OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on Wnt-β-catenin signal pathway in annulus fibrosus cells in intervertebral disc in rats with cervical spondylosis.

METHODSForty SD rats were randomized into a control group, a model group, an EA group and a medication group, 10 rats in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with sham operation, only incision on local skin; rats in the remaining groups were made into cervical spondylosis models. After model establishment, rats in the control group and model group received fixed treatment under identical condition; rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Dazhui" (GV 14), 30 min per treatment; rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of meloxicam tablets. Treatments were both given once a day, and 14 days were taken as one session; there was an interval of 2 days between two sessions, and totally two sessions were given. After the treatments, immunohistochemistry was applied to measure the expression of Wnt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and Axin in annulus fibrosus cells; western blot was used to test the expression of P-β-catenin.

RESULTSIn the control group, there were more positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were intensively distributed, deeply colored, and strongly positive; In the model group, there were less positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were sparsely distributed and weakly positive. The expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the model group was less than that in the control group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the EA group and medication group was higher than that in the model group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin was not significantly different between EA group and medication group (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA could delay the degeneration of intervertebral disc, which may be related to EA inhibiting signal pathway of Wnt-β-catenin.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Spondylosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To study the role of CT in the evaluation after patellar dislocation triple surgeries.Methods Retrospectively analysed the CT measurements of 60 recurrent patellar dislocation patients (61 knees),who had undergone patellar dislocation triple surgeries,within one month before and after procedures.The measurements included patellar tilt angle,lateral patellar displacement,trochlear con-gruence angle,Tibial Tuberosity-Trochlear Groove distance,Insall-Salvati Ratio and Caton-Deschamps Index.Moreover,the troch-lear dysplasia classifications of all patients were evaluated.In addtion,an analysis has also been completed for 40 (41 knees)of 60 patients who had second postoperative CT examinations as follow-up assessment 3 to 6 months after surgeries.Results All one-month postoperative measurements decreased obviously with statistical significance(P <0.05 ).Furthermore,one case of subluxa-tion,1 1 cases of abnormal Tibial Tuberosity-Trochlear Groove distance,13 cases of abnormal Insall-Salvati Ratio and 14 cases of Ca-ton-Deschamps Index abnormities were also observed.Besides that,it was also found that all patients had trochlear dysplasia and 5 cases were diagnosed with patellar subluxation or dislocation at the second postoperative follow-up assessment.Conclusion The patients with redislocation or risks for patellar instability can be detectecd by CT which provides objective evidence for postoperative evaluation and further treatments.

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents whole plant of Bidens frondosa L.

0.05);the 2 hours postprandial plasma glucose(2hPG) was significantly lower in insulin aspart 30 injection group than in mixed protamine zinc recombinant human insulin injec- tion one(P

Objective To observe the effect of exhaustive exercise on the function of the kidney in rats and explore the mechanism. Methods Fourteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sedentary control group (group C) and exhaustive exercise group (group E). They were measured the urine protein, uric acid, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen after exercise. The reactive oxygen species, inducible ni-tric oxide synthase, nitro tyrosine in kidney, and nephrin protein in the kidney were detected with fluorescent probe and Western blotting, re-spectively, and observed under Harris staining. Results There were significant differences between groups C and E in urine protein, uric ac-id, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, reactive oxygen species, inducible nitric oxide synthase, nitrotyrosine and nephrin protein (P<0.05). The glomerular morphology and the deformation of capillary basement membrane were found under the fluorescence microscope in group E. Conclusion Exhaustive exercise may damage the structure of kidney in rats, which may associate with oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the expression and the effects of X-chromosome linked inhibi- tor of apoptosis (XIAP) associated factor 1 (XAF1) on apoptosis and cell proliferation in SMMC7721 hepatocellur carcinoma (HCC) cell line.Methods The expression of XAF1 mRNA and protein in hu- man SMMC7721 cell line were detected by semi-quantitative,RT-PCR and Western blot.Plasmid con- structs expressing sense and antisense XAF1 were generated and transfected into SMMC7721 cell line to establish stable transfectants.Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT,flow cytometry and TUNEL.Results XAF1 mRNA and protein were detectable in SMMC7721 cell line but lower than that in normal liver cell.Stable expression of XAF1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and increased spontaneous apoptosis in SMMC7721 cell (P＜0.05).Over-expression of XAF1 in stable transfactants increased the sensitivity of SMMC7721 cell to chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-fluorouracial and hydroxycamptothecin.Conclusions Over-expression of XAF1 induces apoptosis and inhibits SMMC7721 cell growth.XAF1 may be a promising candidate for HCC gene therapy.

Objective To establish an in vitro accelerated release method of triptorelin acetate microspheres with good in vi-tro/in vivo correlation(IVIVC). Methods The in vivo release of triptorelin acetate from microspheres was obtained by residual method in rats. Influences of pH value,concentration of ethanol,temperature,rotation speed and concentration of antiseptic on the in vitro accel-erated release were studied,then the correlation between in vitro accelerated release and in vivo release of the microspheres was estab-lished by adjusting the release conditions. Results The in vitro accelerated release medium of triptorelin acetate microspheres composed of 15%ethanol solution(containing 0.06%Tween 80 and 0.1%benzalkonium chloride)at 55℃with rotating rate of 200 r/min. The cumulative release of triptorelin acetate from microspheres was 87.35%at 30 h under accelerated release condition,equivalent to in vivo release for 30 days. The established in vitro accelerated release had a good correlation with that of in vivo(y=0.8845x+12.4510, R2=0.9938). Conclusion The in vitro accelerated release of triptorelin acetate microspheres could correlate well with in vivo release and has a potential application in rapid and effective evaluation of triptorelin acetate microspheres.

OBJECTIVETo explore the ultrastructural changes of hepatocyte fibrogenesis in cholelithiasis in biliary tract.

METHODSl0 liver biopsies were taken from the patients suffered from gallstone and choledocholithiasis during surgical treatment and the ultrastructural changes were observed under electromicroscope.

RESULTSThere were plentiful collagenous microfibrils (CMFs) grown within some hepatocytes. These CMFs distributed locally or diffusely in cytoplasm even extended into nucleus. In 7 cases numerous megamitochondrias appeared in several hepatocytes, the inclusions mimicking fibrils could be frequently seen and grew beyond the envelope. Furthermore, typical CMFs could be seen in the large microbodies, and several vesicular or cystic structures similar as fibroblast were presented in marginal areas of the hepatocytes.

CONCLUSIONSWe deduce that the fibrosed hepatocytes may be remained and take part in the hyperplasia of hepatic fibrous tissue.

Adult ; Cholelithiasis ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Diagnosis, Differential ; Endometrial Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Rectum ; surgery ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology

Factorial design and response surface techniques were used to design and optimize increasing P450 BM-3 expression in E. coli. Operational conditions for maximum production were determined with twelve parameters under consideration: the concentration of FeCl(3), induction at OD(578) (optical density measured at 578 nm), induction time and inoculum concentration. Initially, Plackett-Burman (PB) design was used to evaluate the process variables relevant in relation to P450 BM-3 production. Four statistically significant parameters for response were selected and utilized in order to optimize the process. With the 416C model of hybrid design, response surfaces were generated, and P450 BM-3 production was improved to 57.90x10(-3) U/ml by the best combinations of the physicochemical parameters at optimum levels of 0.12 mg/L FeCl(3), inoculum concentration of 2.10%, induction at OD(578) equal to 1.07, and with 6.05 h of induction.
Bacillus megaterium ; enzymology ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Biotechnology ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; genetics ; Fermentation ; Mixed Function Oxygenases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics