瞬时感受器电位离子通道香草素受体4在睾丸缺血再灌注损伤中对GC-1细胞增殖及凋亡的作用及其机制

目的探讨瞬时感受器电位离子通道香草素受体4(TRPV4)在睾丸缺血再灌注损伤(IRI)中对GC-1细胞增殖和凋亡的作用及其机制。方法建立睾丸GC-1细胞缺氧复氧模型,采用蛋白质印迹法(Western blot)检测不同复氧损伤时间点TRPV4的表达变化;分别采用噻唑蓝(MTT)实验、流式细胞术检测转染TRPV4对GC-1细胞增殖和凋亡的影响;采用Western blot法检测睾丸组织中转染TRPV4对GC-1细胞中半胱氨酰天冬氨酸特异性蛋白酶(Caspase)-3和细胞色素C(Cyt-C)表达的影响,组间比较采用t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析。结果对照组及缺氧复氧组(0、6、12、24、48和72 h)TRPV4的蛋白表达水平分别为0.19±0.02、0.35±0.03、0.42±0.04、0.46±0.04、0.62±0.05、0.54±0.05、0.45±0.04。缺氧复氧组TRPV4表达显著高于未缺氧GC-1细胞的对照组,并在复氧24 h达到峰值(F=6.898,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义;缺氧复氧组中细胞增殖水平明显低于对照组(52.32±4.58比100.00±7.63,t=-9.280,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义,细胞凋亡水平高于对照组(15.60±1.72比4.08±0.87,t=10.352,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义;过表达TRPV4组中细胞增殖水平低于其对照组(23.65±3.98比51.35±4.67,t=-7.820,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义,细胞凋亡水平高于其对照组(26.93±2.15比14.62±1.68),t=7.814,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义;沉默TRPV4组中细胞增殖水平高于其对照组(72.49±6.21比53.18±5.14,t=4.150,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义,细胞凋亡水平低于其对照组(9.71±1.25比15.07±1.64,t=-4.502,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义。缺氧复氧组中Caspase-3和Cyt-C表达水平高于对照组(0.70±0.06比0.20±0.02,t=13.693,P<0.05;0.74±0.07比0.26±0.03,t=10.917,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义;过表达TRPV4组中Caspase-3和Cyt-C表达水平高于其对照组(1.25±0.11比0.69±0.07,t=7.439,P<0.05;1.38±0.14比0.72±0.07,t=7.303,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义;沉默TRPV4组中Caspase-3和Cyt-C表达水平低于其对照组(0.46±0.05比0.68±0.06,t=-4.879,P<0.05;0.45±0.05比0.72±0.06,t=-5.988,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义。结论TRPV4在GC-1细胞中高表达,其可能通过改变GC-1细胞的增殖和凋亡能力,从而影响睾丸IRI的发生发展。     

牛磺酸对大鼠心脏模拟缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

在离体大鼠心脏模拟缺血再灌注(I/R)损伤的模型上观察了牛磺酸的心肌保护作用。实验结果发现预先给大鼠牛磺酸灌胃(300mg/kg)三日或再灌注同时给药(20mmol/L),对心肌均有保护作用,明显减少心肌细胞内的Mb、LDH的漏出,降低心肌MDA的生成,减轻细胞内钙的聚集,促进心肌ATP含量的恢复。在本实验条件下预防应用牛磺酸较再灌注的同时应用更为有效,表现为更大程度地减少LDH漏出,抑制心肌MDA生成和钙聚集。结果证明牛磺酸具有心肌保护作用,对于防治心肌I/R损伤可能具有临床应用价值。     

肺癌肺叶袖状切除术的安全性和有效性

目的:评价肺癌肺叶袖状切除术后患者的手术安全性和远期生存状况.方法:回顾分析了1999年10月至2003年12月行肺癌根治术的94名病例,其中肺叶袖状切除术11例(Ⅰ组),全肺切除术17例(Ⅱ组),肺叶切除术66例(Ⅲ组).通过比较三组术后气管插管时间、ICU停留时间、吻合口并发症率及围手术期死亡率,评价肺叶袖状切除术的手术安全性,比较Ⅰ、Ⅱ组间的生存期和转移复发率探讨其远期有效性.组间率比较用x2检验或Fisher精确检验,均数比较用t检验,生存分析用Kaplan-Meier法,生存曲线比较用Log rank检验.显著性差异标准α=0.05.结果:Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组的手术死亡率为0,11.8%,3.0%,组间无显著性差异;平均气管插管时间为0.5±2.3天,2.0±7.2天,0.6±4.1天(Ⅰ、ⅢVSⅡ组,P＜0.05);吻合口并发症率为3.0%,0,5.8%,组间无显著性差异.Ⅰ组1年、3年生存率为45.5%、32.5%,Ⅱ组为58.8%、45.8%.两组生存率、远期局部复发率和转移率无显著性差异.结论:肺癌肺叶袖状切除术具有和肺叶切除术相近的手术安全性,优于全肺切除术,而其复发转移率、远期疗效与后者相近,是安全有效的手术方式.     

Characteristics of lower airway inflammatory changes in the minimal persistent inflammation of allergic rhinitis in mice

Objective: This study aims to establish an experimental mouse model of minimal persistent inflammation (MPI), observe the features of inflammation and hyper-responsiveness of the upper/lower airways, and explore the relationship between inflammation and hyper-responsiveness in the upper/lower airways. Methods: Sixty-four female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: allergic rhinitis (AR) group as positive control, MPI group, negative control group and blank control group. Mice were given high and low-concentrated ovalbumin solution after basic and intensive sensitization to establish AR model and MPI model. Nasal mucosa and lung tissues were stained to observe eosinophil infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Airway hyper-responsiveness was assessed. Levels of specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE), interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 in peripheral blood, nasal lavage fluid (NLF), and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The eosinophil infiltration and expression of ICAM-1 on nasal mucosa and in lung tissues in the AR and MPI groups were significantly elevated compared to control groups. Goblet cells count increased only in the nasal mucosa and not in lung tissues. Eosinophil and neutrophil count of NLF and BALF in the AR and MPI groups increased significantly compared to control groups. Level of IL-4 did not increase significantly, but sIgE and IL-5 did. Conclusions: Mice in the MPI status exhibits lower airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness with increase in eosinophil count, goblet cells, ICAM-1, IL-4, and IL-5. These results provide further evidence for the importance of MPI of AR in lower airway diseases.     

Facile synthesis of high-surface-area nanoporous carbon from biomass resources and its application in supercapacitors

It is critical for nanoporous carbons to have a large surface area, and low cost and be readily available for challenging energy and environmental issues. The pursuit of all three characteristics, particularly large surface area, is a formidable challenge because traditional methods to produce porous carbon materials with a high surface area are complicated and expensive, frequently resulting in pollution (commonly from the activation process). Here we report a facile method to synthesize nanoporous carbon materials with a high surface area of up to 1234 m² g⁻¹ and an average pore diameter of 0.88 nm through a simple carbonization procedure with carefully selected carbon precursors (biomass material) and carbonization conditions. It is the high surface area that leads to a high capacitance (up to 213 F g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹) and a stable cycle performance (6.6% loss over 12 000 cycles) as shown in a three-electrode cell. Furthermore, the high capacitance (107 F g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹) can be obtained in a supercapacitor device. This facile approach may open a door for the preparation of high surface area porous carbons for energy storage.

High-surface-area nanoporous carbon is obtained by direct pyrolysis of biomass resources without an activation process. An electrochemical test shows high capacitance.     

Piceatannol inhibits phorbol ester-induced expression of COX-2 and iNOS in HR-1 hairless mouse skin by blocking the activation of NF-κB and AP-1

Objectives

The present study was aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activity of piceatannol (trans-3,4,3′,5′-tetrahydroxystilbene) in mouse skin in vivo.

Methods

Female HR-1 hairless mice were topically treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) with or without piceatannol pretreatment. Epidermal protein expression was assessed by Western blot analysis. The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The DNA binding of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) was examined by the electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay. The catalytic activity of IκBα kinase-β (IKKβ) was measured by in vitro kinase assay.

Results

Pretreatment with piceatannol attenuated TPA-induced expression of COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in mouse skin. Piceatannol diminished nuclear translocation and the DNA binding of NF-κB through the blockade of phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IκBα. Piceatannol attenuated the catalytic activity of IKKβ and inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in TPA-treated mouse skin. In addition, piceatannol decreased TPA-induced expression of c-Fos and the DNA binding of AP-1.

Conclusion

Piceatannol inhibits TPA-induced COX-2 and iNOS expression by blocking the activation of NF-κB and AP-1 via suppression of the IKKβ activity and phosphorylation of MAP kinases, which provides a mechanistic basis of its anti-inflammatory effects in mouse skin.     

Dual-Targeting Nanoparticles: Codelivery of Curcumin and 5-Fluorouracil for Synergistic Treatment of Hepatocarcinoma

Chemotherapy has been the standard for cancer therapy, but the nonspecific cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents and drug resistance of tumor cells has limited its efficacy. However, multidrug combination therapy and targeting therapy have resulted in enhanced anticancer effects and have become increasingly important strategies in clinical applications. In this study, a biotin-/lactobionic acid–modified poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (BLPP) copolymer was synthesized, and curcumin- and 5-fluorouracil-loaded nanoparticles (BLPPNPs/C + F) were prepared to enhance the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Blank BLPPNPs were shown to have great biocompatibility via both in vitro and in vivo studies. Good targeting of tumor cells of BLPPNPs was confirmed by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, and biodistribution. The synergistic anticancer effects of BLPPNPs/C + F were demonstrated by cytotoxicity and animal studies, while western blotting was used to further verify the synergistic effect of curcumin and 5-fluorouracil. The dual-targeting and drug-loaded codelivery nanosystem demonstrated higher cellular uptake and stronger cytotoxicity for tumor cells. Therefore, these dual-targeting NPs are a promising codelivery carrier that could be made available for cellular targeting of anticancer drugs to achieve better intracellular delivery and synergistic anticancer efficacy.     

Hierarchical nanostructured conducting polymer hydrogel with high electrochemical activity

Conducting polymer hydrogels represent a unique class of materials that synergizes the advantageous features of hydrogels and organic conductors and have been used in many applications such as bioelectronics and energy storage devices. They are often synthesized by polymerizing conductive polymer monomer within a nonconducting hydrogel matrix, resulting in deterioration of their electrical properties. Here, we report a scalable and versatile synthesis of multifunctional polyaniline (PAni) hydrogel with excellent electronic conductivity and electrochemical properties. With high surface area and three-dimensional porous nanostructures, the PAni hydrogels demonstrated potential as high-performance supercapacitor electrodes with high specific capacitance (~480 F·g(-1)), unprecedented rate capability, and cycling stability (~83% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles). The PAni hydrogels can also function as the active component of glucose oxidase sensors with fast response time (~0.3 s) and superior sensitivity (~16.7 μA · mM(-1)). The scalable synthesis and excellent electrode performance of the PAni hydrogel make it an attractive candidate for bioelectronics and future-generation energy storage electrodes.