[The westward migration of Tongji Medical College during the Anti-Japanese War].

Tongji Medical College began its "education Long March" after the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, with six westward migrations across almost 10,000 kilometers over eight years. It first moved to the city of Shanghai because Tongji Medical College had to rent space in Shanghai, then moved to Jinhua in Zhejiang Province soon afterwards. After that it migrated to Ganzhou and Jian in Jiangxi Province, then He County in Guangxi Province and Kunming in Yunnan Province, ultimately locating in Li Village in Sichuan Province. Tongji Medical College was operated by Chinese and implemented high-level administration and teaching under the difficult conditions during the Anti-Japanese War. As a result, Tongji Medical College made advances in the medical field, such those by Professor Wu Mengchao. It also made advancements in research and treatment, such as identifying pathogenesis of a local epidemic and offering some treatment methods, and popularised medical knowledge for local people by exhibitions and news paper columns. It also established the Number One and the Number Five UMC Trauma Centre, participating in battlefield treatment. The German teachers of Tongji Medical College, who did not move to the west, established a German Medical School in Shanghai. Tongji Medical College returned back to Shanghai, incorporating the German Medical School in Shanghai after the Anti-Japanese War.

Effects of capsaicin on laying performance, follicle development, and ovarian antioxidant capacity in aged laying ducks.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary addition of capsaicin (CAP) on egg production performance, follicular development, and ovarian antioxidant capacity in laying ducks. Three hundred seventy eight 58-wk-old laying ducks were randomly divided into 3 treatments, each treatment consisted 6 replicates, with 12 individually caged laying ducks per replicate. Ducks fed a basal diet served as control, the other 2 groups of ducks were fed the same diet containing 150 mg/kg CAP but in the manner of feed restriction (pair-fed) or ad libitum fed. The experiment lasted for 8 wk. The results showed that the dietary supplementation with CAP under conditions of ad libitum feeding increased feed intake (P < 0.001) and tended (P < 0.1) to increase egg production and egg weight in laying ducks but had no effects on daily egg mass and feed conversion ratio. The relative weight of large yellow follicles from the 2 CAP-supplemented groups at 64 wk of age were significantly higher than that of the controls (P = 0.01). The relative weight of the small yellow follicles in the CAP free-fed group was significantly higher than that of the other 2 groups (P < 0.01). Capsaicin supplementation under ad libitum feding conditions tended to increase the number of dominant follicles in laying ducks (P = 0.06). The ovarian mRNA expression of genes related to calcium signaling (TRPV4, ATP2A2, ITPR1, and CaM) in the CAP ad libitum fed groups were significantly higher than those of the other 2 groups (P < 0.05). The ovarian mRNA expression of CDK1 in CAP free-fed ducks was significantly higher than that of the other 2 groups (P = 0.01). Capsaicin supplementation significantly increased the plasma glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.01) in comparison with the control group but reduced the malondialdehyde content in the ovaries of laying ducks (P < 0.01). The results of this study indicates that dietary supplementation of CAP increased feed intake and improved egg production performance probably by activating calcium signaling pathway and improving redox status.

An incremental feeding pattern for Guangdong Small-ear Spotted gilts during gestation: effects on stillbirth rate and muscle weight of progeny.

While an appropriate feed intake is crucial for the reproductive performance of sows, there is a lack of recommendations currently for feed allowance of Guangdong Small-ear Spotted gilts during gestation. The effects of 2 different feeding patterns during gestation on the reproductive performance of Guangdong Small-ear Spotted gilts were investigated by assigning 80 gilts to 2 feeding pattern groups with a randomized complete block design in accordance with initial body weight and back fat thickness, followed by treatment with an incremental feeding pattern (IFP) and a concaved feeding pattern, respectively, with no difference in total feed intake. The IFP group showed a significant decrease in the stillbirth rate (P < 0.05) and an upward trend in piglet mean birth weight (P = 0.06). Furthermore, the IFP group exhibited an increase in the weights of stomach, supraspinatus tendon, triceps, and psoas minor in neonatal piglets (P < 0.05). Overall, the results of the present investigation showed that IFP could significantly reduce the stillbirth rate of Guangdong Small-ear Spotted gilts and increase the muscle weight of progeny.

[The early graduates from Tongji Medical University(1912-1955)].

The early history of Tongji Medical University can be demonstrated from the graduate certification and the photos of graduates from the Tongji Deutsch Medical School in 1912 to the Wuhan Medical College in 1955. It was found that the names, the chancellors and the affiliations of the university kept changing based on the changing of the names, stamps and signatures of the chancellors on the graduate certificates. It was also found that the apparent morale among graduates appeared to be different during different historical stages in graduate photos. Both graduate certificates and graduate photos show the educational achievements by the Tongji Medical University.

[Efficacy and safety of pylorus-preserving gastrectomy for early gastric cancer located in the middle third of the stomach: a meta-analysis].

Objective: It is yet to be clarified whether pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) for early gastric cancer will bring the risk of radical tumor resection, whether it will increase the incidence of postoperative complications, and how much is the benefit of the quality of life for patients after surgery, these issues are not clear. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) for early middle gastric cancer. Methods: The Chinese and English literatures about PPG and distal gastrectomy (DG) for early gastric cancer were searched from PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI net and Wanfang database. Literature inclusion criteria: (1) Prospective or retrospective cohort study of PPG and DG for early middle-third gastric cancer published publicly; (2) Patients with early middle-third gastric cancer; (3) The enrolled literatures include at least one of the following outcome indicators: the efficacy indicators include gallstone, residual gastritis, bile reflux, delayed gastric emptying, dumping syndrome, reflux esophagitis and overall complication; the long-term prognostic indicators include 5-year survival rate and 5-year tumor recurrence. Literature exclusion criteria: (1) Reviews, case reports, conference summaries and other non-control studies; (2) Repeated published studies, incomplete studies and unextractable studies; (3) The depth of tumor invasion exceeding submucosa. The search time ended in July 2020. The basic information and evaluation indicators included in the article were extracted. The retrospective study was evaluated using Newcastle-Ottawa literature quality evaluation scale. The prospective randomized controlled study was evaluated using Jadad modified scale. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3. Publication bias was assessed using funnel map. Publication bias was tested using Egger tools. Results: A total of 717 literatures were retrieved, and 17 literatures were enrolled finally, including 2 randomized controlled trials and 15 retrospective studies. A total of 2427 patients were enrolled, including 948 in PPG group and 1479 in DG group. The meta-analysis of the efficacy indicators showed that there were significant differences in gallstones incidence (OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.28-0.65, P<0.001), residual gastritis incidence (OR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.32-0.77,P=0.002), bile reflux incidence (OR=0.30, 95% CI: 0.20-0.45, P<0.001), delayed gastric emptying incidence (OR=2.40, 95% CI:1.67-3.45, P<0.001), and postoperative dumping syndrome incidence (OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.15-0.51, P<0.001), while there were no significant differences in postoperative overall complications (OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.69-1.35, P=0.840), reflux esophagitis incidence (OR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.39-1.61, P=0.520) between the two groups. The meta-analysis of the long-term prognostic indicators showed that no significant differences of 5-year survival (OR=1.02, 95% CI: 0.61-1.71, P=0.940) or 5-year tumor recurrence (OR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.36-1.68, P=0.520) were observed between the two groups. Conclusion: The incidences of gallstone, residual gastritis, dumping syndrome, bile reflux are lower after PPG in early gastric cancer, while the postoperative overall complications and long-term survival are comparable between PPG and DG, indicating that PPG is quite safe and feasible.

Up-regulated ONECUT2 and down-regulated SST promote gastric cell migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor growth in gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer is a common malignancy, with high metastasis and poor prognosis. Our purpose was to explore potential molecular mechanisms of gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 10 pairs of gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal gastric tissues were collected for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), followed by differential expression analysis. Combining qRT-PCR results, two novel genes were selected for in-depth analysis, including up-regulated ONECUT and down-regulated SST. To investigate the effects of ONECUT and SST on the biological behaviors of gastric cancer cells, gastric cancer cell lines were transfected by ONECUT2 knockdown and SST overexpression. Afterwards, cell migration and invasion were examined using transwell assays, and the expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were measured by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Finally, tumorigenicity in nude mice was performed. RESULTS: Gastric cancer cell migration and invasion were inhibited in BGC823 cells transfected by shONECUT2. Similar results were observed in SST overexpression in MGC803 cells. Silencing ONECUT2 or overexpressing SST reduced the expressions of mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin and vimentin), STAT3, fibronectin, Wnt2, ß-catenin and increased epithelial marker (E-cadherin), p-STAT3, smad2/3, α-catenin protein levels. In addition, inhibiting ONECUT2 or elevated SST suppressed tumor cell viability in vitro. Moreover, ONECUT2 silencing or elevated SST significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Up-regulated ONECUT2 and down-regulated SST promote gastric cell migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor growth in gastric cancer.

[A century of memory of Tongji Medical College: Selected collections from Museum of History].

This paper presents a harsh course of Tongji Medical School.The school was relocated several times, but still kept running though it met with the cataclysm-the World WarⅠand World WarⅡ.By using collections from School History Museum of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Hospital History Museum of Tongji Medical School as clue and combining the years of itself, it's found that Tongji Medical School is a medical education institution which has Germanic medical educational tradition. The information from this paper has provided the primary sources for research on the origin and development of modern Chinese medical education.

[Risk factor analysis of perioperative complications in patients with radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer].

Objective: To identify the risk factors of perioperative complications after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed. Case inclusion criteria: (1) patients undergoing radical gastrectomy (D2); (2) primary gastric cancer without distant organ metastasis confirmed by postoperative pathology; (3) no neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery. Patients with peritoneal tumor dissemination found during operation, undergoing palliative operation due to distant metastasis, and undergoing combined organ resection and those without complete clinicopathological data were excluded. According to the above criteria, 426 patients with gastric cancer at our department from January 2015 to June 2017 were included in this study. Of 426 patients, 285 were male and 141 were female with a mean age of (55.4±9.7) years. According to the "Japan Clinical Cancer Research Group (JCOG) classification criteria for postoperative complications of gastric cancer", patients with grade II and higher complications were classified as complication group, and patients with no complication or grade I complication were classified as non-complication group. Baseline data were compared between two groups. Associations of perioperative complication with gender, age, body mass index, preoperative routine laboratory test, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, activities of daily living (ADL) assessment, past medical history as well as preoperative conditions (hypertension and/or diabetes), surgical resection procedure, incision type, operation time, intraoperative blood loss/body mass ratio were examined. Univariate analysis was performed using χ(2) test and the Wilcoxon rank sum test to screen the statistically significant variables associated with perioperative complications. The significant variables were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors of perioperative complication. Results: Grade II or higher complications after surgery were developed in 97 patients (22.8%), which included anastomotic leakage in 18 cases (4.2%), postoperative bleeding in 9 cases (2.1%), abdominal abscess in 5 cases (1.2%), intestinal obstruction in 5 cases (1.2%), pancreatic leakage in 1 case (0.2%), and other adverse events in 59 cases (13.8%). Univariate analysis suggested that the gender, age, ADL, incision type, intraoperative blood loss/body mass ratio, and operation time were associated with perioperative complication (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that elder age (OR=1.033, 95% CI:1.013-1.053, P=0.013), incision type of laparotomy (OR=2.091, 95% CI:1.247-3.508, P=0.004), longer operation time (OR=1.004, 95% CI:1.001-1.007, P=0.001) and higher ratio of intraoperative blood loss/body mass (OR=1.100, 95% CI: 1.039-1.163, P=0.031) were risk factors for postoperative complications. Conclusion: Attention should be paid to those cases with elder age, laparotomy incision, longer operation time and higher ratio of intraoperative blood loss/body mass, and perioperative management after gastrectomy should be improved.

Propionate alleviates high-fat diet-induced lipid dysmetabolism by modulating gut microbiota in mice.

AIMS: The aims were to examine whether oral sodium propionate supplementation regulate lipid metabolism through modulating gut microbiota. METHODS AND RESULTS: ICR male mice (26·98 ± 0·30 g) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10) and fed control diet (Con), high-fat diet (HFD) and HFD plus propionate (Pro) respectively. In this study, we found that HFD increased the weight of final body, inguinal white adipose tissues (iWAT), epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and perirenal white adipose tissue (pWAT), as well as the adipocyte mean area of iWAT and eWAT in mice (P < 0·05), whereas sodium propionate treatment reduced the weight of iWAT and pWAT as well as adipocyte mean area of iWAT in mice fed a HFD (P < 0·05). Moreover, in the iWAT, the mRNA expression of lipogenesis genes, including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1ß, was upregulated by HFD challenge (P < 0·05), and the elevation of these genes was nearly reversed to the level of control diet-fed mice by sodium propionate treatment. Meanwhile, sodium propionate treatment increased the hormone-sensitive lipase mRNA expression in the iWAT of HFD-fed mice (P < 0·05). High-throughput pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA demonstrated that sodium propionate treatment significantly recovered the gut microbiota dysbiosis in HFD-fed mice, including the richness and diversity of microbiota and the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes. Furthermore, the HFD-induced reductions in colonic levels of butyrate and valerate were reversed by sodium propionate treatment, which also normalized the serum LPS level seen in HFD-fed mice to the levels of the control diet-fed mice. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results indicated that sodium propionate treatment could improve lipid metabolism in HFD-fed mice, and the potential mechanisms might be via regulating gut microbiota. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We demonstrated for the first time that oral sodium propionate significantly improved HFD-induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota, indicating that the mitigative effect of propionate for HFD-induced lipid dysmetabolism might be mediated by gut microbiota in mice.

[Effect of different surface treatments on the crystal structure and properties of zirconia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of 3 surface different treatments on the crystal structure, shear bond strength,roughness value and flexural strength of zirconia. METHODS: The zirconia specimens were prepared and randomly divided into 4 groups and received the following treatments: (1) blank control group,the specimens without treatments; (2)sandblasting with alumina group, sandblasting the specimens with 110 µm alumina particles for 21 s as working pressure 0.25 MPa and working distance 10 mm; (3)laser etching group, coating the surface of the specimens with graphite powder and using Er:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) laser to irradiate the surface 30 s; (4) hot-etching group, putting the specimens in a closed reactor within a 1:1 mixture of 40% (mass traction) nitric acid and 68%(mass traction) hydrofluoric acid liquid, the reaction of 30 min in a water bath at 100 degrees centigrade. The changes of crystal structure, shear bond strength(SBS) and flexural strength of zirconia after different surface treatments were tested. RESULTS: The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) patterns showed that the volume percentage of monoclinic phase of the 4 groups was 0.91%, 12.50%, 6.64% and 17.81% respectively. The roughness value for the four groups were as follows: blank control group,(0.29±0.01) µm; sandblasting with alumina group, (1.05±0.11) µ m; laser etching group, (0.73±0.04) µm; hot-etching group, (1.31±0.06) µm, respectively(P<0.05). Mean SBS was (7.09±0.46) MPa in blank control group, (12.14±1.51) MPa in sandblasting with alumina group, (8.82±0.74) MPa in laser etching group and (11.97±0.99) MPa in hot-etching group. There was no statistically significant difference between sandblasting with alumina group and hot-etching group (P>0.05), but the difference between the other groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). Mean three-point bending was (933.70±44.13) MPa in blank control group, (850.95±60.66) MPa in sandblasting with alumina group, (771.53±68.08) MPa in laser etching group and (766.27±57.49) MPa in hot-etching group. There was no statistically significant difference between sandblasting with alumina group and hot-etching group (P>0.05), but the difference between the other groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: After different surface treatments, the surface of zirconia has changed from tetrago-nal to monoclinic phases in varying degrees. In addition, surface treatments could improve the bond strength of zirconia to resin cement, and also lead to a decrease in the flexural strength of zirconia.

