[Comparison between flexible laryngeal mask airway and reinforced tracheal tube used for lumbar vertebral surgery in prone position]

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the safety and feasibility of flexible laryngeal mask airway (FLMA) for lumbar vertebral surgery in prone position.

METHODS

In the study, 120 adult patients scheduled for lumbar vertebral surgery under intravenous general anesthesia were divided into group FLMA and reinforced tracheal tube (RTT) group at random. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were recorded at the beginning of anesthesia induction (T0) and on the time of artificial airway intubation (T1), 1 min after intubation (T2), extubation (T3), 1 min after extubation (T4) as well. The number and time required for intubation were recorded. Peak airway pressure (P_PEAK), airway sealing pressure (P_AS) in group FLMA and fiberoptic bronchoscopy scale (FBS) were recorded after artificial airway intubation, turned over into prone position and after the operation started, as well as on the time of 1 hour after the operation started, 2 hours after operation started and when the operation stopped. Finally, respiratory complications after extubation, including hypoxemia, laryngospasm, coughing, vomiting, hoarseness, and pharyngalgia, were observed and whether there was blood or sewage inside and outside the artificial airway was recorded.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the number and time required for intubation between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no difference in P_PEAK and FBS between the two groups, and also the same at the different time points in each group (P>0.05). P_AS in group FLMA was the same at the diverse time points during anesthesia (P>0.05) and always higher than P_PEAK in the perioperative period. In group FLMA, there was no difference in HR, SBP and DBP between the time points of T2 and T1, also of T4 and T3 (P>0.05). In group RTT, HR, SBP and DBP were significantly higher between the time points of T2 and T1 (P<0.01); SBP was significantly higher between the time points of T4 and T3 (P<0.01), DBP and HR were higher between the time points of T4 and T3 (P<0.05). SBP in group FLMA was significantly lower than in group RTT at T2 (P<0.01), HR and DBP were lower than those in group RTT simultaneously (P<0.05). On the time point of T4, SBP, DBP and HR in group FLMA were lower than those in group RTT (P<0.05). The incidence of coughing and pharyngalgia after extubation was significantly lower in group FLMA than in group RTT (P<0.01), with the incidence of hoarseness was lower in group FLMA than in group RTT (P<0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of hypoxemia, vomiting and blood seen outside the cuff between the two groups (P>0.05) while no laryngospasm and sewage seen outside the artificial airway in each group.

CONCLUSION

For suitable patients, FLMA can be used in mechanical ventilation forlumbar vertebral surgery in prone position with more stable circulation and less respiratory complications than RTT. Further clinical validation is needed for the safety of FLMA.

[Impact of dexmedetomidine-sevoflurane anesthesia on intraoperative wake-up test in children patients undergoing scoliosis surgery]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of 0.4 μg/(kg×h) dose of dexmedetomidine on intra-operative wake-up test in children patients undergoing scoliosis surgery.

METHODS

Sixty patients for posterior scoliosis correction (ASA I-II, aged 5-16 years) from March 2013 to April 2015 were enrolled in this prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study, The patients were randomly classified into two groups to receive dexmedetomidine (group RD, n=30) or saline solution (group R, n=30). In group RD, dexmedetomidine [0.4 μg/(kg×h)] was administered after tracheal intubation, while the equal volume saline solution was given instead in group R. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam, propofol, sufentanyl and cisatracurium, and anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane inhalation and a continuous intravenous infusion of remifentanil in the both groups.BIS (bispectral index, BIS) value was maintained at 40-60,and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was maintained at ≥ 60 mmHg before the wake-up test.When the wake-up test was performed, immediately the dexmedetomidine and remifentanil infusion were stopped, and the end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane was adjusted to 0. Mean arterial pressure, and heart rate (HR) were recorded before anesthesia and at 5-minute intervals during the wake-up test. The wake-up test time, arousal quality and sedation scores were recorded also.In addition, the data were also gathered on the dosage of ephedrine and atropine were used, as well as the intraoperative awareness in the patients who were followed up on the first day after the operation.

