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ABSTRACT: Death due to accidental electrocution occurs frequently. The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in cardiac connexin 43 (Cx43), angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin 1 (ET-1), and type III collagen associated with fatal electrocution.Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, fatal electrocution (220 V, 50 Hz, 60 seconds), and electrical injury (220 V, 50 Hz, 60 seconds) groups. Animals were deeply anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital before each treatment, with the anode connected to the left foreleg and the cathode to the right hindleg, followed by cervical dislocation. Control animals received cervical dislocation alone. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate the cardiac protein expression of Cx43, Ang II, ET-1, and type III collagen. Sections were analyzed by digital image analysis.The expression of Cx43 was significantly reduced after fatal electrocution, with the integrated optical density also lower when compared with control (P < 0.05). Expression of both Ang II and ET-1 was significantly increased after fatal electrocution, supported by integrated optical density when compared with control (P < 0.05). But no significant difference was found in type III collagen expression between the fatal electrocution group and the control group.In summary, cardiac protein expression of Cx43, Ang II, and ET-1 was found to be significantly altered with fatal electrocution, suggesting that these 3 proteins may be important underlying mechanisms of death during fatal electrocution. The current findings indicate that such alterations would be reflected in abnormal cardiac function and a possible cause of sudden death.
The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology: official publication of the National Association of Medical Examiners 12/2011; 33(3):215-21. · 0.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Purkinje fibers in cardiac conduction tissue during fatal electrocution. A total of 16 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups as follows: the electrocution group and the control group.Animals were deeply anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and, in the electrocution group, all 8 rats underwent a fatal electrical shock (220 v,50 Hz) followed by cervical dislocation. In the control group, all 8 rats underwent execution by cervical dislocation. Following death, hearts were rapidly excised and perfused with 1% paraformaldehyde before tissues of the left ventricular anterior wall (LVAW) were isolated. The microscopic structure of the Purkinje fibers were subsequently analyzed using conventional hematoxylin and eosin staining. A majority of the Purkinje fibers were located in groups among the cardiac muscle of the LVAW. A significant reduction in Purkinje fiber expression was displayed in the electrocution group compared with the control group (P G 0.05).The mean total number of Purkinje fibers for the electrocution and control groups were 59 T 11 and 3287 T 19 cells, respectively (P G 0.05).The estimated number of Purkinje fibers in the LVAW of the control group was significantly greater than observed in the electrocution group(41.09 T 0.24 vs. 0.7375 T 0.14, P G 0.05). The findings of the current study suggest that such a reduction would be reflected in abnormal cardiac conduction and a possible cause of sudden death.
The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology: official publication of the National Association of Medical Examiners 07/2011; 33(1):19-21. · 0.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Alcohol abuse is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple organ disorders; the underlying mechanism is incompletely understood. The ubiquitin editing enzyme A20 is involved in regulating activities in the cell. Suppression of A20 is suggested as one factor in the initiation of inflammation. This study investigates the mechanism by which chronic alcohol consumption modulates the levels of ubiquitin editing enzyme A20 in macrophages and further contributes to induce endothelial barrier dysfunction in the lung.
Mice were gavage-fed with 40% alcohol daily for 0-3 weeks. Airway macrophages were collected by lung lavage. Expression of ubiquitin editing enzyme A20 in isolated macrophages was assessed at both mRNA and protein levels. The endothelial barrier function of the lung was evaluated by the Evans blue method.
Mice treated with alcohol for 3 weeks showed an increase in cell infiltration in the lung in response to exposure to peptidoglycan; over 80% of the infiltrated cells were macrophages. Furthermore, we observed that A20 level was suppressed in macrophages of mice treated with alcohol; the levels of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and nuclear factor kappa B in macrophage were increased. In addition, the endothelial barrier function of the lung was compromised, showing excessive infiltration of Evans blue in the lung indicating lung edema. Pretreatment with synthesized A20 inhibited alcohol-induced lung endothelial barrier dysfunction.
We conclude that chronic alcohol ingestion disturbs the endothelial barrier function in the lung by modulating macrophage properties. Increase in A20 in the cell may have potential for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
Multidisciplinary respiratory medicine. 01/2011; 6(6):364-70.
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ABSTRACT: Myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury is characterized by metabolic and ultrastructural changes, which lead to irreversible injury. Several mechanisms have been postulated for the pathogenesis of MI/R injury although little is known regarding the role of myocardial gene expression.
In this study, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was employed to systematically isolate and screen the differentially expressed genes in the MI/R injury rat model. The characteristics of these specific genes were analysed using bioinformatics. Our results showed that among the 119 identified genes, 54 genes were expressed at higher levels and 65 genes were at lower levels compared with the control group.
These genes are closely associated with energy metabolism, iron transport, signalling transduction and may provide important clues for the elucidation of the mechanisms of MI/R injury. Our results further indicated that myocardial injury is likely the result of summation of functional impairment of multiple genes rather than the result of damage to a single critical gene.
Acta cardiologica 05/2008; 63(2):213-9. · 0.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To observe the effects of heroin on intracellular free Ca2+ in rat myocardium.
The effects of heroin on intracellular free Ca2+ were observed in cultured neonatal rat myocardium by measuring intracellular free Ca2+ concentration using calcium fluorescent probe Flou-3/AM and laser scanning confocal microscope.
Different doses and concentrations of heroin appeared to have different effects on intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations, with a dosage dependent short linear increase in the fluorescence intensity (i.e., Ca2+ concentration) leading to [Ca2+]i peak.
Heroin could affect concentrations of [Ca2+]i in myocardium and its dosage related effect needs further investigation.
Fa yi xue za zhi 01/2008; 23(6):424-7.
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Chinese medical journal 02/2007; 120(2):162-5. · 0.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate whether heroin can directly induce apoptosis in primary cultured cortical neurons of rat's brain.
Cultured primary neurons cultures were obtained from cerebral cortex of embryo rats. After 7 days, the cells were incubated with different concentrations of heroin (purity-80%) for 24 hours. The neuronal survival was assessed by cell viability counting with fluorescent diacetate (FDA) staining. The morphological and biochemical changes were observed with Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining and then analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, respectively.
After treatment with different concentrations of heroin, the neurons showed a decreased survival rate in a dose dependent manner, and there was a significant difference in the survival rate between the heroin group and the control group (P < 0.05). When exposed to different concentrations of heroin, neurons exhibited the morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, neurite degeneration, network disappearance, condensation and aggregation of nuclear chromatin, and the formation of DNA ladders. With the increase of heroin concentration of rat's brain more apoptotic bodies were seen.
Heroin can directly induce apoptosis in primary cultured cortical neurons in rat's brain.
Fa yi xue za zhi 02/2007; 23(1):14-7.
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ABSTRACT: To study cellular mechanism of cardiomyocytes injury in the early stage of crush injury by observing some effects of crush injury rat sera on cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.
One to three days old neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured in vitro and some effects of crush injury rat sera on beating rate, cell surface area, total protein content, 3H-Leu incorporation, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and Fos protein expression were observed in cultured rat cardiomyocytes.
Compared with normal rat serum group, crush injury rat sera decreased beating rate(beats/min) of cardiomyocytes from 88.3 to 26.4, cell surface area, total protein content, 3H-Leu incorporation, [Ca2+]i (nmol/L) and PI of Fos protein expression were increased.
Crush injury rat sera suppress cell beating, increase intracellular calcium, induce Fos protein synthesis and cause cell hypertrophy, which may cause cardiac injury in the early stage of rush injury.
Fa yi xue za zhi 05/2006; 22(2):90-2.
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ABSTRACT: To study the relationship between DNA degradation and postmortem interval of corrupt corpse.
By determining the marrow DNA content with histochemical technique and image analysis.
The content of marrow DNA decreased gradually with prolongation of postmortem interval, and it evencould be detected till 14 days after death.
