The effects of κ-opioid receptor on stretch-induced electrophysiological changes in infarcted rat hearts.

Introduction: Kappa-opioid receptors (κ-OR) and mechanoelectric feedback seem to have common pathways that influence electrophysiological changes resulting from acute myocardial infarction (MI). This study aims to determine the effects of the κ-OR on stretch-induced electrophysiological changes after acute MI.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham operated, MI, U-50488H (a selective κ-OR agonist) -treated MI (MI+U-50488H) and nor-BNI (a selective κ-OR antagonist) -treated MI (MI+nor-BNI).

Traumatic subperiostial emphysema caused by hyperpneumatization of the temporal and occipital bone.

Hyperpneumatization of the temporal bone with extension into the occipital bone and even the parietal bones is a rare condition. We report a case in which the patient suffered periodically from a palpable mass in the parietal-occipital region which originated from extensive occipital bone pneumatization. Computed tomography examination revealed extensive temporal and occipital pneumatization and subperiosteal pneumatoceles, which was corrected by surgery.

MiR-342-5p suppresses coxsackievirus B3 biosynthesis by targeting the 2C-coding region.

Coxsackievirus B type 3 (CVB3) is one of the major pathogens associated with human heart disease. miRNAs are a class of short, noncoding RNA that can post-transcriptionally modulate gene expression. By comparing the CVB3 genome and miR-342-5p sequences, we found there were potential miR-342-5p targets in the CVB3 genome.

Recombinant BMP 4/7 fusion protein induces differentiation of bone marrow stem cells.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) induce differentiation of mesenchymal cells to cartilage and bone. We cloned BMP4 and BMP7 cDNAs from human placenta and fetal cartilage cells, respectively, and used an Escherichia coli expression system to produce recombinant BMP4 and BMP4/7 proteins. Differentiation of primary cultures of bone marrow stem cells (BMSC) treated with BMP4 or BMP4/7 was evaluated by Von Kossa staining and by determining alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin level.

Parasympathetic and substance P-immunoreactive nerve denervation in atrial fibrillation models.

Background: Recent studies demonstrated that atrial fibrillation (AF) induced heterogeneous sympathetic hyperinnervation and baroreflex impartation, but the changes of vagal and afferent nerve are not clear.

Methods: Six dogs underwent atrial pacing at 600 beats/min (AF group). All paced dogs developed sustained AF by 5 weeks of pacing.

Impaired PI3K/Akt signal pathway and hepatocellular injury in high-fat fed rats.

Aim: to determine whether mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from high-fat diet is related to impairment of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt, also known as PKB) pathway.

Methods: rat models of nonalcoholic fatty liver were established by high-fat diet feeding. The expression of total and phosphorylated P13K and Akt proteins in hepatocytes was determined by Western blotting.

CREB is a regulatory target for the protein kinase Akt/PKB in the differentiation of pancreatic ductal cells into islet β-cells mediated by hepatocyte growth factor.

We have previously reported that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is involved in hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced differentiation of adult rat pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDECs) into islet β-cells in vitro. The transcription factor CREB is one of the downstream key effectors of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Recent studies showing that CREB is required for the survival of certain cell types prompted us to examine whether CREB is a nuclear target for activation via the HGF-dependent Ser/Thr kinase Akt/PKB in the differentiation of pancreatic duct cell into islet β-cells.

Mechanisms of hepatocyte growth factor-mediated signaling in differentiation of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells into insulin-producing cells.

Pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDECs) were induced to differentiate into insulin-producing cells by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in our previous study, but the mechanism through which this induction occurs is still unknown. HGF is a ligand that activates a tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-Met proto-oncogene. This activation is followed by indirect activation of multiple downstream signal transduction pathways (including MAPKs and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways) that initiate various biological effects.

Arsenic trioxide promotes mitochondrial DNA mutation and cell apoptosis in primary APL cells and NB4 cell line.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells. The NB4 cell line was treated with 2.0 micromol/L As(2)O(3) in vitro, and the primary APL cells were treated with 2.

[Analysis of prognosis factors of idiopathic sudden hearing loss].

Objective: To study the prognosis factors of idiopathic sudden hearing loss.

Method: The clinical data of 165 patients with idiopathic sudden hearing loss were retrospectively studied and the computer software was used to investigate the relevant effects on prognosis.

Result: The prognosis of patients who had been treated within 14 days under the age of 55 were better.

[Coronary artery and myocardium lesion comparison post atrioventricular ring radiofrequency catheter ablation with different catheters].

Objective: To analyze the extent of myocardium and coronary artery lesion post atrioventricular ring radiofrequency catheter ablation with different tip catheters.

Methods: Twenty-one healthy dogs were randomly divided into 64 degrees C/50 W/100 s, 64 degrees C/100 W/100 s, 45 degrees C/45 W/100 s groups and ablated by 4 mm tip catheter, 8 mm tip catheter and irrigated tip catheter respectively. Left atrioventricular ring and right atrioventricular ring ablation were performed in all dogs.

Correlation of ¹⁸F-FDG PET activity with expressions of survivin, Ki67, and CD34 in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: This work investigates the correlation between positron emission tomography (PET) images and the expressions of survivin, Ki67, and CD34, as well as the clinicopathological characteristics of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Thirty-three NSCLC cases were scanned with ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG), PET before surgery. Tumor resections were used to evaluate the expressions of survivin, Ki67, and CD34 by immunohistochemical assay.

