Mammalian Metallothionein-2A and Oxidative Stress.

Mammalian metallothionein-2A (MT2A) has received considerable attention in recent years due to its crucial pathophysiological role in anti-oxidant, anti-apoptosis, detoxification and anti-inflammation. For many years, most studies evaluating the effects of MT2A have focused on reactive oxygen species (ROS), as second messengers that lead to oxidative stress injury of cells and tissues. Recent studies have highlighted that oxidative stress could activate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and MT2A, as a mediator of MAPKs, to regulate the pathogenesis of various diseases.

Effects of high glucose on expression of OPG and RANKL in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells.

Objective: To explore effect of high glucose on expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF- κ B ligand (RANKE) in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells.

Methods: SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin, OPG and RANKL expression in rat thoracic aortas were detected by immunohistochemical staining. In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) (A7r5), qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to examine the mRNA and protein levels of OPG and RANKL.

Interposed abdominal compression-cardiopulmonary resuscitation after cardiac surgery.

Objectives: The management of cardiac arrest after cardiac surgery differs from the management of cardiac arrest under other circumstances. In other studies, interposed abdominal compression-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (IAC-CPR) resulted in a better outcome compared with conventional CPR. The aim of the present study was to determine the feasibility, safety and efficacy of IAC-CPR compared with conventional CPR in patients with cardiac arrest after cardiac surgery.

p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases inhibit atrial natriuretic peptide mRNA transcription in gp130-mediated hypertrophic ventricular myocytes.

Objective: To understand the role of ANP mRNA transcription regulation in gp130-mediated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and the involved mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK, also called p42/p44 MAPK) signaling pathway.

Methods: Isolated neonatal ventricular myocytes were treated with different concentrations of CT-1 (10(-9), 10(-8)and 10(-7)mol/L). MTT was used to analyze the viability and RT-PCR was used to detect ANP mRNA levels in cardiomyocyte.

Toxicarioside A inhibits SGC-7901 proliferation, migration and invasion via NF-κB/bFGF signaling.

Aim: To investigate the inhibitory role of toxicarioside A on the gastric cancer cell line human gastric cancer cell line (SGC-7901) and determine the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods: After SGC-7901 cells were treated with toxicarioside A at various concentrations (0.5, 1.

[Analysis on therapeutic effect of bird-pecking moxibustion combined with western medicine for treatment of infantile hand, foot and mouth disease].

Objective: To observe therapeutic effects of bird-pecking moxibustion in children of hand, foot and mouth disease, and to analyze the mechanism.

Methods: Seventy-five children of hand, foot and mouth disease were randomly divided into 3 groups, a combined moxibustion and medicine group (n = 22), a Chinese medicine group (n = 29), and a western medicine group (n = 24). The combined moxibustion and medicine group was treated with bird-pecking moxibustion combined with routine western medicine, the Chinese medicine group with oral administration of Chinese medicine and routine western medical therapy, and the western medicine group with routine western medicine.