The endophytic fungi with plant growth promoting effects were screened by co-culture of each endophytic fungus and seedlings of Dendrobium officinale. Anatomical features of the inoculated roots were studied by paraffin sectioning. Morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS1-5. 8S-ITS2 sequences were applied for the taxonomy of endophytic fungi. The results showed that 8 strains inoculated to D. officinale seedlings greatly enhanced plant height, stem diameter, new roots number and biomass. According to the anatomical features of the inoculated roots, each fungus could infect the velamina of seedlings. The hyphae or pelotons were existed in the exodermis passage cells and cortex cells. The effective fungi could not infect the endodermis and vascular bundle sheath, but which was exception for other fungi with harmful to seedlings. Combined with classic morphologic classification, 2 effective strains were identified which were subjected to Pestalotiopsis and Eurotium. Six species of fungi without conidiophore belonged to Pyrenochaeta, Coprinellus, Pholiota, Alternaria, Helotiales, which were identified by sequencing the PCR-amplified rDNA ITS1-5. 8S-ITS2 regions. The co-culture technology of effective endophytic fungi and plant can apply to cultivate the seedlings of D. officinale. It is feasible to shorten growth cycle of D. officinale and increase the resource of Chinese herbs.
Biomass ; DNA, Fungal ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Dendrobium ; cytology ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Endophytes ; classification ; genetics ; physiology ; Fungi ; classification ; genetics ; physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hyphae ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; cytology ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S ; genetics ; Seedlings ; cytology ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Species Specificity

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of reconstruction of artificial bladder tissue using the expanded bladder cells seeded onto both sides of a synthetic PLGA polymer and cultured in the nude mice by tissue engineering technique. Methods The urothelial cells and smooth muscle cells were obtained from young rabbits by mechanical isolation and enzyme digestion method. In vitro cultured and expanded smooth muscle cells and urothelial cells were seeded onto the outer and inner surfaces of each polymer. Then, the constructs were implanted into the subcutaneous pockets of athymic mice. At 4 and 8 weeks after implantation, the specimens were harvested and examined macroscopically, histologically, and immunohistochemically. Results The polymer was covered with urothelial cells inside and smooth muscle cells outside. As polymer degradation was in progress, the urothelial cells and the smooth muscle cells kept proliferation and converged. Conclusion Artificial bladder tissue reconstructed by tissue engineering technique has the similar properties to those of the normal bladder wall. This study has laid solid foundation for further studies of tissue engineering bladder.

Objective To explore the clinical aspects and related EEG characteristics of epilepsy (EP) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods The clinical data and the EEG Results of seizure-interictal-period in 84 CP children complicated with EP were collected and compared with the data of 124 CP children without EP.Results Among 84 CP children complicated with EP, 46 cases (54.76%) were partial seizures. Followed 26 cases (30.95%) were infantile spasms, 6 cases (7.14%) were tonic-clonic seizures. Spastic CP children tended to be the most patients seizures in EP, it was 82.14%. Children with teraplegia CP were the most type among the spastic CP children compliated with EP. The abnormal rate of EEG of CP children complicated with EP was significantly higher than that of CP children without EP ( P＜0.001), and local epilptiform discharges and multilocal epileptiform discharges were main types.Conclusion Partial seizures is the most epilepsy type in CP children complicated with EP, and spastic CP is the main type. EEG abnormal ratio is obviously higher in the CP children complicated with EP than the CP children without EP. The types of abnormal EEG are mainly local epilptiform discharges and multilocal epileptiform discharges.

This study is to investigate the antitumor activity of ophiopogonin B (OP-B). MTT assay, flow cytometric analysis, acridine orange staining, Lyso-Tracker Red staining and HeLa-GFP-LC3 transfect cells assay were used to detect the proliferation activity, apoptosis and autophagy of HeLa cells. The results showed that OP-B exerted potent antiproliferative activity on HeLa cells, the cell growth inhibition effect of OP-B was not due to apoptosis and OP-B could induce autophagy of HeLa cells. OP-B also induced the protein expression up-regulation of Beclin-1 and promoted LC3 I transformation LC3 II, which were representative proteins of autophagy. Furthermore, 3-MA, an inhibitor of autophagy, not only inhibited OP-B-mediated autophagy but also almost completely reversed the antiproliferative effect of OP-B, suggesting that the growth inhibition effect of OP-B was autophagy dependent. Western blotting demonstrated that OP-B inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and its' downstream vital protein, such as mTOR and p70S6K. In addition, OP-B also induced the protein expression up-regulation of PTEN, which is a negative regulation protein for Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. However, OP-B did not affect the protein expression of total Akt. Collectively, the antitumor effects of OP-B were autophagy-dependent via repression Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Therefore, OP-B is a prospective inhibitor of Akt/mTOR and may be used as an alternative compound to treat cervical carcinoma.
Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Beclin-1 ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Spirostans ; pharmacology ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Treatment with the combination of Chinese herbs and cytotoxic chemotherapies showed a higher survival rate in clinical trials. In this report, the results demonstrated that the tanshinone II A, a key component of Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge, when it is combined with the cytotoxic drug cisplatin showed synergistic antitumor effects on human prostate cancer PC3 cells and LNCaP cells in vitro. Antiproliferative effects were detected with MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometer. Protein expression was detected by Western blotting. The intracellular concentration of cisplatin was detected by high performance liquid chromatography. The results demonstrated that tanshinone II A significantly enhanced the antiproliferative effects of cisplatin on human prostate cancer PC3 cells and LNCaP cells with the increase of the intracellular concentration of cisplatin. These effects were correlated with cell cycle arrested at S phase and cell apoptosis. The apoptosis might be achieved through death receptor pathway and mitochondrial pathway. Furthermore, the Bcl-2 family members were also involved in this apoptotic process. Collectively, these results indicated that the combination of tanshinone II A and cisplatin had a better treatment effect in vitro not only on androgen-dependent LNCaP cells but also on androgen-independent PC3 cells.
Androgens ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the proliferative characteristics of fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS)in osteoarthritis in vitro and the mechanism of the immunosuppressive effect of total glucusides of paeony(TGP).Methods FLS of OA and non-inflamed synovium(NS)were cultured and identified in vitro in the presence or absence of TGP.After incubation,the survival fraction(SF)of FLS was evaluated by MTI' and the TNF-?,IFN-?and bFGF level in cultured FLS supernatant was measured by ELISA.The expression of FLS c-los mRNA and cell cycle of OA-FLS was observed by RT-PCR and flow eytometry respectively at the same time.Results No statistical significant differences were noted between the OA and NS FLS in pro- liferating double time.High doses of TGP suppressed FLS-SF more evidently in OA patients than in NS(P0.05).Conclusion High dose TGP can inhibit OA-FLS proliferation,modulate cy- tokine secretion and c-fos expression in OA.This suggests that TGP has immunosuppressive effect on OA syn- ovitis,probably by preventing the synovial hypertrophy in OA.

Objective To understand the status of drinking-water supply and the progress of waterimproving projects in drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Henan,and to provide scientific data for related government departments to carry out prevention and surveillance plan for those areas.Methods Questionnaire survey was carried out in all the villages in drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Henan in 2010.Each village was given one set of questionnaire.Results By the end of 2010,the total number of fluorosis villages in Henan was 25 434,among them 11 484 villages had been conducted water-improving projects,accounting for 45.15％.Currently,9267 water-improving projects worked properly,accounting for 36.4％(9267/25 434)of all villages surveyed,and 80.7％ (9267/11 484)villages had water-improving projects.The projects in 2217 villages do not work properly,accounting for 19.3％(2217/11 484) of all projects.There were 5832 water-imp.roving projects conducted amnog 2005-2010,accounting for 50.8％ (5832/11 484) of all water-improving projects.Among villages with no such projects,97.5％(15 769/16 167) of them used shallow groundwater,and in villages with water-improving projects,89.6％ (8303/9267) of them used deep groundwater as drinking-water supply.Conclusions After 2005,the water improving progress was significantly speed up in drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Henan,but progress of the water improving projects is relatively slow due to changing and expanding of fluorosis areas.The government should increase investment and improve the proportion of waterimproving defluoridation.

Objective To synthesize 99Tcm- (hydrazinonictinamide- [Lys3] -bombesin) (tricine)(trisodium triphenylphosphine-3,3',3"-trisulfonate) ((HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS) (tricine) (TPPTS)) and evaluate its biodistribution and binding capability with tumor tissue in Balb/c nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer xenografts. Methods HYNIC was conjugated to the [Lys3] -BBS at pH = 9.0 with SnCl2 as reducing agent and both tricine and TPPTS as coligands for 99Tcm-labeling. 99Tcm-HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS)(tricine) (TPPTS) was purified by Sep-Pak C18 cartridge and was analysed by HPLC. The radiochemical purity and radiolabeling yield were measured. The stability of 99Tcm-(HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS) (tricine)(TPPTS) in serum, biodistribution (% ID/g) in the normal mice and imaging of the Balb/c nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer xenografts in vivo were studied. Results The radiolabeling yield was (90 ±2)% and the radiochemical purity was over 95%. The radiochemical purity after 4 h in serum was over 85%. The distribution in normal mice showed rapid clearance from blood (the uptake was (0.07 ±0.01) %ID/g at 2 h postinjection). 99Tcm-(HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS) (tricine) (TPPTS) was excreted mainly via the kidney with little radioactivity accumulation in the liver and gastrointestinal tract (the uptake of liver, stomach, intestine was (0.27 ±0.03), (0.06 ±0.03), (0.04 ±0.00) %ID/g at 2 h postinjection). Marked uptake of radioactivity was found in tumor tissue of the Balb/c nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer with maximum T/NT ratio of 3.71 ± 0.57 at 2 h postinjection. Conclusions 99Tcm-(HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS)(tricine) (TPPTS) can be easily prepared with high radiolabeling yield and radiochemical purity. The stability in serum and good biodistribution charateristics make it useful for the diagnosis of human pancreatic cancer with over-expression of the gastric-releasing peptide(GRP) receptor.

