Association of low p16INK4a and p15INK4b mRNAs expression with their CpG islands methylation with human hepatocellular carcinogenesis

AIM:To study the significance of p16 and p15 transcription suppression with hypermethylation of their genes′5′CpG islands during human hepatocellular carcinogenesis.METHODS:The mRNA expression levels of p16 and p15 genes were evaluated in cancerous,para-cancerous and non-cancerous tissues of 20 HCC,3 normal liver tissues from 3 accidentally died healthy adults using simi-quantitatively Northerm blot.The methylation status was also assessed with methylation specfic PCR.RESULTS:p16 mRNA expression level was decressed in the cancerous tissues in 60%(12/20) of HCC patients,of which 2 cases had no p16 mRNA detected,5 cases(25%) displayed variation in the order of cancerous<para-cancerous<non-cancerous liver tissues.p15 mRNA expression level was decreased in the cancerous tissues in 50%(10/20) HCC patients,of which one case had no p15 mRNA detected,4 cases (20%) displayed variation in the order of cancerous<para-cancerous<non-cancerous liver tissues.In cancerous,para-cancerous and non-cancerous tissues,p16 promoter CpG islands hypernethylation occurred 65% ,60% and 35%,while p15 promoter CpG islands hypermethylation occurred 50%,40% and 25%.of 12 HCCs with lower p16 promoter CpG islands methylation(91.6%).Hundred percent(10/10) HCCs with lower p15 mRNA expression level showed p15 promoter CpG islands methylation.Significant correlation between 5′CpG islands methylation and p16/p15 mRNA expression suppression was found.The dexreased expression of p16/p15 mRNA or metyylation of p16.p15 promoters 5′CpG island was significantly,0.01.2,0.00271,0.0218,respectively,(p<0.05).CONCLUSION:p16 and p15 genes transcriptional inactivation might play an important role in hepataocarcinogenesis.5′CpG islands methylation might bi the major mechanism of p16 and p15 genes inactivation in primary HCC in the studied population.5′CpG islands methylation of p16 and p15 genes might be an early event in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Incidence and treatment of hepatic artery complications after orthotopic liver transplantation

AIM: To investigate the incidence and treatment of hepatic artery complications after orthotopic liver transplantation.METHODS: From February 1999 to May 2002, orthotopic liver transplantations (OLT) were performed in 72 patients with end-stage liver diseases with an average age of 40.2±13.6years (ranged from 11 to 68 years), 56 were males and 16 females. The preoperative evaluation for the 72 patients was performed using duplexsonography, abdominal CT scan,and angiography of the hepatic artery. All donor grafts were perfused and preserved in University of Wisconsin solution at 4 ℃. OLT was performed with standard techniques with or without a veno-venous bypass. Reconstructions of hepatic artery were performed between the branch patches of gastroduodenal/hepatic or splenic/common hepatic artery confluence of the donors and recipients, and an end-to-end anastomosis between other arterial vessels of the donors and recipients was done. Arterial anastomosis was performed with interrupted 7-0/8-0 monofilament polypropylene suture under 3.5 x loupe magnification. Diagnosis of the complications of hepatic artery after OLT was based on the clinical presentations, ultrasound findings and arterial angiography. All patients were followed up regularly for duplex ultrasound scan after discharge.RESULTS: The overall incidence of arterial complications in 72 patients after OLTs was 1.4 % (1/72). One 3 cm pseudoaneurysm at the side of anastomotic site of hepatic artery was found by urgent arteriogram due to hemoperitoneum secondary to bile leakage after OLT.Subsequently the pseudoaneurysm was successfully embolized and the blood flow toward the donor liver in hepatic artery remained. The overall postoperative 30-day mortality rate was 8.33 %. The one-year survival rate was 83.72 % in 50 patients with benign diseases and was 71.43 % in 22 patients with malignant diseases following OLT. No death associated with complications of hepatic artery occurred.CONCLUSION: Careful preoperative evaluations and intraoperative microsurgical technique for hepatic artery reconstructions are the keys in prevention of hepatic artery complications after OLT.

