Evidence of apoptosis in alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Apoptosis is a mechanism of cell death implicated in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced organ damage. Experimental studies have suggested alcohol-mediated apoptosis in the cardiac muscle, and there is evidence of skeletal muscle apoptosis in long-term high-dose alcohol consumers. The relation between skeletal and cardiac muscle damage in alcoholism led us to consider the pathogenic role of apoptosis in alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy. We evaluated apoptosis in the hearts of individuals with long-term alcoholism (n = 19), of those with long-standing hypertension (n = 20), and of those with no known disease as control subjects (n = 7). Alcohol consumption measurement, heart function evaluation, and myocardial immunohistochemical and morphometric analysis were performed. Apoptosis was evaluated with deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling assay, and BAX and BCL-2 expressions were used to detect induction of and protection from proapoptotic mechanisms, respectively. Hearts from patients with a history of alcoholism showed apoptotic indexes similar to those of organs from hypertensive donors. Subjects with structural heart damage of alcoholic or hypertensive origin showed higher apoptotic indexes in deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling, BAX, and BCL-2 assays as compared with control subjects (P < .001 for all). Moreover, New York Heart Association class I alcoholic patients displayed higher BAX and BCL-2 expressions as compared with control subjects. We conclude that apoptosis is present to a similar degree in the heart muscle of high-dose alcohol consumers and long-standing hypertensive subjects and is related to structural damage. Proapoptotic mechanisms are activated in alcoholic patients without heart damage.     

葛根素减轻乙醇导致大鼠生精细胞的凋亡

目的 观察乙醇导致大鼠生精细胞的凋亡及葛根素的干预。方法 将大鼠30 只,随机均分为对照组、乙醇组及葛根素干预组。于实验第40天免疫组织化学法（SABC）检测左侧睾丸各组Bcl-2、Bax 蛋白在生精细胞的表达; RT-PCR检测右侧睾丸各组Bcl-2及Bax mRNA的表达;TUNEL 法检测生精细胞的凋亡。结果 醇组平均每个生精小管断面中Bcl-2 蛋白阳性细胞数和A值低于对照组(P<0.01),而平均每个生精小管断面中Bax 蛋白的阳性细胞数和A值高于对照组(P<0.01);乙醇组Bax mRNA表达较葛根素干预组及对照组强（P<0.05）,而Bcl-2 mRNA表达较葛根素干预组及对照组弱（P<0.05）;乙醇组每个生精小管横切面中的凋亡细胞数目高于对照组(P< 0.01),葛根素干预组显著缓解上述变化。结论 根素对乙醇导致的大鼠生精细胞凋亡有干预作用。     

Apoptosis and proliferation in subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma.

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma (SPTCL), designated recently as a distinct clinicopathologic entity in the World Health Organization Classification, is a neoplasm composed of cytotoxic T-cells that preferentially involves subcutaneous adipose tissue. Histologically, SPTCL is characterized by extensive karyorrhectic debris and tumor necrosis suggesting that apoptotic mechanisms are involved in its pathogenesis. We assessed the apoptotic index (AI) and proliferation rate (PR) of 13 cases of SPTCL by TUNEL test and Ki-67 immunostaining, respectively. We also immunohistochemically assessed for expression of BCL-2 (anti-apoptosis), BAX (pro-apoptosis), and P53 and correlated the results with apoptosis and proliferation. We detected a high AI (median 8.1%) in 11 cases of SPTCL, and 12 cases had low BCL-2 and high BAX expression. BCL-2 expression inversely correlated with AI (P <.001) and BAX (P <.001). We found a low PR (cutoff > or = 25%) in eight (61%) cases. There was an inverse correlation between AI and PR (r = -.58, P =.04). Ten cases were assessed for P53; immunostaining results were heterogeneous but P53 expression correlated with large cell cytologic features. Our findings demonstrate that SPTCLs have a high AI that may be explained by differential expression of BCL-2 and BAX in the neoplastic cells.     

