Elevated Expression of Ox2R in Cervical Cancers and Placentas of Uyghur Women in Xinjiang,China

Objective:Cervical cancer is one of the major causes of mortality of Uyghur women in Xinjiang, China. Although increased expression of orexin receptor (OxR), known to be strongly expressed in human placenta, has a proven relation to some cancers , there have been few studies of cervical cancer. Thus, we explored this question by evaluating the expression of orexin receptor as a biomarker for screening early stage of cervical cancer in Uyghur women with highest occurrence rate of cervical cancer in China. Study Design: We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemical staining to determine the expression of both Ox1R and Ox2R in cervical cancer and cervicitis biopsies collected from Uyghur women infected with human papilloma virus (HPV)16. The expression rate was compared between cervical cancers of low, intermediate and high differentiation and cervicitis. Results:Although there was no significant difference in the expression rate of Ox1R between groups, Ox2R was significantly overexpressed in cervical cancer patients when compared to the cervicitis group. Ox1R was negative in normal human placenta while Ox2R was positive. Conclusions: While expression of Ox1R had no correlation with invasion or metastatic potential, Ox2R demonstrated elevation in cervical cancer with heterogeneity in groups with different metastatic potential, in the human placenta as well, implying that it might serve as an indicator of invasive capacity along with other indices.     

Therapeutic uses of animal biles in traditional Chinese medicine:An ethnopharmacological,biophysical chemical and medicinal review

Forty-four different animal biles obtained from both invertebrates and vertebrates(including human bile)have been used for centuries for a host of maladies in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)beginning with dog,ox and common carp biles approximately in the Zhou dynasty(c.1046-256 BCE).Overall,different animal biles were prescribed principally for the treatment of liver,biliary,skin(including burns),gynecological and heart diseases,as well as diseases of the eyes,ears,nose,mouth and throat.We present an informed opinion of the clinical efficacy of the medicinal uses of the different animal biles based on their presently known principal chemical components which are mostly steroidal detergent-like molecules and the membrane lipids such as unesterified cholesterol and mixed phosphatidylcholines and sometimes sphingomyelin,as well as containing lipopigments derived from heme principally bilirubin glucuronides.All of the available information on the ethnopharmacological uses of biles in TCM were collated from the rich collection of ancient Chinese books on materia medica held in libraries in China and United States and the composition of various animal biles was based on rigorous separatory and advanced chemical identification techniques published since the mid-20th century collected via library(Harvard’s Countway Library)and electronic searches(PubMed and Google Scholar).Our analysis of ethnomedical data and information on biliary chemistry shows that specific bile salts,as well as the common bile pigment bilirubin and its glucuronides plus the minor components of bile such as vitamins A,D,E,K,as well as melatonin(N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine)are salutary in improving liver function,dissolving gallstones,inhibiting bacterial and viral multiplication,promoting cardiac chronotropsim,as well as exhibiting anti-inflammatory,anti-pyretic,anti-oxidant,sedative,anti-convulsive,anti-allergic,anti-congestive,anti-diabetic and anti-spasmodic effects.Pig,wild boar and human biles diluted with alcohol were shown to form an artificial skin for burns and wounds one thousand years ago in the Tang dynasty(618-907 CE).Although various animal biles exhibit several generic effects in common,a number of biles appear to be advantageous for specific therapeutic indications.We attempt to understand these effects based on the pharmacology of individual components of bile as well as attempting to identify a variety of future research needs.     

Glycosylations in demilunar and central acinar cells of the submandibular salivary gland of ferret investigated by lectin histochemistry

'Resting' submandibular salivary glands obtained post-mortem from mature ferrets of both sexes were examined here. The binding patterns of labelled lectins applied to paraffin sections of tissue slivers fixed in an aldehyde-HgCl2 mixture and the effects of pretreatment procedures on the results were assessed lightmicroscopically. Lectins with affinity for terminal GalNAc residues (DBA, SBA) bound preferentially to demilunar acinar cells which were also strongly reactive with Fuc-directed UEA I. In contrast, lectins with affinity for neuraminic acid (SNA, WGA) bound to central acinar cells where consistent binding of DBA and SNA occurred only after neuraminidase digestion, and variation in the binding of UEA I was seen. The reactivities corresponded with the distribution of secretory granules, but staining in Golgi-like areas occurred in central acinar cells with PNA lectin. The results suggest that glycosylations are more advanced in central than demilunar acinar cells of the ferret submandibular gland. Possibly demilunar and central acinar cells reflect phenotypic changes of a single secretory cell, the 'central' acinar phenotype being influenced by incorporation of neuraminic acid in glycoprotein side chains and by increased Golgi activity.     

Evaluation of risk for atherosclerosis in Alagille syndrome and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis: two congenital cholestatic diseases with different lipoprotein metabolisms

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk for atherosclerosis in Alagille syndrome (AGS) and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) on the basis of lipoprotein metabolism and by ultrasonography. STUDY DESIGN: Five patients with AGS and 5 with PFIC, ages 3 to 4 years, were enrolled. Intimal-medial thickness and wall stiffness of the common carotid artery were examined by ultrasonography. Serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins were determined. Further, the chemical composition of LDL and its ability to transform macrophages into foam cells were determined. RESULTS: Intimal-medial thickness and wall stiffness were increased in patients with PFIC but not in patients with AGS. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and lipoprotein X were remarkably increased in patients with AGS, whereas in patients with PFIC, an increase in triglyceride and a decrease in HDL cholesterol were the prominent findings. However, despite the normal LDL cholesterol level, oxidized LDL level was strikingly high in patients with PFIC. LDLs from patients with PFIC had high TG contents and exhibited high abilities to transform macrophages into foam cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that patients with PFIC are at high risk for cardiovascular disorders involving atherosclerosis.     

Comparative aspects of the immunology and biology of insulin

Summary Some immunological and physiological properties of insulin preparations from a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate species have been compared with those of crystalline ox and cod insulin, and the yields of insulin from several of these islet preparations are given. — Highly potent guinea pig and horse antisera to ox insulin were unable to provoke hyperglycaemia in the marine TeleostCottus scorpius (the sculpin) and in the CyclostomeMyxine glutinosa (the hagfish), respectively. — Crystalline ox and cod insulin provoked hypoglycaemia and death in both the sculpin and the hagfish, but only after large doses and several days' observation time. These findings contrast with the ease and fair rapidity of eliciting a hypoglycaemic response in the hagfish when the hagfish's own insulin was used. No marked quantitative differences were noted between the effects of ox, cod, and sculpin insulins in the sculpin, neither between ox and cod insulin in the hagfish. — The results indicate a species-specificity of insulin, both immunologically and hormonally.The authors are indebted to Dr. A.Kotaki for gifts of bonito and tunny insulins, and to Dr. P. J.Moloney for chicken insulin.     

Kidney donors and kidney transplants have abnormal aminothiol redox status,and are at increased risk of oxidative stress and reduced redox buffer capacity

Objective

Living kidney donors have been part of a successful kidney transplant programme in Norway for almost 50 years. Glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) have tended to remain stable at about 70% of pre-donation levels. Plasma total homocysteine (Hcy) has an inverse relationship to kidney function, and previous reports indicate elevated levels of Hcy in kidney donors. We wanted to examine the most important plasma aminothiols in kidney donors, i.e. Hcy, cysteine (Cys) and cysteinylglycine (CG) with their redox species. The aminothiol redox-system appears to be an integral part of the extracellular antioxidant defence system in the body.

Design and methods

Plasma concentrations of total Hcy were obtained in 82 previous kidney donors, 82 healthy controls and 26 kidney transplants with stable and good kidney function. In a subset of 30 kidney donors, 30 matched controls and 12 kidney transplants plasma samples were analysed for Hcy, Cys, CG and their redox species. There were no differences between groups for B-vitamin status.

Results

Kidney donors and kidney transplants had elevated plasma concentrations of total Hcy, Cys and CG. The plasma levels of reduced Hcy species were high — with a high reduced/oxidized ratio. The plasma levels of reduced Cys species were low — with a low reduced/oxidized ratio.

Conclusions

Previous kidney donors have abnormal plasma aminothiol redox status. The present findings indicate that donors may have increased risk of oxidative stress with low redox buffer capacity and disturbed cellular redox-dependent signalling pathways. Similar observations were made in the kidney transplants.     

不同强度低功率聚焦超声辐照牛肝脏组织的初步实验研究

目的采用不同强度低功率聚焦超声辐照离体牛肝脏组织,观察超声辐照前后牛肝组织的大体及病理学改变,探讨自制低功率聚焦超声治疗仪的聚焦特性及基本生物学效应。方法采用不同强度低功率聚焦超声辐照牛肝组织不同时长,观察辐照靶区大体改变。结果超声声强16．8w／cm^2以上,辐照时间15min,可见靶区肝组织呈灰红色,与周围肝组织界限清晰。结论证实我所自行研制的低功率聚焦超声治疗仪的聚焦特性及基本生物学效应,并为后期联合微泡造影剂治疗提供基本实验参数。