Dietary supplementation with arginine and glutamic acid modifies growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in growing-finishing pigs.

Sixty Duroc × Large White × Landrace pigs with an average initial BW of 77.1 ± 1.3 kg were used to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with arginine and glutamic acid on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in growing-finishing pigs. The animals were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatment groups (12 pigs/group, male:female ratio 1:1). The pigs in the control group were fed a basal diet (basal diet group), and those in the experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 2.05% -alanine (isonitrogenous group), 1.0% -arginine (Arg group), 1% glutamic acid + 1.44% -alanine (Glu group), or 1.0% -arginine + 1.0% glutamic acid (Arg+Glu group). After a 60-d period of supplementation, growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality were evaluated. The results showed no significant differences ( > 0.05) in growth performance and carcass traits of the pigs in the Arg group relative to the basal diet group; however, the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle and back fat showed a decrease ( < 0.05) in the percentage of SFA. In the Glu group, the final BW, phase 1 (d 1 to 30) and phase 2 (d 31 to 60) ADFI, and average back fat thickness of the pigs decreased ( < 0.05) by 7.14%, 23.43%, 8.03%, and 33.88%, respectively, when compared with the basal diet group. Dietary Arg+Glu supplementation had no effect ( > 0.05) on the final BW, phase 2 ADFI, and average daily weight gain in pigs but decreased ( < 0.05) their phase 1 ADFI, average back fat thickness, and percentage of SFA in the LD muscle and back fat, and increased ( < 0.05) the i.m. fat (IMF) content of the LD and biceps femoris muscles when compared with the basal diet group. Furthermore, a 16% decrease in yellowness (b* value; < 0.05) was observed in the Arg+Glu group pigs when compared with the isonitrogenous group. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with both Arg and Glu beneficially increases the IMF deposition and improves the meat color and fatty acid composition without affecting growth performance and s.c. fat in pigs, providing a novel strategy to enhance meat quality in growing-finishing pigs.

Ferrous chelator 2,2'-dipyridyl attenuates cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage in rabbits.

The effect of 2,2'-dipyridyl (DP) on cerebral vasospasm was investigated in a double-injection rabbit model of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Thirty-six animals were divided between four groups: control (sham-operated), SAH (model alone), SAH + DP (the SAH model in which DP dissolved in dimethyl sulphoxide [DMSO] was injected once daily for 5 days into the cisterna magna), and SAH + DMSO (the SAH model in which DMSO [vehicle] was injected daily for 5 days). There were significant differences in the basilar artery luminal area, wall thickness, neurological deficit score and vasospasm index between the SAH + DP and SAH groups. There was a significant negative correlation between arterial luminal area and arterial wall thickness, and also between the neurological deficit score and vasospasm index. Cells that were positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labelling (TUNEL) and p53 expression were significantly increased in the SAH + DMSO and SAH groups, but not in the SAH + DP group, versus controls. Thus, DP may attenuate cerebral vasospasm after SAH by suppressing p53-induced apoptosis in the cerebral vessels.

Treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis with a normal-sized Gateway(™) balloon and Wingspan(™) stent.

The safety and performance of angioplasty using a normal-sized Gateway(™) balloon and Wingspan(™) stent for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis were assessed. Seventy-two patients with intracranial stenosis (≥ 50%) were treated using an undersized (group U) or normal-sized (group N) Gateway(™) balloon and a Wingspan(™) stent. All patients were successfully stented. Stenosis improved from 74.2% before treatment to 23.8% immediately after treatment in group U and from 70.9% to 20.1% in group N. The two groups had similar rates of major periprocedural neurological complications (9.0% overall), none of which led to death. Residual stenosis at follow-up was 40.8% and 32.5% in groups U and N, respectively. In-stent re-stenosis (ISR) was significantly less frequent in group N (22.0%) than in group U (33.3%). It is concluded that use of a normal-sized Gateway(™) balloon and Wingspan(™) stent appears to be safe, to have a high rate of technical success, good immediate post-operative results and a low ISR rate.

