Objective To observe the expression of zinc finger protein A20(A20), NF-κB and related inflammatory factors before and after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates degeneration of rabbit intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells.Methods The normal and degenerative nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured, then divided into normal group,degenerative group,LPS stimulation group and NF-κB inhibition group.HE staining observe the morphological changes of nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of A20,NF-κB/p65 and COL-Ⅱ.Real-time PCR was employed to analyze the expression of A20,IL-1β,TNF-α,NF-κB and COL-Ⅱ,Western blot was used to observe the A20 protein,p65 and COL-Ⅱexpression in the four groups, and TNF-α, IL-1β in cell supernatant was determined by ELISA.Results The number of nucleuspulposus cells significantly decreased, aggregation occured in the degenerative group.COL-Ⅱ was obvious lower and A20, p65 significantly higher than that in normal group by immunohistochemical staining.Compared with the normal group,A20,TNF-α,IL-1β,p65 expression was significantly increased and COL-Ⅱ decreased in the mRNA and protein levels in degenerative group.Above indexes changed more significant in LPS stimulation group than in degenerative group.The expression of A20, TNF-α, IL-1β, p65 in the NF-κB inhibitor group was lower than that in the LPS group, and the expression of type Ⅱ collagen increased(P<0.05).Conclusions Intervertebral disc inflammatory response is closely related to the development of intervertebral disc degeneration, A20 may play an important role.

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly changed the pattern and natural history of ocular diseases of HIV-infected patients, resulting from the immune recovery and reduction of opportunistic infections. However, ophthalmic complica-tion continues to be concern in AIDS even in the HAART era, especially in developing areas, where absolute majority of HIV-positive patients live. Lack of test facilities and experience, poor conditions of hygiene, different microbiological environment, absence of effective treatment etc., characterize the ophthalmic manifestation of HIV-infected patients in developing countries from that in developed regions and thus pose a great challenge to the ophthalmic treatment in developing area. Not only varied from region to region, ocular complications are distinctive between adults and children. At the same time, the side effects due to the application of HAART pose their own risks of ocular complication and should, therefore, be given more research attention.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enoyl-CoA Hydratase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mice ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Objective To find the relationship between nuclear factor kappB (NF-κB) activation and cell apoptosis.Methods Degenerative human nucleus pulposus cells were cultured in vitro.Useing CCK-8 to observe the proliferative effect of LPS on the nucleus pulposus cells in vitro, in the concentration of 100, 200, 500 and 1 000 μg/mL and choose the most apropriate concentration.The experiment was divided into blank control group, LPS(500 μg/mL)groups, and NF-κB inhibitor(BAY11-7082)plus LPS(500 μg/mL)group,Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry and Hoechest33258 staining was used to analyze apoptosis.The expression of cleaved caspase-3,PARP,P65,P-P65 proteins were detected by Western blot respectively.Results When LPS was 500 μg/mL, the cell vitality was obviously declined.Compared with the blank control group, cell apoptosis rate of the LPS group is increasing (P<0.05), and the expression of P-P65,cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP were alsohigher (P< 0.05).Compared with the LPS group, cell apoptosis rate of the NF-κB inhibitor plus LPS group is significantly lower (P<0.05) and the expression of P-P65,cleaved caspase-3,cleaved PARP were also lower (P< 0.05).Conclusions NF-κB signaling pathway may be associated with the nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis in disc degeneration.

The chemical consitituents from cytotoxic fraction of the Callicarpa nudiflora extract were isolated and purified by a combination of HP-20 macroporous resin, silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies. The structures were elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic data and comparison of their spectroscopic data with reported data. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay. The 50% and 70% EtOH elutions of EtOH-extract showed significant cytotoxic activities, leading to the isolation of twelve compounds, which were identified as luteoloside(1), lutedin-4'-O-β-D-glucoside(2), 6-hydroxyluteolin-7-O-β-glucoside(3), lutedin-7-O-neohesperidoside(4), rhoifolin (5), luteolin-7, 4'-di-O-glucoside (6), forsythoside B (7), acteoside (8), alyssonoside (9), catalpol(10), nudifloside(11), and leonuride(12). Compounds 3-6, 10 and 12 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compound 9 was isolated from this plant for the first time. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that flavonoids 1-6, in various concentrations, showed monolithic proliferation inhibitory activities against Hela, A549 and MCF-7 cell lines. Compounds 3, 5 and iridoid glycoside 11 possessed higher cytotoxicacivities. In short, flavonoids are the main components of cytotoxic extract from C. nudiflora, while phenylethanoid glycosides are the predominant ingredient but inactive to cancer cell lines. In addition, the minor iridoid glycoside expressed weak cytotoxic activity.
Callicarpa ; chemistry ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytotoxins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo optimize formulas of Quban gel.

METHODThe U6 (6(2) x 3) uniform design was adopted to optimize gel formulas, with rheological parameters, such as viscosity and yield value in room temperature, viscosity and yield value in average temperature of skin, thixlotropy.

RESULTThe optimum proportion of matrix was made of 1.0 g carbomer 940, 5 mL glycerin and pH value 5-6.

CONCLUSIONThe regression model for gel matrix quality and gel rheological parameters was established to directly reflect the impacting effect of various factors, and provide certain preference basis for the screening of gel matrix formulas. Quban gel prepared by the method was evenly distributed, moderately viscous and highly thixotropic

Objective To investigate the efficacy of combined monitoring of motor evoked potentials with transcranial electrical stimulation (TES-MEP),somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and spontaneous electromyo-graphy (s-EMG) in tuberculosis surgery involving the thoracic,lumbar and sacral vertebrae.Methods Twenty-seven patients with tuberculosis of the thoracic vertebrae (T2-L2) received intra-operative SEP and TES-MEP monito-ring.Combined SEP,TES-MEP and spontaneous EMG monitoring were employed in 11 patients with tuberculosis of the lumbar or/and sacral vertebrae (L3-S1).SEP and TES-MEP were used to precisely observe the status of the sen-sory and motor pathways; s-EMG responses were used to more accurately localize nerve root irritation.ResuIts (1) SEP monitoring was successful in all of the operations.TES-MEPs were successfully monitored in 35 of them (92.1％).Combined motor and sensory monitoring was successfully achieved in 35 cases (92.1％).Abnormal SEPs were observed in 3 cases (7.9％),while abnormal MEPs were observed in 11 cases (28.9％).Abnormality in both the SEP and TES-MEP occurred in 2 cases (5.3％).There were 9 cases (23.7％) where the SEPs were nor-mal and the TES-MEPs were abnormal.In only 1 case (2.6％) was the SEP normal and the MEP abnormal.The false negative rate was 0％ with combined SEP and TES-MEP monitoring,while the false positive rate was 5.3％.There were 2 cases complicated by post-operative neurological deficits.(2) Spontaneous EMG monitoring can accu-rately determine the functioning of lumbar nerve roots during lumbar or lumbosacral tuberculosis surgery.Among 5 cases where EMG responses were observed,4 cases occurred during the spinal canal and nerve root decompression,1 case occurred in the orthopedic reset phase.Conclusions (1) During tuberculosis surgery involving thoracic,lumbar or sacral vertebrae,combined monitoring of SEPs and TES-MEPs can reflect the physiological and pathological condition of the spinal cord after ruling out interfering factors.This can improve monitoring and help assure the safety of lumbar surgery.(2) Intra-operative s-EMG monitoring can accurately reveal nerve root function in real time,help-ing to avert nerve root injury in lumbar and lumbosacral tuberculosis surgery.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) accompanying renal impairment and helicobater pylori(Hp) infection.Methods This study consisted of 304 patients with HSP.The patients were divided into 2 groups(group A and group B) based on Hp infection or not(91 cases in group A and 213 cases in group B).Compared with the rates of accompanying renal impairment in 2 groups.And observed the recovery from renal impairment between the patients who were turned into negative(group C)and patients still were positive after the anti-Hp therapy(group D).Numeration data were analyzed by ?2 test.Results Group A which was with Hp infected,the accompanying renal impairment ratio was 65.9%.Group B which was without Hp infected,the ratio was 35.2%.There was significant difference between 2 groups(?2=24.378 P

Living with internationalization, it becomes increasingly important to develop the ability of acquiring knowledge from and publishing professional articles international medical journals.However, current English teaching in colleges is predominantly by cramming method and without clear aims.As a result, students make little learning progress.Production-oriented Approach, proposed by Professor Qiufang Wen, is an important theory to reform the modern English Teaching.Based on this theory, we designed and performed the course of Medical English Writing and Literature Reading for graduate students.For the aim of literature writing, we matched the teaching content with the pertinent language ability to achieve the goal.The process of teaching was initiated with output, followed by input, then tested by another output.As a result, students′ writing was improved effectively in correctness and in awareness of the rules.In addition, their ability to comprehend difficult and long sentences was also found to be improved.We believe Production-oriented Approach conforms to the requirements of English Teaching in college and can contribute to the teaching goal.