Objective To study the correlation of peritumor brain edema and the proliferation of meningiomas.Methods Forty-six patients who underwent resection of meningioma were divided into four groups(no,mild,middle and severe PTBE) according to CT.Proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) was detected with immunohistochemistry.Results There were 18 cases mild PTBE[PCNA LI (2.83?1.57)],10 cases middle PTBE[PCNA LI (3.14?2.04)] and 5 cases severe PTBE[PCNA LI (4.13?2.43)] in forty-six patients.PTBE was related to meningioma PCNA LI significant.Conclusion PTBE of meningioma relates with tumor cell proliferation.

Objective To investigate the correlation between brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)and left ventricular diastolic function in the elderly patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.Methods 128 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus were divided into diabetes without hypertension (n=63)and with hypertension(n=65),and other 62 normal subjects were selected as control group.Plasma BNP levels and indexes of echocardiography,including left ventricular mass index(LVMI),the mitral peak flow velocity during early(E)and late diastole(A),ratio of E/A,average peak velocities at mitral annuluses of six sites in left ventricular wall during early(MEm)and late diastole (MAm),and relative E/MEm were measured in all patients.Results LVMI,E/MEm and the levels of BNP were significantly higher in groups of diabetes without and with hypertension[(91.6 ±17.3)g/m2 and(116.7±20.5)g/m2,(10.3±1.8)and(12.5±1.4),(47.7±29.4)ng/L and(105.7±32.5)ng/L]than in control group[(78.7±19.5)g/m2,(8.9± 1.6)and(20.8±11.63)ng/L,respectively](F=11.54,13.83 and 9.75,all P＜0.05),while MEm in two diabetes groups[(6.8±1.0)and(5.4±0.9)cm/s]were decreased as compared with control group[(8.0± 1.1)cm/s,F=11.26,P＜0.05].The BNP levels were negatively correlated with E/A and MEm(r =-0.42 and -0.51,all P＜0.01),and positively correlated with LVMI and E/MEm(r=0.48 and 0.58,all P＜0.01).Conclusions Left ventricular diastolic function is impaired in diabetes mellitus and more severely impaired in diabetic patients with hypertension.A combination of plasma BNP and echocardiography parameter may be helpful to accurately evaluate left ventricular diastolic function in the elderly patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

A scaffold fabricated with lysine/nerve growth factor (NGF)/poly (lactic acid coglycolic acid) copolymer (PLGA) and acellular pigskin was evaluated in vitro as a potential artificial nerve scaffold. Properties of the scaffold such as microstructure, mechanical property, degradation behavior in PBS and water, Schwann cell adhesion property, and release of NGF were investigated. Results showed PLGA had permeated into the porous structure of acellular pigskin; its breaking strength was 8.308 MPa, breaking extensibility was 38.98%, elastic modulus was 97.27 MPa. The porosities of the scaffold ranged from 68.3% to 81.2% with densities from 0.62 g/cm3 to 0.68 g/cm3. At 4 weeks of degradation in vitro, maximum mass loss ratio was 43.3%. The release of NGF could still be detected on the 30th day, and its accumulative release rate was 38%. Lysine added into the scaffold neutralized the acidoid preventing degradation of PLGA to maintain a solution pH value. Schwann cells had grown across the scaffold after co-cultivation for 15 days. These in vitro properties of the pigskin based composite might indicate its potentiality to be an artificial nerve scaffold.
Acellular Dermis ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Lactic Acid ; pharmacology ; Lysine ; pharmacology ; Nerve Growth Factors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Nerve Regeneration ; Polyglycolic Acid ; pharmacology ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

Decorin (DCN) is a member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan gene family. Many studies indicated that DCN inhibited fibrosis and scar-formation by neutralization of TGF-P and interfering the binding of TGF-beta with its receptor, which induced ectopic deposition of extracellular matrix. Additionally, DCN can prevent the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells by activating EGFR/MAPK/p21 signal pathway and inhibiting the cell proliferation pathway mediated by EGF-EGFR. It is suggested that the recombinant DCN had potential pharmaceutical potency in treatment of chronic fibrosis and neoplasm for its critical biological activities and low immunogenicity.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Decorin ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Proteoglycans ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; antagonists & inhibitors

The Modified silk fibroin membranes were prepared by mixing the aqueous solutions of both silk fibroin and chitosan with the use of oxidized glucose aldehyde as a crosslinking agent. It was characterized by FTIR, DSC, measurements of membrane-potential and mechanical properties, the water swelling ratios and permeability coefficient for model drug 5-Fu in the different pH buffer solutions. It was shown that there were some strong hydrogen bond interaction and good compatibility between silk fibroin and chitosan molecules in the modified silk fibroin films. The isoelectric point of modified fibroin film was about pH 5.35, but that of natural fibroin film was around pH 4.5. It was also found that the mechanical properties of modified fibroin films were much better than those of fibroin itself. Its tensile strength and breaking elongation were greatly enhanced with the increase of chitosan content and their maximum values were as high as 71.4-72.7 MPa and 2.96%-3.82% respectively, at the composition of 40 wt%-60 wt% chitosan. Its coefficient of permeability decreased firstly and then increased slowly with the change of the pH value of solutions from pH 5 to pH 9, and the minimum coefficient of permeability was observed when pH=7.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; chemical synthesis ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Membranes ; Silk ; chemistry

To investigate the impact of phenotypic knockout of CXCR4 on Molt-4 cells via intrakine technology,the C-terminal alpha-helix gene SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL of human stromal cell-derived Faceor-1 deletion is fused to a retention signal 4-peptide -KDEL that retains the newly synthesized receptor within the Molt-4 cells endoplasimc reticulum. Subsequently, PCR is used to amplify the target gene SDF-1alpha/54/ KDEL from the constructed plasmid SDF-WT-Gly x 4-Dec/PET-30a(+) at its C-terminal and subclone it into eukaryotic expression vectors pEGFP-C3 for generating recombinant vector cells by lipEGFP-C3/SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL, and then have it sequenced. After the transfection of recombinant plasmids into COS-7 posome, SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL protein is confirmed with Western blot. The recombinant plasmids pEGFP-C3/SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL are isolated and transiently transfected in Molt-4 cells by electroporation. Flow cytometric analysis shows a dramatic reduction of CXCR4 expression on Molt-4 cells. The conclusion is that SDF-1alpha/54/KDEL could assume a role in the phenotypic knockout of CXCR4, and the findings suggest that the inhibiting effect of SDF-1alpha/54 against CXCR4 is not influenced by the deletion of SDF-1alpha helix at the C terminal.
Animals ; COS Cells ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electroporation ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo establish a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model by passive cigarette smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats.

METHODSFifteen male SH rats were randomly divided into control group, cigarette smoking exposure (CS) group and CS+LPS (cigarette smoking exposure plus intratracheal instillation of LPS) group. After 8 weeks' treatment, the COPD model was validated by inspecting the general condition and examining lung function and pulmonary pathological changes. The expressions of surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A), NF-κB, histone, p-Iκ-Kα/β, Iκ-Kα/β, and IκB-α were determined with Western blotting, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA were measured using qRT-PCR.

RESULTSThe rats in both CS and CS+LPS groups were marantic with intermittent cough and tachypnea. Lung function test showed increased RI and lowered peak expiratory flow in CS group, which were more prominent in CS+LPS group (P<0.05). HE staining demonstrated typical chronic bronchitic inflammation and emphysema in the lungs of the two model groups with significantly decreased mean alveolar number and significantly increased mean lining intermittent and destruction index. The emphysema level was more serious in CS+LPS group than in CS group. Western blotting showed markedly decreased expressions of SP-A and IκB-α in CS group and CS+LPS , especially the latter group. The protein levels of NF-κB, Iκ-K phosphorylation and mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 increased obviously in the two model groups.

CONCLUSIONCOPD model can be established by passive smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of LPS in SH rats, and the model induced by combined exposures is optimal.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; etiology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo establish an improved method for culturing primary mouse pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs).

METHODSAn improved tissue block adherent culture method was used to isolate and culture the PMVECs from C57 mice. The cultured cells were identified by factor VIII-related antigen and CD31 antigen, and the growth of cells cultured using the improved method and the conventional method was compared.

RESULTSThe cultured primary pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells showed a short fusiform or round morphology, and the cell monolayer displayed a cobble stone-like appearance. The cultured cells were positive for VIII-related antigen and CD31 antigen. The cell growth was accelerated in the cell cultures with the improved method compared with that in conventional cell cultures.

CONCLUSIONThe improved culture method allows more efficient acquisition of primary mouse PMVECs of a greater purity.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Lung ; blood supply ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Primary Cell Culture ; methods

Objective To establish a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model by passive cigarette smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. Methods Fifteen male SH rats were randomly divided into control group, cigarette smoking exposure (CS) group and CS+LPS (cigarette smoking exposure plus intratracheal instillation of LPS) group. After 8 weeks' treatment, the COPD model was validated by inspecting the general condition and examining lung function and pulmonary pathological changes. The expressions of surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A), NF-κB, histone, p-Iκ-Kα/β, Iκ-Kα/β, and IκB-αwere determined with Western blotting, and the expression of TNF-αand IL-6 mRNA were measured using qRT-PCR. Results The rats in both CS and CS+LPS groups were marantic with intermittent cough and tachypnea. Lung function test showed increased RI and lowered peak expiratory flow in CS group, which were more prominent in CS+LPS group (P<0.05). HE staining demonstrated typical chronic bronchitic inflammation and emphysema in the lungs of the two model groups with significantly decreased mean alveolar number and significantly increased mean lining intermiment and destrction index. The emphysema level was more serious in CS+LPS group than in CS group. Western blotting showed markedly decreased expressions of SP-A and IκB-αin CS group and CS+LPS , especially the latter group. The protein levels of NF-κB, Iκ-K phosphorylation and mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 increased obviously in the two model groups. Conclusion COPD model can be established by passive smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of LPS in SH rats, and the model induced by combined exposures is optimal.

Objective To establish a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model by passive cigarette smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. Methods Fifteen male SH rats were randomly divided into control group, cigarette smoking exposure (CS) group and CS+LPS (cigarette smoking exposure plus intratracheal instillation of LPS) group. After 8 weeks' treatment, the COPD model was validated by inspecting the general condition and examining lung function and pulmonary pathological changes. The expressions of surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A), NF-κB, histone, p-Iκ-Kα/β, Iκ-Kα/β, and IκB-αwere determined with Western blotting, and the expression of TNF-αand IL-6 mRNA were measured using qRT-PCR. Results The rats in both CS and CS+LPS groups were marantic with intermittent cough and tachypnea. Lung function test showed increased RI and lowered peak expiratory flow in CS group, which were more prominent in CS+LPS group (P<0.05). HE staining demonstrated typical chronic bronchitic inflammation and emphysema in the lungs of the two model groups with significantly decreased mean alveolar number and significantly increased mean lining intermiment and destrction index. The emphysema level was more serious in CS+LPS group than in CS group. Western blotting showed markedly decreased expressions of SP-A and IκB-αin CS group and CS+LPS , especially the latter group. The protein levels of NF-κB, Iκ-K phosphorylation and mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 increased obviously in the two model groups. Conclusion COPD model can be established by passive smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of LPS in SH rats, and the model induced by combined exposures is optimal.