Suppression of Rotenone-Treated Human Breast Cancer Stem Cell Survival Using Survivin Inhibitor YM155 is Associated to Oxidative Stress Modulation

Background: Despite recent progress in molecular-targeted therapies, breast cancer remains the primary leading cause of cancer related death among women worldwide. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are believed to be responsible for therapy resistance and cancer recurrence. We recently demonstrated that human BCSCs (CD24-/CD44+) could survive better than their counterpart non-BCSCs (CD24-/CD44-) when treated with rotenone, possibly due to lower levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, high expression of antioxidant manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and anti-apoptotic survivin. The aim of this study was to verify the role of survivin on human BCSCs survival under oxidative stress modulation by suppressing its expression using YM155, a survivin inhibitor. Methods: Human BCSCs (ALDH+ cells) were treated with YM155 for 24 h prior to treatment with rotenone for a further 6 h. We determined intracellular superoxide levels were determined using dihydroethidium assay, survivin and MnSOD expression using qRT-PCR, survivin protein level using ELISA, as well as cell viability using trypan blue exclusion and acridine orange/ethidium bromide apoptosis assay. Results: Suppression of survivin expression using YM155 could reduce the survival of rotenone-treated BCSCs, which may be associated with oxidative stress modulation, as shown by increased ROS levels and decreased MnSOD expression. We confirm that survivin is responsible for maintaining BCSCs survival under oxidative stress modulation. Furthermore, YM155 could modulate oxidative stress in BCSCs by reducing MnSOD expression and increasing ROS levels. Conclusion: YM155 treatment could be used to overcome BCSCs resistance to oxidative stress-based anticancer therapies.     

鲜天麻对睡眠干扰诱导小鼠学习记忆障碍的改善作用

目的研究鲜天麻对睡眠干扰(sleep interruption,SI)诱导的小鼠学习记忆障碍的改善作用。方法 HPLC法测定鲜天麻中天麻素、对羟基苯甲醇的含量,苯酚硫酸法测定多糖的含量。60只ICR雄鼠随机分为对照组、睡眠干扰模型组、阳性药(莫达非尼)组和鲜天麻低(3 g/kg)、高(9 g/kg)剂量组。睡眠干扰造模14 d后,依次进行自主活动、新物体识别、水迷宫和避暗等动物行为学检测实验,并测定小鼠血清和海马组织超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)水平及海马组织乙酰胆碱(Ach)、谷氨酸(Glu)和去甲肾上腺素(NE)水平。结果自主活动实验中,各组小鼠运动功能无显著性差异。与对照组比较,模型组小鼠在新物体识别实验中的相对辨别指数(DI)显著性下降,水迷宫寻台潜伏期明显延长,避暗实验错误次数增加、入暗潜伏期缩短;血清和海马组织MDA水平升高,海马组织的SOD水平降低;海马组织Ach、Glu和NE水平均显著降低。与模型组比较,莫达非尼和鲜天麻各剂量能不同程度增加小鼠新物体识别DI,提高新物体辨别能力;增强空间学习获得和保持能力,缩短水迷宫潜伏期;减少避暗错误次数、延长避暗潜伏期;提高血清和海马组织中SOD、Ach、Glu和NE水平,降低MDA水平。结论鲜天麻能改善睡眠干扰引起的学习记忆障碍,改善氧化应激和神经递质水平,是一种有潜力的改善学习记忆中药。     

82例应力性骨折影像学诊断回顾性分析

目的：研究影像学在诊断应力性骨折中的应用。方法：选取2013年1月—2017年12月南京医科大学第一附属医院收治的82例保有影像学资料并诊断明确的应力性骨折患者作为研究对象，对患者影像学资料进行回顾性分析，并比较分析X线、CT、MRI对应力性骨折的诊断准确率及漏诊的原因。结果：82例应力性骨折患者的男女比例为1∶1.9，平均年龄为49.77岁；病变多累及下肢骨及中轴骨，胫骨为最常见累及部位；X线、CT、MRI的诊断准确率依次升高，X线、CT的初诊漏诊与MRI分级之间的关系无统计学意义；X线及CT图像中骨膜反应易被漏诊。结论：应力性骨折的影像学诊断应结合临床病史及好发部位，早期诊断应力性骨折首选MRI，注重X线及CT中骨膜反应及软组织情况以减少漏诊率。     

活体大蒜及离体蒜苗对连作当归胁迫的影响

目的:通过活体大蒜(garlic)及离体蒜苗(garlic sprout)挥发物对当归(Angelica sinensis)的化感效应,探索大蒜挥发性物质对连作当归存在的化感效应,为当归大蒜间作模式缓解连作当归胁迫提供一定的理论依据。方法:试验通过对当归各生长指标及叶片保护酶系统的测定分析,讨论当归在活体大蒜及离体蒜苗挥发物的影响作用下对连作胁迫、无连作胁迫环境的适应性及抗性生长发育机制。结果:整体分析,连作胁迫条件下离体蒜苗对当归幼苗化感效应处理(DC2)下的当归生长指标、叶片保护酶活性较当归单作(CK1)整体提高17. 51%,48. 34%;连作茬口种植活体蒜苗与当归间作处理(LC2)下的当归生长指标、叶片保护酶活性较当归单作(CK2)整体提高16. 63%,36. 65%;即离体蒜苗挥发物较活体大蒜缓解当归连作胁迫作用更显著。结论:无论有无连作障碍胁迫,适当浓度的活体大蒜及离体蒜苗挥发物对当归生长指标及叶片保护酶活性均表现为明显的化感促进作用,其化感促进作用在有连作胁迫条件下表现更显著,因而间作大蒜对当归连作障碍胁迫有一定的缓解作用。     

益肾通督电针疗法对女性创伤后应激障碍的临床观察

目的观察益肾通督电针疗法对于女性创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)的临床疗效。方法将65例女性PTSD患者随机分为电针治疗组和单纯西药对照组连续治疗2个月,在治疗前、后分别对患者的症状自评量表(SCL-90)、雌二醇、皮质醇等水平进行测定。结果治疗前、后评分总体上组间效应不显著(P <0. 05)、但电针组在SCL-90躯体化症状、焦虑评分较单纯西药对照组有明显改善(P <0. 05)。结论益肾通督电针疗法治疗女性PTSD患者的总体疗效与单纯西药对照组疗效大致相仿,电针疗法对于改善患者临床常见症状疗效确切且副作用小,价格相对低廉,患者依从性较好。     

Interplay of oxidative stress and antioxidant bio markers in oil adjuvant Brucella melitensis vaccinated and challenged mice

The intracellular nature of Brucella leads to rise in oxidative stress due to bacterial invasion, particularly at the site of predilection spleen and lymph nodes. The present study aimed to evaluate the erythrocytic and tissue specific oxidative stress responses induced during oil adjuvant killed Brucella melitensis vaccination. The results of the study clearly implicated a significant increase in level of catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and lipid peroxidation (LPO), and total protein content in erythrocytes after vaccination. The activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was unaltered during the period of experiment. The catalase activity and GSH content was significantly increased in lung and spleen tissues. The tissues GST levels increased significantly in all tissues, while tissue SOD level increased significantly only in lung tissues. Thus, it can be inferred that oil adjuvant based Brucella vaccine induces negligible signs of inflammatory pathophysiology and supports the development of significant level of protection against virulent Brucella challenge.     

Effects of ambient particulate matter on vascular tissue: a review

ABSTRACT

Fine and ultra-fine particulate matter (PM) are major constituents of urban air pollution and recognized risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. This review examined the effects of PM exposure on vascular tissue. Specific mechanisms by which PM affects the vasculature include inflammation, oxidative stress, actions on vascular tone and vasomotor responses, as well as atherosclerotic plaque formation. Further, there appears to be a greater PM exposure effect on susceptible individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.