Aluminum-induced "mixed" cell death in mice cerebral tissue and potential intervention.

The brain is one of organs vulnerable to aluminum insult. Aluminum toxicity is involved in neurobehavioral deficit, neuronal cell dysfunction, and death. The aim of this study are as follows: (1) to evaluate the repairing efficiency of Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), a cell death inhibitor, and Z-VAD-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor, on Al-induced neurobehavioral deficit and neuronal cell death, in order to evidence the cell death inducing ability of aluminum, and (2) to primarily explore the possibility of treating neuronal cell loss-related disease, such as Alzheimer's disease, with Nec-1 and Z-VAD in Al-induced dementia animal model. We found Nec-1 and Z-VAD-FMK alone or in combination could reduce aluminum-induced learning and memory impairment in mice. Pathohistological results indicated that Nec-1 and Z-VAD-FMK can decrease Al-induced neuronal death cell. In addition, some cell death-associated proteins in cell death signal pathway were inhibited by Nec-1 and Z-VAD-FMK in Al-exposed mice. In conclusions, Nec-1 and Z-VAD-FMK can repair the injury of learning and memory induced by aluminum in mice. Furthermore, Nec-1 was more obvious to repair the injury of learning and memory function compared with Z-VAD-FMK. Nec-1 and Z-VAD-FMK can repair the Al-induced morphological injury of cell and reduce the amounts of dead cell, and repairing effects were more significant at higher doses. The effect of Nec-1 was stronger than Z-VAD-FMK, though their mechanism was different. The combination of them had the strongest effect. Our study evidenced Al-induced neuronal necroptosis and apoptosis existing in animal model and suggested potential therapeutic effects of Nec-1 and Z-VAD-FMK on neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative diseases.

Association of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha gene polymorphism with renal cell carcinoma susceptibility.

AIM OF STUDY: Association between hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) gene polymorphism and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) susceptibility is still being conflicting. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the relationship between HIF-1α C1772T (rs11549465)/G1790A (rs11549467) gene polymorphism and RCC risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Association studies were identified from the databases of PubMed and CBM-disc (China Biological Medicine Database) as of July 1, 2015, and eligible investigations were included and synthesized using meta-analysis method. RESULTS: Five investigations were identified, and the meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between HIF-1α gene polymorphism and RCC risk. There was a marked association between HIF-1α C1772T TT genotype and RCC susceptibility, and the association between HIF-1α C1772T T allele/CC genotype and RCC risk was not found in overall populations (T: odds ratios [OR] =1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70-1.54, P = 0.84; TT: OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 1.60-2.34, P = 0.01; CC: OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.68-2.07, P = 0.55). Furthermore, a marked association between HIF-1α G1790A AA genotype and RCC susceptibility was found, and the association between HIF-1α G1790A A allele/GG genotype and RCC risk was not found in overall populations (A: OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 0.60-3.92, P = 0.38; AA: OR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.38-6.92, P = 0.006; GG: OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.20-2.03, P = 0.44). CONCLUSION: HIF-1α C1772T TT genotype and HIF-1α G1790A AA genotype were associated with RCC susceptibility. However, more investigations are required to further clarify the association.

MRI diagnosis of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) of the liver.

INTRODUCTION: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) has been rarely reported in the liver. PATIENT, METHODS AND RESULTS: We present a liver PEComa case diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The patient was incidentally found to have an abnormal mass in the liver. MRI revealed early and strikingly homogeneous enhancement of the lesion. Partial hepatectomy was performed, and a pathological examination revealed signs of typical of PEComa. The patient was closely monitored for 12 months after the surgery, with no clinical or radiographic evidence of recurrence or metastatic disease. CONCLUSION: MRI diagnosis is applicable for PEComa.

Xuefu zhuyu decoction containing serum in vitro induced expressions of desmin and alpha-actin: an experimental research / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe whether Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XZD) could induce the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into cardiac myoid cells, thus seeking for safe and effective inducers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum pharmacological method was used to induce. XZD containing serum was prepared. MSCs were isolated and cultured. The serum cytotoxicity was detected by MTT. The third generation of favorably grown cells was selected in this experiment. Cells were divided into three groups, i.e., the vehicle control group, the XZD containing serum induced group, and the 5-azacytidine induced group. Expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin were detected by immunocytochemical staining method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before induction protein expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin were negative, and few was weakly positive. There was no statistical difference in the weak positive expression rate among the 3 groups (P > 0.05). After induction protein expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin were negative, and few was weakly positive in the vehicle control group. Protein expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin were positive in the XZC containing serum induced group and the 5-azacytidine induced group. There was statistical difference in the positive expression rate when compared with the vehicle control group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>XZD played a role in in vitro inducing differentiation MSCs to cardiac myoid cells. It might participate in expressions of Desmin and alpha-actin.</p>

Prognostic value of ultra-sensitive pregnancy associated plasma protein-A in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value of ultra-sensitive pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) level in the early phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) attack. METHODS: Patients diagnosed as ACS were enrolled and the level of circulatory PAPP-A was measured within 12 hours after ACS attack. The patients were followed at the time of 1st, 6th, and 12th months post-ACS attack in order to observe the incidence of the cardiovascular adverse events. According to the highest quintile, the patients were divided into 2 groups: high level (≥26.08 µg/L) group and low level (<26.08 µg/L) group, to evaluate the association between the level of PAPP-A and the incidence of the cardiovascular events. RESULTS: Compared with the low level group, the incidence of the composite outcome is significantly increased in the high level group, and the values of OR are 4.76, 4.38, 3.75 for 1st, 6th, 12th months respectively (P=0.000). For myocardial infarction (MI) + cardiac death (CD) the values of OR were 9.81, 6.08, 4.12 (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrates that PAPP-A was an independent risk factor for the cardiovascular adverse events in the early, median, and late phase of ACS (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In the early phase of ACS attack, the elevation of PAPP-A is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events.

[Influence of benzo[a]pyrene on learning and memory and content of amino acid neurotransmitters in hippocampus of rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on capability of learning and memory and the content of amino acid neurotransmitters in hippocampus of rats. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy, male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to their weights after intubated into ventricles: the solvent control group, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mmol/L groups. 10 microl of B[a]P olive oil solutions, of different concentrations 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mmol/L, were injected into rats' lateral ventricles, respectively. Rats in the solvent control group were injected into the same volume of olive oil as that in B[a]P group. Rats' capability of learning and memory was tested by Morris water maze. The content of amino acid neurotransmitters in rats' hippocampus were determined by high performance liquid chromatogram with a fluorescence detector. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the performances of learning and memory of rats decreased significantly in B[a]P treated groups (P<0.01). Levels of glutamate (Glu) were lower significantly in treated groups than that in controls (P<0.01). No significant differences were found in contents of aspartic acid (Asp), glycine (Gly) and aminobutyric acid (GABA) among the four groups. CONCLUSION: B[a]P can damage rats' spatial learning and memory, and which could be related to decreased contents of excitatory amino acids in hippocampus.