RESULTS

There were no differences between group RD and group R with regard to HR and MAP at getting into the operation room (t=-1.460, P=0.150;t =-1.015, P=0.315). In group RD, no evidence was found for a difference in HR and MAP at awakening up versus at getting into the operation room (t=0.974, P=0.340; t=-1.449, P=0.161), while in group R, an increase in HR and MAP occurred at awakening versus at getting into the operation room (t=-2.106, P=0.044; t=-2.352, P=0.026). There were no significant differences in sedation scores and wake-up test time between the two groups (t=1.986, P=0.052; t=0.392, P=0.697). The wake-up test quality was significantly better in group RD than in group R (t=-2.098,P=0.041). HR in group RD was significantly lower than that in group R at any time point during the wake-up test (P<0.05). Four patients had awareness occurrence during the operation in group R, and no awareness occurrence in group RD.

CONCLUSION

Dexmedetomidine, when administered at a rate of 0.4 μg/(kg×h) as an adjuvant of sevoflurane inhalational anesthesia, could improve the wake-up test quality, and maintain hemodynamic stability during scoliosis surgery.

[Effect of moluodan on gastric secretion in atrophic gastritis rats]

Objective: To investigate the effect of moluodan on gastric secretion and the underlying mechanism of moluodan in treating atrophic gastritis. Method: According to the random number table, 120 healthy male specific-pathogen-free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: control group, model group, moluodan low-dose group, and moluodan high-dose group, with 30 rats in each group. The control group was administered with normal saline 2 ml/d by gavage, the other three groups were administered with 2% sodium salicylate 1 ml/d, 20 mol/L sodium deoxycholate 1 ml/d, and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) 200 mg/kg for every 10 days. And 16 weeks later, the control group and model group were treated with normal saline 2 ml/d by gavage, meanwhile the moluodan low-dose group was treated with moluodan 0.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1and the high-dose group was treated with moluodan 1.8 g·kg^-1·d^-1, continuously for 12 weeks. Ten rats of each group were sacrificed at the end of 4, 8, 12 weeks. The effect of moluodan on atrophic gastritis was observed. The secretion function of gastric mucosa was assessed through detecting the numbers of gastrin-secreting cells (G cells) and somatostatin-secreting cell (D cells) in gastric mucosa using immunochemical staining, and measuring the serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and somatostatin (SS) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: After 8 weeks, the numbers of G and D cells in gastric mucosa in the moluodan high-dose group significantly increased compared with the model group[(0.617±0.114) vs (0.476±0.116) cells/mm², (0.504±0.084) vs (0.369±0.148) cells/mm^2, both P<0.05]; the numbers of G and D cells in gastric mucosa in the low-dose group increased after 12-week's treatment[(0.674±0.129) vs (0.528±0.103) cells/mm², (0.526±0.087) vs (0.371±0.058) cells/mm², both P<0.05]. The serum GAS levels increased markedly after 8 weeks in the moluodan high-dose group and after 12 weeks in the low-dose group[(1.313±0.080) ng/ml vs (0.964±0.080) ng/ml, (1.202±0.124) ng/ml vs (0.909±0.054) ng/ml, both P<0.01]; the serum SS levels in both high- and low-dose groups were significantly lower than in the model group after 8-week's treatment[(2.376±0.199) ng/ml, (2.238±0.155) ng/ml vs (2.605±0.183) ng/ml, both P<0.05]. Conclusion: Moluodan may treat atrophic gastritis by repairing G and D cells in gastric mucosa and thus increasing serum levels of GAS.

[Expression of mRNA and protein of Klotho gene in placental tissue of macrosomia and its relationship with birth weight of neonates]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the the expression of Klotho mRNA and protein in placenta of macrosomia and its relationship with the birth weight of neonates.

METHODS

The cases were from November 2014 to March 2015 in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, divided into 4 groups: the gestational diabetes with macrosomia group (GM), the gestational diabetes with normal birth weight group (GN), the normal pregnancy with macrosomia group (NM) and the normal pregnancy with normal birth weight group (NN). Klotho mRNA and protein expression in the placenta were detected by immunohistochemistry SP method, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blot, respectively, and were compared among the 4 groups.