Time-dependent reduction of glutamine synthetase in retina of diabetic rats.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common complications of diabetes and a major cause of blindness worldwide. We studied the transcriptome of the diabetic retina using Series Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) technology and observed a 45.6% reduction in transcript levels of glutamine synthetase (GS) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats compared with normal rats.

[Analysis on non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis for 59 cases by endoscopic sinus surgery].

Objective: To explore the etiology and clinical features of non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis and to evaluate the methods and curative effects of endoscopic sinus surgery.

Method: The denial and follow-up data of 59 patients with non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis were retrospectively analyzed.

Result: Following up for 2-5 years, no complications were observed.

Can pancreatic duct-derived progenitors be a source of islet regeneration?

The regenerative process of the pancreas is of interest because the main pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus is an inadequate number of insulin-producing beta-cells. The functional mass of beta-cells is decreased in type 1 diabetes, so replacing missing beta-cells or triggering their regeneration may allow for improved type 1 diabetes treatment. Therefore, expansion of the beta-cell mass from endogenous sources, either in vivo or in vitro, represents an area of increasing interest.

Generation of insulin-secreting cells from adult rat pancreatic ductal epithelial cells induced by hepatocyte growth factor and betacellulin-delta4.

The present study was conducted to identify effective factors that could induce differentiation of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDECs) into insulin-producing cells. We examined the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and betacellulin-delta4 (BTC-delta4) on PDECs. We isolated PDECs from adult rats and stimulated them with HGF and BTC-delta4 for 28days.

[Effects of 4-hydroxytamoxifen on prostate smooth muscle cells: an in vitro experiment].

Objective: To investigate the effects of 4- hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate smooth muscle cells and the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR).

Methods: Prostate smooth muscle cells were isolated from the resected specimens of prostate glands of 10 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), cultured, and exposed to estradiol (E(2)), diethylstilbestrol (DES), and OHT of different concentrations (1 x 10(-8) - 1 x 10(-5) mol/L) or mixture of E(2) (1 x 10(-8) - 1 x 10(-6) mol/L) with OHT (1 x 10(-7) mol/L). Flow cytometry was used to test the proliferation and apoptosis of the cells, and immunocytochemistry was used to test the expression of estrogen and androgen receptors.

Imatinib mesylate-induced repigmentation of vitiligo lesions in a patient with recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

We report a case of vitiligo with localized repigmentation induced by imatinib mesylate. An elderly Chinese man has been characterized with recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumors originated from interstitial cells of Cajal with gain-of-function c-kit mutation. His recurrent tumors have responded to imatinib mesylate therapy.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on adenosine triphosphate content and microtubule associated protein-2 expression after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat brain.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) research has mainly been focused on the therapeutic effect of psychiatric disorders and Parkinson's disease. A few studies have shown that rTMS might protect against delayed neuronal death induced by transient ischemia, enhance long-term potentiation in ischemic conditions and affect regional brain blood flow and metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP-2) expression in rat brain after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion.

[A comparative study of anterior decompression approach by using cervical retractor systems and traditional surgical approach to treat cervical spondylosis].

Objective: To compare and evaluate the whole effect of anterior decompression approach to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy by using cervical retractor systems and the traditional surgical approach.

Methods: From April 2001 to August 2004, group A included 30 males and 23 females aging from 31 to 69 years, and the involved time was from 7 months to 15 years. Involved segments included 22 one-segments, 24 two-segments and 7 three-segments.

[Effect of phalloidin on electrophysiological changes induced by stretch of myocardial infarcted hearts in rats].

The present study aimed to explore whether the stretch of ischemic myocardium could modulate the electrophysiological characteristics via mechanoelectric feedback (MEF), as well as the effect of phalloidin on the electrophysiological changes. Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (n=9), phalloidin group (n=7), myocardial infarction (MI) group (n=9), MI + phalloidin group (n=7). The acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was conducted by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery for 30 min in isolated rat heart.

[Value of multi-slice computed tomography in diagnosis of coronary plaque characterization].

Objective: To investigate the value of multi-slice computed tomography in diagnosis of different types of coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients undergoing CT angiography (CTA) with normal coronary arteries were randomly selected to measure the CT values of different sections of the 4 main branches of coronary artery. Twenty-five specimens of human heart from the bodies of the patients who died of non-cardiogenic diseases were scanned by 16-slice CT scanner and 64-slice CT scanner: a mixture of CT contrast media and normal saline was injected into the coronary arteries to achieve in-vivo-like contrast enhancement within the coronary artery lumen to detect atherosclerotic plaques.

[Expressions of urotensin II and its receptor in pulmonary arteries in rats with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To investigate the expressions of Urotensin II (UII) protein and mRNA and its receptor (UT) mRNA of medium and small pulmonary arteries of rats with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: The Wistar rats were injected thrombi through the jugular vein 2 times in 2 weeks and tranexamic acid was injected peritoneally once daily during the experiment to prevent thrombolysis. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was measured using right cardiac atheterzation.

Variance of peptidic nerve innervation in a canine model of atrial fibrillation produced by prolonged atrial pacing.

Background: Long-term rapid atrial pacing may result in nerve sprouting and sympathetic hyperinnervation in atrial fibrillation (AF) in dogs. Whether peptidic nerve is involved in neural remodeling is unclear.

Method And Results: We performed rapid left atrial pacing in six dogs to induce sustained AF.