BACKGROUND:Increasing evidence suggests that Sanguis draxonis is of great significance for treating pressure sores, burns and ulcers.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the influences of Sanguis draxonis on vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, substance P and hydroxyproline in rats undergoing tissue-engineered skin transplantation and to verify its promotion of wound repair.
METHODS:The tissue-engineered skin transplantation model of rats were established. Rats in treatment groups were given external application, single oral use of 0.1 g/(kg·d) Sanguis draxonis and combined use, respectively. No treatment was given in control group. After continuous treatment for 7 days, the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, substance P and hydroxyproline in skin tissue were determined.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and hydroxyproline were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while substance P had no change in the treatment groups (P>0.05). These results demonstrate that Sanguis draxonis can promote tissue-engineered skin to repair skin wound by upregulating the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and hydroxyproline.

Objective To study the immunogenicity of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumolysin DNA vaccine in Rhesus macaques. Methods The deletion of the gene sequence encoding for the 11 amino acids at the carboxyl terminal of pneumolysin (PN) from its wild type gene (pn) by PCR resulted in a mu-tant pneumolysin gene (pnd). The wild type pn gene encoding PN and the mutant gene (pnd) encoding PND were cloned into pVAX1 vector respectively and then tested as Ppn and Ppnd DNA vaccines. The PN and PND proteins were purified from recombinant E. coli. Rhesus macaques were immunized by intramuscu-larly (i.m.) injection of Ppn or Ppnd DNA vaccine with electroporation (EP). Results Because of the deletion of the gene sequence encoding for the eleven amino acids at the carboxyl terminal of the PN from pn gene, the recombinant PND antigen lost its hemolytic activity while its antigenicity was remained. The spe-cific humoral immunity against pneumolysin was induced by injecting monkey with 500 μg DNA followed by EP. Boosting the Ppn or Ppnd DNA/EP primed animals with corresponding recombinant protein, PN or PND, evoked strong immune response at about 4 fold increase in the antibody titer. Conclusion Specific antibody responses were induced in the monkeys by DNA vaccination and electroporation. The immunogenic-ity of the DNA vaccines were significantly enhanced when PN or PND protein boost was applied 10 d after third DNA vaccination.

Objective To establish a stable and useful method for culturing human osteoclast-like cells in vitro,and investigate the effect of 1?,25-(OH)2D3,M-CSF and PGE2 on osteoclasts differentiation,proliferation and activation so as to lay the foundation for further study of the biological mechanism for tooth movement.Methods The HCMNC were isolated and cultured in 24-well plate with coverslips and human dentine slices.The experiment group was cultured with 1?,25-(OH)2D3,M-CSF and PGE2,respectively,while the control group was not.The liquid was changed every 3 days and the whole culture process lasted for 7 days.The phase contrast microscopy and TRAP staining were adopted to identify osteoclast-like cells.Results On the 3rd day the monocytes began to fuse and on the 7th day positive multinucleated cells could be seen with TRAP staining,but absorption pit was not formed on the dentin slices.The group with 1?,25-(OH)2D3 had the largest number of osteoclast-like cells.Conclusion After the monocytes in UCB are cultured by 1?,25-(OH)2D3,M-CSF,PGE2 induction,they can turn into TRAP(+) multinucleate osteoclast-like cells,the 1?,25-(OH)2D3 10-8mol/L being the most effective.

AIM:To establish macrophage mannose receiver Model(MMR),and use it to screen active component with mannose receiver(MR)as target from traditional Chinese herbs.METHODS:The mouse abdominal macrophages was hatched with D-mannose and D-galactose of the different concentration,and the flow cytometry and fluorescence microscope were used to measure the antagonistic effect of M-FITC-BSA(Mannose-fluorescein isothiocyanate-bovine serum albumin)with D-mannose and D-galactose.After the MMR screening model was established to screen MR union ingredients of polysaccharide ingredients from six compound prescriptions,such as Siwu Decoction and so on.RESULTS:Both of measuring methods showed that when D-mannose concentration increased the relevance ratio of M? marked with M-FITC-BSA decreases(P

Objective: To observe the effect of polysaccharide ingredients from six TCM complex prescriptions on releasing the cytokine(CK) level of mouse celiac macrophages (M?), to explore the possible mechanism and direct the extractionand separation of active components for above compounds. Methods: The total polysaccharide ingredients of six complex prescriptions were prepared: Siwu Decoction, Sijunzi Decoction, Liuweidihuang Decoction, Guizhi Decoction, Longdanxiegan Decoction and Yupingfeng Pulveres, then the mouse celiac M? were incubated together in 96 holes board. Furthermore, levels for the latter to release CK, including IL-1?, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-?, were measured. Results: Polysaccharide ingredients of each complex prescription could obviously accelerate mouse celiac M? to release one or more CK, and the e ects had concentration otherness (P

Object A novel microwave-heated extraction (MHE) method was studied for the extraction of glycyrrhizic acid from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Methods Several factors, such as temperature, time and microwave power were investigated and the appropriate MHE conditions were obtained from the orthogonal test. Under the optimum conditions, the optimal solvent was selected and the MHE was compared with ultrasonic extraction, leaching at room temperature and Soxhlet extraction,. Results The optimum conditions of MHE is extracting for another 40 min in 0.5% ammonia water after heated to 60 ℃ by microwave of 2 000 W. Yield of glycyrrhizic acid was about equal to that of Soxhlet extraction for 4 h, and that of leaching at room temperature for 44.3 h. Conclusion The MHE method is fast, efficient, energy-saving and high-selective, which is recommendable to the application to active compounds extraction from Chinese herbal medicines.

Objective To observe the effects of metformin on expression of Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK),nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells (MCs),and explore its renoprotective mechanisms.Methods MCs were cultured in the medium with normal glucose (group NG,5.6 mmol/L),high glucose (group HG,25mmol/L) and different concentrations of metformin (group M1,M2,M3).After 48 h exposure,the supernatants and MCs were collected.The expression of NF-κB and TGF-β1 mRNA was analyzed by real time-PCR.Total-AMPK,phospho-Thr-172 AMPK (p-AMPK),NF -κB p65 and TGF-β1 were visualized by Western blot.Results The real time-PCR and Western blot result showed MCs could express AMPK,NF-κB and TGF-β1 mRNA and protein.After stimulated by HG,the levels of intracellular NF-κB and TGF-β1 expressions were significantly increased compared with group NG (P ＜ 0.05); The levels of NF-κB and TGF-β1 were significantly decreased in group M1,M2 and group M3 compared with group HG in a dose-dependent manner.After stimulated by HG,the level of intracellular p-AMPK were down-regulated compared with group NG(all P ＜ 0.05); The expression of p-AMPK increased with the rising of metformin concentration,presenting the opposite trend (P ＜ 0.05),while the level of total-AMPK protein was unchanged with exposure to HG or different concentrations of mefformin(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Metformin can suppress the expression of NF-κB and TGF-β1 of glomerular MCs induced by HG via AMPK activation,which may partly contribute to its reno-protection.

Objective To prepare the chitosan-potD nanoparticles and to evaluate its protective efficacy against pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization. Methods potD gene was amplificated from pneumococcal genome and was inserted into pVAX1 expression vectors to construct pVAX1-potD recombinant plasmid which was then transfected into 293T cell using LipofectAMINE 2000 to analyze transient potD gene expression in vitro by RT-PCR and Western blot. Chitosan-potD nanoparticles were freshly prepared by coacervation methods at each time and the characterizations of the nanoparticles were then evaluated. BALB/c mice were immunized with chitosan-potD, naked potD DNA or pVAX1 for 4 times at two-week intervals. Anti-PotD IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a levels in serum and IgA levels in nasal washes, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) and middle ear lavages(MEL) were detected by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IL-17A, IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in splenocytes were determined by double sandwich ELISA. Mice were intrannsally challenged with Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC6303, and Pneumococci were recovered from the nasopharyngeal niche at the fifth day after challenge. Results potD gene was successfully amplificated by PCR and the sequence was confimed to be consistent with that in the Genbank. The pVAX1-potD recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed and was expressed in eukaryocytes in vitro. The mean size and zeta potential of chitosan-potD nanoparticles was 430 nm and + 20.5 mv, respectively. Chitosan-potD nanoparticles were not digested by DNase Ⅰ , while naked potD DNA was completely digested. The levels of antibodies inculding IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, IgA and cytokines including IL-17A, IL-4 and IFN-γ were significantly higher in mice immunized with chitosan-potD nanoparticles than mice with naked potD or pVAX1 ( P <0.05) only. More importantly, much less Pneumococci were recovered from mice immunized with chitosan-potD nanoparticles than the other groups(P <0.05). Conclusion Chitosan-potD nanoparticles significantly enhanced the immunogenicity and protection efficacy of DNA vaccines by intranasal immunization and could be used as a potential mucosal vaccine to prevent pneumococcal infection.

Objective: To study the effect of ecological factors on contents of gastrodine, preliminary discuss the relations between the soil ecological factor and the quality of gastrodine. Methods: To collected wild and cultivated gastrodia rhizome and growth soil sample from the different habitat in different harvesttime. To examine microorganism quantity, the contents of soil organic matter, the contents of soil metallic, the soil pH value and the contents of gastrodine in the soil, and analyze the relations between the soil ecological factor and the quality. Results: In collection samples, it’s showed negative correlation (P0.05). Conclusion: The bacteria/fungus constitution condition, the contents of soil organic matter and the soil pH value were important ecological factor that affect the gastrodia quality.

BACKGROUND: Orthodontic tooth movement is dependent on reconstruction of periodontium. Osteoclastic bone resorption is the first step of tooth movement. The present study hotspots focus on signal transduction pathway regarding osteoclast differentiation and functional development under stress and on the relationship between periodontal ligament cells and osteoclasts. OBJECTIVE: To set up a simple method to in vitro culture human osteoclast-like cells and to observe the effects of bone resorption-stimulating factors on differentiation, proliferation, and function of osteoclast-like cells, DESIGN, TIME AND STTING: A cytological in vitro controUod observation was performed at the Central Laboratory,Stomatology Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University between October 2007 and May 2008. MATERIALS: Umbilical cord blood was sourced from the healthy puerperae who had not suffered from high-risk pregnancy. Freshly prepared fetal femur provided by Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University and were used for preparation of bone flaps at 100-200 μm thickness. 1α ,25-(OH)2D3, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), prostaglandin E2 were purchased from Sigma Company, USA.METHODS: Under aseptic condition, umbilical cord blood was collected. Following Ficoll solution separation and centrifugation, supematant was discarded. Umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells were suspended with o -modified minimal essential medium (α-MEM) solution and then inoculated into a 24-well culture plate, in which, coverslips and femoral slices were pre-placed, at a density of 1×109/L, 1.0 mL per well. Five groups were set, blank control, 108 mol/L 1α ,25-(OH)2D3, 10-7 mol/L 1α ,25-(OH)2D3, macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), and 1α ,25-(OH)2D3+prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Each group was cultured for 7 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cellular growth morphology was observed under an inverted microscope; osteoclast-like celt formation was examined by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining; and osteoclastic Howship's lacuna was detected by toluidine blue staining. Any cell with TRAP-positive staining and more than two nuclei was considered osteoclast-like cell and counted. RESULTS: After 3 days of culture, cells from the blank control group did not exhibit apparent changes in morphology and quantity. In the remaining groups, mononuclear cells appeared with confluent tendency. After 7 days of culture, a small number of osteoclast- like cells with 2-3 nuclei were found in the blank control group; a great many of multinucleated osteoclast- like cells with 3-20 nuclei were present in the remaining groups. Through the use of optical microscope, osteoclast-like cells could be found for the presence of red cytoplasm, bright yellow nuclei, and TRAP-positive staining in each inducing factor-treated group, in particular in the 108 mol/L 1α ,25-(OH)2D3 group, which displayed osteoclast- like cells exhibiting 14 nuclei, strong TRAP-positive staining, and a relatively big cell body. But no osteoclastic Howship's lacuna was found in any group. Compared to the blank control group, the numbers of osteoclast-like cells were greater in each inducing factor-treated group (F = 9.78, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the numbers of osteoclast-like cells between the 108 mol/L 1α ,25-(OH)2D3 and the 10-7 mol/L 1 a ,25-(OH)2D3 groups (P0.05). The M-CSF group and the 1α ,25-(OH)2D3+PGE2 group exhibited significantly less numbers of osteoclast-like cells than the 108 mol/L 1α ,25-(OH)2D3 group (F= 7.46, P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: After in vitro culture of 1α ,25-(OH)2D3, M-CSF, and PGE2, umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells can differentiate into TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclast-like cells, the 10-8 mol/L 1α ,25-(OH)2D3 being the most effective.