Animals ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Selenium ; pharmacology

Objective To observe the effects of Compound Uncaria Hypotensive Tablets on expressions of MCP-1 and MMP-9 of vascular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR); To discuss it possible mechanism of action. Methods Totally 24 12-week old male SHR were randomly divided into SHR model group, Compound Uncaria Hypotensive Tablets group, and positive medicine group, with 8 rats in each group. Another 8 WKY rats were set as normal control group. Medication groups were given relevant medicine for gavage for successive 6 weeks. Noninvasive tail cuff method was used to observe blood pressure; morphological changes in thoracic aorta and renal artery were observed by HE staining; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expressions of MCP-1 and MMP-9 in thoracic aortic wall. Results Protein expressions of MCP-1 and MMP-9 in thoracic aortic wall of SHR model group were significantly higher than those of normal control group (P<0.01); Compared with the SHR model group, protein expressions of MCP-1 and MMP-9 in thoracic aortic wall decreased significantly in the medication groups (P<0.05, P<0.01); Compared the Compound Uncaria Hypotensive Tablets group and positive medicine group, there was no obvious difference in protein expressions of MCP-1 and MMP-9 in thoracic aortic wall. Conclusion Compound Uncaria Hypotensive Tablets can reduce the blood pressure of SHR, reduce inflammation reaction, and regulate vascular remodeling, which mechanism may be related to down-regulation of expressions of MCP-1 and MMP-9 in SHR aortic endothelial cells.

Objective This study is undertaken to evaluate the changes of serum cytokine levels in different stages of collagen induced arthritis(CIA)rats,to search for the specific proteins related with rheuma- toid arthritis(RA)pathogenesis and inflammation,and to explore the mechanism of RA pathogenesis.Methods Rat cytokine antibody array coated with 19 specific cytokine antibodies was used to examine serum samples at peak and late stage of CIA rats,and were compared to normal cytokine levels.At the same time,ELISA assay for serum TNF-?production was used to verify the array results.Results Among the target cytokines,10 up- regulating cytokines were kept in high expression in different phases of disease,while 1 showed significant change only at the peak of disease.There was no downregnlating cytokines in the results.Serum TNF-?assay results were consistent to the array results.Conclusion Cytokines show different expression in CIA at differ- ent stages,and specific cytokines can be used as the candidates to further study of the RA pathogenesis.This study also provides molecular makers for early diagnosis.

Objective: To study the effects of long chain PUFA, AA and/or DHA on the fatty acid composition, growth and development of the newborn rats hippocampal neurons in culture. Methods: The primary culture of the hippocampal neurons was carried out in vitro by using serum free medium and supplementing 4 ? mol/L AA, DHA, or AA and DHA, of which the total concentration were 4 ?mol/L, the ratios of AA∶DHA from 1∶2 to 16∶1, in medium. The hippocampal neuronal fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatogram, and the neuronal size and length of hippocampal neurite were measured by image analysis. Results: There were significant positive correlations between the ratios AA∶DHA in medium and the AA percentage and the ratios AA∶DHA in hippocampal neurons. The soma area? body maximum? minimum diameter and process length of hippocampal neurons in the group, which the total concentration of AA and DHA was 4 ?mol/L, and the ratio AA∶DHA in medium was 2∶1 or 4∶1,were higher significantly than other groups and groups with other ratios of AA∶DHA. Conclusion: AA and DHA could promote the growth and development of hippocampal neurons in culture..

BACKGROUND:Calcium citrate has a better solubility than calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, and other calcium biomaterials. The synthetic calcium citrate has a good denseness, and stably releases calcium ions at a high efficiency during the degradation. Consequently, it may be more suitable for the fil ing of fracture defects, providing needed calcium ions for early fracture healing.
OBJECTIVE:To prepare calcium citrate biomaterials with a novel formulation based on the natural bio-mineralized oyster shel s and citric acid so as to expect to get a good application in fracture healing repair.
METHODS:Crushing, grinding, and chemical reaction methods were used for refinement. Particle size analyzer, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were adopted for analysis of the size distribution, composition, mineral phases, and micro-morphology. Biological characteristics were evaluated through a simulated body fluid experiment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Oyster shel powder was reacted with saturated citric acid to produce the calcium citrate material that had uniform crystal structure and compact bonding among crystal bodies, and exhibited a certain mechanical ability. The calcium citrate material had a good crystal structure that was conductive to prolong the degradation time. The calcium citrate released calcium ions slowly, and did not produce dramatic changes in the pH value (7.20-7.46) of the surrounding in the dissolution process. With the gradual degradation of calcium citrate materials, Ca2+concentration in solution increased gradual y and stably, and ultimately achieved an appropriate concentration of 7 mmol/L, suitable for osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Calcium citrate prepared using natural oyster shel has good biological properties, and exhibits a natural superiority to artificial bone materials.

Objective To investigate the effect of manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) at 7.0T for tracing nerve tracts in rat brain in vivo. Methods With brain stereotactic apparatus, 0.4 μl Mncl_2 with aqueous solution of 1 mol/L was injected into the right somatosensory cortex of 9 SD rats. MR scan was performed for tracing corticospinal tracts and other coherent nerve tracts pre-, and 24, 48, 72 h, 7 days post-injection with 7.0T micro-MRI system, respectively. Results Corticospinal tracts were showed in intact after Mn~(2+) administration from somatosensory cortex, thalamus, cerebral peduncle to pons at the time point of 24, 48, 72 h and 7 days, while the best tdisplaying was achieved at 24-48 h after Mn~(2+) administration. Simultaneously a small quantity of Mn~(2+) reached the opposite somatosensory cortex through the corpus callosum. Conclusion MEMRI for tracing rat nerve tracts can be showed clearly with 7.0T MRI. The location of manganese-enhanced corticospinal tracts in agreement with the rat brain atlas in stereotaxic is in agreement with that Paxinos' published. MEMRI can display the relationship between the two sides of hemisphere, and may play an important role in investigating the brain function and nerve plasticity after nerve injury in vivo.

