Annexin A5 promotes macrophage activation and contributes to pulmonary fibrosis induced by silica particles

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the contributions and underlying molecular mechanisms of annexin A5 toward silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

METHODS

Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups and instilled intratracheally with silica, saline, or air. Mice were euthanized at 3, 7, 14, or 28 days following treatment. Annexin A5 levels in serum and lung tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) assays or Western blots. The association of annexin A5 levels with silica-induced lung fibrosis was further investigated in the macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. Following exposure of these cells to silica at a concentration of 200 μg/ml for 6 or 12 h, the expression levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), interleukin 1α (IL-1α), Fas ligand (FasL), and their downstream targets were evaluated by Western blots. Furthermore, annexin A5 and FasL were knocked down by small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) and TGF-β1 secretion into the cell culture medium was measured by ELISA assays or Western blots.

RESULTS

Mice treated with silica demonstrated lung fibrosis at 28 days following exposure, whereas, in controls, only mild and transient inflammation was evident at day 3 and day 7 postinstillation and was not present at day 14. Furthermore, silica-exposed mice exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) elevated levels of annexin A5 in serum and lung tissues, relative to control groups. Consistent with these findings, silica exposure of RAW264.7 cells for 6 or 12 h, led to an annexin A5-dependent increase in the expression levels of TGF-β1, IL-1α, FasL, and their downstream target molecules. These silica-induced changes were reversed by siRNA-mediated knockdown of annexin A5, but downregulation of FasL led to increased annexin A5 expression and reduced levels of TGF-β1, IL-1α, and FasL downstream target molecules.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings define a role of annexin A5 in promoting macrophage activation via Fas/FasL pathways in silica-induced lung fibrosis.

Core-shell hydrogel beads with extracellular matrix for tumor spheroid formation

Creating multicellular tumor spheroids is critical for characterizing anticancer treatments since they may provide a better model of the tumor than conventional monolayer culture. Moreover, tumor cell interaction with the extracellular matrix can determine cell organization and behavior. In this work, a microfluidic system was used to form cell-laden core-shell beads which incorporate elements of the extracellular matrix and support the formation of multicellular spheroids. The bead core (comprising a mixture of alginate, collagen, and reconstituted basement membrane, with gelation by temperature control) and shell (comprising alginate hydrogel, with gelation by ionic crosslinking) were simultaneously formed through flow focusing using a cooled flow path into the microfluidic chip. During droplet gelation, the alginate acts as a fast-gelling shell which aids in preventing droplet coalescence and in maintaining spherical droplet geometry during the slower gelation of the collagen and reconstituted basement membrane components as the beads warm up. After droplet gelation, the encapsulated MCF-7 cells proliferated to form uniform spheroids when the beads contained all three components: alginate, collagen, and reconstituted basement membrane. The dose-dependent response of the MCF-7 cell tumor spheroids to two anticancer drugs, docetaxel and tamoxifen, was compared to conventional monolayer culture.

Differential diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour and low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma: two case reports with a literature review

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) and low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) have similar morpho logical and immunophenotypic features, but LGMS is more malignant than IMT and the treatment requires a wider surgical margin plus post-operative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. To date, only 28 cases of IMT and two cases of LGMS have been reported in the laryngopharynx. Recent studies have suggested that anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and cytokeratin are important markers for differentiating between the two tumours. Here, two cases involving different myofibroblastic tumours of the larynx are reported. Based on the histological and immunohistochemical results, case 1 was diagnosed as IMT involving the right arytenoepiglottic fold, while case 2 was diagnosed as LGMS involving the epiglottic-glossal surface. There was no recurrence or metastasis in either case after post-operative follow-up (12 and 14 months, respectively). It is difficult to distinguish IMT from LGMS; both morphological and immunohistological analyses are required.

