Latest Issue
Volume 23 ， Issue 4 ， 2008
- Abstract：Objective To elucidate the effect of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） on human growth hormone （hGH） gene expression in a rat somatotropic pituitary cell line MtT/S. Methods Stably transfected MtT/S cells were firstly established by transfecting 484-Luc1 plasmid which contained hGH gene promoter -484 to +30 bp and luciferase reporter gene. The effect of IL-1β on hGH gene expression was determined by assaying the luciferase activities. RT-PCR method was also used to determine whether IL-1 recepor mRNA was expressed in MtT/S cells. Results The 103 U/mL IL-1β stimulated secretion and synthesis of GH, and promoted the 5’-promoter activity of GH gene in stably transfected MtT/SGL cells with the action of 1.38 times above the control. Among inhibitors of signaling transduction pathways, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase （MAPKK/MEK） inhibitor PD98059 （40 μmol/L） and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） inhibitor SB203580 （5 μmol/L） completely blocked the stimulatory effect of IL-1β, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3-K） inhibitor LY294002 partly abolished the effect of IL-1β. Western blot analysis further confirmed the activation of phosphorylated MEK and p38 MAPK in MtT/SGL cells. Neither over-expression of Pit-1 nor inhibition of Pit-1 expression affected induction of hGH promoter activity by IL-1β. A series of deletion constructs of hGH promoter were created to identify the DNA sequence that mediated the effect of IL-1β, and results showed that the stimulatory effect of IL-1β was abolished following deletion of the -196 to -132 bp fragment. Conclusions IL-1β promotes GH secretion and synthesis in rat MtT/S somatotroph cells. The stimulatory effect of IL-1β on hGH gene promoter appears to require the activation of MEK, p38 MAPK, PI3-K, and a fragment of promoter sequence that spans the –196 to –132 bp of the gene, but it may be unlinked with Pit-1 protein.5|33|4Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To provide a set of useful analysis tools for the researchers to explore the microRNA data. Methods The R language was used for generating the Graphical Users Interface and implementing most functions. Some Practical Extraction and Report Language （Perl） scripts were used for parsing source files. Results We developed a graphical R package named miRE, which was designated for the analysis of microRNA functions, genomic organization, etc. This package provided effective and convenient tools for molecular biologists to deal with routine analyses in microRNA-related research. With its help, the users would be able to build a desktop- centered microRNA research environment quite easily and effectively. miRE is freely available at http://www. biosino.org/kanghu/WorkPresentation/miRE/miRE.html. A detailed user manual and tutorials with example code and image are also available. Conclusion miRE is a tool providing an open-source, user-friendly, integrated interface for microRNA-related analysis. With its help, researchers can perform microRNA-related analysis more efficiently.4|40|5Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of rapamycin on cholesterol homeostasis of glomerular mesangial cells and the underlying mechanisms. Methods Intracellular cholesterol accumulation was measured by Oil Red O staining and high performance liquid chromatography. The effects of rapamycin on interleukin-1β （IL-1β）-induced mRNA and protein changes of low-density lipoprotein receptor （LDLR） and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 （ABCA1） were assayed by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. Transient expressions of 3 types of mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）, including mTOR-WT （wild type）, mTOR-RR （rapamycin resistant, with kinase activity）, and mTOR-RR-KD （rapamycin resistant, without kinase activity）, were obtained by plasmid transfection. Results Rapamycin had no significant influence on intracellular cholesterol concentration under normal condition, but it significantly decreased the intracellular cholesterol concentration in the presence of IL-1β. Rapamycin dose-dependently suppressed the increased expression of LDLR induced by IL-1β and up-regulated the suppressed expression of ABCA1 caused by IL-1β. Transient expression of 3 types of mTOR all reduced ABCA1 mRNA expression significantly, which all could be overroded by rapamycin. Conclusions Rapamycin may contribute to the maintaining of glomerular mesangial cell intracellular cholesterol homeostasis under inflammatory state by both reducing cholesterol uptake and increasing cholesterol efflux. And the effect may be not completely mediated by mTOR.6|30|2Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To study the genera and seasonal distribution of airborne pollen in Hubei province of China, and its relationship with pollinosis. Methods From November 2003 to October 2004, an airborne pollen investigation was performed in 16 chosen areas in 12 cities of Hubei province using gravity sedimentation technique. Meanwhile, univalent skin prick tests of pollens were performed and the invasion season was studied on 2 300 patients with pollinosis. Among them, 352 cases underwent the airway responsiveness measurements, and the correlation between airway responsiveness and results of pollen count was analyzed. Results A total of 61 pollen genera were observed and 257 520 pollens were collected. The peak of airborne pollen distribution occurred in two seasons each year: spring （March and April） and autumn （from August to October）. The attack of pollinosis corresponded to the peak of pollen distribution. There was a significantly negative relationship between the provocation dose causing a 20% decrease of forced expiratory volume in one second （FEV1） from baseline and airborne pollen concentration （r = -0.6829, P < 0.05）. Conclusion This study provides useful information for airborne pollen epidemiology of Hubei province, and it provides important insights to clinical prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pollen-related allergic diseases.4|17|3Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinical features and management of ureteral endometriosis. Methods Patients surgically and histologically diagnosed as ureteral endometriosis from January 2001 to January 2007 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Results Ten patients were diagnosed as ureteral endometriosis among 7 561 cases with surgically and histologically proved diagnosis of endometriosis, with an incidence of 0.132%. Nine out of 10 patients were extrinsic ureteral endometriosis and concomitant with severe pelvic endometriosis, and the other was intrinsic ureteral endometriosis. Hormone therapy failed in 2 patients with urinary tract obstruction. Ureterolysis was performed in 6 patients and ureterectomy was performed in 4 patients. One case of ureteral recurrence was observed in a postmenopausal woman without hormonal replacement therapy who received laparoscopic ureterolysis and hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy. No relapse was observed in the other 9 patients. Conclusions Ureteral endometriosis is a rare entity. The upper urinary tract should be evaluated in patients with severe endometriosis, even in postmenopausal women. The treatment of ureteral endometriosis usually requires surgery, while ureterolysis should not be performed in patients with extensive disease. As a form of adjuvant therapy of surgery, hormonal therapy is an appropriate option.6|13|0Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To explore the influence of oxidized high-density lipoprotein （oxHDL） on the maturation and migration of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells （BMDCs） from C57BL/6J mice. Methods The C57BL/6J mice bone marrow cell suspension was prepared and purified. Recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor （rmGM-CSF） and recombinant interleukin-4 （rmIL-4） were used to promote monocytes to differentiate and suppress lymphocytes. Then 50 μg/mL oxHDL was added to stimulate BMDCs, using 50 μg/mL high-density lipoprotein （HDL） as homologous protein control, PBS as negative control, and 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide （LPS） as positive control. The CD86 and MHCII expression rates were detected with fluorescence-activated cell sorting （FACS）. Liquid scintillation counting （LSC） was used in mixed lymphocyte reactions （MLRs） to reflect the ability of BMDCs in stimulating the proliferation of homologous T cells. Levels of cytokines IL-12 and IL-10 were detected by ELISA. The cell migration was evaluated with the transwell system. Results Compared with PBS group, the expressions of CD86 and MHCII, counts per minute of MLRs, secretion of IL-12 and IL-10, and number of migrated cells in oxHDL group and LPS group significantly increased （all P < 0.05）, while the increment was less in oxHDL group than LPS group. The number of migrated cells in oxHDL group was about twice of that in HDL group. Conclusion OxHDL may promote the maturation and migration of BMDCs in vitro.4|22|4Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To study the clinical and genetic features of familiar amyloid polyneuropathy （FAP）. Methods Three families of suspected FAP in China mainland and Macau were investigated on aspects of clinical manifestations, histological features, and gene analysis. Results All the 3 families had the clinical features of sensory and motor polyneuropathies, and notable vegetative nerve involvements. Affected cases of one family had ultrasound proved cardiomyopathy. Histological studies showed amyloid deposition in all the biopsy tissues of the affected cases of the 3 families, and anti-transthyretin antisera staining was positive in 3 cases of one family. Gene analysis confirmed that mutation types were amyloidogenic transthyretin （ATTR） Val30Met, Phe33Val, and Gly67Glu in the 3 families respectively. The ATTR Gly67Glu family had a shorter survival time due to the heart involvement compared with the other 2 families. Conclusion FAP is an autosomal dominant inherited disease, with its clinical manifestations related to the type of genetic mutation.4|26|2Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the therapeutic effectiveness of intracoronary implantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells （BM-MNC） in miniswine model of reperfused myocardial infarction. Methods Sixteen miniswine myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury models made by ligation of the distal one third segment of left anterior descending artery for 90 minutes were randomized into 2 groups. In BM-MNC group （n = 9）, （3.54±0.90）×108 BM-MNC were intracoronary injected, and in the control group （n = 7）, phosphate buffered saline was injected by the same way. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic results, vessel density, and myocardial infarction size were evaluated and compared before and 4 weeks after cell transplantation. Results In BM-MNC group, there were no differences between before and 4 weeks after transplantation in aspects of left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）, interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular lateral and anterior septal wall thickness, cardiac output, or +dp/dtmax. In control group, LVEF, interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular lateral and anterior septal wall thickness, cardiac output, and +dp/dtmax decreased significantly 4 weeks after transplantation （P < 0.05）. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and –dp/dtmax did not change significantly before and after cell transplantation in both groups. Capillary density in BM-MNC group was greater than that in control group [（13.39 ± 6.96）/high power field vs. （3.50 ± 1.90）/high power field, P < 0.05]. Infarction area assessed by tetrazolium red staining and the infarction percentage decreased in BM-MNC group compared with those in control group （P < 0.05）. Conclusions Transplantation of BM-MNC into myocardium with ischemic reperfusion injury increases capillary density and decreases infarction area. It has significantly beneficial effect on cardiac systolic function rather than on diastolic function.4|11|2Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To demonstrate the myocardial lesion associated with long-term administration of methamphetamine in rats. Methods The experimental models of intoxication of methamphetamine were established in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methamphetamine hydrochloride （3 mg·kg-1·d-1） was subcutaneously injected to rats in methamphetamine-treated group （n = 16）, and normal saline at the same dose was injected to rats in control group （n = 16）. After 1 week and 8 weeks of injection, 8 rats in each group were sacrificed and their hearts were examined with light microscopy and electron microscopy, respectively. Results After 1 week of methamphetamine exposure, foci of contraction band and cellular degeneration were present in subendocardial myocardium. Cellular degeneration, myocytolysis, and contraction band necrosis became prominent and extensive in methamphetamine-treated rats after 8 weeks. Hypertrophy, intracellular vacuolization, and fibrosis were also observed. The ultrastructural feature showed marked swelling and degeneration of mitochondria, enlargement of sarcoplasmic reticulum, and dissolution of myofilaments. No obvious cardiac myocyte lesions were observed in rats of control group. Conclusion Methamphetamine abuse daily for a long time may result in an increased risk of cardiovascular lesions similar to cardiomyopathy.4|36|9Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of steroid or mycophenolate mofetil （MMF） withdrawal from tacrolimus-based immunosuppressant regimen in renal allograft recipients. Methods A cohort of 45 patients following cadaveric renal allograft transplantation were randomly divided into 3 groups based on the regimen of combination of tacrolimus, steroid, and MMF: triple therapy group, steroid withdrawal group, and MMF withdrawal group. During 2 years, survival of patients and allografts, clinical acute rejection, adverse events, hepatic and renal allograft function, and blood lipids were monitored to evaluate the safety and feasibility of steroid or MMF withdrawal after renal transplantation. Results During two-year observation, steroid or MMF was successfully withdrawn from immunosuppressant regimen based on tacrolimus without any clinical acute rejection. Patient and graft survival rates were 100% and all the renal allografts kept excellent function. Some adverse events occurred and there were no significant differences among groups. Conclusion Withdrawal of steroid or MMF in low-immunological-risk renal allografts treated with tacrolimus-based immunosuppressant regimen can be achieved with no increased risk of acute rejection.4|15|0Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the prevalence of impaired glucose regulation （IGR） in the population of Tianjin. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tianjin from June to September in 2005. The multi-phasic stratified cluster sampling method was adopted. Totally, 21 454 people were selected as survey sample. Information on risk factors was collected through face-to-face questionnaire interview. Fasting capillary whole blood glucose level and other clinical indexes were tested. Results The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose （IFG） in the population was 5.61% （5.32% in male, 5.89% in female）. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance （IGT） was 2.91% （2.59% in male, 3.20% in female） in whole population, and the prevalence of female was significantly higher than that of male （P = 0.04）. The prevalences of IFG and IGT increased with the increasing of age. And the prevalences were also influenced by the profession, educational level, and income level. Conclusion The prevalences of IGT and IFG in Tianjin are similar to those in the other big cities of China.5|22|2Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：<正>After inpatient aircrews of Chinese Army and Air Force are treated at local hospitals, their health status will be evaluated. If it is aeronautically adaptable, the conclusion would be flying qualification; if it may impact the flight safety or the flight environment may aggravate the4|11|3Updated：2024-04-10
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