Expression of CD44s in lung cancer and its significance

AIM: To investigate expression of CD44s in lung cancer and it's clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 117 primary lung cancer from patients were examined for CD44s expression by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: CD44s mostly expressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but not in small ecll lung cancer (SCLC), and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) showed much stronger expression of CD44s than adenocarcinoma(ADC)(P＜0.05). In comparison of the lung cancer with/ without lymph node metastasis, the latter showed stronger expression of CD44s(P＜0.01). According to TNM, there was a distinct statistic difference between early stage and advanced stage(P＜0.05). CONCLUSION: CD44s might be a better indicant in histological classification of lung cancer, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and prognosis.     

Effects of sodium ferulate on the nonenzymatic glycation and oxidation in kidneys of diabetic rats

AIM: To investigate the blocking effects of sodium ferulate (SF) on the nonenzymatic glycation and oxidation in kidneys of diabetic rats. METHODS: The diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ) were treated with SF (110 mg/kg) per day for 8 weeks. The renal weight/body weight, clearance rate of creatinine (Ccr), proteinuria, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in renal cortex, and the malonyldialdehyde (MDA), fructosamine (FMN), antioxidant enzymes in serum and renal cortex were measured. The pathologic changes of kidneys were also observed. RESULTS: The levels of Ccr, proteinuria, FMN and AGEs in renal cortex, FMN in serum, and renal weight/body weight in diabetic control group were significantly higher than those in normal control group. In the diabetic control group, there was a highter level of MDA and a lower activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum and renal cortex than those in normal control group. Except for FMN in renal cortex, the abnormalities were significantly ameliorated in the treatment group. The pathologic changes was significant in the diabetic control group, which was significantly ameliorated with the treatment of SF. CONCLUSIONS: SF protects the activity of antioxidant enzymes, clears away oxygen radicals and inhibits the deposit of AGEs in kindey, which may be the mechanisms of protecting effects of SF on kindey in diabetic rats.     

Role of vascular remolding induced by nitric oxide and matrix metalloproteinase in aneurysm

Nitric oxide (NO) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important in vascular remolding, especially in abdominal aortic aneurysm. NO may be associated with aneurysms by modulating MMPs expression and activity.     

甘肃省生态环境综合评价指标体系研究

甘肃省生态系统分为社会经济系统和自然生态系统两大类 ,社会经济系统指标体系由社会经济条件和人为环境压力构成 ;自然生态系统由水环境、森林生态系统、草地生态系统和土壤生态系统四个次一级系统组成 ,每个次一级生态系统由各自所属指标体系来系统评定。利用因子分析法、Delphi法和头脑风暴法经过多次综合专家意见最终确定 2 6项指标作为甘肃省生态环境质量综合评价体系。利用层次分析法 (AHP)定量各指标的权重。通过综合评价表明 ,甘南州、陇南地区、张掖地区的生态环境质量较好 ,甘肃中部广大黄土高原地区次之 ,河西走廊的武威市、金昌市和嘉峪关市环境质量最差。评价结果真实地反映了甘肃省生态环境的基本状况 ,说明该指标体系具有科学性 ,能够用于不同地区之间或同一地区不同时间的环境质量对比与变化研究。     

Effect of EGFP gene transfection on the cell cycle distribution of primary cultured human chondrocytes

AIM: To investigate the effect of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene transfection on the cell cycle distribution of primary cultured human chondrocytes in order to establish a tracking method of cultured human nasoseptal chondrocytes. METHODS: pEGFP-N1 plasmid was amplified in E.coli, and purified by high purity kit. Primary cultured human chondrocytes,which were initially obtained from the nasoseptal cartilage, were cultured in vitro and transferred with pEGFP-N1 by means of electroporation with Amaxa nucleofector device. Transfering process and transient expression were evaluated by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), the transfer efficiency and the cell cycle distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: There was significant expression of EGFP at 24 h after transferring. The transfection efficiency of pEGFP-N1 into primary cultured human chondrocytes reached 35.37％ at 48 h. It didn't affect the process of cell adherance and had no effect on the cell cycle distribution. CONCLUSION: Primary cultured human chondrocytes, which were transfected with pEGFP, are alive in vitro, and the transferring process doesn't affect the cell cycle distribution. These results suggest that pEGFP-N1 is an ideal transient expression vector for primary cultured human chondrocytes and it might be a well tracer in construction tissue engineered cartilage.     

Taurine reduced oxygen free radical production induced by homocysteine in electron transport chain and homocysteine inhibites taurine transporter in mitochondria membrane

AIM: To observe effects of homocysteine and antagonized effects of taurine on electronic leakage and free radical production in myocardial mitochondria. METHODS: Myocardial mitochondria of rat heart was isolated, and was broken by supersonic wave to prepare submitochondria. Recombinant of succinic acid cytochrome c reductase was prepared with mitochondria of porcine heart. They were co-incubated with homocysteine and/or taurine with various concentration. The H₂O₂ and O₂^- were determined by chemiluminescence methods. The taurine transporter of heart mitochondria and its propert, and effects of homocysteine on its function were studied with glass filter. RESULTS: Homocysteine stimulated oxygen free radical production in heart mitochondria, submitochondria, and succinic acid cytochrome c in a concentration-dependent manner. Although taurine itself did not affect oxygen free radical production, taurine did inhibit oxygen free radical production in mitochondria, submitochondria and succinic acid cytochrome c in a concentration-dependent manner. Taurine transporters of Na⁺-dependent were existed in mitochondria membrane. Homocysteine inhibited taurine transtport in mitochondria in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Taurine inhibited electronic leakage and oxygen free radical production induced by homocysteine in electron transport chain. There were taurine transporters in mitochondria membrane, and transport functions of taurine transporter were inhibited by homocysteine.     

Effects of Sini decoction on the ultrastructure of small intestinal epithelial cells in rats with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion

AIM: To investigate the effect of Sini decoction (SND)on the ultrastructure of small intestinal epithelial cells in rats with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) Control group in which sham operation was performed; (2) Model group in which intestinal I/R was produced by clamping super mesenteric artery(SMA) for 1 hour and declamping SMA for 3 hours; (3) SND1 group in which SD (0.6 g/200 g rat) was given via stomach tube 3 d before intestinal I/R; (4) SND2 group in which SD (1.2 g/200 g rat)was given via stomach tube 3 d before intestinal I/R. A strip of small intestine was taken from distal end of ileum for electron microscopic examination. The two-dimensional structural parameters and three-dimensional structural parameters of mitochondria were calculated. RESULTS: (1)Morphological changes of small intestine: In control group, epithelial cells were orderly arranged, with normal mitochondria and intestinal villi. In model group, the gaps between epithelial cells widened. There were a lot of apoptotic cells. Microvilli were short and swelled. Mitochondria were swelled obviously with broken ridges. Endoplasmatic reticulum was severely dilated. In SND1 and SND2 groups, microvilli and epithelial cells were orderly arranged relatively, mitochondria was slightly swelled. (2) Structural parameters of mitochondria: In model group, there were the least mitochondria and the swelling of mitochondria was severe. In SND1 and SND2 groups, the mitochondria was more than that of model group and the swelling were slight. CONCLUSION: Sini decoction can protect small intestine from ischemia-reperfusion injury without dose-dependent effect.     

Radioligand binding assay of insulin receptor in rabbit kidney during ischemic and reperfusion

AIM: To observe the change of insulin receptor in rabbit kidney with acute ischemic-reperfusion injury. METHODS: 15 Japanese white rabbits were allocated randomly into control group, ischemic-reperfusion group(IR group). IR group received clamping for 1 h followed by 2 h or 48 h of reperfusion. At 2 h or 48 h after reperfusion, glucose and insulin in serum were determined. Insulin receptor in renal tissue was analyzed by radioligand binging assay(BAD). RESULTS: The level of serum glucose increased after 2 h reperfusion in 2 groups, but in IR group the value increased much more higher than those in control groups(P＜0.05). Plasma insulin of IR group was significantly higher than that in control after 2 h reperfusion(P＜0.05). Scatchard analysis of data resulted in curvilinear profiles, indicating that there are two classes of receptors with different affinity or the presence of a single class of receptors with a negative cooperative hormone-receptor interaction. Data analyzed for a two-site model showed that the values of Bmax₁(high affinity site), Bmax₂(low affinity site) and Kd₁, Kd₂ were significantly lower than that of control (P＜0.05) after 2 h perfusion. 48 h after IR there was no difference of Bmax₁, Bmax₂, and Kd₁ between 2 groups,but Kd₂ of IR group was higher than that of control (P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the effect of intrinsic insulin decreases in the progress of the renal ischemic-reperfusion. The resulting high serum glucose may aggravate renal injury in the progress of ischemic-reperfusion.     

Effects of non-excitatory electric stimulation on cardiac function in normal and infarcted heart rabbits and it's regional effect on myocardium

AIM: To investigate the influences of electric stimulation applied during the absolute refractory period (ARP) on the cardiac function of normal rabbits and rabbits after myocardial infarction (MI) and to observe the regional effects of this electric stimulation. METHODS: 64 rabbits were randomly assigned to normal and MI groups and each group was then divided into the anterior and posterior groups. A thoracotomy was performed 4 weeks after MI in rabbits. One set of electrodes was inserted into the anterior and posterior wall of left ventricle of the anterior and posterior groups, respectively. Current pulses were delivered during the ARP (called CCM) during sinus rhythm in rabbits. The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and the left ventricular end diastolic pressure(LVEDP) as well as maximum positive and negative left ventricular pressure change (±dp/dt_max) were observed. RESULTS: In the normal and MI groups, LVSP, +dp/dt_max significantly increased, and LVEDP, -dp/dt_max were reduced during CCM stimulation compared with the baseline (P<0.05). In the normal rabbits, electric stimulation in the anterior group improved the cardiac function more significantly than that in the posterior group (P<0.05). In the MI rabbits, there was no difference between the anterior and the posterior groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Electric stimulation delivered during the ARP significantly enhances the contractility and the relaxation of myocardium in normal rabbits and rabbits after MI, and the effects of CCM stimulation on heart are regional.     

Effects of inhibition of Kupffer cell and splenectomy on thioacetamide-induced hepatic injury

AIM: To examine the effects of inhibition of Kupffer cell and splenectomy on intestinal endotoxemia and hepatic injury. METHODS: The hepatic injury model was established by treatment with thioacetamide (TAA). At the same time, inhibition of Kupffer cells by intravenous GdCl₃ and splenectomy were performed. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), TNF-α, endotoxin content and phagocytic index were observed. RESULTS: In the TAA+GdCl₃ group, and TAA+splenectomy group, the endotoxin content was significently higher than that in normal and TAA group (P<0.05). The plasma TNF-α, ALT and total bilirubin were significantly lower than those in TAA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Inhibition of Kupffer cells and splenectomy increase plasma endotoxin level, but decreases the plasma TNF-α levels and alleviates the hepatic injury induced by TAA.