Reactive oxygen species mediate the activation of Akt/protein kinase B by angiotensin II in vascular smooth muscle cells

Angiotensin II, a hypertrophic/anti-apoptotic hormone, utilizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) as growth-related signaling molecules in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Recently, the cell survival protein kinase Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) was proposed to be involved in protein synthesis. Here we show that angiotensin II causes rapid phosphorylation of Akt/PKB (6- +/- 0.4-fold increase). Exogenous H(2)O(2) (50-200 microM) also stimulates Akt/PKB phosphorylation (maximal 8- +/- 0.2-fold increase), suggesting that Akt/PKB activation is redox-sensitive. Both angiotensin II and H(2)O(2) stimulation of Akt/PKB are abrogated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 (2(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one), suggesting that PI3-K is an upstream mediator of Akt/PKB activation in VSMCs. Furthermore, diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of flavin-containing oxidases, or overexpression of catalase to block angiotensin II-induced intracellular H(2)O(2) production significantly inhibits angiotensin II-induced Akt/PKB phosphorylation, indicating a role for ROS in agonist-induced Akt/PKB activation. In VSMCs infected with dominant-negative Akt/PKB, angiotensin II-stimulated [(3)H]leucine incorporation is attenuated. Thus, our studies indicate that Akt/PKB is part of the remarkable spectrum of angiotensin II signaling pathways and provide insight into the highly organized signaling mechanisms coordinated by ROS, which mediate the hypertrophic response to angiotensin II in VSMCs.

Schwann cells, neurotrophic factors, and peripheral nerve regeneration

The peripheral nervous system retains a considerable capacity for regeneration. However, functional recovery rarely returns to the preinjury level no matter how accurate the nerve repair is, and the more proximal the injury the worse the recovery. Among a variety of approaches being used to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration are the manipulation of Schwann cells and the use of neurotrophic factors. Such factors include, first, nerve growth factor (NGF) and the other recently identified members of the neurotrophin family, namely, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5); second, the neurokines ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF); and third, the transforming growth factors (TGFs)-beta and their distant relative, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). In this review article we focus on the roles in peripheral nerve regeneration of Schwann cells and of the neurotrophin family, CNTF and GDNF, and the relationship between these. Finally, we discuss what remains to be understood about the possible clinical use of neurotrophic factors.

Rotating Ring (Pt)-Disc (FeS2) Electrode Behavior in Hydrochloric Solutions

A rotating ring (Pt)-disc (FeS2) electrode was used to investigate the surface oxidation process of pyrite in the hydrochloric solutions. It is reported for the first time that the oxidation intermediates of pyrite were formed on the disc electrode and then oxidized on the ring electrode. The results indicate that at a rotation rate of 20 Hz, when the disc electrode potential was in the region of 0.43 to 0.62 V and the ring electrode potential was at 1 V vs a standard calomel electrode (SCE), approximately 50% of the reacted pyrite was oxidized to ferric and sulfate ions and the other 50% was oxidized to sulfur and ferrous ions on the disc electrode. The latter was further oxidized to ferric ions on the ring electrode. As the disc electrode potential increased to 1.22 V vs SCE, more than 90% of the reacted pyrite was oxidized to ferric and sulfate ions on the disc electrode and less than 10% formed ferrous ions, which were further oxidized to ferric ions on the ring electrode. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Role of NADH/NADPH oxidase-derived H2O2 in angiotensin II-induced vascular hypertrophy

Recent evidence suggests that oxidative mechanisms may be involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hypertrophy. We previously showed that angiotensin II (Ang II) increases superoxide production by activating an NADH/NADPH oxidase, which contributes to hypertrophy. In this study, we determined whether Ang II stimulation of this oxidase results in H2O2 production by studying the effects of Ang II on intracellular H2O2 generation, intracellular superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, and hypertrophy. Ang II (100 nmol/L) significantly increased intracellular H2O2 levels at 4 hours. Neither superoxide dismutase activity nor catalase activity was affected by Ang II; the SOD present in VSMCs is sufficient to metabolize Ang II-stimulated superoxide to H2O2, which accumulates more rapidly than it is degraded by catalase. This increase in H2O2 was inhibited by extracellular catalase, diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of the NADH/NADPH oxidase, and the AT1 receptor blocker losartan. In VSMCs stably transfected with antisense p22phox, a critical component of the NADH/NADPH oxidase in which oxidase activity was markedly reduced, Ang II-induced production of H2O2 was almost completely inhibited, confirming that the source of Ang II-induced H2O2 was the NADH/NADPH oxidase. Using a novel cell line that stably overexpresses catalase, we showed that this increased H2O2 is a critical step in VSMC hypertrophy, a hallmark of many vascular diseases. Inhibition of intracellular superoxide dismutase by diethylthiocarbamate (1 mmol/L) also resulted in attenuation of Ang II-induced hypertrophy (62+/-2% inhibition). These data indicate that AT1 receptor-mediated production of superoxide generated by the NADH/NADPH oxidase is followed by an increase in intracellular H2O2, suggesting a specific role for these oxygen species and scavenging systems in modifying the intracellular redox state in vascular growth.

Neurotrophins, neurones and peripheral nerve regeneration

Successful peripheral nerve regeneration requires optimal conditions both in the macro-environment and micro-environment. Many methods have been used to improve the macro-environment for the regenerating nerve. However, much less is known about the micro-environment, and in particular the complex neurochemical interactions involved. Several neurotrophic factors have been shown to play an essential trophic role in the development, maintenance and regulation of neuronal function. These include nerve growth factor (NGF) and several recently identified members of the NGF family, namely brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) and neurotrophin-6 (NT-6). In this review we summarize recent studies of the effects of these neurotrophins on neurones, especially their effects on motor neurones and their axonal outgrowth. We discuss prospects for the future and point out what remains to be understood about the role of neurotrophins to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration.

[Resistant antibiotic analysis of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus]

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is one of the important patholonic bacteria which cause nosocomial infection. In order to investigate the resistant antibiotic circumstances of this organism and hence provide foundations of prevention and treatment, we determined the resistant rates of 88 staphylococcus strains for methicillin and for other 14 kinds of commonly used antibiotics, and we determined the engendering beta-lactamase. The results showed that the isolation rate of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 56%; the rate of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus coagulase-negative (MRSCoN) was 47.6%; the resistance rate and the multi-resistant rate of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus (MRS) for the 14 kinds of antibiotics were higher as compared with those of methicillin-sensitive (MSSA). Among all the tested strains, MRSA was the highest to engender beta-lactamase (92.9%); Methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus coagulase-negative (MSSCoN) was the lowest (39.4%). MRS was sensitive to vancomycin and furantoin. These suggest that when treating this bacterium, we should select these two antibiotics first.

[Limb salvage surgery using massive allografts in malignant bone tumors]

The advantages of segmental allografts over arthoplastics are, among others, secured biological healing, easy attachment of tendons and ligaments, and desirable long-tem results. Since 1983, the authors have performed 35 resections of malignant tumors in the extremities followed by reconstructions with implantation of segmental allografts. Five types of grafts were used for the reconstruction of the skeletal defects, intercalary hemicylinder, intercalary cylinder, partial osteoarticular, total osteoarticular, and allograft-prosthetic implant composite. All the patients underwent adjunctive chemotherapy that was considered necessary. The length of follow-up ranged from 6 months to 10 years during which time 6 patients died, 25 were disease-free, and 4 survived as tumors-carriers. Complications in 28.6% of the patients included infection, graft resorption, recurrence and nonunion. Patients undergoing intercalary grafts oblained better functional results than those having osteoarticular grafts. 4 patients had biopsies and bone scans of the grafts 2-4 years postoperation with creeping substituion being observed. Segmental allograft remains a viable approach with predictable results for reconstruction of skeletal defects after resection of malignant bone tumors.

Channel selection of atmospheric remote sensing

We introduce a channel selection method for atmospheric remote-sensing problems described by a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. Whether one set of channels (CH) is more suitable than another (CH') can be judged by whether (1) the degree of predominance (DP) value of CH is larger than that of CH', i.e., if the number of channels is the same and (2) the number of channels of CH is more than that of CH', if the DP values of both are acceptable. One can calculate the DP of the unknown function f (y) for a set of remote-sensing channels by DP = [1 + (Rf̃(a)(2) - 1) R(d)(2)](-1/2), Rf̃(a)(2) = R(c)(2)[ R(b)(2) + R(a)(2)(1 + R(b)(2))], where R(a), R(b), R(c), and (1 - R(d)(2))(1/2) of this channel set represent the influences on the ability to recover the unknown function caused by various measurement errors, the noise parameter, the relativity of the kernel functions, and the blindness of remote sensing means, respectively. Our channel selection method can be simplified to a conventional method when there are no differences in the relative measurement errors, no blind components of the unknown function and no noise parameters in the kernel function.

Field evaluation of the QBC technique for rapid diagnosis of vivax malaria

The QBC (quantitative buffy coat) technique was compared with that of the Giemsa-stained thick blood film (GTF) under field conditions in Junlian and Mingshan counties, Sichuan, China, for rapid diagnosis of vivax malaria. Blood samples were collected from 364 volunteer villagers, and each sample was examined with both the QBC and GTF techniques. For each GTF sample (10 microliters of blood), as many as 300 oil-immersion fields were examined; each QBC tube was inspected for up to 5 minutes. The GTF technique resulted in 86 positive blood samples and 278 negative; the QBC technique indicated 89 positive and 275 negative samples. Relative to the results obtained with GTF, the QBC technique had a sensitivity and specificity of 87.2% and 95.0%, respectively; concordance between the tests was 93.1%. The median time-to-positive diagnosis with the QBC technique (1.12 min) was 11% of that with GTF. The distribution of different developmental stages of Plasmodium vivax parasites was also examined in the centrifuged QBC tubes: all stages except schizonts could be found in the lower part of the platelet zone (the interphase between the monocyte and platelet layers), especially ring forms.

[Clinical observation of the effect of pretreatment with nifedipine in preventing oxygen free radicals in the cardiopulmonary release bypass operation]

The effect of pretreatment with nifedipine in preventing oxygen free radicals release was observed in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) operation. Twenty cases were divided into two groups for comparison. Nifedipine (0.6 mg/kg) was given to the test group. MDA, XO, UA and SOD were measured. These examinations were taken at pre-aortic clamping, 15 min after aortic clamping, and 30, 60, 120, 180 min after reperfusion. The results indicated that pretreatment with nifedipine reduced oxygen free radicals release in the CPB operation.

[Bacterial microcolony and its primary applications]

A new rapid and useful microcolony technique was developed by using cellulose-acetate membrane as a supporter. The bacteria were inoculated on the membrane and cultivated for 3-6h. Then the membrane was rendered, fixed and colored. The microcolonies were observed and counted under the microscope. By using this technique the microcolonies of 139 strains of bacteria were observed. 72 strains of Staphylococcus were differentiated by means of observing the characteristics of the microcolonies. The correlation rate between the microcolony method and the routine method was 90.28%. This technique was also first used to determine the bacteria numbers in urine within 6h, and the advantages of it were significant compared with the plate count method.

[Consecutive observation of the plasma MDA, XO and UA levels and erythrocyte SOD in 10 cases of cardiopulmonary bypass]

The plasma malonaldehyde (MDA), xanthine oxidase (XO) and uric acid (UA) levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in 10 cases during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) operation. These examinations were taken at pre-aortic clamping, 15 min after aortic clamping, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after reperfusion respectively. The results showed that MDA, XO and UA rise but SOD decreases after reperfusion. We believe that a lot of oxygen free radicals (OFR) release during peri-operative period and the XO may be an important pathway of OFR release.