Objective To evaluate the quality of Cortex Cinnamomi from genuine producing areas and GAP planting base,and to compare with those of the commercial medicinal materials.Methods A RP-HPLC method was carried out to determine the content of cinnamyl aldehyde in cortex cinnamomi.Combined with the comparison of volatile oil yield,total ash content and acid-insoluble ash content,the quality of the samples was evaluated with the index of cinnamyl aldehyde content.Results The total ash contents and acid-insoluble ash contents of all samples were in the normal range.Cinnamyl aldehyde contents and volatile oil yields for samples from genuine producing areas and GAP planting base were up to the pharmacopoeia.There was a great fluctuation in cinnamyl aldehyde contents and volatile oil yields in commercial materials.Conclusions The quality is good and stable for the samples from genuine producing areas and GAP planting base,but it is not stable for the commercial materials.

BACKGROUND: SSh as a Hedgehog signal protein can promote bone development, growth and remodeling.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) combined with Shh modified nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen (nHAC) in the repair of femoral defects in rats.METHODS: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, and the model of femoral defects was established in these rats. At 14 days after modeling, experimental group was implanted with the BMSCs/Shh modified nHAC, scaffold group was implanted with simple nHAC, cell scaffold group was implanted with BMSCs/nHAC,and blank control group was without any implantation. At 3, 6, 9, 12 weeks after repair, X-ray examination, bone density measurement and bone biopsy in bone defect area were performed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) X-ray examination: The Lane-Sandhu X-ray score and bone mineral density value in the experimental group at different time points after operation were significantly higher than those in the other three groups (P < 0.05). (2) Hematoxylin-eosin staining: 12 weeks after repair, a small amount of bone tissues but no bone marrow formed in the scaffold group; a small amount of bone tissues with absence of bone marrow formed in the cell scaffold group, and the residual scaffold was visible; in the experimental group, the scaffold was completely absorbed,and mature bone and medullary cavity formed with presence of bone marrow. (3) Scanning electron microscope observation: 12 weeks after repair, irregular arrangement of bone fibers and a large number of bone fossae were observed in the scaffold group; the cell scaffold group showed a large number of osteoblasts, but bone fibers still arranged irregularly; in the presence of the Haversian system, a large number of regularly arranged bone trabeculae were detective in the experimental group. These results elucidate that the Shh modified nHAC/BMSCs complex can promote the repair of bone defects.

BACKGROUND: Polylactic acid copolymer bone scaffold has excellent biodegradability, and it is easy to be shaped and can promote the formation and growth of bone tissue and blood vessel.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) complex on the biomechanical properties after fracture healing in osteoporotic bone.METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: blank control group received no treatment; the bilateral tibial fracture model was made after 3 months of bilateral ovarian resection in model group; the bilateral tibial fracture model was made and ADSCs were implanted into the bone after 3 months of bilateral ovarian resection in cell therapy group; the bilateral tibial fracture model was made and the PLGA/ADSCs complex was implanted after 3 months of bilateral ovarian resection in combined treatment group.The bone mineral density, callus thickness, biomechanical parameters and the microstructure of the trabecular bone were detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The bone density: The bone density of the model group was significantly lower than that of the blank control group (P < 0.05); the bone mineral density of the cell therapy group and the combined treatment group was higher than that of the model group (P < 0.05), but lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05); and the bone mineral density of the combination treatment group was higher than that of the cell therapy group (P < 0.05). (2)Thickness of the callus: The thickness of the callus in the cell therapy group and combined treatment group was higher than that of the model group and blank control group (P < 0.05); moreover, the thickness of the callus in the combined treatment group was higher than that of the cell therapy group (P < 0.05). (3) Biomechanical test: The failure load, stress and shear strength, elastic modulus were decreased in the model group compared with the blank control group (P < 0.05), while the shear strain increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the failure load, ultimate stress, shear strength, elastic modulus were increased in the cell therapy group and combined treatment group (P < 0.05), and the shear strain was decreased (P < 0.05). Moreover, the combined treatment group showed more changes in these biomechanical parameters (P < 0.05). (4) The trabecular bone microstructure: The model group presented with trabecular derangement, spacing increases, and even fracture and lacuna. After ADSCs or ADSCs/PLGA transplantation,the trabecular bones increased in number, thickness, and spacing, and the number of lacunae reduced. In conclusion,ADSCs combined with PLGA in the treatment of osteoporotic fracture can significantly improve the biomechanical parameters of bone tissue after healing.

AIM:MicroRNAs ( miRNAs) were recognized to play significant roles in cardiac hypertrophy .But, it remains unknown whether cyclin/Rb pathway is modulated by miRNAs during cardiac hypertrophy .This study investigates the potential roles of microRNA-1 (miR-1) and microRNA-16 (miR-16) in modulating cyclin/Rb pathway during cardiomyocyte hypertrophy .METHODS:An animal model of hypertrophy was established in a rat with abdominal aortic constriction (AAC).In addition, a cell model of hypertrophy was also achieved based on PE-promoted neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocyte .RESULTS:miR-1 and-16 expression were markedly de-creased in hypertrophic myocardium and hypertrophic cardiomyocytes in rats .Overexpression of miR-1 and -16 suppressed rat cardiac hypertrophy and hypertrophic phenotype of cultured cardiomyocytes .Expression of cyclins D1, D2 and E1, CDK6 and phosphorylated pRb was increased in hypertrophic myocardium and hypertrophic cardiomyocytes , but could be reversed by enforced expression of miR-1 and -16.CDK6 was validated to be modulated post-transcriptionally by miR-1, and cyclins D1, D2 and E1 were further validated to be modulated post-transcriptionally by miR-16.CONCLUSION: Attenuations of miR-1 and -16 provoke cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via derepressing the cyclins D1, D2, E1 and CDK6, and activating cyclin/Rb pathway.

AIM:To investigate the effect of miR-214 on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and the expression of the potential target genes . METHODS:A cell model of hypertrophy was established based on angiotensin-Ⅱ( Ang-Ⅱ)-induced neonatal mouse ventricular car-diomyocytes (NMVCs).Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the interaction between miR-214 and the 3’ UTR of MEF2C.The expression of MEF2C and hypertrophy-related genes at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Wes-tern blotting, respectively.RESULTS:The expression of ANP, ACTA1,β-MHC and miR-214 was markedly increased in Ang-Ⅱ-in-duced hypertrophic cardiomyocytes .Dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-214 interacted with the 3’ UTR of MEF2C, and miR-214 was verified to inhibit MEF2C expression at the transcriptional level .The protein expression of MEF2C was markedly in-creased in the hypertrophic cardiomyocytes .Moreover, miR-214 mimic, in parallel to MEF2C siRNA, inhibited the expression of hy-pertrophy-related genes in Ang-Ⅱ-induced NMVCs.CONCLUSION:MEF2C is a target gene of miR-214, which mediates the effect of miR-214 on attenuating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy .

Objective To study the value of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)in Marchiafava-Bignami disease.Methods (1)12 cases of Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD)patients with 6 month follow-up and 12 hedthy adults were clone MRI DWI;(2)MR imaging characteristics of 12 patients were observed on the corpus callosum and the other gray-white matters;(3)The ADC values of the central part and marginal area of the corpus callosum and the other gray-white matters were measured,data analysis were carried out completely by random design.Results Hyperintensity on the corpus callosum were showed in 12 patients on DWI,typical“sandwich sign”was seen on the sagittal T2 WI in 1 1 cases,and gray-white matters beside the corpus callosum were involved other in 6 cases;The ADC values of central and marginal area of the corpus callosum and the other gray-white matters had significant differ-ence between the improved clinical symptom group and,unimproved clinical symptom group and the control group (P < 0.05 ). There were no significant differences in the ADC values for the other white matters.Conclusion DWI can be used to reflect the change of MBD.Low ADC values in the corpus callosum and cortex are associated with a poor prognosis.

Objective To observe clinical significance、anatomy and variation of normal internal cerebral veins and their tributa-ries.Methods The studies included 284 sides in 142 patients.The patients were performed with 320-detector Row CT One-stop Scanning.Then,the anatomical features of internal cerebral veins and their tributaries were evaluated.Results The detection rate of internal cerebral veins(ICA)、thalamostriate veins(TSV)、septal veins(SV)、anterior caudate nucleus veins、posterior caudate nucleus veins and lateral direct veins was 100%、100%、98.9%、95.4%、93.7%、48.6%.Type of IA was seen frequently in four types of ICA,the parts of ICV and their tributaries were mirror symmetry,the majorities of ICA were located the same plane.Anterior cau-date nucleus veins were classified four types on basis of these different draining patterns,they were drained to TSV commonly.There was no significant difference between venous angle or false venous angle and type of their draining(P>0.05).There was significant difference between detection rate of lateral direct veins and development of posterior caudate nucleus veins(P<0.05).Conclusion 320-detector Row CT One-stop Scanning was an important method that internal cerebral veins were detected effectively and non-inva-sively,observed anatomy,course and morphological change of ICV.

Since the biological characteristics of esophageal gastric junction (EGJ) cancer are different from those of gastric cancer and esophageal cancer, the choice of initial treatment is particularly important. This article introduces a case of locally advanced EGJ can-cer with single metastasis factor treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy in the Beijing Cancer Hospital. Through the multidisci-plinary team, we aim to achieve a better prognosis for this patient and propose new treatment practices for EGJ cancer.

AIM:To determine circular RNA (circRNA) profiles in the diabetic mouse myocardium , and to investigate the effect of circRNA_000203 on fibrotic phenotypes in cardiac fibroblasts .METHODS:Masson trichrome stai-ning was performed on the myocardium of the diabetic db /db mice and the non diabetic db/m control mice .circRNA ex-pression profile in the diabetic myocardium was detected by circRNAs microarray .The expression of circRNA_000203 was determined by real time fluorescence quantitative PCR ( RT-qPCR ) .Recombinant circRNA_000203 adenovirus was pre-pared for enforced the expression of circRNA_000203 in mouse cardiac fibroblasts.The expression of Col1a2, Col3a1andα-SMA was determined in circRNA_000203-modified cardiac fibroblasts , respectively .RESULTS:Masson trichrome stai-ning showed that fibrosis was increased in the diabetic mouse myocardium .The results of circRNA array detection revealed that circRNAs were dysregulated in the diabetic myocardium .circRNA_000203 was up-regulated in the diabetic myocardi-um.Significant over-expression of circRNA_000203 was achieved in the cardiac fibroblasts after infection with the recombi-nant circRNA_000203 adenovirus.The mRNA and protein expression of Col1a2, Col3a1 and α-SMA was significantly in-creased in the cardiac fibroblasts with over-expression of circRNA_000203.CONCLUSION:circRNA_000203 is up-regu-lated in the diabetic mouse myocardium .It has pro-fibrotic effect on the cardiac fibroblasts .

AIM:To investigate the effect of microRNA-214 ( miR-214) on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and the expression of the potential target genes .METHODS:A cell model of hypertrophy was established based on angiotensin-Ⅱ( Ang-Ⅱ)-induced neonatal mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes ( NMVCs) .Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the interaction between miR-214 and the 3’ UTR of MEF2C.The expression of MEF2C and hypertrophy-related genes at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot , respectively .RESULTS:The expression of ANP, ACTA1,β-MHC and miR-214 was markedly increased in Ang-Ⅱ-induced hypertrophic cardiomyocytes .Dual lu-ciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-214 interacted with the 3’ UTR of MEF2C, and miR-214 was verified to inhibit MEF2C expression at the transcriptional level .The protein expression of MEF2C was markedly increased in the hypertro-phic cardiomyocytes .Moreover, miR-214 mimic, in parallel to MEF2C siRNA, inhibited the expression of hypertrophy-re-lated genes in Ang-Ⅱ-induced NMVCs.CONCLUSION:MEF2C is a target gene of miR-214, which mediates the effect of miR-214 on attenuating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy .