MiR-203 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by targeting SOCS3.

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "MiR-203 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by targeting SOCS3, by H.-P. Liu, Y. Zhang, Z.-T. Liu, H. Qi, X.-M. Zheng, L.-H. Qi, J.-Y. Wang, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (21): 9286-9294-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201911_19421-PMID: 31773696" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/19421.

[A cohort study on the association between resting heart rate and the risk of new-onset heart failure].

Objective: To prospectively explore the relationship between resting heart rate (RHR) and risk of new-onset heart failure. Methods: It was a prospective cohort study. People who attended the physical examination of Kailuan Group Company in 2006 and with complete electrocardiography (ECG) recordings were eligible for this study. A total of 88 879 participants aged 18 years old or more who were free of arrhythmia, a prior history of heart failure and were not treated with ß-blocker were included. Participants were divided into 5 groups according to the quintiles of RHR at baseline (Q(1) group, 40-60 beats/minutes (n=18 168) ; Q(2) group, 67-70 beats/minutes (n=18 970) ; Q(3) group, 71-74 beats/minutes (n=13 583) ; Q(4) group, 75-80 beats/minutes (n=22 739) ; and Q(5) group,>80 beats/minutes (n=15 419) ) .The general clinical data and laboratory test results were collected. The outcome was the first occurrence of heart failure at the end of follow-up (December 31, 2016) .We used Cox regression model to examine the association between RHR and the risk of new-onset heart failure. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Cox regression modeling. Results: Among the included patients 68 411 participants were male, mean age was (51.0±12.3) years old, and RHR was (74±10) beats/minutes. Statistically significant differences among the RHR quintiles were found for the following variables: age, gender, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, body mass index, the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, education status, physical activity, smoking status, drinking status, history of diabetes, history of hypertension and history of use antihypertensive drugs (all P<0.01) . Higher RHR was linked with higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension history, and higher systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and FBG levels (all P<0.01). After a mean follow-up of 9.5 years, the incidence of new-onset heart failure in Q(1), Q(2), Q(3), Q(4) and Q(5) groups was 1.60%(290/18 168), 1.36%(258/18 970), 1.80%(245/13 583), 1.76%(400/22 739) and 2.35%(362/15 419),respectively (P<0.01) . The person-year incidence of heart failure in Q(1), Q(2), Q(3), Q(4) and Q(5) groups was 1.7, 1.5, 1.9, 1.9 and 2.6 per 1 000 person-years respectively. Compared with the Q(2) group, multivariate analysis with adjustment for major traditional cardiovascular risk factors showed that HRs of Q(3),Q(4),and Q(5) group were 1.23 (95%CI 1.03-1.48, P<0.05) , 1.19 (95%CI 1.01-1.41, P<0.05) , 1.39 (95%CI 1.18-1.65, P<0.01) , respectively. In the absence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking and acute myocardial infarction, the Cox regression model showed that compared with Q(2) group, the HR of new-onset heart failure in Q(5) group was 1.58 (95%CI 1.02-2.45, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Increased RHR is associated with increased risk of new-onset heart failure in this cohort.

Expression and prognostic significance of melatonin receptor MT1 in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Melatonin receptor type 1 (MTNR1A or MT1) is known to play an important role in cancer progression; however, its prognostic value for resected gastric adenocarcinoma (RGA) is unknown. In this study, we examined the potential of MT1 as a prognostic biomarker for RGA. The expression of the MT1 was evaluated in 67 patients with RGA by immunohistochemistry, and the relationship between MT1 levels and RGA prognosis was analyzed by Chi-square test, multivariate Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test. High MT1 expression was associated with a poor survival rate (29.0%, p=0.002) and the occurrence of metastasis (62.9%, p=0.004). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log rank tests revealed that patients with high expression of the MT1 had significantly shorter median overall survival compared to those with low expression (33.0 vs. 65.0 months, respectively; p=0.02). Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that the calculated death risk (hazard ratio [HR]) in patients with high expression levels of the MT1 increased to 2.68 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-5.94, p=0.015), which was higher compared to those with low levels. HR of death was also high in patients with advanced T stage (2.51; 95 % CI 1.00-6.26, p=0.049) and metastasis (5.02; 95% CI 1.94-13.03, p=0.001). Our results showed that high MT1 expression in primary gastric adenocarcinoma tissues was associated with the occurrence of metastasis and poor prognosis. It may have prognostic significance as a potential biomarker in patients with RGA.