Localization of CD226 in the mouse hippocampus and cerebellum during adulthood and postnatal development.

CD226, a member of cell adhesion molecules, has been widely studied in the immune system; however, its expression in the CNS remains unknown. In our present study, we detected CD226 mRNA and protein in the mouse hippocampus and cerebellum by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Immunohistochemical studies found that CD226 is primarily located in the hilus of the dentate gyrus and stratum lucidum aligned along the pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA3 area, the interspaces of granular cells and the somata of the Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex during adulthood. Double-staining results revealed that CD226 co-localized well with synaptic marker proteins including synaptophysin, syntaxin and PSD-95. During postnatal development, CD226 could not be detected at its adult locations until postnatal day 12; however, it was temporally expressed in the somata of neighboring or distant nuclei associated with its adult location. These results showed the diverse localization of CD226 in the mouse hippocampus and cerebellum for the first time and suggested its potential role in the CNS.

Endovascular management of posterior cerebral artery aneurysms. Initial experience.

SUMMARY: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the endovascular management of posterior cerebral artery aneurysms and compare the efficacy and safety of selective aneurysmal coiling and parent artery occlusion. We reviewed all cases with cerebral aneurysms and attention was paid to the patients with posterior cerebral artery aneurysms. Among 550 aneurysms, eight aneurysms in eight patients were located on the posterior cerebral artery, three of which presented with SAH, whereas five presented with different degrees of headache. Seven were located at the P2 segment and one at the P3 segment. One was a giant serpentine aneurysm, two were giant sac aneurysms, two were large and three were small. All aneurysms were successfully treated, five with selective aneurysmal coiling and three with parent artery occlusion. Two patients presenting with headache with giant aneurysms had suffered an aggravated headache for two weeks which then resolved. Others had an uneventful recovery. All patients were followed from 12 months to 56 months. Four selective aneurysmal coiling aneurysms received digital subtraction angiography, two of which needed another treatment and one was treated with parent artery occlusion, one of which recanalized slightly and one of which had further thrombosis. No rebleeding or any other symptom occurred. Whether selective aneurysmal coiling or parent artery occlusion was performed, endovascular management of PCA aneurysms was a safe and effective method. Under some conditions, parent artery occlusion was better than selective aneurysmal coiling.

Prolongation of allograft survival by administration of anti-CD45RB monoclonal antibody is due to alteration of CD45RBhi: CD45RBlo T-cell proportions.

CD45RB monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy is capable of prolonging allograft survival. We have previously shown that CD45RB mAb enriches the CD45RBlo T-cell population in vitro and in vivo by preferentially depleting CD45RBhi T cells. The present study assessed the importance of CD45RBhi T-cell depletion in murine cardiac allograft survival by infusion of naive CD45RB T-cell subsets. Here we show that naturally occurring CD45RBloCD4+ T cells express regulatory transcription factor Foxp3 and have regulatory function, whereas CD45RBhiCD4+ T cells express low levels of Foxp3 and have effector function. Infusion of syngeneic CD45RBhi T cells significantly reduced graft survival after depletion of CD45RBhi T cells by CD45RB mAb. Reduction of graft survival also occurred when syngeneic CD45RBhi T cells were infused into rapamycin-treated mice, whereas survival was prolonged when CD45RBlo T cells were added. This indicates that an alteration in the balance between regulatory CD45RBlo and effector CD45RBhi T cells is critical to the immunologic function of CD45RB mAb. A strategy to eliminate effector T cells with consequent enrichment of the regulatory T-cell compartment may be an important new strategy in the prevention of rejection.

