A gB nanoparticle vaccine elicits a protective neutralizing antibody response against EBV

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a global public health concern, as it is known to cause multiple diseases while also being etiologically associated with a wide range of epithelial and lymphoid malignancies. Currently, there is no available prophylactic vaccine against EBV. gB is the EBV fusion protein that mediates viral membrane fusion and participates in host recognition, making it critical for EBV infection in both B cells and epithelial cells. Here, we present a gB nanoparticle, gB-I53-50 NP, that displays multiple copies of gB. Compared with the gB trimer, gB-I53-50 NP shows improved structural integrity and stability, as well as enhanced immunogenicity in mice and non-human primate (NHP) preclinical models. Immunization and passive transfer demonstrate a robust and durable protective antibody response that protects humanized mice against lethal EBV challenge. This vaccine candidate demonstrates significant potential in preventing EBV infection, providing a possible platform for developing prophylactic vaccines for EBV.

Neuropilin 1 is an entry receptor for KSHV infection of mesenchymal stem cell through TGFBR1/2-mediated macropinocytosis

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and other malignancies. The cellular origin of KS has been suggested to be either mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or endothelial cells. However, receptor(s) for KSHV to infect MSCs remains unknown. By combining bioinformatics analysis and shRNA screening, we identify neuropilin 1 (NRP1) as an entry receptor for KSHV infection of MSCs. Functionally, NRP1 knockout and overexpression in MSCs significantly reduce and promote, respectively, KSHV infection. Mechanistically, NRP1 facilitated the binding and internalization of KSHV by interacting with KSHV glycoprotein B (gB), which was blocked by soluble NRP1 protein. Furthermore, NRP1 interacts with TGF-β receptor type 2 (TGFBR2) through their respective cytoplasmic domains and thus activates the TGFBR1/2 complex, which facilitates the macropinocytosis-mediated KSHV internalization via the small GTPases Cdc42 and Rac1. Together, these findings implicate that KSHV has evolved a strategy to invade MSCs by harnessing NRP1 and TGF-beta receptors to stimulate macropinocytosis.

[Low-level viremia-induced liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B]

Low-level viremia after antiviral therapy has gradually attracted attention due to its relation to liver fibrosis progression, hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence and long-term survival rate reduction in patients with chronic hepatitis B. In addition, it should be used as a risk factor for intervention during antiviral therapy in order to achieve complete virological response and improve the long-term prognosis of patients.

[The proatherogenic effect of high salt diet combined with focal hypoperfusion on spontaneous hypertension rat]

Objective: To explore the histopathology, monocytes phenotypes and brain mRNA transcription of angiogenic and atherogenic factors preliminarily in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) fed with high salt diet and subjected to chronic focal hypoperfusion. Methods: A total of 21 SHRs were randomly assigned into SHR with normal diet (SHR-ND group, n=7), SHR fed with high salt (8%) chows (SHR-HSD group, n=14) groups. After induction of high salt diet for 20 weeks, unilateral carotid artery occlusion was applied to one half of SHR-HSD (SHR-HSD-UCAO, n=7) group for 10 weeks to mimic chronic focal cerebral hypoperfusion. The neuropathology, monocytes phenotypes and brain transcription of fibroblast growth factor (FGF-b), platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), angiogenin (ANG), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) among three groups were compared. Results: The systolic blood pressure ((246±12) mmHg vs (220±16) mmHg, P=0.0291, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and diastolic blood pressure ((189±15) mmHg vs (164±12) mmHg, P=0.0143) of SHR-HSD group were elevated significantly compared with those of SHR-ND group. Compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), SHR-ND, SHR-HSD and SHR-HSD-UCAO groups demonstrated lipohyalinosis, vessel wall thickening, lumen narrowing and multiple enlarged perivascular space and diffuse disarrangement of nerve fiber and myelin vacuolation in corpus callosum pathologically. The ratio of CD11b(+) CD68(+) monocytes in peripheral blood of SHR-HSD group was higher compared with both SHR-ND and SHR-HSD-UCAO groups (P=0.000 8). The mean inflorescence index (MFI) of CD86 and CD206 showd considerable decline in SHR-HSD-UCAO group compared with those of SHR-HSD group (P=0.018 7 and 0.016 8, respectively). The CD86 MFI of CD11b+CD68+ monocytes in SHR-HSD-UCAO group was remarkably higher than that of SHR-ND and SHR-HSD groups (P=0.000 5). Compared with SHR-ND and SHR-HSD groups, the brain mRNA transcription of angiogenic factors including PD-ECGF and ANG were down-regulated (P=0.004 6 and 0.000 2, respectively), while the atherogenic factors including TGF-β and VEGF-A were up-regulated in SHR-HSD-UCAO group (P<0.000 1 and P=0.045, respectively). Conclusion: SHR-HSD-UCAO group shares the pathophysiological characteristics with advanced stage arteriosclerotic cerebral small vessel disease (aCSVD), including neuropathology, imbalanced circulating monocytes phenotypes and down-regulated angiogenic factors.

[Research progress on the association between HIV antiretroviral therapy and the outbreak]

Since the implementation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), it has achieved remarkable results in the field of HIV/AIDS treatment. However, when the treatment is applied to the population-level, the actual impact of ART on the HIV epidemic becomes a hot topic in the field. This paper will summarize the research on ART and HIV epidemic in recent years, and discuss the impact of ART on the trend of HIV epidemic, so as to provide scientific support and suggestions for the role of treatment is prevention.

[Fitting and forecasting the trend of COVID-19 by SEIR(+CAQ) dynamic model]

Objectives: Fitting and forecasting the trend of COVID-19 epidemics. Methods: Based on SEIR dynamic model, considering the COVID-19 transmission mechanism, infection spectrum and prevention and control procedures, we developed SEIR(+CAQ) dynamic model to fit the frequencies of laboratory confirmed cases obtained from the government official websites. The data from January 20, 2020 to February 7, 2020 were used to fit the model, while the left data between February 8-12 were used to evaluate the quality of forecasting. Results: According to the cumulative number of confirmed cases between January 29 to February 7, the fitting bias of SEIR(+CAQ) model for overall China (except for cases of Hubei province), Hubei province (except for cases of Wuhan city) and Wuhan city was less than 5%. For the data of subsequent 5 days between February 8 to 12, which were not included in the model fitting, the prediction biases were less than 10%. Regardless of the cases diagnosed by clinical examines, the numbers of daily emerging cases of China (Hubei province not included), Hubei Province (Wuhan city not included) and Wuhan city reached the peak in the early February. Under the current strength of prevention and control, the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases in overall China will reach 80 417 till February 29, 2020, respectively. Conclusions: The proposed SEIR(+CAQ) dynamic model fits and forecasts the trend of novel coronavirus pneumonia well and provides evidence for decision making.

[Effect of non-breathing-related sleep fragmentation on cognitive function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease]

Objective: To investigate the effect of non-breathing-related sleep fragmentation on cognitive function in patients with atherosclerotic cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD). Methods: Seventy-two patients with arteriosclerotic CSVD in the Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were enrolled in this study from August 2017 to July 2018. The patients undertook MRA(Magnetic Resonance Angiography)+SWI(Susceptibility weighted imaging), polysomnography, Montreal Cognitive Inventory (MoCA) and Concise Mental State Examination (MMSE). The patients were divided into study group (≥19) and control group (<19) according to the median number of arousal events (median=19) at night. Results: The sleep efficiency, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep ratio and non-rapid eye movement-3 (NREM-3) sleep ratio of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05), and the total MoCA score (18.2±4.3) , visual space score(1.9±1.4) and delayed recall score(1.4±0.9) of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group (22.7±3.5, 2.9±1.2, 2.9±1.1, P<0.05). Conclusion: The incidence of non-breathing-related sleep fragmentation is high in CSVD patients and this kind of fragmentation is associated with cognitive impairment.