RESULTS

(1) Immunohistochemical detection showed the positive rate of Klotho protein was significantly higher in the placenta of GM (93%,28/30) than in the GN (73%,22/30; P<0.05). The positive rate was significantly higher in the placenta of NM (97%,29/30) than in the NN (80%,24/30; P<0.05). (2) Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR showed the Klotho mRNA expression was significantly higher in the placenta of GM (4.3 ± 3.1) than in the GN (2.1 ± 2.4; P<0.05). The Klotho mRNA expression was also significantly higher in the placenta of NM (4.8± 3.4) than in the NN (2.6± 3.3; P<0.05). (3) Western blot showed the Klotho protein expression was significantly higher in the placenta of GM (1.27±0.90) than in the GN (0.64±0.24; P<0.05). It was also significantly higher in the placenta of NM (2.51±3.52) than in the NN (0.77±0.37; P<0.05). (4) There were no significant differences in the expression of Klotho mRNA and protein between GM and NM, GN and NN (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The up-regulation of Klotho gene may be associated with macrosomia. The relationship is not affected by the complication of gestational diabetes.

[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.

Analysis of an "off-ladder" allele at the Penta D short tandem repeat locus

Kinship testing of a father and his son from Guangxi, China, the location of the Zhuang minority people, was performed using the PowerPlex® 18D System with a short tandem repeat typing kit. The results indicated that both the father and his son had an off-ladder allele at the Penta D locus, with a genetic size larger than that of the maximal standard allelic ladder. To further identify this locus, monogenic amplification, gene cloning, and genetic sequencing were performed. Sequencing analysis demonstrated that the fragment size of the Penta D-OL locus was 469 bp and the core sequence was [AAAGA]21, also called Penta D-21. The rare Penta D-21 allele was found to be distributed among the Zhuang population from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China; therefore, this study improved the range of DNA data available for this locus and enhanced our ability for individual identification of gene loci.

Responses of microbial respiration to nitrogen addition in two alpine soils in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

An incubation experiment was conducted to examine the effects of nitrogen (N) application on microbial respiration in alpine meadow and alpine shrub soils from eastern of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Four different levels of nitrogen fertilization were selected in this study: control (CK, 0 mg N g(-1)), low (LN, 0.04 mg N g(-1)), medium (MN, 0.16 mg N g(-1)), high (HN, 0.4 mg N g(-1)). The results showed that microbial respiration was higher in alpine shrub than in alpine meadow soil, regardless of the rate of N application. Total microbial respiration overthe course of incubation period decreased in both soils with HN and MN treatments relative to control, but no significant differences were observed in soils with LN treatments. There was significantly positive correlation between total microbial respiration and dissolved organic carbon concentration in both soils. The results indicated that DOC may be a useful indicator of microbial respiration rate in alpine soils and the increasing N inputs could drive a negative feedback to global warming effects of carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere in alpine soils.

Paeonia (Paeoniaceae) expressed sequence tag-derived microsatellite markers transferred to Paeonia delavayi

Paeonia Franchet contains approximately 30 species of perennial herbs and is the only member of the family Paeoniaceae. Paeonia delavayi is an endangered ornamental plant that has a compound flower color and is endemic to southwest China. Its optimal habitats have been fragmented and its population size has greatly decreased as a result of human activities. Using a modified biotin-streptavidin capture method, 51 primer sets were identified in 3 wild populations of P. delavayi in this study. Ten primers displayed polymorphisms and 41 amplified no products, gave weak or indistinct bands, or gave larger sizes than expected. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 1 to 3, and the values for observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.000 to 0.571 and from 0.000 to 0.509, with averages of 0.113 and 0.295, respectively. These markers will be useful for further investigations in resource conservation, selection of parental types in cross-breeding, the molecular evolution of this species, and for related research in Paeonia species.

