In Situ Thermal Denaturation of Proteins in Dunning AT-1 Prostate Cancer Cells: Implication for Hyperthermic Cell Injury

The in situ thermal protein denaturation and its correlation with direct hyperthermic cell injury in Dunning AT-1 prostate tumor cells were investigated in this study. The in situ thermal protein denaturation was studied using both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The FTIR spectra at different temperatures show changes in protein secondary structure (from alpha helix to extended beta sheet) during in situ thermal protein denaturation within AT-1 cells. Calorimetric studies using DSC show that endothermic heat release is associated with the in situ thermal protein denaturation. Furthermore, both the secondary structure changes detected by FTIR and the calorimetric changes detected by DSC were quantified and the kinetics of the overall in situ thermal protein denaturation was derived under different heating conditions. The onset temperature where the overall in situ thermal protein denaturation is first detectable was found to be scanning rate dependent (approximately 41 degrees C at 2 degrees C min(-1) and approximately 44 degrees C at 5 degrees C min(-1)). The kinetics of the overall in situ thermal protein denaturation was derived from both DSC and FTIR measurements and was fit using kinetic and statistical models. The kinetic data determined by FTIR and DSC under the same heating conditions match well with each other. The activation energy of the overall in situ thermal protein denaturation is found to be strongly dependent on the temperature range considered (the activation energy ranges from approximately 110 kJ mol(-1) between 44 and 90 degrees C to approximately 750 kJ mol(-1) between 44 and 50 degrees C). However, its dependence on heating rate is negligible. Several denaturation peaks, including a dominant one between approximately 62 and 65 degrees C, are identifiable from both the DSC and the FTIR results. To investigate directly the relationship between thermally induced cell injury and the in situ thermal protein denaturation, both acute (propidium iodide dye exclusion, assessed 3-h postthermal treatment) and chronic (clonogenics, assessed 7-day postthermal treatment) cell injury were quantified using AT-1 cells prepared under the same conditions as for the DSC protein studies. Comparisons of the results from the cell injury studies and the DSC protein denaturation studies show that the overall in situ thermal protein denaturation correlates well with both the acute and the chronic cell injury, which suggests that overall in situ thermal protein denaturation is an important mechanism of direct hyperthermic cell injury in AT-1 cells at the macromolecular level.     

The effects of sodium butyrate,an inhibitor of histone deacetylase,on the cocaine- and sucrose-maintained self-administration in rats

In order to substantiate the concept that cocaine behavioral effects may be influenced by histone modification, rats were trained to self-administer cocaine intravenously (0.75 mg/(kg injection)), and were systemically pretreated with sodium butyrate (NaBu), a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, before the test session during the maintenance phase. The effect of NaBu on a control reinforcer (sucrose)-induced self-administration was also assessed. NaBu (100–200 mg/kg) was inactive in altering the cocaine (0.75 mg/(kg injection))-maintained responding and at the highest dose (400 mg/kg) it did increase cocaine-induced lever presses during the maintenance phase. On the other hand, sucrose-reinforcing potential was not altered when NaBu was given at the highest dose (400 mg/kg). These findings extend previous observations that changes in histone acetylation are relevant to cocaine-induced behavioral effects. Given that histone acetylase inhibitor enhances cocaine-induced behavioral plasticity, the therapeutic benefits of histone acetyltransferase inhibitors warrant further investigation in the experimental models of cocaine abuse.     

Three‐Dimensional Reconstruction of the Optic Canal‐Based on Multislice Helical CT: A Comparison Analysis with Skull Dissection of 40 Postmortem Cases

Decompression operation of the optic canal via the nasal path under endoscope is widely used, but it is both a challenging and controversial method. Unsatisfactory results were largely associated with otolaryngologists' limited understanding of the real anatomical situations of the optic canal before operation. To provide otolaryngologists with the real situations and data preoperation, multislice helical CT was used to reconstruct the images of the optic canal. Using multislice helical CT‐aided three‐dimensional reconstructive methods in combination with direct anatomic measurement, we dissected and analyzed the shape of the optic canal and its anatomic relationship with the adjoining structures in 40 intact postmortem skull samples. The In‐Space technique clearly showed the structure and the related region of the optic canal. The virtual endoscopy technique showed superbly the spatial appearance and topography of the inner optic canal and also gave the inner structure of the optic canal optically. There was no statistic difference in three‐dimensional reconstructive data with that obtained by anatomical measurements and thus can be used to directly instruct the clinic operation. These results demonstrate that a combined In‐Space technique with virtual endoscopy can accurately define the subtle structure and the related region of the optical canal. In conclusion, multislice helical CT‐based three‐dimensional reconstruction is of important value for clinical operations. Anat Rec, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Characterization of a novel HLA-DQB1 allele, DQB1*020102

A novel human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQB1 allele, DQB1*020102, was detected in a 28-year-old woman of Han ethnic in Guangzhou, China. Compared with HLA-DQB1*020101 and HLA-DQB1*0202, they differed in only one nucleotide at the position 167 (C to T) of exon 2, which was a highly conserved position. This is a synonymous mutation, which does not cause any change in the amino acid sequence of mature protein.     

Identification of a new HLA-B*56 variant, B*5614

In this report, the novel allele B*5614 is presented. The allele was identified in a Chinese individual by sequence-based typing. HLA-B*5614 differs from B*5608 by a single nucleotide at position 277G-->C in exon 2. This results in an amino acid change from Gly to Arg at codon 93.     

经颅磁刺激安全性的实验研究

目的 :探讨重复经颅磁刺激的安全性。方法 :选用 3 6只健康Wistar大鼠 ,随机分为对照组 ,低频刺激组和高频刺激组 ,对低频组和高频组分别给予不同频率和强度的经颅磁刺激 ,然后对各组大鼠的行为、组织病理形态学、血清髓鞘碱性蛋白 (MBP)及神经元特异性烯醇化酶 (NSE)含量进行观察。结果 :低频刺激组 (5Hz)和高频刺激组 (2 0Hz)在刺激过程中均未出现异常活动 ,无肢体强直、阵挛等 ,脑组织形态学包括大体观察、普通光镜及电镜改变不明显 ,其血清MBP和NSE含量与正常对照组比较 ,差异无显著性意义 (P >0 0 5 )。结论 :在一定强度和频率内经颅磁刺激是一种比较安全的方法     

颞下颌关节与颅面指标的计算机相关及回归分析

本文用计算机分析统计了118例(236侧)颞下颌关节的12项骨性指标及10项颅面指标的正常值及相关关系。结果表明颞下颌关节各项指标之间、颞下颌关节与颅面各主要指标之间,均存在良好的相关关系。说明颞下颌关节,特别是关节窝和髁突的形态大小具有明显的规律性。由于颅面诸指标与颞下颌关节主要指标之间高度相关,因而本文用逐步回归方法,建立了由颅面特征指标推算髁突形态的回归方程。本文的结果可为该关节的形态研究及人工关节的设计和应用提供有益的依据。     

雌激素对卵巢摘除大鼠心内神经节细胞Bcl-2和Bax表达的影响

本实验建立了去卵巢和雌激素替代疗法动物模型,用免疫组织化学SABC法结合图象分析方法,观察大鼠心内神经节细胞中Bcl-2和Bax的变化,探讨雌激素对卵巢摘除大鼠心内神经节细胞中Bcl-2和Bax表达的影响。去卵巢(OVX)大鼠心内神经节细胞中Bcl-2的表达较正常对照组明显减弱(P<0.05),雌激素替代治疗组大鼠心内神经节中Bcl-2的表达与正常对照组相比无显著性差异(P>0.05),而较卵巢摘除组显著增高(P<0.05);卵巢摘除后同时给予特异性雌激素受体阻断剂(TAM)和17β-雌二醇(OVX+TAM+ERT)组大鼠心内神经节中Bcl-2的表达较正常对照组显著减弱(P<0.05),但与OVX组无显著性差异(P>.05)。各组中Bax的表达无显著性差异(P>0.05)。实验结果提示雌激素能上调大鼠心内神经节细胞中Bcl-2的表达,但对Bax的表达无影响。     

链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病早期小鼠胸主动脉钾通道变化

目的:探讨链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病早期小鼠胸主动脉钾通道的变化。方法:实验采用离体血管的方法测定糖尿病鼠和正常鼠胸主动脉环对血管收缩剂:60mmol/LKCl和苯肾上腺素(PE)、内皮非依赖性舒张剂:硝普钠(SNP)以及电压依赖性钾通道(K_V通道),钙激活型钾通道(K_Ca通道),ATP敏感钾通道(K_ATP通道)阻断剂的反应。结果:糖尿病鼠胸主动脉环对60mmol/LKCl、PE和SNP的效应都显著大于对照组;K_Ca通道阻断剂四乙铵(TEA)显著降低糖尿病小鼠胸主动脉环在PE的激动下SNP的舒张效应,而且其-logIC₅₀的差值较对照组显著增大;K_V通道阻断剂4-氨基吡啶(4-AP)显著降低糖尿病和正常小鼠胸主动脉环对SNP的舒张效应,但是-logIC₅₀差值无显著差异;K_ATP通道阻断剂格列苯脲(Glibenclamide)显著降低糖尿病小鼠胸主动脉环对SNP的舒张效应,而对照组无显著阻断作用,-logIC₅₀的差值也无显著差异。结论:糖尿病早期小鼠胸主动脉平滑肌细胞K_Ca通道的开放或表达显著增强,也证实了K_ATP通道开放增强。     

R497K polymorphism in epidermal growth factor receptor gene is associated with the risk of acute coronary syndrome

Background  

Previous studies suggested that genetic polymorphisms in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene had been implicated in the susceptibility to some tumors and inflammatory diseases. EGFR has been recently implicated in vascular pathophysiological processes associated with excessive remodeling and atherosclerosis. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a clinical manifestation of preceding atherosclerosis. Our purpose was to investigate the association of the EGFR polymorphism with the risk of ACS. In this context, we analyzed the HER-1 R497K and EGFR intron 1 (CA)_n repeat polymorphisms in 191 patients with ACS and 210 age- and sex-matched controls in a Chinese population, using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) strategy and direct sequencing.