Chromatin organization in relation to the nuclear periphery

In the limited space of the nucleus, chromatin is organized in a dynamic and non-random manner. Three ways of chromatin organization are compaction, formation of loops and localization within the nucleus. To study chromatin localization it is most convenient to use the nuclear envelope as a fixed viewpoint. Peripheral chromatin has both been described as silent chromatin, interacting with the nuclear lamina, and active chromatin, interacting with nuclear pore proteins. Current data indicate that the nuclear envelope is a reader as well as a writer of chromatin state, and that its influence is not limited to the nuclear periphery.     

WWOX蛋白在皮肤血管瘤中的异常表达及意义

目的应用免疫组织化学方法检测不同时期血管瘤组织中WWOX蛋白的表达,探讨其在血管瘤发生、发展过程中的作用机制。方法收集武汉大学人民医院病理科2005年9月-2009年12月皮肤毛细血管瘤存档蜡块50例,其中男性25例,女性25例。采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测50例皮肤血管瘤增生期、退化期及正常皮肤组织WWOX蛋白的表达水平,采用HPIAS-1000图文报告管理系统对WWOX蛋白的表达进行定量分析,并用SPSS11.5软件对各组免疫组织化学反应阳性颗粒的平均光密度、阳性面积率做单因素方差分析和SNK(q)检验。结果在增生期血管瘤血管内皮细胞中可见少量的棕黄色颗粒,WWOX蛋白弱表达。正常皮肤组及退化组血管内皮细胞中可见密集分布的棕黄色颗粒,WWOX蛋白高表达。增生期组WWOX蛋白的表达明显低于退化期组和正常皮肤组(P<0.05)。结论 WWOX蛋白在增生期血管瘤组织中表达减少或缺失,可能与血管瘤的发生发展有密切关系。     

Rate and irregularity of electrical activation during atrial fibrillation affect myocardial NGF expression via different signalling routes

An irregular ventricular response during atrial fibrillation (AF) has been shown to mediate an increase in sympathetic nerve activity in human subjects. The molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of rate and irregularity on nerve growth factor (NGF) expression in cardiomyocytes, since NGF is known to be the main contributor to cardiac sympathetic innervation density. Cell cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were electrically stimulated for 48 h with increasing rates (0, 5 and 50 Hz) and irregularity (standard deviation (SD) = 5%, 25% and 50% of mean cycle length). Furthermore, we analyzed the calcineurin-NFAT and the endothelin-1 signalling pathways as possible contributors to NGF regulation during arrhythmic stimulation. We found that the increase of NGF expression reached its maximum at the irregularity of 25% SD by 5 Hz (NGF: 5 Hz 0% SD = 1 vs. 5 Hz 25% SD = 1.57, P < 0.05). Specific blockade of the ET-A receptor by BQ123 could abolish this NGF increase (NGF: 5 Hz 25% SD + BQ123 = 0.66, P < 0.05). High frequency electrical field stimulation (HFES) with 50 Hz decreased the NGF expression in a significant manner (NGF: 50 Hz = 0.55, P < 0.05). Inhibition of calcineurin-NFAT signalling with cyclosporine-A or 11R-VIVIT abolished the HFES induced NGF down-regulation (NGF: 50 Hz + CsA = 1.14, P < 0.05). In summary, this study reveals different signalling routes of NGF expression in cardiomyocytes exposed to increasing rates and irregularity. Whether this translates into different degrees of NGF expression and possibly neural sympathetic growth in various forms of ventricular rate control during AF remains to be elucidated in further studies.     

Tungsten-based material as promising new lead-free gamma radiation shielding material in nuclear medicine

PurposeThe main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tungsten carbide as new lead-free radiation shielding material in nuclear medicine by evaluating the attenuation properties.Materials and methodsThe elemental composition of tungsten carbide was analysed using Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The purity of tungsten carbide was 99.9%, APS: 40–50 µm. Three discs of tungsten carbide was fabricated with thickness of 0.1 cm, 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm. Three lead discs with similar thickness were used to compare the attenuation properties with tungsten carbide discs. Energy calibration of gamma spectroscopy was performed by using ¹²³I, ¹³³Ba, ¹⁵²Eu, and ¹³⁷Cs. Gamma radiation from these sources were irradiated on both materials at energies ranging from 0.160 MeV to 0.779 MeV. The experimental attenuation coefficients of lead and tungsten carbide were compared with theoretical attenuation coefficients of both materials from NIST database. The half value layer and mean free path of both materials were also evaluated in this study.ResultsThis study found that the peaks obtained from gamma spectroscopy have linear relationship with all energies used in this study. The relative differences between the measured and theoretical mass attenuation coefficients are within 0.19–5.11% for both materials. Tungsten carbide has low half value layer and mean free path compared to lead for all thickness at different energies.ConclusionThis study shows that tungsten carbide has high potential to replace lead as new lead-free radiation shielding material in nuclear medicine.     

MDSC在外周血中的表达及其与HBV-DNA复制水平的相关性

目的探讨髓源性抑制细胞（MDSC）在乙肝HBe Ag阳性﹑HBe Ab阳性患者外周血中的表达水平及临床意义,并进一步分析MDSC与HBV-DNA的动态关系。方法 （1）选取乙肝两对半符合HBe Ag阳性﹑HBe Ab阳性表型的患者60例,将这些标本分为HBe Ag阳性组、HBe Ab阳性组。分析MDSC在这两组间的表达差别。（2）将患者分为HBV-DNA阳性组和HBV-DNA阴性组,分析HBV-DNA的复制水平与MDSC表达的相关性。（3）用流式细胞仪检测外周血中以CD33^＋CD11b^＋HLA-DR^-为特征的MDSC占外周血粒细胞的百分比。（4）结合患者的其他指标（ALT、AST、GGT）,利用统计学软件分析其与MDSC表达水平之间的关系,进一步探讨它的临床意义。结果乙肝（HBe Ag阳性）MDSC表达水平（10.85±4.21）（n=22）（t=12.091）高于HBe Ab阳性组（5.88±2.95）（n=38）（t=12.281）（P〈0.01）,结果差异有统计学意义;乙肝DNA阳性组中MDSC表达水平（9.30±4.44）（n=30）（t=11.473）显著高于DNA阴性组（6.10±3.29）（n=30）（t=10.161）（P〈0.01）;乙肝患者外周血中的MDSC表达水平与ALT、AST、GGT成正相关。结论乙肝HBe Ag阳性、HBe Ab阳性阳患者外周血中的MDSC表达水平可能与乙肝的发生、发展密切相关;MDSC的表达水平与HBV-DNA复制水平呈正相关;外周血MDSC表达水平可作为乙肝患者临床监测的指标。