Endocrine disruptors, polychlorinated biphenyls-induced gC1qR-dependent apoptosis in human trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo.

Although an association exists between exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and spontaneous miscarriage, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. In this study, PCBs content in plasma was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and decidua tissues were examined for the expression of globular heads of C1q receptor (gC1qR) using Western blot in patients who underwent induced abortion and spontaneous abortion. Results showed increased PCBs content and gC1qR expression in patients who experienced spontaneous abortion.

The role of gC1qR in regulating survival of human papillomavirus 16 oncogene-transfected cervical cancer cells.

Human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) is strongly associated with the development of 50% of cervical cancers. The E6 and E7 proteins encoded by high-risk HPV types are associated with the immune evasion of cervical cancer cells, but the mechanism is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether cells transfected with E6 and E7 expression constructs reduce the expression of the globular heads of the C1q receptor (gC1qR), a mitochondrial surface protein overexpressed in certain cancer cells.

Spinal macrophage migration inhibitory factor is a major contributor to rodent neuropathic pain-like hypersensitivity.

Background: Neuropathic pain-like hypersensitivity evoked by peripheral nerve injury is a salient clinical feature of pathologic pain; however, the underlying mechanisms of this condition remain largely unknown. Previous work has confirmed that spinal macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) contributes to the pathogenesis of formalin-induced inflammatory hyperalgesia, but the role for MIF in neuropathic pain is still not well defined.

Methods: After approval by the Ethical Committee of Animal Use and Care, the sciatic chronic constriction nerve injury-induced rodent model of neuropathic pain was built.

Spinal macrophage migration inhibitory factor contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory hyperalgesia in rats.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine production after nociceptive stimuli is pivotal for hyperalgesia. As macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a pleiotropic cytokine produced mainly by nonneuronal tissue, has been involved in the regulation of neuronal functions, herein we examined the role for MIF in formalin-induced inflammatory pain model. MIF critically contributed to nociceptive behaviors following formalin injection.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is induced by the overexpression of UCP4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) belong to a superfamily of mitochondrial transporters that uncouple ATP synthesis from electron transport. We have previously shown that uncoupling protein 4 (UCP4) is differentially expressed in omental adipose tissue in diet-induced obese and normal rats. Overexpression of UCP4 promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis and differentiation of preadipocytes.

NYGGF4 homologous gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes: regulation by FFA and adipokines.

NYGGF4 is a novel gene that is abundantly expressed in the adipose tissue of obese subjects and is involved in insulin resistance. In the present study, the mRNA expression of NYGGF4 homologous genes was examined in the 3T3-L1 cell line. The NYGGF4 mRNAs were expressed at low levels in the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Epidural analgesia in the latent phase of labor and the risk of cesarean delivery: a five-year randomized controlled trial.

Background: The optimal timing of epidural analgesia has been a controversial issue, and how early women can benefit from epidural analgesia is still debated. The objective of this trial was to test the hypothesis that patient-controlled epidural analgesia given at cervical dilation of 1.0 cm or more does not increase the risk of prolonged labor or Cesarean delivery.

Folbp1 promotes embryonic myocardial cell proliferation and apoptosis through the WNT signal transduction pathway.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Folate-binding protein one (Folbp1) and embryonic cardiac proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Folbp1 gene expression and short interference RNA expression vectors were constructed. Morphology of P19 cells during differentiation was observed by inverted microscope.

[Clinical observation on effect of tongnao huoluo acupuncture therapy in treating acute cerebral infarction at ultra-early or acute stage].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tongnao Huoluo acupuncture (TNHLA) therapy in treating acute cerebral infarction at ultra-early stage (within 6 hrs after attack) or acute stage (within 6-48 hrs after attack).

Methods: The effect of TNHLA in the two stages was observed separately (treated group) and compared with the effect treated with immediate thrombolysis by intravenously given urokinase 12 million units in ultra-early stage or simple body acupuncture in acute stage (control group), and with those treated with intravenous dripping of normal saline (placebo group). In the meantime, all groups treated with low molecular dextran injection for 14 days, cytidine diphosphate choline and entric soluble aspirin for 28 days.