Endogenous and exogenous nitric oxide enhance the DNA strand scission induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide in PC12 cells via peroxynitrite-dependent and independent mechanisms, respectively

A short-term exposure to tert-butylhydroperoxide (tB-OOH) promoted a concentration-dependent formation of DNA single-strand breaks in PC12 cells. These events were paralleled by an increase in the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ that was in part cleared by the mitochondria. Unlike the extent of Ca2+ mobilization and/or mitochondrial Ca2+ clearance, the DNA strand scission evoked by the hydroperoxide was markedly reduced by the nitric oxide (NO) scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazolin-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO) or by the NO synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME). Inhibitors of electron transport (rotenone and myxothiazol), ruthenium red (RR, a polycation which inhibits the calcium uniporter of mitochondria), or peroxynitrite scavengers (Trolox and L-methionine) were as effective as PTIO or L-NAME in inhibiting the DNA-damaging response mediated by tB-OOH. Rotenone, RR or peroxynitrite scavengers did not further reduce the residual DNA cleavage observed following treatment with tB-OOH in L-NAME-supplemented cells. Exogenous NO also increased the DNA damage caused by tB-OOH in L-NAME-supplemented cells and this response was blunted by RR or by inhibitors of electron transport but was insensitive to peroxynitrite scavengers. We conclude that both endogenous and exogenous NO enhance the DNA cleavage generated by tB-OOH in PC12 cells. However, only endogenous NO set the bases for an involvement of peroxynitrite in this DNA-damaging response.     

截骨加楔形植骨术治疗创伤性踝成角并短缩畸形（附7例分析）

目的：对创伤性踝成角并短缩畸形行截骨加楔形植骨手术的治疗效果进行评价。方法：对7例因外伤致踝成角并短缩畸形患者行截骨加楔形植骨术矫形并延长肢体，术后进行平均39．7个月的随访，就疼痛，行走能力，活动度、日常生活能力等进行百分制评分。结果：术后患肢恢复或接近等长，疼痛，行走能力和日常生活能力均有改善，但踝关节活动度无改善。结论：本手术方法是治疗创伤性踝关节成角短缩畸形合并早期骨性关节炎十分有效的方法。     

Carnitine depletion during total parenteral nutrition despite oral L-carnitine supplementation

Carnitine (CAR) plays an important role in the β-oxidation of fatty acids. Less attention, however, has been paid to CAR compared to other nutrients even in total parenteral nutrition (TPN). To examine CAR metabolism during TPN and the effect of simultaneous oral L-CAR supplementation on CAR levels, the blood CAR level was measured in a 3-year-old boy receiving long-term TPN because of short bowel syndrome. Both the total and acyl CAR in the serum were evaluated under various nutritional conditions including oral supplementation of L-CAR. Low CAR concentrations were observed especially when lipid containing TPN regimens were in place. Oral L-CAR supplementation was not sufficient to restore the low CAR levels in the present index patient even when the dose was increased to 120 mg/kg in accordance with the result of the L-CAR absorption test that revealed poor intestinal absorption of this nutrient. Moreover, a markedly low CAR level was measured during the onset of sepsis in the patient, and the blood CAR was depleted when lipid metabolism was activated by lipid loading or sepsis. To date, the late effects of CAR depletion on child growth have not been well examined. It is recommended that the blood CAR level be maintained at normal levels before any prominent manifestations of the deficiency have developed. The intravenous administration of CAR appears to be necessary to supply a sufficient amount of CAR for patients with severe malabsorption.     

No Improvement of Adult Height in Non-growth Hormone (GH) Deficient Short Children with GH Treatment

It is still in doubt whether the standard-dose growth hormone (GH) used in Japan (0.5 IU/kg/week, 0.167 mg/kg/week) for growth hormone deficiency is effective for achieving significant adult height improvement in non-growth hormone deficient (non-GHD) short children. We compared the growth of GH-treated non-GHD short children with that of untreated short children to examine the effect of standard-dose GH treatment on non-GHD short children. GH treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) was started before the age of 11 yr in 64 boys and 76 girls with non-GHD short stature registered at the Foundation for Growth Science who have now reached their adult height. In 119 untreated boys and 127 untreated girls whose height standard deviation score (SDS) was below –2 SD at the age of 6 yr, height growth was followed until 17 yr. Height SDS was significantly lower before GH treatment in the GH-treated group than at the age of 6 yr in the untreated group, in both sexes. Adult height and adult height SDS were significantly greater in the untreated group than in the GH-treated group, in both sexes, although the change in height SDS did not differ significantly. Height SDS was significantly lower before GH treatment in the GH-treated group than at the age of 6 yr in the untreated group, so 57 boys and 57 girls whose height SDS at the age of 6 yr in the untreated group closely matched the height SDS before GH treatment in the GH-treated group were chosen for comparison. Height SDS did not differ significantly between the GH-treated group before GH treatment and the untreated group at the age of 6 yr, nor were there differences between these subgroups in adult height, adult height SDS, or height SDS change, in either sex. The effect of GH treatment is reported to be dose-dependent and doses over 0.23 mg/kg/week are reported to be necessary to improve adult height in non-GHD short children. Currently, the GH dose is fixed at 0.175 mg/kg/week in Japan, and we expected to find, and indeed concluded, that ordinary GH treatment in Japanese, non-GHD short children does not improve adult height.     

靶向VEGF发夹状RNA对宫颈癌HeLa细胞抑制作用的研究

目的:运用RNAi技术下调血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在HeLa细胞中的表达,观察其对肿瘤细胞凋亡的影响,为人宫颈癌治疗提供理论依据。方法:设计并构建针对VEGF的携带绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)发夹状RNA(shRNA)质粒表达载体(PGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA),脂质体法转染HeLa细胞;荧光显微镜观察GFP的表达,并计算转染效率;RT-PCR检测HeLa细胞VEGF的表达,筛选出靶序列;再用流式细胞仪法检测细胞凋亡。结果:构建的PGPU6/GFP/Neo载体成功转入HeLa细胞;转染48h后,HeLa-shVEGF1组HeLa细胞VEGFmRNA表达的抑制率为75.0%;与HeLa组和HeLa-shNC组相比,HeLa-shVEGF1组HeLa细胞凋亡率明显增加,P<0.01。结论:本研究构建的PGPU6-shRNA表达载体携带GFP便于观察细胞的转染情况,且不影响U6启动子的转录,同时有效沉默了VEGF基因,明显增加HeLa细胞的凋亡,为未来肿瘤的治疗提供新途径。     

Laparoscopic findings in female genital tuberculosis

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the laparoscopic findings in genital tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: A total of 85 women of genital TB, who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for infertility or chronic pelvic pain were enrolled in this retrospective study conducted in our unit at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India from September 2004 to 2007. RESULTS: The mean age was 28.2 years and the mean parity was 0.24. Most women were from poor socioeconomic status (68.1%). Past history of TB was seen in 29 (34.1%) women with pulmonary TB in 19 (22.35%) women and extrpulmonary in 10 (11.7%) women. Most women presented with infertility (90.6% primary 72.9%; secondary 17.6%) while the rest had chronic pelvic pain (9.4%). The mean duration of infertility was 6.2 years. A total of 49 (57.6%) women had normal menses, while hypomenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, secondary amenorrhea and menorrhagia were seen in 25 (30.1%), 3 (3.5%), 5 (5.9%), and 2 (2.4%) women respectively. Diagnosis of genital TB was made by histopathological evidence of TB granuloma in 16 (18.8%) (Endometrial biopsy in 12.9%, laparoscopy biopsy in 5.9%) women, demonstration of acid fast bacilli (AFB) on microscopy in 2(2.3%), positive AFB culture in 2 (2.3%), positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 55 (64.7%) and laparoscopic findings of genital TB in 40 (47.1%). The various findings on laparoscopy were tubercles on peritoneum (12.9%) or ovary (1.2%), tubovarian masses (7.1%), caseous nodules (5.8%), encysted ascitis in 7.1% women. Various grades of pelvic adhesions were seen in 56(65.8%) women. The various findings on fallopian tubes were normal looking tubes in (7.1%), inability to visualize in 12(14.1%), presence of tubercles on tubes in 3 (3.52%), caseous granuloma in 3 (3.52%), hydrosalpinx in 15 (17.6%) (Right tube 11.7%, left tube 5.9%), pyosalphinx in 3 (3.5%) on right tube and 2 (2.35%) in left tube, beaded tube in 3 (3.5%) on right tube, 4 (4.7%) in left tube with tobacco pouch appearance in 2 (2.35%) women. The right tube was patent in 9 (10.6%) while left tube was patent in 10(11.7%) cases only, while they were either not seen (absent in one case due to previous salphingectomy, inability to see due to adhesion in 14.12%) or blocked at various sites with cornual end being most common in 3 (3.5%) showing multiple block in right tube and 4.7% in left tube. CONCLUSION: There is a significant pelvic morbidity and tubal damage in genital tuberculosis.     

超声靶向破坏微泡技术介导小鼠肝癌细胞株JNK1基因表达、细胞迁移和侵袭抑制

目的: 探讨应用超声靶向破坏微泡 (UTMD) 技术介导小鼠肝癌细胞株JNK1基因的表达、细胞迁移和侵袭抑制的作用,阐明其作用机制。方法: 构建并筛选RNA干扰效果最好的短发夹RNA(shRNA)。将小鼠肝癌细胞株Hca-F分为正常Hca-F细胞组、shRNA质粒组、脂质体组、超声微泡结合超声辐照组及脂质体结合超声微泡加超声辐照组。采用倒置荧光显微镜观察各组细胞转染率,荧光定量PCR和Western blotting 法检测JNK1基因mRNA和蛋白表达水平,CCK-8法检测各组细胞的细胞活性,应用Transwell 实验检测各组细胞的体外迁移能力。结果: 脂质体结合超声微泡加超声辐照组细胞转染率高于shRNA质粒组、脂质体组和超声微泡结合超声辐照组(均P<0.05),脂质体组和超声微泡结合超声辐照组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。脂质体结合超声微泡加超声辐照组JNK1 mRNA和蛋白表达水平低于其他各组(P<0.05);脂质体结合超声微泡加超声辐照组细胞活性和平均穿膜细胞数均低于其他各组(P<0.05)。结论: UTMD技术结合脂质体转染法可以提高小鼠肝癌细胞株JNK1 shRNA的转染效率,增强其对基因表达、细胞活力、迁移和侵袭能力的抑制。     

Effects of an Amino Acid-Based Formula Supplemented with Two Human Milk Oligosaccharides on Growth,Tolerability, Safety,and Gut Microbiome in Infants with Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy

This open-label, non-randomized, multicenter trial (Registration: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT 03661736","term_id":"NCT03661736"}}NCT 03661736) aimed to assess if an amino acid-based formula (AAF) supplemented with two human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) supports normal growth and is well tolerated in infants with a cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA). Term infants aged 1–8 months with moderate-to-severe CMPA were enrolled. The study formula was an AAF supplemented with 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT). Infants were fed the study formula for 4 months and were offered to remain on the formula until 12 months of age. Tolerance and safety were assessed throughout the trial. Out of 32 infants (mean age 18.6 weeks; 20 (62.5%) male), 29 completed the trial. During the 4-month principal study period, the mean weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) increased from –0.31 at the baseline to +0.28 at the 4-months’ follow-up. Linear and head growth also progressed along the WHO child growth reference, with a similar small upward trend. The formula was well tolerated and had an excellent safety profile. When comparing the microbiome at the baseline to the subsequent visits, there was a significant on-treatment enrichment in HMO-utilizing bifidobacteria, which was associated with a significant increase in fecal short-chain fatty acids. In addition, we observed a significant reduction in the abundance of fecal Proteobacteria, suggesting that the HMO-supplemented study formula partially corrected the gut microbial dysbiosis in infants with CMPA.     

Dried Plum’s Polyphenolic Compounds and Carbohydrates Contribute to Its Osteoprotective Effects and Exhibit Prebiotic Activity in Estrogen Deficient C57BL/6 Mice

Evidence of dried plum’s benefits on bone continues to emerge. This study investigated the contribution of the fruit’s polyphenol (PP) and carbohydrate (CHO) components on a bone model of postmenopausal osteoporosis to explore their prebiotic activity. Osteopenic ovariectomized mice were fed diets supplemented with dried plum, a crude extract of dried plum’s polyphenolic compounds, or the PP or CHO fraction of the crude extract. The effects of treatments on the bone phenotype were assessed at 5 and 10 weeks as well as the prebiotic activity of the different components of dried plum. Both the CHO and PP fractions of the extract contributed to the effects on bone with the CHO suppressing bone formation and resorption, and the PP temporally down-regulating formation. The PP and CHO components also altered the gut microbiota and cecal short chain fatty acids. These findings demonstrate that the CHO as well as the PP components of dried plum have potential prebiotic activity, but they have differential roles in mediating the alterations in bone formation and resorption that protect bone in estrogen deficiency.