reason for radiation-induced delayed wound healing. (2) The expression of Bax protein increased evidently with the increment of apoptosis and showed a good corresponding relationship with the apoptotic frequency in the process of wound healing. While the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased obviously as the apoptosis reached a maximum and showed increasing tendency up to normal level when the apoptosis decreased distinctively. CONCLUSIONS: Bax and Bcl-2 proteins play an important role in the apoptotic regulation of radiation compound wound healing in rats.

[Differential expression of RPL6/Taxreb107 in drug resistant gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/ADR and its correlation with multiple-drug resistance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential expression of RPL6/Taxreb107 between drug-resistant gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/ADR and gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 as well as its correlation with multiple-drug resistance (MDR) in gastric cancer cells. METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from SGC7901 and SGC77901/ADR, with internal control RT-PCR, Northern blot, gene cloning and expression, construction of eukaryotic expression vector, gene transfection by electroporation. The accumulation and retention of ADR in transiently transfected cell was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The internal control RT-PCR and Northern blot showed high RPL6/Taxreb107 expression in SGC7901/ADR cell line. Sense and antisense eukaryonic expression vectors demonstrated by double enzyme digestion were successfully transfected into gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 and SGC7901/ADR respectively by electroporation. The accumulation and retention of ADR detected 48 hours after transfection showed that RPL6 gene had shown effect on drug resistance in gastric cancer cell. CONCLUSION: The high expression of RPL6/Taxreb107 in drug resistant gastric cancer cell shows its correlation with multiple-drug resistance in gastric cancer.

[Effects of electromagnetic pulse on contents of amino acids in hippocampus of rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the changes of amino acids contents in hippocampus of rats and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) exposure. METHODS: Rats were decapitated and hippocampus were removed after EMP (6 x 10(4) V/m, rise time 20 ns, pulse width 30 micro s, 5 pulses in 2 minutes) irradiation, and contents of amino acids were detected with high performance liquid chromatograpy (HPLC). RESULTS: The contents of aspartic acid (Asp) and glutamic acid (Glu) increased significantly 0, 3, 6 h after irradiation. The peak values of Asp [(17.25 +/- 1.63) pmol/ micro l] and Glu [(13.67 +/- 0.95) pmol/ micro l] were higher than those of control [(10.56 +/- 1.50), (6.94 +/- 1.10) pmol/ micro l respectively, P < 0.05]. Then both decreased gradually and reached the normal level 24 - 48 h after irradiation. The contents of glycine (Gly), taurine (Tau) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) also rose after exposure, the peak value of them [(4.51 +/- 0.60), (29.85 +/- 2.70), (5.14 +/- 0.73) pmol/ micro l respectively] were higher than those of control group [(2.18 +/- 0.31), (9.88 +/- 1.47), (2.84 +/- 0.67) pmol/ micro l, P < 0.05], then recovered 48 h after irradiation. The value of Glu/GABA increased immediately after exposure (3.45 +/- 0.25, P < 0.05), then decreased 24 h (1.62 +/- 0.23, P < 0.05) and recovered 48 h after exposure. CONCLUSION: The toxic effect of excess excitatory amino acids may be partly responsible for the early retardation (within 24 h) of learning of rats.

[Expression and significance of enkephalin and dopamine in experimental rat cerebral concussion tissue].

AIM: To explore the expression and significance of enkephalin and dopamine in rat cerebral concussion tissue. METHODS: 80 Wistar male rats were used to make animal model of cerebral concussion, which were sacrificed on 1,3,7,14 and 30 days after postconcussion and the brain tissues were taken out. The expression patterns of enkephalin and dopamine were studied in the course of cerebral concussion by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The clinical manifestation with typical cerebral concussion character was seen in rat group with 100 g body weight. The mainly pathologic changes were cerebral vascular constriction and dilatation, congestion and edema of cerebral tissue, and neuronal degeneration and necrosis. Expression of enkephalin was increased on day 1 after injury and the enkephalin positive area was in the plasma of endothelial cells in cerebral cortex, hippocamp and cerebellum. The expression of enkephalin reached the peak on day 7 after injury, and the positive area was also seen in the plasma of neurons in cerebral cortex, hippocamp and cerebellum. From 14 days after injury, the expression of enkephalin decreased gradually, but until 30 days after injury it was still higher than that of controls. Expression of dopamine increased in 7 days after injury and the positive area was seen in the plasma of endothelial cells and in the vessel wall in cerebral cortex, hippocamp, thalamus and cerebellum, and had no notable changes at other time points. CONCLUSION: The mainly pathologic changes after cerebral concussion were blood circulatory disorder and denaturation and necrosis of parenchymal cells. Enkephalin and dopamine may participate in the pathophysiological course of cerebral injury after cerebral concussion, and play an important role in the blood vessel injury, regulation of blood-brain barrier and the denaturation and necrosis of nerve cells.