Altered cardiac annexin mRNA and protein levels in the left ventricle of patients with end-stage heart failure

Annexins are a unique family of membrane-associated, Ca2+ and phospholipid-binding proteins found in various tissues. Among the 12 isoforms, Annexin II, V and VI exist in heart tissue in the highest amounts. Annexin VI has been shown to affect intracellular Ca2+ cycling and contractility in isolated cardiomyocytes. Annexin V is present in both cardiomyocytes and non-myocyte cell types in the heart and may play a role in the regulation of cellular ion fluxes, organization and secretion, while the cardiac effects of annexin II are unclear. To identify changes in annexin II, V and VI isoforms that might occur in human heart failure, we measured mRNA and protein levels of these three annexins in transplanted left ventricular tissue of 12 patients with end-stage congestive heart failure due to coronary artery disease (CAD, n=6) or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n=6) who underwent cardiac transplantation. Normal heart tissue (C, n=6) was used as a control. Northern blot analyses showed a significant decrease (61%) in annexin VI mRNA levels in heart failure patients compared with controls (1.08+/-0.16 v 2.79+/-0.20 A.U.C. unit, determined by laser densitometry, mean+/-s.e.). In contrast, we found a 67% increase (2. 32+/-0.27 v 3.88+/-0.29) in annexin II mRNA levels and a two-fold increase (1.00+/-0.24 v 2.21+/-0.29) in annexin V mRNA levels in cardiomyopathic hearts as compared to normal hearts. Western blot analyses demonstrated a corresponding decrease (46.1%) in annexin VI protein levels in the heart failure group as compared to controls (2. 63+/-0.22 v 4.88+/-0.52), while annexin II protein levels showed a significant 40.7% increase in patients with heart failure compared to those in normal hearts (5.08+/-0.67 v 3.61+/-0.32). Annexin V protein levels were also significantly increased (45%) in heart failure patients compared with normal (2.14+/-0.19 v 1.48+/-0.11). No difference in either annexins II, V or VI mRNA and protein levels were found between CAD and DCM patients. We conclude that human end-stage heart failure is associated with a down regulation of annexin VI and up regulation of annexin II and V proteins. Coordinate changes were observed in steady-state mRNA levels. These results suggest that these annexin isoforms may contribute to the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in the cardiomyopathic heart.

[Effects of stimulation at different areas of nucleus raphe dorsalis on genioglossus and diaphragm activities]

Effects of electrical and chemical stimulation of the dorsal and ventral areas of the nucleus raphe dorsalis (dNRD and vNRD) on genioglossus and diaphragm activities were observed in 48 urethane-anaesthetized and vagotomized rabbits. (1) Long train electrical stimulation at the dNRD facilitated genioglossus and diaphragm activities. (2) Long train electrical stimulation delivered to the vNRD excited genioglossus activity but inhibited diaphragm activity. (3) Effects of microinjection of glutamate at the dNRD and vNRD were similar to the effects of electrical stimulation. The above results suggest that excitation of nucleus raphe dorsalis (NRD) increases genioglossus activity and reduces upper airway resistance. The dNRD and vNRD play different roles in modulating diaphragm activity.

[The effect of hypertonic saline solution on the rheology after burn-blast combined injury]

To study the effect of hypertonic saline solution on the rheology and putative mechanism, we investigated the changes of plasma viscosity, blood viscosity and reduced viscosity in dogs treated with hypertonic saline solution after burn-blast combined injury and observed the effect of hypertonic saline solution therapy on the viscoelastic property of erythrocyte membranes measured by micropippette aspiration technique in rats with burn. The results showed that the blood viscosity and reduced viscosity increased significantly in dogs after injury, and plasma viscosity also increased significantly at 24 h after injury. Elastic moduli and viscous coefficients of erythrocyte membranes increased obviously in rats after burn. The hypertonic saline solution therapy could significantly improve blood viscosity and reduced viscosity, but it did not significantly improve elastic moduli and viscous coefficients of erythrocyte membranes. These suggested that the hardness of erythrocyte membranes increased, the deform property of erythrocyte membranes decreased, and the blood rheology became worse after burn blast combined injury. Hypertonic saline solution therapy could significantly improve the blood rheology. The effect did not bear a significant relationship with the change of single biomechanics property of erythrocyte membranes. It might be related with other factors.

[Diagnosis and treatment of blowout fracture of the orbit]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the diagnosis and treatment of blowout fracture of the orbit.

METHODS

78 cases with blowout fracture of the orbit seen in 20 years were retrospectively analyzed. In different years, different methods of examinations were used. There were 16 cases who had undertaken X-ray examinations, 31 cases, ultrasonographic examinations and 72 cases, CT.