There was a linear relationship between the degradation rate of the nuclear DNA and postmortem interval.
Fa yi xue za zhi 03/2006; 22(1):7-9.
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ABSTRACT: To observe the degradation of actin and tubulin in the liver tissue of rats after death and to find an objective indicator of the postmortem interval (PMI).
Female rats were killed under anesthesia by ether and incubated at 21 degrees C in a temperature controlled system to simulate postmortem changes for 18 days postmortem. Protein in the hepatic tissue was extracted, actin and tubulin were then examined by western blot. Thereafter, the semi-quantitative analysis of the image of western blot was performed.
Actin in the liver tissue of rats could be detected at 8 days postmortem, but could not be examined after 10 days postmortem. beta-tubulin rather than alpha-tubulin could be examined after 2 days postmortem, and beta-tubulin could not be examined at 4 days postmortem.
There is some difference in the degradation between actin and tubulin, their different preservation period postmortem may be used as a parameter for PMI estimation.
Fa yi xue za zhi 06/2005; 21(2):110-2.
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ABSTRACT: In order to find a new parameter to estimate the postmortem interval, beta-actin mRNA in lung and thoracic muscle of rats was detected at different time point postmortem.
Rats were killed by neck dislocation and left in a temperature controlling system at 21 degrees C for 12 days postmortem. Total RNA in lung and thoracic muscle at different time point was extracted and beta-actin mRNA expression was examined by RT-PCR. Semi-quantification analysis of the image of electrophoresis was performed to confirm the changes of beta-actin mRNA expression.
beta-actin mRNA in lung of rats still could be detected at 12 days postmortem, but-disappeared in thoracic muscle at 8 days postmortem.
The expression of beta-actin mRNA in lung and thoracic muscle could be a new parameter for estimation of PMI.
Fa yi xue za zhi 03/2005; 21(1):19-20.
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ABSTRACT: To develop a fed-batch fementation process of E. coli TOP10 containing a recombinant plasmid pBAD/HBs Fab. Cells were grown in semi-defined medium at 37 degrees C, and the feed operation using glycerol as carbon source was performed when dissolved oxygen increased. When the target cell concentration reached to 64g/L, arabinose was added to a final concentration of 0.02%. Cells were grown for another 5h with the culture temperature decreased from 37 degrees C to 30 degrees C. In the whole process, cell growth was monitored by measuring OD600 of samples taken at 1/2h intervals and the dissolved oxygen was kept above 30%. After the fementation, E. coli pellets were collected for purification of Fab protein. The specificity of Fab protein was confirmed by Western blot, and binding activity to HBsAg was verified by Dot blot. Cell concentration we got is 96g wet bacteria per liter, the Fab protein is about 6% of total protein of the host, that is 80mg per liter. Stable fermentation parameters were obtained for fermentation to improve productivity of the Fab protein. The Fab protein was produced in the form of soluble biologically active protein, it's better than inclusion bodies from which biologically active protein can only be recovered by complicated and costly denaturation and refolding process.
Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology 02/2003; 19(1):87-91.
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ABSTRACT: To prepare human anti-HBs Fab by bioengineering technique.
The specific human anti-HBs Fab gene screened from combinatorial library was cloned into plasmid pBAD/g IIIA, then positive clone was transformed into E.coli Top10. After the fermentation and expression processes, the soluble Fab fragment in the periplasm were purified by Ni-NTA-agarose affinity chromatography,and the inclusion bodies were in turn denatured, solubilized, purified and renatured. The specificity of Fab protein was confirmed by Western blot, and binding activity to HBsAg was verified by Dot blot.
The quantity of soluble Fab protein purified from periplasm with Ni-NTA-Agarose which possessed good specificity as well as excellent binding activity to antigens was up to 80 mg per liter, but the biologically active protein acquired after renaturation of the inclusion bodies was quite small.
Using pBAD/g IIIA-Top10 expression system, the soluble Fab protein with biological activity could be produced from periplasm of the E.coli Top10, and the strategy is available to prepare human anti-HBsAg Fab fragments in large quantity by gene engineering technique.
