Evaluation of the predictors of postoperative aggravation of shoulder imbalance in severe and rigid thoracic or thoracolumbar scoliosis

OBJECTIVE

To study the predictors of postoperative aggravation of shoulder imbalance in severe and rigid thoracic or thoracolumbar scoliosis.

METHODS

In this study, 49 patients with severe and rigid thoracic or thoracolumbar scoliosis were analyzed retrospectively. The patients underwent whole-spine anteroposterior and lateral radiography preoperatively and postoperatively. On the radiographs, we measured parameters, including T1 tilt, radiographic shoulder height (RSH), proximal curve, middle curve, distal curve, apical vertebral translation (AVT) of the middle curve, thoracic trunk shift (TTS), coronal balance, and sagittal balance. We regarded RSH and T1 tilt as postoperative shoulder balance parameters and divided the patients into improved and aggravated groups of shoulder imbalance. Univariate analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used in the statistical analyses.

RESULTS

The RSH was -17.01 ± 21.85 mm before surgery and 4.76 ± 18.11 mm at follow-up. The T1 tilt angle was -10.20° ± 19.53° before surgery and -2.72° ± 13.48° at follow-up. The results of the univariate analysis suggest that preoperative RSH and proximal to middle curve change ratio were significantly higher in the patients in the improved RSH group (p < 0.01). In addition, preoperative RSH, preoperative T1 tilt, and apical vertebral translation of the middle curve were significantly higher, and preoperative proximal curve, postoperative proximal curve, and preoperative distal curve were significantly lower in the patients with improved T1 tilt group (p < 0.01). In a binary logistic regression analysis, preoperative RSH [B = -0.120, odds ratio (OR) = 0.887, p = 0.006] was found to be an independent predictor of postoperative aggravation of RSH. Similarly, preoperative T1 tilt (B = -0.488, OR = 0.614, p = 0.001) was found to be an independent predictor of postoperative aggravation of T1 tilt. Moreover, the relationship between changes in RSH and T1 tilt was either concordant or discordant.

CONCLUSION

Several radiographic parameters were found to affect postoperative aggravation of RSH and T1 tilt. In particular, preoperative RSH and T1 tilt were found to be independent predictive factors of postoperative aggravation of RSH and T1 tilt, respectively.

TNF-α mutation affects the gene expression profiles of patients with multiple trauma

Multiple trauma can induce sepsis and organ failure, even threaten people’s lives. To further study the mechanisms of multiple trauma, we analyzed microarray of GSE5760. GSE5760 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus including a total of 58 peripheral blood transcriptome from patients without (WT, n = 30) and carrying (MUT, n = 28) the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) rs1800629 A variant. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using the limma package in R and the Benjamin and Hochberg method in a multi-test package. Then, functional enrichment analysis of DEGs was performed. Also, transcription factors significantly related to DEGs were searched using WebGestalt and interaction network of transcription factors and DEGs were constructed using STRING online software. Furthermore, pathway enrichment analysis for the DEGs in the interaction network was conducted using KO-Based Annotation System (KOBAS). We screened 39 DEGs including 27 upregulated and 12 downregulated genes. The enriched functions were associated with biological process (BP) (such as response to hypoxia, P value = 0.039803), cell components (CC) (such as mitochondrial part, P value = 0.043857), and molecular function (MF) (such as structural constituent of ribosome, P value = 0.008735). Besides, RPS7 and RPL17 were associated with ribosome and participated in ribosome pathway. PPP2R2B was related to mitochondrion. KCNMA1, ALAS2 and SOCS3 were associated with hypoxia. Moreover, transcription factors of LEF1, CHX10, ELK1, SP1, and MAZ were significantly related to DEGs. RPS7, RPL17, PPP2R2B, KCNMA1, ALAS2, and SOCS3 might relate to multiple trauma. And TNF-α mutation could cause sepsis in patients with multiple trauma by changing the expression of these genes.

