The mechanism of neuronal injury and repair after focal cerebral ischemia

AIM:To explore the mechanism of neuronal injury and repair by investigating the expression of caspase-3 and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE/Ref-1) after focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS:A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats was performed. The expression of caspase-3P₂₀ and APE/Ref-1 was examined by immunohistochemistry staining, TUNEL was applied to detected DNA damage, and double labeling with TUNEL and APE/Ref-1 was used to determine the relationship between APE/Ref-1 and DNA damage. RESULTS:The active subunit P₂₀ of caspase-3 was predominantly expressed within ischemic penumbra. The peak time of caspase-3P₂₀ positive cells preceded the appearance of TUNEL. With aggravation of cerebral ischemia, APE/Ref-1 immunoreactive cells in penumbra were significantly decreased. CONCLUSION:The activation of caspase enzymatic cascade following cerebral ischemia leads to degradation in DNA, meanwhile, decrease in DNA repair molecules or the failure of DNA repair may deteriorate the course.     

Relationship between the intracellular calcium concentration changes and left ventricular hypertrophy and function in the spontaneously hypertensive rats

AIM:To elucidate the relationship between the intracellular calcium concentration changes and left ventricular hypertrophy and function in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).METHODS:Intracellular free calcium concentrations were measured by Fura 2 methodology and left ventricular function quantitated by cardiac catheterization in 20 SHR aged 10, 22, and 34 weeks and 20 age-matched Wistar-kyoto (WKY) rats.RESULTS:(1) The systolic blood pressure(SBP), intracellular calcium concentrations and left ventricular mass / body weight index (LVM/BW) were significantly higher in all three age groups of SHR than the corresponding groups of WKY; (2) Compared with age-matched WKY groups, the peak left ventricular pressure descending rate(-dp／dt_max) decreased while left ventricular relaxation time constant (τ)increased significantly in SHR aged 22 and 34 weeks. The peak left ventricular pressure ascending rate(dp／dt_max) and the left ventricular contractility index were significantly increased only in the 34 weeks SHR; (3) Intracellular calcium concentrations showed a positive correlation with LVM/BW,SBP,-dp／dt_max and τ(r=0.47-0.83,P<0.01)and a negative correlation with dp／dt_max and the left ventricular contractility index (r=-0.46,P<0.05 and r=-0.81, P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Intracellular calcium overload is one of the potential mechanisms in the induction of left ventricular hypertrophy as well as of systolic and diastolic dysfunction.     

Antisense drug targeting with VEGF mRNA designed by computer aid and inhibitory effects on K562 cell line in vitro

AIM:The effective antisense sequences targeted VEGF mRNA with computer software would be screened and designed, and effect of them on growth K562 cells and protein expression of VEGF were studied with experiments.METHODS:Seven antisense sequences were selected and synthesized, which consisted of 18-20 deoxynucleotide acid and were modified with phosphorothioate, according to principle of low free energy of overall △G₃₇ Overall. Cell growth was assayed by trypan blue dye exclusion assay and level of VEGF protien in the media was determined by ELISA.RESULTS:Six of seven sequences were capable of inhibing growth of K562 cells and downregulating the VEGF protein expression significantly, compared with Scrambed control group. It was found that there was a close correlation between low level of overall △G₃₇ and antisense effectiveness (r=0.887,P<0.01).CONCLUSION:VEGF mRNA antisense oliogdeoxynucleotides, which were designed by computer software of RNAstructure, were able to inhibit growth of K562 and its protein expression. The VEGF mRNA may be new target attached by drugs. At same time, the computer aided design is useful methods to obtain the effective antisense.     

Effects of matrix metalloproteinases on ventricular remodelingfollowing myocardial ischemia in the rat

AIM:To examine the relationship between the activity of matrix metallproteinases(MMPs) and ventricular remodeling following myocardial ischemia in the rat.METHODS:The model of myocardial ischemia(MI) in the rat was established by isoprenaline(ISP). The activity of MMPs was measured by zymography and collagen concentration was assessed by the method of chloramine T, so did I/III collagen ratio by immunohistochemical staining. The microstructure of myocardium was also observed by electron microscope.RESULTS:The activity of MMP-2 in myocardial ischemia group (group M) increased by 5.8 folds at 1 st week(P＜0.01), 2.3 folds at 2 nd week(P＜0.01) and 1.7 flods at 4 th week(P＜0.05) compared with control group (group C) and MMP-9's activity in group M increased by 4.9 folds (P＜0.01), 1.9 flods(P＜0.01) and 1.4 folds(P＜0.05), respectively. Collagen amount and I/III collagen ratio in group M increased compared with that in group C at 2 nd week and 4 th week. It showed that cardiac myocytes in group M were necrosed and collagen grew abundantly in interstitium under electron microscope.CONCLUSION:The activity of MMPs in the myocardial interstitium increased following myocardial ischemia, then collagen amount and I/III collagen ratio increased, which may be the major causes of ventricular remodeling.     

and laminin on adhesion and proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell

AIM:To explore the effects of PMA(phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, a tumor promoter, mimicking the action of diacylglycerol on PKC)and laminin on the adhesion and the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and provide a new clue to liver cancer treatment.METHODS:Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line(BEL-7402)was used to identify the endogenous laminin and protein kinase C-α(PKC-α) expression, and the effects of laminin and PMA on the adhesion and the proliferation were also investigatedin vitro.RESULTS:By the effect of exogenous laminin, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (BEL-7402) possessed endogenous laminin expression and increased the adhesion and the proliferation, which was showed the synergistic action by the effect of PMA in combination. By the action of PMA alone, the proliferation and the PKC-α expression increased by exogenous laminin were decreased, and the adhesion and the endogenous laminin expression were increased.CONCLUSIONS:The finding suggested that the adhesion and the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell were closely related to the effects of endogenous or exogenous laminin, which were associated with cPKC-α activity. Therefore, the application of anti-laminin antibody in combination with PKC antagonist might be a new clue to find out the therapy for liver cancer.     

Effect of moxonidine hydrochloride on left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats

AIM:To investate the effect of domestric moxonidine hydrochloride on myocardium fibrosis and coronary artery microvascular structure in left ventricular hypertrophy of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).METHODS:30 male SHR, aged 20 weeks, were divided into group Mox+SHR, Cap+SHR and SHR randomly (10 in each group). 10 age and sex-mached sprauge-dawley rats were designed as normal control(NC). At the end of 13 weeks, left ventricular wight/body weight ratio(LVW/BW), collagen volume fraction(CVF) and standardized perivascular collagen area(PVCA) as well as intramyocardial arterial average medial thickness (AMT) were determined.RESULTS:LVW/BW, CVF, PVCA and AMT in group Mox+SHR were lower significantly than that in group SHR, respectively.CONCLUSION:Long-term antihypertensive treatment with moxonidine hydrochloride reduces myocardium fibrosis and improves impaired coronary artery microvascular structure in left ventricular hypertrophy.     

Insulin induced LPL mRNA expression in THP-1 macrophage and acceleration of transferring the macrophage to foam cell

AIM:To investigate the effect of insulin on ox-LDL transferring the THP-1 cells to foam cells and influencing the LPL mRNA expression in THP-1 cells.METHODS:THP-1 cells were incubated with 50 mg/Lox-LDL and insulin at concentrations of 10 mU/L, 100 mU/L, 1 000 mU/L and 10 000 mU/L, respectively. The expression of LPL mRNA in cells was detected by RT-PCR. Lipoprotein lipase of THP-1 cells was presented by no-specific lipase staining. THP-1 cells were stained with oil red O. Accumulation of total cholesterol (TC) in THP-1 cells was determined with oxidase assay.RESULTS:In 100 mU/L、1 000 mU/L、10 000 mU/L insulin groups, LPL mRNA expression increased 2 times, the average cell perilength was longer, the percentage of positive oil red O staining cells was significant higher, the content of cholesterol in THP-1 cells was higher than in ox-LDL control (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Insulin accelerates transferring of THP-1 cells to foam cell with exposed to ox-LDL because LPL mRNA expression increased in the cells.     

中国风水侵蚀交错区分布特征分析

风水侵蚀交错带的研究 ,对景观、土地覆盖 /土地利用、全球变化等研究具有重要意义。论文以GIS技术为支撑 ,定量计算出我国风水侵蚀带。在分布特征上 ,主要分布我国北方地区 ,其中以西部沙漠 ,北部山脉沿线为重 ,这种分布与气候、地貌分界有明显联系。 49.6 %风水侵蚀复合带的降水量小于 2 0 0mm。风水侵蚀复合带的土地利用主要以草地为主 ,占 41.8% ,其次为耕地。两种类型的分布 ,草地以与其它土地利用类型交错分布为主 ;而耕地是有重心的分散分布。风水侵蚀复合带的总体侵蚀要强于全国水平。     

塔里木河流域生态环境恶化的水文效应

塔里木河是我国最大的内陆河。 4条源流出山口多年平均天然径流量 2 2 4 .9× 10 8m3 (195 7～ 2 0 0 1年 )。在全球变暖的大背景下 ,塔里木河流域山区气候出现变暖增湿的趋势 ,2 0世纪 90年代径流量达 2 4 1.9× 10 8m3 ,增幅 7.6 %。由于源流区人类开发利用水资源的影响 ,使得补给塔里木河干流的水量不断减少 ,水文条件改变 ,造成干流上、中游段耗水严重 ,导致下游生态与环境急剧退化。自 2 0 0 0年以来 ,实施的从开都河—博斯腾湖向下游绿色走廊应急输水 ,已使下游生态环境开始恢复生机。     

不同地下水位植物蒸腾耗水特性研究

在甘肃省民勤治沙站利用非称量测渗仪研究了梭梭、柠条等 10种沙区植物的蒸腾耗水特征。结果表明 ,各种植物 5a的总蒸腾量由大到小排列为 :沙枣、花棒、沙木蓼、柠条、梭梭、白皮沙拐枣 ;随植物年龄增长 ,蒸腾系数有上升的趋势 ,而蒸散系数有下降的趋势 ;在民勤沙区 6～ 9月是主要蒸腾季节 ,该时段的蒸腾量占全年蒸腾量的80 %～ 90 % ;植物的蒸腾量随年龄的增长而迅速增加 ,但增长幅度随物种不同而异。一般生长快的植物增长快 ,生长慢的植物增长慢。