Association of the variant rs2243421 of human DOC-2/DAB2 interactive protein gene (hDAB2IP) with gastric cancer in the Chinese Han population

Human DOC-2/DAB2 interactive protein (hDAB2IP) gene is a novel member of the Ras GTPase-activating family and has been demonstrated to be a tumor-suppressor gene that inhibits cell survival and proliferation and induces cell apoptosis. It was reported that the expression level of hDAB2IP in gastric cancer tissue was highly correlated with tumor progression, however, whether hDAB2IP genetic variants are associated with the risk of gastric cancer remains yet unknown. In this case–control study, we conducted a genetic analysis for hDAB2IP variants in 311 patients with gastric cancer and 425 controls from the Chinese Han population. We found that the SNP rs2243421 of hDAB2IP gene with the minor allele C significantly revealed strong association with decreased gastric cancer susceptibility (P = 0.007, adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.734, 95%CI = 0.586–0.919). Haplotypes rs2243421 and rs10985332 (HaploType: CC, P = 0.012, aOR = 0.760) and haplotypes rs2243421 and rs555996 (HaploType: CG, P = 0.034, aOR = 0.788) represented the decreased risk of gastric cancer, respectively. On the contrary, rs2243421 and rs555996 showed an elevated susceptibility (HaploType: TG, P = 0.010, aOR = 1.320). Our results for the first time provided new insight into susceptibility factors of hDAB2IP gene variants in carcinogenesis of gastric cancer.     

Is CD36 gene polymorphism in region encoding lipid-binding domain associated with early onset CAD?

CD36 is a fatty acid translocase in striated muscle cells and cardiomyocytes. Some study suggested that alterations in CD36 gene may be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. The aim of the current study was to compare the frequency of CD36 variants in region encoding lipid-binding domain in Caucasian patients with early-onset CAD, no-CAD adult controls and neonates. The study group comprised 100 patients with early onset CAD. The genetic control groups were 306 infants and 40 no-CAD adults aged over 70 years. Exons 4, 5 and 6 including fragments of flanking introns were studied using the denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography technique and direct sequencing. Changes detected in analyzed fragment of CD36: IVS3-6 T/C (rs3173798), IVS4-10 G/A (rs3211892), C311T (Thr104Ile, not described so far) in exon 5, G550A (Asp184Asn, rs138897347), C572T (Pro191Leu, rs143150225), G573A (Pro191Pro, rs5956) and A591T (Thr197Thr, rs141680676) in exon 6. No significant differences in the CD36 genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies were found between the three groups. Only borderline differences (p = 0.066) were found between early onset CAD patients and newborns in the frequencies of 591T allele (2.00% vs 0.50%) and CGCGCGT haplotype (2.00% vs 0.50%) with both IVS3-6C and 591T variant alleles. In conclusion, CD36 variants: rs3173798, rs3211892, rs138897347, rs5956, rs143150225 rs141680676 and C311T do not seem to be involved in the risk of early-onset CAD in Caucasian population.     

Chronic morphine exposure and its abstinence alters dendritic spine morphology and upregulates Shank1

Exposure to chronic drugs of abuse has been reported to produce significant changes in postsynaptic protein profile, dendritic spine morphology and synaptic transmission. In the present study we demonstrate alterations in dendritic spine morphology in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens of mice following chronic morphine treatment as well as during abstinence for two months. Such alterations were accompanied with significant upregulation of the postsynaptic protein Shank1 in synaptosomal enriched fractions. mRNA levels of Shank1 was also markedly increased during morphine treatment and during withdrawal. Studies of the different postsynaptic proteins at the protein and mRNA levels showed significant alterations in the morphine treated groups compared to that of saline treated controls. Taken together, these observations suggest that Shank1 may have an important role in the regulation of spine morphology induced by chronic morphine leading to addiction.     