MiR-203 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by targeting SOCS3.

OBJECTIVE: Cytokine signal transduction inhibitor 3 (SOCS3) negatively regulates Janus kinases (JAK) - signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a targeted relationship between miR-203 and SOCS3 mRNA. This study investigated the role of miR-203 in ovarian cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ovarian cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were collected to detect the expression of miR-203 and SOCS3. Ovarian cancer HO8910 cells were divided into miR-NC group, miR-203 inhibitor group, and miR-203 mimic group followed by the analysis of the expression of miR-203 and SOCS3 mRNA by quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR), protein expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 by Western blot, cell apoptosis by flow cytometry, and proliferation by 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining chronologically. RESULTS: Compared with adjacent tissues, miR-203 expression was significantly increased in tumor tissues and SCOS3 mRNA expression was decreased. Compared with those with lower miR-203 expression, the prognosis of patients with higher expression of miR-203 was significantly worse. There was a targeted regulatory relationship between miR-203 and SOCS3 mRNA. Compared with IOSE80 cells, miR-203 expression in HO8910 and SKOV3 cells was increased, and its expressions of SOCS3 mRNA and protein were decreased. Compared with miR-NC group, the transfection of miR-203 inhibitor significantly increased SOCS3 expression, and decreased the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein. We draw the conclusion that miR-203 increased cell apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation. However, opposite results were observed after the transfection of miR-203 mimic. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal miR-203 and SOCS3 expression are related to the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. MiR-203 affects the proliferation of JAK-STAT pathway and regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by targeting the inhibition of SOCS3 expression.

Genome-wide analyses reveal the role of noncoding variation in complex traits during rice domestication.

Genomes carry millions of noncoding variants, and identifying the tiny fraction with functional consequences is a major challenge for genomics. We assessed the role of selection on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) for domestication-related changes in rice grains. Among 3363 lncRNA transcripts identified in early developing panicles, 95% of those with differential expression (329 lncRNAs) between Oryza sativa ssp. japonica and wild rice were significantly down-regulated in the domestication event. Joint genome and transcriptome analyses reveal that directional selection on lncRNAs altered the expression of energy metabolism genes during domestication. Transgenic experiments and population analyses with three focal lncRNAs illustrate that selection on these loci led to increased starch content and grain weight. Together, our findings indicate that genome-wide selection for lncRNA down-regulation was an important mechanism for the emergence of rice domestication traits.

[Association between the office, visit-to-visit and 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure and vascular damages in the elderly].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between different kinds of systolic blood pressure (SBP, including office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour ambulatory) and vascular damages (represented by carotid intima-media thickness, CIMT; brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, baPWV) in the elderly. METHODS: A total of 2 814 participants aged of ≥60 years old and retired employees were selected with random sampling method from the individuals who took part in 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2010-2011 health examination in Tangshan Kailuan Hospital, Kailuan Linxi Hospital, Kailuan Zhaogezhuang Hospital and with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data, CIMT and baPWV.Finally, 2 146 participants (1 438 males, average age (67.3±6.0) years old) were included to the analysis.Multivariable regression analysis was used to analyze association between the office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour, day-time, night-time SBP and CIMT and baPWV, respectively. RESULTS: (1) The average SBP, DBP, CIMT and baPWV were (137.0±20.4) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (83.5±11.0) mmHg, (0.92±0.18)mm and (1 781.7±353.2)cm/s.(2) The participants were divided into high and low level groups according to the median of different SBPs, respectively.The results indicated that CIMT and baPWV were significantly higher in high level groups than in low level groups (all P<0.01). (3) After adjusting for gender and age, the partial correlate analysis showed that the office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour, day-time, night-time SBP positively associated with CIMT and baPWV (all P<0.01). (4) After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariable regression analysis showed that the office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour, day-time, night-time SBP were positively and linearly associated with CIMT and baPWV in total cohort, and standard regression coefficients were 0.157, 0.208, 0.175, 0.169, 0.163, 0.479, 0.420, 0.401, 0.389 and 0.354, respectively.In addition, similar results were observed in male and female participants but there was no significance between night-time SBP and CIMT in female participants. CONCLUSIONS: Office, visit-to-visit, 24-hour, day-time, night-time SBP are associated with vascular damages, and the best associations are observed between visit-to-visit SBP and vascular function damage. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: Chinese CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY, ChiCTR-TNC-1100 1489.

[Influencing factors of orthostatism brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and ankle brachial index in the elderly].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution and influencing factors of orthostatism brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV) and ankle brachial index(ABI) in the elderly. METHODS: Participants were selected with random sampling from ≥60 years old retired workers, who underwent 2010 to 2011 health check-up in the Tangshan Kailuan Hospital, Kailuan Linxi Hospital, Kailuan Zhaogezhuang Hospital. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of orthostatism and supine baPWV and ABI in the elderly. RESULTS: (1) A total of 2 464 participants were included, and 1 601 participants (1 065 males(66.5%) and (67.5±6.1) years old) with integral data were analyzed. Orthostatism baPWV was (3 885.4±1 503.5)cm/s and Supine baPWV was (1 761.2±371.4)cm/s.Orthostatism ABI was 1.54±0.21 and supine ABI was 1.10±0.12. Orthostatism baPWV increased with increasing age, while orthostatism ABI decreased with aging(trend test, both P<0.01)in <65, 65-69, 70-74, and ≥75 years old participants.(2) Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the age(ß=0.19, P<0.01), lower limbs orthostatism systolic blood pressure(ß=0.18, P<0.01), lower limbs supine systolic blood pressure (ß=0.14, P<0.01), orthostatism heart rate (ß=0.30, P<0.01), supine heart rate (ß=0.23, P<0.01), body mass index (ß=-0.18, P<0.01) were associated with orthostatism baPWV, and female(ß=-0.055, P=0.01), upper limb orthostatism systolic blood pressure (ß=-0.834, P<0.01), lower limbs orthostatism systolic blood pressure (ß=0.708, P<0.01), lower limbs supine systolic blood pressure (ß=0.099, P<0.01) and fasting blood glucose(ß=-0.085, P<0.01) were associated with orthostatism ABI. CONCLUSIONS: Orthostatism baPWV and ABI were significantly higher than those of supine's. Age, lower limbs orthostatism and supine systolic blood pressure, orthostatism and supine heart rate, body mass index were associated with orthostatism baPWV. Female, upper limb orthostatism systolic blood pressure, lower limbs orthostatism, supine systolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were associated with orthostatism ABI in the elderly.

[Normal value and reference value range of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity among Kailuan study population].