Study on establishing hypertension animal models by adverse lifestyles and the antihypertensive effect of traditional Chinese medicine

OBJECTIVE Nowadays,with the living habits and diet structure changes,the morbidity and mortality of hypertension has been rising yearly,which induced by adverse lifestyles,excessive alcohol and poor diet.However,the animal models of hypertension resulted from adverse lifestyles have rarely been reported.It is essential to set up some more systematic models to study the characters of hypertension and evaluate the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).METHODS To build the rat model of human lifehabitual hypertension,SD rats had free access to alcohol with high-sucrose-fat diet(AHSFD),alcohol with high-fat diet(AHFD),high-sucrose-fat diet(HSFD),high-fat diet(HFD)and alcohol etc.Various of indicators were detected systematically to explore the features of hypertension models which included blood pressure(BP),liver and kidney functions,the lipid profiles and indexes quantifying TCM symptoms.Then we choose one of the stable and sustained animal models,studying the effects of RPA.E(which extracted from a TCM)on modulating the level of hypertension and the preliminary mechanism in this abstract.RESULTS ①The BP level,serum TC,TG,LDL-C of AHSFD-induced and AHFD-induced rats increased significantly,while the HDL-C reduced in the 4th week.② The BP level HSFD-induced rats increased significantly in the 6th week,serum TC,TG increased in 10 th week.③ The BP level of alcohol-induced rats increased significantly in the 9th week,serum TC,TG increased in 24 th week.④ The level of serum ALT,AST,UA and Cr of all model rats increased significantly after 12 weeks.Meanwhile the microcirculation increased significantly after8 weeks.⑤ After 4-week administration,RPA.E could significantly reduce BP of AHFD-induced hypertensive rats,and could reduce the serum TC,LDL-C,HDL-C,ALT,AST level after 8-week.CONCLUSION The rats induced by AHSFD,AHFD,HSFD and alcohol can raise BP obviously with underlying hepatic and kidney damage,the lipid profiles disorder and TCM symptoms change,while the AH(S)FD-induced hypertension models are earlier and more stable.RPA.E could mildly reduce BP level,and improve the lipid profiles disorders,hepatic damage,which reflects the characteristics of TCM on antihypertensive effects.The above models have their own characteristics,can be used to study the causes and pathogenesis of hypertension complicating metabolic disorder and the related treatment drug screening.

Combined antihypertensive effect of GSY and metoprolol,based on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation function

OBJECTIVE To investigate the synergistic effect on dilating blood vessels and anti-hypertension of GYS combined with metoprolol.METHODS ① Spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)were administered orally with the vehicle,GSY,metoprolol or GSY combined with metoprolol for 4weeks.Blood pressure,which included SBP,DBP and MBP was measured by a noninvasive method every week.At the end of4 weeks,blood was drawn from the ophthalmic venous plexus to determine blood fat levels(serum TC,TG,LDL-c,HDL-c),liver function(serum ALT,AST),and kidney function(serum BUN,UA and Cr)by the ACCUTE(TBA-40FR)automatic.② The aortae of normal SD rats were prepared and cleaned from periadventitial fat and surrounding connective tissue and cut transversely into 4-mm width rings.To observe different concentration of GYS,metoprolol or GSY combined with metoprolol causing relaxation of the isolated aortic rings precontracted until a stable plateau by noradrenaline(NA)directly or in the presence of eNOS inhibitor L-NAME and cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin(INDO)respectively.③ The concentrations of plasma GSY was determined by the HPLC after rats administered orally with GSY or GSY combined with metoprolol for single-dose.DAS data processing software calculated the pharmacokinetic parameters of GSY.RESULTS There was a significant synergism between GYS and metoprolol in lowering blood pressure and the concentrations of serum TC and LDL-c of SHR.The relaxant effect of GYS combined with metoprolol on the aortic rings precontracted by NA could be attenuated by L-NAME or INDO.The AUC0-tof GSY significantly increased after in conjunction with metoprolol.CONCLUSION GYS combined with metoprolol increases the concentrations of plasma GSY and synergistically lowers blood pressure based on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation function(EDVF).