Concurrent modulation of extracellular levels of noradrenaline and cAMP during stress and by anxiogenic- or anxiolytic-like neuropeptides in the prefrontal cortex of awake rats

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of stress and the role of locally infused anxiogenic-like neuropeptides galanin, CCK-8, vasopressin, substance P and neurokinin A, and anxiolytic-like peptides NPY, nociceptin/orphanin FQ, somatostatin and neurotensin, on modulation of noradrenaline (NA) and cAMP efflux monitored simultaneously by microdialysis in the medial prefronatal cortex of awake rats. Concentrations of cAMP were determined by a newly developed method based on derivatization of cAMP with 2-chloroacetaldehyde followed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Local infusion of forskolin (10 and 30 μM) dose-dependently increased the cAMP levels to 417% and 1050% of the control group, respectively. Similarly, local infusion of NA (10 μM) increased the cAMP to the peak level of 168%. A 5-min tail pinch and a 10-min swim stress rapidly increased the NA and cAMP levels to 167% and 203% (NA) and 141% and 161% (cAMP), respectively. Infusion of galanin and CCK-8 (0.5 nmol, and 1.5 nmol/0.5 μl) dose-dependently increased NA to the peak levels of 191% and 179% and cAMP levels to 174% and 166%, respectively. The peak levels following infusions of vasopressin, substance P and neurokinin A were 91%, 135% and 86% for NA and 131%, 83% and 76% for cAMP, respectively. Infusions of anxiolytic-like peptides at highest concentrations significantly increased (NPY, 136%) or decreased (nociceptin, 71%; somatostatin, 86%) the NA levels, whereas neurotensin had no effect. The cAMP levels decreased to 86% (NPY, neurotensin), 78% (nociceptin), somatostatin infusion was without effect. The present findings confirmed a close correlation between the stress-induced increases in prefrontal cortical NA and cAMP levels, as well as, concurrent changes in NA and cAMP levels following infusions of galanin and CCK-8 (increased levels) and nociceptin/orphanin FQ (decreased levels). Infusions of other neuropeptides showed a more complex pattern of NA and cAMP responses.     

Brugia pahangi: Immunization with early L3 ES alters parasite migration,and reduces microfilaremia and lymphatic lesion formation in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Previous studies have shown that intradermally (ID) injected Brugia pahangi L3s migrate through various tissues and into the lymphatics of gerbils in a distinct pattern. Excretory/secretory products (ES) produced at the time of invasion of B. pahangi are likely to be important in this early migration phase of the parasite life cycle in their rodent host. Hence, early L3 ES was collected from 24 h in vitro cultures of B. pahangi L3 larvae and used in immunization experiments to investigate the effect of immunity to early L3 ES on worm migration, survival and development of B. pahangi. Immunization of gerbils with ES in RIBI adjuvant produced antibodies to numerous ES proteins eliciting a strong humoral response to ES and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay using anti-ES serum recognized the ES proteins on the surface of B. pahangi L3 larvae. Following ES immunization, gerbils were challenged either ID or intraperitoneally (IP) with 100 L3s of B. pahangi and euthanized at 3 or 106 days post inoculation (DPI). Immunization with early ES slowed the migration of ID inoculated L3 at 3 DPI and significantly altered the locations of adult worms at 106 DPI. Immunization did not induce protection in any treatment group. However, immunized animals had significantly fewer microfilariae per female worm suggesting the antigens in ES are important in microfilariae development or survival in the host. The number of lymphatic granulomas was also significantly reduced in ES immunized animals. It is important to note that microfilariae serve as a nidus in these granulomas. Our results shows immunization with early Brugia malayi L3 ES alters the worm migration, affects circulating microfilarial numbers and reduces lymphatic granulomas associated with B. pahangi infection in gerbils.     

