Search

Pregnenolone sulphate (PREGS) is one of the most important neuroactive steroids. Previous study showed that PREGS enhanced long-term potentiation (LTP) via activation of post-synaptic NMDA receptors at excitatory synapses in the hippocampus. The present paper studied the effect of PREGS on LTP at excitatory synapses in the pyramidal cells of layers V-VI of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using whole-cell patch-clamp in slices and made a comparison with that in the hippocampus. We also studied the mechanism of the effect of PREGS in the mPFC. We found that PREGS inhibited induction of LTP in the mPFC and had no influence on NMDA currents, which was different from its effect in the hippocampus. Moreover, the effect of PREGS on LTP in the mPFC was cancelled by alpha2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, alpha2A-adrenoreceptor antagonist, Gi protein inhibitor, adenylate cyclase inhibitor and protein kinase A inhibitor. These results suggest that PREGS inhibits LTP via activation of the alpha2-adrenoreceptor-Gi protein-adenylate cyclase-protein kinase A signalling pathway in the mPFC.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) transferred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Methods: Data from patients with ST elevation AMI urgently transferred from first admitted hospitals to our cath-lab to receive primary PCI were analyzed. According to time intervals from symptom onset to transfer, the patients were divided into early transfer (< 6 h, n = 26), delayed transfer (6 - 24 h, n = 39) and late transfer (24 h to 1 week, n = 18) group. The major cardiac events during transfer periods and one month after PCI were obtained and echocardiogram and left ventricular systolic functions were compared among groups., Results: There was no serious cardiac event during transfer period and all 83 patients received primary PCI with a mean transfer-to-balloon time about 180 minutes. Success rate of PCI was 92.3% in early transfer group, 89.7% in delayed transfer group, and 94.4% in late transfer group (P > 0.05). At one month follow-up after PCI, 0, 10.3% and 16.7% of patients developed heart failure in early, delayed transfer and late transfer group respectively (P > 0.05 vs. early), the LVEF of early transfer group (53.2% +/- 9.7%) was also significantly higher than delayed transfer group (48.6% +/- 8.2%, P < 0.05) and late transfer group (43.1% +/- 10.3%, P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Transfer patients with AMI for primary PCI is safe in the observed time intervals during acute phase. Early transferred patients are associated with better outcome at 1 month post PCI compared to delayed and late transferred AMI patients.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate is one of the most important neurosteroids. In the present paper, we studied the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate on persistent sodium currents and its mechanism and functional consequence with whole-cell patch clamp recording method combined with a pharmacological approach in the rat medial prefrontal cortex slices. The results showed that dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate inhibited the amplitude of persistent sodium currents and the inhibitory effect was significant at 0.1 microM, reached maximum at 1 microM and decreased with the increase in the concentrations of above 1 microM. The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate on persistent sodium currents was canceled by the Gi protein inhibitor and the protein kinase C inhibitor, but not by the protein kinase A inhibitor. The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate on persistent sodium currents was also canceled by the sigma-1 receptor blockers and the sigma-1 receptor agonist could mimic the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate had no significant influence on neuronal excitability but could significantly inhibit chemical inhibition of mitochondria-evoked increase in persistent sodium currents. These results suggest that dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate inhibits persistent sodium currents via the activation of sigma-1 receptors-Gi protein-protein kinase C-coupled signaling pathway, and the main functional consequence of this effect of DHEAS is presumably to protect neurons under ischemia.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of prenatal administration of tetrandrine (TET) on pulmonary hypoplasia in the nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) fetal rat model., Methods: Six timed-pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 equal groups: CDH group (receiving gavage of nitrofen 125 mg dissolved in seed fat on day 9.5), and TET group (receiving gavage of nitrofen 125 mg on day 9.5 and then gavage of TET 30 mg/kg on days 11.5 - 14.5), and control group (given the same dose of peanut oil on day 9.5 and the same dose of normal saline on days 11.5 - 14.5). The fetuses were delivered by cesarean section on day 21 to undergo light microscopy and electron microscopy. The numbers of type II pneumocytes were recorded and compared., Results: CDH were detected in 32 of the 41 fetuses from the CDH and TET groups with a teratogenic rate of 78%, however, without a significant difference between the CDH and TET groups (P = 0.645). Microscopy showed significant lung hypoplasia in both histologic structure and cellular structure in the CDH group; however the lung development of the TET group was improved in comparison to the CDH group. There was no significant difference in numbers of type II pneumocytes among the 3 groups (P = 0.779)., Conclusion: Prenatal administration of TET can improve the lung development of CDH rats in both histological structure and cellular structure. This may provide a new idea for the clinical treatment of CDH.

The kinetics of absorption, desorption, and degradation of sulfur mustard (HD) in alkyd coating was experimentally studied, and a one-dimension mass transfer model for the transportation of HD molecule in alkyd coating was established on the experimental data. The obtained results indicated that the persistence of HD molecule could be greatly increased due to the absorption of HD droplets by alkyd coating, and there still occurred the desorption of HD as vapor from coating for more than 3 days even after decontamination of HD droplets onto coating. It was also experimentally shown that the majority of HD both absorbed and desorbed was accomplished at an early stage, less than 10 h, and HD molecule was able to be degraded within the alkyd coating probably through the reactions of hydrolysis and elimination. The diffusion coefficient and degradation rate constant of HD in alkyd coating were determined to be practically around 10(-9) cm2/s and 2.4 x 10(-5) min(-1), respectively.

Objective: To investigate DNA aneuploid and P16 expression in biopsy specimens from lung cancer, and to study genetic instability and the application of flow cytometry in lung cancer pernicious degree diagnosis., Methods: Blood cells and cancer cells in biopsy specimens were marked simultaneously with anti-CD45 and anti-P16 fluorescent antibody, and the ratio of CD45+ P16+ cells and CD4- P16+ cells was compared. DNA content in biopsy specimens from lung cancer was detected by flow cytometry., Results: Among the 74 cases of lung cancer, there are 46 cases of DNA aneuploid (62.2%). Thirty-seven cases of lung cancer expressed P16 lowly (50%). Twelve cases of lung cancer only expressed P16 lowly (16.22%), 21 cases of lung cancer only expressed DNA aneuploid (28.38%), and 25 cases not only expressed P16 lowly but also expressed DNA aneuploid (33.78%). Indexes of malign degree, such as P16 low expression or DNA aneuploid could be detected in 58 cases among the 74 cases (78.38%) by flow cytometry., Conclusion: P16 low expression and DNA aneuploid are the indexes of lung cancer malign degree, and flow cytometry can be used to study genetic instability and evaluate biopsy specimens from lung cancer.

Objective: To explore the effect of compositie salviae dropping pill (CSDP) on hyperlipemia patients with phlegm and blood stasis syndrome., Method: Hyperlipemia patients were divided randomly into two groups. One group of 40 patients were treated by CSDP, another group of 41 patients were treated by simvastatin. The TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA and ApoB levels, ALT, r-GT, IL-6, MDA level and SOD activity were determined before and after being treated., Result: After 3 months treatment, the TC, TG and LDL-C levels were obviously decreased in two groups (P <0.01, P < 0.05), there is no significant difference between the effective rate of two groups. The ALT, r-GT, IL-8 and MDA levels of treatment group were obviously decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), while the ApoA level and SOD activity increased obviously in those patients (P <0.05, P <0.01, respectively). However, the ALT, r-GT, IL-6, MDA, HDL-C, ApoA level and SOD activity had no significant difference after treatment in control group., Conclusion: Our study suggest that CSDP have the function of falling serum lipid level without damaging liver function, its function of protecting liver function might related to its function of improving of anti-oxidation and decreasing of inflammation, the mechanism of CSDP disparting and removing phlem and blood stasis in the processes lipid metabolism need to be studied further.

This paper studied the effect of neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on spontaneous glutamate release in the prelimbic cortex by using electrophysiological and biochemical methods combined with a pharmacological approach and made some comparisons with those in the hippocampus. The results showed that dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate increased the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in the prelimbic cortex and hippocampus; sigma-1 receptor antagonist partially blocked the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the prelimbic cortex, but completely blocked it in the hippocampus; D1 receptor antagonist, adenylyl cyclase inhibitor and protein kinase A inhibitor completely blocked the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the prelimbic cortex; dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate increased the activity of protein kinase A in the prelimbic cortex and hippocampus; the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on protein kinase A was completely blocked by sigma-1 receptor antagonist in the hippocampus, but was partially blocked in the prelimbic cortex; interestingly, here again, the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on protein kinase A was completely blocked by D1 receptor antagonist in the prelimbic cortex. These results suggest that dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate promotes presynaptic glutamate release in the prelimbic cortex via activation of D1 and sigma-1 receptors.

Objective: To explore the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for Her-2 gene on biological behavior of ovarian carcinoma cell., Methods: Her-2 siRNA recombinant plasmid and negative control plasmid were transfected into packing cell line PT67 by liposome, and PT67 was selected by puromycin later. SKOV3 was infected by the virus supernatant of stably transfected PT67 cell lines, and the stably transfected SKOV3 cell lines (SKOV3/siRNA, SKOV3/siRNA-negative) established by selection with puromycin were investigated in terms of the reduction levels of Her-2 mRNA and p185 by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation was assayed with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, and cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis were assayed with flow cytometry. The tumor growth of the null mice was analyzed after injection of SKOV3/siRNA and SKOV3/siRNA-negative into the skin., Results: (1) The stable SKOV3 cell lines with a persistent silence of Her-2 gene were established. (2) The percentages of SKOV3/siRNA in G(0)/G(1) phase and S phase were 68.6%, 15.1% respectively; while the percentages of SKOV3/siRNA-negative in G(0)/G(1) phase and S phase were 55.8%, 23.3%. (3) The percentage of SKOV3/siRNA in early apoptosis was (10.500 +/- 0.250)%, while the percentage of SKOV3/siRNA-negative was (0.340 +/- 0.010)% (P < 0.01). (4) Compared with SKOV3/siRNA-negative, the proliferation of SKOV3/siRNA was delayed obviously (P < 0.05), and the growth of the corresponding implanted tumor slowed down significantly (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: siRNA can inhibit the expression of Her-2 gene effectively, which restrains the biological behavior of ovarian carcinoma cell.

Objective: To examine the expression of urocortin mRNA during labor and the effect of urocortin on myometrial contractility, and to investigate its role in the onset and progress of labor., Methods: (1) Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using beta-actin as internal standard was applied to determine the levels of urocortin mRNA in human placenta and myometrium from the group of cesarean section before (10 cases) and during (10 cases in latent phase and 10 cases in active phase) labor. (2) The isolated myometrial strips of pregnant women (n = 24) were prepared. The effects of urocortin with or without prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) and oxytocin on myometrial contractility were evaluated by areas under the curve., Results: (1) Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the expression level of urocortin mRNA in placenta and myometrium after the onset of labor were higher than before labor (1.23 +/- 0.52, 1.32 +/- 0.22; 0.83 +/- 0.38, 0.94 +/- 0.13, respectively, P < 0.05). (2) Urocortin itself did not affect myometrial tension development at all concentrations tested, but it markedly increased PGF(2alpha)-induced myometrial contractility. The average area under the curve of controls was (2.12 +/- 0.15) cm(2) and of study strips was (3.90 +/- 0.33) cm(2) (P < 0.05); urocortin did not increase the myometrial response to oxytocin compared with controls (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: The study indicates urocortin may indirectly modulate myometrial contractility during labor.

The gas-phase photolytic and photocatalytic reactions of several aromatics and chlorohydrocarbons were investigated. The experimental results revealed that chlorohydrocarbons like trichloroethylene, dichloromethane and chloroform could be degraded through either photolysis or photocatalysis under irradiation of germicidal lamp, and the elimination rate of chlorohydrocarbons through photolysis was quicker than that through photocatalysis. UV light from a germicidal lamp could directly lead to degradation of toluene but could hardly act on benzene. The photodegradation rate for these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through photolysis followed an order: trichloroethylene>chloroform>dichloromethane>toluene>benzene>carbon tetrachloride, and through photocatalysis followed: trichloroethylene>chloroform>toluene>dichloromethane>benzene>carbon tetrachloride. Besides, a series of modified TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by depositing noble metal, doping with transition metal ion, recombining with metal oxides and modifying with super strong acid. Activity of these catalysts was examined upon photocatalytic degradation of benzene as a typical compound that was hard to be degraded. It indicated that these modification methods could promote the activity of TiO2 catalyst to different extent. The apparent zero-order reaction rate constant for degrading benzene over SnO2/TiO2 catalyst had the highest value, which was nearly three times as that over P25 TiO2. But it simultaneously had the lowest rate for mineralizing the objective compound. In spite that Fe3+/TiO2 catalyst behaved slightly less active than SnO2/TiO2 for degradation of benzene, the mineralization rate over Fe3+/TiO2 was the highest one among the prepared catalysts.

The photoassisted reaction of sulfur mustard (HD) in both the vapor and droplet states under UV light irradiation was investigated. It was found that HD molecules in either the gas or the condensed phase could be easily converted into other chemicals under the irradiation of a germicidal lamp. The products detected upon reaction suggested that the photoassisted reaction of HD molecules in the gas phase produced a kind of nontoxic heavy polymer, and this method seemed to be applicable for decontamination of air. Nevertheless, the photoassisted reaction of HD droplets would produce a series of products containing -SCH2CH2Cl or -OCH2CH2CI groups, some of which were proven to be even more toxic than HD. Therefore, it was not an effective method forthe decontamination of HD droplets. The obtained experimental results would indicate that two possible pathways might be involved in the destruction of HD molecules: (1) HD molecules may undergo a photochemical reaction upon absorbing photons of sufficient energy, which leads to cleavage the C-S bond in HD molecules at the primary step, or (2) HD molecules could be oxidized by the photogenerated ozone.

A photoassisted reaction of O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino) ethyl] methylphosphonothioate (VX) droplets in air was carried out. The experimental results indicated that VX droplets could be easily and chemically transformed into other compounds under irradiation of a germicidal lamp over sufficient time. Quantum chemical calculation results demonstrated that UV light less than 278 nm wavelength could possibly initiate photoreaction of VX and that both P-S and P=O bonds in the VX molecule were lengthened. The identification of reaction products by gas and liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy and NMR revealed that the VX molecule in air under UV light irradiation could undergo isomerization of S-esters to O-esters, cleavage of P-S, S-C, and C-N bonds, and ozonation of tertiary amines.

Aim: To investigate the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) X gene on apoptosis and expressions of apoptosis factors in X gene-transfected HepG2 cells., Methods: The HBV X gene eukaryon expression vector pcDNA3-X was transiently transfected into HepG2 cells by lipid-media transfection. Untransfected HepG2 and HepG2 transfected with pcDNA3 were used as controls. Expression of HBx in HepG2 was identified by RT-PCR. MTT and TUNEL were employed to measure proliferation and apoptosis of cells in three groups. Semi-quantified RT-PCR was used to evaluate the expression levels of Fas/FasL, Bax/Bcl-xL, and c-myc in each group., Results: HBV X gene was transfected into HepG2 cells successfully. RT-PCR showed that HBx was only expressed in HepG2/pcDNA3-X cells, but not expressed in HepG2 and HepG2/pcDNA3 cells. Analyzed by MTT, cell proliferation capacity was obviously lower in HepG2/pcDNA3-X cells (0.08910+/-0.003164) than in HepG2 (0.14410+/-0.004927) and HepG2/pcDNA3 cells (0.12150+/-0.007159) (P<0.05 and P<0.01). Analyzed by TUNEL, cell apoptosis was much more in HepG2/pcDNA3-X cells (980/2,000) than HepG2 (420/2,000), HepG2/pcDNA3 cells (520/2,000) (P<0.05 and P<0.01). Evaluated by semi-quantified RT-PCR, the expression level of Fas/FasL was significantly higher in HepG2 cells transfected with HBx than in HepG2 and HepG2/pcDNA3 cells (P<0.05 and P<0.01). Bax/Bcl-xL expression level was also elevated in HepG2/pcDNA3-X cells (P<0.05 and P<0.01). Expression of c-myc was markedly higher in HepG2/pcDNA3-X cells than in HepG2 and HepG2/pcDNA3 cells (P<0.05 and P<0.01)., Conclusion: HBV X gene can impair cell proliferation capacity, improve cell apoptosis, and upregulate expression of apoptosis factors. The intervention of HBV X gene on the expression of apoptosis factors may be a possible mechanism responsible for the change in cell apoptosis and proliferation.

A novel organic ligand, 6-aniline carbonyl 2-pyridine carboxylic acid (HAP), and the corresponding europium complex, tris(6-aniline carbonyl 2-pyridine carboxylato) europium (III) (Eu-AP) have been designed and synthesized. The results showed that Eu-AP was a conjugated complex, emitting strong red luminescence. The lifetimes of (5)D(0) of Eu(3+) in the complex were examined using time-resolved spectroscopic analysis, and the lifetime value was 0.55 +/- 0.01 ms for solid Eu(AP)(3). Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the europium complex had good thermal stability.

Objective: To determine the relation between the expression of urocortin and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2beta (CRH-R2beta) in the placenta and pathogenesis of preeclampsia., Methods: Placentas were collected from 20 pregnant women with preeclampsia as study group and 20 normal pregnant women as control group. Urocortin mRNA and CRH-R2beta mRNA were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Urocortin peptide was measured by immunohistochemistry., Results: (1) The mRNA expression of urocortin was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in preeclampsia (1.14 +/- 0.26) compared with normal pregnancies (0.78 +/- 0.46). (2) There was no significant difference between the expression of CRH-R2beta mRNA of preeclampsia (0.89 +/- 0.33) and of normal pregnancies (0.93 +/- 0.50). (3) The result of immunohistochemistry demonstrated that urocortin was predominantly localized in syntrophoblast with weak staining in cyntrophoblast and capillaries. Urocortin in syntrophoblast of preeclampsia was significantly higher than that of normal pregnancy (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that urocortin peptide and mRNA is increased in women with preeclampsia. This may be a kind of stress-responsive compensatory mechanism in human placenta. Urocortin may play a role in the pathology of the disease.

Aim: To explore the regulatory effect of deltaN IkappaBalpha gene on the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-kappaB)., Methods: Ser32-and Ser36-deleted IkappaBalpha gene (deltaN IkappaBalpha) was cloned into adenovirus vector, and a replication-defective recombinant deltaN IkappaBalpha adenovirus(Ad-deltaN IkappaBalpha) was generated. A549 cells were divided into three groups: LPS-stimulated groups, Ad-LacZ+LPS group and Ad-deltaN IkappaBalpha+LPS group. Ad-LacZ+LPS group and Ad-deltaN IkappaBalpha+LPS group were infected with Ad-LacZ and Ad-deltaN IkappaBalpha, respectively, two days before LPS stimulation. The NF-kappaB activity of A549 cells was detected by Western blot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the culture supernatant were detecteded by ELISA., Results: The activity of NF-kappaB and the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 from Ad-deltaN IkappaBalpha virus-infected A549 cells were significantly decreased as compared with that of LPS-stimulated group and Ad-LacZ+LPS group., Conclusion: The results indicated that deltaN IkappaBalpha may inhibit the activation of NF-kappaB and reduce the release of TNF-alpha and IL-6, suggesting the recombinant deltaN IkappaBalpha adenovirus may be used for anti-inflammatory therapy.

Objective: To study the influence of beginning time of cranial hypothermia treatment on the prognosis of extensive cerebral infarction(ECI) so as to establish the optimum time for such treatment., Methods: Ninety-two ECI patients were divided into three groups. In group A hypothermia treatment was begun within 6 hours after cerebral infarction in 31 patients. In another 31 cases in group B it was begun in 7-10 hours, and in 30 cases in group C it was begun in 11-14 hours after the attack. The mortality rate, the volume of cerebral infarction, neurological deficiency score(NDS) and quality of life in survivors were determined respectively in three groups., Results: The volume of cerebral infarction in group A and B was obviously smaller than that of group C after hypothermia treatment(P<0.01). The mortality rate was higher in group C (26.67% in group C, 3.23% in group A and 6.45% in group B, both P<0.05) The mortality rate was highest in cases with high body temperature in group C(P<0.05). NDS was significantly lower in survivors of groups A and B compared with group C (both P<0.05), groups A and B compared with group C(P<0.05). The NDS and quality of life of the survivors with high body temperature(P<0.05 or P<0.01)., Conclusion: Cranial hypothermia treatment should be begun with 10 hours after illness to obtain best effect.

Background & Objective: The aim of this study was to express and purify human endostatin and to prepare polyclonal antibody of mouse anti-human endostatin., Methods: The cDNA of endostatin was amplified by PCR, then recombined into prokaryotic expression vector and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 for expression; the mice were immunized with purified products., Results: Prokaryotic expression vector pQE-30 of human endostatin was successfully constructed; the expression product was gained after pQE-30 was transferred into BL21. After purified by Ni affinity chromatography, the product was identified to be a single component by SDS-PAGE. Western blot analysis showed that high titer mouse anti-human endostatin polyclonal antibody was successfully prepared., Conclusion: Highly purified expression product and prepared polyclonal antibody provide the necessary material for further study.

Objective: To study the classification of the orbital margin fractures., Methods: There are 65 cases of the orbital margin fractures classified by Reduction-Orbital-Classification from January 1995 to December 1999 in Macau Conde de Sao Juanuario Hospital., Results: The 65 cases are classified into six type: I Stable orbital fracture, II Orbital floor (blow-out) fracture, III Orbital-zygomatic fracture, IV Orbital-naso-maxillary fracture, V Comminuted fracture of the inferior orbital rim, VI Complex orbital fractures., Conclusion: The Reduction-Orbital-Classification are a complete, precise, practical, simple way for the orbital fractures; It not only presents the exist of the orbital margin fractures but also means the Classification for convenience of the treatment and treatment guiding the classification.