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ABSTRACT: Amyloid beta peptide 1-15 (Aβ1-15) and its derivatives have attracted the attention of the scientific community as candidate vaccines for Alzheimer's disease (AD) immunotherapy. Recent studies suggested that Aβ1-42 modulated the immune system by inducing pro-inflammatory dendritic cells (DCs) with reduced antigen-presenting function. However, it remains elusive how Aβ1-15 impacts DCs function. We therefore investigated the modulation by short Aβ peptides of DCs from C57Bl/6J mice. Two new immunogens, a tandem repeat of two-lysine-linked Aβ1-15 sequences with or without an addition of a RGD motif, were tested. Chemotaxis, endocytosis, antigen presenting function and producing cytokines were measured. Both peptides increased migration/endocytosis of immature DCs and MHC II molecule expression/alloreactive T cell activation in TNF-α-matured DCs. In addition, they exhibited decreased production of Th1/Th2 cytokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Overall, the two peptides demonstrated strong immunogenicity but did not stimulate pro-inflammatory pathways. These results support the use of short Aβ immunogens in AD immunotherapy.
Peptides 06/2011; 32(8):1617-25. · 2.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Recent studies suggest that brain angiotensin II (Ang II), the major effector molecule of the renin-angiotensin system, is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it remains unknown whether activation or blockade of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) has an impact on the secretion of amyloid-β (Aβ), the key molecule in the pathogenesis of AD. In this study, the cell models cultured primary hippocampal neurons and human embryonic kidney 293 cells, were transfected with AT1R and amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 (PS1). The effects of activation/blockade of the AT1R on Aβ secretion, PS1 level and β-/γ-secretase activity were investigated in different cells. When AT1R was stimulated with Ang II at concentrations from 10nM to 1000nM, only a tendency toward increased Aβ secretion and β-/γ-secretase activity was noticed in cultured primary hippocampal neurons. However, no significant change in soluble Aβ(40) or Aβ(42), the level of PS1, or secretase activity was found in the cells. Similarly, when the AT1R was blocked by losartan, no significant alteration of Aβ secretion, PS1 levels or secretase activity was detected. In conclusion, this in vitro study demonstrates that Ang II does not directly affect Aβ secretion or secretase activity via activation of AT1R. This study is significantly meaningful for exploring the pharmacologic mechanisms of angiotensin II receptor blockers in AD.
Neuroscience Letters 06/2011; 500(2):103-7. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is reported to be involved in the suppression of proliferation and invasion of breast cancer. Methylation-mediated Syk gene silencing is found in a subset of breast cancer. In this study, we used a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (AZA), to restore Syk expression of breast cancer cells. Surprisingly, we found that AZA treatment could reestablish the expression of Syk, but not affect the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Moreover, tumor formation in situ by MDA-MB-435s treated with (+) or without (-) AZA in a nude mice MFP (Mammary fat pad) model did not show significant difference, too. Interestingly, pulmonary metastasis was still significantly suppressed in MDA-MB-435s(+) group (1/9 vs. 7/9). Our findings suggested Syk may be more correlated to metastasis rather than proliferation. This study implied a potential use of Syk methylation as a valuable biomarker to detect high metastatic potential cancerous lesions and the prospect of AZA to join the arsenal of drug candidates to be developed as a new reagent for management of advanced breast cancer.
Medical Oncology 02/2011; 29(2):448-53. · 2.14 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the feasibility and significance of modified paramedian forehead flap for nasal defect and reconstruction.
Modified paramedian forehead flaps with forehead muscle in the pedicle were used in 2 patients with nasal reconstruction and 7 patients with nasal defects. The flaps were elevated subcutaneously with only forehead muscle in the pedicle at the supraorbital site. The degree of flap axis ranged from 90 degrees to 50 degrees. Inverted L-shape design was used for 3 cases with low hair line.
Skin branch of supratrochlear vessel was observed running at the subcutaneous layer during the operation. 8 flaps all survived successfully with good texture and color. Partial necrosis happened in the distal end of one flap with subcutaneous pedicle, which healed through dressing.
Modified paramedian forehead flap, which includes muscle just in the pedicle, is based on the skin branch of supratrochlear vessel. The flap is very flexible and has reliable blood supply, leaving less morbidity in donor site. It also has good texture and skin color.
Zhonghua zheng xing wai ke za zhi = Zhonghua zhengxing waike zazhi = Chinese journal of plastic surgery 01/2010; 26(1):1-4.
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ABSTRACT: To study the effects of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on the treatment of complicated and refractory wounds.
Sixty-seven patients with complicated or refractory wounds admitted to our hospital from September 2005 to November 2008 were randomly divided into NPWT group (n = 35) and conventional treatment (CT) group (n = 32). Wounds of patients in NPWT group were treated with interrupted suction under a pressure of -16.63 kPa for 24 hs, or continuous suction under a pressure of -10.64 kPa for 24 hs. Wounds of patients in CT group were covered with petrolatum gauze overlaid with isotonic saline gauze and dry gauze. Duration of treatment, times of operation, treatment cost, and the process of healing were compared between two groups.
