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Copper is a trace element necessary for the normal functioning of organisms, but excessive copper contents may be toxic to the heart. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of excessive copper accumulation in mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis inhibition. In vivo, the heart copper concentration and cardiac troponin I (c-TnI) and N-terminal forebrain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) levels increased in the copper-laden model group compared to those of the control group. Histopathological and ultrastructural observations revealed that the myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF), perivascular collagen area (PVCA) and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area (CSA) were markedly elevated in the copper-laden model group compared with the control group. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the mitochondrial double-layer membrane was incomplete in the copper-laden model groups. Furthermore, cytochrome C (Cyt-C) expression was downregulated in mitochondria but upregulated in the cytoplasm in response to copper accumulation. In addition, Bcl-2 expression decreased, while Bax and cleaved caspase-3 levels increased. These results indicate that copper accumulation in cardiomyocyte mitochondria induces mitochondrial injury, and Cyt-C exposure and induces apoptosis, further resulting in heart damage.

Objective To observe the curative effect of nerve block combined with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods A total of 135 patients with PHN were treated with nerve block combined with SCS. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was adapted to assess the degree of pain relief and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied to evaluate quality of sleep before treatment and 1, 3, 5, 7, 30 d after treatment. Treatment cycle was compared among different age subgroups. Results The effective rate of nerve block combined with SCS was 95.56% (129/135), and the total effective rate was 100% (135/135). There was significant difference on VAS (F = 46.891, P = 0.000) and PSQI (F = 55.993, P = 0.000) scores before and after treatment. The results showed that VAS score (t = 6.395, P = 0.012; t = 8.104, P = 0.000; t = 5.693, P = 0.013; t = 8.294, P = 0.000; t = 7.193, P = 0.007) and PSQI score (t = 7.142, P = 0.006; t = 3.959, P = 0.034; t = 7.142, P = 0.006; t = 3.959, P = 0.034; t = 8.104, P = 0.000) 1, 3, 5, 7 and 30 d after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment. The average treatment cycle was (15.97 ± 2.44) d, and there was significant difference on treatment cycle among different age subgroups (F = 9.184, P = 0.001). The treatment cycle in subgroup of ≤ 30 years was shortest (q = 4.593, P = 0.019; q = 5.693, P = 0.018; q = 4.583, P = 0.021; q = 7.204, P = 0.008; q = 5.593, P = 0.013), and the treatment cycle in subgroup of > 70 years was longest (q = 5.593, P = 0.013; q = 8.104, P = 0.000; q = 7.142, P = 0.006; q = 5.693, P = 0.011; q = 4.298, P = 0.033). Conclusions Nerve block combined with SCS in the treatment of PHN alleviates pain and improves the quality of sleep. It is expected to be an ideal method for clinical treatment of PHN. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2018.12.010

The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of declined intestinal transit (IT) function in the cholesterol gallstone (CG) formation process. Forty guinea pigs were divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CoG), and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for the analysis of c-kit and stem cell factor (scf) mRNA expression in the small bowel. In addition, immunofluorescence staining and confocal laser microscopy were performed for the observation of the changes in the number of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in the terminal ileum of each group. RT-PCR showed that, compared with the CoG, the intestinal c-kit and scf mRNA expression levels in the EG were significantly decreased; the average positive area of ICCs in the ileum in the EG was also significantly reduced. During the diet-induced CG formation procedure, the c-kit and scf mRNA expression levels in the small intestine decreased and the number of ICCs decreased. Inhibition of the c-kit/scf pathway may be involved in the declined IT function during the CG formation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Gene expression profile favoring phenotypic reversion: a clue for mechanism of tumor suppression by NF-IL6 3'UTR" that was published online on February 4, 2008.