[Quantitative analysis of dendritic cell subsets in bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukemia]

In order to study the quantity of dendritic cell (DC) subsets of bone marrow in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the bone marrow aspirate were collected from 77 newly diagnosed AML patients and from 30 healthy persons. The quantity of DC subsets (myeloid dendritic cells, mDC and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, pDC) were detected by flow cytometry and analysed by 3-color and 4-color cytometric gate. Based on the conventional 3-color panel, mDC were identified by Lin-HLA-DR+CD11c+ and pDC were identified by Lin-HLA-DR+CD123+. Based on the 4-color panel, mDC were identified by Lin-HLA-DR+CD11c+ BDCA-1+ and pDC were identified by Lin-HLA-DR+CD123+BDCA-2+. The results showed that a reduction of mDC was found in 74.0% (57/77) and 58.4% (45/77) patients, a reduction of pDC was found in 90.9% (70/77) and 46.8% (36/77) patients respectively by 3-color and 4-color cytometric analysis. Meanwhile an expansion of mDC was showed in 19.5% (15/77) and 22.1% (17/77) patients, an expansion of pDC was showed in 1.3% (1/77) and 27.3% (21/77) patients respectively by 3-color and 4-color cytometric analysis. In subtypes of AML-M2, AML-M3 or AML-M4/5, 81.4%, 100% and 42.1% patients showed mDC decrease and 88.4%, 100% and 89.5% patients showed pDC decrease respectively by 4-color cytometric analysis. It is concluded that the 4-color cytometric gate is better method for detection of mDC and pDC from bone marrow of newly diagnosed AML patients as compared with 3-color cytometric gate, the majority of AML patients showed reduction of mDC and pDC. The percentages of patients with mDC normal or mDC increase in AML-M4/5 subtypes are more than that in AML-M2/3 subtypes, while the pDC does not show difference between AML subtypes.

[Identification and enumeration of dendritic cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow of healthy individuals]

The study was aimed to analyse and enumerate the dendritic cells (DC) subsets in peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) of healthy individuals in China by using 2 panel 4-color flow cytometry (FCM). The percentage and absolute number of Lin-HLA-DR+CD11chiBDCA1+ myeloid DC (mDC) and Lin-HLA-DR+CD123hiBDCA2+ plasmacytoid DC (pDC) were detected in 35 normal BM (NBM) and 29 normal peripheral blood (NPB), the results were compared with the Lin-HLA-DR+CD11chimDC and Lin-HLA-DR+CD123hi pDC obtained by 3-color FCM. The results indicated that both absolute count of DC subset and relative count of pDC in BM were decreased along with increase of age, the absolute count of DC subset in male BM was higher than that in femoral BM (p<0.05). The DC subsets in NBM and NPB were different whatever by 3 or 4-color cytometric analysis, there were more mDCs than pDCs in PB and the ratio of mDC to pDC was 2.70 and 2.31 respectively. In contrast, pDCs predominated in BM, the ratio of mDC to pDC in BM was 0.90 and 0.71 respectively. The quantity of DC subsets significantly correlated to both frequency (mDC r=0.86; pDC r=0.96, p<0.05) and absolute number (mDC r=0.95; pDC r=0.98, p<0.05) between 3 and 4-color cytometric analysis. The quantity of DC subsets in PB and BM were significantly different, counted by 3 and 4-color cytometric analysis except pDC in PB (p<0.001). The quantity of DC subsets were much higher by 3-color than that by 4-color analysis. Since some Lin-HLA-DR+CD11chimDC and Lin-HLA-DR+CD123hi pDC were BDCA1- and BDCA-2dim/- respectively, that more were in BM than in PB. It is concluded that the DC absolute enumeration is correlated with sample type, gender, age and total nucleated cells (p<0.05). 4-color antibody combination may help to identify the real DC subsets in BM. DC subsets in NBM and NPB are different, that more mDC are in PB whereas more pDC in BM.