[Impact of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis co-infection on related mortality]

Objective: To understand the impact of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) co-infectious (HIV/MTB) on related mortality in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, provide evidence for the development of a better HIV/MTB co-infection control and prevention program. Methods: A multiple cross-systems check (MCSC) approach was used to confirm the HIV/MTB co-infection individuals on data related to treatment, follow-up, epidemiological comprehensive and Tuberculosis (TB) special report system. Social demography characteristics, incidence of TB among HIV positive individuals, HIV incidence among MTB infection persons etc., were described. We compared the mortalities and related risks between HIV/MTB co-infection and mono HIV positive individuals as well as between the HIV/MTB co-infection and mono MTB infection persons, using both the Chi Square test and the Cox's proportional hazard regression model (Cox). Results: Reported data showed that the incidence of MTB co-infection in the HIV cohort was 17.72% (2 533/14 293), while HIV incidence in the TB patients was 5.57% (2 351/42 205), respectively. The mortality of HIV/MTB co-infection in the HIV/AIDS cohort was 15.16% (384/2 533) within one-year of observation and was significantly higher than the mortality (13.63%,1 603/11 760) of mono HIV positive individuals (P<0.000 1). The percentage of the HIV/AIDS death cases was 19.33% (384/1 987) who registered and died in the 2011 calendar year were caused by MTB co-infection. Among all the HIV/MTB co-infection patients who had been identified from the HIV cohort, 60.05% (1 521/2 533) had initiated ART, 15.48% (392/2 533) had been cured for TB and 27.48% (696/2 533) had been under complete TB regimen. Among the confirmed HIV/MTB cases from the TB cohort, the cure rate of TB was 19.70% (463/2 351) and the percentage of completed TB regimen was 37.26% (876/2 351). The percentage of the individuals whose CD(4)(+) T lymphocyte cells count appeared less than 200 cell/μl was 64.13% (785/1 224), upon the HIV diagnoses were made. Compared with individuals who were under mono HIV infection, the mortality risk on HIV/MTB co-infection was 1.17 times higher during the five-year observation period, then the patients with only mono MTB infection and the mortality risk in patients with HIV/MTB co-infection was 25.68 times higher under the 12-month observation period. Conclusions: Both the incidence and mortality of HIV/MTB appeared high in Guangxi, with mortality and the risk of mortality in the HIV/MTB co-infection group significantly higher than that in both the HIV mono infection and the MTB mono infections groups. Both the rate of antiretroviral treatment coverage and the cure rate of TB treatment should be increased in no time as well as the capability of early TB case-finding among people living with HIV.

[The role of IL-22 in T cell reconstitution after thymus damage induced by ionizing radiation]

Objective: To explore the levels of IL-22 in thymus damaged by γ-ray total body irradiation (TBI), and to study the role of IL-22 in T cell reconstitution after thymic injury induced by TBI. Methods: To induce thymic injury, mice were treated by sub-lethal TBI. Levels of intra-thymic and circulatory IL-22 were detected by using ELISA assay. Untreated mice were used as control. After receiving sub-lethal TBI, mice were intraperitoneally injected with PBS or recombinant mouse IL-22, which were marked as TBI+PBS or TBI+IL-22, respectively. Mice were monitored for counts of total thymic cells and circulatory white blood cells. Flow cytometry was applied to analyze percentages of thymic epithelial cells (TEC), thymocyte subsets and circulatory T cells. Real-time PCR assay was applied to analyze the mRNA expression levels of Foxn1, Ccl25, Aire and Dll4 in thymus. Results: ①Sub-lethal TBI treated mice expressed higher levels of intra-thymic and circulatory IL-22, compared with untreated ones (all P<0.05). ②After injection of recombinant IL-22, TBI+IL-22 mice had higher levels of intra-thymic IL-22 than TBI+PBS mice (all P<0.05). ③On day 14 after irradiation, real-time PCR assay showed that TBI+IL-22 mice had higher mRNA levels of Foxn1, Ccl25, Aire and Dll4 in thymus compared with TBI+PBS ones. Meanwhile, the TBI+IL-22 mice had higher counts of total thymic cells[(5.93±3.19)×10(6)/ml vs (1.42±0.46)×10(6)/ml, t=3.128, P=0.033] and circulatory white blood cells[(3.08±0.94)×10(6)/ml vs (1.43±0.30)×10(6)/ml, t=3.730, P=0.015] than those of TBI+PBS mice. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that TBI+IL-22 mice had higher counts of TEC and thymocytes than TBI+PBS mice on day 14 after irradiation (all P<0.05). On days 7 and 14 after irradiation, TBI+IL-22 mice had higher counts of circulatory white blood cells and T cells than TBI+PBS mice (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Sub-lethal TBI induces upregulation of intra-thymic IL-22, and injecting of recombinant IL-22 increases level of IL-22 in thymus. Injecting of recombinant IL-22 improves recovery of TEC and increases numbers of thymocyte subsets and circulatory T cell after thymic injury.

[Efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil in treating neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a multicenter, prospective, self-control study in Guangzhou City]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Method: From September 2014 to February 2017, NMOSD patients with seropositive aquaporin4-IgG was enrolled through a multicenter, prospective study, and the annual recurrence rate (ARR), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and MMF-related side effects before and after MMF treatment were compared. Results: Ninety patients were enrolled in the study. After being treated for a median of 12 months (1-30 months), the median ARR decreased from 1.1 pre-MMF to 0 post-MMF (P<0.001), and the median EDSS score decreased from 4.0 pre-MMF to 3.0 post-MMF (P<0.001). The EDSS score reduced significantly after 90 days' treatment (P<0.05). The main adverse events included the deranged liver enzymes (19%, 17/90), respiratory infection (11%, 10/90), urinary tract infection (6%, 5/90), varicella-zoster infection (6%, 5/90), anemia (6%, 5/90), leucopenia (6%, 5/90), diarrhea (2%, 2/90), hair loss (1%, 1/90); 11% (10/90) patients experienced severe adverse events, and 6% (5/90) patients discontinued MMF. Conclusions: MMF could significantly reduce the ARR and EDSS score of NMOSD. However, awareness on side effects should be raised.

[Clinical characteristics of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders associated with syringomyelia]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) associated with syringomyelia (SML). Methods: The clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters and imaging findings of 7 patients with NMOSD associated with SML during June 2008 to August 2016 from The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Six patients were female and 1 was male, with ages ranging from 27-67 years, the course of the disease was 3-12 years, recurrence was 2-7 times, all the patients were cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands (CSF OCB) negative, 5 patients were positive for aquaporin-4-antibody/NMO-IgG. Sensory and motor dysfunction, bowel or bladder dysfunction were the common clinical manifestation, and pain was a significant symptom. Syringomyelia was predominantly located in C4-T10, cavity length 2-6 mm, diameter 0.8-3.6 mm; 5 had lobes involvement and 6 had long segmental spinal cord involvement. Conclusions: NMOSD associated with SML had a high frequency of occurrence in female, with the clinical characteristics of limb pain, easy progression, high recurrence rate and disability rate. The anti AQP4 antibody were commonly seen in these patients. Syringomyelia was predominantly located in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord, the lobar and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis were frequently found in patients with NMOSD associated with SML.

[Clinical analysis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in 44 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinical features in 44 patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Methods: Consecutive ADEM patients admitted to Neurology Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun yat-sen University during August 2009 to July 2014 were enrolled.Clinical and laboratory data of the patients were reviewed and analyzed. Results: Forty-four patients with ADEM based on the 2012 criteria were recruited, including 23 male and 21 female; 9 children, 11 teenagers and 24 adults.There were 23 monophasic ADEM (23/44, 52%) and 21 multiphasic ADEM (21/44, 48%). Fourteen patients (31.8%) had definite incentive factors within 2 weeks preceding the disease onset.The commonest presenting symptoms were fever (20/44, 45%), mental disorder (18/44, 41%), disturbance of consciousness (17/44, 39%) and seizure (12/44, 27%). The average EDSS score was (4.3±1.3), and the average mRS score was (2.7±0.9). Abnormal autoimmune antibodies were detected in 10 patients.Two patients were positive for NMO-IgG, and three patients were positive for oligoclonal bands.On MRI scanning, small lesions were observed in 18 of 44 patients (18/44, 41%); large confluent white matter lesions in 10 patients (10/44, 23%); symmetric bithalamic involvement in 12 patients (12/44, 27%). Patients were mainly treated with intravenous corticosteroids (40/44, 90.9%) and immunoglobulin G ( 13/44, 29.5%) in acute phase.Regular follow-up performed in 29 patients (65.9%), and the average follow-up time was (4.2±2.3) year.A monophasic course was found in 10 patients, and multiphasic course in 19 patients.After (2.5±2.3) years, patients with multiphasic ADEM experienced their first clinical relapse, and the relapse frequency was (3.3±1.4). The average EDSS score was (3.9±2.2), and the mRS score was (2.2±1.3) in their latest relapse.In follow-up MRI for (5.3±1.9) years, lesions in 18 patients (62.1%) were partially ameliorated, while 6 patients (20.7%) persisted, and new lesions appeared in 5 patients (17.2%). For the 13 multiphasic patients with regular treatment, intravenous corticosteroids (13/13, 100.0%) and immunoglobulin G (7/13, 53.8%) were still important treatments in the acute phase, while oral steroids (12/13, 92.3%) plus immunosuppressants including azathioprine, tacrolimus, cyclosporine and rituximab were chosen in the remission phase. Conclusions: ADEM is not uncommon in adults, presenting with multiphasic course, encephalopathy features and disseminated lesions on MRI.As it shows very heterogeneous characteristics, ADEM is best viewed as a "syndrome" rather than a specific disorder.

[Mifepristone inhibites the migration of endometrial cancer cells through regulating H19 methylation]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect and mechanism of mifepristone on the migration of human endometrial carcinoma cells.

METHODS

A human endometrial carcinoma cell line, Ishikawa cells, was cultured in vitro and treated with mifepristone at different concentrations. Wound healing assay was applied to detect the migration of Ishikawa cells. RT-PCR and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) were used to detect the levels of H19 mRNA and its DNA methylation. Western-blot was used to detect the expressions of HMGA2 and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins.

RESULTS

When treated with different concentrations of mifepristone for 48 hours, the width of scratch of the the control group, the 5 mg/L and the 10 mg/L mifepristone treatment groups were (4.18±0.07)mm, (4.68±0.07)mm, and(4.99±0.07)mm, respectively (P<0.05 for all) and treated with mifepristone for 72 hours, those were(3.46±0.07)mm, (4.29±0.07)mm, and(4.78±0.04)mm, respectively (P<0.05 for all). In the Ishikawa cells, mifepristone suppressed the transcriptional level of H19 through enhancing its promoter methylation, which resulted in inhibited expressions of HMGA2 and vimentin and increased expression of E-cadherin in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

Mifepristone inhibits the migration of endometrial carcinoma cells partially through methylation-induced of transcriptional inhibition of H19, which results in the down-regulation of HMGA2 and vimentin and upregulation of E-cadherin.

Construction and evaluation of high-quality n-ZnO nanorod/p-diamond heterojunctions

Vertically-aligned ZnO nanorods (NRs) arrays were synthesized by a low-temperature solution method on boron-doped diamond (BDD) films. The morphology, growth direction, and crystallinity of the ZnO NRs were studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and cathodoluminescence. Electrical characterization of the ZnO NR/BBD heterostructures revealed characteristic p-n junction properties with an on/off ratio of about 50 at +/- 4 V and a small reverse leakage current approximately 1 microA. Moreover, the junctions showed an ideality factor around 1.0 at a low forward voltage from 0 to 0.3 V and about 2.1 for an increased voltage ranging from 1.2 to 3.0 V, being consistent with that of an ideal diode according to the Sah-Noyce-Shockley theory.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and curcumin inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a group 1 carcinogen

BACKGROUND

Curcumin, a polyphenolic chemical constituent derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been shown to prevent gastric and colon cancers in rodents. Many mechanisms have been proposed for the chemopreventative effects, although the effect of curcumin on the growth of Helicobacter pylori has not been reported. H. pylori is a Group 1 carcinogen and is associated with the development of gastric and colon cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A methanol extract of the dried powdered turmeric rhizome and curcumin were tested against 19 strains of H. pylori, including 5 cagA+ strains.

RESULTS

Both the methanol extract and curcumin inhibited the growth of all strains of H. pylori in vitro with a minimum inhibitory concentration range of 6.25-50 micrograms/ml.

CONCLUSION

These data demonstrate that curcumin inhibits the growth of H. pylori cagA+ strains in vitro, and this may be one of the mechanisms by which curcumin exerts its chemopreventative effects.

AIDS and sex education for young people in China

Although China has had a rich sexual culture for thousands of years, Chinese people are usually unwilling to openly discuss issues of sex. Some parents are quite ignorant of the change in their children's sexual attitude and behaviour. In China today, adolescents are becoming much more sexually liberated. Premarital sex and unplanned pregnancies among teenagers are increasing. Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) including HIV/AIDS are also spreading rapidly. However, young people lack basic information on AIDS/STD and do not know how to protect themselves from these diseases or how to avoid unintended pregnancies. Several major youth peer education programmes in China are mentioned in this paper. Among them, a four-year programme entitled the Australian-Chinese AIDS/STD/Safer Sex Peer Education Programme for Youth, is discussed in some detail. The programme has so far reached over 40000 university and school students. Evaluation results show that the programme is effective in both significantly increasing students' knowledge about AIDS/STDs and changing their attitude towards AIDS patients. In addition, the programme is highly praised by the students.

[Characteristics of alpha2-adrenoceptor mediated contractile response in isolated aortae of rats]

In order to investigate the characteristics of vascular alpha(2)-adrenoceptor (alpha(2)-AR) and its relation to alpha(1)-AR, isolated Wistar rat (10 weeks) aortae were used as a model for testing contractile function in vivo. It was found that both alpha(1) and alpha(2)-AR (mainly alpha(1)-AR) mediated the contractile response. While alpha(1)-AR enhanced the contractile response mediated by alpha(2)-AR, alpha(2)-AR had no effect on that mediated by alpha(1)-AR. When alpha(1)-AR was irreversibly blocked and the activity of alpha(2)-AR remained intact, the contractile response mediated by alpha(2)-AR was no longer observed. The contractile response only reappeared in the presence of KCl of the threshold level, and the extent of the maximum contraction decreased, compared with control (with alpha(1)-AR being intact). The results show that there exists a functional alpha(2)-AR in rat aorta, however, the contractile effect of which depends on the stimulation of alpha(1)-AR.

[Protective effect of Panax quinquefolium 20s-proto-panaxdiolsaponins on acute myocardial infarction in dogs]

OBJECTIVE

To study the protective effects of Panax quinquefolium 20s-protopanaxdiolsaponins extracted from leaves of P. quinquefolium (PQDS) on acute myocardial infarction(AMI) in dogs.

METHOD

The parameters of myocardial infart size, the serum CK and LDH activity, myocardial metabolism, free radicals and coronary circulation etc were determined by using the model of ligation of LAD in the anaesthetized open-chest dogs.

RESULT

In dogs treated with PQDS(in a dosage of 10 and 20 mg.kg-1 i.v. infusion), the myocardial infarct size, the activity of serum CK, LDH and the contents of serum FFA and LPO were decreased, whereas the activity of serum SOD and GSH-Px increased markedly. At the same time, myocardial blood flow was increased and coronary vascular resistance decreased significantly.

CONCLUSION

PQDS has protective effect on myocardial ischemia by modifying metabolic dysfunction of FFA, inhibiting oxygen free radical mediated peroxidation of membrane lipids, enhancing endogenous antioxidase activity and increasing myocardial blood supply.

[Effects of heat stress on DA mediated PI signal transduction system in rat striatum]

Objective. To study the effects of heat stress on dopamine (DA) and related phosphatidylinositol (PI) signal transduction system members: PLA2, PI, Ca2+ in rat striatum. Method. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and heat stressed group. Heat stressed rats were placed in small hot chambers and taken out as soon as their rectal temperatures (Tr) reached the preset temperature. Then the animals were killed and their striatums were taken out. Fluorospectrophotometry, HPLC, Fura-2/AM fluoresence labelled method and acidalkaline titration were used to measure the content of DA, PI, [Ca2+]i and the enzyme activity of PLA2. Result. During heat stress, when rats' Tr reached 41.0 degrees C or higher, with increase of Tr, DA content increased continuously. When Tr = 43.0 degrees C, DA content was significantly higher than control. When Tr = 41.0 degrees C PLA2 activity was higher than control significantly, PI content of heat stressed group decreased significantly than control. [Ca2+]i increased significantly when Tr = 42.0 degrees C as compared with control. But if DA receptor2 (D2R) antagonist was given an hour before heat stress, [Ca2+]i decreased and Tr took a longer time to get to 42.0 degrees C. Conclusion. During heat stress, DA mediated PI signal transduction system was activated. The increase of [Ca 2+]i might be mediated by D2R, and D2R antagonist may improve thermotolerance.

[Antagonistic characterization of 1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxyl)-2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl ethylamino) propane hydrochloride on alpha 1-adrenoceptor]

AIM

To study the antagonistic effect of 1-(2,6-dimethylphenox)-2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl ethylamino) propane hydrochloride (DDPH) on alpha 1-adrenoceptor (AR).

METHODS

Radioligand binding assay was used. Specific 125I-BE2254 (2-beta(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl aminomethyl-tetralone) binding was measured by incubating membrane of rat cerebral cortex, spleen and the three cloned alpha 1-AR subtypes (alpha 1A, alpha 1B, alpha 1D) stably expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cell preparation with a single concentration of 125I-BE2254 in the presence of 14 concentrations of DDPH. Equilibrium binding constant (KI) and Hill coefficients (nH) were determined from Hill plots. The -log value of the KI was expressed as pKI. Contractile responses of isolated rat aorta, renal artery ring and spleen were determined. The pA2 values for DDPH in competitively inhibiting NE-stimulated contraction of tissues were measured with the method of Ainlakshana and Schild.

RESULTS

DDPH competitively inhibited binding of 125I-BE2254 to alpha 1-AR in a concentration-dependent manner. The pKI values for DDPH in rat cerebral cortex and spleen were 7.17 +/- 0.06 and 7.41 +/- 0.11, respectively, and the Hill efficiency values were not significantly different from unit. The pKI values for cloned alpha 1A, alpha 1B and alpha 1D-AR were 7.21 +/- 0.12, 6.88 +/- 0.04 and 7.26 +/- 0.06, respectively, and the Hill efficiency values were not significantly different from unit. Contractile studies showed that DDPH competitively antagonized the NE concentration-response curve with a pA2 values of 7.40 +/- 0.23 in aorta, 7.41 +/- 0.04 in renal artery and 7.63 +/- 0.07 in spleen and the slopes of schild plot were not significantly different from unit. The pKI values for DDPH in tissues and the cloned alpha 1A or alpha 1D-AR were shown to fit well in with the pA2 values in antagonizing NE-induced constriction in rat isolated aorta, renal artery and spleen.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that DDPH appear to be a non-subtype selective competitive antagonist for alpha 1-AR.

[Antagonistic effect of tetrahydroproberberine homologues on alpha 1-adrenoceptor]

The antagonistic effect of tetrahydroproberberine (THP) homologues on alpha 1-adrenoceptor was studied by combination of radioligand binding assays and measurements of vasoconstriction responses. The results showed that l-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP), l-stepholidine (l-SPD), THPB-18 and tetrahydroberberine (THB) competitively inhibited the 125I-BE2254 specific binding in rat cerebral cortex with pK1 values of 5.54 +/- 0.36, 5.56 +/- 0.47, 5.75 +/- 0.56 and 6.01 +/- 0.60, respectively, and the Hill efficiency was not significantly different from unity. They inhibited phenylephrine-induced constrictions with pA2 values of 5.48 +/- 0.58, 5.66 +/- 0.54, 5.64 +/- 0.34 and 5.45 +/- 0.76, respectively, and the slopes of Schild plot were not significantly different from unity. The results indicate that the 4 THP homologues are non-subtype selective competitive antagonists for alpha 1-adrenoceptor with similar affinities.

[Comparison of functional alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes in aortae between 12 month- and 10 week-old rats]

The distribution of alpha 1-adrenoceptor and its subtypes in isolated aortae was compared between 12 month- and 10 week-old Wistar rats by determinating vasoconstrictor responses. In the 12 month-old rats, compared with the 10 week-old rats, (1) the maximal contraction induced by norepinephrine (NE) was reduced, without significant alteration of pD2 value; (2) the inhibitory effect of chlorethylclonidine (an irreversible antagonist for alpha 1B and alpha 1D subtype) on NE-induced contraction was weaker; (3) using NE as an agonist, the pA2 value for WB4101 (an alpha 1A- and alpha 1D-selective antagonist) was not changed, but the pA2 value for BMY7378 (an alpha 1D-selective antagonist) was decreased, while the pA2 value for sertindole (an alpha 1A-selective antagonist) was increased. Thus, differently from the 10 week-old rats in which only alpha 1D-adrenoceptors mediate NE-induced contraction in aortae, both alpha 1A- and alpha 1D-adrenoceptors (mainly alpha 1A) mediate the response in the 12 month-old rats.

[Sertindole, a novel alpha 1A-adrenoceptor selective antagonist]

The antagonism effect of sertindole on alpha 1-AR subtypes was studied by combining radiologand binding assays in three cloned alpha 1-AR subtypes stably expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells and contractile response experiment in isolated rat blood vessels. The results showed that the affinity for sertindole in the cloned alpha 1A-AR (pKI 8.90 +/- 0.17) was 69-fold (pKI 7.06 +/- 0.09) and 132-fold (pKI 6.78 +/- 0.07) higher than that for the cloned alpha 1B- and alpha 1D-AR, respectively. The pA2 values for sertindole in antagonizing NE-induced vasoconstriction in isolated rat aorta and renal artery were shown to fit well to the pKI values on cloned alpha 1D- and alpha 1A-AR, respectively. Pretreatment of membrane preparations with sertindole for 30 min significantly reduced the maximal binding capacities. (Bmax) of 125 IBE2254 to the three cloned alpha 1-AR subtypes without alteration of affinities (KD values). In the presence of sertindole, the Bmax of 125IBE2254 binding to the cloned alpha 1-ARs were not significantly changed, while the KD values were significantly increased. Thus, sertindole is a selective irreversible competitive alpha 1-AR antagonist with alpha 1A subtype.

Induction of ICE and inhibition of c-fos, jun D and zif 268 in 12-month old spontaneously hypertensive rats

A semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was used to examine ICE, c-fos, jun D and zif 268 mRNA expression in the aortic and renal artery of 12-month old SHRs and wistar rats. Using this assay system, it was observed that the levels of aortic and renal artery expression of ICE were markedly higher in SHRs than in wistar rats. In contrast, the aortic and renal artery expression of immediate early genes (IEGs), c-fos, jun D and zif 268, were significant lower in SHRs than in wistar rats. Thus, our results suggest that differential regulation of death gene ICE and IEGs such as c-fos, jun D and zif 268 might be involved in the mechanism of pathogenesis of hypertension.

[Effects of long-term atenolol treatment on beta-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat heart]

The effects of long-term beta 1-AR selective antagonist atenolol treatment on beta-adrenoceptor subtypes were studied by radioligand binding assay, function determination and cAMP accumulation measerment in rat heart. The reasults showed that during long-term administration of atenolol: (1) The density of total beta-AR was increased by approximately 57%; the positive inotropic response and cAMP formation induced by activation of beta-AR were also enhanced. (2) The 125I-pindol competitive inhibition curve for CGP20712A showed that there were no significant difference in the percentage of beta 1- and beta 2-AR sites between the atenolol treated rats and the control rats; pA2 values for selective beta 1-AR antagonist CGP20712A and pKB values for selective beta 1-AR antagonist ICI 118, 551 were not significantly different in the two groups. The results suggested that beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors were upregulated not only in density but also in positive inotropic effect to the same extent.

[Effects of the leaves of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms. on myocardial infarct size in acute ischemic dogs]

Effects of saponin isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax senticosus (ASS) on myocardial infarct size were studied in acute ischemic dogs. The results showed that ASS (in a dosage of 25.50 mg/kg, iv) could significantly reduce the sizes of acute myocardial infarcts and decline the serum CK and LDH activity at 6h after ligation of LAD. It could also decrease the serum FFA levels at 3h and 6h after LAD occlusion.

[Hypoglycemic effect of saponin isolated from leaves of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxin.) Harms]

The hypoglycemic effect of saponin isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax senticosus (ASS) was studied. The results showed that ASS(100, 200 mg/kg, ip) could decrease various cases of experimental hyperglycemias induced by injection of adrenaline, glucose and alloxan, without affecting the levels of blood sugar in normal mice.

[Catch up and follow up of natal teeth: report of 6 cases]

6 cases with natal teeth were found in 11930 live births.5 cases, in which eight natal teeth had been found, also had been followed-up for 38-54 months after birth and five crownless root-like mass were found in 4 cases out of 5 at the site where natal teeth had been extracted at the time of birth. The histological study was made in one natal teeth and one root-like mass.

Studies on the antifertility components from Marsdenia koi

By random screening test, Marsdenia koi was found to have antifertility activity on SD rat. From MeOH extracts of this plant two steroidal glycosides, marsdekoiside A and B, were isolated, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence and by comparison of the hydrolysis products with the authentic samples. Both are newly identified compounds, and marsdekoiside A has good antifertility activity.