Xi bao yu fen zi mian yi xue za zhi = Chinese journal of cellular and molecular immunology 02/2003; 19(1):74-6.
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ABSTRACT: To study the feature of sudden manhood death syndrome(SMDS) in Dongguan city.
The data of 284 cases of SMDS were analysized by retrospective study.
The distribution of age, sex, the time of death and hometown of the dead in SMDS were described. The clinical or anatomical characters of SMDS were also discussed.
These data will contribute to the late epidemical study.
Fa yi xue za zhi 09/2002; 18(3):135-6.
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ABSTRACT: This article review the advance in interpretation of mixed forensic stains using DNA profiling, including autosome STR profiling, sex profiling determined by PCR, Y-specific STR profiling, mitochondrial DNA profiling and single nucleotide polymorphism profiling. The statistics methods for mixed stain has also been reviewed.
Fa yi xue za zhi 09/2002; 18(3):185-8.
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ABSTRACT: To study the relationship between degradation of marrow DNA and late postmortem interval (PMI).
Marrow were left on natural condition for 0,1,3,5,7 day after death respectively, Marrow DNA were detected by using Feulgen staining and computerized image analysis.
The content of marrow DNA could be detected till 7 days after death yet.
The degradation of marrow DNA may be used on estimation the late PMI.
Fa yi xue za zhi 09/2002; 18(3):144-5.
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ABSTRACT: In order to investigate the specificity of fibronectin (Fn) in the post-mortem diagnosis of myocardial infarction, the changes of Fn staining in normal, infarcted and other non-infarcted myocardial injuries resulting from myocarditis, mechanical asphyxia, electrocution, hemorrhagic shock, cardiac contusion and organophosphate poisoning were studied with an immunohistochemistry and image analysis system. The results showed that positive Fn staining could only be observed in groups of myocardial infarction and myocarditis, but could not be found in groups of mechanical asphyxia, electrocution, hemorrhagic shock, cardiac contusion, and organophosphate poisoning. Our findings indicate that positive staining of Fn in cardiomyocytes could be affected only by myocarditis, so it is quite specific for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
Medicine, science, and the law 08/2002; 42(3):195-9. · 0.45 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To observe the changes of electrocardiogram and serum cardiac troponin I at the early stage of severe crush injury in rats.
Crush injury was produced in Sprague-Dawley rats. The changes of electrocardiogram were recorded with the standard II, the serum levels of cardiac troponin I were studied by automated chemiluminescence assay.
The ST segment elevated considerably after crush injury and lasted 24 h, the levels of serum cTnI were much higher than those of the control groupes after 6 h of injury.
Cardiomyocyte injury was induced in the early phase of crush injury.
Fa yi xue za zhi 06/2002; 18(2):76-7.
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ABSTRACT: To study the distribution and proportion of neuropeptide containing nervers in the sinus node in cases of sudden manhood death syndrome (SMDS) and to explore the mechanism of SMDS.
Immunohistochemical staining and quantitative analysis of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) in the sinus node in 6 cases of SMDS and in 12 cases of non-cardiac death(control group) were achieved by LSAB method and computerized image system.
As for NPY positive materials, VIP positive materials and the ratio of VIP/NPY in the sinus nodes, there were no significant difference between the control group and SMDS group.
The mechanism of SMDS and the abnormality of autonomic nervous innervation in the sinoatrial nodes maybe incorrelation.
Fa yi xue za zhi 06/2002; 18(2):70, 73.
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ABSTRACT: Short tandem repeats (STRs) have been widely used in forensic sciences such as stain analysis and paternity testing. Although most of STR typing could give the reliable and clear results, some unusual typing have been observed in forensic practice. The anomalous typing could result from a lot of causes, including DNA genetic variation, poor quality or quantity of DNA template, different typing system or method, nonspecific reaction in PCR or anomalous electrophoresis migration. The unusual results may disturb the right interpretation of STR typing.
Fa yi xue za zhi 06/2002; 18(2):118-20, 123.
