Inhibition of heme oxygenase-1 enhances the chemosensitivity of laryngeal squamous cell cancer Hep-2 cells to cisplatin.

It has been previously reported that cisplatin is a well-known anticancer drug being used against a wide range of malignancies including head and neck, ovarian and non-small cell lung carcinoma, and demonstrated its anticancer activity by reacting with DNA or changing cell structure, immune response, reactive oxygen species level (ROS). In this research we proved that cisplatin induced cell injuries and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in laryngeal squamous cell cancer Hep-2 cells through ROS generation. The induction of HO-1 clearly protected Hep-2 cells from cisplatin-induced cell death and ROS reaction, and the inhibitor of HO-1 enhanced the cell death and ROS generation induced by cisplatin. Furthermore, the HO-1 expression induced by cisplatin was strongly inhibited by the knockdown of nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf-2), and the oxidative damages induced by cisplatin were significantly enhanced. Therefore, it may be concluded that the inhibition of HO-1 or the knockdown of Nrf-2 significantly enhanced cisplatin's anticancer effects on Hep-2 cells. In clinic, with the overexpression of HO-1 in laryngeal squamous cancer tissues, the combination of cisplatin with the inhibitor of HO-1 or Nrf-2 siRNA may act as a new method to the treatment of laryngeal squamous cancer.

[Epidemiological survey of childhood asthma in 2010 in urban Baotou, China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence rate of childhood asthma in 2010 in urban Baotou, China, as well as the characteristics of attacks and the status of diagnosis and treatment of childhood asthma. METHODS: More than 10 000 children (0-14 years) were selected from 3 secondary schools, 3 primary schools, 6 kindergartens, and 4 community vaccination sites in urban Baotou by cluster random sampling between September 2009 and August 2010. A standardized preliminary questionnaire was used for screening out suspected cases, which were then confirmed or excluded by a clinician; the confirmed cases underwent further questionnaire survey. Double entry and validation was adopted for all data using Epi-Info software, and analysis was performed using SPSS 13.0. RESULTS: A total of 11 323 children were surveyed. Asthma was diagnosed in 127 cases (including 121 children with typical asthma and 6 children with cough variant asthma), with a prevalence rate of 1.12%. The prevalence rate of asthma in male children was significantly higher than that in female children (1.51% vs 0.72%; P<0.01). The prevalence rate of asthma in 2010 was significantly increased compared with that in 1990 (0.55%) and 2000 (0.88%) (P<0.05). Systemic glucocorticoid use decreased significantly from 60.2% in 2000 to 25.9% in 2010 (P<0.01); inhaled corticosteroid use increased significantly from 13.6% in 2000 to 85.8% in 2010 (P<0.01); antibiotic use decreased from 98.1% in 2000 to 66.9% in 2010 (P<0.01). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that family history of allergy, allergic rhinitis, chronic cough, and recurrent respiratory tract infection were independent risk factors for childhood asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of childhood asthma in urban Baotou shows an increasing trend. Inhaled corticosteroids have been widely used.

First principles study of periodic size dependent band gap variation of Cu doped ZnO single-wall nanotube.

In this contribution, the size dependent band gap variation of (Zn(4/6)Cu(2/6)O)(L)/(Zn(5/6)Cu(1/6)O)(L) (L is the periodic size) superlattices are investigated with the change of L. The results show that the variation tendency of band gap appears a minimum in S(4) (L = 4) which is nearly a conductor. The band gap of S(3) (L = 3) and S(5) (L = 5) also decrease obviously compared to the other three configurations. Especially, the band gap of S(3) has decreased to 2.16 eV which is in the region of narrow bandgap semiconductor. Thus, the band gap can be modulated by alloying through constructing an appropriate variation period. Our ZnCuO superlattices can absorb light in both visible and UV region. These properties make the superlattices a potential application in photocatalysis and the visible light emitter.

[Effect of the degree of muscle relaxation on motor-evoked potential elicited by transcranial electrical stimulation in spine surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the degree of muscle relaxation on motor-evoked potential elicited by transcranial electrical stimulation in patients undergoing spine surgery. METHODS: Sixty ASA I or II patients undergoing spine surgery were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=12). After an initial intubation, continuous cisatracurium infusion was administered with continuous monitoring of T1. The infusion dose was adjusted according muscle relaxation monitoring, and different muscle relaxation degrees were maintained in the 5 groups. The band and latency of D1 in motor-evoked potential was observed with also subjective assessment of the muscle relaxation. RESULTS: Significant differences in the band and latency were noted in groups I and II compared with the reference values, but not in groups III, IV and V. Subjective assessment revealed significant differences between groups IV and V and groups I and III in terms of the number of cases with poor muscle relaxation. CONCLUSION: T1 value between 10% and 15% is sufficient for MEP monitoring and allows the maintenance of good muscle relaxation during spine surgery.

[Effect of gensenoside Rg3 on apoptosis of Hep-2 and expression of HIF-1alha in human laryngeal cancer cell line under anoxic conditions].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism and effect of gensenoside Rg3 on Hep-2 Cell Line during the normoxia and hypoxia. METHODS: Hep-2 Human Laryngeal Cancer Cell Line was cultured under anoxic conditions, and set the normal control group and positive control group (DDP). MTT was used to observe the growth inhibition rates of Hep-2 Human Laryngeal Cancer Cell by Rg3; The cell cycle and cell apoptosis analysis were detected by FCM. Then the expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF protein was detected by immunohistochemistry and FCM; The expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF mRNA were detected by transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Rg3 could significantly inhibit the growth of Hep-2 cells and arrest the cells in G0/G1 phase during normoxia and hypoxia The mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1alpha were dolon-regulated. CONCLUSION: Rg3 can inhibit Hep-2 cells growth by delaying the progress of cell cycle and inhibit the expression of HIF-1alpha during hypoxia, this may be the mechanism of its anti-tumor effect.

Power relation and condom use in commercial sex behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether condom use is influenced by power relation in commercial sex behaviors. METHODS: Variables were designed to measure the power relation in commercial sex behaviors based on the theory of gender and power relation and data were collected from male sexually transmitted diseases (STD) patients and female commercial sex workers (FSWs) working at recreation centers or being detained in a women education center to identify the relationship between condom use and power relation in male and female respondents using bivariate and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: A significant relationship was identified between power relation and female condom use, the higher the score of power relations, the higher frequency the condom use, but no similar result was found in males. Females got a higher score of power relation than males. CONCLUSIONS: Power relation is one of the factors that influence condom use, which should be considered when relevant theories are used to study the rate of condom use. It is worthwhile exploring the relationship between safe sex and power relation in spouses and regular sex partners when interventions are adopted to prevent HIV/AIDS spreading from high risk groups to the general population.

[Expression of CD44 and nm23-H1 protein in the primary and metastatic lymph node lesions in supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To study the metastasis feature of the primary and metastatic lymph node lesions in supraglottic or hypopharyngeal cancer. METHODS: The expression of CD44 and nm23-H1 in specimens from the primary and metastatic lymph node lesions of the 41 cases with supraglottic or hypopharyngeal cancer were studied with immunohistochemistry method and flow cytometry. RESULTS: No correlation was found between the expression of CD44, nm23-H1 and the tumor differentiation of the supraglottic or hypopharyngeal cancer, but their expression related with the clinical staging. The CD44 and nm23-H1 positive expression rates in the primary and metastatic lymph node lesions were 75.6% (31/41), 85.4% (35/41) and 34.1% (14/41), 26.8% (11/41) respectively (P >0.05). The average fluorescence index of CD44 and nm23-H1 in the primary and metastatic lymph node lesions were 1.27 +/- 0.18, 1.33 +/- 0.16 and 1.11 +/- 0.19, 1.08 +/- 0.15 (x +/- s) respectively (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of CD44 and nm23-H1 in the metastatic lymph node tumor had no difference compared with that in primary tumor of the supraglottic or hypopharyngeal cancer. The difference of metastasis potentials between the primary and metastatic lymph node lesions in the same patient was not proved in this study and should be further investigated from multiple oncogens markers.