AIM: To investigate the effect of advanced glycosylation end products(AGEs) modified protein on morphological changes of actin cytoskeleton in primary endothelial cells and the role of MAPK signaling pathways in this pathological procedure.METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) were incubated with AGEs modified human serum albumin(AGE-HSA) at concentrations of 12.5,25,50,and 100 mg/L,respectively,for 2,4,8,12 and 24 hours.The cells were treated with different chemical compounds of inhibitors,or adenoviral deliver approach(either dominant positive or negative adenoviral constructs) of MAP kinases to specifically block or activate certain signal transduction pathways under above situations.As control,HSA of the same concentration was administered to cells at the same time.The treated cells were incubated with FITC-phalloidin to stain F-actin.RESULTS: F-actin in HUVECs was rearranged greatly by AGEs in a concentration and time-dependent manners.The unmodified HSA did not influence Factin distributions.The AGEs-induced changes were blocked by pretreatment with SB203580,PD98059 for 30 min,or pre-infection with recombinant virus of dominant negative form of MKK 6b [MKK6b(A)],MEK1 [MEK1(A)] for 24 h,while SP600125 and dominant negative form of MKK7 [MKK7(A)] failed to inhibit the effects of AGEs.Furthermore,the infection of recombinant virus of constitutive active form of MKK6b [MKK6b(E)] or MEK1 [MEK1(E)] could also induced re-arrangement of F-actin,respectively,while the effect elicited by [MKK6b(E)] was abolished by co-infection with recombinant adeno-virus of dominant negative p38?. CONCLUSION: AGEs-induced morphological changes of F-actin in endothelial cells are mediated by p38-and ERK MAPK signal pathways.

Objective:To synthesize Gd labeled probe targeting transporter protein(TSPO) 2-(8-amino-2-(4-chlorophenyl)imidazo[1, 2-a]pyridine-3-yl)- N, N-dipropylacetamide (CB86)-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), and investigate its MRI effect in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model. Methods:CB86-DTPA was prepared by coupling a bifunctional chelating agent, and then chelated with Gd to obtain MRI targeted contrast agent CB86-DTPA-Gd. The cytotoxicity, MR relaxation rate and in vitro stability of CB86-DTPA-Gd were determined. RA model was established with Freund′s adjuvant and the biodistribution study and MRI was performed. The RA lesion and its surrounding normal tissue were used as regions of interest (ROI) to calculate the signal to noise ratio (SNR). Independent-sample t test was used to analyze the data. Results:CB86-DTPA-Gd had excellent biosafety and a good MR relaxation rate ( r1=11.05 mmol·L -1·s -1). The survival rate of RAW264.7 cells and 4T1 cells was still more than 90% at the maximum concentration (20 μmol/L) of Gd 3+. CB86-DTPA-Gd also exhibited good stability in human serum and phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS; pH=7.4). The in vivo biodistribution showed that CB86-DTPA-Gd had better inflammatory targeting efficiency, and the uptake of Gd in the inflamed site of the ankle joint was still (2.33±0.29) percent dose rate per gram of tissue (%ID/g) at 120 min after injection. MicroMRI showed that the inflammation of the right ankle joint displayed significant enhancement after the injection of CB86-DTPA-Gd and Gd-DTPA. The SNR of CB86-DTPA-Gd group was up to 23.21±1.44, and the maximum intensification time was 90 min after injection, and can be significantly inhibited by CB86-DTPA at all time points ( t values: 6.083-12.451, all P<0.05), while the Gd-DTPA group had a strengthening time of 30 min after injection with the SNR of 16.12±1.24. Conclusion:CB86-DTPA-Gd shows good macrophage targeting and good uptake in arthritic reaction sites, and is expected to be a novel MRI molecular probe for peripheral inflammation imaging.