RESULTS

The positive rate of the CT examinations with blowout fracture of the orbit was 100%, CT having the tendency to eventually replace the X-ray. Ultrasonography shows only changes of intraorbital tissue, providing an auxiliary method for diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

With the progress of modern photographic methods, blowout fracture of the orbit is known more deeply and the advance helps in the improvement of the treatment of the disease.

[Effect of electric field on erythrocyte sedimentation rate. VI--dependence of electric field pattern]

An automatic analyzer of RBC rheological parameters and a microscopic morphological observation technique were employed to investigate the effect of three electric field patterns on erythrocyte sedimentation and aggregation in a physiological saline solution and in autologous plasma, respectively. Experimental results indicate that in a physiological saline solution: 1) Erythrocytes present a lightly aggregation and settle faster by an alternative current electric field; 2) There exists no erythrocyte aggregation by a direct current electric field of constant current and the enhancement of erythrocyte sedimentation is caused only by the action of electric force; 3) Time courses of erythrocyte sedimentation fit well with an exponential type curve by a direct current electric field of constant voltage, and this exponential type sedimentation curve is not caused by erythrocyte aggregation but caused by the decrease of circuit current with time duration. Also shown by experimental results is that the above three electric field patterns all affect the erythrocyte sedimentation in antologous plasma in different contents, which predicts some change in erythrocyte aggregation behavior in autologous plasma by an external electric field.

[Component analysis on polysaccharides in exocarp of Ginkgo biloba]

This paper reports the content and component analysis on polysaccharides in exocarp of Ginkgo biloba. The results show that the content of total saccharides is 89.7%; content of polysaccharides is 84.6%; content of reductic saccharides is 5.1%; the polysaccharides are composed of glucose, fructose, galactose and rhamnose.

[A follow-up survey of results of lacrimal gland surgery of pleomorphic adenoma]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the causes of recurrence and malignant change of pleomorphic adenoma (benign mixed tumour) of lacrimal gland.

METHODS

42 cases with the adenoma were followed postoperatively, the follow-up periods ranging from 0.5 to 17.0 years.

RESULTS

In the follow-up, 34 cases had no recurrence or malignant change, and 8 cases had recurrences. Of the cases with recurrences, 7 cases had undergone several times of surgeries, because of incomplete resection of the tumor leading to recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The key points to obtain success of the surgery and to decrease the rate of recurrence are complete removal of the tumor in its capsule in the initial surgery, and avoidance of aspiration or biopsy made before the operation.

[Investigation on the viscoelastic properties of hepatocytes and their relavances to cytoskeleton structure]

Using micropipette aspiration technique, the authors investigated the viscoelastic properties of human fetal hepatocytes (HFH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. And further, the effects of two cytoskeleton interferents, cytochalasin D and colchicine on the viscoelastic properties of HFHs were investigated. The results showed: the elastic coefficients K1 and K2 of HCC cells were significantly higher than those of HFHs; the action of cytochalasin D led to an obvious decrease in elastic coefficients K1, K2 as well as the viscous coefficient mu of HFHs; under the action of colchicine, the K1 value of HFHs increased while the K2 and mu values decreased obviously or tended to decrease. A brief discussion was presented about these results.

[Photographic diagnosis for common intraorbital tumors]

OBJECTIVE

To compare and analyze the modern photographic methods used for localization and analysis of the nature of intraorbital tumors.

METHODS

B-scan, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to examine six types of common intraorbital tumor (20 cases for each type).

RESULTS

Each method can locate and show the nature of the lesions, and B-scan has a better value to display internal structure and dynamics of orbital lesions. CT can discover the lesions and exactly show their locations, while MRI is more valuable to display the optic nerve tumor and the extension of intraorbital tumor to extraorbital regions.

CONCLUSIONS

All the above methods can locate and show the nature of intraorbital tumors, and each has its own special defects and advantages which can be complementary to one another.

[Quadrant pattern visual evoked potential in normal eyes]

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to approach the difference in pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) among quadrants of the normal eye.

METHODS

Quadrant transient PVEP method was used to record quadrant PVEP for 70 eyes of 35 normal subjects.

RESULTS

The latency of P100 in lower temporal and lower nasal fields was significantly shorter than that in upper temporal and upper nasal fields; the amplitude of P100 in lower temporal and lower nasal fields was significantly higher than that in upper temporal and upper nasal fields. Generally, in lower field, the P100's latency is shorter and its amplitude higher.

CONCLUSION

The difference in P100 between upper and lower field of normal person is possibly related to the fact that the lower field is used more frequently than the upper in ordinary human or animal life, and to the differences in distribution of retinal ganglion cells and in retina-cortex pathway between the upper and lower retina.

[Orbital exenteration associated with cavity reconstruction]

OBJECTIVE

A surgery was designed for the cosmetic improvement after orbital exenteration.

METHODS

Exenteration associated with simultaneous or secondary orbital reconstruction was performed on 22 patients, including transplantation of temporalis muscle in 11 cases, temporoparietal fascia with vascular pedicle in 10 cases and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap in one case.

RESULTS

Except 7 patients who needed palpebral resection and orthopedic operation the second time, all of them were fitted well with ocular prostheses postoperatively and obtained satisfactory cosmetic results.

CONCLUSION

Among the three methods of orbital reconstruction, the temporoparietal fascia transplantation is the best.

Effects of hepatic stimulator substance, herbal medicine, selenium/vitamin E, and ciprofloxacin on cirrhosis in the rat

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Cirrhosis is a potentially lethal condition for which there is no proven effective therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of hepatic stimulator substance, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, selenium plus vitamin E, and ciprofloxacin treatment on biochemical and histological features of fibrosis in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)/ethanol-induced cirrhosis.

METHODS

One hundred twenty adult Wistar rats were divided into six study groups (20 rats/group): healthy controls, CCl4/ethanol-injured rats left untreated, and CCl4/ethanol-injured rats treated for 4 weeks with either hepatic stimulator substance, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, a combination of selenium plus vitamin E, or ciprofloxacin. After the 4-week treatment, rats were killed and the following parameters of hepatic fibrosis were determined: hepatic hydroxyproline and proline levels, serum hyaluronic acid concentrations, and histological staining of hepatic tissue.

RESULTS

Hepatic fibrosis was significantly improved in all four treated groups compared with the untreated CCl4/ethanol-injured controls. Improvements were most striking in the groups treated with traditional Chinese herbal medicine and ciprofloxacin.

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicate that hepatic stimulator substance, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, selenium plus vitamin E, and ciprofloxacin significantly decrease the amount of hepatic fibrosis caused by CCl4/ethanol injury in rats.

Natriuresis caused by blood volume expansion in dogs is not mediated by the renal nerves

The influence of renal denervation on the renal response to rapid blood volume expansion was investigated by measurement of urine volume, sodium and osmolar excretion rates, sodium p-aminohippurate and free water clearances, and systemic haemodynamic and plasma hormone (atrial natriuretic peptide, arginine vasopressin and plasma renin activity (PRA)) changes in ten control and ten renal-denervated chloralose-anaesthetized mongrel dogs. Following renal denervation, blood volume expansion caused a similar increase in sodium excretion to that in the control group. Renal denervation resulted in systemic vasodilatation and decreased PRA. During fluid loading the right atrial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were significantly higher in the control group. In the control group, volume expansion caused a large fall in PRA, whereas in the renal-denervated dogs, PRA remained suppressed. We conclude, from the fact that natriuresis is preserved after renal denervation, that this response is not mediated by a reflex with efferent limb in the renal nerves.

Annexin VI overexpression targeted to heart alters cardiomyocyte function in transgenic mice

Annexin VI is a member of a family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins that is expressed in many tissues, including the heart. It is a regulator of membrane-associated events, including the skeletal muscle ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel and the cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. The potential roles of annexin VI in Ca2+ signaling in cardiac myocytes were evaluated by targeting its overexpression to the hearts of transgenic mice. Expression of full-length human annexin VI cDNA was targeted to the heart using the alpha-myosin heavy chain gene promoter (Subramaniam, A., W. K. Jones, J. Gulick, S. Wert, J. Neumann, and J. Robbins. J. Biol. Chem. 266: 24613-24620, 1991). Five transgenic lines exhibited at least 10-fold overexpression of annexin VI protein in both atria and ventricles. Pathological evaluation indicated mice overexpressing annexin VI had enlarged dilated hearts, acute diffuse myocarditis, lymphocytic infiltration, moderate to severe fibrosis throughout the heart, and mild fibrosis around the pulmonary veins of the lungs. Contractile mechanics of cardiomyocytes isolated from hearts of transgenic animals showed frequency-dependent reduced percent shortening and decreased rates of contraction and relaxation compared with control animals. Cardiomyocytes isolated from transgenic animals had lower basal levels of intracellular free Ca2+ and a reduced rise in free Ca2+ following depolarization. After stimulation, intracellular free Ca2+ returned to basal levels faster in transgenic cells than in cells from control animals. These data demonstrate that the overexpression of annexin VI in the heart disrupts normal Ca2+ homeostasis and suggests that this dysfunction may be due to annexin VI regulation of pumps and/or exchangers in the membranes of cardiomyocytes.

[Projections from pontine pneumotaxic center to medullary Bötzinger complex in cats]

Experiments were done on 33 adults cats. After injection of WGA-HRP (5%, 30-60 nl) into the Bötzinger complex, labelled cells were observed in the lateral parabrachial nucleus and the Kölliker-Fuse nucleus. Injection into control sites failed to label the cells in the above two nuclei. Ninety-one respiratory related neurons recorded from the pneumotaxic center were tested by electrical stimulation of the Bötzinger complex. Thirteen neurons (14.3%, inspiratory 11, phase-spanning 2) could be antidromically activated. Results of the present study showed that neurons in the pneumotaxic center sent axons to the Bötzinger complex concerning respiratory control.

[Diagnosis and management of tumors with orbito-cranial access]

To identify the characteristics and extent of orbitocranial tumor for the selection of operative methods, 64 patients with the tumor were studied with clinical materials, primarily CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances. The lesions were found in the orbit, cranium and orbito-cranium boundary parts and their diagnoses in regard to localization and identification could be made. Based on the preoperative diagnosis of an orbito-cranial tumor, its location, character, secondary changes and operation(s) in the past, a surgical approach was designed. The resection of a tumor could be completed in once or in several times of operation. 64 operations were performed on 53 patients and other therapies were given to the other 11 patients. The operative methods included orbitotomy via anterior route, 21 times via lateral route and 30 times via transcranial route. The operative results suggest that the transcranial route be complicated and have more complications; preoperatively, the operative indication be strictly selected and intraoperatively, ophthalmologists closely cooperate with neurological surgeons.

[Detection of p53 mutation using PCR-SSCP silver staining method]

A simple and sensitive technique to detect point mutation of the p53 gene using silver staining method for single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSCP) is reported. In this study, the aberrations of the p53 gene (exon 6-8) in clinical specimens of primary cervical carcinoma were examined. Of 27 tumor tissues 2 samples showed mutations of p53 exon 7. Absence of abnormal bands in the p53 exon 6-8 in all ten normal cervical tissues. It appears that inactivation of p53 gene by point mutation is infrequent in clinical samples of human cervical carcinomas.

Immunization of mice with recombinant Sjc26GST induces a pronounced anti-fecundity effect after experimental infection with Chinese Schistosoma japonicum

We report the cloning, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), of a cDNA encoding a Schistosoma japonicum (Chinese) 26 kDa glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (Sjc26GST), expression of the cDNA, affinity purification of the recombinant GST and its vaccine efficacy in outbred NIH mice using Freund's as adjuvant. The most striking feature of the vaccination experiments was the pronounced reduction in the number of eggs in the livers and spleens of immunized mice. A relatively low but significant level of protection in terms of reduced worm viability against challenge infection was also observed. Further, the level of anti-Sjc26GST antibody in immunized mice was significantly higher than in control mice at week 6 post-challenge infection. These results closely mirror the protection conferred by immunization of animals with the 28 kDa GST of S. mansoni (Sm28) where a reduction in worm viability, worm fecundity and egg-hatching ability have been reported following challenge with S. mansoni. In terms of developing a vaccine against schistosomiasis japonica, immunization with Sjc26GST can provide two complementary goals in human or animal populations--some reduction in worm burden following exposure to infection or reinfection, and an anti-disease effect through reduction of pathology by a decrease in worm fecundity, with this direct effect also affecting the transmission of S. japonicum.

Observation on 108 normal ophthalmic arteries in 80 patients by digital subtraction angiography

By digital subtraction angiography (DSA), the authors made observations on 108 normal ophthalmic arteries in 80 patients with regard to the origins, courses, branching, morphology and anastomoses of the vessels. The merits and demerits of DSA in observing the ophthalmic artery were discussed.

[Expression of HPV16E6 gene and preparation of monoclonal antibody against the expression product]

The recombinant plasmid PAS1-HPV16E6 containing the HPV16E6 gene was expressed in E. coli AR120 under nalidixic acid induction. A 19KD expression protein was isolated, purified and identified. Mice were immunized with the purified E6 expression protein. A murine hybridoma, RAC6, was obtained by fusing splenic cells from an immunized BABL/c mouse with mouse myeloma cell line SP2/0-Ag14 cells, followed by screening in HAT medium, cloning and recloning in methyl cellulose. The hybridoma RAC6 stably produces specific monoclonal antibody against the E6 expression protein.