Objective: To establish the normal and reference values of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV) based on Kailuan study population. Methods: There were 22 622 staffs of Kailuan Group who underwent 2010 to 2015 health check-up and baPWV measurement. Data of 20 622 staffs were analyzed after excluding 2 000 staffs due to incomplete data. Of these, 9 109 normal individuals were selected for final analysis of normal and reference values for baPWV after excluding 8 788 staffs who had myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes, hypertension history, treated by either anti-hypertensive or lipid-lowering drugs, and 2 725 smoker. Results: (1)Age, height, weight, baPWV, systolic pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, sensitivity C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose were significant difference between male and female population.(2) In male population, baPWV (mean(rang of 95%)) were 1 248(933-1 564) cm/s for age<30 years, 1 345(995-1 696) cm/s for 30-39 years, 1 407(1 007-1 807) cm/s for 40-49 years, 1457(987-1 927) cm/s for 50-59 years, 1 589(966-2 213) cm/s for 60-69 years, 1 898(1 018-2 778) cm/s for age≥70 years; in female population, baPWVv(mean(rang of 95%)) were 1 080(815-1 344) cm/s for age<30 years, 1 162(845-1 480) cm/s for 30-39 years, 1 264(911-1 618) cm/s for 40-49 years, 1 386(1 004-1 768) cm/s for 50-59 years, 1 581(967-2 196) cm/s for 60-69 years, 1 874(1 288-2 459) cm/s for age≥70 years. Conclusion: Normal value and rang of baPWV are different in different age and gender among Kailuan study population. Clinical Trail Registry Chinese Clinical Trail Registry, ChiCTR-TNRC-11001489.

Reduced expression of miR-503 is associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: We wished to evaluate the association between expression of microRNA (miR) -503 and prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 96 paired specimens of cervical cancer and adjacent normal cervical epithelial tissues were obtained. qPCR was used to evaluate expression levels of miR-503. We analyzed the associations between miR-503 expression levels and clinicopathological parameters, as well as recurrence-free and overall survival with Kaplan-Meier survival curves and proportional hazards model. RESULTS: miR-503 levels were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in cervical cancer tissue compared with adjacent normal cervical epithelial tissue. We further observed significant associations of expression of this miR and recurrence of cervical cancer, lymph node metastasization, and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage. In addition, in multivariate analysis, miR-503 expression level was found to be an independent prognostic factor for both recurrence-free and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced expression of miR-503 is an independent prognostic factor in cervical cancer indicating poor prognosis.

In vitro differentiation of sperm from male germline stem cell.

In this study, we developed a model of sperm in vitro differentiation to study the mechanism of spermatogenesis. We isolated newborn male germ cells for in vitro differentiation. We found that after 4-5 weeks of culture, sperm-like cells were occasionally observed in cell co-culture and the feed-layer. After 1-2 weeks of culture followed by 4-5 weeks of co-culture, sperm-like cells were observed.

Genetic diversity and classification of Oryza sativa with emphasis on Chinese rice germplasm.

Despite extensive studies on cultivated rice, the genetic structure and subdivision of this crop remain unclear at both global and local scales. Using 84 nuclear simple sequence repeat markers, we genotyped a panel of 153 global rice cultivars covering all previously recognized groups and 826 cultivars representing the diversity of Chinese rice germplasm. On the basis of model-based grouping, neighbour-joining tree and principal coordinate analysis, we confirmed the widely accepted five major groups of rice cultivars (indica, aus, aromatic, temperate japonica and tropical japonica), and demonstrated that rayada rice was unique in genealogy and should be treated as a new (the sixth) major group of rice germplasm. With reference to the global classification of rice cultivars, we identified three major groups (indica, temperate japonica and tropical japonica) in Chinese rice germplasm and showed that Chinese temperate japonica contained higher diversity than that of global samples, whereas Chinese indica and tropical japonica maintained slightly lower diversity than that present in the global samples. Particularly, we observed that all seasonal, drought-tolerant and endosperm types occurred within each of three major groups of Chinese cultivars, which does not support previous claims that seasonal differentiation exists in Indica and drought-tolerant differentiation is present in Japonica. It is most likely that differentiation of cultivar types arose multiple times stemming from artificial selection for adaptation to local environments.