Interplay of dopant, defects and electronic structure in driving ferromagnetism in Co-doped oxides: TiO(2), CeO(2) and ZnO

A comprehensive study of the defects and impurity (Co)-driven ferromagnetism is undertaken in the oxide semiconductors: TiO(2), ZnO and CeO(2). The effect of magnetic (Co(2+)) and non-magnetic (Cu(2+)) impurities in conjunction with defects, such as oxygen vacancies (V(o)), have been thoroughly investigated. Analyses of the x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data reveal the incorporation of cobalt in the lattice, with no signature of cobalt segregation. It is shown that oxygen vacancies are necessary for the ferromagnetic coupling in the Co-doped oxides mentioned above. The possible exchange mechanisms responsible for the ferromagnetism are discussed in light of the energy levels of dopants in the host oxides. In addition, Co and Cu co-doped TiO(2) samples are studied in order to understand the role of point defects in establishing room temperature ferromagnetism. The parameters calculated from the bound magnetic polaron (BMP) and Jorgensen's optical electronegativity models offer a satisfactory explanation of the defect-driven ferromagnetism in the doped/co-doped samples.

Patterns of expression and function of the p75(NGFR) protein in pancreatic cancer cells and tumours

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS

Pancreatic carcinoma is one of the most aggressive human malignancies. The aggressive and highly metastatic behaviour of pancreatic carcinoma may partly be attributable to the autocrine and/or paracrine interactions involving altered expression of neurotrophin growth factors and their corresponding receptors. The aim of the present study is to investigate the expression pattern and function of the p75(NGFR) protein in pancreatic cancer cell lines and tumours to explain the phenomenon of perineural invasion in pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

The expression of p75(NGFR) in 137 pancreatic adenocarcinoma samples and the corresponding adjacent pancreatic samples was examined immunohistochemically using the EnVision Plus System. Then we examined the in vitro chemotaxis behaviour of cancer cells transfected with p75(NGFR) plasmid to nerve growth factor (NGF).

RESULTS

Immunostaining for p75(NGFR) was weak or absent in both normal pancreata and pancreatic carcinoma tissues; however, the immunostaining was relatively weaker in the pancreatic carcinoma tissues than in the normal pancreata. It is interesting to note that p75(NGFR) expression in the cancer tissues was positively correlated with the degree of perineural invasion (chi(2)=32.94, P<0.01). The chemotaxis ability of the p75(NGFR)-transfected pancreatic cancer cells to NGF was significantly stronger than that of the non-transfected or vacant vector transfected cells (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that p75(NGFR) expression may be involved in the perineural invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, and the mechanism might be through mediating the chemoattraction of cancer cells for neural tissues.

Effect of Nb and Sc doping on the phase transformation of sol-gel processed TiO2 nanoparticles

Nb and Sc doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via sol-gel technique. Dopant concentration of each element was varied from 0.5 to 1.5 atomic%. The effect of metal ion doping and calcination temperatures on anatase to rutile phase transformation has been investigated. Samples were analyzed by various analytical methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). XRD analyses showed that Nb and Sc doped samples calcined at 300 degrees C and 350 degrees C, respectively, were crystalline and had an anatase structure. Results showed that anatase was stable up to 700 degrees C annealing temperature for samples doped with 0.5 atomic% Nb. There was a sharp transition from anatase to rutile phase above 700 degrees C and complete rutile structure was obtained at 750 degrees C. However, the transformation from anatase to rutile was not so sharp in samples doped with 1.0 atomic% and 1.5 atomic% Nb. Results indicated that higher concentration of Nb helps to stabilize the anatase phase. For samples doped with 0.5 atomic% Sc, anatase phase is stable up to 650 degrees C. Transformation from anatase to rutile starts at temperature above 650 degrees C and 100% rutile phase was obtained at 800 degrees C while for samples doped with 1.0 atomic% and 1.5 atomic% Sc, the complete transformation from anatase to rutile takes place at an even higher temperature. Results indicate that increasing the calcination time from 0.5 to 2.0 hours at 500 degrees C does not affect the stability of anatase phase. However, TEM and XRD data showed that the increase in the annealing time leads to an increase in particles size. The rutile to anatase concentration ratio increased with temperature above the phase transformation temperature. The activation energy for the phase transformation from anatase to rutile for doped and undoped samples was also measured. There was a general rise in the activation energy with increasing dopant concentration.

Mechanical shear wave induced by piezoelectric ceramics for magnetic resonance elastography

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a noninvasive technique to measure elasticity of tissues in vivo. For MRE, an additional actuator is needed to be mounted on an observed object, and to excite the object. In this paper, an experiment is set to obtain MR mechanical shear wave images. A novel actuator is proposed to generate mechanical wave propagating inside a gel phantom. The actuator is made of piezoelectric ceramics, and is fixed on a plexiglass bracket. Both of the gel phantom and the actuator are put into a head coil in the scanner's bore. The actuator works synchronously with an imaging sequence running on the scanner. The sequence is modified from a FLASH sequence, into a motion-sensitizing phase-contrast sequence, for shear wave imaging. Wave images are presented to show the effect of those factors, such as the stiffness of the phantoms, the frequency of the actuator, the parameters of the motion-sensitizing gradient, and the oscillation of the patient bed.

Comparative study of barnidipine and felodipine in Chinese patients with essential hypertension

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of barnidipine for the treatment of mild-to-moderate essential hypertension in Chinese patients. A total of 131 patients were randomized to receive either barnidipine (10 -15 mg) or felodipine (5 - 10 mg) once daily for 4 weeks. Both drugs reduced blood pressure significantly, with > or = 87% of patients obtaining a marked or moderate effect. The mean +/- SD reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 19.2 +/- 13.6 and 14.4 +/- 7.0 mmHg, respectively, for barnidipine treatment, and 20.3 +/- 11.3 and 14.7 +/- 7.7 mmHg, respectively, for felodipine treatment. There were no significant differences between the two drugs in terms of anti-hypertensive effect, heart rate, laboratory test results or incidence of adverse events. More patients taking felodipine experienced palpitations, but this difference was not statistically significant. Barnidipine is as efficacious and safe as felodipine in the treatment of essential hypertension in Chinese patients.

Study of Nd3+, Pd2+, Pt4+, and Fe3+ dopant effect on photoreactivity of TiO2 nanoparticles

The metallorganic chemical vapor deposition method was successfully used to synthesize pure TiO(2) and Nd(3+)-, Pd(2+)-, Pt(4+)-, and Fe(3+)-doped TiO(2) nanoparticles. Polycrystalline TiO(2) structure was verified with x-ray diffraction, which showed typical characteristic anatase reflections without any separate dopant-related peaks. Transmission electron microscopy observations confirmed the existence of homogeneously distributed 22 +/- 3 nm TiO(2) nanoparticles. The particle size remained the same for the doped samples. The doping level of transition metals was kept at approximately 1 atomic percent, which was determined by x-ray photoelectron spectra and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The effects of different types of dopants on the photocatalytic activity were revealed by the degradation of 2-chlorophenols with an UV light source. The photocatalytic efficiency was remarkably enhanced by the introduction of Pd(2+) and Nd(3+). Nd(3+)-doped TiO(2) showed the largest enhancement. However, Pt(4+) changed the 2-chlorophenol degradation rate only slightly, and Fe(3+) was detrimental to this process. These effects were related to the position of the dopants in the nanoparticles and the difference in their ionic radii with respect to that of Ti(4+).

[Construction of membrane-anchored interleukin-6 receptor beta subunit mutant and its effect on IL-6 signal transduction]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the membrane-anchored gp130 mutant containing the second and the third fibronectin type III modules of the extracellular region could still transduce IL-6 signal.

METHOD

The membrane-anchored gp130 mutant cDNA was amplified by the overlap extension PCR and inserted into the mammalian expression vector pRc/RSV. The mutant was proved to be effectively expressed in SKO-007 cells and Jurkat cells by dot blot hybridization. The mutant's effects on IL-6 signaling in these two kinds of cells were detected by electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA).