丝绸之路 驼铃里的绝响

世界通过丝绸之路认识了中国。公元前四五世纪，古希腊人称中国为“赛里斯国”，即丝国。当年，罗马恺撒大帝曾穿一件丝绸长袍到剧院看戏，全场无不啧啧赞美，随后丝绸价格猛涨，出现一磅丝料价值一磅黄金的奇迹。在西方人眼中，遥远的中国就像美丽的丝绸一样：绮丽、富贵、光彩熠熠。所以，19世纪德国地理学家李希霍芬在对连接亚非欧东西交通的古道进行研究时，首先便想到了这个名字：Seidenstrassen，就是“丝绸之路”。

Giant magnetoimpedance effect in as quenched Fe_(89-x)Zr_7B_4Cu_x(x=1.0-2.5) ribbons

The giant magnetoimpedance(GMI)effect in as-quenchedFe_89-xZr_7B_4Cu_x(x=1.0-2.5)ribbons is reported. The as-quenchedFe_89-xZr_7B_4Cu_x(x=1.0-2.5)ribbons were prepared by the vacuummelt-spun processes with the quenching speed of 37 m/s. The magne-Toimpedance measurement were performance at room temperature, wherethe current flow through the length of the ribbons in the directionParallel to the dc fields. results show that values Z(impedance),R(resistance)for both H = 0 A/m and H = 5 127 A/m Increases withincreasing ac frequency. This can be explained by the skin effectmechanism.

低碳小清新 骑行台湾岛

台湾对于大多数人而言,以往只能在书本的字里行间、电视剧电影的外景地、音乐的情愫之中,找寻和想象台湾的模样。美丽的自然风光、淳朴的人文风情,以及那剪不断理还乱的＂血缘＂情怀,都让人希望可以踏上宝岛的土地。

何处闻啼鸟?——中国观鸟地图

鸟类是地球上的精灵，为了生存。为了“梦想”。它们可以跋山涉水，突破艰难险阻．迁徙往返于地球的南北半球……你知道哪里的鸟儿最漂亮。哪里的鸟儿最会唱歌．哪里的鸟儿最让人牵挂不已，六月是一个繁花似锦，莺歌燕语的季节．拿起背包。

In-plane epitaxial growth of 2D CoSe-WSe2 metalsemiconductor lateral heterostructures with improved WSe2 transistors performance

The two-dimensional(2D)in-plane(lateral)heterostructures have attracted increasing interest for potential applications in the atomically thin electronics and optoelectronics.While most studies focus on semiconductorsemiconductor lateral heterostructures with highly similar lattice structures between the constituent components,the synthesis of metal-semiconductor lateral heterostructures is much less explored and usually more challenging due to more distinct lattice structures or chemical properties.Herein,a vapor phase epitaxy growth method of high-quality metal-semiconductor lateral heterostructures between tetragonal CoSe and hexagonal WSe2 is reported.The 2D CoSe can selectively nucleate at the edge of pre-grown WSe2 nanosheets to form CoSe-WSe2 metal-semiconductor lateral heterostructures.Optical microscopy(OM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and atomic force microscopy(AFM)studies reveal distinct contrast across the heterostructure interface.High-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM)and selected area electron diffraction(SAED)studies further confirm the microstructure modulation across the heterostructure interface.The field-effect transistors(FETs)of CoSe-WSe2 lateral heterostructures show satisfactory Ohmic contacts and considerably better FET performance over those with deposited Cr/Au contacts,suggesting the in-plane metal-semiconductor junctions may function as improved contacts for the atomically thin electronics.