[Expression of 5 genes in CD7 positive acute myeloid leukemia stem/progenitor cells from bone marrow]

This study was aimed to investigate abca5, mdr-1, kdr, dapk and irf-1 expressions in leukemia stem/progenitor cells (LSC) from CD7 positive acute myeloid leukemia, the expression of these 5 genes in mononuclear cells (MNC) from 15 normal bone marrow (NBM) and 16 AML patients bone marrow (AML BM) specimen were detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR). CD34(+)CD38(+) progenitor cells and CD34(+)CD38(-)Lin(-) stem cells were sorted by flow cytometry (FCM) from the MNCs of 10 NBM and 21 AML BM specimen. These 5 gene expressions in the sorted cells were detected by small amount cell RQ-PCR. The results showed that these 5 genes above mentioned all expressed in NBM-MNC, in which the expression levels of irf-1 and dapk were highest with the relative expression levels 4.08 and 3.86, the expression levels of abca 5 and mdr-1 were in the middle with the relative expression 0.49 and 0.84 respectively, the kdr expression was lowest with the relative expression level 0.02. In CD34(+)CD38(+) progenitor cells, the expression level of kdr increased dramatically (p < 0.05) while irf-1 and dapk dramatically decreased (p < 0.05). There was no obvious change of expression in the rest 2 genes. In CD34(+)CD38(-) stem cells the expression level of these 5 genes all increased nearly 2 times as much as that in CD34(+)CD38(+) progenitor cells, but kdr increased 3 times as much, and the increase of kdr and irf-1 expressions was of statistical significance (p < 0.05). Compared with the NBM, expression levels of 5 genes in AML-MNC decreased, and out of them abca 5, mdr-1, kdr and dapk were decreased most remarkably (p < 0.05). Comparison between AML CD34(+)CD38(+) cells and AML MNC showed that the expression level of irf-1 and dapk were decreased dramatically (p < 0.05) while the rest 3 genes increased their expression with statistical significance (p < 0.05). The expression levels of these 5 genes were higher in CD34(+)CD38(-) cells than those in CD34(+)CD38(+) stem cells, and the increase of kdr and irf-1 expressions showed statistical difference (p < 0.05). These 5 genes expression levels were all higher than those in CD34(+)CD38(+) cells whether in AML CD34(+)CD38(-)CD7(+) cells or CD34(+)CD38(-)CD7(-) cells. The increase of kdr expression in CD34(+)CD38(-)CD7(+) cells as well as kdr and irf-1 expressions in CD34(+)CD38(-)CD7(-) cells were all of statistical significance (p < 0.05). In conclusion the expression level of kdr in NBM was highest in stem cells while dapk and irf-1 were highest in differentiated cells. The expression levels of these 5 genes in CD34(+)CD38(-)Lin(-) stem cells were higher than those in CD34(+)CD38(+) progenitor cells. The gene expressions in AML CD34(+)CD38(-)CD7(+) cells and CD34(+)CD38(-)CD7(-) cells are in accordance with the characteristics of stem cells.

Detection of human cytomegalovirus in the atherosclerotic cerebral arteries in Han population in China

The association of atherosclerosis (AS) and Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection was studied. AS plays an important role in the brain stroke and HCMV infection is supposed to be involved in the process of atherosclerotic formation. The presence of HCMV DNA and antigens was examined in the internal carotid arteries collected from 35 patients with ischemic stroke and from 20 patients from the control population. All patients belonged to the ethnic Han population in China. Three methods, immunohistochemistry (IHC), hybridization in situ (HIS), and PCR were used to detect the HCMV immediate early (IE) and late (L) antigens as well as viral DNA in vessel walls. Levels of HCMV IE gene/protein were significantly higher in the stroke group than in control group detected by the three methods (IHC 34.3% vs. 10.0%; HIS 40.0% vs. 10.0; PCR 60.0% vs. 30.0%). However, there was no significant difference in the levels of HCMV L gene/protein between these two groups of patients (IHC 11.4% vs. 5.0%; HIS 11.4% vs. 10.0%; PCR 20.0% vs. 20.0%). We concluded that the presence of HCMV IE antigen and HCMV DNA in the vessel wall was associated with the pathological process of AS formation.

Herpes simplex virus 1 inhibits apoptosis through a caspase-3-dependent pathway in primary cultures of cortical neuronal cells of fetal mice

We could induce apoptosis in primary cultures of cortical neurons of fetal mice with ceramide or sorbitol. The induction was accompanied by an increase in caspase-3 (CAS-3) activity and depolarization of the inner mitochondrial membrane of neuronal cells which both could be reversed by Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection. We conclude tha HSV-1 infection inhibited the apoptosis, induced in neuronal cells by sorbitol or ceramide, via a CAS-dependent pathway.

