It is meaningful to prompt the research-aimed experiments in the laboratory edu-cation of undergraduate students majoring in pharmacy,which means under the guidance of tutors, students collect information,design the experiment procedure and conduct the whole experiment independently. Under this novel mode of laboratory education, students’ abilities of indepen-dent-thinking and comprehensive-experimental conduction are largely improved. Meanwhile,the sense of team-work is enhanced. To sum up,the research-aimed experiments is significantly ben-eficial to training undergraduate students for future scientific researches.

BACKGROUND: An ideal marked molecule has not been found to detarmine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) so as to make sure the homogenicity.OBJECTIVE: To verify the in vitro differentiation from BrdU-treced MSCs into osteoblasts.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A cytological observation/n vitro was performed in Shanxi Medical University from January to October 2008.MATERIALS: Wistar rats aging 4 weeks old were provided by Experimental Animal Center of Shanxi Medical University.METHODS: MSCs were isolated and cultured by using density gradient cantrifugation combined with attachment culture method.At about 80% confluence, trypsin was used for passage and amplification. MSCs at density of 5×1010/L were inoculated in a 25-mm culture dish with L-DMDM culture medium containing dexamethasone, β -phosphoglycarol, vitamin C, and 10% fetal bovine serum. The third-passaged MSCs were labeled in vitro with 10 μmol/L BrdU tracer. Thereafter, 10 visual fields were randomly selected to calculate numbers of positive and negative ceils so as to obtain BrdU tracing rate under a fluorescence microscope (×200).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Inverted microscope was used to observe cell morphology; flow cytometry was used to detect cell surface antigen, differentiation into osteoblasts, and BrdU tracing rate in vitro.RESULTS: The purified MSCs which were like fibroblasts were adherent and fusiform. The third-passaged cells were changed equidirectionally and whirlpool-arranged, and the survival rate was more than 95%. The seventh-passaged cells still grew rapidly.CD44, CD71, and CD105 expressions were positive, but CD45 expression was negative. Black particles were visualized in MSCs after Von kossa staining. BrdU tracing rate was more than 90%.CONCLUSION: Density gradient centrifugation combined with attachment culture method can effectively isolate and purify rat MSCs which are cultured in vitro for a long period and differentiated into osteoblasts. BrdU tracer is safe, effective, and convenient to successfully label MSCs.

The prevalence of tuberculosis infection among adolescents born after terminating the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) booster vaccination in China was estimated using tuberculin skin testing (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay (QFT) to investigate the influence of neonatal BCG vaccination on the performance of TST.Data analysis was conducted for 2831 eligible participants aged 5-15 years from the baseline survey of a population-based multi-center prospective study.The prevalence rates of TST (induration ≥ 10 mm) and QFT positivity were 9.3％ (264/2827) and 2.5％ (71/2831),respectively.The rate of QFT indeterminate result was 2.2％ (62/2831).The overall agreement between TST and QFT was low (concordance =88.0％;K coefficient =0.125).Only TST was positively associated with BCG vaccination with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.71 [95％ confidence interval,1.26-2.31].A history of close contact with patients of active TB was significantly associated with positivity for TST and QFT.Our results suggested that BCG neonatal vaccination still affects TST performance,and a two-step approach might be considered for TB infection testing among adolescents in China.

Objective To investigate the expression of apolipoprotein (Apo) F in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its application value in the prognosis of patients with HCC. Methods 50 HCC samples were procured from patients undergoing surgical resection in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between September 2015 and September 2016, and all the samples were confirmed by postoperative pathological examination. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. There were 37 males and 13 females, aged from 31-67 with a median age of 53 years old. The expression of ApoF mRNA in HCC tissues was detected by RT-PCR. The expression profile was analyzed by using data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The expression of ApoF between two groups were compared by t test. Correlation analysis of clinical related parameter was conducted by Chi-square test, and survival prognosis was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier test and Log rank test. Results The average relative expression of ApoF mRNA in HCC tissues was 0.15±0.07, significantly lower than 0.55±0.09 in the adjacent tissues (t=-6.26, P<0.05). GEO online analysis showed that expression of ApoF was significantly correlated with the status of liver cirrhosis, and most HCC patients with liver cirrhosis presented low expression of ApoF (χ2=4.626, P<0.05). The 5-year disease-free survival was respectively 55.9% and 32.0% in ApoF high expression group and low expression group, where significant difference was observed (χ2=3.939, P<0.05). Conclusions Low expression of ApoF exists in HCC tissues, and it is related to the liver cirrhosis status of patients. Patients with low ApoF expression present poorer prognosis. ApoF plays a role in inhibiting the cancer.

Objective To explore the impact of telomerase regulation factor PinX1 to the proliferation and invasion ability of hepatoma cells. Methods Hepatoma cells PinX1-7721 (experimental group) with stable expression of PinX1 as well as control cell VECTOR-7721 (control group) were constructed. The expression of PinX1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The proliferation ability and clonality of hepatoma cells were detected by CCK-8 method and plate clonality assay, and the invasion ability of hepatoma cells by Transwell assay. Comparison of the experiment data was conducted by t test. Results Expression level of PinX1 mRNA in experiment group was (13.9±2.0)×10-3, which was significantly higher than (1.1±0.2)×10-3in control group (t=10.98, P<0.05). A450of the cells on 1-7 d in experiment group was respectively 0.260±0.004, 0.340±0.008, 0.450±0.040, 0.500±0.020, 0.730±0.030, 1.350±0.040 and 1.640±0.050, which were significantly lower than 0.280±0.009, 0.410±0.007, 0.680±0.044, 0.730±0.029, 0.850±0.070, 1.700±0.020 and 2.080±0.280 in control group (t=-5.82, -12.99, -6.36, -5.96, -28.42,-18.98, -5.08; P<0.05). The plate clonality assay results showed that the clone formation quantity of cells in experiment group was 143±32, which was significantly lower than 305±25 in control group (t=-6.91, P<0.05).Transwell assay results showed that the quantity of trans-membrane cell in experiment group was 230±16, which was significantly lower than 650±30 in control group (t=-21.40, P<0.05). Conclusion PinX1 could inhibit the proliferation and invasion ability of hepatoma cells.

Objective To investigate expression of plasmalemmal vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and its relationship with clinicopathological features.Methods Tissue specimens were collected from 108 patients with HCC in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2013 to December 2015.92 patients were male and 16 female,aged (48±5) years on average.The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received.The expression level of PLVAP was analyzed based on the data of HCC in public databases.The expression level of PLVAP mRNA in HCC and paracarcinoma tissues was detected by RT-PCR,and the relationship between the expression of PLVAP and clinicopathological characteristics of HCC was analyzed.The relationship between PLVAP and prognosis of HCC patients was investigated with the data from cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database.The expression levels of PLVAP mRNA between HCC tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were compared by Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test.Correlation analysis was performed by Chi-square test.Survival analysis was conducted by Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Log-rank test.Results According to Human Protein Atlas and Oncomine databases,the expression level of PLVAP in HCC tissues was significantly higher than that in normal liver tissues.RT-PCR showed that the median expression level of PLVAP mRNA in HCC tissues was 0.172(0.004-0.607),significantly higher compared with 0.091(0.002-0.513) in para-carcinoma tissues (Z=6.839,P＜0.05).The expression level of PLVAP in HCC patients was significantly correlated with TB,tumor size and microvascular invasion (x2=4.183,3.924,6.075;P＜0.05).In PLVAP high expression group,the overall survival and tumor-free survival were 58.8(0.5-107.0) and 42.2(0.1-67.2) months,where no significant difference from 55.7(0.2-120.7) and 20.9(0.1-109.4) months in PLVAP low expression group (x2=0.054,0.065;P＞0.05).Conclusions The expression level of PLVAP is significantly correlated with the development and progression of HCC,whereas it is probably not associated with the prognosis of HCC patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of subacute systemic inhalation exposure of 1,2-dichloroethane(1,2-DCE) on learning and memory in NIH mice. METHODS: Forty-five specific pathogen free healthy 7-week-old NIH mice were randomly divided into control,low-dose and high-dose groups with 5 female mice and 10 male mice in each group. The mice were exposed to 1,2-DCE at dosages of 0. 00,100. 00 and 350. 00 mg/m3 for 6 hours per day for consecutive 28 days by dynamic systemic inhalation. The neurobehavioral tests of mice were performed before and after the first to fourth weeks of exposure using the Morris water maze test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in body weight and swimming speed among the three groups of mice( P > 0. 05). The navigation experiment results showed that the escape latency of mice in both low-and high-dose groups were longer than that of the control group at the same time point(P < 0. 05) during 1-4 weeks after exposure. In the control group,the escape latency was shorter than that of the same group before exposure( P < 0. 05). The escape latency of high-dose group prolonged with the increase of exposure time,and in the 4 th week the escape latency was significantly higher than that of the same group before exposure( P < 0. 05).The experiment results of space exploration indicated that the first time of crossing platform in low-and high-dose groups were longer than that of the control group at the second to the fourth week( P < 0. 05). The target quadrant retention time and the number of crossing the platform in the low-and high-dose groups were lower than those in the control group( P <0. 05). CONCLUSION: Subacute inhalation exposure of 1,2-DCE can impair the learning and memory ability of NIH mice.The high-dose exposure may reduce learning ability in mice in a time-effect manner.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of aquaporin 4(AQP4) in regulating the permeability of blood-brain barrier(BBB) induced by subacute 1,2-dichloroethane(1,2-DCE) inhalation. METHODS: Specific pathogen free healthy CD-1 male Aqp4 genetically engineered mice(Aqp4~(+/+)and Aqp4~(-/-)) were randomly divided into control and low-, medium-and high-dose groups. The mice were exposed to 1,2-DCE at the dosages of 0.00, 100.00, 350.00 and 700.00 mg/m~3 for 6 hours per day for consecutive 28 days by systemic dynamic inhalation. After the end of 1,2-DCE exposure, the BBB permeability was evaluated by Evans blue staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the mRNA expression of genes related to BBB tight junction protein(Tjp)1, Tjp2, Tjp3, claudin(Cldn)3, Cldn5, Cldn11, occludin(Ocln), matrix metalloproteinase(Mmp)2, Mmp9 and Na-K-Cl cotransporter-1(Nkcc1). RESULTS: The BBB permeability in mice showed significant change with 1,2-DCE dose and Aqp4 genotype(P<0.01). The BBB permeability of Aqp4~(+/+) genotype mice was higher in low-, medium-and high-dose groups than that of control group(all P values were <0.05). The permeability of BBB was lower in Aqp4~(+/+) genotype mice in the control group than that of Aqp4~(-/-) genotype mice in the same group(P<0.05), but BBB permeability was higher in Aqp4~(+/+) genotype mice in the three dose groups than that of Aqp4~(-/-) genotype mice in the same group(all P values were <0.05). The Cldn3 and Olcn mRNA relative expression in the brain cortex had statistical difference in mice with different genotype(all P values were <0.01). The mRNA relative expressions of Cldn3 and Olcn in the brain cortex were higher in Aqp4~(-/-) genotype mice than that of Aqp4~(+/+) genotype mice(all P values were <0.01). The relative mRNA expression levels of Tjp1, Tjp2, Tjp3, Cldn5, Cldn11, Mmp2, Mmp9 and Nkcc1 in the cerebral cortex of mice were not statistically significant in aspect of 1,2-DCE exposure dose and genotype(all P values were >0.05). CONCLUSION: Exposure to 1,2-DCE can increase BBB permeability in mice, and the mechanism may be associated with 1,2-DCE-induced down-regulation of Aqp4 and up-regulation of mRNA expression of the cerebral cortex TJP-related molecules Cldn3 and Ocln.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of opioid analgesics need within 48 hours after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.Methods Clinical data of 90 consecutive arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs by the same operator from March 2017 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into opioid group(62 patients)and control group(28 patients)according to whether they used opioid analgesics within 48 hours after surgery.The control group consisted of patients who did not use analgesics or who had good analgesic effects with conventional analgesic regimens(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or non-opioid central analgesics)after surgery,and the opioid group consisted of patients who required opioid analgesics as assessed by the surgeon or who need opioid analgesics because of inefficacy of conventional analgesic regimens.The following factors were selected as independent variables:gender,age(whether≥65 years old),duration of disease(whether≥4 weeks),body mass index(BMI)(whether≥25),occupation(whether employed),with or without a history of smoking and alcohol consumption,hypertension,diabetes,heart disease,and trauma,duration of surgery(whether≤180 min),number of torn tendons(whether≥2),number of screws(whether≥2),large nodular osteophyte,and whether there was moderate-to-severe impingement.Single factor analysis was used to screen the factors influencing the need for opioid analgesics within 48 hours after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.Results The results of univariate analysis showed that among the above independent variables,only the number of torn tendons≥2 was the factor affecting the need for opioid analgesics within 48 hours after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair(OR = 5.263,P = 0.007).Conclusions Patients with rotator cuff tears with≥2 tendons had more severe pain within 48 hours after rotator cuff repair,requiring opioid analgesics.Focus should be placed on postoperative pain in such patients,and a diverse analgesic regimen should be used early.

Genetically engineered intestinal microbes could be powerful tools to detect and treat intestine inflammation due to their non-invasive character, low costs, and convenience. Intestinal inflammation is usually detected along with an increasing concentration of thiosulfate and tetrathionate molecules in the intestines. ThsSR and TtrSR are two-component biosensors to detect the presence of thiosulfate and tetrathionate molecules, respectively. In real-life intestinal inflammation detection, sophisticated instruments are needed if using fluorescent proteins as reporters. However, chromoproteins and other colored small molecules, which can be seen by the unaided eye, could extend the use of ThsSR and TtrSR biosensors to detect intestine inflammation. The feasibility of ThsSR and TtrSR systems was tested by monitoring the fluorescence intensity of sfGFP in response to the concentration of thiosulfate and tetrathionate, followed by the incorporation of the two systems into Escherichia coli Top10 and E. coli Nissle 1917. The potential for the real-life application of the two systems was further corroborated by substituting sfGFP with a series of chromoproteins and a protoviolaceinic acid synthesis cassette as reporter genes. The results indicated that signal expression of the new systems had a positive correlation with the concentration of tetrathionate and thiosulfate molecules. Thus, the modified ThsSR and TtrSR system may potentially be applied in the human body for the detection of intestinal inflammation.
Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestines ; Thiosulfates