Efficacy and safety of cadonilimab in previously treated recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma(COMPASSION-06): A phase II multicenter study

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of cadonilimab monotherapy, a first-in-class, bi-specific PD-1/CTLA-4 antibody, in patients with previously treated recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M-NPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase II clinical trial enrolled patients with R/M-NPC who had failed first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and second-line single agent or combined chemotherapy, and immunotherapy-naive. Patients received cadonilimab for 6 mg/kg once every 2 weeks (Q2W). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) in full analysis set (FAS) assessed by investigators according to RECIST v.1.1. The secondary endpoint included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), duration of response (DoR), time to response (TTR) and safety.

RESULTS

A total of 23 patients were assessed. The median time from first dose to data cutoff was 16.56 (range, 0.8-25.2) months. ORR was 26.1 % (95 %CI:10.2-48.4). The ORR were 44.4 % (95 %CI: 13.7-78.8) and 14.3 % (95 %CI:1.8-42.8) in patients with tumor PD-L1 expression ≥50 % and <50 %, respectively. ORR was achieved in 40.0 % (95 %CI:12.2-73.8) of patients with EBV-DNA level <4000 IU/ml (n = 10) and 15.4 % (95 %CI:1.9-45.4) of those with ≥4000 IU/ml. The median PFS was 3.71 months (95 %CI: 1.84-9.30). respectively. Median OS was not reached, and the 12-month OS rate was 79.7 % (95 % CI:54.5-91.9). Only two patients (8.3 %) experienced Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) with hypothyroidism (30.4 %), rash (21.7 %) and pruritus (21.7 %) being the most prevalent TRAEs.

CONCLUSION

Cadonilimab monotherapy demonstrated a promising efficacy and manageable toxicity in patients with previously treated R-M/NPC and provide an efficacious salvage treatment option.

Spectral modulation of high-order harmonics in relativistic laser-solid interaction

Spectral modulation of high-order harmonics generated in relativistic laser-solid interaction is investigated. Numerical simulations show that the modulation depends on surface plasma density profile, resulting in spectral envelope modulation and regular and irregular harmonic splitting. The mathematical and physical connections between the spectral modulation of high-order harmonics and the temporal modification of attosecond pulse train are explained. Based on these understandings, we propose a possible method to produce isolated attosecond pulses by tailoring surface the plasma profile.

[Comparison of clinical features in antepartum and postpartum HELLP syndrome]

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and pregnancy outcomes in antepartum and postpartum hemolysis, elevated live enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome(HELLP syndrome). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to collect maternal and neonatal information of pre-eclampsia complicated with HELLP syndrome in Peking University First Hospital during the ten years from April 2009 to March 2019. A total of 83 pregnant women were included according to the Tennessee Classification System. They were then allocated into two groups based on the onset time of HELLP syndrome: antepartum HELLP syndrome group (n=70) and postpartum HELLP syndrome group (n=13). The clinical features, symptoms, laboratory biomarkers, and pregnancy outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: Among the 83 pregnant women with HELLP syndrome, 70 occurred prenatally (84%, 70/83) and 13 occurred postpartum (16%, 13/83). The twin or triplet pregnancy rate in the postpartum HELLP syndrome group was significantly higher than that in the antepartum HELLP syndrome group [6/13 vs 6% (4/70), P=0.001]. The gestational weeks for HELLP onset and delivery in the postpartum HELLP syndrome group were significantly later than those in the antepartum HELLP syndrome group [(35.8±3.0) vs (31.5±5.2) weeks, P=0.025; (36.7±2.3) vs (32.2±5.0) weeks, P=0.002]. The incidence of early-onset pre-eclampsia in the antepartum HELLP syndrome group was significant higher than that in the postpartum HELLP syndrome group [64% (45/70) vs 2/13, P=0.002]. The quantitative of 24-hour proteinuria was significant higher in the antepartum HELLP syndrome group than that in the postpartum HELLP syndrome group [(4.8±5.1) vs (1.8±1.6) g, P=0.002]. But there were no statistical significances in the comparison of other laboratory test indexes (all P>0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in clinical symptoms, severe maternal complications, transfusion or adverse maternal outcomes (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Antepartum and postpartum HELLP syndrome have similar clinical symptoms and laboratory characteristics. Both antepartum and postpartum HELLP syndrome could lead to severe maternal complications, which should be paid special attention in clinical practice, especially to the postpartum HELLP syndrome.

Experimental Demonstration of Efficient Harmonic Generation via Surface Plasma Compression with Lasers

The efficiency of high-order harmonic generation from a relativistic laser interacting with solid targets depends greatly on surface plasma distribution. The usual method of enhancing efficiency involves tuning the plasma scale length carefully by improving the laser contrast. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that efficient harmonics can be achieved directly by compressing large-scale surface plasma via the radiation pressure of a circularly polarized normally incident prepulse. The harmonic generation efficiency obtained by this method is comparable to that obtained with optimized plasma scale length by high-contrast lasers. Our scheme does not rely on high-contrast lasers and is robust and easy to implement. Thus, it may pave a way for the development of intense extreme ultraviolet sources and future applications with high repetition rates.

Identification and characterization of circRNAs in maize seedlings under deficient nitrogen

Here, deep sequencing results of the maize transcriptome in leaves and roots were compared under high-nitrogen (HN) and low-nitrogen (LN) conditions to identify differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed non-coding RNA with widely regulatory potency that has been identified in animals and plants. However, the understanding of circRNAs involved in responsive nitrogen deficiency remains to be elucidated. A total of 24 and 22 DECs were obtained from the leaves and roots, respectively. Ten circRNAs were validated by divergent and convergent primers, and 6 DECs showed the same expression tendency validated by reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR. Integrating the identified differentially expressed miRNAs, 34 circRNAs could act as miRNA decoys, which might play important roles in multiple biological processes, including organonitrogen compound biosynthesis and regulation of the metabolic process. A total of 51 circRNA-parent genes located in the genome-wide association study identified loci were assessed between HN and LN conditions and were associated with root growth and development. In summary, our results provide valuable information regarding further study of maize circRNAs under nitrogen deficiency and provide new insights into screening of candidate genes as well as the improvement of maize regarding nitrogen deficiency resistance. CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA co-expression networks were constructed to explore the circRNAs that participated in biological development and nitrogen metabolism.

Accurate diagnosis of colorectal cancer based on histopathology images using artificial intelligence

BACKGROUND

Accurate and robust pathological image analysis for colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis is time-consuming and knowledge-intensive, but is essential for CRC patients' treatment. The current heavy workload of pathologists in clinics/hospitals may easily lead to unconscious misdiagnosis of CRC based on daily image analyses.

METHODS

Based on a state-of-the-art transfer-learned deep convolutional neural network in artificial intelligence (AI), we proposed a novel patch aggregation strategy for clinic CRC diagnosis using weakly labeled pathological whole-slide image (WSI) patches. This approach was trained and validated using an unprecedented and enormously large number of 170,099 patches, > 14,680 WSIs, from > 9631 subjects that covered diverse and representative clinical cases from multi-independent-sources across China, the USA, and Germany.

RESULTS

Our innovative AI tool consistently and nearly perfectly agreed with (average Kappa statistic 0.896) and even often better than most of the experienced expert pathologists when tested in diagnosing CRC WSIs from multicenters. The average area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of AI was greater than that of the pathologists (0.988 vs 0.970) and achieved the best performance among the application of other AI methods to CRC diagnosis. Our AI-generated heatmap highlights the image regions of cancer tissue/cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This first-ever generalizable AI system can handle large amounts of WSIs consistently and robustly without potential bias due to fatigue commonly experienced by clinical pathologists. It will drastically alleviate the heavy clinical burden of daily pathology diagnosis and improve the treatment for CRC patients. This tool is generalizable to other cancer diagnosis based on image recognition.

[Research progress in clinical prognosis of apical overfilling of root canal obturation]

Root canal obturation is conducted by using filling materials to tightly seal the root canal system after the procedure of preparation in order to control infection and promote periapical healing. The quality of root canal obturation is one of the essential factors affecting the prognosis of root canal treatment. Qualified root canal filling is defined as a homogeneous radiographic apical filling within the cemento-dentine junction with neither overfilling nor underfilling. This review elucidates the long-term outcome of root canal overfilling and its causes, the influence of apical overfilling on adjacent structures and the prevention and management of overfilling, so as to help the clinicians achieving a better outcome of root canal treatment and obtaining an optimal long-term prognosis.

[Health status and healthcare service utilization among children born to women with maternal syphilis in Shanghai]

Objective: To assess the health status and health service utilization of children born to syphilis infected mothers during pregnancy, in order to prevent mother-to-child transmission of syphilis to the newborns. Methods: Women with maternal syphilis were studied by trained researchers via phone calls, in Shanghai during 2014-2015. Data related to demographics, status of infection and health care, utilization by both mothers and their children were collected through specifically designed questionnaires. Non-parametric tests including chi-square were used to assess the health status and health service utilization of children born to mothers with different demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Results: A total of 495 children born to mothers with maternal syphilis were recruited from 1 000 syphilis infected parturient women. A total of 61 out of the 495 children were diagnosed as having congenital syphilis (57 children were diagnosed at birth and another 4 were diagnosed during the follow-up period). Children born to women who received syphilis treatment during pregnancy were at lower risk on congenital syphilis (χ(2)=7.214, P=0.027). 37.8% of the children were reported to have had different illnesses in the past three months, mainly involving upper respiratory infections (32.3%) or diarrhea (3.6%). Children diagnosed with congenital syphilis showed a higher prevalence of different kinds of diseases, compared to those without congenital syphilis (47.5% vs. 36.6%). 81.6% of the children had received regular child health care services. Subjects with the following factors as: being immigrant, with lower education, unemployed, unmarried and multipara, were related to the less use of regular child healthcare services. Only 39.7% of the parents would inform the care-takers about the risk of congenital syphilis infection of their own children at the child health care centers. Mothers with residency of Shanghai, having higher education level and employed, were less willing to inform doctors about the risk of congenital syphilis infection of their children. Conclusions: Loss to follow-up among children born to syphilis infected pregnant women remained a serious problem. Few parents would be willing to inform the healthcare takers that their children are at risk of syphilis, when receiving child health care services at the centers. It was necessary to integrate the congenital syphilis follow-up programs into the routine child care services so as to timely diagnose and treat the patients with congenital syphilis.

High-quality high-order harmonic generation through preplasma truncation

By introducing preplasma truncation to cases with an initial preplasma scale length larger than 0.2λ, the efficiency of high-order harmonics generated from relativistic laser-solid interactions can be enhanced by more than one order of magnitude and the angular spread can be confined into near-diffraction-limited divergence. Numerical simulations show that density truncation results in more compact oscillation of the surface electron sheet and the curvature of the reflection surface for the driving laser is greatly reduced. This leads to an overall improvement in the harmonic beam quality. More importantly, density truncation makes the harmonic generation weakly dependent on the preplasma scale length, which provides a way to relax the extremely high requirement on the temporal contrast of the driving laser pulse. A feasible scheme to realize the required preplasma truncation is also proposed and demonstrated by numerical simulations.

[Analysis of psychological status and relevant factors of patients with esophageal and gastric cardia precancerous lesions in Linzhou of Henan]

Objective: To explore the psychological status and related factors in patients with precancerous of esophageal and gastric cardia in Linzhou of Henan. Methods: Clinical psycho-rating scale of Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS, score ≥50 points with symptoms of anxiety) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS, score ≥53 points with the symptoms of depression) were applied to survey life events and psychological status of subjects who aged 40-69 years old and participated in"The Early diagnosis and Early Treatment"program in Linzhou cancer hospital from July 2015 to Jan 2016. Patients with lower intraepithelial neoplasia or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia were selected as precancerous lesions (n=118), and patients with normal grade were selected as healthy controls (n=210). Compare the differences of the scores between the two groups, and the logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of precancerous lesions and psychological status of the study subjects. Results: Precancerous lesions included esophageal (72 cases), gastric cardia (40 cases), esophageal and cardia dual source (6 cases); Precancerous lesions and healthy controls aged (57.17±7.71) and (53.12±7.99) years old, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The anxiety and depression scale showed that the scores of SAS and SDS scores in the precancerous lesions were (37.18±10.01), (40.44±8.37) points, and (34.02±6.63), (38.49±8.73) points in control group, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.002, 0.032). While the social support total score (38.26±5.26), and subjective support score (24.08±3.83) and objective support score (7.50±1.89) in control group were all higher than those of precancerous group (36.80±6.18, 23.01±3.93, 6.93±1.57), and the difference were statistically significant (P=0.024, 0.016, 0.004). In addition, the Logistic analysis showed that subjects with low objective social support, subjective social support and anxiety symptoms were more likely to develop precancerous lesions, and the OR were 0.81, 0.72 and 1.05, respectively (P=0.028, 0.005, 0.009). Conclusion: Social support, anxiety and depression status may be related to the occurrence and development of esophageal and gastric cardia precancerous lesions.

[Effects of budesonide aerosol inhalation on the immunological functions of peripheral dendritic cells in patients with allergic rhinitis]

Objective: To investigate the immunologic functional changes of peripheral dendritic cells (DC) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) during the treatment by budesonide aerosol inhalation.Method:25 patients with moderate to severe persistent AR were concluded in current study, and they were given budesonide aerosol inhalation for 8 weeks. AR related nasal symptom scores and indices, peripheral DC counts and percentages as well as their activation before and 4 weeks, 8 weeks after treatment were determined.Result:There were significant decrease in nasal symptom scores, eosinophils, AR specific IgE antibodies after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. The overall clinical efficiency reached 88% at the end of the treatment. Peripheral DC counts and DC/PBMC decreased in comparison with the levels of pre-treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the levels before treatment, DC activation markers CD86 and CD80 reduced to various extent, while glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) positive cells gradually elevated (P<0.05). In the DC secreted IL-10 decreased against the treatment duration, while IFN-γ from DC conditioned T cells statistically increased after treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion:Budesonide suppressed DC activation and maturation, which might redirect DC-involved Th2 response, in turn alleviating the AR symptoms.

[A preliminary research on the exosome influenced by virus infection in the renal transplantation recipients]

Objective: Virus infection is a common complication of transplantation.With the research and application of exosome is becoming more popular, this study focused on whether the virus particles and nucleic acids exist in the exosomes extracted from the plasma of recipients with virus infection after renal transplantation. Methods: A total of 10 independent transplantation recipients at Institute of Organ Transplantation, 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army from January 2015 to July 2017 were studied in this study.5 cases of positive or suspected positive in granulocytes HCMV pp65 antigen detection and positive in plasma HCMV DNA test, and the other 5 cases of positive results in plasma BK DNA test were adopted.Exosomes were extracted from the collected plasma samples with SBI kit.Electron microscopy and nanoparticles tracing analyzer (NTA) were used for exosome analysis.Quantitative real-time PCR method was used to inspect and compare virus DNA copies number in plasma, exosome and effluent. Results: Typical exosome-like vesicle structure was observed.NTA put forward the sample concentration data from 1.2 to 4.5×10(12) particles/ml, and the particle diameters were 30-200 nm.In the qRT-PCR assays, the viral DNA quantitative results of exosome samples are lower but on the same magnitude compared with that of the plasma, and sharply decreased in effluent. Conclusions: Virus DNAs in exosome samples of recipients with viral infection after transplantation were detected in great quantities.This not only hints the spread of the virus may take advantage of the biological formation process of exosomes, but also warns that the limitation of the existing way to extract exosmes from virus infected population may be a bottleneck in research.

[The clinical significance of Delphian lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of Delphian lymph node (DLN) metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Method: A total of 505 cases with PTC confirmed pathologically in our hospital between January 2015 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. 208 patients with DLN assessed separately by histopathologic examination who underwent primary surgery for PTC were included for the following analysis. Results: In 208 patients, the detection rate of DLN was 63.0% and the metastasis rate of DLN was 21.4%. DLN metastasis was correlated with PTC multifocality (P=0.038), tumor size over 1cm (P=0.001), BRAF^V600E mutation (P=0.017) and central neck node metastasis (P<0.001). Tumor size over 1cm (95%CI 1.308-9.909, OR=3.600, P=0.013) and the number of node with central neck metastasis (95%CI 1.313-2.163, OR=1.685, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for DLN metastasis. The presence of DLN metastasis was associated with an 8.8-fold higher frequency of central neck node metastasis compared to cases without DLN metastasis. Among patients with DLN metastases, central lymph node metastasis was more common in the cases with lateral neck node metastases compared to those without lateral neck node metastases (6.5±3.0 vs 1.5±0.7, P=0.009), and 5 of the 6 patients also presented with PTC multifocality and BRAF^V600E mutation. Conclusion: DLN metastasis implies a higher possibility of central neck lymph node metastasis. DLN should be assessed during operation to provide information for neck dissection, post-operative administration and follow-up strategy.

[Effect of dexmedetomidine infusion on postoperative recovery for patients undergoing major spinal surgery during propofol anesthesia]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of intraoperative dexmedetomidine (DEX) infusion during propofol intravenous anesthesia on postoperative recovery after major spinal surgery.

METHODS

Sixty patients aged 18 to 65 (American Society of Anesthesiologists, ASA I-II), scheduled for spinal surgery from January 2014 to May 2014 were randomized into two groups. The DEX group (n=30) received 0.5 μg/kg of DEX ten minutes before anesthesic induction, followed by an infusion of DEX at 0.2 μg/(kg×h) intraoperatively and the control group (n=30) was given identical amounts of normal saline. At the end of surgery, the patients of both groups received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with morphine 0.5 mg/h (1 mg demand dose and 8 min lockout). Heart rate and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were continually monitored during operation and in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The propofol and sufentanil consumptions during operation and the morphine consumption 48 h after surgery were recorded. The time for recovery and extubation were recorded. The followed-up evaluations were performed to assess Ramsay scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores as well as side effects in PACU and 48 h after surgery.

RESULTS

Heart rate of DEX group was lower than that of control group after intubation and extubation and in PACU 10 min (P<0.05). MAP was lower in DEX group than that in control group after extubation and in PACU (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the propofol consumption during anesthesic induction, the sufentanil consumption during operation and the cumulative consumption of morphine 2 h and 6 h after surgery were decreased (P<0.05). There were no differences between the two groups as to the time for recovery or extubation. Compared with control group, the VAS pain scores were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in DEX group were significantly decreased (P<0.05) 48 h after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative infusion of DEX improved quality of recovery, provided good analgesia, and decreased morphine use and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after major spinal surgery.

Correlation of serum albumin with the clinical features and prognosis of preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical significance of serum albumin (ALB) levels in the early evaluation and prognosis of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors collected and retrospectively analyzed complete clinical records of preterm infants admitted to the NICU from July 2012 to March 2013. The cases were divided into three groups according to their ALB levels: ≥ 30 g/L, 25-30 g/L, and ≤ 25 g/L.

RESULTS

The mean gestational age in the ≤ 25 g/L ALB group was significantly higher than that in the ≥ 30 g/L ALB group [(33.41 ± 2.15) weeks] (p < 0.05). The prealbumin, blood platelet, and blood urea nitrogen in the ≤ 25 g/L ALB group were significantly lower than those in the ≥ 30 g/L ALB group (p < 0.05). In addition, serum lactate in the ≤ 25 g/L ALB group was significantly higher than that in the ≥ 30 g/L ALB group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Serum ALB level increased with increasing gestational age. Lower ALB levels were associated with more perinatal complications, damage to multiple organs, more severe cases, and mechanical ventilation, which resulted in longer hospital stays and poorer prognoses.

Sex- and afferent-specific differences in histamine receptor expression in vagal afferents of rats: A potential mechanism for sexual dimorphism in prevalence and severity of asthma

The incidence of asthma is more common in boys than in girls during the childhood, and more common in premenopausal female than age-matched males. Our previous study demonstrated a gender difference in histamine-mediated neuroexcitability in nodose ganglia neurons (NGNs), highlighting a possibility of histamine-mediated gender difference in asthma via visceral afferent function. In the present study, we aimed to explore the gender difference in expression profiles of histamine receptors (HRs) in nodose ganglia (NG) and individual identified NGNs to provide deeper insights into the mechanisms involved in sexual dimorphism of asthma. Western-blot and SYBR green RT-PCR showed that H2R and H3R were highly expressed in NG of females compared with males and downregulated in ovariectomized females. H1R was equally expressed in NG of both sexes and not altered by ovariectomy. Furthermore, this highly expressive H2R and H3R were distributed in both myelinated and unmyelinated NGNs isolated from adult female rats by immunofluorescence and single-cell RT-PCR. H3R widely distributed in all tested neuron subtypes and its expression did not show significant difference among neuron subtypes. H2R was widely and highly expressed in low-threshold and sex-specific subpopulation of myelinated Ah-types compared with myelinated A- and unmyelinated C-type NGNs. Unexpectedly, weak expression of H1R was detected in both myelinated and unmyelinated NGNs by immunofluorescence, which was further confirmed by single-cell RT-PCR. Our results suggest that the sexual dimorphism in the expression of H2R and H3R in vagal afferents very likely contributes, at least partially, to the gender difference in prevalence and severity of asthma.

Genome-wide identification, classification, and analysis of heat shock transcription factor family in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis)

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is one of the most important vegetable crops grown worldwide, and various methods exist for selection, propagation, and cultivation. The entire Chinese cabbage genome has been sequenced, and the heat shock transcription factor family (Hsfs) has been found to play a central role in plant growth and development and in the response to biotic and abiotic stress conditions, particularly in acquired thermotolerance. We analyzed heat tolerance mechanisms in Chinese cabbage. In this study, 30 Hsfs were identified from the Chinese cabbage genome database. The classification, phylogenetic reconstruction, chromosome distribution, conserved motifs, expression analysis, and interaction networks of the Hsfs were predicted and analyzed. Thirty BrHsfs were classified into 3 major classes (class A, B, and C) according to their structural characteristics and phylogenetic comparisons, and class A was further subdivided into 8 subclasses. Distribution mapping results showed that Hsf genes were located on 10 Chinese cabbage chromosomes. The expression profile indicated that Hsfs play differential roles in 5 organs in Chinese cabbage, and likely participate in the development of underground parts and regulation of reproductive growth. An orthologous gene interaction network was constructed, and included MBF1C, ROF1, TBP2, CDC2, and HSP70 5 genes, which are closely related to heat stress. Our results contribute to the understanding of the complexity of Hsfs in Chinese cabbage and provide a basis for further functional gene research.

Grape seed proanthocyanidins extracts promote apolipoprotein A-I mRNA expression in HepG2 cells under experimental sugar and high-sugar conditions

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we investigated the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidins extracts (GSPE), which have been proved to have anti-oxidative and anti-aging functions, on the expression of apoA-L at mRNA level of HepG2 cells in vitro under the experimental conditions of high-sugar and sugar.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell viability was measured by sulforhodamine B (SRB). The apoA-I mRNA expression was assayed by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Firstly, HepG2 cells were incubated in 10% inactivated newborn calf serum in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). Next, cells were incubated with high-sugar and sugar serum-free medium, and added different concentration of GSPE (2.5, 5 and 10 microg/ml) for more than 24 hours, and thereafter, investigated whether GSPE can promote more apoA-I expression in HepG2 cells under the experimental conditions of high-sugar and sugar.

RESULTS

In this experiment, HepG2 cells were incubated with high-sugar and sugar serum-free medium, and HepG2 cells incubated with high-sugar medium produced less apoA-I at mRNA level. The difference was significant (p < 0.05). When HepG2 cells were incubated with GSPE at concentration of 20 microg/ml or above for about 4 hours, cell viability measured by SRB was lower than 50%. However, cell viability of HepG2 cells incubated with GSPE at concentration of 10 microg/ml or below was higher than 70%. Therefore, we chose the HepG2 cells incubated with GSPE concentration of 2.5, 5, 10 microg/ml to observe the effect of GSPE on the mRNA expression of apoA-I. After incubated with GSPE, the apoA-I expression of HepG2 cells were significantly elevated at mRNA level compared to that of high sugar control (p < 0.05). Moreover, this action of GSPE showed dose dependent, and the dose of 2.5 microg/ml was optimal.

CONCLUSIONS

GSPE (concentration of higher than 20 microg/ml) could inhibit HepG2 cell survival, and in HepG2 cells, endogenous apoA-I was significantly suppressed following 24h of exposure to high concentrations of glucose. Meanwhile GSPE could promote expression of apoA-L dose dependently at mRNA level when its concentration was lower than 10 microg/ml.

Patch clamp electrophysiology in nodose ganglia of adult rat

The patch clamp technique is widely utilized for studying the electrophysiological properties of enzymatically isolated sensory neurons. Unfortunately, dissociation of the ganglion severs the afferent fibers. As a result, isolated neurons can only be broadly categorized according to somatic action potential waveforms, ion channel subtypes, chemical sensitivities and cell diameter. Such restricted classifications contrast with the continuum of conduction velocities (CVs), discharge patterns, sensory modalities and functional properties of visceral and spinal afferents. Previous reports of patch clamp recordings using intact ganglion have been limited to young animal preparations. This raises concerns regarding postnatal development and impedes the use of chronic models of disease or injury, which often necessitate the use of a more mature animal preparation. Here, we present a methodology for preparing nodose ganglion from adult rat (250-400 g) for study using the patch clamp technique. Successful whole cell recordings were obtained from approximately 50% of the cells selected for study, the majority of which had intact afferent fibers. Measures of somatic discharge and afferent fiber CV at both room and physiological temperatures were consistent with investigations using sharp microelectrodes. Voltage clamp recordings of whole cell Na(+), Ca(2+) and K(+) ion channel currents were comparable to those obtained using isolated neuron preparations. The ability to classify voltage- and ligand-gated ion channel type with afferent fiber CV in an adult preparation adds a valuable new dimension to cellular investigations of the diverse functional and chemical properties of the peripheral afferent nervous system.

A longitudinal study on quality of life after gynecologic cancer treatment

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to describe the pattern of quality of life (QOL) over time and to assess the impact of age, symptoms, disease parameters, and treatment on the overall QOL.

METHODS

A longitudinal study on patients with newly diagnosed gynecologic cancer using individual patients as their own control was performed. The 33-item EORTC QLQ-C30(+3) was used as the QOL measure. Patients were assessed before treatment, after completion of treatment, and at 6, 12, and 24 months. Spearman's correlation analyses were performed. A mixed effect model was fitted to the data. Bonferroni pairwise comparisons were used to analyze the different variables.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-four women completed the study. Overall QOL improved after the completion of treatment but remained the same throughout the 2 years after treatment. The individual patient's QOL before treatment was insignificant while the impact of treatment on the individual patient was significant in determining QOL after treatment. There was a strong correlation for all time points in most factors, indicating that the global health status, functional scales, and symptom scales exhibit a dependent change over time. Relief in symptoms was associated with improvements in functional scales. The scores on overall QOL were lower for younger patients and for patients treated with chemotherapy than for patients treated with surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Strategies for supportive care need to focus on symptom management. Psychosocial interventions, to be effective, should include all patients and should aim to reduce the impact of treatment on the individual patient.

[Studies on original plant of traditional Chinese drug "bai zhi" (radix Angelicae Dahuricae) and its closely related wild plants. I. Morphological and anatomical studies on "bai zhi" and closely related wild plants]

OBJECTIVE

To supplement morphological and anatomical data for confirming the original plant of traditional Chinese drug "Bai Zhi" (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae).

METHOD

Morphologocal observation and anatomical study were made on 4 cultivated breeds and closely related wild plants of "Bai Zhi".

RESULT

According to morphological and anatomical characteristics discovered in this paper, 7 samples noted above could be divided into 3 groups: 1. 4 breeds ("Chuan Bai Zhi", "Hang Bai Zhi", "Qi Bai Zhi" and "Yu Bai Zhi") and Angelica dahurica var. formosana; 2. A. dahurica; 3. A. porphyrocaulis.

CONCLUSION

In the morphological and anatomical point of view, A. dahurica var. formosana is closer to traditional Chinese drug "Bai Zhi" than others.

[Regulative effects of bailong and Hexamethylene bisacetamide on growth and phenotype of human gastric cancer cells in cell cycle]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate and compare the common effect of Bailong, a Chinese herbal preparation, and Hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA), a western cell differentiation inducer, on growth regulation and phenotype of human gastric cancer (MGC80-3) cells in different phases of cell cycle.

METHODS

Synchronized MGC80-3 cells in monolayer cultures with nitrous oxide under high pressure were double blocked with overdosage of TdR in the 4 cellular phases (G1, S, G2 and M), and then collected and treated with Bailong and 5 mmol/L HMBA respectively.

RESULTS

Both medicines could suppress the cell proliferation, soft agar cloning growth and microfilament assembling of different phases of cells, the effect on cells of G1 phase was the most significant one.

CONCLUSION

Bailong and HMBA had significant common characteristics in inducing cell differentiation of MGC80-3 cells in different phases of cell cycle.

Expression of epidermal growth factor in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

This study used an immunohistochemical technique to assess the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in 40 specimens of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), 7 specimens of labial glands adjacent to mucocele, and 5 specimens of normal submandibular glands. In normal submandibular glands, immunohistochemically detectable EGF was demonstrated in all ductal segments, including intercalated, striated, and excretory duct cells. No EGF positive staining was found in acinar compartments. including serous and mucous acinar cells. In degenerated labial glands adjacent to mucocele, no EGF staining was detected in the remaining acinar and ductal cells. In salivary ACCs, positive EGF immunostaining was observed in one of the 5 (20%) ACCs with a solid pattern and in 13 of the 35 (37.1%) ACCs with a tubular-cribriform pattern. The overall EGF expression rate in 40 salivary ACCs was 35%. Positive EGF staining was predominantly found in tubular structures in the tubular ACCs and in duct-like structures in large cribriform patterns or in the stroma of the cribriform ACCs. There was no significant correlation between EGF expression in salivary ACCs and any of the clinicopathological parameters including patient age and sex, cancer location, TNM status, clinical stage, histologic type, perivascular or perineural invasion, focal necrosis of tumor, and cellular atypia. We conclude that the duct segments of the normal submandibular gland are the sites of EGF synthesis and secretion. In degenerated labial glands adjacent to mucocele, EGF synthesis is completely inhibited. Furthermore, EGF is mainly biosynthesized in cells forming tubular or duct-like structures in tubular or cribriform salivary ACCs, and EGF may play a biologic role, particularly as a mitogen in salivary ACC growth.

[Study on common character of regulative molecular mechanism of Chinese drug bailong and hexamethylen bisacetamide in human cancer cell cycle and their oncogene and tumor suppressor gene expression]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the common regulative effects of the Chinese drug Bailong and hexamethylen bisacetamide (HMBA) on expressions of oncogenes (c-H-ras and c-myc), and tumor suppressor genes (Rb, p53 and p21) of MGC80-3 in human cancer cell cycle.

METHODS

Adopting RNA Northern Blot to survey the levels of gene expressions of MGC80-3 different phases cells treated with Bailong and HMBA respectively.

RESULTS

In different phases of MGC80-3 cells treated with Bailong and differentiation inducer HMBA, expressions of oncogenes c-H-ras and c-myc were inhibited by over 50.0%, messenger kinase subspecies PKC-alpha gene is similar with the expression inhibition of oncogenes, except effect of Bailong on the G2 phase in cell cycle. Effect of Bailong differs greatly from HMBA in the expression of tumor suppression genes. The expression of Rb and p21 in cells treated by HMBA did not increase but were inhibited by 39.5% and 33.3% respectively in G1 phase. The level of Rb gene expression was decreased, too by 3.0% in S phase. Comparison with HMBA the expression of Rb and p21 genes were increased after treatment by Bailong in all cell cycle. But the effect of Bailong on the expression of p53 gene which was increased obviously by 125.0%-233.4% in majority phase of MGC80-3 cells is similar to HMBA.

CONCLUSION

(1) The effect of Bailong on the regulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor gene is similar to HMBA but the effect of Bailong is better than that of HMBA. (2) Molecular mechanism of the Bailong or HMBA on the proliferative inhibition and differentiation of MGC80-3 related to regulation of the Bailong and HMBA on the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in cell cycle of MGC80-3.

Psychosocial adjustment in gynecologic cancer survivors: a longitudinal study on risk factors for maladjustment

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to describe the change in psychosocial state over time and to identify risk factors for maladjustment in gynecologic cancer survivors. Awareness of these issues is important for planning supportive care services for cancer patients.

METHODS

A longitudinal prospective study of patients with newly diagnosed gynecologic cancer using individual patients as their own control was performed. Patients were interviewed after confirmation of the diagnosis and were reassessed at 6 and 18 months after completion of treatment and with no evidence of recurrent disease. Psychological adjustment was measured by self-rating on self-esteem, outlook on life, self-role, and femininity. Neuroticism and anxiety were assessed using a neuroticism score and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Depressive symptoms were questioned directly. Social adjustment was assessed by changes in working capacity or work status, leisure activity, marital relationship, and sexual activity.

RESULTS

Seventy-four women participated. Adjustment problems did not occur in the majority of patients. Psychosocial adjustment was different for patients receiving different types of treatments. Improvement in feminism (P = 0.050) and neuroticism (P = 0.010) was observed for patients receiving chemotherapy and deterioration was observed in patients treated with surgery. Deterioration in neuroticism was associated with lower education level (P = 0.032). With religious belief, there was better family support and more significant improvement in social activity (P = 0.038).

CONCLUSION

Most patients adapted well. Patients at risk for psychosocial maladjustment include those who are treated surgically, less educated, and without religious belief.

[Application of molecular markers-assisted selection of wx genes in breeding the waxy wheat]

Chinese Spring and its null-tetrasomic lines were used to identify the specific bands of STS-marker and microsatellites (SSR) marker of wx genes. Twelve varieties and five waxy wheat lines were screened with these two markers, and the results are in agreement with those from Wx subunits SDS-PAGE. A F2 segregating population from cross Jiangsu Baihuomai x Kanto 107 was also detected by molecular markers, not only eight wx genotypes were developed while three genotypes did not exist in the nature, but also the first batch of waxy wheat lines were bred. The Jiangsu Bainuomai improvement population was screened, and six 7D momosomic plants with wx-D1b were obtained, which could provide materials for waxy wheat breeding. Application molecular markers of wx genes will improve the selection procedure for the waxy wheat and good noodle-quality wheat.

The profile of bone mineral density in chinese women: its changes and significance in a longitudinal study

Bone mineral density (BMD) has been shown to be different in different ethnic groups. When lifestyle and diet evolve, there is a possibility of a change in the normal reference BMD values within an ethnic group over a period of time. As the osteoporotic risk uses the T-score as the bench mark, it is pertinent to evaluate whether such changes do occur. Two measurements, 5 years apart, of the BMD of the spine and the hip were made in a cohort of Chinese women in Hong Kong. A kernel function smoothing method, a nonparametric statistical method, was employed to present the BMD data. The greatest rate of bone loss was found to occur between 50 and 59 years of age, but this rate of loss was reduced from age 60 onwards. The BMD values obtained in these two measurements were different from the previous studies in the same population and were found to be higher at the lumbar spine and neck of femur in women over 65 years of age. Even within the cohort, there seemed to be a reduction in the BMD values of the hip in a span of 5 years, although the differences were statistically insignificant. These studies suggest that BMD values could change in a population for a variety of possible reasons. Hence, the reference BMD values might need to be evaluated at regular intervals for the T-score to be meaningful.

[Estimation of gas chromatographic retention index for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using VMDE]

A novel molecular distance-edge vector with 6 parameters was calculated for 100 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) based on the molecular interaction theory. It was found that there was a good linear relationship between the molecular distance-edge vector (VMDE) and the gas chromatographic retention index for the 100 PAHs, and the molecular modelling equation for the quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) can be expressed as follows: IR = a + b VMDE, n = 100, r = 0.988, where a and b represent regression coefficients. The regression results showed that the molecular distance-edge vector is in good agreement with the results of molecular polarizability index to the gas chromatographic retention index for the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

[Changes of catecholamine content in the brain and thymus of rats during antibody response]

AIM

The kinetic changes of catecholamine content in the brain and lymphoid organ of rats during the antibody response were investigated in order to know the effect of immune condition on the activity of catecholaminergic nerve in central and peripheral nervous system.

METHODS

Rats were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). During the days 2-7 after immunization, the content of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), dopamine (DA) and homovanilic acid (HVA) in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, brainstem and thymus of rats was determined by means of the high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

RESULTS

1. NA content in the hypothalamus and hippocampus significantly increased, but was strikingly decreased in the thymus during the antibody response compared with the saline control. 2. The content in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and thymus markedly augmented in the period of antibody response. 3. DA content in the hypothalamus significantly increased, but in the hippocampus, DA content markedly descended after immunization. HVA, DA metabolite, dramatically rose in the hypothalamus and hippocampus. 4. There were not significant alterations of catecholamine content in the brainstem during the antibody response compared with the saline control.

CONCLUSION

The antibody response may enhance the activity of catecholaminergic nerve in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, and may exert different impact on various catecholaminergic nerve in the thymus, but does not markedly affect the activity of catecholaminergic nerve in the brainstem.

Effects of berbamine on intracellular calcium concentration in cultured HeLa cells

AIM

To study the involvement of Ca2+ signaling and the effects of berbamine (Ber) on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) elevated in cultured HeLa cells.

METHODS

[Ca2+]i was measured by confocal microscopy in single HeLa cell loaded with Fluo 3-AM. The change of [Ca2+]i was represented by fluorescent intensity (FI).

RESULTS

(1) In the presence of extracellular Ca2+ 1.3 mmol.L-1, the resting level of FI was 186 +/- 44, n = 49 cells from all control experiments, and KCl, NE, caffeine, and calcimycin (Cal) all induced [Ca2+]i elevations in cultured HeLa cells. (2) The resting level of FI was not affected by pretreatment with Ber. The FI increased by KCl 60 mmol.L-1, NE 100 micromol.L-1, and Cal 30 micromol.L-1 were attenuated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the slope and the time to peak of FI increase were decreased and prolonged. (3) In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, caffeine 80 mmol.L-1-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization was not inhibited by Ber 100 micromol.L-1 pretreatment. (4) These effects of Ber were similar to those of verapamil (Ver) 10 mumol.L-1.

CONCLUSION

Although it was derived from cervical cancer, the HeLa cells which were belong to the nonexcitable cell possessed the similar biological properties with excitable cells, and Ca2+ also played a crucial role in signal transduction processes.

Effects of berbamine on ATP-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes

AIM

To study the effects of berbamine (Ber) on [Ca2+]i homeostasis induced by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of rabbits and cardiomyocytes of rats.

METHODS

Both cell types were cultured and loaded with Fura 3-AM. [Ca2+]i was measured by fluorescent intensity (FI) in each cell with confocal microscopy.

RESULTS

(1) ATP 30 mumol.L-1 elevated [Ca2+]i in VSMC and cardiomyocytes, FI values reached 660 +/- 258 and 1058 +/- 252 from 250 +/- 84 and 218 +/- 76 at 19 s +/- 5 s and 11.8 s +/- 2.4 s, but FI in nucleus was not changed in VSMC. (2) Ber 30 mumol.L-1 did not affect the resting FI in both cell types, but prolonged the time to peak (P < 0.01) and reduced the FI elevated by ATP (P < 0.01), but not completely inhibited even at 100 mumol.L-1. (3) In D-Hanks' solution or in the presence of egtazic acid (EGTA) 3 mmol.L-1, the inhibitory effect of Ber was not seen (P > 0.05). (4) All effects of Ber on ATP-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization were similar to those of Ver 10 mumol.L-1.

CONCLUSION

In VSMC and cardiomyocytes, ATP-induced CA2+ influx was inhibited by Ber and Ver, while the Ca2+ release was not.

Effects of MK-447 on platelet shape change, aggregation, and ATP release by collagen, ADP, and stable analogue of thromboxane A2 in rabbit platelets

AIM

To investigate the effects of MK-447 on platelet shape change, aggregation, and ATP release by collagen (Col), ADP, and stable analogue of thromboxane A2 (STA2) in rabbits.

METHODS

Platelet shape change and aggregation were quantified in light transmission by turbidimetric method and release reaction was assessed by the amount of ATP in platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

RESULTS

(1) MK-447 100-700 mumol.L-1 caused only the shape change, which was not inhibited by indometacin 3 mumol.L-1. Platelet shape changes by Col, ADP, and STA2 were reduced (P < 0.01) after the addition of MK-447. The lag phase was prolonged (P < 0.01) in Col and shortened (P < 0.01) in ADP. (2) MK-447 reduced the aggregation by Col 5 mg.L-1 (P < 0.01), and enhanced that by ADP 0.3-10 mumol.L-1 and STA2 0.1-3 mumol.L-1 (P < 0.01). (3) The release reaction by STA2 1-3 mumol.L-1 was also increased (P < 0.01). The effects of MK-447 on STA2 were not inhibited by S-145.

CONCLUSION

MK-447 induced the platelet shape change, and showed the dual effects, inhibition or enhancement, on the actions by different aggregating agents.

Cytosolic-Ca2+ and coxsackievirus B3-induced apoptosis in cultured cardiomyocytes of rats

AIM

To explore the role of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in apoptosis induced by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) in cultured cardiomyocytes of rats.

METHODS

Primary cultured cardiomyocyte was prepared from Wistar rats ages 2-3 d. The apoptosis in cardiomyocyte was determined by terminated deoxynucleotide transferase directed d-UTP nick and end labeling (TUNEL) method, and the apoptosis was observed under a transmission electron microscope. [Ca2+]i in single cardiomyocyte loaded with Fluo 3-AM was measured by confocal microsorope.

RESULTS

(1) The concentration of CVB3 in the medium reached the peak at 24 h after CVB3 infection. (2) The apoptotic cells were not found in CVB3-infected cardiomyocyte in first 10 h, but amounted to 5% at 17 h, 60% at 24 h, and 90% at 36 h. (3) The peak value of [Ca2+]i elevation reached at 17 h after CVB3 infection (P < 0.01). (4) The characteristics of apoptosis was also seen by transmission electron microscope.

CONCLUSION

CVB3 induced the apoptosis in cultured cardiomyocyte, and [Ca2+]i mobilization was involved in the signal transduction process in apoptosis cells, and played an important role especially in the early stage of apoptosis induced by CVB3.

Antagonistic effects of berbamine on [Ca2+]i mobilization by KCl, norepinephrine, and caffeine in newborn rat cardiomyocytes

AIM

To study the effects of berbamine (Ber) on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) mobilized by KCl depolarization, norepinephrine (NE), and caffeine.

METHODS

[Ca2+]i was measured with fluorescent intensity (FI) by confocal microscope in single cultured cardiomyocytes of newborn rats loaded with Fluo 3-AM 2 mumol.L-1.

RESULTS

FI value of [Ca2+]i in control level was 248 +/- 70 in the presence of extracellular calcium 1.5 mmol.L-1 and was not changed by Ber 3-30 mumol.L-1. KCl (60 mmol.L-1)- and NE (30 mumol.L-1)-induced [Ca2+]i mobilizations were inhibited (P < 0.01) by Ber 30 mumol.L-1, similar to that of verapamil (Ver). The inhibitory effect of Ber on [Ca2+]i induced by KCl was further increased (P < 0.05) in the presence of egtazic acid 3 mmol.L-1, but that on [Ca2+]i induced by NE was not changed. The [Ca2+]i mobilized by caffeine 80 and 160 mumol.L-1 in D-Hanks' solution was not affected (P > 0.05) by Ber and Ver.

CONCLUSION

Ber possessed the antagonistic effects on [Ca2+]i increases via voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel and receptor-operated Ca2+ channel in newborn rat cardiomyocytes, but without effect on intracellular Ca2+ release.

Effects of 5-HT released from platelets on thrombin-induced aggregation and ATP release in rabbit platelets in vitro

AIM

To study the effects of arachidonic acid (AA)-induced endogenous serotonin (5-HT) release on platelet aggregation and ATP release by thrombin (Thr).

METHODS

Platelet aggregation and release reaction were quantified by light transmission in platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) and the amount of ATP in medium. The effects of endogenous 5-HT were evaluated by the filtration of content in cuvette A (content A) containing endogenous 5-HT into cuvette B in which Thr-induced aggregation was observed in the absence/presence of ¿(+/-)-5 (Z)-7-[3-endophenylsulfonylamino [2.2.1] bicyclohept-2-exo-yl]heptanoic acid, sodium salt¿ (S-145) or/and methysergide (Met).

RESULTS

(1) AA 100 and 200 mumol.L-1 induced aggregation and ATP release in cuvette A. When the aggregation reached a peak, the content A directly caused platelet aggregation in cuvette B, and it was inhibited by S-145 100 nmol.L-1, Met 30 mumol.L-1, and inhibited more potently by S-145 + Met. (2) In the presence of S-145 100 nmol.L-1 in cuvette B, aggregations by Thr 0.1 and 0.3 IU.L-1 were enhanced (P < 0.01) by the filtrate, while Thr 0.5 IU.L-1-caused ATP release was suppressed (P < 0.01) without the effect on aggregation. Preincubation with S-145 and Met, the effects of the filtrate on aggregation and ATP release were abolished. (3) By prolongation of the time intervals between filtration and addition of Thr, the aggregation was enhanced and ATP release was reduced.

CONCLUSION

Endogenous 5-HT was released from activated platelet and plays, in turn, a role in the regulation of platelet aggregation by the superimposition of cytosolic-free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and the feedback loop to regulate release reaction and calcium.

Dual effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on stable analogue of thromboxane A2-induced aggregation and release reaction in rabbit platelets

AIM

To study the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on stable analogue of thromboxane A2 (STA2)-induced platelet shape, aggregation, and release reaction.

METHODS

Platelet shape change and aggregation were quantified by the light transmission through platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Release reaction was evaluated by the amount of ATP in the medium and cytosolic-free Ca2+ was measured by fluorescent imaging.

RESULTS

(1) STA2 0.3-3 mumol.L-1-induced shape change followed by aggregation. When STA2 1 or 3 mumol.L-1 was added to PRP, the release reaction was occurred. Pretreatment of PRP with 5-HT 3 mumol.L-1, the shape change by STA2 was abolished and the aggregation by STA2 0.3 mumol.L-1 was enhanced (P < 0.01), STA2 1 or 3 mumol.L-1-induced aggregation was not affected, but the release reaction was partially suppressed (P < 0.01). (2) STA2 0.3 mumol.L-1-induced [Ca2+]i elevation was further increased by 5-HT pretreatment, but the [Ca2+]i mobilizations by STA2 3 mumol.L-1 was decreased by 5-HT, especially the peak level. (3) The aggregation without release reaction was increased from 3.4 +/- 2.1 to 25.6 +/- 1.8% (P < 0.01) with 10 s interval and the enhancement was declined with the prolongation of the intervals. The aggregation with release reaction was not affected by changing the intervals, but the release reaction was decreased in the same treatment.

CONCLUSION

The dual effects of 5-HT on STA2-induced aggregation and release reaction and the molecular mechanism of this effect was probably through the regulative action of 5-HT on [Ca2+]i mobilization by STA2.

Enhancement of ADP-induced aggregation by 5-HT in rabbit platelets

AIM

To study the enhanced effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on ADP-induced aggregation.

METHODS

Platelet aggregation was quantified by the light transmission, the cytosolic-free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was measured by digital fluorescent microscopy, and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) was determined by receptor binding assay.

RESULTS

In rabbit platelet-rich plasma (PRP), 5-HT 0.03-3 mumol.L-1 induced a decrease in light transmission (DLT) in a concentration-dependent manner with centralization of granules, as revealed by electron microscopy. The DLT was accompanied with neither platelet aggregation nor a release reaction. In single washed platelets loaded with Fura-2, 5-HT caused a concentration-dependent elevation of [Ca2+]i, and IP3 level was also transiently increased in washed platelets at 15 s after stimulation by 5-HT. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) also caused DLT transiently in PRP before its own aggregation without a release reaction. Pretreatment of PRP or washed platelets with 5-HT, the DLT by ADP was reduced concentration-dependently and ADP-induced aggregation and [Ca2+]i mobilization were enhanced.

CONCLUSION

The enhancement of ADP-induced aggregation was attributed to the superimposition of the calcium release from the storage sites and calcium influx induced by ADP over the calcium release from the storage sites by 5-HT.

Novel qualitative structure-activity relationships for the antinociceptive actions of H2 antagonists, H3 antagonists and derivatives

Recent studies have shown that cimetidine, burimamide and improgan (also known as SKF92374, a cimetidine congener lacking H2 antagonist activity) induce antinociception after intracerebroventricular administration in rodents. Because these substances closely resemble the structure of histamine (a known mediator of some endogenous analgesic responses), yet no role for known histamine receptors has been found in the analgesic actions of these agents, the structure-activity relationships for the antinociceptive effects of 21 compounds chemically related to H2 and H3 antagonists were investigated in this study. Antinociceptive activity was assessed on the hot-plate and tail-flick tests after intracerebroventricular administration in rats. Eleven compounds induced time-dependent (10-min peak) and dose-dependent antinociceptive activity with no observable behavioral impairment. ED50 values, estimated by nonlinear regression, were highly correlated across nociceptive assays (r2 = 0.98, n = 11). Antinociceptive potencies varied more than 6-fold (80-464 nmol), but were not correlated with activity on H1, H2 or H3 receptors. Although highly potent H3 antagonists such as thioperamide lacked antinociceptive activity, homologs of burimamide and thioperamide containing N-aromatic substituents retained H3 antagonist activity and also showed potent, effective analgesia. A literature review of the pharmacology of these agents did not find a basis for their antinociceptive effects. Taken with previous findings, the present results suggest: 1) these compounds act on the brain to activate powerful analgesic responses that are independent of known histamine receptors, 2) the structure-activity profile of these agents is novel and 3) brain-penetrating derivatives of these compounds could be clinically useful analgesics.

Effects of naltrexone and histamine antagonists on the antinociceptive activity of the cimetidine analog SKF92374 in rats

A recent study showed that SKF92374, a structural analog of the histamine H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine, induces antinociception after intraventricular (i.v.t.) administration in the rat. SKF92374 lacked significant activity on H1 or H2 receptors, but had weak activity on H3 receptors. To test the hypothesis that SKF92374-induced antinociception is mediated by an action on H3 receptors, the effects of the H3 agonist R-alpha-methylhistamine (RAMH) and the H3 antagonist thioperamide (both by i.v.t. administration) were investigated on SKF92374 antinociception. SKF92374-induced antinociception was slightly enhanced by thioperamide (30 microg), but unaffected by a range of doses of RAMH (up to 2 microg). Furthermore, SKF92374-induced antinociception was not reduced by large doses of systemically-administered antagonists of H1 (pyrilamine), H2 (zolantidine), H3 (GT-2016), or opioid (naltrexone) receptors. These findings show that the novel compound SKF92374 induces antinociception by a non-opioid mechanism that does not utilize brain H1, H2 or H3 receptors.

The immunophilin FKBP12 functions as a common inhibitor of the TGF beta family type I receptors

The immunophilin FKBP12 is an evolutionarily conserved abundant protein; however, its physiological roles remain poorly defined. Here we report that FKBP12 is a common cytoplasmic interactor of TGF beta family type I receptors. FKBP12 binds to ligand-free TGF beta type I receptor, from which it is released upon a ligand-induced, type II receptor mediated phosphorylation of the type I receptor. Blocking FKBP12/type I receptor interaction with FK506 nonfunctional derivatives enhances the ligand activity, indicating that FKBP12 binding is inhibitory to the signaling pathways of the TGF beta family ligands. Overexpression of a myristylated FKBP12 in Mv1Lu cell specifically inhibits two separate pathways activated by TGF beta, and two point mutations on FKBP12 (G89P, I90K) abolish the inhibitory activity of FKBP12, suggesting that FKBP12 may dock a cytoplasmic protein to the type I receptors to inhibit TGF beta family mediated signaling.

Inhibitory effects of ONO-3708 and S-145 on shape change and aggregation of rabbit platelets induced by STA2

AIM

To study the mode of inhibition of ONO-3708 and S-145, 2 antagonists of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptors, against the rabbit platelet shape change and aggregation induced by stable analogue of TXA2 (STA2).

METHODS

The platelet shape change and aggregation were quantified by the light transmission through platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured by fluorescence and imaging.

RESULTS

(1) In PRP, STA2 (3 mumol.L-1)-induced aggregation was inhibited by egtazic acid 3 mmol.L-1, ONO-3708 300 mumol.L-1, and S-145 1 mumol.L-1 (P < 0.01), but not by indometacin (Ind) 3 mumol.L-1. The shape change induced by STA2 was inhibited only by S-145 in a concentration-dependent manner. S-145 1 and 3 mumol.L-1 were required to inhibit the shape change and aggregation. (2) The inhibitory effect of S-145, but not ONO-3708, was increased along with the prolongation of preincubation. (3) ONO-3708 lost the inhibitory effect on STA2-induced aggregation after washing, while the inhibitory effect of S-145 was enhanced by prolongation of preincubation and remained after washing. (4) STA2 3 mumol.L-1-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization was unaffected by Ind, partially reduced by ONO-3708 and egtazic acid 3 mmol.L-1 (P < 0.01), but completely inhibited by S-145 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

S-145 and ONO-3708 were bound to a different site of the TXA2 receptor.

[Advance of gene therapy for neurological diseases by direct in vivo gene transfer]

Gene therapy for neurological diseases is a rapidly expanding field in neurosciences. It has been demonstrated that some viral vectors from HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1), Ad (adenovirus) and AAV (adeno-associated virus) can transfer foreign genes into nondividing cell types (including neurons). In addition, physical/chemical methods are also used in direct in vivo gene transfer. The direct gene transfer techniques will open a new way to study neurophysiology, neuropathology and therapy for neurological diseases at molecular level. They will hopefully lead to surprising progress in gene therapy for neurological diseases.

Heterogeneity of human platelet density subpopulations in aggregation, secretion of ATP, and cytosolic-free calcium concentration

AIM

To investigate thrombin (500 U.L-1)-, ADP (0.1-30 mumol.L-1)-, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, 3 mumol.L-1)-induced aggregation, secretion of ATP and cytosolic-free calcium mobilization in density subpopulations of human washed platelets.

METHODS

Using Percoll discontinuous gradient.

RESULTS

The human platelets were separated into high density (HD), intermediate density (ID), and low density (LD) subpopulations, and their sizes were diminished with decreasing density (r = 0.978, P < 0.01). The magnitude of aggregations by thrombin, ADP, and 5-HT was more significant in HD platelets than that in LD platelets (P < 0.01). The amount of secretion of ATP induced by thrombin and ADP in HD platelets was also much higher than that in LD platelets (P < 0.01), except for 5-HT which did not cause the ensuring release reaction in any subpopulation of human platelets. Thrombin (1500 U.L-1)-, ADP (mumol.L-1)-, and 5-HT (3 mumol.L-1)-induced cytosolic-free calcium mobilization was evaluated as well. Results showed that the resting level of cytosolic-free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was the same in all subpopulations, about 80-90 nmol.L-1. However, the level of [Ca2+]i mobilization was entirely different, heightened with increasing density.

CONCLUSION

The function of HD platelets was much stronger and more active than that of LD platelets in human.

The p21(RAS) farnesyltransferase alpha subunit in TGF-beta and activin signaling

The alpha subunit of p21(RAS) farnesyltransferase (FNTA), which is also shared by geranylgeranyltransferase, was isolated as a specific cytoplasmic interactor of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and activin type I receptors with the use of the yeast two-hybrid system. FNTA interacts specifically with ligand-free TGF-beta type l receptor but is phosphorylated and released upon ligand binding. Furthermore, the release is dependent on the kinase activity of the TGF-beta type II receptor. Thus, the growth inhibitory and differentiative pathways activated by TGF-beta and activin involve novel mechanisms of serine-threonine receptor phosphorylation-dependent release of cytoplasmic interactors and regulation of the activation of small G proteins, such as p21(RAS).