MiR-133b inhibits MPP+-induced apoptosis in Parkinson's disease model by inhibiting the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-133b on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+)-induced apoptosis in the Parkinson's disease (PD) model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PC12 cells were induced by different concentrations of MPP+ to establish the PD cell model. Subsequently, the survival rate of PC12 cells was detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-133b in the PD model induced by different concentrations of MPP+. Next, PC12 cells were transfected with miR-133b mimic and miR-negative control (NC), and divided into MPP+ group, MPP+ + miR-NC group and MPP+ + miR-133b mimic group. Transfection efficiency was verified using qRT-PCR. The apoptosis of cells was detected using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Moreover, the expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated (p)-ERK1/2 were determined using Western blotting. RESULTS: After MPP+ treatment, the survival rate of PC12 cells significantly declined (p<0.05). MPP+ exhibited toxicity against PC12 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, cell survival rate decreased remarkably with the increase of MPP+ concentration (p<0.05). With increased concentration of MPP+, the expression of miR-133b in the PD cell model declined significantly (p<0.05). The apoptosis of PC12 cells was remarkably inhibited by overexpression of miR-133b in the PD cell model (p<0.05). In addition, the protein expression of p-ERK1/2 in PC12 cells was notably reduced after overexpression of miR-133b in the PD cell model (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MiR-133b is lowly expressed in the PD cell model. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-133b inhibits cell apoptosis in the PD cell model by regulating the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Plasma thrombospondin-1 and clinical outcomes in traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) acts as an anti-angiogenic factor, and its expression in rat brain is upregulated after intracerebral hemorrhage. The current study was designed to investigate the change of plasma TSP-1 levels and assess the prognostic predictive effect of plasma TSP-1 level and it is associated with head trauma severity in the patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The plasma TSP-1 levels of 134 patients and 134 healthy controls were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationships between plasma TSP-1 levels and trauma severity reflected by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores as well as between plasma TSP-1 levels and short-term and long-term clinical outcomes were analyzed using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Plasma TSP-1 levels were statistically significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls. The multivariate analysis demonstrated close association of TSP-1 with GCS scores and also identified TSP-1 as an independent predictor for 1-week mortality, 6-month mortality, and 6-month unfavorable outcome. Plasma TSP-1 levels had high prognostic predictive value based on receiver operating characteristic curve. The difference between its prognostic predictive value and GCS scores was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma TSP-1 levels are elevated and are highly associated with head trauma severity and short-term and long-term outcomes of STBI. TSP-1 may be a good prognostic biomarker of STBI.

Responses of root hair development to elevated CO2.

This review highlights a potential signaling pathway of CO2-dependent stimulation in root hair development. Elevated CO2 firstly increases the carbohydrates production, which triggers the auxin or ethylene responsive signal transduction pathways and subsequently stimulates the generation of intracellular nitric oxide (NO). The NO acts on target Ca2+ and ion channels and induces activation of MAPK. Meanwhile, reactive oxygen species (ROS) activates cytoplasmic Ca2+ channels at the plasma membrane in the apex of the root tip. This complex pathway involves transduction cascades of multiple signals that lead to the fine tuning of epidermal cell initiation and elongation. The results suggest that elevated CO2 plays an important role in cell differentiation processes at the root epidermis.

Specific and Sensitive Detection of Enterobacter mori Using Reliable RT-PCR.

Enterobacter mori, the causal agent of bacterial wilt in mulberry, is becoming a serious disease in mulberry orchards in China. Because no effective control strategy has been devised for this disease, the reliable screening of mulberry material for latent infection became necessary. Hence, a fast polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of E. mori was developed in this study. The primers were designed within regions of the RNA polymerase ß-subunit (rpoB) gene. The method is fast and simple and showed 100% sensitivity (no false negatives) and 100% specificity (no false positives), which was tested with 4 representative E. mori strains, 9 Enterobacter type strains, 2 strains of the other major mulberry bacterial pathogens (Ralstonia solanacearum and Pseudomonas syringae pv. mori) in China, 7 strains of other plant-associated pathogens, and 50 unidentified epiphytic bacterial isolates from mulberry plants. The real-time PCR assays reliably detected the DNA at at least 10 fg/µl and the bacterial cells at 102 CFU/ml from mulberry shoots and roots suspension. The strong positive reaction in testing of all symptomatic plants (with 100% positive) and parts of asymptomatic latent infected plant samples (with 36.4% positive) provided proof that this method is reliable and sensitive and suitable for screening plant material with latent infections of E. mori.