Type II diabetes patients with proteinuria and the recovery of their metabolic parameters

OBJECTIVE

To provide reasonable guidelines for type II diabetes patients with proteinuria to recover their metabolic parameters.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected groups of type 2 diabetic patients. Hypoglycemic and antihypertensive drug use was recorded. Certain physical examinations were conducted including routine urine test, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), metabolic parameters of blood glucose and lipid, and other biochemical indicators. Medication and metabolic indicators were compared between the groups based on the seriousness of the proteinuria.

RESULTS

A total of 923 cases were selected for this study, with an average age of 63 years. Based on the proteinuria contents, the cases were divided into three groups of proteinuria negative,microalbuminuria and clinical proteinuria.The recovery rates of the blood pressure control for the groups were 44.2%, 35.3% and 36.3% respectively. The glycated hemoglobin control recovery rates were 22.2%, 18.5% and 15.2% in the groups. The groups' triglyceride control satisfaction rates were 44.4%, 43.3%, and 39.8%. The satisfaction rates of total cholesterol control were 34.5%, 26.8% and 25.7% respectively and the satisfaction rates of LDL-c control of the three groups were 30.6%, 23.8% and 22.1%. This indicated an unregulated use of hypoglycemic agents, antihypertensivesand lipid-lowering drugs and low recovery rates for metabolic indicators of the cases. Amongst the 923 cases, 397 had microalbuminuria or clinical proteinuria, and only 22 patients took angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) as antihypertensive drugs.

CONCLUSION

The use of antihypertensive drugs is not standardized, and only a small portion of patients were treated with ACEI or ARB drugs. Therefore, the proteinuria in diabetic patients should be timely screened and evaluated, as well as renal and metabolic function and antihypertensives and lipid-lowering drugs rationally used.

Analysis of key genes and pathways involved in acute lung injury in a mouse model

A mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI) was chosen in this study to explore the key genes and pathways involved in the process of ALI with microarray technology. Gene expression microarray data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Mice from the experimental group were further divided into 6 subgroups, which received octadecenoate treatments for 1, 1.5, 3, 4, 18, and 24 h. Differentially co-expressed genes were screened to uncover the pathogenesis of ALI. Almost all of the differentially co-expressed genes were identified at two times: 1.5 and 3 h. Functional analysis revealed that several inflammation-related pathways were significantly enriched. Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, hematopoietic cell lineage, and leukocyte transendothelial migration were enriched at 1.5 h. The B cell receptor signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway, and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis were significantly enriched at 3 h. It could be inferred that ALI initiated at 1.5 h and lasted through 3 h. However, co-expression patterns were not found from 4 h onward. In conclusion, several key genes and pathways implicated in the development of ALI were found in this study using the mouse model, among which ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis appears to play an important role in the process.

Screening of differentially expressed genes between multiple trauma patients with and without sepsis

The purpose of this study was to identify critical genes associated with septic multiple trauma by comparing peripheral whole blood samples from multiple trauma patients with and without sepsis. A microarray data set was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. This data set included 70 samples, 36 from multiple trauma patients with sepsis and 34 from multiple trauma patients without sepsis (as a control set). The data were preprocessed, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were then screened for using packages of the R language. Functional analysis of DEGs was performed with DAVID. Interaction networks were then established for the most up- and down-regulated genes using HitPredict. Pathway-enrichment analysis was conducted for genes in the networks using WebGestalt. Fifty-eight DEGs were identified. The expression levels of PLAU (down-regulated) and MMP8 (up-regulated) presented the largest fold-changes, and interaction networks were established for these genes. Further analysis revealed that PLAT (plasminogen activator, tissue) and SERPINF2 (serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade F, member 2), which interact with PLAU, play important roles in the pathway of the component and coagulation cascade. We hypothesize that PLAU is a major regulator of the component and coagulation cascade, and down-regulation of PLAU results in dysfunction of the pathway, causing sepsis.

Construction and functional identification of a hepatitis B virus S protein small hairpin RNA recombinant adenovirus

Hepatitis B virus S protein (HBs) plays an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma progression. However, to date, no direct and effective methods exist to research the function of HBs. Here, we combined the technology of RNA interference with recombinant adenovirus, constructed a recombinant adenovirus-expressing small hairpin RNA of HBs, and infected HepG2.2.15 cells. Then, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot analysis were performed to verify the interference effects. As a result, a recombinant adenovirus was successfully constructed and effectively packaged in AD293 cells, and it significantly inhibited HBs mRNA and protein expression in vitro. Our study may provide a novel tool to study HBs function.

Pharmacokinetic studies of bergapten in dog plasma by using a LC-MS/MS method studies

A sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of bergapten in dog plasma. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a Hypersil ODS column with a mobile phase consisting of methanol-water. The plasma sample was precipitated with methanol and prepare for injecting onto the LC-MS/MS system. The detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer by MRM via electro spray ionization source. The standard curve for bergapten was linear over the concentration range of 0.5-500 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 0.5 ng/mL. The inter-day and intra-day precision (R.S.D.%) for bergapten varied between 3.4 and 11.5. The corresponding inter-day and intra-day accuracy (Bias%) ranged between -3.8 and 6.9. For the pharmacokinetic analysis of serum, the mean (SD) values obtained for the bergapten were as follows: Cmax, 228.5 (14.3) ng/ml; Tmax, 4.2 (0.4) h; t1/2, 6.9 (2.3) h; AUC0-t h, 2507.2 (168.5) ng · h/mL and AUC0-∞, 3 219.2 (211.4) ng · h/mL, respectively.

Soil moisture effect on bacterial and fungal community in Beilu River (Tibetan Plateau) permafrost soils with different vegetation types

AIM

This study investigated the effects of environmental variables on the bacterial and fungal communities of the Beilu River (on the Tibetan Plateau) permafrost soils with different vegetation types.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Microbial communities were sampled from meadow, steppe and desert steppe permafrost soils during May, June, August and November, and they were analysed by both pyrosequencing and the use of Biolog EcoPlates. The dominant bacterial and fungal phyla in meadow and steppe soils were Proteobacteria and Ascomycota, whereas Actinobacteria and Basidiomycota predominated in desert steppe soils. The bacterial communities in meadow soils degraded amines and amino acids very rapidly, while polymers were degraded rapidly by steppe communities. The RDA patterns showed that the microbial communities differed greatly between meadow, steppe and desert steppe, and they were related to variations in the soil moisture, C/N ratio and pH. A UniFrac analysis detected clear differences between the desert steppe bacterial community and others, and seasonal shifts were observed. The fungal UniFrac patterns differed significantly between meadow and steppe soils. There were significant correlations between the bacterial diversity (H') and soil moisture (r = 0.506) and C/N (r = 0.527). The fungal diversity (Hf') was significantly correlated with the soil pH (r = 0.541).

CONCLUSION

The soil moisture, C/N ratio and pH were important determinants of the microbial community structure in Beilu River permafrost soils.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

These results may provide a useful baseline for predicting the variation in microbial communities in response to climate changes.

Evidence for competing magnetic and superconducting phases in superconducting Eu 1-x Sr x Fe 2-y Co y As 2 single crystals

In single crystals of Eu(1-x)Sr(x)Fe(2-y)Co(y)As(2), Co doping suppresses spin-density wave (SDW) ordering and induces a superconducting transition. A resistivity reentrance due to the antiferromagnetic ordering of Eu(2+) spins is observed, indicating the competition between antiferromagnetism (AFM) and superconductivity (SC). It is striking that the resistivity reentrance can be completely suppressed by a small magnetic field due to a field-induced metamagnetic transition from AFM to ferromagnetism (FM). The resistivity reentrance can also be suppressed by the substitution of Eu(2+) ions with nonmagnetic Ba(2+)/Sr(2+) to completely destroy the AFM ordering. These results indicate that the AFM order appears destructive to SC, while FM can coexist with the superconductivity. Further we find that magnon excitation exists in AFM ordering and can be suppressed by an applied field. Coexistence of SC from the FeAs layer and the inner field produced by the ferromagnetic Eu(2+) layer suggest a possible p-wave component in the superconducting order parameter.

Contribution of calcium-containing crystals to cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation in osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVES

The role of calcium phosphate and pyrophosphate crystals in osteoarthritis (OA) is unclear: are they a symptom of the damage that occurs to the joint or a key intermediate in the progression of inflammation and joint damage that occurs in OA? The proinflammatory and catabolic response of synthetic calcium phosphate and pyrophosphate crystals and crystals extracted from human osteoarthritic knee cartilage has been investigated. The crystal forms eliciting a response have been characterised allowing a comparison of the biological effects of synthetic and native calcium crystals on human osteoarthritic chondrocytes and synoviocytes to be carried out.

METHODS

Calcium phosphate and pyrophosphate crystals were synthesised in vitro and their crystal forms characterised by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The inorganic crystalline material present in human osteoarthritic cartilage was extracted and its structural composition elucidated by XRPD. These crystals were applied to human primary osteoarthritic chondrocytes and synoviocytes and the production of proinflammatory and catabolic mediators measured.

RESULTS

The crystals extracted from human osteoarthritic knee cartilage were identified as consisting of a mixture of monoclinic and triclinic calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (m-CPPD and t-CPPD). These crystals elicited an inflammatory and catabolic response in human primary osteoarthritic chondrocytes and synoviocytes as measured by an increase in nitric oxide (NO), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) production. NO, MMP-13 and PGE(2) production was also increased when the synthetic calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) and calcium pyrophosphate hydrates were applied to the cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Crystals extracted from human osteoarthritic knee cartilage induce the production of proinflammatory and catabolic mediators (NO, MMP-13 and PGE(2)) in human primary chondrocytes and synoviocytes. Synthetic calcium phosphate and pyrophosphate crystals elicit a similar response in those cells. Our findings suggest that these crystals could contribute to cartilage degradation and synovitis in OA.

Paired box 6 (PAX6) regulates glucose metabolism via proinsulin processing mediated by prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3)

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Human patients with aniridia caused by heterozygous PAX6 mutations display abnormal glucose metabolism, but the underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. Disturbed islet architecture has been proposed as the reason why mice with complete inactivation of paired box 6 (PAX6) in the pancreas develop diabetes. This is not, however, the case in human aniridia patients with heterozygous PAX6 deficiency and no apparent defects in pancreatic development. We investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the development of abnormal glucose metabolism in these patients.

METHODS

A human aniridia pedigree with a PAX6 R240Stop mutation was examined for abnormal glucose metabolism using an OGTT. The underlying mechanism was further investigated using Pax6 R266Stop mutant small-eye mice, which also have abnormal glucose metabolism similar to that in PAX6 R240Stop mutation human aniridia patients.

RESULTS

Paired box 6 (PAX6) deficiency, both in aniridia patients with a heterozygous PAX6 R240Stop mutation and in mice with a heterozygous Pax6 R266Stop mutation, causes defective proinsulin processing and abnormal glucose metabolism. PAX6 can bind to the promoter and directly upregulate production of prohormone convertase (PC)1/3, an enzyme essential for conversion of proinsulin to insulin. Pax6 mutations lead to PC1/3 deficiency, resulting in defective proinsulin processing and abnormal glucose metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

This study indicates a novel function for PAX6 in the regulation of proinsulin processing and glucose metabolism via modulation of PC1/3 production. It also provides an insight into the abnormal glucose metabolism caused by heterozygous PAX6 mutations in humans and mice.

Measurement of specimen thickness by phase change determination in TEM

A non-destructive method for measuring the thickness of thin amorphous films composed of light elements has been developed. The method employs the statistics of the phase of the electron exit wave function. The accuracy of this method has been checked numerically by the multislice method and compared with that based on the mean inner potential.

[Analysis of tannins in Fructus Chebulae and its confusion varieties by HPCE]

AIM

To analyze the hydrolyzable tannins-chebulinic acid (I) and chebulagic acid(II) in Fructus Chebulae and its confusion varieties by using high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method.

METHODS

Using a capillary (375 microns OD x 50 microns ID; 81.5 cm x 61.5 cm) and a power supply set at 24 kV, with phosphate-borate buffer containing 20 mmol.L-1 Na2HPO4-60 mmol.L-1 boric acid and a UV detector at 280 nm, sample solution was loaded in decompression mode at the positive end of the capillary, the loading time was 5 s.

RESULTS

The linear ranges of I and II were 0.0842-0.842 and 0.842 and 0.0940-0.940 mg.mL-1 respectively, the correlation coefficient were 0.9966 and 0.9957, the average recoveries were 95.6% (RSD = 4.0%, n = 5) and 95.0% (RSD = 4.4%, n = 5), the RSDs (n = 5) of measurement precision test were 2.2% and 1.7%, the RSDs (n = 6) of reproduction test were 5.4% and 4.0% respectively. The contents of I and II were obviously interrelated with the variety and characteristics of Fructus Chebulae, the contents of I and II in the confusion varieties of Fructus Chebulae were very low.

CONCLUSION

It is suitable to use I and II as the criterion in quality evaluation of Fructus Chebulae, and the HPCE method is effective for quality evaluation of the crude Fructus Chebulae.

Effects of the rate of solvent evaporation on the characteristics of drug loaded PLLA and PDLLA microspheres

We investigated the effects of the rate of solvent removal by varying ambient pressure at a fixed temperature on the morphology, particle sizes, drug encapsulation efficiency and releases pattern of lidocaine loaded poly-L-lactatide (PLLA) and poly-D,L-lactatide (PDLLA) microspheres, prepared with O/W emulsion-solvent evaporation process. Prepared in the fast rate of solvent evaporation (FRSE) process by reducing ambient pressure, smoothly morphological surface of drug loaded PLLA and PDLLA microspheres was observed. While in the normal rate of solvent evaporation (NRSE) process, roughness or pinhole surface was only found at drug loaded PLLA microspheres. Fabricated in the FRSE process, both PLLA and PDLLA microspheres showed smaller particle sizes and lower drug encapsulation efficiencies than those prepared in NRSE process. In regard to two materials, PLLA microspheres had higher drug encapsulation efficiencies than PDLLA ones for both processes. Although initial burst releases of drug were observed for both PLLA and PDLLA microspheres prepared in whatever solvent removal process, drug release for PLLA microspheres was slightly less than that for PDLLA ones in the earlier stage of drug release. However, in the subsequent stage of drug release, there was no difference between two materials. In corporation with different crystalline characteristics of PLA polymer and its derivatives, FRSE process by reducing ambient pressure could be further applied to produce different characteristics of microspheres for drug delivery.

Constituents from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides

The isolation of griffonilide (1), lithospermoside (2) and magnoflorine (3) from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides is reported.

Gallotannins and related polyphenols from Pistacia weinmannifolia

Two new gallotannins, pistafolins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the leaf extract of Pistacia weinmannifolia. Their structures were determined by spectral methods. Four known gallotannins (3-6), seven known flavonoid glycosides (7-13), along with 1-O-beta-D-(6'-O-galloyl)-glucopyranosyl-3-methoxy-5-hydroxybenzen e (14), gallic acid (15), methyl gallate (16), (+)-catechin (17), and (+)-gallocatechin (18), were also isolated. Some of these compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity toward K562 cells, and two small molecular phenolic compounds, 15 and 18, showed significant inhibitory effects with IC50 values less than 5 micrograms/ml.

[The expression and significance of VEGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA in the malignant neoplasms of ovary]

The expression and significance of VEGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA in the malignant neoplasms of ovary were studied by in situ hybridization technique. The results were that the positive rates of VEGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA were higher in the serous adenocarcinoma and embryonal carcinoma than that in the mucous adenocarcinoma and granulosa cell tumor. The positive rates of VEGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA were lower in the cases of clinical Stage I and without metastasis than that of clinical Stage III-IV and with metastasis. The results suggest that the expressions of VEGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA might be related to the pathological types, clinical stages, and metastasis of the malignant neoplasms of ovary and the patients who have positive expression of VEGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA might have a poor prognosis.

