AIM: To observe the effects of Corydalis decumbens Pers Injection(CDPI) on the learning,memory and Ang-1 expression of hippocampus in vascular dementia rats,and to explore the protective mechanisms. METHOD: The VD model rat model was established by the ligation of both carotids of the rat.Morris water-maze was used to examine the ability of spatial learning and memory of VD model rats.Hippocampal histopathological change was observed through optical microscope after being stained with Hematoxylin-eosin(HE).The semi quantitative analysis of Ang-1 expression in hippocampus was analysed by BI2000 image analysis system after immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: In the place naviga test,the mean escape latency significantly shorted and the explporing distance obviously decreased in CDPI 2 mg/kg、5 mg/kg groups after one month and two months compared with model group.After two months with CDPI treatment,Ang-1 exprssion of hippocampus increased in VD rats. CONCLUSIONS: CDPI can improve the ability of spatial learning and memory.The mechanism may be related to increasing expression of Ang-1 in hippocampus.

Application research on human amniotic membrane has been carried out for nearly a hundred years and people found that there were more than dozens of kinds bioactive substances in the amniotic membrane. It has been proved that the amniotic membrane has a lot of functions, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-virus, anti-angiogenic and promoting cell apoptosis, and soon. As effective treatments, amniotic membrane has been used for adjunctive therapy of burns, trauma, ophthalmic damage, dermatopathya. Recent advances of amniotic membrane and amniotic membrane-derived cells research have led to enormous progress in skin tissue engineering, vascular tis- sue engineering, biological scaffold material, and biological sustained-release materials. Amniotic membrane and amniotic membrane derived cells have a significant advantage and unique charm in medical field. Therefore, they have higher research value and broad prospects in the applications.
Amnion ; Biomedical Research ; trends ; Humans ; Tissue Engineering ; Treatment Outcome

Ginsenoside Rg1 ( Rg1 ) is a monomer isolated from ginseng, which has a variety of pharmacological activities. Rg1 can obviously regulate hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells proliferation, differentiation, aging, secretion and so on by mul-tiple mechanisms. Rg1 has important therapeutic effects on the reparation of tissues, organs damage and aging. This review de-scribes the current knowledge on the effects of Rg1 on the char-acteristics and functions of adult stem cells.

Calcium-sensing receptor(CaSR) is a widely distributed G-protein coupled receptor.The activated CaSR plays an important role in many kinds of signaling pathway regulation, such as Ca2+ signaling pathway.It not only maintains the body calcium balance, but also is involved in the regulation of a variety of cell secretion, proliferation, apoptosis, and ion channel opening processes.CaSR expression is involved in stem cell migration, adhesion and homing in hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells.The activated CaSR also regulated the function of itself and characteristics in stem cells through a variety of cell signaling pathways.We introduce the functions and characteristics of CaSR, the relationship between CaSR and disease, and review the effects of the biological characteristics on hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of STAT5 pathway inhibitor pimozide on the expressions of nitric oxide (NO)and nitric oxide synthetase(iNOS)in the model of mouse macrophage RAW264.7 inflammation induced by lipopolysaccha-ride (LPS). METHODS:RAW264.7 cells in logarithmic growth phase were divided into blank control group,drug control group (10μmol/L pimozide),model group(1μg/ml LPS)and the pimozide groups of low,middle and high doses(2.5,5 and 10μmol/L), where the corresponding cells were given pimozide 30 min before the administration of LPS,and then were cultured for 24 h. Griess method was used to determine the content of NO in the supernate of cell culture solutions of all groups,real-time quantita-tive polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)to determine iNOS mRNA expression,and Western blot method to determine the protein expression of iNOS and phosphorylated STAT5(p-STAT5). RESULTS:The content of NO,iNOS mRNA and protein expressions and the content of p-STAT5/STAT5 in the cells in the model group were higher than those in the blank control group,with statisti-cally difference (P<0.01). Compared to the model group,the pimozide groups of middle and high doses had lower content of NO,iNOS mRNA and protein expressions and the content of p-STAT5/STAT5 in the cells,with statistically difference(P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:STAT5 pathway inhibitor pimozide can inhibit the release of NO by inhibiting iNOS mRNA and pro-tein expressions in cells.