大鼠肢体缺血再灌注后肺组织BAX基因表达上调

目的探讨在体大鼠肢体缺血再灌注(LIR)后肺组织BAX和BCL-2基因表达的变化。方法在大鼠肢体缺血再灌注(LIR)损伤动物模型上,用TUNEL法、电泳法及免疫组织化学等技术观察LIR后肺损伤发生过程中,肺组织细胞凋亡变化以及BAX和BCL-2蛋白质表达的改变。结果大鼠LIR后,肺血管内皮细胞及附壁的炎细胞凋亡明显增加;肺组织BCL-2表达的变化不大,但BAX蛋白质表达明显上调,DNA断链率升高,活性氧(ROS)含量增加,且与肺组织细胞凋亡的增加相一致。结论肺组织细胞凋亡以及BAX和BCL-2表达的变化可能参与LIR后肺损伤的发生。     

棕榈酸诱导胰岛素瘤细胞MIN6细胞凋亡

目的探讨蛋白激酶B及其磷酸化在棕榈酸诱导的胰岛素瘤细胞MIN6凋亡中的作用。方法胰岛素瘤细胞MIN6分别在含有不同棕榈酸浓度(0～0.5 mmol/L)的DMEM高糖培养基中孵育,培养基中加或不加PI3K/PKB的阻断剂LY294002;TUNEL法观察凋亡并计数凋亡率;透射电镜观察MIN6细胞超微结构;Western blot检测蛋白激酶B(PKB)及其磷酸化蛋白p-PKB(Ser473)的表达;RT-PCR法检测BAX、BCL-2mRNA的表达。结果MIN6细胞凋亡随着培养基中棕榈酸浓度的增加而增加,LY294002可增强其凋亡程度;棕榈酸抑制MIN6细胞的PKB在473位丝氨酸位点的磷酸化,抑制BCL-2mRNA的表达并促进BAXmRNA的表达。结论棕榈酸可能通过抑制PKB磷酸化的激活而诱导糖尿病时胰岛β细胞的凋亡。     

RNA干扰沉默Bax基因对线粒体途径软骨细胞凋亡的影响

 【摘要】 目的 利用体外培养的鼠软骨细胞,研究RNA干扰沉默Bax基因表达对经线粒体途径细胞凋亡的影响。方法 体外分离培养SD大鼠软骨细胞;Bax siRNA干扰沉默Bax基因表达。RT-PCR和Western blot检测mRNA及蛋白表达水平;MTT法检测细胞活力;Annexin V-FITC/PI双标记法检测细胞凋亡率;Western blot检测Bcl-2、Cytochrome C蛋白的表达。结果 Bax siRNA干扰24h后,Bax的mRNA和蛋白的表达水平均明显降低。细胞凋亡受到明显抑制,细胞存活率增高。并且,在Bax基因沉默的细胞中,Cytochrome C蛋白表达水平降低,同时Bcl-2蛋白表达水平升高。结论 RNA干扰沉默Bax基因可抑制鼠软骨细胞凋亡并且促进其存活,其机制可能与线粒体途径相关。     

The potential role of BAX and BCL-2 expression in diffuse alveolar damage.

Apoptosis of type II pneumocytes has been identified in diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), is associated with p53 and WAF1 expression, and may be of pathogenetic importance. BAX, a homologue of BCL-2, is induced by p53 and is a promoter of apoptosis. The proapoptotic effect of BAX is negatively regulated by its binding with BCL-2. In this study, we sought to investigate that role of BAX and BCL-2 in DAD. We hypothesized that alterations in BAX and BCL-2 expression may be important in determining the susceptibility of type II pneumocytes and interstitial cells to apoptosis. Twenty-eight cases of DAD and 16 control cases (i.e., lung tissues adjacent to resected tumors) were retrieved from the files of the University of Utah and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Immunohistochemical stains were performed with antigen retrieval by microwave using antibodies recognizing BAX and BCL-2. The percentage of positively staining pneumocytes and interstitial cells was estimated in each case to the nearest 10%. BAX expression was markedly increased in pneumocytes and interstitial cells in DAD compared with control lung tissues. In DAD, BAX was identified on an average of 80% of alveolar pneumocytes (range 30 to 100%) and 70% of interstitial cells (range 20 to 90%). In control lungs, BAX was identified on an average of 10% of pneumocytes (range 0 to 20%) but not in interstitial cells. Focal BCL-2 staining was identified in interstitial myofibroblasts in 7 of 25 cases of DAD but was only identified in bronchiolar epithelium of control lungs. These results suggest that the induction of BAX in DAD may enhance the susceptibility of alveolar epithelial cells to apoptosis, whereas BCL-2 expression may contribute to the absence of apoptosis in interstitial myofibroblasts. Expression of BCL-2 in interstitial myofibroblasts may contribute to the development of pulmonary fibrosis in some patients.     

Increased apoptosis in human amnion is associated with labor at term

PROBLEM: To characterize whether increased apoptosis in human amnion was associated with labor at term. METHOD OF STUDY: Human amnion were obtained from term patients with vaginal delivery (n = 5) or who underwent elective Cesarean section (C/S) without labor (n = 5). Apoptosis was performed by the TUNEL (Terminal dUTP Nuclear End Labeling) assay. All nucleated cells stained with propidium iodide in the amnion epithelial cells were identified in red fluorescence. TUNEL positive apoptotic nuclei were identified in green fluorescence. Five random fields of each specimen were blindly counted by investigators. The percentage of apoptotic nuclei of total nuclei (apoptotic index) was calculated and compared between the two groups (25 microscopic fields for each group, respectively). RESULTS: Patients with term labor had a significantly higher mean apoptotic index in amnion epithelial cells than that with elective C/S without labor (27.3 +/- 4.1% versus 3.6 +/- 1.6%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that apoptosis in human amnion is significantly increased and associated with labor at term.     

The effects of alcoholism on skeletal and cardiac muscle

To determine the prevalence of alcoholic myopathy and cardiomyopathy, we studied a group of 50 asymptomatic alcoholic men (mean age, 38.5 years) entering an outpatient treatment program. Studies performed included an assessment of muscle strength by electronic myometer, muscle biopsy, echocardiography, and radionuclide cardiac scanning, with comparison to healthy control subjects of similar age. The patients' mean (+/- SEM) daily alcohol consumption was 243 +/- 13 g over an average of 16 years. These patients had no clinical or laboratory signs of malnutrition or electrolyte imbalance. Forty-two percent of the patients, as compared with none of the controls, had strength of less than 20 kg as measured in the deltoid muscle. Muscle-biopsy specimens from 23 patients (46 percent) had histologic evidence of myopathy. In the cardiac studies, when the alcoholic patients were compared with 20 healthy controls, the patients had a significantly lower mean ejection fraction (59 vs. 67 percent), a lower mean shortening fraction (33 vs. 38 percent), a greater mean end-diastolic diameter (51 vs. 49 mm), and a greater mean left ventricular mass (123 vs. 106 g per square meter of body-surface area). One third of the alcoholics had an ejection fraction of 55 percent or less, as compared with none of the controls. Endomyocardial biopsy specimens from six patients with ejection fractions below 50 percent showed histologic changes of cardiomyopathy. The estimated total lifetime dose of ethanol correlated inversely with muscular strength (r = -0.65; P less than 0.001). In an analysis that also included six patients with symptomatic alcoholic cardiomyopathy, the estimated total lifetime dose of ethanol correlated inversely with the ejection fraction (r = -0.58; P less than 0.001) and directly with the left ventricular mass (r = 0.59; P less than 0.001). We conclude that myopathy of skeletal muscle and cardiomyopathy are common among persons with chronic alcoholism and that alcohol is toxic to striated muscle in a dose-dependent manner.     

Apoptosis in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy: Does enterovirus genome persistence protect from apoptosis? — An endomyocardial biopsy study

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of apoptosis in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. Apoptosis is an active energy-consuming mechanism of cell death in several cardiac diseases in different quality and quantity. METHODS: Endomyocardial biopsies from 81 patients with active (1) and chronic myocarditis (10), dilated cardiomyopathy with inflammation (DCMi; 10) and without inflammation (DCM; 20), with borderline myocarditis and positive PCR for cytomegalovirus-DNA (6), adenovirus-DNA, or enterovirus-RNA (7), and controls (17) were analysed. Apoptosis was detected by using the TUNEL method. The highest rate of apoptotic cardiocytes was found in active and chronic myocarditis. One patient with severe active myocarditis demonstrated 6.15% of apoptotic cardiocytes. Mean percentage of apoptotic cardiocytes in chronic myocarditis was significantly increased (0.61+/-1.25%) when compared to controls (0.01+/-0.04%, P<.05). Particularly, patients with cytomegalovirus-DNA persistence in borderline myocarditis had an elevated rate of apoptosis (0.34+/-0.68%, P<.05). Increased rates of apoptosis were found in borderline myocarditis with adenovirus-DNA persistence (0.20+/-0.57%) and in DCM (0.06+/-0.15%). Only a nonsignificant increase of apoptotic cardiocytes was found in DCMi (0.03+/-0.08%). No apoptosis was found in patients with enteroviral genome persistence in borderline myocarditis. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis of cardiac cells is increased in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy, being highest in severe active myocarditis. Apoptosis thus contributes to cell death in active myocarditis and may play a role not to be neglected in dilated cardiomyopathy. Enteroviruses seem to have anti-apoptotic effects, because no apoptosis at all was found in the myocardium.     

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on skeletal muscle oxidative function and exercise capacity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Since exercise capacity is related to the mitochondrial respiration rate in skeletal muscle and both parameters are potentially modulated by the onset of diabetes and by inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), we investigated whether skeletal muscle oxidative functions and exercise capacities are impaired in chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ) rats and whether ACE inhibition could reverse such abnormalities. The ACE inhibitor perindopril (2 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) was given for a period of 5 weeks to 7-month-old STZ rats (DIA-PE, n = 8) whose haemodynamic function, skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and exercise capacity were compared with those of untreated diabetic (DIA, n = 8) and control rats (CONT, n = 8). Increased arterial blood pressure (157 +/- 12 versus 130 +/- 6 mmHg, P < 0.05) and reduced exercise capacity (29 +/- 2 versus 91 +/- 2 min, respectively, P < 0.01) were observed in DIA compared with CONT. The oxidative capacity of the gastrocnemius muscle was significantly reduced in DIA compared with CONT rats (5.4 +/- 0.5 versus 10.6 +/- 0.7 micromol O(2) min(-1)(g dry weight)(-1), respectively, P < 0.001). Moreover, the coupling between oxidation and phosphorylation was significantly impaired in DIA (-52%, P < 0.001). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEi) normalized blood pressure without improving mitochondrial function (4.3 +/- 0.8 micromol O(2) min(-1) (g dry weight)(-1) in DIA-PE rats) but reduced exercise capacity to even lower levels (10 +/- 1 min, P < 0.01). Exercise capacity correlated positively with blood pressure in DIA-PE (r = 0.79, P < 0.05). In experimental type 1 diabetic rats, both skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration and exercise capacity are impaired. The ACEi failed to restore the muscular function and worsened exercise capacity. Further studies will be useful to determine whether an inadequate muscular blood flow secondary to the reduction in mean systemic blood pressure can explain these results.     

氯沙坦降低心力衰竭大鼠心肌细胞凋亡

目的 观察氯沙坦对心力衰竭大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的影响,方法 选8周龄雄性SD大鼠,分为对照组（C组）、心衰组（HF组）和治疗组（LS组）。采用腹腔注射阿霉素造模,LS组同时氯沙坦灌胃。透射电镜观察心肌超微结构, 检测血清中CPK、CK-MB及LDH的含量。用原位脱氧核糖核酸酶未端标记法（TUNEL法）检测大鼠心肌细胞凋亡,免疫组化法检测大鼠心肌Bax、Bcl-2蛋白的表达。结果 HF组与C比,心肌细胞损伤明显,并可见凋亡小体,血清中CPK、CK-MB和LDH升高,LS组与HF组比,心肌细胞凋亡指数下调(P<0.01),心肌细胞Bc1-2表达增加、Bax表达减少。结论 氯沙坦可有效抑制心力衰竭过程中发生的心肌细胞凋亡,逆转心肌损伤,改善心衰进程。     

Overexpression of BCL-2, BCL-X, and BAX in primary central nervous system lymphomas that occur in immunosuppressed patients.

In contrast to primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) that occur in immunocompetent patients, most of those that occur in immunosuppressed patients are associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). BCL-2-related proteins either block or promote cell death, forming homo- or heterodimers with each other. LMP-1, EBV latent protein, has been shown to upregulate BCL-2 and BCL-XL. This observation suggests that these proteins may be involved in the transformation process of EBV-infected cells. Twenty-three cases of PCNSLs were studied: 12 of the patients were immunosuppressed, and 11 were immunocompetent. For all cases, we collected clinical information, histologic data, and immunophenotype and tested for the presence of EBV (EBER-1, LMP-1). Apoptosis was assessed by the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling method and quantified by image analysis. In three cases, electron microscopy was performed. The BCL-2 family proteins (BCL-2, BCL-X, MCL1, and BAX) and p53 expression were studied by immunohistochemistry on paraffin slides. All cases were classified as diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. PCNSLs in immunosuppressed patients were characterized by EBV association, necrosis, important gliosis, and numerous macrophages. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling staining (P = .08). In contrast, PCNSLs in immunosuppressed patients were shown to express high levels of BCL-2, BCL-X, and BAX in more than 80% of tumor cells in 7, 10, and 11 cases, respectively. In immunocompetent patients, only one case showed a high level of BCL-2 expression in more than 80% of the cells, whereas BCL-X and BAX were overexpressed in two cases. These differences are significant (P < .05). In contrast, there was no significant difference between the two groups in MCL-1 expression. Besides EBV association and necrosis, PCNSLs related to immunosuppression are characterized by an overexpression of BCL-2-related proteins, without dramatically modifying their susceptibility for apoptosis.     

The importance of alcohol-induced muscle disease

Alcohol-induced muscle disease (AIMD) is a composite term to describe any muscle pathology (molecular, biochemical, structural or physiological) resulting from either acute or chronic alcohol ingestion or a combination thereof. The chronic form of AIMD is arguably the most prevalent skeletal muscle disorder in the Western Hemisphere affecting more than 2000 subjects per 100,000 population and is thus much more common than hereditary disorders such as Becker or Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Paradoxically, most texts on skeletal myopathies or scientific meetings covering muscle disease have generally ignored chronic alcoholic myopathy. The chronic form of AIMDs affects 40–60% of alcoholics and is more common than other alcohol-induced diseases, for example, cirrhosis (15–20% of chronic alcoholics), peripheral neuropathy (15–20%), intestinal disease (30–50%) or cardiomyopathy (15–35%). In this article, we summarise the pathological features of alcoholic muscle disease, particularly biochemical changes related to protein metabolism and some of the putative underlying mechanisms. However, the intervening steps between the exposure of muscle to ethanol and the initiation of the cascade of responses leading to muscle weakness and loss of muscle bulk remain essentially unknown. We argue that alcoholic myopathy represents: (a) a model system in which both the causal agent and the target organ is known; (b) a myopathy involving free-radical mediated pathology to the whole body which may also target skeletal muscle and (c) a reversible myopathy, unlike many hereditary muscle diseases. A clearer understanding of the mechanisms responsible for alcoholic myopathy is important since some of the underlying pathways may be common to other myopathies. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Major role of BAX in apoptosis during retinal development and in establishment of a functional postnatal retina.

Apoptosis plays a major role in the development of the central nervous system. Previous studies of apoptosis induction during retinal development are difficult to interpret, however, because they explored different mouse strains, different developmental periods, and used different assays. Here, we first established a comprehensive sequential pattern of cell death during the whole development of the C57BL/6J mouse retina, from E10.5 to postnatal day (P) 21 by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) -mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP)-biotinylated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. We confirmed the existence of three previously described apoptotic peaks and identified another, later peak at P15, in both the outer nuclear layer, in which the photoreceptors differentiate, and the ganglion cell layer. Comparison of wild-type C57BL/6 mice, gld mice, defective in the death ligand fasL, and bax-/- mice, defective in the pro-apoptotic BAX protein, revealed a minor role for FAS ligand but a crucial role for BAX in both apoptosis and normal retinal development. The lack of BAX resulted in thicker than normal inner neuroblastic and ganglion cell layers in adults, with larger numbers of cells and an impaired electroretinogram response related to a decreased number of responsive cells. Our findings indicate that cell death during normal retinal development is important for the modeling of a functional vision organ and showed that the pro-apoptotic BAX protein plays a crucial role in this process.     

诱导细胞凋亡青蒿琥酯抗食管癌作用机制研究

 [摘要] 目的 研究青蒿琥酯诱导食管癌细胞凋亡作用及探讨青蒿琥酯抗食管癌作用机制。方法 不同浓度的青蒿琥酯(Artesunate, Art)(0、10、20、40μg/ml) 作用Eca109细胞24h,流式细胞术（Flow cytometry, FCM）方法检测细胞凋亡、周期及细胞中bcl-2和bax蛋白的表达量。结果 青蒿琥酯作用Eca109细胞24h后,与对照组相比,细胞凋亡率显著增高P<0.05,且具有剂量依赖性。青蒿琥酯组与对照组相比,Eca109细胞中bcl-2蛋白表达水平及细胞增殖指数显著降低P<0.05,而bax蛋白表达量显著增高P<0.05,且具有剂量依赖性。结论 青蒿琥酯可以通过调节Eca109细胞中bcl-2、bax蛋白表达水平和细胞增殖,从而诱导Eca109细胞产生凋亡,起到抗食管癌作用。     

纳秒级陡脉冲可用于治疗裸鼠人恶性黑色素瘤

 摘要 目的:观察纳秒级陡脉冲(Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields, nsPEF)治疗裸鼠皮下人恶性黑色素瘤的效果及其机制。方法：建立裸鼠皮下人黑色素瘤模型,随机分为长期治疗组及对照组各10只,观察肿瘤生长、裸鼠存活率时间,和短期治疗组(=10;分2h、4d组及对照组(分别为4、6和6只),以HE染色检查细胞形态,DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳、TUNEL法分析细胞凋亡,Western blot法、免疫组织化学方法分析组织肿瘤Bax、Bcl-2的表达。两组均用电场峰值40kV/cm、脉冲宽度200ns、频率1Hz、脉冲次数1000个的nsPEF进行治疗。结果：长期治疗后即刻看到肿瘤区均变为灰白色,表面皮肤均没有出血现象,肿瘤质地变硬;随生存时间延长,肿瘤体积较对照组明显缩小(P<0.01);平均生存时间（天）较对照组（天）明显延长(P<0.01);短期治疗组,4d时坏死区域增多;4d时琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示较对照组有明显“ladder”状分布,凋亡率明显高于对照组(P<0.01),较对照组相比Bax表达明显增高(P<0.01)、而Bcl-2表达明显降低(P<0.01)。结论：nsPEF对裸鼠皮下人黑色素瘤有明显的治疗效果,可能是通过调控Bax、Bcl-2 基因表达诱导细胞凋亡。     

Skeletal muscle and cardiac changes with training in patients with angina pectoris

Cardiovascular and skeletal muscle adaptations were studied before and after 6 mo of physical training in patients with coronary artery disease and exertional angina pectoris. Symptom-limited exercise capacity increased by 41% (470 +/- 30 to 665 +/- 35 kg.m.min-1; n = 29, P less than 0.001) with training as did skeletal muscle succinate dehydrogenase activity (1.75 +/- 0.24 to 3.31 +/- 0.24 IU; n = 23, P less than 0.001) and the areas of muscle fibers (type I from 43.6 +/- 3.3 to 54.4 +/- 3.3 micrometers 2 X 10(2); n = 21, P less than 0.05 and type II from 43.9 +/- 2.4 to 57.2 +/- 5.1 micrometers 2 X 10(2); P less than 0.01). At the same submaximal exercise intensity (mean 355 +/- 100 km.m.min-1), plasma catecholamines (1.31 +/- 0.14 to 1.07 +/- 0.09 ng.ml-1; n = 13, P less than 0.05), heart rate (115 +/- 3 to 97 +/- 3 beats/min; n = 29, P less than 0.001), and systolic blood pressure (171 +/- 4 to 143 +2- 4 mmHg; n = 29, P less than 0.001) were significantly reduced after training. Maximal coronary sinus blood flow (192 +/- 10 to 208 +/- 9 ml.min-1; n = 29, P less than 0.05) and left ventricular oxygen consumption (23.2 +/- 1.5 to 25.8 +/- 1.6 ml.min-1; n = 24, P less than 0.05) were increased by 8 and 11%, respectively, after training. The improvement in exercise capacity with training in patients with exercise is secondary to a reduction in myocardial oxygen requirements during subangina levels of exercise and partly to a small increase in maximal myocardial oxygen consumption. The skeletal muscle adaptations with training were not related to other indices of training such as the reduced exercise heart rate or increased symptom-limited exercise capacity.     

大鼠应激性胃黏膜损伤时细胞发生凋亡

目的探讨急性胃黏膜损伤时细胞凋亡形式及作用。方法制备大鼠水浸-束缚应激(WRS)模型,计算溃疡指数(UI);TUNEL法检测胃黏膜细胞凋亡;透射电镜观察细胞形态;免疫组化法检测BCl-2/BAX蛋白的表达。结果与正常大鼠比较,WRS后2h,黏膜损伤严重(P<0.01),凋亡细胞明显增多(P<0.01),BCl-2表达明显减弱(P<0.05),BAX表达明显增加(P<0.01);WRS后24h,黏膜修复,凋亡细胞仍高于正常水平(P<0.05),BCl-2表达基本恢复正常,BAX表达仍高于正常水平(P<0.05)。透射电镜下可见WRS组发生凋亡的细胞形态各异。结论细胞凋亡是急性胃黏膜损伤过程中细胞死亡的重要形式。     

解除狭窄联合Rho激酶抑制剂对颈动脉狭窄大鼠认知功能的影响

目的 观察解除狭窄联合Rho激酶抑制剂对重度颈动脉狭窄大鼠认知功能(VCI)、海马区细胞凋亡及相关基因表达.方法 用48只SD大鼠,复制重度颈动脉狭窄模型,分成假手术组、狭窄解除组、药物组和联合组,另12只为对照组.联合组给予狭窄解除和法舒地尔(8.35 mg/kg),药物组注射等量的法舒地尔,狭窄解除组给予解除狭窄,对照组注射等容积的0.9％氯化钠注射液.分别在干预2和4周后,Morris水迷宫实验检测大鼠的空间学习记忆能力;免疫组化方法检测海马区凋亡相关蛋白BCL-2及BAX免疫阳性细胞数;TUNEL染色法检测海马区凋亡神经细胞.结果 与单纯药物组和狭窄解除组比较,联合治疗组大鼠的逃避潜伏期和游泳距离百分比均有显著改善(P＜0.05),海马区凋亡相关蛋白BCL-2免疫阳性细胞数显著增加(P＜0.05),而BAX的免疫阳性细胞数显著降低(P＜0.05),且治疗4周比2周更明显(P＜0.05);联合治疗组大鼠海马区的神经细胞凋亡率为56.24％±2.25％,明显低于药物治疗组和狭窄解除组的63.86％ ±2.23％和61.89％±2.67％(P ＜0.05),且随着治疗时间延长,细胞凋亡率呈下降趋势.结论 解除颈动脉狭窄联合Rho激酶抑制剂可通过调节凋亡相关蛋白的表达而明显改善颈动脉狭窄引起的认知功能障碍.