A fast method for acoustic imaging of multiple three-dimensional objects

This paper is concerned with the inverse problem for imaging multiple three-dimensional objects using the information of the far-field pattern of the scattered wave. A spatially dependent function, which has noticeably different values inside and outside the obstacle, is derived. A numerical method based on the characterization is developed to obtain a visualization of the obstacle. The most remarkable advantage of this method is that it does not need any prior knowledge about the geometry and physical properties of the scatterer, and requires only the information of the far-field measurements for a finite number of directions of incidence and observation distributed over a limited range. Furthermore, the scheme is very simple and fast since it avoids the use of the iterative procedure and requires only the solution of a linear system. Some numerical examples with synthetic far-field data are given showing the practicality and efficiency of this scheme.

[Preliminary study on apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells induced by Chinese herbs for warming yang and dispersing stasis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the antitumor mechanism of Chinese herbs for warming yang and dispersing stasis and observe the action of these herbs in inducing apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells.

METHOD

Apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells induced by the above-said herbs was detected through fast red tablet staining, flow cytometry and terminal uridine deoxynucleotidyl and labeling (TUNEL).

RESULT

After treating BEL-7402 cells with the herbs typical apoptosis characteristics could be seen under light microscope and TUNEL positive cells were detectable. The apoptotic rate was 13.9% (drug concentration 0.5%) and 21.6% (drug concentration 1%)

CONCLUSION

Chinese herbs for warming Yang and dispersing stasis could induce apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells and this effect depends on drug concentration. Inducing the apoptosis of tumor cells may be part of the mechanism displayed by Chinese herbs for warming Yang and dispersing stasis in treating hepatoma.

Distinct signalling pathways mediate the cAMP response element (CRE)-dependent activation of the calcitonin gene-related peptide gene promoter by cAMP and nerve growth factor

The gene encoding the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is activated in neuronal cells by treatment with cAMP and nerve growth factor (NGF). Both stimuli induce the phosphorylation of the cAMP response element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB) transcription factor on Ser-133 and require the CRE in the CGRP promoter to stimulate transcription. However, whereas the CRE is necessary and sufficient for promoter activation by cAMP, it is necessary but not sufficient for activation by NGF. We show that this difference is paralleled by a difference in the signalling pathways which are required for each stimulus to activate the CGRP promoter. Thus whilst cAMP-mediated activation requires the protein kinase A pathway, NGF-mediated stimulation requires the Ras/Raf mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 (MEK-1)/p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Although NGF can activate the protein kinase C, p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways, these pathways are not involved in its effect on the CGRP promoter. The effect of the p42/p44 MAPK pathway on CREB and associated transcription factors, and the manner in which this results in activation of the CGRP promoter is discussed.

A comparison of 99Tcm-MIBI myocardial SPET and electron beam computed tomography in the assessment of coronary artery disease in two different age groups

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical value of 99Tcm-MIBI single photon emission tomography (SPET) and electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) in the assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) in different age groups. 99Tcm-MIBI SPET (stress-rest), EBCT and coronary angiography studies were performed in 64 consecutive patients with suspected CAD. The patients were classified into two groups: Group A = 40 patients > 45 years of age and Group B = 24 patients < or = 45 years of age. There were 31 and 14 patients with coronary stenosis > or = 50% as determined by coronary angiography in Groups A and B, respectively. All patients (30 cases) with abnormal 99Tcm-MIBI myocardial SPET and coronary calcification detected by EBCT had significant coronary artery disease, and 93.3% of the patients with normal 99Tcm-MIBI SPET and normal EBCT had normal coronary angiography or < 50% lumen narrowing of the coronary arteries. In Group B, the sensitivity of SPET for detecting CAD was significantly higher than that of EBCT (92.9 vs 42.9%, P < 0.01); the specificity of SPET was comparable to that of EBCT. In Group A, there was no significant difference between SPET and EBCT in terms of sensitivity (93.6 vs 90.3%) or specificity (88.9 vs 55.6%). However, in the detection of individual coronary artery disease, the specificity of SPET was significantly higher than that of EBCT in Group A (94.1 vs 66.7%, P < 0.001). The sensitivity of SPET was again significantly higher than that of EBCT (85.7 vs 38.1%, P < 0.005) in Group B. The accuracy of SPET was higher than that of EBCT in both groups (82.5 vs 67.5%, P < 0.01 in Group A; 93.1 vs 76.4%, P < 0.01 in Group B, respectively). We conclude that 99Tcm-MIBI myocardial perfusion SPET has a higher sensitivity than EBCT in the detection of CAD in patients < or = 45 years old and a higher specificity in patients > 45 years of age. A combination of SPET and EBCT may assess CAD more accurately.

Hydrolyzable tannins and related polyphenols from Eucalyptus globulus

Eucaglobulin (1), a new complex of gallotannin and monoterpene, was isolated from the leaves of Eucaloptus globulus. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectral data. Four known hydrolyzable tannins [tellimagrandin I (2), eucalbanin C (3), 2-O-digalloyl-1,3,4-tri-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (4), 6-O-digalloyl-1,2,3-tri-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (5)], as well as gallic acid (6) and (+)-catechin (7), were also isolated. The antibacterial effects of some of these compounds were examined.

Activation of the Bcl-2 promoter by nerve growth factor is mediated by the p42/p44 MAPK cascade

The Bcl-2 protein has an anti-apoptotic effect in neuronal and other cell types. We show for the first time that the Bcl-2 promoter is activated by the neuronal survival factor nerve growth factor (NGF) and that this effect is dependent on a region of the promoter from -1472 to -1414. This activation requires the Rap-1 G protein and the MEK-1 and p42/p44 MAPK enzymes but is independent of other NGF-activated signalling pathways involving protein kinase A or protein kinase C.

CBP associates with the p42/p44 MAPK enzymes and is phosphorylated following NGF treatment

The ability of the CBP (CREB binding protein) coactivator to stimulate transcription has previously been shown to be stimulated by treatment of neuronal cells with nerve growth factor (NGF). This effect is dependent upon activation of the p42/p44 MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase) pathway. Here we show that both CBP and the related p300 protein directly associate with the p42/p44 MAPK enzymes both prior to and following their activation by NGF and that CBP is phosphorylated following NGF treatment. These results indicate that phosphorylation of CBP itself by the p42/p44 MAPK pathway is likely to be critical for its role in NGF-mediated stimulation of gene expression.

Nerve growth factor up-regulates the transcriptional activity of CBP through activation of the p42/p44(MAPK) cascade

Cyclic AMP response element-binding protein-binding protein (CBP) functions as a transcriptional coactivator through interactions with a number of cellular and viral transcription factors. It has been suggested to play a central integrative role in gene regulation. However, little is known about signal cascades that can regulate CBP activity. Here we show that either nerve growth factor (NGF) or cAMP treatment led to enhanced activity of CBP in PC12 cells. The C-terminal glutamine-rich activation domain of CBP was shown to be responsible for induction by NGF and cAMP. NGF-induced enhancement of CBP activity was also observed in protein kinase A (PKA)-deficient PC12 cells, whereas cAMP failed to increase the transcriptional activity of CBP in these cells. Moreover, the specific PKA inhibitor H-89 blocked cAMP-induced but not NGF-induced up-regulation of CBP activity. The up-regulation of CBP transcriptional activity in response to NGF was, however, prevented by the specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (p42/44(MAPK)) activation, PD98059, which had no effect on the up-regulation induced by cyclic AMP, indicating that activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathway is specifically involved in the NGF-induced activation of CBP. In addition, expression of a dominant-negative interfering mutant of p42/44(MAPK) can prevent the NGF-mediated induction of the CBP activity, whereas expression of a p42/44(MAPK) constitutively active mutant can enhance the transcriptional activity of CBP. These data indicate that activation of the p42/p44(MAPK) cascade mediates the up-regulation of the transcriptional activity of CBP by NGF, whereas the similar up-regulation induced by cyclic AMP is mediated by PKA activation.