Structure of a new neurotoxin from the scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch at 1.76 A.

A new neurotoxin BmK M2, toxic to both mammals and insects, with the strongest toxicity in the BmK toxin series, has been purified from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch and crystallized with MPD at pH 7.5. The crystals are orthorhombic, belonging to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 36.64, b = 36.95, c = 37.23 A. The structure was solved by molecular replacement and refined to R = 0.186 for all reflections to a resolution of 1.76 A. The whole sequence (64 residues) of BmK M2 was determined by crystallographic analysis based on high-resolution data and the homologous model of BmK M8. The refined BmK M2 structure shows a non-proline cis peptide bond between Pro9 and His10 which enables the C-terminal segment to adopt a conformation different to that of the weak toxin BmK M8. Recently, a mutation analysis had suggested that both the tenth residue and the C-terminus play key roles in receptor binding. Therefore, these features may be related to the binding selectivity of the group III alpha-like toxins. The charge changes of residues 8, 10, 18, 28, 55 and 59 from neutral or negative to positive or neutral, which leads to a positive electrostatic potential surface, may be responsible for the high toxicity of BmK M2.

[Elimination effect of ethyl alcohol on the DCCD-induced inhibition of hydrolytic activity of H+-ATPase complex].

12.5% ethyl alcohol was added into the reaction system containing mitochondrial H(+)-ATPase complex of pig heart, which was preincubated with 0.5 microgram/ml DCCD dicyclohexylcarbodiimide) at 30 degrees C. Or the DCCD and ethyl alcohol were simultaneously incubated with H(+)-ATPase at 30 degrees C. In either case, the inhibition of the hydrolytic activity of H(+)-ATPase caused by DCCD could be completely eliminated in the presence of ethyl alcohol. If methyl alcohol was instead of ethyl alcohol, the DCCD inhibition could only be partly eliminated. In the replacement of ethyl alcohol by dimethyl sulfoxide, no elimination could be observed. After preincubation of 2 micrograms/ml oligomycin with H(+)-ATPase complex instead of DCCD, the same concentration of ethyl alcohol could not caused elimination effect, which indicates no un-coupling effect happened by ethyl alcohol. The kinetic experimental result showed that ethyl alcohol exhibits non-competitive inhibition to the hydrolytic activity of H(+)-ATPase complex. It was deduced that ethyl alcohol could result in conformational change of F1 of the complex, such as to affect the activity of the enzyme. The measurement of DPH (diphenylhexatriene) fluorescence polarization, the fluorescence labelled with N-(1-pyrenyl) maleimide and intrinsic fluorescence of H(+)-ATPase complex compared with control show that the three cases, i.e. only treated with DCCD, only treated with ethyl alcohol or treated with DCCD and ethyl alcohol, appear different conformations of H(+)-ATPase complex. But the conformation caused by DCCD and ethyl alcohol was more like that by ethyl alcohol. This is consistent with results obtained from activity of DCCD plus ethyl alcohol and only ethyl alcohol. These results mentioned above indicate that the mechanism of ethyl alcohol eliminating the DCCD-induced inhibition of H(+)-ATPase is a conformational interaction caused by DCCD and ethyl alcohol.

[Effects of dynorphin A (1-8) on cell cycle and total cellular protein during neuronal aging in vitro].

Serum-free culture of mouse neuroblastoma cells was used as the experimental model for the study of neuronal aging, with flow cytometry of cell cycle, DNA and total cellular protein as the indices of neuronal aging. After addition of dynorphin A (1-8) 10(-7) mol.L-1 into the culture medium, the following general tendencies were obtained: (1) The number of S and G2 + M phase cells was increased and the number of G1 phase cells decreased. (2) The total cellular protein in aged experimental neural cells decreased. The results implies that Dyn A (1-8) Produced effects on cell cycle, DNA and total cellular protein in the direction of delaying neuronal aging. The relation between Dyn A (1-8) and neuronal aging merits further investigation.