Construction of Smac gene-containing and human prostate specific antigen promoter-regulated vector and its expression

To construct an eukaryotic expression vector containing Smac gene and study the expression efficiency and specificity of prostate specific antigen（PSA） enhancer/promoter in a possible targeted gene therapy scheme for prostate cancer. Methods： PSA enhancer （PSAE） and promoter （PSAP） sequences were amplified using PCR method. CMV and T7 promoters were deleted from pcDNA3.1-Smac and replaced by the two specific fragments to generate pPSAE-PSAP-Smac. After transfection into different cell lines, the status of cells was observed. And then, we determined the relative concentration of Smac mRNA in RT-PCR. Results： The recombinant plasmid of pPSAE-PSAP-Smac was successfully constructed. And only the prostate cancer cell line PC-3 was suppressed after transfection with pPSAE-PSAP-Smac. However, other nonprostate lines were not. Moreover, the concentration of Smac mRNA regulated by PSA promoter and enhancer was higher in comparison to the CMV promoter-driven control vectors. Conclusion： An expression vector containing the Smac gene （based on elements of the PSA gene regulatory sequences） has been developed and shown to function in prostate cancer cell lines which provides a solid platform for launching clinical studies.     

Valves replacement operation in treatment of electrical storm induced by rheumatic valves disease

Objective： To present a case of electrical storm （ES） in a female patient with rheumatic valve disease. Methods： A female patient with severe rheumatic valve disease suffered an unexpected ES. She received more than 50 electrical shocks for repeated cardiac arrests due to ES over 16 hours. Then she received beta-blocking agent treatment and had an operation of double valves replacement. Results： ES was suppressed by sympathetic blockade with beta-receptor blocker and finally disappeared after the double pathological valves had been replaced. Conclusion： Increased sympathetic activity plays an important role in the genesis of electrical storm and sympathetic blockade may effectively suppress ES. However, the most important thing in the treatment of ES is to identify and eliminate the underlying cause of ES.     

电针与双氯灭痛治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效观察

背景研究表明针刺对治疗坐骨神经痛有较高的有效率,非类固醇类药物,如双氯灭痛也被广泛用于治疗坐骨神经痛,但针刺和双氯灭痛分别治疗坐骨神经痛的疗效对比如何亟待研究.目的比较电针刺与双氯灭痛治疗腰椎间盘突出症引起的坐骨神经痛的疗效.设计随机对照研究.地点和对象本研究在巴基斯坦伊斯兰堡中国针灸中心完成,对象为2001-02/2002-10该中心门诊治疗的腰椎间盘突出症患者40例.方法随机分为电针组23例,电针刺25 min/d,治疗7 d.药物组17例,口服双氯灭痛片50 mg/次,3次/d,治疗7 d.主要观察指标两组治疗前后直腿抬高实验(SLR),臀部、大腿后侧及小腿压痛、麻木感.结果治疗后电针组直腿抬高角度明显大于药物组(t=2.179,P＜0.05);电针组臀部压痛减轻的VSA分数明显小于药物组(t=2.224,P＜0.05).但压痛的减轻在大腿后和小腿部在两组间没有区别(大腿t=1.912,小腿t=1.580,P＞0.05).在电针组SLR增加20°以上的患者数多于药物组(x2=4.817,P＜0.05).同样,电针组臀部压痛减轻在20分以上的患者数多于药物组(x2=5.028,P＜0.05).但大腿后和小腿部压痛的减轻在20分以上的患者数两组间没有明显区别(大腿x2=0.583;小腿x2=1.081,P＞0.05).足部麻木感的减轻两组间没有明显区别(x2=0.680,P＞0.05).结论对于提高SLR角度和减轻针刺区的压痛电针刺效果优于双氯灭痛治疗.在远离穴位的区域两者对减轻压痛的作用无明显区别.     

HOUSE DUST MITE ALLERGEN （Derp1 AND Blot5） LEVELS IN ASTHMATICS＇ HOME IN HONGKONG

Objective To measure Derpl and Blot5 allergen levels in asthmatics' homes in Hongkong.Methods Seventy houses were enrolled for a mite indoor environment study. Dust samples were obtained from two sites of each patients' house: bed and floor. Derpl and Blot5 levels were quantified by a two-site monoclonal antibody-based ELISA technique.Results The levels of Derpl allergens found in bed (geometric mean (GM) 3.43 μg/g of dust; 95%CI, 1.89-4.96 μg/g)and on the floor (GM 1.12 μg/g of dust; 95%CI, 0.71-1.53 μg/g) indicated significant differences (P=0.005). However, the levels of Blot5 allergens found in bed (GM 19.00 μg/g of dust; 95%CI, 0.89-38.90 μg/g) and on the floor (GM 6.14 μg/g of dust; 95%CI, 0.40-11.90 μg/g) showed no statistically significant difference. In addition, in regards to the exposure index for Derpl and Blot5 allergens found in bed and on the floor, 17.6% in bed and 8.6% on the floor had levels of Blot5 ≥ 10 μg/g of dust, higher than those obtained for Derp1 (7.2% and 0% in bed and on the floor respectively, P＜ 0.05); higher percentages in bed and on the floor (25.0% and 35.7%) were observed for levels of Blot5 =0 μg/g of dust as compared with Derpl in bed and on the floor (4.3% and 14.5% respectively, P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Derpl and Blot5 are the major allergens found in this regional study, Blot5 is a more potent allergen in Hongkong, probably reflecting the high level of exposure to Blomia tropicalis (Bt). Bt and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) allergens should be included for precise diagnosis and effective immuno-therapeutic treatment of mite allergy in Hongkong.     

EFFECT OF ERYTHROMYCIN ON GASTRIC DYSMOTILITY AND NEUROENDOCRINE PEPTIDES IN RATS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Objective To investigate the effect of erythromycin on the contractive activity of the isolated gastric antrum smooth muscle and somatostatin (SS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), motilin (MTL), and substance P (SP) in plasma and isolated gastric antrum tissue of diabetes mellitus (DM) rat models. Methods Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control group (n = 10), DM group (n =10), and erythromycin group (DM models with erythromycin treatment, n = 10). A single dose of streptozotocin (100 mg/kg,dissolved in 0.1 mol/L citric acid buffer, pH4.5) was injected intraperitoneally. After 48 to 72 hours, rats with blood glucose above 16.7 mmol/L and urine glucose level to be ( ) to ( ) over one week were considered successful DM models. The resting tension, mean contractile amplitude and frequency of spontaneous change in isolated longitudinal and circular gastric antrum smooth muscle strips were measured. SS, VIP, MTL, and SP levels in plasma and gastric antrum tissue were measured using radioimmunoassay. Results (1) In the isolated gastric antrum smooth muscle strips, the gastric motility parameters were lower in DM group than those in control group except circular smooth muscle contractile amplitude and longitudinal smooth muscle contractile frequency. The gastric motility parameters were significantly strengthened in erythromycin group, compared with DM group except longitudinal smooth muscle resting tension (P ＜ 0.01). (2) Plasma SS, VIP, and MTL concentrations in DM group were higher than those in control (P ＜ 0.05), while the SP level decreased (P ＜ 0.05). In the gastric antrum, SS of DM group was significantly higher than that of control group (P ＜ 0.01), while SP and MTL levels were lower than those of control group (P ＜ 0.05 and P ＜ 0.01, respectively). However, the level of VIP in gastric antrum tissue did not change among three groups. The plasma level of SS in erythromycin group was higher than that of DM group(P＜ 0.05). (3) The blood glucose was lower in erythromycin group than DM group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Erythromycin has direct effects on contractive activity of gastric smooth muscle in diabetic rats, but there are few effects on neuroendocrine peptides. Gastric-motility disorders in diabetic rats have a correlation with the changes of neuroendocrine peptide levels in plasma and gastric antrum tissue.     

SCREENING FOR A 21-CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITY IN PREIMPLANTED EMBRYOS OF ELDERLY WOMEN

Increasing maternal age is the only etiological factor unequivocally linked to Down's syndrome in humans. The occurrence rate of newborns with Down's syndrome is about 1/220 in women over 35 years old. However, the occurrence rate in embryos fertilized in vitro, of the elder woman is unclear. Using FISH we screened the number of chromosome 21 in preimplanted embryos of 5 elderly women (average age, 38.4 years) to study the feasibility and necessity of screening trisomy 21 in embryos in patients over 35 years old at the in vitro fertilization (IVF) center.     

EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUS FENTANYL ON SPONTANEOUS RENAL SYMPATHETIC NERVE ACTIVITY IN NORMAL AND VAGOTOMIZED RABBITS

Objective To investigate the roles of sympathetic and vagus nerves in hypotension and bradycardia induced by fentanyl. Methods Fourteen rabbits were divided into 2 groups: normal and vagotomized rabbits. Rabbits were anesthetized,paralyzed, and artificial ventilated. Right renal sympathetic nerve was exposed and prepared for recording electrical activity.Fentanyl was injected intravenously in incremental doses of 1,4, 15, 30, and 50μg/kg at 10 minutes intervals. Results Fentanyl significantly reduced the spontaneous activity of renal sympathetic nerve, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate above a total dose of 20μg/kg in both normal and vagotomized rabbits. However, normal rabbits spontaneous sympathetic nerve activity and mean arterial pressure were more depressed than vagotomized rabbits at total doses of 50 and 100μg/kg. There were no significant difference in the reduction of heart rate between normal and vagotomized rabbits. Conelusion Fentanyl induction of bradycardia and hypotension in rabbits is mainly due to depression of sympathetic nerve activity.     

Tpeak-Tend interval as a new risk factor for arrhythmic event in patient with Brugada syndrome

Objective:To evaluate Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) interval in surface standard ECG as a new risk factor for arrhythmic event in patient with Brugada syndrome. Methods: 23 male patients with Brugada syndrome and 20 male patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) as the control group were investigated in this study. Tp-e interval in surface standard ECG was compared between BrS and PSVT patients. Results: Tp-e interval in BrS patients was significantly longer than that in PSVT patients (109.57±22.86 ms vs. 88.50±13.08ms, P＜0.05). There was significant difference in Tp-e interval between 16 BrS patients with arrhythmic events (including syncope, clinical ventricular fibrillation [VF] and programmed electrical stimulation [PES]-induced VF) and 7 BrS patients without arrhythmic events and PSVT patients (118.12±20.40ms vs.90.00±15.27ms, P＜0.05; 118.12±20.40ms vs. 88.50±13.08ms, P＜0.05). However, Tp-e interval was similar in BrS patients without arrhythmic events and PSVT patients (90.00±15.27ms vs 88.50±13.08ms, P＞0.05). Conclusion: The prolongation of Tp-e interval could serve as a new noninvasive event predictor for arrhythmic events in patients with Brugada syndrome.     

Hepatitis B virus prevalence and transmission risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease patients at Clementino Fraga Filho university hospital

AIM： To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection in inflammatory bowel disease （IBD） patients that followed up in our hospital and try to identify the possible risk factors involved in this infection transmission, METHODS： This was a cross-sectional study for which 176 patients were selected according to their arrival for the medical interview, All these patients had already IBD diagnosis, The patient was interviewed and a questionnaire was filled out, RESULTS： In the group of 176 patients whom we examined, we found that 17% （30） were anti-HBc positive, Out of 30 patients with positive anti-HBc, 2,3% （4） had positive HBsAg and negative HBV-DNA, In an attempt to identify the possible HBV infection transmission risk factors in IBD patients, it was observed that 117 patients had been submitted to some kind of surgical procedure, but only 24 patients had positive anti-HBc （P = 0,085）, It was also observed that surgery to treat IBD complications was not a risk factor for HBV infection transmission, since we did not get a statically significant P value, However, IBD patients that have been submitted to surgery to treat IBD complications received more blood transfusions then patients submitted to other surgical interventions （P = 0.015）. CONCLUSION= There was a high incidence of positive anti-HBc （17%） and positive HBsAg （2.3%） in IBD patient when compared with the overall population （7.9%）.