Tumor suppressive miR-509-5p contributes to cell migration, proliferation and antiapoptosis in renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the expression and function of miR-509-5p in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this research, we have conducted quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay to determine the expression level of miR-509-5p in tissues and plasma from renal cell carcinoma patients. We preformed in vitro migration scratch assay, flow cytometry analysis and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to determine the exact function of miR-509-5p. RESULTS: We evaluated the expression level of miR-509-5p in RCC tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues from 42 patients and found that miR-509-5p expression in 42 RCC specimens was significantly down-regulated compared to that in adjacent normal tissue. Furthermore, the level of miR-509-5p in RCC patients' plasma was significantly lower than that in control plasma. In addition, the overexpression of miR-509-5p suppressed the proliferation of RCC cell (786-0), induced cell apoptosis and inhibited cell migration in vitro. CONCLUSION: In this study, we have shown that miR-509-5p played an important role in RCC by inhibiting cell proliferation and migration and by promoting cell apoptosis. In addition, miR-509-5p expression was significantly lower in RCC patient plasma compared to that in normal individuals.

Horizontal gene transfer does not occur between sFat-1 transgenic pigs and nontransgenic pigs.

We previously generated and characterized synthesized fatty acid desaturase-1 (sFat-1) transgenic pigs that had increased concentrations of ω-3 unsaturated fatty acid in their meat. The objective was to assess whether the inserted foreign gene in sFat-1 transgenic pigs was able to transfer and integrate into the genome of nontransgenic pigs by suckling or mating. Tests for suckling-mediated horizontal gene transfer (HGT) included sFat-1 transgenic sows nursing nontransgenic piglets and sFat-1 transgenic piglets suckling nontransgenic sows. Tests for mating-mediated HGT were performed by male sFat-1 transgenic pigs mated with nontransgenic females and female sFat-1 transgenic pigs mated with nontransgenic males. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the sFat-1 gene fragment in various tissues sampled from nontransgenic pigs. The foreign target gene sFat-1 was not detected in the genomic DNA of various tissues and organs sampled from nontransgenic pigs. Therefore, we concluded that HGT from transgenic pigs to wild type pigs via suckling or mating was unlikely.

Factors Influencing Lesion Detection in SPECT Lung Images.

An earlier localization ROC (LROC) study that found attenuation correction (AC) degraded the detection of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) in hybrid SPECT lung images had several potential shortcomings related to the simulation methods. We sought to address these issues with a revised LROC study. Clinical Tc-99m NeoTect scans acquired with a simultaneous transmission-emission protocol defined the normal cases in a single-slice LROC study. Abnormal cases contained a simulated 1-cm lung lesion. Four rescaled-block-iterative EM (RBI) reconstruction strategies applied: 1) AC, scatter correction (SC), and resolution compensation (RC); 2) AC only; 3) RC only; and 4) no corrections (NC). Images from these strategies underwent 3D Gaussian post-smoothing. Performances were defined by the average area under the LROC curve obtained from three human observers. The strategy ranking in order of decreasing performance was: 1) RBI with RC; 2) RBI with all corrections; 3) RBI with AC; and 4) RBI with no corrections. A multireader-multicase (MRMC) analysis only found significant patient and patient-strategy effects. The conflicting results concerning AC from this study and the previous one may revolve around lesion masking effects, which, by design, were not a factor in the current study.

Two mechanisms activate PTPalpha during mitosis.

We show that, dependent on serine hyperphosphorylation, protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha (PTPalpha) is activated by two different mechanisms during mitosis: its specific activity increases and its inhibitory binding to Grb2 decreases. The latter effect probably abates Grb2 inhibition of the phosphotyrosine displacement process that is required specifically for Src dephosphorylation and causes a mitotic increase in transient PTPalpha-Src binding. Thus, part of the increased protein tyrosine phosphatase activity may be specific for Src family members. These effects cease along with Src activation when cells exit mitosis. Src is not activated in mitosis in PTPalpha-knockout cells, indicating a unique mitotic role for this phosphatase. The activation of PTPalpha, combined with the effects of mitotic Cdc2-mediated phosphorylations of Src, quantitatively accounts for the mitotic activation of Src, indicating that PTPalpha is the membrane-bound, serine phosphorylation-activated, protein tyrosine phosphatase that activates Src during mitosis.

Regional cerebral blood flow changes in drug-resistant depressed patients following treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation: a statistical parametric mapping analysis.

Changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in five drug-resistant depressed patients were examined by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) before and after treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The SPECT images were analysed with the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) package. TMS administered in the region of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of the depressed patients was associated with an increase of rCBF at a focal region some distance from the stimulation site. No change was observed at any other remote region.

A phosphotyrosine displacement mechanism for activation of Src by PTPalpha.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha (PTPalpha) is believed to dephosphorylate physiologically the Src proto-oncogene at phosphotyrosine (pTyr)527, a critical negative-regulatory residue. It thereby activates Src, and PTPalpha overexpression neoplastically transforms NIH 3T3 cells. pTyr789 in PTPalpha is constitutively phosphorylated and binds Grb2, an interaction that may inhibit PTPalpha activity. We show here that this phosphorylation also specifically enables PTPalpha to dephosphorylate pTyr527. Tyr789-->Phe mutation abrogates PTPalpha-Src binding, dephosphorylation of pTyr527 (although not of other substrates), and neoplastic transformation by overexpressed PTPalpha in vivo. We suggest that pTyr789 enables pTyr527 dephosphorylation by a pilot binding with the Src SH2 domain that displaces the intramolecular pTyr527-SH2 binding. Consistent with model predictions, we find that excess SH2 domains can disrupt PTPalpha-Src binding and can block PTPalpha-mediated dephosphorylation and activation in proportion to their affinity for pTyr789. Moreover, we show that, as predicted by the model, catalytically defective PTPalpha has reduced Src binding in vivo. The displacement mechanism provides another potential control point for physiological regulation of Src-family signal transduction pathways.

The predicting study for chromatographic retention index of saturated alcohols by MLR and ANN.

A QSRR method was followed to relate the observed Kovats retention indexes of saturated alcohol compounds with their molecular connectivity indices by means of multilinear regression analysis and artificial neural networks technique. The alcohols included linear, branched with hydroxyl group on a primary, secondary, or tertiary carbon atom. At first, models were generated for six OV (Ohio Valley) series columns separately, with high value of R and F statistics. Then a combined model, added a polarity term of stationary phase (M), was also developed for all these columns, and the result was satisfactory. For comparison, the neural network of BP algorithm was applied, and it was found that the neural network could exceed the level of the multiple regression method. The stability and validity of both models were tested by cross-validation technique and by prediction response values for the prediction set.

Identification of 2,3-butanedione monoxime hydrogenation products by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in an ion trap mass spectrometer.

The reduced products of 2,3-butanedinone monoxime by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of homogeneous catalysts were identified by gas chromatography coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer operating either in the electron impact or chemical ionization mode. The major hydrogenation products were found to be several heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds: tetramethylpyrazine, 2,4-dimethyl-3-ethylpyrrole, 3,4,5-trimethylpyrazole, 2,5-dimethyl-1-propylpyrrole, 3-acetyl-2,4-dimethylpyrrole, 3,5-dimethyl-4-allypyrazole and tetramethylpyrazine N-monoxide.

Apoptosis in rat erectile tissue induced by castration.

AIM: To investigate the effect of androgen on the structure of corpus cavernosum. METHODS: Thirty mature rats were randomized into 3 groups, i.e., simple castration, castration with testosterone (T) supplementation and sham-operated controls. One week after operation, the animals were sacrificed and corpora cavenosa harvested. Apoptosis was detected with the in situ end labeling (ISEL) techniques and DNA fragment analysis. RESULTS: The apoptotic rate was 4.19% in the simple castrated rats, 0. 2% in castrated rats supplemented with T and 0.14% in the controls. Significant difference was found between the simple castrates and other two groups (P < 0.01). When comparing the T-supplementation group with the controls, there was no statistical difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Castration induced apoptosis in rat corpus cavernosum, that could be prevented by T supplementation. It suggests that androgen plays an important role in maintaining the structure of corpus cavernosum.