MST1 activation by curcumin mediates JNK activation,Foxo3a nuclear translocation and apoptosis in melanoma cells

Different groups including ours have shown that curcumin induces melanoma cell apoptosis, here we focused the role of mammalian Sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) in it. We observed that curcumin activated MST1-dependent apoptosis in cultured melanoma cells. MST1 silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) suppressed curcumin-induced cell apoptosis, while MST1 over-expressing increased curcumin sensitivity. Meanwhile, curcumin induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in melanoma cells, and the ROS scavenger, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), almost blocked MST1 activation to suggest that ROS might be required for MST1 activation by curcumin. c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) activation by curcumin was dependent on MST1, since MST1 inhibition by RNAi or NAC largely inhibited curcumin-induced JNK activation. Further, curcumin induced Foxo3 nuclear translocation and Bim-1 (Foxo3 target gene) expression in melanoma cells, such an effect by curcumin was inhibited by MST1 RNAi. In conclusion, we suggested that MST1 activation by curcumin mediates JNK activation, Foxo3a nuclear translocation and apoptosis in melanoma cells.     

基于FMEA和POSSUM评分的手术风险评估研究

??????? 目的 研究建立手术风险评估的架构,以正确决策手术时机。方法 采用用于计数死亡率和并发症发生率的生理学和手术严重性（POSSUM）评分原理进行分层计分,同时引用失效模式与效应分析方法对手术可能发生故障模式的严重度及发生可能性及风险因素的影响度3个维度进行评估。结果 建立了手术前风险预警机制及手术评估架构,利用评估架构对某综合医院2010年200例80岁高龄的手术病人进行了术前评估,结果手术后并发症的发生率较2009年同年龄的手术病人的并发症下降了10.45%。结论 在手术前对手术相关因素进行评估,可以为手术时机的选择提供参考。     

化疗联合冷循环射频消融术治疗原发性肝癌的效果分析

目的：探讨化疗联合冷循环射频消融术治疗原发性肝癌的疗效及安全性。方法：108例原发性肝癌患者随机分为两组,均给予灌注化疗,每4周进行一次灌注化疗,对照组（n=54）进行3次,治疗组（n=54）只进行一次。治疗组给予冷循环射频消融术。评价生活质量Kamofsky评分,治疗前后检查患者的血、尿、便常规,肝肾功能（包括天冬氨酸转氨酶、丙氨酸转氨酶（AVr）、白蛋白（ALB）、总胆红素、肌酐及尿素氮等指标）,甲胎蛋白（AFP）,T细胞亚群和加强肝脏CT扫描。随访1年,经CT确定肝癌复发。结果：治疗组Kamofsky评分有效率为59．26％,对照组Kamofsky评分有效率为37．03％,两组Kamofsky评分有效率相比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。两组治疗后症状变化相比较,除腹胀外其余各项指标差异均有统计学意义（P〈O．05）。治疗后两组相比较,ALT和AFP差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。治疗后两组T细胞亚群变化相比较,治疗组各项指标均变化显著（P〈0．05）。治疗后随访一年,治疗组复发率为22．22％;对照组复发率为53．70％。两组治疗一年后复发率相比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：化疗结合冷循环射频消融术治疗原发性肝癌疗效肯定,并发症及副作用小,复发率低。     

PSA密度对前列腺癌病理结果的预测价值

目的:评估前列腺特异抗原密度(prostate specific antigen density,PASD)对前列腺癌根治术后不良病理结果的预测价值.方法:回顾性分析50例病理确诊为前列腺癌患者的临床资料,收集患者术前总前列腺特异抗原(total prostate specific antigen,tPSA)、PSAD及穿刺活检Gleason评分结果,比较在手术切缘阳性(positive surgical margins,PSM)、前列腺包膜外侵犯(extracapsular prostatic extension,EPE)、精囊入侵(seminal vesicle invasion,SVI)患者中以上各项指标的差异,对有统计学差异的因素行多元Logistic回归分析,筛选影响浸润的最主要因素,同时运用工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)比较各指标的预测价值.结果:PSM,EPE和SVI患者之间PSAD存在统计学差异,PSAD曲线下面积高于PSA与Gleason评分.多元Logistic回归分析结果表明,PSAD和Gleason评分对PSM和EPE有着统计学意义的预测价值,且PSAD和PSA与SVI有关.结论:PSAD可作为接受前列腺癌根治术的患者术后不良的预测指标.