[Effect of progesterone on cerebral cortex edema in rats exposed to focal ischemia/reperfusion]

AIM

To explore the effects of progesterone (PROG) on brain edema in rats.

METHODS

Forty eight rats were randomly divided into 6 groups that were ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and pretreatment, pre + posttreatment, posttreatment with PROG, and dexamethasone (DEXA) groups. The model of focal cerebral ischemia was established in rats by reversible inserting a nylon thread into the anterior cerebral artery. All rats were decapitated at 24 hours after the left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) respectively, and then brain H2O, Na+, K+, Ca2+ contents were determined.

RESULTS

Compared with the result in DMSO group, the content of water (P < 0.01), Na+ (P < 0.01), Ca2+ (P < 0.01) was significantly reduced, but K+ (P < 0.01) was obviously elevated in ischemia cortex in pretreatment group or pre + posttreatment group with PROG. There was also significant reduction in water (P < 0.05) and Na+ (P < 0.01), but was not significantly changed in Ca2+ (P > 0.05) and K+ (P > 0.05) in posttreatment group with PROG. The changes occurring in DEXA group were similar to those found in pretreatment group or pre + posttreatment group with PROG.

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment or pretreatment plus posttreatment with progesterone can significantly reduce brain edema in I/R.

[Studies on the synthesis and bioactivity of alpha-alkylaminobenzyl-phosphonic acids]

AIM

To search for some substituted benzyl phosphonic acids as leading compounds with inhibiting effect on osteoclast formation.

METHODS

Target compounds were prepared from aromatic aldehydes, primary amine and phosphorous acid using tetramethylenesulfone as solvent via Arbuzov type reaction. The effect on inhibiting the formation of osteoclast-like cells (OLC) of related compounds was studied by incubating the extract of rat femur marrow.

RESULTS

Ten compounds of alpha-alkylaminobenzyl phosphonic acids have been synthesized and identified by MS or 1HNMR analysis. Three (2, 8 and 9) of them were found to have notable effect on the inhibition of OLC formation (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Among the present substituted benzyl phosphonic acids, the increased aromaticity and hydrophobicity (such as compound 9) can remarkably enhance the ability to inhibit OLC formation.

Telomere erosion is independent of microsatellite instability but related to loss of heterozygosity in gastric cancer

AIM: To correlate the length of the telomere to microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of APC, MCC and DCC genes in gastric carcinomas.

METHODS: Telomeric restriction fragment (TRF) length of gastric cancer was measured with Southern blot. LOH of APC, MCC and DCC genes, microsatellite instability (MSI) and frameshift mutation of hMSH6, TGF-βRII and BAX genes were analyzed by PCR-based methods.

RESULTS: Sixty-eight cases of sporadic gastric carcinoma were studied for MSI using five microsatellite markers. MSI in at least one locus was detected in 17 (25%) of 68 tumors analyzed. Frameshift mutations of hMSH6, TGF-βRII and BAX were detected in 2, 6 and 3 of gastric carcinomas respectively showing high MSI (≥ 2 loci, n = 8), but none was found in those showing low MSI (only one locus, n = 9) or MSS (tumor lacking MSI or stable, n = 51). Thirty-five cases, including all high MSI and low MSI, were studied for TRF. The mean TRF length was not correlated with clinicopathological parameters. No association was observed between TRF length and MSI or frameshift mutation. On the contrary, LOH at the DCC locus was related to telomere shortening (P < 0.01). This tendency was also observed in APC and MCC genes, although there was no statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: The development of gastric cancer can arise through two different genetic pathways. In high MSI gastric cancers, defective mismatch repair allows mutations to accumulate and generate the high MSI phenotype. In gastric cancers showing either low MSI or MSS, multiple deletions may represent the LOH pathway. Telomere erosion is independent of high MSI phenotype but related to the LOH pathway in gastric cancer.

[Determination of the pKa value of icariin and its content in the Chinese herb medicine epimedium grandiflorum morr. by capillary electrophoresis]

Knowledge of dissociation constants is important for prediction and understanding the migration behavior of analytes in capillary electrophoresis. Icariin is the active component of the Chinese herb medicine Epimedium grandiflorum Morr.. In order to determine the dissociation constant of icariin and to show many important pharmacology activities, a CZE method has been used to determine the ion mobility (mu A-) and the pKa value of icariin based on the non-linear relation between mu eff and [H+] and the linear relation between the reciprocal of effective mobility of the solute (1/mu eff) and the [H+] of the buffer solution. In addition, the change of pKa of icariin with the increase of ethanol concentration in the buffer was also investigated. Under the buffer condition of 24 mmol/L phosphate + 30% ethanol, the content of the active component icariin in Chinese herb Epimedium grandiflorum Morr. was quantitatively determined. The linear correlation equation was Y = 6.96 x 10(-3) + 17.0X, and the linear range is 0.032 g/L-0.354 g/L.

Prolactin concurrently activates src-PLD and JAK/Stat signaling pathways to induce proliferation while promoting differentiation in embryonic astrocytes

In normal development, embryonic astrocytes progress through their cell lineage by acquiring differentiation, by apoptosis, and by proliferation. In this study, we show that embryonic astrocytes may maintain and make gains in differentiation as they simultaneously progress through one cell cycle when induced by prolactin (PRL). Prolactin induced the majority of astrocytes to incorporate bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) with a four-fold increase over controls after 18 h of exposure. Investigating possible mitogenic signaling pathways we show for the first time that prolactin is coupled to a sustained phospholipase D (PLD) activation, with an efficacy similar to the phorbol ester and astrocytic mitogen 12-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Both cyclosporine and suramin abolished this activation. Staurosporine and calphostin C also inhibited the PRL effect by 50%, consistent with involvement of protein kinase C-(PKC)-alpha, the major PKC isoform in astrocytes. Genistein and PP1 blocked the activation indicating additional regulation by cytosolic tyrosine kinases. This profile of PLD activation was suggestive of a PLD I isoform and a mitogenic response. Upon completion of the cell cycle, analysis of glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin abundance, and glutamine synthetase (GS) activity showed that astrocytes had gained in expression of differentiation markers. Moreover, the intensity of GFAP immunofluorescence was greater per cell, as was the length of the cell processes. In exploring the signaling for prolactin-induced differentiation we found that prolactin activated the tyrosine kinase Janus kinase (JAK) 2 and significantly stimulated tyrosine, phosphorylation of the prolactin receptor. Stat 1 and 3 were also activated presumably downstream to JAK2 activation. A rapid translocation of the cytosolic Stats over the nucleus was seen in nearly every astrocyte corresponding well with the gains in GFAP per cell. The Stats translocation did not depend on MEK-ERK inhibition by PD98059, inhibition of p38 by 1 microm SB203580, or Src kinase family inhibition by PP1. Our results demonstrate the ability of PRL to concurrently induce activation of PLD, a mitogenic signaling pathway in astrocytes, and prolonged stimulation of Stat1, compatible with the increased GFAP upregulation and cell differentiation. Considered together this data may provide an explanation on the fast gain in both numbers and differentiation in the astrocytic population during development (HD 09402, CRF).

[Determination of the active components in Chinese herb Aloe vera L. var. chinensis (Haw.) Berger by capillary zone electrophoresis]

It has been proved that the Chinese herb Aloe vera L. var. chinensis (Haw.) Berger as well as its active components showed many important pharmacology activities. In order to find an easy and low-cost method to control the quality of the herb, a CZE method for the determination of the active components aloin and aloe-emodin in Aloe vera L. var. chinensis (Haw.) Berger was developed in this work. Under the buffer conditions of 24 mmol/L phosphate (pH 10.52), applied voltage of 15 kV and detector wavelength of 254 nm, baseline separation of the active compounds in Aloe vera L. var. chinensis (Haw.) Berger was achieved and the active components were quantitatively analyzed. The linear calibration equations of the two components are: Y= -0.140 + 57.2X (r = 0.997) for aloin and Y = -0.393 + 1.08 x 10(2) X (r = 0.999) for aloe-emodin respectively. In addition, the effects of buffer pH value and organic modifier on the migration behavior of the solutes were also investigated.