Increased endostatin/collagen XVIII expression correlates with elevated VEGF level and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Liver is the primary source for collagen XVIII, the precursor of angiogenesis inhibitor, endostatin. However, the role of endostatin/collagen XVIII expression during liver carcinogenesis remains elusive. Therefore, we studied its expression in five hepatoma cell lines and 105 hepatocellular carcinoma specimens. The poorly differentiated hepatoma cell lines exhibited increased endostatin/collagen XVIII levels compared with the well-differentiated ones. In hepatoma tissues, endostatin/collagen XVIII expression was detected in various types of liver cells and was significantly stronger in adjacent nontumor tissues than that in tumors (P<0.001). Endostatin/collagen XVIII expression in nontumor tissues correlated with tumor stages (P=0.014) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (P=0.007), but not the stages of hepatic fibrosis (P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with higher endostatin/collagen XVIII expression had significantly shorter overall survival (P=0.011) and disease-free survival (P=0.0034). Moreover, endostatin/collagen XVIII level was an independent prognostic factor for tumor recurrence (P=0.034) by multivariate analysis. In conclusion, increased endostatin/collagen XVIII expression correlated with hepatoma progression and predicted poor prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Specific pattern of ionic channel gene expression associated with pacemaker activity in the mouse heart

Even though sequencing of the mammalian genome has led to the discovery of a large number of ionic channel genes, identification of the molecular determinants of cellular electrical properties in different regions of the heart has been rarely obtained. We developed a high-throughput approach capable of simultaneously assessing the expression pattern of ionic channel repertoires from different regions of the mouse heart. By using large-scale real-time RT-PCR, we have profiled 71 channels and related genes in the sinoatrial node (SAN), atrioventricular node (AVN), the atria (A) and ventricles (V). Hearts from 30 adult male C57BL/6 mice were microdissected and RNA was isolated from six pools of five mice each. TaqMan data were analysed using the threshold cycle ( C _t) relative quantification method. Cross-contamination of each region was checked with expression of the atrial and ventricular myosin light chains. Two-way hierarchical clustering analysis of the 71 genes successfully classified the six pools from the four distinct regions. In comparison with the A, the SAN and AVN were characterized by higher expression of Navβ1, Navβ3, Cav1.3, Cav3.1 and Cavα2δ2, and lower expression of Kv4.2, Cx40, Cx43 and Kir3.1. In addition, the SAN was characterized by higher expression of HCN1 and HCN4, and lower expression of RYR2, Kir6.2, Cavβ2 and Cavγ4. The AVN was characterized by higher expression of Nav1.1, Nav1.7, Kv1.6, Kvβ1, MinK and Cavγ7. Other gene expression profiles discriminate between the ventricular and the atrial myocardium. The present study provides the first genome-scale regional ionic channel expression profile in the mouse heart.     

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of HER-2/neu in brushings of normal oral mucosa

Oncogene alterations have been clearly demonstrated to be related to the carcinogenesis and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the analysis of these alterations for screening and early diagnostic purposes generally requires invasive techniques for surgical removal of pathological epithelium. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of HER-2/neu amplification in oral mucosa brushings and to compare the HER-2/neu status with the history and smoking and drinking habits of healthy subjects. Cells obtained by centrifugation of oral brushings from 21 subjects (overall no. of cells: 5125) were suspended in physiological saline and fixed onto two slides for cytological evaluation and FISH analysis (dual-target, dual-color fluorescence assay) of the HER-2/neu gene and CEP17 centromere. A mean of 89.8% of the cells showed two HER-2/neu signals and a mean of 94% had two CEP17 signals at fluorescent microscopy. Finally, a mean of 96% of cells with HER-2/neu / CEP17 had a ratio equal to 1. No association between smoking and drinking habits, age and the HER-2/neu and CEP17 characteristics evaluated by FISH was found.     

一种复合微生物菌肥对穿心莲生长、品质及土壤性质的影响

目的：研究一种微生物复合菌肥对穿心莲生长、品质及土壤性质的影响,旨在为穿心莲栽培生产中微生物复合菌肥的应用提供依据。方法：通过盆栽的共5个处理试验,CK（不施肥）组、A处理（施化肥）组、B处理（施微生物菌肥,施用量为2.5 g·kg-1土）组、C处理（施微生物菌肥,施用量为7.5 g·kg-1土）组、D处理（施微生物菌肥,施用量为12.5 g·kg-1土）组,研究一种复合微生物菌肥对穿心莲的农艺性状、有效成分含量及根际土壤细菌、放线菌、真菌的数量和土壤理化性质的影响。结果：施加一定量的复合微生物菌肥,穿心莲的株高、叶片数、叶面积、地上部、地下部鲜重较CK组和A处理组显著升高,不同生长期有差异。复合微生物菌肥对穿心莲内酯、脱水穿心莲内酯、新穿心莲内酯及14-去氧穿心莲内酯含量影响有差异,与CK组、A处理组比较,C处理组的穿心莲内酯分别明显升高26.13%、13.23%(P<0.05);新穿心莲内酯的含量随微生物菌肥施加量的增加而增加,在D处理组下的效应最显著,与CK组、A处理组比较,分别明显升高9.06%、50.33%(P<0.05);B处理组的14-去氧穿心莲内酯较A处理组...     

Nacre surface transformation to hydroxyapatite in a phosphate buffer solution

Nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, constitutes the inner layer of mollusc shells. Nacre is a natural composite material consisting mostly of calcium carbonate in the aragonite crystal form and some organic matter. Previous studies have shown that geological aragonite, coral and nacre can convert hydrothermally to hydroxyapatite (HAP) in phosphate solution by a solid-state topotactic ion-exchange reaction. This conversion typically occurs within the range of 140-260 degrees C, although higher temperatures are possible. In this work, we have found that nacre can transform to HAP in a phosphate buffer solution at room temperature via a surface reaction. The morphology of the nacre-transformed HAP surface was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The HAP surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). A layer covered with packed particles was found in contrast to the tablet structure typical of nacre surfaces. XPS and SIMS indicated that the mineral phase of the nacre surface had converted from an aragonite phase to an HAP phase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that phosphate (PO(4)) bands appeared after nacre was soaked in a phosphate buffer and the intensity of the PO(4) bands increased with exposure time. The FTIR was consistent with XPS and SIMS results. We suggest that this surface reaction occurs by a dissolution-precipitation mechanism. Calcium ions are released from the nacre surface, react with phosphate ions in the buffer solution, and then precipitate as HAP on the nacre surface.     

肝移植后肝窦内皮细胞损伤的研究

目的 探讨肝移植后再灌注损伤和排斥反应时,肝窦内皮细胞的变化。方法 利用抗肝窦内皮细胞的单克隆抗体对大鼠肝移植后定期采取的肝组织标本染色。结果 对照组（LEW－LEW）于第4天在肝窦壁内可见ICAM－1的强染色,但是昆布氨酸、第Ⅷ因子相关抗原在实验基间均未见到。高度排斥反应组（ACI－LEW）移植后第1在开始发现ICAM－1的强染色。中度排斥反应组（BN－LEW）移植后第1天开始发现ICAM－1的强染色,移植后1个月开始肝窦壁出现第Ⅷ因子相关抗原。结论 说明慢性排斥反应引起的肝损伤,不仅是以肝动脉为中心的血管损伤,同时也损伤肝窦内皮细胞。