RESULTS

In SKO-007 cells, the mutant could enhance the activated APRF, but the effect was not as strong as that of wide-type gp130. IL-6 could not activate nuclear factors in Jurkat cells. After the expression vectors pRc/RSVgp130 and pRc/RSV were transfected into Jurkat cells, IL-6 could activate APRF, but could not do NF-IL6. Similar to the results in SKO-007 cells, the effects of the mutant was also weaker than that of wild-type gp130.

CONCLUSION

Although the mutant could still transduce IL-6 signal, it is not as efficiently as the wild-type gp130. It suggested that the Ig-like domain of gp130 also played an important role in IL-6 signal transduction.

[The expression of CD15 mRNA CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA in breast cancer and their clinical significance]

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship of the expression of CD15 mRNA and its protein, CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA with the clinical pathology parameter and prognosis of breast cancer, and to investigate the correlation of the expression of CD15 mRNA with CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA.

METHODS

Catalyzed signal amplification (CSA) method of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of CD15 mRNA and its protein, CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA in 94 cases of breast cancer.

RESULTS

The overexpression of CD15 mRNA and its protein and CD44v6 mRNA and the low expression nm23H1 mRNA were correlated with the grading, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, recurrence and prognosis of breast cancer. Patients who had overexpression of CD15 mRNA and CD44v6 mRNA and low expression of nm23H1 mRNA had a higher lymph node metastatic rate and a lower survival rate.

CONCLUSION

The expression of CD15 mRNA has a synergistic action in positive and negative regulation with that of CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA. Combining detection of the expression of these three mRNA is a reliable index to evaluate the metastasis, recurrence and prognosis of breast cancer.

[The spectra and thermodynamics of axial coordination reaction of tailed valine tetraphenylporphintozinc with pyrimidine]

The electronic absorption spectra and thermodynamics of axial coordination reaction of 5-(4-valine butoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tri(4-chlorophenyl)porphintozinc with pyrimidine in CHCl3 were studied. Coordination numbers and equilibrium constants of axial coordination reaction were measured by visible spectra techniques. The changes of standard molar enthalpies and standard molar entropies of reaction were obtained from the plots of ln beta vs 1/T. The influence of temperature on the axial reaction was discussed.

[Clinical and histopathological studies of melanocytoma of the optic disc]

OBJECTIVE

To examine the clinical features that may be useful in determining the malignant transformation of a melanocytoma of the optic disc.

METHODS

The clinical documentation of 10 cases, including visual acuity, visual field, fundus findings and fluorescein angiogram were analyzed retrospectively. Three of them undergone histopathologic examinations.

RESULTS

A benign melanocytoma may have some degree of decreased visual acuity, progressive nerve fiber bundle defect, certain amount of pigment dispersion into the vitreous, slight macular exudation and extension of the tumor tissue into the peripapillary area of the retina.

CONCLUSION

The progression of the associated clinical symptoms and signs appears to be not necessarily indicative of a malignant transformation of the benign disease unless they are associated with rapid enlargement of the tumor mass as well as marked pigmentary changes of the tumor surface.

A feasible and effective technique for the detection of Schistosoma japonicum cercaria-infested water

OBJECTIVE

To develop a new technique for detecting Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) cercariae so as to predict the distribution of area with high transmission potential and to control acute infection of schistosoma.

METHODS

A C-6 film was established and used to adhere the cercariae on water surface and compared with a few other conventional detecting techniques.

RESULTS

The average rate of the cercaria-recovery was 40% in laboratory and field using C-6 film, which was 20 times higher than that of traditional nylon-tissue adsorbing and precipitating method. Either in some areas where oncomelania were present or in some places where the snail had been under control, the technique could detect the cercariae.

CONCLUSION

The technique can be characterized by a feasible, economical, promptly accessible method, especially for field application.

[The applied anatomy and measure of nasolacrimal duct]

OBJECTIVE

To know the anatomy of nasolacrimal duct.

METHOD

80 half-skulls of chinese adult were used to observe shapes of the orifice.