Objective To study the curative effect and mechanism of moxibustion on heat-sensitive acupoints combined with Erwei Badu Powder in the treatment of elderly herpes zoster (HZ) with type of stagnant heat of liver channel. Methods Sixty-five patients with HZ were randomly divided into treatment group (35 cases) and control group (30 cases). Two groups were orally given Longdan Xiegan Decoction and aciclovir conventionally, the treatment group was given moxibustion additionally on heat-sensitive acupoints combined with Erwei Badu Powder, and the control group was only given external application of Erwei Badu Powder for 10 days. The symptom scores, levels of T lymphocyte subsets and serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) were observed before and after treatment, the curative effect was evaluated, and PHN was followed up. Results The effective rate was 85.71%(30/35) in the treatment group and 66.67%(20/30) in the control group. The curative effect of treatment group surpassed the control group (P<0.05). Incidence of PHN was lower (P<0.01). The levels of CD4, CD4/CD8, and IL-2 increased and the level of CD8 decreased significantly in two groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). All indexes were better in the treatment group than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The curative effect of moxibustion on heat-sensitive acupoints combined with Erwei Badu Powder in treatment of elderly HZ is better than that of Erwei Badu Powder only, particularly in reducing the occurrence of PHN, improving neuralgia and insomnia. The mechanism may be related to increasing levels of CD4, CD4/CD8 and IL-2, and improvement of body’s cell-mediated immunity.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily.It is extensively expressed on different tissues and cells. TRAIL can initiate singnaling through binding to TRAIL receptors. TRAIL selectively induces apoptosis of a variety of tumor cells, but has less toxition or no damage to most normal cells. TRAIL treatment in combination with chemotherapy drugs and cytokines can induces apoptosis of tumor cells. But a tumor emerges immune escape or immune privilege by expressing TRAIL on itself. The action of TRAIL is influenced by NF-?B or type and amount of TRAIL receptors on target cell.

Objective To investigate the biological properties of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) which were preconditioned with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (Vardenfil). Methods hAMSCs were in vitro isolated and cultured, hAMSCs were pre-treated with vardenfil in final concentration of 10 μmol/L. The morphology of Vard-hAMSCs was observed, and the immunological characteristics, proliferative capacity, and ability of anti-oxidative damage of hAMSCs and Vard-hAMSCs were analyzed by flow cytometry. Double labeling immunofluorescent staining was used to count the differences of differential potential between neural cells of hAMSCs and Vard-hAMSCs. Results (1)Flow cytometry revealed that both hAMSCs and Vard-hAMSCs positively expressed CD90、CD105 and CD73, and negatively expressed CD34、CD45、CD11b and HLA-DR. The SPF and PI in Vard-hAMSCs group were (0.57 ± 0.40)% and (2.20 ± 1.60)% respectively, there was no statistical significance compared with hAMSCs group; (2)After 4 hours treated by H2O2, the apoptosis rate in Vard-hAMSCs group were (7.67 ± 0.82)%,which were markedly lower than that in the hAMSCs group and specific blocker group; (3)Under the same induction condition, positive rates of MAP-2 and GFAP in Vard-hAMSCs group were (49.8 ± 6.42)%and (55.2 ± 6.10)% respectively detected by double labeling immunofluorescent staining, which were significantly higher than the control group. Conclusion The strategy that hAMSCs are treated with vandenfil can enrich the ability of anti-oxidative damage and the differential potential for neural cells in a certain time, and the morphology, immunological characteristics, proliferative capacity of Vard-hAMSCs have no significant change. It suggests that pre-treatment with vandenfil may provide a optimized experimental strategey for hAMSCs which were used to treat nervous system disease.

Since the release rate of protein in hydrogels is directly dependent upon the size of the protein and the hydrogel, how to deliver low molecular weight protein for prolonged periods has always been a problem. In this article, we present a usage of self-assembling peptide (P3) with the RGD epitope on its N terminus. The concentration of the released insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was determined by UV-vis spectroscopy and the release kinetics suggested a notable reduction of the IGF-1 release rate. Cell entrapment experiments revealed that IGF-1 delivery by biotinylated nanofibers could promote the proliferation of the mouse chondrogenic ATDC5 cells when compared with cells embedded within nanofibers with untethered IGF-1.
Animals ; Biotin ; Cell Line ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Hydrogels ; chemistry ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Nanofibers ; Oligopeptides ; chemistry

Objectives To analyze the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of Lemierre syndrome. Methods The clinical data of one case of Lemierre syndrome were retrospectively analyzed. The relevant literatures were reviewed. Results The primary infection of the patient was oral infection, and jugular vein thrombosis and metastatic lung abscess were followed. The blood culture showed that Staphylococcus aureus was positive. Lemierre syndrome was diagnosed. After anticoagulation and anti-infection treatment, the symptoms were improved. Conclusion Lemierre syndrome should be considered in present of jugular vein thrombosis and pulmonary abscess caused by infection.