[An analysis of coping styles and subjective well-being among nurses in the emergency treatment room of grade A tertiary hospitals in a province of China]

Objective: To investigate the coping styles and subjective well-being of nurses in the emergency treatment room of grade A tertiary hospitals in a province of China, and to explore the relationship between coping styles and subjective well-being. Methods: In January 2016, 189 nurses in the emergency treatment room were selected from 9 grade A tertiary hospitals in a province of China by random sampling. The general data, coping styles, and subjective well-being of these nurses were analyzed using the general questionnaire, coping style questionnaire, and Campbell index of well-being scale, respectively. Results: The total score of subjective well-being of nurses in the emergency treatment room was 7.54, and the subjective well-being was significantly different between the nurses with different professional titles and between those with different education levels (F=3.46 and 3.47, both P<0.05). The score of illusion coping style differed significantly across the nurses of different ages (F=5.17, P<0.05) , the scores of self-reproach, illusion, and withdrawal coping styles differed significantly across the nurses with different nursing years (F=3.99, 5.30, and 4.97, all P<0.05) , and the score of illusion coping style differed significantly across the nurses with different education levels (F=5.09, P<0.05). Most (71.9%) of the nurses in the emergency treatment room adopted the mature coping style. Subjective well-being was positively correlated with problem-solving, help-seeking, and rationalization (r=0.232, 0.018, and 0.167, all P<0.05) and negatively correlated with withdrawal (r=-0.146, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Most nurses in the emergency treatment room adopt the mature coping style. Their subjective well-being and coping style vary with different ages, nursing years, professional titles, and education levels, and the subjective well-being is relatively low.

Age Estimation and Age-related Facial Reconstruction of Xinjiang Uygur Males by Three-dimensional Human Facial Images

OBJECTIVES

To search age-correlated facial features and construct an age estimation model based on the three-dimensional （3D） facial images of Xinjiang Uygur males, and to structure individual face images of old age and young age.

METHODS

Pretreatment was performed to collect 105 3D facial images of Xingjiang Uygur males aged between 17-57 years by Artec Studio software. The facial images were transferred to high-density 3D dot matrix data by FaceAnalysis software, and each image could be represented with 32 251 vertexes. Central correction of the facial images was done and all the data were aligned to a standard coordinate frame by generalized Procrustes analysis （GPA）. The age estimation model was established by partial least square regression （PLSR）. Furthermore, the changes of age-correlated facial features were presented on the heat map of average face, and the reconstruction of facial images at different ages was performed based on this model.

RESULTS

With age, the average faces showed a series of changes including the nasolabial sulcus deepening, cheek sinking, cheekbone protruding and eye corner drooping. The Pearson correlation coefficient （r） between estimated age and chronological age was 0.71. The mean absolute deviation （MAD） of age estimation was 6.37 years. The results of age estimation in >30-40 years group showed a best accuracy （MAD=4.27 years）, and the deviations increased with age after 40 years. The composite facial images represented a significant result with age on facial morphological features and aging.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study reveal the age-correlated facial features and aging markers in Uygur population, which help to construct a reliable age estimation model.

[Association between obesity and DNA methylation among the 7-16 year-old twins]

Objective: On whole-genome scale, we tried to explore the correlation between obesity-related traits and DNA methylation sites, based on discordant monozygotic twin pairs. Methods: A total of 90 pairs of 6-17 year-old twins were recruited in Chaoyang district, Yanqing district and Fangshan district in Beijing in 2016. Information on twins was gathered through a self-designed questionnaire and results: from physical examination, including height, weight and waist circumference of the subjects under study. DNA methylation detection was chosen on the Illumina Human Methylation EPIC BeadChip. R 3.3.1 language was used to read the DNA methylation signal under quality control on samples and probes. Ebayes function of empirical Bayes paired moderated t-test was used to identify the differential methylated CpG sites (DMCs). VarFit function of empirical Bayes paired moderated Levene test was used to identify the differentially variables CpG sits (DVCs) in obese and normal groups. Results According to the obesity discordance criteria, we collected 23 pairs of twins (age range 7 to 16 years), including 12 male pairs. A total of 817 471 qualified CpG loci were included in the genome-wide correlation analysis. According to the significance level of FDR set as <0.05, no positive sites would meet this standard. When DMC CpG site cg05684382, with the smallest P value (1.26E-06) as on chromosome 12, the DVC CpG site cg26188191 with the smallest P value (6.44E-06) appeared in CMIP gene on chromosome 16. Conclusions: In this study, we analyzed the genome-wide DNA methylation and its correlation with obesity traits. After multiple testing corrections, no positive sites were found to have associated with obesity. However, results from the correlation analysis demonstrated sites cg05684382 (chr: 12) and cg26188191 (chr: 16) might have played a role in the development of obesity. This study provides a methodologic reference for the studies on discordance twins related problems.

[Efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil in treating neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a multicenter, prospective, self-control study in Guangzhou City]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Method: From September 2014 to February 2017, NMOSD patients with seropositive aquaporin4-IgG was enrolled through a multicenter, prospective study, and the annual recurrence rate (ARR), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and MMF-related side effects before and after MMF treatment were compared. Results: Ninety patients were enrolled in the study. After being treated for a median of 12 months (1-30 months), the median ARR decreased from 1.1 pre-MMF to 0 post-MMF (P<0.001), and the median EDSS score decreased from 4.0 pre-MMF to 3.0 post-MMF (P<0.001). The EDSS score reduced significantly after 90 days' treatment (P<0.05). The main adverse events included the deranged liver enzymes (19%, 17/90), respiratory infection (11%, 10/90), urinary tract infection (6%, 5/90), varicella-zoster infection (6%, 5/90), anemia (6%, 5/90), leucopenia (6%, 5/90), diarrhea (2%, 2/90), hair loss (1%, 1/90); 11% (10/90) patients experienced severe adverse events, and 6% (5/90) patients discontinued MMF. Conclusions: MMF could significantly reduce the ARR and EDSS score of NMOSD. However, awareness on side effects should be raised.

[Assessment of Height Prediction Model Based on SNPs Loci]

OBJECTIVES

To establish a height prediction model of Chinese Han male based on the reported 547 height-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） loci in Europeans, and assess its accuracy for height estimation.

METHODS

The DNA typing was analyzed in 59 Han male samples of Shandong province by Affymetrix SNP Array 6.0 chip and HiSeq 4000 sequencing platform. Prediction model was established using 547 height-associated SNPs loci as predictors and weight allele sums （WAS） as computing method. The accuracy of height prediction model was analysed using receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve and area under curve （AUC）.

RESULTS

There was no height-associated SNPs locus was found by genome-wide association studies. In present study, height prediction model was established by WAS and obtained an AUC of 0.67 （95% CI: 0.53-0.90）.

CONCLUSIONS

It has reference value for predicting the height of Han male in Shandong province by WAS model based on 547 SNPs loci, while it is still necessary to further promote the accuracy of the prediction model by screening more height-associated SNPs loci with population heterogeneity.

[Analysis of 118 cases of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo after trauma]

Objective:The aim of this study is to retrospective analysis the clinic features of 118 cases of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo after trauma. Method:Analyzes clinic features of injury in 118 cases of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo after trauma, and classified and localized the craniocerebral trauma. The 118 cases were tested with different positioning tests in the sequence of Dix hallpike test and rolling test. Then, proper otolith manual reduction was given. Result:In 118 cases of BPPV after trauma including 35 cases of skull fracture, 6 cases of concussion, 17 cases of scalp hematoma, 28 cases of scalp laceration, 14 cases of mild brain contusion and 18 cases of head combined injury. The distributions of head injury were 57 at front temporal, 24 at top, 22 at occipital and 15 at maxillofacial region. The latency of BPPV after head injury varies from 1day to 1month. The incidence of 3-7 day after head injury was the highest, followed by 7-14 days, 0-3 days, and the lowest incidence rate of 14 day to 1 month. Canal type 118 BPPV patients after head injury accounting for up to 57.6% of the horizontal semicircular canal accounted for 33.1%, mixed 9.3%. Conclusion:The patients with front temporal trauma and skull fracture were prone to have BPPV. The peak incidence of BPPV was 3-14 days after head injury. The most common type of BPPV was PC BPPV, and the HC BPPV was the second type. A good curative effect can be manipulative reduction after trauma BPPV..

Investigations of high order plasmonic resonance features of the nano hyper ring

A novel silver hyper ring and its complex nanostructures are designed and its plasmonic properties are investigated numerically. It is found that these hyper ring structures have relative stable optical features. The absorption cross section of the structure changes slightly when the direction and polarization of incident light is adjusting. For the complex structure, the position of each resonance peak does not present obvious change when the relative position of the inner hyper ring and outside larger ring changes. The result of the investigation has great significance for the production of practical nanostructures and the improvement of possible applications.

[Isolation and biological characteristics on Yersinia pestis phage YP060]

OBJECTIVE

To isolate and identify the characteristics of Yersinia pestis phage YP060 from mice nests in Yunnan plague focus.

METHODS

Phage YP060 was isolated from Yunnan plague focus by double-layer agar plate method with attenuated vaccine Yersinia pestis strain EV76 as the host bacterium. Phage particle was observed under the electron microscope while biological properties of phage YP060 including lytic capacity, host spectrum, optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI), one-step growth curve, sensitivity to temperature, pH, ultraviolet ray and chloroform etc. were identified.

RESULTS

The particles of phage YP060 presented tadpoles-like features, with optimal multiplicity of infection as 0.1. Latent period and burst period appeared as 50 min and 80 min, respectively. The phage endured the temperature between 30-50 ℃, and it contained a stronger lysis activities in a range of pH 5 to 10. Phage YP060 was sensitive to ultraviolet rays but insensitive to chloroform while presented special lysic ability to Yersinia pestis.

CONCLUSION

Yersinia pestis phage YP060 was isolated for the first time from mice nests in plague natural focus in China. Our findings related to narrow host spectrum and stronger lysis activities.

Progress on Post Traumatic Epilepsy and Its Forensic Evaluation

Post traumatic epilepsy （PTE） refers to the epileptic seizures after traumatic brain injury. Organic damage can be found by imaging examination, and abnormal electroencephalogram can be detected via electroencephalogram examination which has the similar location of the brain injury. PTE has the characteristics of low incidence, absence of case reports, and easy to exaggerate the state of illness, which add difficulties to the forensic identification. This paper reviews the status of epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical treatment and forensic identification for PTE.

Correlation between serum IL-16 and atopic dermatitis

This study aims to investigate the correlation between allergic sensitization of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and their serum interleukin (IL)-16 levels. AD patients, healthy volunteers, and patients with psoriasis (N = 80, 35, 20, respectively) were tested for serum IL-16 and total and specific IgE levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, along with eosinophil counts. Serum allergen-specific IgE levels were determined, and skin-prick testing conducted in a subgroup of 45 AD patients. Based on specific IgE levels, AD patients were categorized into non-sensitized group 1 and sensitized group 2. Furthermore, they were sorted as non-sensitized group A and sensitized group B based on skin-prick results. Next, the serum IL-16 and total IgE levels in these subgroups were determined. Compared to levels in healthy volunteers and psoriasis patients, the serum IL-16 levels in AD patients were significantly higher (P < 0.001). Additionally, total serum IgE levels were significantly correlated with serum IL-16 levels and eosinophil counts. However, no correlation was observed between serum IL-16 levels and eosinophil counts. The serum IL-16 and total IgE levels in group 2 were also significantly elevated (P < 0.001) in contrast to those in group 1. Although we did not observe any significant difference between serum IL-16 levels in groups A and B, the total serum IgE level in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.001). Thus, allergic sensitivity in AD patients correlates with total serum IgE as well as serum IL-16; the correlation with IL-6 is weaker.

[Effects of iron chelation therapy on allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in myelodysplastic syndrome patients with iron overload]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of iron chelation therapy on hematopoietic reconstitution and related complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

METHODS

Various clinical parameters were analyzed retrospectively in 57 MDS patients with iron overload who received allo-HSCT. According to the level of serum ferritin (SF) before transplantation divided patients into two groups: the effective treatment group (SF<1 000 μg/L) and iron overload group (SF≥1 000 μg/L).

RESULTS

①30/57 cases were received iron chelation treatment, 27/57 patients didn' t received iron chelating therapy before transplantation. 19/30 cases were in the effective treatment group, and the median SF level before transplantation was 561 (223-846) μg/L. 11/30 cases were in the iron overload group, and the median SF level before transplantation was 1 262 (1 100-2 352) μg/L. The median SF level was 1 540 (1 320-3 112) μg/L of 27 patients didn't received iron chelating therapy before transplantation. ② The rate of fully-engraftment in the effective treatment group and iron overload group was 19 cases (100.0% ) and 34 cases (89.5% ), myeloid reconstitution of 12(10-18) and 12(11-30) days respectively (P=0.441), and platelet reconstitution of 13(12-30) and 15 (10-32) days respectively (P=0.579). ③The infection risk rate of the effective treatment group was less than iron overload group [36.8% (7/19) vs 82.4% (28/34), P=0.002]. ④The incidence of aGVHD in effective treatment group was less than iron overload group [26.3%(5/19) vs 64.7%(22/34), P= 0.010]. All patients of the effective treatment group were Ⅰ/Ⅱ degree. 16 cases were Ⅰ/Ⅱ degree and 6 cases were Ⅲ/Ⅳ degree in the iron overload group. ⑤ 6 cases of iron overload group accepted iron chelation treatment early post-transplantation, and SF level decreased from 2 870 (2 205-3 580) μg/L to 1 270 (1 020-1 650) μg/L. ⑥The difference of median disease-free survival time between the effective treatment group and iron overload group was not statistically significant [28.9 (0.3-89.5) months vs 21.2(0.1-81.0) months, χ(2)=3.751, P=0.053].

CONCLUSIONS

Iron overload obviously increased transplant-related complications, and effective iron chelation therapy before transplantation significantly decreased the incidence of infection and degree of aGVHD, thereby reduced the non-relapse mortality in patients with MDS.

Serum levels of S-100β correlate with the clinical status and severity of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in neonates

The clinical significance of serum S-100β levels in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), as a reference index to assess HIE severity, was evaluated in this study. On the basis of our strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, relevant high-quality case-control studies reporting the association between HIE and S-100β protein were selected from electronic database searches. The STATA version 12.0 software was used for the statistical analyses. The database search initially retrieved 93 studies (37 in English and 56 in Chinese), and following a multistep screening process, 13 high-quality studies were eventually included in our meta-analysis. The 13 case-control studies included a total of 646 HIE neonates and 381 healthy controls. The results of this meta-analysis revealed that serum S-100β levels in mild, moderate, and severe HIE neonates were significantly higher than those in healthy controls, and the differences were statistically significant. Importantly, the serum S-100β levels increased incrementally with HIE severity. Our results support the hypothesis that S-100β is an important biological indicator of HIE and serum S-100β levels can be used as a reference index to assess HIE severity.

Transcriptome sequencing and analysis of the coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima

The coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima, is a destructive pest of palm plants. Although its ecological and biological characteristics are well understood, its genetic information remains largely unknown. To advance our understanding of its molecular ba-sis of biology and ecology, we sequenced and analyzed its whole transcriptome by using high-throughput Illumina paired-end sequencing technology. Approximately 8.08 Gb of clean reads were generated in a single run, which were assembled by using Trinity into 41,652 unigenes with an average length of 932 bp. By sequence similarity searches for known proteins, 23,077 (55.4%) unigenes were annotated by BLASTx searches against the NCBI non-redundant protein database. Of the unigenes assembled, 18,153 and 13,733 were assigned to Gene Ontology and Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins, respectively. In addition, 10,415 unigenes were mapped onto 247 pathways using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway database. These transcriptomic resources will facilitate gene identification and elucidate the molecular mechanisms of biological and ecological aspects under-lying this palm pest, in order to design a new control strategy.

Transcriptomic identification of chemoreceptor genes in the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Olfaction is crucial for insects' survival because it enables them to recognize various environmental information. It is primarily mediated by a large family of chemoreceptors, including olfactory receptors (ORs), gustatory receptors (GRs), and ionotropic receptors (IRs). Here, we assembled the transcriptome of the economically important pest of palms, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, to reveal its chemoreceptor gene repertoire. About 8.08 Gbp data were generated using a HiSeq platform and their assembly led to a total of 24,439 unigenes. Among the transcripts, 12,523 (51.24%) showed significant similarity (E-value <10(-5)) to known proteins in the National Center for Biotechnology Information Nr database. From these sequences, 18 candidate genes of ORs were identified. Nine putative transcripts were homologous to GR genes, while 9 were similar to IR genes. The expression profiles of all identified chemoreceptor genes were determined by quantitative real-time PCR in antenna, head, thorax, abdomen, and legs of both sexes. Most chemoreceptor genes were antenna-enriched. This study demonstrated a successful application of a transcriptome for discovering a large number of divergent chemoreceptor genes of a non-model organism. The findings provide a valuable sequence resource and gene tissue distribution information for systematic functional analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying chemoreception in this pest.

Intermedin protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in hyperlipidemia rats

Hyperlipidemia is a well-established risk factor for the development of coronary atherosclerosis, while intermedin (IMD) has been identified as a novel calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide family member involved in cardiovascular protection. However, whether IMD protects against hyperlipidemia-associated myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury is unknown. We established a hyperlipidemia model using Sprague-Dawley rats, and created a MI/R condition by ligating the cardiac left circumflex artery. The possible pathophysiological role of IMD and its physiological function in MI/R was further studied. The level of IMD significantly decreased in hyperlipidemia rats (P < 0.05). After MI/R, the IMD level was increased both in the plasma and myocardial tissue of hyperlipidemia rats compared to the sham-operated rats (P < 0.001). As evaluated by the activity of LDH, CK-MB, MDA and SOD, additional IMD was revealed to alleviate MI/R heart injury in hyperlipidemia rats (P < 0.05). By regulating the process of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammatory reaction, IMD could perform an important role in cardio-protection, especially against hyperlipidemia-associated MI/R injury. Additional IMD could protect cardiac myocytes against MI/R injury via reduction of apoptosis and inflammation in the hyperlipidemia rat model, and thus, it may play a potential role as a novel therapeutic target for cardiac ischemic injury in hyperlipidemic patients.

Protective effect of ischaemic preconditioning in total knee arthroplasty

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the genomic response induced by ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) in muscle biopsies taken from the operative leg of total knee arthroplasty patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The gene expression profile GSE21164 was extracted from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty were randomized to control and treatment (IPC) groups. Muscle biopsies were taken from the quadriceps muscle of the operative knee at the immediate onset of surgery (T0) and at 1 hour into surgery (T1). Limma package of R language was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between control and treatment group. To find out specific genes, DEGs at T0 were compared with DEGs at T1. Scansite was used to find out the binding domain for specific DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis was done by DAVID.

RESULTS

Of the genes queried on the Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 microarray, we identified 263 (T0) and 266 (T1) DEGs compared to the control group. Down-regulation of DEGs related with regulation neuron apoptosis was observed at T1. The most significant function of DEGs at T0 was related with neurological system process. The most specific DEG was FAM125B at T0 and T1 time points. Its common binding domain was SH3.

CONCLUSIONS

The protective effect of IPC was associated with altered expression of genes involved in neurological system process and regulation of neuron apoptosis. The dynamic expression of FAM125B can be a supervised marker during the surgery. IPC may be of potential benefit in this and other musculoskeletal conditions.

Biodegradable and redox-responsive chitosan/poly(L-aspartic acid) submicron capsules for transmucosal delivery of proteins and peptides

The development of peptides and proteins is hampered by their rapid clearance in liver and other body tissues by proteolytic enzymes, so these drugs are difficult to administer except for the injection. Here, we designed and fabricated a novel biodegradable and redox-responsive submicron capsules through the layer-by-layer technique with poly(L-aspartic acid) and chitosan for transmucosal delivery of proteins and peptides. TEM graphs reveal that the intact submicron capsules were obtained and the shell of submicron capsules was about 40 nm. The mucoadhesion test indicates that the adsorption amount of the mucin could achieve up to 96.2 μg per 2 mg. The cell viability test shows that all types of submicron capsules had good cytocompatibility and the cell viability was above 90 %. As a drug model, the insulin could be loaded in the submicron capsules, and the loading efficiency was about 5 %. The release amount of insulin could be regulated by the levels of GSH. Therefore, the mucoadhesive submicron capsules as vehicles have a potential for the mucosal delivery (e.g. nasal and buccal) of therapeutic peptide and protein drugs.

Alterations in the mortality and growth cycle of cervical cancer cells treated with electroporation at different electric strengths

OBJECTIVE

To explore the biological effects of electric fields of various strengths on Hela cells.

METHODS

Electroporation experiments were performed using Hela cells. Changes in cell mortality, cell vitality, cell cycle, and apoptosis status were examined. In addition, temperature changes in the surrounding tissue were measured.

RESULTS

Cell proliferation was markedly inhibited after treatment with field strengths of 2-2.5 kV/cm. The expression of caspase-3 increased significantly in cells treated with field strengths of 1.5-2.5 kV/cm. Field strengths of 1.75-2.5 kV/cm produced complete cancer cell ablation. G2 phase frequency increased significantly after treatment with field strengths of 2-2.5 kV/cm. During this process, the maximum temperature increase in the pulsed electric field was 4.9 -/+ 1.17 degrees C under free air convection.

CONCLUSIONS

IRE can be used alone for the treatment of cancer, and its thermal effect is negligible. Cell death was caused by the effects of IRE and apoptosis. The tumor cells must be destroyed completely, or the altered cell cycle may lead to tumor recurrence and accelerated growth.

A hip simulator study of metal-on-metal hip joint device using acetabular cups with different fixation surface conditions

In vitro wear data for hip joint devices reported in the literature vary in a wide range from one simulator study to another sometimes for the same type of device tested under identical physiological testing conditions. We hypothesized that non-bearing surface condition of the testing components could be an important factor affecting the simulator wear results. To confirm this hypothesis, fifteen 50 mm metal-on-metal hip resurfacing devices with identical bearing specifications were tested in a ProSim hip wear simulator for 5 million cycles. The heads were standard Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) heads; whilst the pairing acetabular cups were identical to the standard BHR cup except their different back surface conditions, including: (a) off-the-shelf products after removing the hydroxyapatite (HA) coating; (b) semi-finished products without HA coating; and (c) purposely-made cups without cast-in beads and HA coating. Results showed that the different back surfaces of the cups used indeed caused significantly large variations in the gravimetrically measured wear loss. We postulated that materials loss from the non-bearing surface of the testing components could contribute to the gravimetrically measured wear loss during a wear simulator test both directly and indirectly. The results presented in this paper pertain to In vitro wear simulator study and have little clinical relevance to the performance of any implant in vivo.

PEG-grafted chitosan nanoparticles as an injectable carrier for sustained protein release

The development of injectable nanoparticulate "stealth" carriers for protein delivery is a major challenge. The objective of this work was to investigate the possibility of achieving the controlled release of a model protein, insulin, from PEG-grafted chitosan (PEG-g-chitosan) nanoparticles (mean diameter 150-300 nm) prepared by the ion gelation method. Insulin was efficiently incorporated into the nanoparticles, and reached as high as 38%. In vitro release showed that it could control the insulin release by choosing the composition, loading and release temperature. We observed that the composition of the nanoparticle surface (C/O ratio) increased from 2.40 to 3.23, with an increase in the incubation time. Therefore, we concluded that during this time, insulin release from PEG-g-chitosan nanoparticles followed a diffusion mechanism in which erosion was negligible. The experiments also demonstrated that PEG-g-chitosan helped to maintain the natural structure of the protein entrapped in the nanoparticles.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe cruciferarum on Brassica juncea in Australia

In Australia, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss (Indian mustard) has the potential as a more drought-tolerant oilseed crop than the B. napus L., with the first canola-quality B. juncea varieties released in Australia in 2006 and first sown for commercial production in 2007. Increased production of B. juncea is expected to result in the appearance of diseases previously unreported in Australia. In the spring of 2007 at the University of Western Australia field plots at Crawley (31.99°S, 115.82°E), Western Australia, plants of B. juncea genotypes from Australia and China had extensive stem colonization by powdery mildew at the end of the flowering period, with whitish patches ranging in size from 3 mm to 3 cm long. These patches coalesced to form a dense, white, powdery layer as they expanded. Pathogenicity was demonstrated by gently pressing infected stems containing abundant sporulation onto leaves of potted B. juncea seedlings of variety JM-18, incubating the plants in a moist chamber for 48 h, and then maintaining the plants in a controlled-environment room at 18/13°C for day/night. Signs of powdery mildew appeared at 7 days after inoculation, and by 10 days, it was well developed. Uninoculated control plants did not have powdery mildew. When symptomatic plants were examined, abundant conidia were typical of Erysiphe cruciferarum Opiz ex Junell, with cylindrical conidia borne singly or in short chains as described previously (2). Mycelia were amphigenous, in patches, and often spreading to become effused. Conidiophores were straight, foot cells were cylindrical, and conidia were mostly produced singly and measured 21.2 to 35.4 (mean 26.7 μm) × 8.8 to 15.9 μm (mean 11.9 μm) from measurements of 100 conidia. The spore size that we measured approximated what was found for E. cruciferarum (2) (30 to 40 × 12 to 16 μm), since we found 35 and 50% of spores falling within this range in terms of length and width, respectively. Conidia were, however, generally smaller in size than that reported on broccoli raab in California (1) (35 to 50 × 12 to 21 μm). We confirmed a length-to-width ratio greater than 2 as was found previously (1,2). Infected leaves showed signs of early senescence. While powdery mildew caused by E. cruciferarum is an important disease of B. juncea in India where yield losses as much as 17% have been reported (4), its potential impact in Australia is yet to be determined. To our knowledge, this is the first record of E. cruciferarum on B. juncea in Australia. In Western Australia, E. cruciferarum has been recorded on B. napus (oilseed rape) since 1986 and on B. napus L. var. napobrassica (L.) Reichenb. (swede) since 1971 (3). In other regions of Australia, it has been recorded on B. rapa in Queensland since 1913 and on B. napus (oilseed rape) in South Australia since 1973. References: (1) S. T. Koike and G. S. Saenz. Plant Dis. 81:1093, 1997. (2) T. J. Purnell and A. Sivanesan. No 251 in: Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. CMI, Kew, Surrey, UK, 1970. (3) R. G. Shivas. J. R. Soc. West. Aust. 72:1, 1989. (4) A. K. Shukla et al. Manual on Management of Rapeseed-Mustard Diseases. National Research Centre on Rapeseed-Mustard, Bharatpur, India, 2003.

Biofunctionalization of CeF(3):Tb(3+) nanoparticles

CeF(3):Tb(3+) nanoparticles (short pillar-like morphology with an average length and width of 11 and 5 nm, respectively) were successfully prepared by a polyol process using diethyleneglycol (DEG) as solvent. After being functionalized with a SiO(2)-NH(2) layer, these CeF(3):Tb(3+) nanoparticles can be conjugated with biotin molecules (activated by thionyl chloride) and further with avidin. The as-formed CeF(3):Tb(3+) nanoparticles, CeF(3):Tb(3+) nanoparticles functionalized with amino groups, biotin conjugated amino-functionalized CeF(3):Tb(3+) nanoparticles and biotinylated CeF(3):Tb(3+) nanoparticles bonded with avidin were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV/vis absorption spectra and luminescence spectra, respectively. The biofunctionalization of the CeF(3):Tb(3+) nanoparticles has less effect on their luminescence properties, i.e. they still show strong green emission (from Tb(3+), with (5)D(4)-(7)F(5) at 543 nm as the most prominent group), indicative of the great potential for these CeF(3):Tb(3+) nanoparticles to be used as biological fluorescence probes.

[Two-dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopy on dodecyloxy benzoic acid phase transition]

Thermal spectra of liquid crystal, dodecyloxy benzoic acid were collected over a temperature range of 26-150 degrees C by FTIR microspectroscopy. By taking investigations of temperature-induced changes in dodecyloxy benzoic acid by means of 2D infrared correlation spectroscopy, it was possible to clearly describe the molecular dynamic mechanism of dodecyloxy benzoic acid aggregates in the phase transitions. The analysis shows that p-dodecyloxy benzoic acid crystallized as multi-molecule aggregates through hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic groups, while the long polymethylene residues intermixed each other in solid state. Premelting phenomena in polymethylene residues were observed with temperature up to melting point. It seems that lots of oxy-benzoic acid part recrystallized to cycle dimer as supermolecular liquid crystal during alkyl chain melting in crystal-smectic phase transition. After temperature over 132 degrees C, oxy-benzoic acid part were melted to open dimer and separate molecule in liquid state.

Purification of natural antikeratin autoantibodies from normal human serum and their effect on human keratinocytes cultured in vitro

BACKGROUND

Antikeratin (AK) autoantibodies, circulating antibodies against epidermal keratins, have been detected in all normal human sera. However, direct evidence on the biological significance of AK autoantibodies is still lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To purify AK autoantibodies from human serum and to make a preliminary study of their biological effects on human keratinocytes.

METHODS

We first extracted keratin polypeptides from human stratum corneum and analysed their purity using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Next, a keratin affinity column was prepared with the extracted keratins, and AK autoantibodies were purified from pooled normal human serum. Antibodies obtained were identified with SDS-PAGE, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoperoxidase staining, immunoelectron microscopy and Western blotting. The biological effect of AK autoantibodies on cultured human keratinocytes was studied using a DNA synthesis assay, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric determination and cell cycle analysis.

RESULTS

On average, 1.83 +/- 0.24 mg of antibodies could be purified from 10 mL of pooled human serum. High-titre IgG (about 1 : 70) and low-titre IgM (about 1 : 30) AK autoantibodies were obtained. The DNA synthesis assay and MTT colorimetric determination demonstrated that AK autoantibodies have a significant dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cultured keratinocytes. Correlation coefficients in the two experiments were - 0.583 and - 0.797, respectively. Cell cycle analysis indicated that a small dose of AK autoantibodies leads to inhibition of proliferation of cultured keratinocytes, whereas a large dose of AK autoantibodies causes a visible hypodiploid peak, suggesting apoptosis of keratinocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

The present research lays a solid foundation for further investigation into the biological significance of natural AK autoantibodies.

Large-scale cortical reorganization following forelimb deafferentation in rat does not involve plasticity of intracortical connections

Physiological mapping of the body representation 1 month or longer after forelimb removal in adult rats revealed new pockets of shoulder representation in the forepaw barrel subfield (FBS) in the first somatosensory cortex (SI). These "new" shoulder representations have longer evoked response latencies than sites in the shoulder representation within the trunk subfield, hereafter referred to as the "original" shoulder representation. We postulated that the "new" shoulder representations in the FBS were relayed from the "original" shoulder representation. We investigated this hypothesis by studying anatomical connectivity between the "original" shoulder representation and the FBS in intact control and forelimb deafferented adult rats using Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L), biocytin, and biotin dextran-amine (BDA) as anterograde tracers. The retrograde tracer cholera toxin beta subunit (CT-B) injected into the FBS was also used to study connectivity between the "original" shoulder representation and the FBS. Using these anatomical tracing techniques, we were unable to show the existence of a direct corticocortical connection between the "original" shoulder representation in the trunk subfield and the FBS in either intact or deafferented rats. Functional connectivity between the two cortical regions was studied by ablating the "original" shoulder representation alone or in combination with the shoulder representation in the second somatosensory cortex (SII) while recording evoked responses in the FBS following electrical stimulation of the shoulder. Both ablations failed to eliminate the evoked responses at the "new" shoulder sites in the FBS, suggesting that SI and SII are not necessary for "new" shoulder input in the FBS. It is suggested that subcortical sites may play a major role in large-scale cortical reorganization. Results of projections from the "original" shoulder representation to parietal medial (PM), parietal lateral (PL), SII, parietal ventral (PV), and parietal rhinal (PR) sensory fields and agranular lateral (AgL) and agranular medial (AgM) motor fields are also described.

[Experimental studies of genistein on the proliferation and apoptosis of human prolactinoma cells cultured in vitro]

AIM

To study the influence of genistein (GST) on the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured human prolactinoma cells.

METHODS

MTT method and 3H-TdR incorporation and cell cycle analysis were used to examine the changes of proliferation and DNA synthesis of human prolactinoma cells under influence of GST and beta-estradiol (E2). Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) were employed to observe the effect of GST and E2 on the apoptosis of human prolactinoma cells.

RESULTS

In a dose dependent manner, GST of different concentration could significantly inhibit the proliferation of human prolactinoma cells cultured in vitro. GST(10(-5) mol/L) could increase the proportion of cells in G1 phase from 55.3% up to 90.3%. E2 of different concentration could dose-dependently increase the proliferation of human prolactinoma cells. E (10(-5) mol/L) could increase the proportion of cells in G2 phase from 15.6% up to 41.8%. However, a lower suppressive proliferation of cultured human prolactinoma cells was observed with GST and E2 together. GST, not E2, could significantly induce the apoptosis of human prolactinoma cells cultured in vitro.

CONCLUSION

GST inhibits the proliferation, DNA synthesis and cell cycle of cultured human pituitary cells, and induces its apoptosis. E2 decreases partly the effect of GST on the suppression of proliferation, not apoptotic induction, of human prolactinoma cells cultured in vitro.

Effects of dexamethasone on Flt3 receptor expression and proliferation induced by recombinant human Flt3 ligand in malignant hematopoietic cells

AIM

To investigate the effect of dexamethasone (DXM) on the expression of Flt3 receptor and the proliferation mediated by recombinant human Flt3 ligand (rhFL) in leukemia cells.

METHODS

Eighteen malignant hematopoietic cell lines and 10 leukemia blasts from leukemia patients were examined by flow cytometry for the expression of Flt3 receptor before and after incubation with DXM 0.1 micromol/L for 24 h. The effect of DXM on the proliferation of malignant hematopoietic cells was measured by MTT assay.

RESULTS

(1) Expression of the Flt3 receptor in malignant hematopoietic cell lines and leukemia blasts was widespread and extremely heterogeneous; (2) The presence of receptor on the surface of malignant hematopoietic cell didn't necessarily imply a significant ligand-induced response, at least in terms of proliferation. Conversely, some Flt3 receptor-negative malignant hematopoietic cells responded to rhFL; (3) DXM down-regulated the expression of Flt3 receptor and inhibited the proliferation induced by rhFL in some malignant hematopoietic cell lines and fresh leukemia cells.

CONCLUSION

DXM may down-regulate the expression of Flt3 receptor on the surface of malignant hematopoietic cells and inhibit the proliferation induced by rhFL. A combination of rhFL and DXM may serve to control hematopoietic defects in malignant hematopoietic diseases.

[Influence of intracerebroventricular injection of sodium nitroprusside L-arginine and NG-nitro-L-arginine on cardiovascular activity in conscious rats]

In order to study the cardiovascular effect of NO in conscious rats, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the precursor of NO (L-Arginine, Arg-Arg) and one of the inhibitor of NOS (NG-nitro-L-arginine, NNLA) were intracerebroventricularly (icv) injected. Our experimental results indicated that, an apparent dose-dependent hypertensive effect was produced by icv administration of SNP (8, 16, 32 and 32 micrograms), a tachycardiac effect was also produced at the same time. In addition, hypertension and tachycardia were produced by icv L-arginine and the dipeptide Arg-Arg. Furthermore a hypotensive and bradycardiac effect can be produced by icv NNLA. These results suggest that there is a positive effect on cardiovascular activity due to increase of endogeneuse NO in the rat brain and a negative effect on cardiovascular activity due to decrease of endogeneuse NO in the rat brain.

[ICAM-1 expression of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells caused by fluid shear force]

We studied the effect of shear stress (SS) on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (RBMECs) using the parallel plate flow chamber method. It was demonstrated that RBMECs showed a time-dependent, but not a force-dependent, upregulation in ICAM-1 expression. Endothelial cell surface expression of ICAM-1 in the supernatants of RBMECs exposed to SS was not changed, thus excluding the possibility that the upregulated expression is due to the factors synthesized by these cells. These data throw light on understanding the signal transduction pathway inside the endothelial cells under the effect of SS.

Thalamocortical arbors extend beyond single cortical barrels: an in vivo intracellular tracing study in rat

Neurons in layer IV of rat somatosensory (SI) barrel cortex receive punctate somatic input from well-defined regions of the periphery. Following peripheral deafferentation, SI neurons in deafferented cortex respond to new input from neighboring regions of the skin surface. The precise mechanism(s) through which this occurs is unknown, although corticocortical and barreloid to barrel connections have been suggested as possible substrates. Because layer-IV barrels receive a strong afferent input from ventroposterior (VP) thalamic projection neurons, any divergence in the thalamocortical (TC) projection to multiple cortical barrels could also provide an anatomical substrate for rapid cortical reorganization. We used in-vivo intracellular recording methods to record and physiologically identify neurons in rat VP and to label those neurons with an intracellular tracer. Thalamic neurons (n=117) were impaled with sharp intracellular electrodes, and the receptive field(s) and firing pattern were measured. Cells were then injected with biocytin or biotinylated dextran amine (BDA). A total of 38 labeled TC neurons were quantitatively analyzed for soma size and dendritic arborization size; quantitative analysis of TC-axon arborizations in layer IV of barrel cortex was carried out in a total of 13 TC neurons. Two different axon-arborization patterns were identified in SI cortex: direct-projecting axons (n=6) were observed to project to and arborize within a single cortical barrel as well as extend their fibers into adjacent barrels; bifurcating-type axons (n=7) were seen to bifurcate in the subcortical white matter or in layer VI and then project to multiple barrel columns, where they arborized in layer IV. Axon fibers were always observed in three or more cortical barrels (mean=5, range=3-7). The mean mediolateral extent of arborizations in layer IV for the direct-projecting and bifurcating type axons were 458 microm and 1,302 microm, respectively, and these were significantly different (t=3.78, P<0.01). Axon-fiber length within cortical laminae was measured for each arborization pattern in relationship to the total fiber length within a cortical column. Direct-projecting axons always had greater than 50% of their fiber length within layer IV. Bifurcating-type axons were differentially distributed within multiple columns and always had less than 50% of their total column fiber length in layer IV. Morphological analysis of TC somata and dendrites revealed no correlation between local neuron morphology and axonal-arborization patterns. All intracellularly recorded TC neurons had similar adapting firing patterns when injected with a long-duration pulse. Our results showed that TC neurons project to multiple cortical barrels with one barrel receiving the principal input. This divergent TC projection pattern in SI cortex may provide an anatomical substrate for cortical plasticity and must be considered in any mechanism of rapid cortical reorganization.

Gender difference in letrozole pharmacokinetics in rats

AIM

To study gender difference in letrozole (Letr) pharmacokinetics in rats.

METHODS

Letr concentrations in plasma and tissues were determined after ig administration of Letr 2 mg/kg. Recoveries of Letr in urine and feces were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Marked gender differences were found 6 h after ig Letr 2 mg/kg, the plasma concentrations of Letr in male rats were significantly (P < 0.01) lower than those in female rats. For example, at 24, 36, 48, and 72 h after administration, plasma concentrations in female rats were about 3.3, 5.6, 10.5, and 7.4-fold of that of male rats, respectively. AUC value of Letr in male was only about one-third of that in female rats. Estimated terminal phase half-lives (T1/2) were 10.5 and 40.4 h, respectively. In female rats, cumulative excreted fractions of Letr in urine and feces were 5.8% +/- 1.4% and 6.6% +/- 1.1% within 120 h after administration, respectively, but in male rats, the excreted fractions of Letr in urine and feces were only 1.30% +/- 0.59% and 0.87% +/- 0.31%. Letr concentrations in female rat tissues were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those in male rat tissues 24 h after administration.

CONCLUSION

There are marked gender differences in Letr pharmacokinetics in rats.

Plasmid DNA encoding the respiratory syncytial virus G protein is a promising vaccine candidate

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a major cause of severe respiratory diseases in infants, young children, and the elderly. However, development of a RSV vaccine has been hampered by the outcome of the infant trials in the 1960s with a formalin-inactivated RSV preparation. Enhanced lung disease was induced by the vaccination post-RSV exposure. Previous studies in mice primed with RSV G protein either formulated in adjuvants or delivered by recombinant vaccinia viruses have indicated that enhanced lung pathology resulted from a Th2-type host immune response against the viral G protein. However, in the present report, we have demonstrated that vaccination with plasmid vectors encoding either a full-length or a secreted G protein (DNA-G) clearly elicited balanced systemic and pulmonary Th1/Th2 cytokine responses in mice and did not induce an atypical pulmonary inflammatory reaction post-RSV challenge in cotton rats. DNA-G immunization also induced marked virus neutralizing antibody responses and protection against RSV infection of the lower respiratory tract of both mice and cotton rats. So far, only genetic immunization has been able to induce a balanced Th1/Th2 response with the RSV G protein, reminiscent of that induced by live RSV. Therefore, DNA-G is a promising immunogen for inclusion in a nucleic acid RSV vaccine.

Effects of large-scale limb deafferentation on the morphological and physiological organization of the forepaw barrel subfield (FBS) in somatosensory cortex (SI) in adult and neonatal rats

The physiological representation of the shoulder and surrounding body was examined in layer IV of somatosensory cortex (SI) in rats that had underground removal of the forelimb, either as newborns on postnatal day three (PND-3) or as adults (at least 8 weeks of age). Electrophysiological recordings were used to map the shoulder and body representations (physiological map), and the mitochondria marker, cytochrome oxidase (CO), was used to visualize recording sites in barrel and barrel-like structures (morphological map) in layer IV of deafferents and intact controls. The SI shoulder representation lies in a nebulously stained region that lies posterior to the forearm, wrist, and forepaw representations; the latter region is associated with the well-defined forepaw barrel subfield (FBS). The major findings are: (1) the shoulder is represented as a single zone located at the posterior extent of the SI body map in intact rats; (2) limb deafferentation in adult or neonatal rats that were physiologically mapped 6-16 weeks post-amputation resulted in two or more islets of "new" representation of the shoulder in the FBS in addition to the representation of the "original" shoulder in the posterior part of the body map; (3) deafferentations made in neonatal rats, physiologically mapped as adults, had a significantly greater (Mann-Whitney U) amount of "new" cortical representation within the FBS than did rats deafferented as adults; (4) fewer unresponsive sites in the FBS were found for neonate deafferents than for adult deafferents; (5) evoked response latencies following electrical stimulation of the shoulder were shortest for cortical sites within the "original" shoulder representation in intact controls, and latencies recorded at the "original" shoulder representation in deafferents were also shorter than latencies recorded in "new" shoulder representations in both groups of deafferents; and (6) morphological maps of the FBS were altered in neonate deafferents to the extent that the barrel structure was poorly formed, as exemplified by the absence of the four mediolateral running bands; however, the overall ovoid shape of the FBS was still apparent, but not as sharply defined as for intact controls or adult deafferents. Possible mechanisms for reorganization following large-scale deafferentation are discussed.

Overexpression of tissue-type plasminogen activator in atherosclerotic human coronary arteries

The plasminogen activator (PA)/plasmin system is involved in various pathological processes that are considered important features of atherogenesis and atherothrombosis. These include the proteolysis of fibrin deposits and extracellular matrix components as well as the induction of cell migration and mitogenesis. Tissue-type PA (TPA) is a key enzyme mediating plasminogen to plasmin conversion. TPA plasma concentrations are elevated in patients with advanced atherosclerosis and correlate with an increased risk for myocardial infarction and stroke. In this study, we have analysed the content and expression of TPA in human coronary arteries and their relation to the presence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions.

METHODS

Segments of coronary arteries obtained from heart explants (n = 15) were classified by the presence and types of atherosclerotic lesions. TPA was quantitatively determined in protein extracts of intimal and medial layers. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on serial sections of representative tissue specimens.

RESULTS

PA activity entirely attributable to the presence of active TPA was consistently detected in the protein extracts. Extractable TPA antigen and activity showed a significant graded increase in relation to the presence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions. The ratios of active over total TPA were increased several-fold in extracts of advanced lesions despite a concomitant threefold increase in TPA complexed to its inhibitor PA-1. In macroscopically normal arterial segments and in early lesions, TPA was expressed in the endothelium and in colocalization with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In advanced plaques, TPA mRNA was mainly detected in the lateral regions of the fibrous caps in association with migrating VSMCs and in the vicinity of the core areas infiltrated by CD68-positive macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

TPA content and expression is consistently increased in relation to the severity of the lesions in atherosclerotic coronary arteries. This may contribute to plaque destabilization and disruption. Conversely, the increased intramural TPA activity may counteract mural fibrin deposition.

The protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine prescription, han-dan-gan-le, on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Han-Dan-Gan-Le, a Chinese medicine preparation composed of Salvia miltorrhiza, Radix paeoniae, Astragalus membranaceus, Stephania tetrandra, and dried leaves of Ginkgo biloba, has been used successfully to treat human liver fibrosis and cirrhosis for years. This study was designed to examine the mechanisms of the protection. Male Wistar rats were given CCl4 (1.2 ml/kg, 2 times/week), 20% fat diet, and 30% alcohol in drinking water (every other day) for 6 weeks. Han-Dan-Gan-Le (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg, p.o., daily for 6 weeks) was administered to rats simultaneously to examine the protective effects against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. The experimentally-induced liver fibrosis and other morphological alterations were significantly ameliorated by Han-Dan-Gan-Le. Han-Dan-Gan-Le treatments decreased CCl4-induced hepatic collagen accumulation by more than 50%, and significantly increased urinary excretion of hydroxyproline. The CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation in liver and serum was ameliorated as a result of Han-Dan-Gan-Le treatment, possibly by restoring the activity of superoxide dismutase activity in liver and erythrocytes, In conclusion, Han-Dan-Gan-Le is effective in protecting against liver fibrosis. The mechanisms of the protection appear to be due to its antioxidant properties and the modulation of hepatic collagen metabolism.

Protection against respiratory syncytial virus infection by DNA immunization

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and the elderly and is a continuing challenge for vaccine development. A murine T helper cell (Th) type 2 response associates with enhanced lung pathology, which has been observed in past infant trials using formalin-inactivated RSV vaccine. In this study, we have engineered an optimized plasmid DNA vector expressing the RSV fusion (F) protein (DNA-F). DNA-F was as effective as live RSV in mice at inducing neutralizing antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses, protection against infection, and high mRNA expression of lung interferon gamma after viral challenge. Furthermore, a DNA-F boost could switch a preestablished anti-RSV Th2 response towards a Th1 response. Critical elements for the optimization of the plasmid constructs included expression of a secretory form of the F protein and the presence of the rabbit beta-globin intron II sequence upstream of the F-encoding sequence. In addition, anti-F systemic immune response profile could be modulated by the route of DNA-F delivery: intramuscular immunization resulted in balanced responses, whereas intradermal immunization resulted in a Th2 type of response. Thus, DNA-F immunization may provide a novel and promising RSV vaccination strategy.

Relation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression to presence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in human coronary arteries

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (UPA) has been implicated in a broad spectrum of pathological processes - e.g. cell adhesion, migration and proliferation and matrix remodeling - that are considered important features of atherogenesis and plaque disruption. In this study, we have analyzed the content and expression of UPA in human coronary arteries and its relation to the presence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions. Segments of coronary arteries obtained from human heart explants (n = 15) were classified by the presence and types of atherosclerotic lesions. UPA was quantitatively determined in protein extracts of the intimal and medial layers. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on serial sections of representative tissue specimens. UPA was detected in the extracts as pro-UPA, UPA complexed to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, or as otherwise inactive UPA antigen, but not in the active two-chain form. Both functional and total UPA were increased several-fold in extracts of advanced lesions, while the ratios of functional over total UPA showed the opposite trend suggesting enhanced UPA inactivation and turnover. UPA expression in early atherosclerotic lesions was particularly prominent in areas of proliferating SMCs in the abluminal part of the neointima, whereas in advanced lesions UPA was widely expressed in macrophage-rich areas adjacent to the rims and shoulder regions of the necrotic cores. The results strongly suggest a causal involvement of UPA in coronary atherogenesis and its clinical outcome.

Comparative analysis of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression in different types of atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries from human heart explants

OBJECTIVES

Clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease result primarily from the progressive development of atherosclerotic plaques and subsequent thrombus formation: processes which may be accelerated by an enhanced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in the vessel wall. In the present study, content and expression of PAI-1 were comparatively analyzed in human coronary arteries in relation to the presence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions.

METHODS

Segments of coronary arteries obtained from heart explants (n = 15) were classified by the presence and types of atherosclerotic lesions. Antigen and activity levels of PAI-1 were determined in protein extracts of intimal and medial layers. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on serial sections of representative tissue specimens.

RESULTS

Total PAI-1 antigen consistently increased from macroscopically normal areas (MNAs) to early lesions (ELs) and to maximal levels in fibrous (FPs) and calcified (CPs) plaques. No PAI activity was detected, although PAI-1 in its free form was present in all vascular specimens. Both free PAI-1 and PAI-1 complexed with plasminogen activators were significantly increased in extracts of advanced lesions. However, there was a 2-3 fold molar excess of free versus complexed PAI-1 in FPs and CPs. These findings suggest the presence of relevant amounts of PAI-1 in its substrate rather than in its inhibitor conformation in areas of advanced lesions. Compared with MNAs, PAI-1 mRNA was strongly expressed within the thickened intima of ELs. The highest PAI-1 expression was observed in FPs and CPs, being mainly localized in areas surrounding the necrotic cores in co-localization with infiltrating macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

PAI-1 content is consistently increased in relation to the severity of the lesions in atherosclerotic coronary arteries. The concomitant elevation of PAI-1 mRNA suggests that the PAI-1 increase in regulated by local synthesis in the areas of atherosclerotic lesions.

Cutaneous infection by Scedosporium apiospermum and its successful treatment with itraconazole

We report the case of a 42-year-old man with a 13-year history of bilateral faciocervical infiltrative erythema, which had been misdiagnosed as tuberculoderma and which had failed to respond to treatment with adrenal corticosteroids and antituberculotics. On admission to the department, Scedosporium apiospermum was identified on lesion biopsies and fungus cultures as the causative agent and a diagnosis of cutaneous infection by S. apiospermum was made. This is the first report of chronic skin granuloma caused by S. apiospermum in China. Treatment with oral itraconazole (100-400 mg/day) led to clinical cure within 4 months.

In vivo intracellular recording and labeling of neurons in the forepaw barrel subfield (FBS) of rat somatosensory cortex: possible physiological and morphological substrates for reorganization

We examined the physiological properties and morphology of neurons in the forepaw barrel subfield (FBS) in somatosensory cortex (SI) of adult rats using in vivo intracellular recording and biocytin labeling techniques. Our results show that both pyramidal and non-pyramidal type spiny neurons can be activated with short latency by peripheral stimulation. FBS neurons within individual barrels receive both suprathreshold and subthreshold convergent input from one or more forepaw digits and pads. We hypothesize that some of these subthreshold inputs may be elevated to firing level by some, as yet unknown, mechanism(s) following peripheral deafferentation. Examination of the relationship between the dendritic pattern of labeled neurons and individual barrels within the FBS suggests that neurons with dendrites extending into neighboring barrel bands may serve as a possible morphological substrate for immediate reorganization.

Electrical stimulation of a forepaw digit increases the physiological representation of that digit in layer IV of SI cortex in rat

We studied the physiological representation of digit three (D3) in rat somatosensory cortex (SI) before and immediately after electrical stimulation (1.5x threshold for 2 h) of the glabrous tip of D3 in anesthetized animals (n = 6). Measurements of D3 representation were also made in anesthetized non-stimulated control animals (n = 2). The post-stimulation areal measurements of D3 representation in experimental animals were statistically significantly larger than both pre-stimulation measurements in experimental animals and post-stimulation measurements in control animals. Our results suggest that short-term electrical stimulation is sufficient to expand the D3 representation in each of the experimental animals, while the maps in non-stimulated controls showed little variation. The fact that these studies were carried out in anesthetized animals suggests that the results are independent of the state of the animal. The present findings emphasize the importance of afferent input in modulating cortical organization.

Relationship between representation of hindpaw and hindpaw barrel subfield (HBS) in layer IV of rat somatosensory cortex

We describe the organization of the hindpaw barrel subfield (HBS) in layer IV of rat somatosensory cortex (SI) and relate this organization to the representation of the hindpaw. The ovoid-shaped, HBS is oriented anterior to posterior and comprises barrels and barrel-like structures, the most prominent of which consist of at least five anteriorly-located elongated barrel bands. Posterior to these elongated bands is a cluster of four barrels. Two additional barrels are found, one lateral, the other medial. The lateral border is formed by a nearly continuous band that overlaps portions of the anterior elongated bands and posterior barrels. The HBS shows considerable variability in size and shape; nevertheless, the overall pattern reflects a common plan of organization. Electrophysiological mapping confirmed that hindpaw representation is somatotopically organized. The glabrous toes are represented anteriorly, the pads posteriorly, and the dorsal hairy skin of the toes and hindpaw laterally. By aligning physiological and morphological (HBS) maps according to lesion sites, our data suggest that the elongated anteriorly-located barrel bands represent the hindpaw toes, the four toe pads are represented immediately posterior followed by barrels representing the plantar pads. The representations of dorsal hairy skin of toe and dorsal hindpaw form the lateral border; the heel and ankle are represented most posterior. We interpret our findings as support that individual barrels in the HBS are associated with discrete regions of the hindpaw; however, the precise relationship of structure and function reported between the vibrissae and posteromedial barrel subfield (PMBSF) and between the forepaw and the forepaw barrel subfield (FBS) were not observed.

Digit removal leads to discrepancies between the structural and functional organization of the forepaw barrel subfield in layer IV of rat primary somatosensory cortex

The physiological representation of the forepaw in rat primary somatosensory cortex (SI) is topographically organized. This representation is associated with the unique arrangement of barrels in layer IV of the forepaw barrel subfield (FBS) in SI and provides an example of a relationship between cortical structure and function. It has been reported that removal of peripheral afferent input to the FBS prior to postnatal day 5 or 6 results in a disorganized FBS, while deafferentation at later times produces little or no alteration of the FBS. Therefore, restricted deafferentations of individual digits in adult rats should result in little, if any, disruption of the FBS, while at the same time eliminating afferent input to the FBS from a localized region of the periphery. This manipulation is likely to create a mismatch between structure and function and offer insight into what barrels actually represent in the adult deafferent. In the present study, we amputated digit three (D3) in eight adult rats, allowed a 1-month survival time, physiologically mapped the representation of D2, D4, and the stump, and compared this physiological map to the underlying barrels in the FBS. Our results showed that FBS barrels formerly associated with the representation of D3 were now associated with the representation of surrounding digits D2 and D4, as well as the remaining stump. By superimposing the morphological and physiological map upon one another, it was clear that the D2 and D4 representations expanded into the former D3 barrel territory and septae between the barrels. The reorganized physiological map was somatotopically organized, even though the general configuration of the morphological map remained unaltered, as visualized with cytochrome oxidase staining. These results suggest that in the deafferent, neurons within FBS barrels previously associated with the representation of punctate regions of skin become associated with neighboring regions of skin. A morphological substrate to account for this cortical reorganization is described.

Relationship between the organization of the forepaw barrel subfield and the representation of the forepaw in layer IV of rat somatosensory cortex

We studied the organization of the forepaw barrel subfield (FBS) in layer IV of adult rat somatosensory cortex using the mitochondrial marker cytochrome oxidase and related this organization to the representation of the forepaw. The FBS is an ovoid structure consisting of barrels and barrel-like structures, the most conspicuous of which form four centrally located medio lateral running bands. Each band contains three to four barrels. These centrally located bands are bordered along their entire lateral side by a nebulous zone of undifferentiated labeling. At the anterior border, two small barrels are located laterally and one or two larger barrels are located medially. Medial to the central zone are three well-defined barrels. The posterior border consists of a nebulous field of labeling and occasional barrel-like structures. The results from our electrophysiological recording and mapping revealed that the forepaw representation was topographically organized into a single map and that the forepaw map matches almost precisely with individual barrels and barrel-like structures in the FBS. Each of the four central bands is associated with the representation of a single glabrous digit. Digit two (D2) is represented anteriorly and followed posteriorly by D3 through D5. Within each digit band the digit is somatotopically organized, with the skin over the distal phalanx represented in the two lateral barrels and the middle and proximal phalanges represented in the medial barrel(s). The dorsal hairy digit skin and dorsal hand are represented in the lateral zone. D1 is represented by two small anteriorly located barrels. Medial to the representation of the glabrous digits is the representation of the palmar pads. The representation of these pads, in turn, lies between the representations of the thenar (located anteriorly) and hypothenar (located posteriorly) pads. Posterior to the hypothenar pad representation lie the representations of the wrist and forearm. While the present results support the conclusion that individual barrels are associated with discrete locations on the forepaw, examples were found where the recording site was not precisely located within the predicted barrel. Some of these errors may be accounted for by limitations in the mapping techniques; nevertheless, the FBS offers an excellent model system to study relationships between cortical structure and function.

Large unresponsive zones appear in cat somatosensory cortex immediately after ulnar nerve cut

The organization of the primary somatosensory cortex innervated by the ulnar nerve was studied before and immediately after ulnar nerve transection in 11 cats electrophysiologically mapped under Nembutal or Ketamine anesthesia. The cortex was reexamined a second time beginning 42 hr after nerve transection in four cats anesthetized with Nembutal. One additional sham-operated control was also mapped. The region of cortex formerly served by the ulnar nerve remained largely unresponsive to somatic stimulation independent of the type of anesthetic used during recording. Nonetheless, animals anesthetized with Ketamine had more new responsive sites in deafferented cortex following nerve cut than cats anesthetized with Nembutal. New responses, when observed, were evoked by stimulation of a region of skin adjacent to the region served by the ulnar nerve. These findings suggest that the immediate response to deafferentation of somatosensory cortex is a limited acquisition of novel responses restricted to a region immediately adjacent to cortex containing normal afferent input.

[In vitro inhibition effect of tamoxifen on three cervical cancer cell lines]

The effect of tamoxifen, an antiestrogenic drug, on the growth of three squamous cervical cancer cell lines in serum-free medium was studied, using the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 as a tamoxifen-sensitive control. It was found that low concentration revealed growth inhibition effect and high concentration revealed cytotoxicity effect in the four cancer cell lines. Their sensitivity was different with respective thresholds. Breast cancer cell line MCF-7 had the lowest threshold of growth inhibition, whereas cervical cancer cell line HX151c had the lowest threshold of cytotoxicity.