Palmitic acid and docosahexaenoic acid opposingly regulate the expression of insulin-degrading enzyme in neurons

Previous results show that treatment with saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid (PA), induces the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), while treatment with polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), protects against AD pathology. However, the pharmacological mechanism underlying these opposite effects of fatty acids on AD is not well understood. Here, we show that PA treatment significantly reduced the expression of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), an important protease responsible for the degradation of amyloid-beta (A beta) in neural cells, while incubation with DHA up-regulated IDE levels in primary hippocampal neurons. Moreover, pre-incubation with PA attenuated the DHA-induced IDE expression. Taken together, these results suggest the opposite effects of saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids on the expression of IDE, indicating a novel mechanism underlying the pharmacological function of fatty acids in AD intervention.

The clinical study of repairing cauda equina fibres with fibrin glue after lumbar fracture and dislocation

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES

To study the outcome of repair of cauda equina fibres with fibrin glue after lumbar fracture and/or dislocation.

METHODS

Seven acute cases and one chronic case of L2 or L3 fracture and/or dislocation complicated with complete cauda equina injury were selected. Sural nerve or ventral roots of injured cauda equina were chosen to repair the motor cauda equina fibres with fibrin glue after open reduction and internal fixation of the unstable vertebrae. The functional recovery after surgery was observed.

RESULTS

Recovery of the strength of thigh muscles (iliopsoas, quadriceps femoris, gluteus maximus, adductors) was observed in all seven acutely injured patients (t=3.74, P<0.05), but not in the chronic one. Neither recovery of leg muscles nor sensation of the lower extremities was observed in any case.

CONCLUSIONS

The cauda equina ventral roots injured after lumbar fracture and/or dislocation can be repaired with fibrin glue and motor recovery is expected.

FSH aggravates periodontitis-related bone loss in ovariectomized rats

Alveolar bone loss is one of the prominent pathologic and clinical features of periodontitis. Recently, the direct effect of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on bone resorption has been demonstrated. However, the effect of FSH on alveolar bone loss remains unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that FSH would exacerbate periodontitis-related alveolar bone loss. Experimental periodontitis was induced in ovariectomized rats, and the rats were treated with extrinsic FSH or its inhibitor, leuprorelin. After mandibles were collected, we performed morphological examinations to evaluate bone loss, enzyme histochemical tests for osteoclasts, and immunohistochemical examinations for FSH receptor (FSHR). The results showed that FSH significantly increased alveolar bone resorption compared with non-FSH-treated ovariectomized rats (P < 0.05), and the number of FSHR-positive cells was positively correlated with alveolar bone loss area (r = 0.682, P < 0.01). Our results suggested that FSH can aggravate alveolar bone loss by FSHR, independent of estrogen.

Simultaneous bilateral carotid stenting in high-risk patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The safety and efficacy of SBCAS have not been evaluated in detail. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the outcome after SBCAS in high-risk patients compared with unilateral stent placement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between March 2002 and October 2008, a total of 205 consecutive high-risk patients underwent CAS at our institution. Of these patients, 30 (14.6%) underwent SBCAS (n = 24) and staged SBCAS (n = 6). Patients who underwent unilateral CAS (n = 175) during the same period served as controls. The stroke risk factors, procedural results, and outcome at 30 days and 6 months, as well as the restenosis rate at 6 months, were compared by using either the chi(2) test or the Kruskal-Wallis equality-of-populations rank test.

RESULTS

Our data revealed no significant differences in the stroke risk factors between the SBCAS and the control group. HPS occurred more commonly in SBCAS (ie, 16.7%, 4/24) compared with 2.9% (5/175) in the control group (P = .014). However, there was no statistical significance between 2 groups in the event rate of stroke (minor and/or major stroke), death, or restenosis at 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference in outcome at 6 months following stent placement between SBCAS and unilateral CAS in the high-risk patient group, even though HPS occurred more commonly after SBCAS.

Impacts of residence time during storage on potential of water saving for grey water recycling system

Grey water recycling has been generally accepted and is about to move into practice in terms of sustainable development. Previous research has revealed the bacteria re-growth in grey water and reclaimed municipal water during storage. However, in most present grey water recycling practices, impacts of water quality changes during storage on the system's performance and design regulation have not been addressed. In this paper, performance of a constructed wetland based grey water recycling system was analysed by taking the constraint of residence time during storage into account using an object based household water cycle model. Two indicators, water saving efficiency (WSE) and residence time index (RTI), are employed to reflect the system's performance and residence time during storage respectively. Results show that WSE and RTI change with storage tank volumes oppositely. As both high WSE and RTI cannot be achieved simultaneously, it is concluded that in order to achieve the most cost-effective and safe solution, systems with both small grey and green tanks are needed, whilst accepting that only relatively modest water saving efficiency targets can be achieved. Higher efficiencies will only be practicable if water quality deterioration in the green water tank can be prevented by some means (e.g. disinfection).

Sequential injection analysis in capillary format with an electroosmotic pump

A system of sequential injection analysis (SIA) in capillary format based on an electroosmotic pump is introduced. The system exhibits excellent reliability and reproducibility (relative standard deviation 0.6-0.8%) for both simple and complex chemical reaction systems. The simplicity and flexibility of the field-decoupled electroosmotic pump has been found to be ideally suited for SIA. There is significant potential for miniaturizing the necessary instrumentation.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of a new wheat-Thinopyrum intermedium partial amphiploid resistant to powdery mildew and stripe rust

A partial amphiploid, TE253, derived from crosses between the common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Yannong 15 and Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey was characterized by cytogenetic observations, disease resistance tests and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Mitotic observations showed that most plants of TE253 had 56 chromosomes, but a few had 54 or 55 chromosomes. The chromosomes in most pollen mother cells of plants with 2n = 56 formed 28 bivalents. Univalents (0.89 per cell) and tetravalents (0.087 per cell) occasionally occurred at meiotic metaphase I, showing a high degree of cytogenetic stability. After inoculation with the powdery mildew and stripe rust pathogens, Yannong 15 was highly susceptible, whereas TE253 and Th. intermedium were immune to both diseases. This indicated that the resistance of TE253 to powdery mildew and stripe rust was derived from Th. intermedium. GISH analysis using St-genomic DNA from Pseudoroegneria strigosa (M. Bieb) A. Löve as a probe and ABD-genomic DNA from Chinese Spring wheat as a blocker demonstrated that TE253 consisted of 2 St-genome chromosomes, 8 J(S)-genome chromosomes, 2 SAT J chromosomes and 2 J-St translocated chromosomes. Line TE253 is a new partial amphiploid with resistance to both powdery mildew and stripe rust and can be used as a source of resistance genes in wheat improvement.

Immunogenicity of Ra1A and its tissue-specific expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

In order to understand the immunogenicity of a tumor-associated antigen (TAA), Ras family small GTP binding protein (Ra1A) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), autoantibody responses to RalA were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay in sera from patients with HCC and sera from normal individuals. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) study with tissue array slides was also performed to analyze protein expression profiles of RalA in HCC and control tissues. This study demonstrated that RalA had a relative higher frequency of autoantibody response in HCC (20.1%) compared to liver cirrhosis (3.3%), chronic hepatitis (0%), and normal individuals sera (0%). RalA also showed a stepwise increased expression from normal liver tissues (26.7%), liver cirrhosis tissues (45.0%) to HCC tissues (63.3%). Sensitivity and specificity of anti-RalA antibody in detection of HCC was 20.1% and 99.3%, respectively. The data suggested that RalA might contribute to liver malignant transformation, and could be used as a potential tumor marker in HCC detection.

Loss of enteric neurons accompanied by decreased expression of GDNF and PI3K/Akt pathway in diabetic rats

To investigate the enteric neuropathy in diabetic rats and the role of glia cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its signalling pathway PI3K/Akt in regulating enteric neurons survival. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control group, diabetic groups (rats with diabetes for 4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively). Proximal and distal colon specimens were obtained from each rat. Phosphoinositol-3-kinase signalling pathway was analysed by Akt phosphorylation. Protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) used as a pan-neuronal marker. The expressions of GDNF, phospho-Akt (p-Akt), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) neurons, cholinergic [choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) stained] neurons and total neurons were measured by immunohistochemical streptavidin-biotin complex (SABC) methods, Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction methods for each specimen. (i) Expression of GDNF was significantly decreased in diabetes 8 and 12 weeks group compared with the control group in both proximal (P < 0.01) and distal (P < 0.01) colon. The change of GDNF expression was greater in the 12 weeks group than that in the 8 weeks group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the 4 weeks group and the control group in expression of GDNF (P > 0.05). (ii) The change trend of Akt phosphorylation was the same with GDNF. (iii) The numbers of nNOS, CHAT neurons and total neurons in proximal and distal colon were decreased significantly during the course of diabetes (P < 0.05). Diabetes can significantly induce enteric neuropathy. This change may be mediated, in partly, via a reduction of GDNF and its main downstream signalling pathway PI3K/Akt, which is a survival signal for enteric neurons.

Peroxynitrite mediates glomerular lesion of diabetic rat via JAK/STAT signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Peroxynitrite, a highly reactive oxidant produced by the reaction of nitric oxide with free radicals superoxide, has been indicated to be involved in many diseases. However, the contributions of peroxynitrite to diabetic nephropathy and the underlying mechanism have not been fully explored.

AIM

The present study was designed to evaluate the role and the underlying mechanism of peroxynitrite in glomerular lesion of diabetic rat.

METHODS

Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by i.p. injection of streptozotocin, and urate was used as a specific scavenger of peroxynitrite; the pathological changes of rat glomerulus were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff staining and transmission electron microscopy observation; immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the content of nitrotyrosine (the marker of peroxynitrite) in renal cortex; the expression levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2, STAT1, and STAT3 were assessed by Western blot assay; RT-PCR and Western blot were used to assay expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and fibronectin; biochemical indicators of renal function were also detected.

RESULTS

The content of nitrotyrosine was increased, consistent with the pathological changes of glomerulus and renal dysfunction in the diabetes group. Urate prevented the formation of nitrotyrosine in rat glomerulus and attenuated the pathological alterations. Furthermore, urate inhibited the activation of JAK2, STAT1, and STAT3. Finally, homogenates from renal cortices demonstrated reduced expression of TGF- beta1 and fibronectin under urate treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings thus provides in vivo evidence that exaggerated peroxynitrite formation mediates the glomerular lesion in, at least, Type 1 diabetes, which may function through JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

How to choose PET-CT or CT in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Practical experience in China

How to use CT and PET-CT rationally to raise diagnosis, staging and prognostic assessment of lung cancer to a higher level at the best cost-effect ratio is a subject that Chinese clinicians and radiologists should face conscientiously. We review the rational application of CT and PET-CT in four aspects of lung cancer, including screening and detection, morphologic evaluation, haemodynamic or metabolic feature evaluation, and follow-up, staging and prognostic evaluation. As PET-CT is only available in class III-A hospitals today, CT is the most popular equipment in China. PET-CT is more valuable only in cases where CT presentation of lung cancer is atypical or difficult to determine, or in cases where the diagnosis of lung cancer has been initially confirmed, for which clinical staging and decision concerning on therapeutic regimens are needed. We also recommend the current strategies of CT and PET-CT managing of SPN in China.

Expression of NKCC2 in the rat gastrointestinal tract

NKCC2, an isoform of Na+-K+-2Cl(-) cotransporter, is principally present in the kidney and plays a critical role in salt reabsorption. Expression of NKCC2 has been found in the apical membrane of intestinal epithelial cells in a number of marine fish, however, details for expression in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract are lacking. RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to study the expression and localization of NKCC2 in the rat gastrointestinal tract. We found that mRNA transcripts, protein and immunoreactivity (IR) for NKCC2 were expressed in the stomach, small and large intestine of adult rats. NKCC2 IR was localized to the base of the gastric glands, intestinal epithelia, myenteric and submucosal plexuses. NKCC2 IR was expressed strongly in the apical membranes and weakly in the basolateral membranes of intestinal epithelial cells. In the enteric nervous system, NKCC2 IR was widely distributed and localized to enteric neurons with cholinergic, calretinin and nitrergic neuronal immunochemical codes in the myenteric plexus. It was localized to non-cholinergic secretomotor neurons in the submucosal plexus. In conclusion, this study for the first time clearly detected the expression of NKCC2 in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian species. Expression of NKCC2 in gastrointestinal epithelial cells suggested that this cation chloride cotransporter might be involved in gastrointestinal ion transport. Expression of NKCC2 in enteric neurons might contribute to the accumulation of Cl(-) and a more depolarized E(Cl)(-) in enteric neurons.

Experimental study on burning rates of square/rectangular gasoline and methanol pool fires under longitudinal air flow in a wind tunnel

Square pool fires with length of 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 cm and rectangular pool fires with dimensions of 10 cm x 20 cm and 10 cm x 40 cm were burned in a wind tunnel, under a longitudinal air flow ranged from 0 to 3m/s with incremental change of about 0.5m/s. Methanol and gasoline were burned and compared, with results indicated that their burning rates showed different response to the longitudinal air flow. With the increase of the longitudinal air flow speed, the burning rates of methanol pool fires, except the 5 cm square one, first decreased and then increased, but those of the 5 cm methanol square one and the gasoline pool fires increased monotonously. The burning rate of smaller square pool fires increased more significantly than that of the larger ones, as well as the enlargement of their flame attachment length along the ground. The burning rate of a rectangular pool fire with longer rim parallel to the longitudinal flow increased faster, but the flame attachment length seemed to increase more gradually, with the increase of the longitudinal air flow speed than that perpendicular to.

Lead distribution in blood and organs of mice exposed to lead by vein injection

To study lead (Pb) distribution in organs and blood in the case of Pb poisoning, mice were firstly exposed to Pb as 0.1 mL or 0.2 mL of lead nitrate solution (0.1 mg/mL) by vein injection every other day. Then, after metabolic absorption, the Pb level in the blood and organs of the mice was measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The resulting data showed that 93% of Pb in blood was accumulated in red cells, but this percentage slightly decreased with increasing exposure time and injection volume. For other target organs, the highest Pb level was in the kidney, followed by the liver, spleen, heart and lung, and was lowest in the brain. Moreover, the Pb level in the heart and brain is in a growth trend at all times for 0.1 mL and 0.2 mL of Pb injection exposure in 15 days, while the growth trend of Pb in other target organs become slow for 0.2 mL of injection after exposure Pb 11 days.

COPD in Chinese nonsmokers

Little is known about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Chinese nonsmokers. The present study aimed to investigate the profiles of COPD among nonsmokers based on the Chinese Epidemiological Survey of COPD (CESCOPD). In the CESCOPD, 20,245 subjects aged 40 yrs or older were interviewed with questionnaires and spirometry tests. Subjects with a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1))/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of <0.70 were identified as having COPD. Data of 12,471 nonsmokers and 1,024 smoking COPD patients were analysed in the current study. The overall prevalence of COPD among nonsmokers was 5.2% (95% confidence interval 4.8-5.6). Being male, of advanced age, lower body mass index (BMI) and lower educational level, having exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, coal and/or biomass smoke, poor ventilation in the kitchen, a family history of respiratory disease and recurrent childhood cough were all independently associated with a higher risk of having COPD among nonsmokers. Nonsmokers with respiratory symptoms without airflow limitation showed a somewhat different pattern of risk factors. Nonsmokers with COPD were less likely to present with chronic productive coughs and lower BMI, while more likely to have received a physician diagnosis of asthma and respiratory diseases in childhood, than smokers with COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is prevalent among Chinese nonsmokers, and nonsmoking chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may have different profiles from smoking chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.