Objective To investigate the possible mechanism of glomerular injury in diabetes mellitus by determining whether epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is caused by high glucose in mice podocytes. Methods Using mice glomerular podocyte cell line as an in vitro system, podocytes were incubated with glucose(12.5 mmol/L, 25 mmol/L, 50 mmol/L) and mannitol (50 mmol/L) for 36 hours. Then the cells were collected and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), CD2 associated protein (CD2AP) and Wilms' tumor 1 gene (WT-1) was detected by Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence staining. Results Under low glucose (5.6 mmol/L) and mannitol (50 mmol/L) condition, there were high expression of CD2AP and WT-1, and low expression of α-SMA and FN in mice podocytes. After 36 hours treatment with high glucose (12.5 mmol/L), the expression of α-SMA and FN in podocytes was significantly increased, and the expression of α-SMA and FN was further up-regulated with the increase of glucose dosage (25, 50 mmol/L). The indirect immunofluorescence staining revealed the similar result, and the percentage of positive α-SMA cells was also increased compared with low glucose and mannital group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, Western blot showed that high glucose could down-regulate the expressions of CD2AP and WT-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion EMT may be a potential pathway leading to podocyte dysfunction and glomerular injury under high glucose conditions.

Objective By comparing the organ system based medical integration teaching mode and traditional teaching mode to evaluate the effect of the integration of curriculum implemen-tation. Methods Through a questionnaire survey of 63 students who implement integrated curriculum and 183 students who are not implementing integrated curriculum as well as 76 teachers, we evaluate students' emotional, cognitive and motor skills, using SPSS statistical analysis, chi-square test. Results In the affective domain, most of the teachers thought the experimental class was superior to the com-mon one in learning interest, lifelong learning and independent learning, critical thinking, the contrast of the two classes were P=0.000, P=0.031 and P=0.001 respectively, all of significant difference. In the cognitive domain, the contrast of the two classes in memory, understanding and application were P=0.000, all of significant difference. The experimental class has high degree of recognition. In the psychomotor domain, more than 55.3%(42/76) of the teachers thought that the experimental class was superior to the common class. According to the students' questionnaire survey, the contrast of the two classes in clinical operation skills, Interpersonal communication skills were P=0.077, P=0.031 respec-tively. There was no statistically significant difference. Conclusions The integrated curriculum teach-ing model can greatly promote students' abilities in most areas such as interest in learning, lifelong learning awareness, clinical thinking ability; interpersonal communication skills etc. In some respects the differences remains to be further studied such as memory of knowledge, systematic knowledge, and clinical operation skills, etc.

Recent years found a series of severe incidents of injuring or killing medical workers in several places in China,deteriorating patient-physician relations,and disturbing medical orders.Beijing Administration of Hospitals,since its founding,has attached great importance to the management of medical disputes,as evidenced in the full-process management covering pre-during-post disputes.The administration guided the hospitals in their dispute resolution,and included resolution rate of disputes as an index of municipal hospital performance evaluation.By means of the guidance of such evaluation, medical disputes and major medical accidents have been resolved satisfactorily,and fine management of service quality of such hospitals in terms of medical service,pharmacy,nursing and medical technology has been intensified all the time.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of lentivirus-mediated RNA interference silencing HMGA2 on proliferation and expressions of cyclin B2 and cyclin A2 in HL-60 cell line.

METHODSThe protein and mRNA expressions of HMGA2 in HL-60 cells transduced by recombinant lentivirus producing HMGA2 gene short hairpin (shRNA) were examined by Western-blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis; The effects of the lentivirus on cell proliferation inhibiting rate, the ability of cell proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed by soft agar colony formation assay and FCM, respectively; The protein and mRNA expressions of cyclin B2 and cyclin A2 were also examined by Western-blot and RT-PCR.

RESULTSRecombinant lentivirus producing HMGA2 shRNA was successfully constructed, which was identified by PCR and sequencing; Stable HMGA2-deficient HL-60 cell line was established by puromycin, its mRNA and protein expression inhibition rates were (80.66 ± 7.98)% and (76.35 ± 12.72)%, respectively. Silencing of endogenous HMGA2 resulted in efficient inhibition of the cellular proliferative activity, low and flat of the cell growth curve and the lack of typical character of exponential growth. FCM revealed significant more cell cycle G(2)/M arrest \[(30.00 ± 5.78)%\] in HL-60 cell line transfected specific shRNA than control group \[(13.90 ± 4.07)%\] (P < 0.05). The cyclin B2 mRNA and protein expression inhibition rates in stable HMGA2-deficient HL-60 cell line were (67.55 ± 7.69)% and (51.77 ± 4.81)%, respectively, while the expression of cyclin A2 had no significant change compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONRNAi silencing of HMGA2 down-regulated cyclinB2, significantly inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells and induced the accumulation of HL-60 cells in the G(2)/M phase. Thus, HMGA2 may be an important target for anti-leukemia therapy.

Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin A2 ; genetics ; Cyclin B2 ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; HL-60 Cells ; HMGA2 Protein ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics