Glutathione S-transferase kappa 1 (GSTK1) is a key regulator for adiponectin secretion and multimerization.In Caenorhabditis elegans,GSTK1 is involved in energy production and lipid metabolism.Meanwhile,the GSTK1 level is negatively correlated with obesity.It may alleviate the endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated downregulation of adiponectin.Moreover,a polymorphism in human GSTK1 promoter is related with insulin secretion and fat deposition.Therefore,GSTK1 might be a novel target for the treatment of insulin resistance and the relevant metabolic diseases.

Objective To investigate the developmental characters of neural stem cells(NSCs) in occipital of cortex from human fetal brain at different age.Methods Ninety cases of embryoes at gestational age 16-32 weeks and by induction of labor with water bag were collected for determining distribution,shapes,growth modes and the number of NSCs in the occipital of cortex with immunohisto- chemical method under light microscope.Results It was noted that NSCs existed in the occipital of cortex from human fetal brain at different ages.NSCs mainly distributed in layers of cone cells and inner granule cells.NSCs existed in the occipital of cortex of different fetal age included middling round cells,NSCs had enations from 0 to 1.Nucli were larger than plasm.Each NSC had nucleoli from 2-4 and rarefaction chromatin.Most of NSCs distributed in three growth modes including crowd,cluster and clone,occasionally with a single growth mode among other nerve cells.There were no differences including distribution,shapes,growth modes and the number of NSCs in the occipital of cortex between groups,but,NSCs gradually decreased with increasing of age.Conclusion NSCs exists in the occipital of cortex from different gestational age,and the number of NSCs decreases with increasing of age.

Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

· AIM: To explore the dynamic expression and correlation among telomerase catalytic subunit (TERT), proliferating cell nuclear antigen ( PCNA) and antiapoptosis protein Bd-2 which relate to cell proliferation in epiretinal membrane of rat traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR).· METHODS: S-P technique was applied for immunohistochemical staining of epiretinal membrane of traumatic PVR with TERT, PCNA and Bcl-2 antibody. HE staining was also carried out. The staining results were analyzed with image analysis system.· RESULTS: The positive rate and average A of PCNA protein were upregulated at first and then down-regulated, with the peak value in 14d Group, which was significantly different from those in 7d Group and 28d Group.The positive rate and average A of TERT and Bcl-2 were also upregulated at first and then down-regulated, with the peak value in 14d Group and 21d Group, which were significantly different from those in 7d Group. There was significant correlation among PCNA, Bcl-2 and TERT protein expression (P≤0.01).· CONCLUSTON: TERT and Bcl-2 take part in the regulation of proliferative cells in epiretinal membrane of traumatic proliferative PVR, with high correlation with the dynamic changes of cell proliferation.

Background Certain relationship has been found between phenotype and genes mutation of congenital cataract.It is clear that different genetic mutations can cause the same complication in congenital cataract,meanwhile,different complications may be caused by the same gene mutation.However,their mechanism is still remained unclear.Objective This study was to observe the phenotype of congenital cataract accompanied with iris dysplasia.Methods Fifteen patients with congenital cataract accompanied with iris dysplasia were included in this study.The slit lamp,gonioscope and ophthalmoscope were used for the examination of the anterior ocular segment,the anterior chamber angle and fundus on all the patients.This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Second People' s Hospital of Yunnan Province.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient or the custodian prior to any medical procedure.Results All the patients showed binocular involvement.Congenital nuclear cataract with whole coloboma of iris was seen in 7 cases,and 2 cases showed an entire cataract associated with incomplete coloboma of iris.Entire cataract with aniridia was diagnosed in 5 patients,and suture cataract complicated with aniridia was in 1 patient.Conclusions Some regular patterns can be implied between the morphological type of cataract and iris dysplasia,which may be helpful for further study of these diseases.

Objective To study the relationship between Couagen Ⅰ,MMP-2,TIMP-2 gene expression and atrial fibrosis during heart failure(HF)in dog.Methods Fourteen dogs were used and randomized into HF induced by ventricular tachypacing and control group.Burst atrial pacing was used to induce atrial fibrillation(AF).And the mRNA and protein level of collagen Ⅰ,MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technique.Tissue samples were stained with Mallory trichrome.Results Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased from (67.4? 6.0)% to (29.2?7.8)%,the inducible rate of AF(7/7 vs 2/7) and sustained AF(5/7 vs 0/7) increased and duration of AF stabeatrial fibrillation(SAF) [(462.12?181.43)s vs(0.57?0.57) s] prolonged significantly in HF group.Atrial fibrous tissue content and atrial size of HF group were significantly greater than the controls dogs(268.8% in lefe atria and 190.3% in right atria).The mRNA and protein level of collagen Ⅰ(56.2% and 132.2% in lefe atria,37.4% and 78.0% in right atria)and MMP-2 (100.0% and 115.7% in lefe atria,65.7% and 96.8% in right atria) increased evidently in both lefe atria and right atria,TIMP-2 mRNA decreased 46.3% in lefe atria and had no change in right atria and that its protein had no change in both atrium,whereas the ratio of MMP-2/ TIMP-2 of mRNA and protein increased markedly in both lefe atria (285.3% and 148.8%)and right atria (106.1% and 134.7%)of HF group.SAF had a positive correlation with fibrosis and the gene level of collagen Ⅰ in lefe atria,the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 had a positive correlation with fibrosis and collagen Ⅰ gene level in lefe atria during HF.Conclusions The changes of collagen Ⅰ,MMP-2 and TIMP-2 gene expression appear to be a molecular mechanism of AF, and the molecular remodeling of collagen Ⅰ induced by regulation unbalance of MMP-2/TIMP-2 appears to be an important mechanism of atrial fibrosis during HF.

OBJECTIVETo determine the molecular mechanisms involved in atrial fibrosis which occurs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and to investigate their effects on the initiation and maintenance of AF.

METHODSThe right atrial tissue samples were taken from 73 patients with rheumatic heart disease who underwent heart valve replacement surgery. 34 patients had no history of AF (sinus rhythm group), 9 patients had paroxysmal AF and 30 patients had persistent AF. The mRNA content of collagen type I, collagen type III, MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and normalized to beta-actin or GAPDH.

RESULTSCompared to sinus rhythm group, the mRNA of collagen type I and MMP-2 increased significantly in the persistent AF group (all, P < 0.01), followed by the paroxysmal AF group (all, P < 0.05). The mRNA of collagen type III was slightly higher in both AF groups than in the sinus rhythm group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The mRNA of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 was down-regulated in the persistent AF group (all, P < 0.01, respectively), however, the trends of reduction did not reach statistical significance in the paroxysmal AF group (P > 0.05). The mRNA of TIMP-4 remained compatible in each group. The mRNA of collagen type I was significantly correlated with left atrial dimension (r = 0.336, P = 0.004) and AF duration (r = 0.339, P = 0.003). The mRNA of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with the mRNA of TIMP-2 (r = -0.326, P = 0.006), the mRNA of collagen type I (r = 0.322, P = 0.006), left atrial dimension (r = 0.300, P = 0.011) and AF duration (r = 0.300, P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONThe increased level of collagen type I associated with selective downregulation of TIMP-2 and upregulation of MMP-2 gene expression in atrium could be one of the molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrosis during atrial fibrillation, which correlates with the initiation and maintenance of AF.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; genetics ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study lipid-regulating action of 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (TSG) from Polygonum multiflorum on experimental model hyperlipidemic rats.

METHODTSG 90 and 180 mg x kg(-10 x d(-1), atorvastatin mg kg(-1) x d(-1) and saline 2 mL x d(-1) were administered to hyperlipidemic rats. Groups of rats were determined and compared with those of saline group. The LDLR and HMGR mRNA expression were also detected.

RESULTTSG significantly reduced serum TC and LDL-C level and atherosclerosis index, increased the expression of LDLR in the liver cells.

CONCLUSIONTSG, which shows effects and mechanism in part like atorcastatin, is a major constituent with blood-lipid regulating effect of P. multiflorum and can be explored as a potent medication for hyperlipidemia. Effects on LDL-C and AI, as well as on gene expression of TSG were first reported.

Animals ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Heptanoic Acids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; prevention & control ; Male ; Plant Tubers ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; Pyrroles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, LDL ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Stilbenes ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo control the quality of the product, quantitative fingerprint was used to evaluate the composition of the amino acids in the Xingnao Tongluo injection.

METHODThe method of the quantitative fingerprint to the amino acids composition was established through AccQ Tag precolumn derivatization. The quality was evaluated by the quantitative test of the amino acids and the similarity in ten batches.

RESULTThe Xingnao Tongluo injection contained 12 amino acids and the contents of these amino acids were stable. All the ten batches of the samples had similarity of more than 0.90.

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate, feasible and could be a simple and effective way to evaluate the quality of the traditional Chinese medicine.

Amino Acids ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of CKJ Recipe (consisting of Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharide, amygdaloside, and gypenosides) containing serum on the activation of rat primary hepatic stellate cells (rHSCs) and to explore its pharmacological mechanism.

METHODSrHSCs were isolated form liver and cultured for four days. Then they were divided into the normal control group, the model group, and the CKJ group. rHSCs in the model group and the CKJ group were treated with 2.5 ng/mL transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in serum-free DMEM for 24 h. Serum free DMEM (containing no TGF-beta1) was taken as the control for the normal control group. rHSCs in the CKJ group were treated with 5% CKJ-containing serum for 24 h. rHSCs in the other two groups were treated with 5% blank serum for 24 h.The protein expression level of a smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was determined using high throughput screening (HCS) and Western blot. mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, collagen I (Col-I), platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGF-betaR), TGF-beta1, transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-betaR1), and transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGF-beta R2) were detected using quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-betaR1, and TGF-betaR2 significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta R2 significantly decreased in the CKJ group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCKJ containing serum could inhibit the protein expression level of o-SMA, which was probably related with inhibiting TGF-beta1 and its related receptors.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism