Influence of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on gerbil behavior after hyperbaric oxygen-induced convulsion

BACKGROUND：Studies have reported that nitric oxide synthase （NOS） inhibitor can prolong the latency of hyperbaric oxygen-induced convulsion （HBOC）. However, there are very few reports addressing the influence of NOS inhibitor on mental behavior. OBJECTIVE： To investigate behavioral changes after HBOC in gerbils, as well as the influence of NOS inhibitor. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Randomized experiments were performed in the Laboratory of Hyperbaric Pressure and Diving Physiology, Naval Medical Research Institute of Chinese PLA （Shanghai, China） from March 2005 to June 2007. MATERIALS： Forty male gerbils were randomly divided into five groups： HBOC, saline control, NOS inhibitor, pressure control, and normal control. Each group contained eight animals. METHODS： In the HBOC group, once depression induction ended, animals were removed from the chamber five minutes after the first appearance of generalized convulsion induced by 0.5 MPa hyperbaric oxygen. Ten minutes before entering the chamber, saline control and NOS inhibitor animals were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL saline and 20 mg/kg NG-nitro-L-arginine, respectively. The pressure control group was only exposed to 0.5 MPa. The remaining procedures in these three groups were identical to the HBOC group. The normal control group received no intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Open field test scores in gerbils prior to HBOC, as well as immediately, 24 hours, and 72 hours after decompression ended. RESULTS： HBOC was not detected in either the normal control or the pressure control group, and there were no significant differences in open field test scores prior to and after HBOC （P 〉 0.05）. HBOC occurred in the HBOC, saline control, and NOS inhibitor groups, with significant differences in open field test scores after decompression ended compared to normal control and pressure control groups （P 〈 0.05–0.01）. Compared to the HBOC and saline control groups, the NOS inhibitor group exhibited a significantly lower score in the open field test immediately after decompression, and a higher score at 24 and 72 hours （P 〈 0.05–0.01）. CONCLUSION： NOS inhibitor can regulate behavioral changes in gerbils after HBOC.

Sublethal Irradiation Promotes Migration and Invasiveness of Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cells:Implications for Radiotherapy of Human Prostate Cancer

OBJECTIVE To study the changes in the matrix metalloproteinases-2 and 9 （MMP2, MMP9） induced by ^60Co γ-ray external irradiation of human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. METHODS Human prostate cancer PC-3 cells were irradiated with different doses of ^60Co γ-rays. Cell migration and invasiveness were evaluated and the expression of MMP2, and MMP9 was investigated by RT-PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry（FCM）. RESULTS Irradiation enchances invasive protential at the doses of 1,3 and 5 Gy,whereas it significantly inhibits cell migration. CONCLUSION The different doses of ^60Co γ-ray external irradiation for prostate cancer may have different effects through the changes of MMP2, and MMP9 expression.

Construction of a bivalent vaccine candidate against HAdV4/HAdV7 based on capsid-display strategy via Red-homologous recombination and counter-selection methodology

Human adenoviruses(HAdvs)are major respiratory pathogens.Specifically,human adenovirus type 4(HAdV4)and human adenovirus type 7(HAdV7)are known for causing fever and pneumonia,with docu-mented cases of fatalities among the population.In recent years,HAdV4/HAdv7 has been implicated in caus-ing substantial outbreaks,leading to increased morbidity in multiple countries.Most HAdV4 and HAdV7 infections have been reported in North America,Asia,Europe,Africa,South America,Oceania,and the Middle East.Most fatalities occurred in North America(the United States)and Asia(China and Singapore).Engineered recombinant adenoviruses have played a crucial role as vaccine vectors.In this study,we con-structed a recombinant adenovirus,Ad4ITRmut-Ad7E3,and evaluated it in vitro and in vivo.We observed that the replication rate of Ad4ITRmut-Ad7E3 was lower than that of the RI-67 strain,indicating that the mutation of inverted terminal repeats(ITRs)weakened the replication ability of HAdV4.Immunization of BALB/c mice with the bivalent Ad4ITRmut-Ad7E3 vaccine strain,administered by intraperitoneal injection and oral gavage,resulted in the elicitation of neutralizing antibodies targeting HAdV4 and HAdv7.This finding not only pro-vides a novel method and technique for the efficient construction of a polyvalent recombinant adenovirus vac-cine candidate against HAdV4 and HAdv7 but also against other prevalent adenovirus serotypes such as HAdV3,HAdV11,HAdV14,and HAdv55,from various regions.