RESULT

Five shapes of the orifice were found. Slit-shape was the most in all shapes. 73 nasolacrimal ducts and situation of orifices have been measured with results as follows: (1) The nasolacrimal duct length is 14.14 mm (mean value); (2) The distance from the inferior margin of the anterior nostril to the anterior margin of the orifice (D.N.O.) is 29.00 mm (mean value); (3) The distance from the anterior attachment of the inferior turbinate to the anterior margin of the orifice is 11.70 mm (mean value); (4) The distance from the inferior margin of the anterior nostril to the anterior attachment of the inferior turbinate (D.N.T) is 18.30 mm (mean value). With analysis of linear regression, the relationship between the "D.N.T." and the nasolacrimal duct length, the "D.N.T." and the "D.N.O." is positive linear correlation respectively, "D.N.T." has been able to be measured easily, so the nasolacrimal duct length and the situation of the orifice have been recognized.

CONCLUSION

D.N.T. may be used in clinical teaching and researching work.

Voltage-dependent ion channel formation by rigid rod-shaped polyols in planar lipid bilayers

In this Letter, we describe the appearance of large, voltage-dependent currents in BLM induced by rigid rod-shaped polyols that function without charge and permanent dipole moment. The capacity of these symmetrical, nonpeptide models to form either short-living nanopores or small ion channels is shown to depend critically on the length of rigid-rod scaffold as well as the nature of the lateral side chains.

Effects of dofetilide, a class III antiarrhythmic drug, on various ventricular arrhythmias in dogs

Dofetilide, a new class III antiarrhythmic agent, was tested in various kinds of canine ventricular arrhythmias to compare its effects with those of other class III agents. Ventricular arrhythmia models used were induced by two-stage coronary ligation, digitalis, epinephrine, coronary ligation and reperfusion, and programmed electrical stimulation (PES). Dofetilide (100 micrograms/kg intravenously) did not suppress automaticity arrhythmias induced by two-stage coronary ligation and epinephrine or the coronary ligation and reperfusion arrhythmias, but suppressed the reentry arrhythmia induced by PES in dogs with old myocardial infarction (MI). This effect was associated with a prolongation of QT interval. Dofetilide also showed antiarrhythmic effect in some dogs with digitalis arrhythmia. Dofetilide increased QT interval and showed negative chronotropic effect like that of other class III drugs, but was different in antiarrhythmic profiles from those of other class III agents such as D-sotalol, E-4031, and MS-551 in that it did not prevent the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) immediately after coronary reperfusion and had some antiarrhythmic effects on digitalis arrhythmia.

Effects of the antihypoxic and neuroprotective drug, lubeluzole, on repolarization phase of canine heart assessed by monophasic action potential recording

The cardiovascular effects of the antihypoxic and neuroprotective drug, lubeluzole, were investigated using beagle dogs anesthetized with halothane. Endocardial-contact electrode catheter was used for continuous monitoring of monophasic action potential (MAP), which could provide a precise information of repolarization phase. Intravenous administration of an efficacious dose of lubeluzole (0.63 mg/kg, n = 6) slightly decreased both the heart rate and the blood pressure. It did not change PQ interval and QRS width, while it significantly prolonged QT interval, corrected QT (QTc) and the duration of the MAP during the observation period over 60 min. The effects of drug on repolarization phase were late-onset and long-lasting compared with the time course of plasma drug concentrations, which changed as predicted by the two-compartment theory of pharmacokinetics. Additional injection of lubeluzole (2.5 mg/kg, n = 6) showed qualitatively similar changes to those of lower dose, and did not induce the cardiovascular collapse in any dog. Neither afterdepolarization nor ventricular escaped beat was detected during the observation period. The drug concentration in cardiac tissue was correlated linearly with the plasma drug concentration at 60 min after the second drug administration. These results indicate that lubeluzole exerts only minor cardiovascular effects except the prolongation of the repolarization period. The monitoring of plasma drug concentration may be helpful to estimate the steady-state distribution of drug to the heart, but less helpful to predict the QT prolongation. In future clinical trials, care must be taken with patients, especially those at risk to have prolonged repolarization.