The duration of treatment, treatment cost and times of operation of patients in NPWT group were obviously less or fewer than those of CT group (P < 0.05). Wounds of patients in NPWT group were mainly healed by themselves (40.0%) or healed after free skin grafting (40.0%). While wounds in patients in CT group healed mainly after tissue flap transplantation (66.7%) or free skin grafting (23.3%).
Compared with CT, NPWT can shorten the length of hospital stay, reduce operation frequency and treatment cost, and it is easier to carry out in the surgery of treating complicated and refractory wounds, which is worth generalization.
Zhonghua shao shang za zhi = Zhonghua shaoshang zazhi = Chinese journal of burns 08/2009; 25(4):249-52.
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ABSTRACT: To compare the differences of the clinical effects, side effects and treatment-related cost between two kinds of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT).
Forty-four inpatients with acute, subacute, and chronic wounds were divided into simplified NPWT group (A group) and conventional NPWT group (B group) according to the random number table. Wounds of patients in A group were treated with gauze + continuous suction with hospital central negative pressure (-10.64 kPa) for 24 hs; wounds of patients in B group were treated with sponge + interrupted suction with a purpose-designed suction appliance (-16.63 kPa) for 24 hs. Gross wound condition, treatment time, survival rates of skin graft and flap, changes of bacterial species on wound, treatment cost, and ratio of side effects between two groups were compared.
There was no significant difference between A and B groups in respect of gross wound condition, treatment time [A group (29 +/- 12) d, B group (26 +/- 13) d, P > 0.05], changes of bacterial species, survival rates of skin graft [A group (98 +/- 4)%, B group (98 +/- 4)%, P > 0.05] and flap (A group 98%, B group 100%, P > 0.05). Treatment cost of A group yen(374 +/- 134) was obviously lower than that of B group yen(9825 +/- 4956) (P < 0. 01), while more side effects were observed in A group (33.3%) than that in B group (5.0%) (P < 0.05).
Both simplified NPWT and NPWT with purpose-designed appliance can effectively improve wound healing. The simplified method may cause many side effects and has a potential risk of inciting nosocomial infection, but it can be conveniently employed with a low cost. In contrast, the cost of using purpose-designed appliance should be cut down to meet the aim of generalization.
Zhonghua shao shang za zhi = Zhonghua shaoshang zazhi = Chinese journal of burns 08/2009; 25(4):253-7.
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ABSTRACT: To analyze the role of resistin in insulin resistance (IR) through investigating the variation of plasma resistin levels and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in resistin gene 5' flanking region in stroke patients.
In 103 atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (ACI) patients, 85 lacunar infarction (LI) patients, 70 intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients, and 86 healthy controls, plasma resistin and insulin levels were measured by ELISA, SNPs in resistin gene 5' flanking region were detected by PCR and direct DNA sequencing. The subjects' body height and weight, the body mass index, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), blood pressure, and the concentration of fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, creatinine, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein were also determined.
QUICKI was significantly lower in the ACI and ICH patients (0.316 +/- 0.037 and 0.309 +/- 0.032, respectively) than that in the controls (0.342 +/- 0.043, P < 0.001), while plasma resistin level was significantly higher in the ACI and ICH patients (6.36 +/- 3.79 and 7.15 +/- 4.27 ng/mL, respectively) than that in the controls (5.28 +/- 2.56 ng/mL, P < 0.05), but such difference was not observed in the LI patients compared with controls. There was a statistically negative correlation between plasma resistin level with QUICKI (r = -0.228, P < 0.001). The distributions of allele and genotype frequencies of resistin gene - 420C > G and - 537A > C SNPs were not significantly different among the different groups, and those SNPs were not correlated with other clinical and biochemical parameters.
Plasma resistin is associated with stroke by participating in the development of IR. The SNPs in resistin gene 5' flanking region has no impact on the plasma resistin level.
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 04/2007; 22(1):27-32.
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ABSTRACT: A method to determine sodium phenytoin in plasma by high performance capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been established. CZE was performed in 25 mmol/L phosphate buffer solution (pH 12) at 20 degrees C. The capillary column size was 75 microns i.d. x 30 cm (effective length). Sodium phenytoin was quantified with UV detector at 200 nm. The plasma was extracted by ether after plasma was processed with proteinase K for 3 h at 55 degrees C. Then the extract was evaporated to dryness. The residue was reconstituted in 1 mL of running buffer. The average recovery was higher than 95%. The precisions of intra-day and inter-day were 3.1% and 4.7% respectively. The detection limit of sodium phenytoin was 0.6 mg/L.
Se pu = Chinese journal of chromatography / Zhongguo hua xue hui 02/2002; 20(1):94-6.