Conjugated linoleic acids content in M.longissimus dorsi of Hanwoo steers fed a concentrate supplemented with soybean oil, sodium bicarbonate-based monensin, fish oil.

We hypothesized that increasing ruminal pH would lead to enrichment of adipose tissue with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Twenty-four Korean native (Hanwoo) steers were used to investigate the additive effects of monensin (30ppm, SO-BM) and/or fish oil (0.7%, SO-BMF) in the diets along with soybean oil (7%) and sodium bicarbonate (0.5%, SO-B) on cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 CLAs in adipose tissue. The steers were assigned to randomly four groups of six animals each based on body weight. The control group (CON) was fed a commercial concentrate for the late fattening stage. Supplementation of oil and sodium bicarbonate reduced feed intake and daily gain, and fish oil further decreased feed intake (P<0.001) and daily gain (P<0.087) compared to steers fed other diets. Total CLA and CLA isomers in M.longissimus dorsi were not affected when steers were fed SO-B and SO-BM diets compared with those of steers fed CON and SO-BMF diets. However, total poly unsaturated fatty acids were higher (P=0.03) in steers fed SO than in CON steers.

The significance of portal vein thrombosis after distal splenorenal shunt.

The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of portal vein thrombosis after the distal splenorenal shunt, to identify any predictive factors, and to assess the clinical significance of this complication. Preoperative and postoperative angiograms and clinical evaluation were reviewed in 124 patients who underwent distal splenorenal shunts. Total and partial portal vein thrombosis were seen on 13 (10.5%) and 22 (17.7%) postoperative angiograms, respectively. The only preoperative variable correlating with development of portal vein thrombosis was portal venous perfusion, which was significantly lower in patients with than in those without portal vein thrombosis. In six of 10 patients with postoperative pancreatitis, portal vein thrombosis developed. The frequency of early postoperative complications was significantly greater in patients with total portal vein thrombosis than in those with partial or no thrombosis. Long-term follow-up has shown no significant effects of portal vein thrombosis on late ascites, encephalopathy, or survival.

Selective variceal decompression: current status.

Since its introduction into clinical practice in 1967, selective variceal decompression by means of a distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) has become one of the more commonly performed portal-systemic shunting procedures in the treatment of variceal hemorrhage throughout the world. In addition to selective decompression of gastroesophageal varices, the DSRS provides the advantages of preservation of portal perfusion of the liver and maintenance of intestinal venous hypertension. Many large, uncontrolled series and the majority of controlled randomized studies have demonstrated a lower incidence of encephalopathy after the DSRS than after nonselective shunt procedures. A secondary advantage of the DSRS is that the hepatic hilum is avoided, thus making subsequent liver transplantation a less formidable procedure. None of the studies have shown an advantage to this shunt with respect to long-term survival in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. However, some of the large, uncontrolled series have shown that survival is significantly improved in patients with non-alcoholic cirrhosis compared to nonselective shunt procedures in the same population. Controlled trials comparing the DSRS to endoscopic sclerotherapy have shown that chronic endoscopic variceal sclerosis is an appropriate initial therapy for most patients as long as shunt surgery is readily available if sclerotherapy fails.

Current status of the distal splenorenal shunt in China.

Herein we report the results and current status of the distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) in China. From June 1979 to June 1989, the DSRS was performed in 302 patients with esophagogastric varices. Among a group of 249 patients, 112 were in Child's class A, 97 were in class B, and 40 were in class C. The cause of portal hypertension was posthepatic cirrhosis in 217 patients, schistosomiasis in 28 patients, alcoholic cirrhosis in 3 patients, and biliary cirrhosis in 1 patient. Therapeutic selective shunts were performed in 200 patients with variceal bleeding, and 102 patients received prophylactic shunts. Emergency operations were performed in 10 patients. The original Warren shunt was performed in 264 patients, and various modifications in 38 patients. Simultaneous ligation of the splenic artery was performed in 202 patients. The overall operative mortality rate was 6%. A 3-month to 10-year follow-up demonstrated an 8% recurrent bleeding rate, a 1% incidence of encephalopathy, and a survival rate ranging from 72.3% to 100%. From the preliminary results obtained, we conclude that DSRS is effective and safe in the treatment of esophagogastric variceal bleeding. It can also be used as a prophylactic procedure in Child's class A and B patients.

Recognition and clinical implications of mesenteric and portal vein obstruction in chronic pancreatitis.

While splenic vein obstruction is a well-described feature of chronic pancreatitis, analogous occlusion of the superior mesenteric and/or portal veins (SMV-PV) has not been appreciated. We present 14 instances of SMV-PV obstruction in patients with proved chronic pancreatitis without cancer. Portal hypertension was first suspected because of variceal bleeding (4/14) or unexpected varices at laparotomy (10/14). The angiographic appearance mimicked that of pancreatic cancer. The splenic vein was also occluded in eight of the 13 patients who had angiograms. The liver was normal in all 14 cases. The clinical importance of SMV-PV occlusion in chronic pancreatitis lies in (1) its presentation by variceal bleeding, (2) the probable necessity for nonshunting means of control for bleeding varices, (3) the increased difficulty of operations on the pancreas because of portal hypertension, and (4) the possible confusion with pancreatic cancer.

Early somatostatinoma of the papilla of the duct of Santorini.

We studied a patient with a very small somatostatinoma that arose from the prominence of the orifice of the duct of Santorini. The patient presented clinically with epigastric discomfort, marked loss of weight, diarrhea, exertional dyspnea, and chest pain. He flushed intermittently and had occasional tachycardia and hypertension. Levels of serum serotonin and urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were normal. A small ampullary tumor was resected and identified by immunohistochemical staining to be a somatostatinoma. The patient had gained 6.75 kg and was essentially free of symptoms 16 months after surgery.

Improved survival in 45 patients with pancreatic abscess.

The reported mortality due to pancreatic abscesses after acute pancreatitis has been 30 to 50%, a statistic that has remained unchanged for decades. This is a report of 45 patients treated over 10 years, showing a dramatic improvement in survival during that period. They represent 2.5% of admissions at the Massachusetts General Hospital for acute pancreatitis. The identifiable antecedents included alcohol (38%), gallstones (11%), and surgical trauma (16%), or were unknown in 24%. Computerized tomography (CT) was clearly the best means of specific diagnosis (unequivocal evidence in 74%, suggestive in 21%). Treatment in 44 patients was surgical debridement and catheter drainage, and in one it was resection of the pancreatic head. Multiple abscesses were present at the first operation in 21 patients. Seven had second drainage procedures for additional abscesses. In the first 5 years (1974-1978), 10 of 26 patients died (38%). In the second 5 years (1979-1983), one of 19 died (5%) (p less than 0.01). Postoperative complications (84%) included wound hemorrhage (9 of 26 vs. 1 of 19), systemic sepsis (7 of 26 vs. 1 of 19), pancreatic fistula (14/45, 13 of which closed spontaneously), colonic perforation (4), duodenal perforation (2), and gastric perforation (1). The causes of death were renal and respiratory failure with sepsis (7), hemorrhage (3), and pulmonary emboli (1). Analysis of the findings shows in the second 5-year period more frequent use of CT to certify the diagnosis of pancreatic abscess earlier, a more aggressive attitude producing earlier surgical intervention, and more extensive drainage and debridement of associated necrotic tissue. Transcatheter arterial embolization was used successfully to control postoperative hemorrhage from the abscess cavity. CT-guided percutaneous catheter drainage was used occasionally for drainage of recurrent abscesses. Neither open packing of major pancreatic abscesses nor lavage of the abscess cavity, as recently advocated, was necessary.

Surgical management of gastrinoma.

In eight of 10 patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome resection of all visible tumor tissue was combined with gastrectomy. The results in this group of patients, as in other series reported in the literature, suggest that excision of gastrinoma by partial pancreatectomy or enucleation can be combined safely with gastrectomy. Perhaps excision of tumor is preferable in the management of patients with solitary tumor who do not have the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome. We await further follow-up studies and experience with additional patients before judging this thesis of tumor resection with gastric preservation.

Management of nonfunctioning islet cell tumors of the pancreas.

Eleven patients with nonfunctioning islet cell tumor of the pancreas were examined. Since no hypersecretory syndromes were noted, patients' complaints related to enlarging pancreatic masses. Pancreatoduodenectomy was the most commonly performed procedure, with long-term survival of 77 per cent and 62 per cent at two and five years, respectively. Immunohistochemical stains for various polypeptides were positive in two of four tumors tested. Surgical therapy remains the most effective treatment for resectable lesions, with prolonged survival possible in most patients.