Fidgetin-like 1 gene inhibited by basic fibroblast growth factor regulates the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.

The FIGNL1 gene was proven to be a new subfamily member of ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities (AAA proteins). In this in vitro study, the AAA proteins inhibited osteoblast proliferation and stimulated osteoblast differentiation. We showed that FIGNL1 may play some regulatory role in osteoblastogenesis. INTRODUCTION: The fidgetin-like 1 (FIGNL1) gene encodes a new subfamily member of ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities (AAA proteins). Although the FIGNL1 protein localizes to both the nucleus and cytoplasm, the function of FIGNL1 remains unknown. In a previous study, we identified several genes that mediate the anabolic effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on bone by using microarray data. FIGNL1 was one of the genes that downregulated >2-fold in MC3T3-E1 cells after treatment with bFGF. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify and confirm the function of FIGNL1 on osteoblastogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the effect of the FIGNL1 gene on proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in mouse osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1 and mouse primary calvarial cells) using flow cytometry, RT-PCR, cell proliferation assay, and cell death assay. MC3T3-E1 cells and mouse calvarial cells were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against the FIGNL1 or nontargeting control siRNA and examined by cell proliferation and cell death assays. Also, FIGNL1 was fused to enhance green fluorescent protein (EGFP), and the EGFP-fused protein was transiently expressed in MC3T3-E1 cells. RESULTS: Reduced expression of FIGNL1 by bFGF and TGF-beta1 treatment was verified by RT-PCR analysis. Overexpression of FIGNL1 reduced the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 and calvarial cells, more than the mock transfected control cells did. In contrast, siFIGNL1 transfection significantly increased the proliferation of osteoblasts, whereas overexpression of FIGNL1 did not seem to alter apoptosis in osteoblasts. Meanwhile, overexpression of FIGNL1 enhanced the mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN) in osteoblasts. In contrast, siFIGNL1 decreased the expression of ALP and OCN. A pEGFP-FIGNL1 transfected into MCT3-E1 cells had an initially ubiquitous distribution and rapidly translocated to the nucleus 1 h after bFGF treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, we proposed that FIGNL1, a subfamily member of the AAA family of proteins, might play some regulatory role in osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Further analyses of FIGNL1 will be needed to better delineate the mechanisms contributing to the inhibition of proliferation and stimulation of osteoblast differentiation.     

青年维持性血液透析患者心血管疾病调查及危险因素分析

目的调查青年维持性血液透析（MHD）患者心血管疾病的发病情况和病变特点，并探讨其危险因素。方法采用横断面研究。MHD患者98例，以45岁为界分为青年组（47例）和中老年组（51例）。收集患者临床资料和生化指标。心脏超声检查测量心脏腔径及心功能参数。分析青年组患者心脏结构和功能异常的患病率、病变特点及其影响因素。结果（1）47例青年患者中有30例（63．8％）存在心脏结构异常，主要表现为左心室肥厚、左心房增大和瓣膜反流，患病率分别为61．7％、38．3％和34．0％。（2）青年组患者向心性肥厚的患病率为86．2％，离心性肥厚的患病率为13．8％，与中老年组相比，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。（3）与无心脏病变青年MHD患者相比，伴心脏病变者的超滤量、收缩压、血磷和甲状旁腺激素明显增高，而Kt／V、血红蛋白和血清白蛋白明显降低，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。Logistic回归分析结果显示，超滤量、收缩压、血红蛋白和血甲状旁腺激素是青年MHD患者并发心脏病变的独立危险因素。结论青年MHD患者心血管疾病的患病率较高，主要表现为左心室肥厚、左房增大和瓣膜反流。超滤量、收缩压、血红蛋白和血甲状旁腺激素水平可能是影响青年MHD患者并发心脏病变的独立危险因素。     

Fontan conversion with arrhythmia surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Hemodynamic abnormalities and refractory atrial arrhythmias in patients late after the Fontan operation result in significant morbidity and mortality. We reviewed our experience with Fontan conversion and concomitant arrhythmia surgery. METHODS: Between January 1996 and February 2004, 16 patients underwent Fontan conversion and arrhythmia surgery. Mean age at the initial Fontan operation was 5.1+/-3.5 (range: 2-15) years and mean age at Fontan conversion was 17.0+/-5.8 (range: 6-30). The initial Fontan operations were atriopulmonary connections in 14 patients, extracardiac lateral tunnel in 1, and intracardiac lateral tunnel in 1. The types of arrhythmia included atrial flutter in 10 patients and atrial fibrillation in 3. Fontan conversion operation was performed with intracardiac lateral tunnel in 5 patients and extracardiac conduit in 11. Arrhythmia surgery included isthmus cryoablation in 10 patients and right-sided maze in 3. RESULTS: There has been no mortality. At Fontan conversion operation, 7 patients required permanent pacemaker. All patients have improved to New York Heart Association class I or II. With a mean follow-up of 26.9+/-30.6 (range:1-87) months, 16 patients had sinus rhythm, 2 patients had transient atrial flutter which was well controlled, and 2 patients required permanent pacemaker during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Fontan conversion with concomitant arrhythmia surgery and permanent pacemaker placement is safe, improves New York Heart Association functional class, and has a low incidence of recurrent arrhythmias. In most patients, concomitant permanent pacemakers are needed.     

Related factors of cognitive impairment after stroke

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment after stroke associates with various factors, such as age, educational years, etc. Besides concerning about the recovery of limb function after stroke, we should also focus on the rehabilitation of cognition. Moreover, we'd better pay attention to the control of all the risk factors of stroke, and improve the quality of life in stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors that affect cognitive impairment after stroke. DESIGN: A related factors analysis. SETTINGS: Department of Neurology of Dalian Port Hospital and Dalian Second People's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 148 stroke inpatients were selected from Department of Neurology, Dalian Port Hospital and Dalian Second People's Hospital from April 2004 to December 2005, including 100 males and 48 females, aging 45-75 years with an average age of (67±8) years; Their educational years ranged 2-10 years with an average of (6.1±3.7) years; The disease course ranged 15-30 days; All were right-handed. Inclusive criteria: All were accorded with the diagnostic standard set by the Fourth National Academic Meeting for Cerebrovascular Disease; Confirmed by CT or MRI; Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects. METHODS: After the disease conditions were stable, the patients were assessed with Wechsler memory scale (WMS) and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST). WMS included forward and backward recitation of numbers and short-term memory (verbal memory, visual recognition). The number of times for correct and wrong classifications in WCST and the time to complete the trail making tests A and B were recorded. The focal volume, area and layer were recorded at 24 hours after admission. The general data of the patients were recorded, including name, sex, age, educational years, history of hypertension, history of diabetes mellitus. Electroencepalograph (EEG) was examined to record the wave shape, blood lipids were detected, and the cognition related indexes were analyzed with the Pearson correlation analysis. The correlation between cognitive indexes after stroke and the influencing factors were analyzed with multiple linear regression analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Correlation between cognitive indexes and imaging indexes; ② Influencing factors for cognitive indexes after stroke. RESULTS: All the 148 stroke patients were involved in the analysis of results. ① Correlation between cognitive indexes and CT indexes: There were obvious negative correlations between numerical symbol and focal layer (r =-0.234, P < 0.05), as well as between verbal memory and the focal area and volume (r =-0.363, -0.279, P < 0.05); Trail making test A had obvious positive correlation with focal area and volume (r =0.256, 0.256, P < 0.05). Results of multiple linear regression analysis: Correct classification was correlated with triglyceride (partial wave and θ wave (partial regression coefficient=0.231-0.908, P < 0.05); Verbal memory was correlated with EEG α wave, focal volume, sex, educational years and diabetes mellitus (partial regression coefficient=0.219-1.017, P < 0.05-0.01). Visual recognition had correlation with educational years and hypertension (partial regression coefficient=0.326, -1.163, P < 0.01). Trail making tests A and B were correlated with focal volume (partial regression coefficient=4.680, -18.561, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The factors that affect the cognitive function after stroke include sex, age, educational years, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, triglyceride, EEG wave shape, and the focal area, volume and layer     

Toxic effects of Fusarium mycotoxin butenolide on rat myocardium and primary culture of cardiac myocytes.

Mycotoxin toxicosis has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of Keshan disease (KD), an endemic cardiomyopathy prevailing in some regions of China. Butenolide (4-acetamido-4-hydroxy-2-butenoic acid gamma-lactone, CAS No. 16275-44-8), a mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species such as Fusarium tricinctum and Fusarium graminearum, is frequently detected from the cereals in the endemic areas of KD. The present study is undertaken to investigate whether this mycotoxin can induce myocardial damage. Exposure of primary culture of cardiac myocytes to butenolide resulted in significant cytotoxicity, manifested by changes in cell morphology and decreases in cell viability. Consistent with the in vitro findings, distinct myocardial toxicity in vivo was observed after administration of rats by gavage with butenolide (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) for 2 months, and the myocardial injuries were characterized by focal necrosis of myocardium and fragmentation of myofiber. Butenolide also induced significant oxidative damage to the myocardium in vitro evidenced by a concentration-dependent lipid peroxidation in the myocardial homogenates, whereas antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) provided significant protections against this oxidative effect. Taken together, these results clearly reveal that butenolide possesses the potential to induce myocardial toxicity. The present findings may reinforce the hypothesis that toxicosis by mycotoxins is one of the etiological factors for KD.     

磁共振增强扫描中欧乃影不良反应的临床观察及预防措施

目的探讨欧乃影在临床应用中不良反应的发生和预防措施。方法观察2003年10月至2006年7月所作1000例增强扫描者静脉注射欧乃影0.2mL/kg(其量浓度(c)为0.5mol/L)后,不良反应发生的情况。结果1000例患者中,出现不良反应6例,其中,非过敏反应3例,轻度过敏反应3例,无中度及重度过敏反应。结论欧乃影在磁共振增强扫描中不良反应发生率低,临床应用安全。     

795例肺癌术后发生心律失常的多因素分析

目的探讨肺癌术后发生心律失常的危险因素及其防治。方法回顾分析2002年1月～2004年1月我院肺癌手术795例，其中全肺切除术176例，肺叶切除术509例，楔型切除术110例。术后发生心律失常273例，应用Logistic回归对影响术后发生心律失常可能的危险因素进行分析。结果本组病例心律失常总发生率为34.3％（273／795），多因素Logistic逐步回归分析显示高龄、吸烟史、心律失常史、全肺切除、术中心包损伤、术后肺不张是术后心律失常的主要危险因素（P〈0.05），术后镇痛是保护因素（P=0.017）。结论心脏的储备功能降低、对手术损伤及缺氧的耐受力降低是导致术后心律失常的原因，采取一些预防措施可以减少其发生率。     

血管性勃起功能障碍动物模型的建立

目的探索建立血管性勃起功能障碍(ED)动物模型。方法雄性新西兰大白兔给予胆固醇及高脂饮食,同时用球囊导管损伤双侧髂内动脉内皮。测定术后4周、8周血脂并观察阴茎勃起情况、交配情况,同时用阴茎海绵体注射盐酸罂粟碱、阴茎血管双核素检查、髂内动脉数字减影造影(DSA)等方法研究勃起功能。结果与对照组相比,术后4周、8周模型组动物出现明显高脂血症,勃起程度明显下降,交配实验的各项观察指标均显著降低(P＜0.01),动脉造影显示双侧髂内动脉管腔直径明显缩小,双核素检查动脉显像指数(PIA)及静脉显像指数(PIV)明显降低,但第4周的模型组与对照组PIV结果没有统计学差异(P＞0.05)。结论高脂、高胆固醇饮食同时用球囊导管扩张动物髂内动脉,可以加速模型的形成,从而用于血管性ED的进一步研究。