Objective To observe the effects of human retinal pigment epithelium conditioned medium(HRPE-CM) on the biological characteristics of human retinal stem cells(HRSCs). Methods HRSCs were exposed to HRPE-CM and cultivated in three different cultures,including the control,epidermal growth factor(EGF) + basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) and HRPE-CM.Cell counting was performed to explore the effects of different culture media on the proliferation of HRSCs,and their properties as neural stem cells were further identified. Results Compared with control group,HRPE-CM significantly promoted the proliferation of HRSCs(P

To enhance the immunogenicity of DNA and adenoviral vector vaccines expressing HIV-1 subtype B gp160, human interleukin 15 (hIL15) DNA adjuvant (pVR-hIL15) was constructed. BALB/c mice received DNA prime/protein boost immunization with pVR-HIVgp160/Ad5-HIVgp160 alone or combined with pVR-hIL15. Cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated by IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Compared with those immunized with vaccines alone, the mice immunized with vaccines combined with pVR-hIL15 had significantly increased specific cellular response and antibody titer (P < 0.05). It suggests that the IL15 DNA adjuvant can enhance the immune responses induced by prime-boost regimen using DNA and adenoviral vector encoding HIV-1 subtype B gp160.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; immunology ; HIV Envelope Protein gp160 ; genetics ; immunology ; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Interleukin-15 ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology

Neural stem cells in brains have capacities of proliferation and differentiation, which is very critical to rebuild the cerebral cortex functions. Therefore, it is of great importance to find key targets and network pathways that regulate the proliferation of neural stem cells, which is also a pressing problem in the medical circle. With the Notch pathway as the core of the network, this paper summarized the advance of the bimolecular network system composed of Wnt, Shh, EGFR, cytokines and Notch signal, and analyzed such key nodes as Notch receptor, CBF1, NICD, Hesl, which may become potential targets of new-type drugs in the future. With the multi-component, multi-target, multi-lever characteristics, traditional Chinese medicines have many common grounds with the network pharmacology. The active component groups or active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines are one of the material bases for showing their network pharmacological effect, which is worth exploring. This paper aims to provide a new strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease and nerve injury with traditional Chinese medicines.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Systems Biology

Objective To assess the clinical significance of the application of computer assisted navigation technology in excision for sacrum tumor.Methods From December 2007 to June 2009,13 patients with sacrum tumor were treated with computer navigation assisted aggressive curettage.There were 5 males and 8 females.aged 21 to 69 years,with the mean age of 44 years,10 cases were over the level of sacrum3 and 3 cases under the sacrum3.Pathologic diagnosis was chordoma in 7 cases.giant cell tumor in 4 cases and neurofibroma in 2 cases.Five cases were recurrence.The preoperative data of CT and MRI were input into the computer navigation workstation.CT images determined the scope of the invasion of tumor in bone tissue.MRI determined the scope of the invasion of tumor in soft tissue.The CT and MRI image fusion identified the precise boundaries of the tumor in CT images and made markers for navigation guidance in the operative in 10 cases.The Iso-c scan had been made for another 3 cases and fused the Iso-c images with preoperation CT images for improving the images quality.According to preoperative marker in CT images,the aggressive curettage were completed with the real time computer navigation for 7 cases,marginal resection in 4 cases and wide resection in 2.The precise surgical removal of the lesions boundary were verified by computer navigation according to the preoperative planning.Results Thirteen patients were followed up for 7 to 37 months,an average of 18 months,no recurrence cases with marginal resection and wide resection.Two cases with aggressive curettage had recurrence.Conclusion Computer navigation technology helps to precise excision the sacrum tumors,to reduce the recurrence rate.

Objective To investigate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields(PEMFs)on proliferation and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs).Methods EPCs were isolated from rat bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation.EPCs were exposed to PEMFs from the 5th day to the end of culture.MTT was used to measure the proliferation of EPCs.The expression ofⅧ-related antigen and NOS_3 was evaluated by flow cytometry. Results Compared with the control,the proliferating ability of EPCs exposed to PEMFs was stronger;the number ofⅧ-related antigen and NOS_3 positive cells increased significantly in EPCs exposed in PEMFs.Conclusion PEMFs promotes the proliferation and differentiation of rat bone marrow EPCs.

Background A multitude of studies reported statins prevent the myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload,but the mechanism is unclear.Objective To study the protective effect of atorvastatin on the myocardial hypertrophy caused by pressure overload and it's anti-inflammation effect.Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomized to untreated group(n=10),atorvastatin group(2 mg/kg?d,by gavage,n=10),sham op- eration group(n=10)and control group(n=10).Ventricular hypertrophy model was achieved by surgical con- stricting the abdominal aorta.All rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after the operation and the heart weight to body ratio,left ventricular weight to body ratio,and the size of cardiomyocyte were determined.The expressions of interleukin 18(IL-18)and cardiotrophin 1(CT-1)in the cadiocyte were assessed by reverse transcription polymer- ase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Compared with control group,SBP in myocardial hypertrophy group was significantly increased(174?9 vs control 112?15 mmHg,P

Objective To analyze the clinical and ultrasonographic features of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas and to assess the usefulness of transabdominal ultrasonography. Methods Twelve patients with IPMN underwent surgery, including 4 (33.3%)with adenoma and 8(66.7%) with adenocarcinoma. IPMN was classified into 3 categaries by the site of main duct,branch duct and combined type based on the ultrasonographic findings preoperatively. All the clinical presentations and the ultrasonographic imaging findings were analyzed and compared with the histologic diagnosis. Results Of malignant IPMNs,diabetes was presented in 5 cases,elevated CA19-9 was presented in 4 cases and steatorrhea was presented in 2 cases. But these was not presented in benigns. Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed all the cystic or cystic-solid lesions in this study. The mean diameter of the lesions with adenoma was (1.4 ± 0.8)cm (range,0.5 - 2.0 cm) and that with adenocarcinoma was (6.3 ± 6.0)cm (range, 2.0 - 20 cm). The mean diameters of the main duct for the cases with adenomas and adenocarcinomas were (1.0 ± 0.8) cm and ( 1.6 ± 1.0) cm, respectively. Among the adenomas, 3 cases were calssified as branch type and 2 were demonstrated with mural nodules and no colour signals was detected within them. Five of the malignancies were considered as main duct type and 3 were combined type. Seven cases were detected mural nodules and showed abundant colour flow signals within them. Conclusions Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed the pancreatic cystic lesions and dilated ducts of IPMN. Some characteristics should be considered for malignancy: clinical symptoms, tumor size and mural nodules with colour flow signals,which may be helpful for the diagnosis and management of IPMN.

Objective: To examine the effects of perioperative intravenous administration of flurbiprofen axetil (FA) on pain associated with transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.Methods: This was a randomized,controlled study.Eighty-one patients who underwent 12 core prostate biopsy were included in the study.The patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n=27 in each) by type of procedure during prostate biopsy.Group intrarectal local anesthesia (IRLA) received intrarectal 5% (0.05 g/L) lidocaine gel 60 mg, 5 minutes before the procedure alone;Group FA received intravenous flurbiprofen axetil (1 mg/kg) 1 hour before the procedure;Group IRLA+FA received intrarectal 5% lidocaine gel 60 mg, 5 minutes before the procedure and intravenous flurbiprofen axetil (1 mg/kg) 1 hour before the procedure.The patients were asked to score the pain by using visual analogue scale (VAS) in 4 situations,including when the probe was inserted (VASⅠ),during anesthesia (VASⅡ),during biopsy (VASⅢ) and 20 minutes after biopsy (VASⅣ).The findings were evaluated with analysis of variance,and the Tukey post hoc test was followed with an overall 2-tailed significance level at α =0.05.P1, P value between Group IRLA and Group FA;P2, P value between Group FA and Group IRLA +FA,P3, P value between Group IRLA and Group IRLA +FA.The bonferroni method was used to adjust the test level, α=0.017,a P value of less than 0.017 was accepted as the threshold for statistical significance.Results: No major complications,including sepsis and severe rectal bleeding,were noted in any patient.There were no differences in general condition of the patients before procedure among the 3 groups.There were statistically significant differences in VAS scores among the 3 groups in VASⅡ (5.7±2.2, 3.0±1.5,3.3±1.9,respectively,P=0.012) and VASⅢ (6.7±2.3,3.0±2.1,2.9±1.6,respectively,P=0.001).There were no differences in the pain scores among the 3 groups during probe insertion (VASⅠ, 3.2±1.0,4.1±2.1,4.2±1.7, respectively,P=5.752) and 20 minutes after biopsy (VASⅣ, 1.4±2.1,1.0±0.9,1.1±0.7,respectively,P=3.772).Between-column differences among the 3 groups were VASⅡ (P1=0.007,P2=5.655,P3=0.001,respectively) and VASⅢ(P1=0.008,P2=7.517,P3=0.001,respectively),the differences between Group IRLA and Group FA,Group IRLA and Group IRLA +FA in VASⅡ and VASⅢ were statistically significant.Conclusion:The intravenous flurbiprofen axetil was found to be more effective than intrarectal lidocaine gel alone.

Objective To inquire into the location of the relevant gene mutations in the Chinese familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis, and to specify the correlation between the genotype and the clinical features of this disease. Methods Target-exon PCR and DNA direct sequencing were used to research the mutations in the CACNA1S, SCN4A, and KCNE3 genes of 14 familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis probands. If a positive member was found, the other members of his (her) family must be inspected with the sequencing method. Results The probands of 3 families showed the known correlating mutations of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis, which were R1239H mutations in the CACNA1S in 1 family and R672H mutations in the SCN4A in the other 2 families. In addition, the differences of the age of onset, the responsibility to the treatment with acetazolamide and penetrance were found between the CACNA1S R1239H and SCN4A R672H mutations. Conclusions SCN4A R672H and CACNA1S R1239H mutations exist in the Chinese familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis. Differences of the clinical features exist, resulting from these 2 kinds of mutations.