Objective To investigate the level of follicular fluid NO, VEGF and ET-1 in assessing IVF-ET outcome. Methods Totally 131 patients undergoing IVF-ET cycles were recruited. The level of follicular fluid NO was measured by chromatometry. The follicular fluid VEGF and ET-1 were measured by ELISA. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection day to determine ovarian volume and antral follicle count. Results The pregnancy rate was 37.40% (49/131). There were significantly increased level of follicular fluid NO, VEGF and decreased level of follicular fluid ET-1 in the pregnant group than those in the non-pregnant group (P<0.05). Total ovarian volume and antral follicle count on HCG injection day were significantly higher in the pregnant group than those in the non-pregnant group (P<0.05). The levels of follicular fluid NO and VEGF had positive correlations with the total ovarian volume and antral follicle count. However, the level of follicular fluid ET-1 had a negative correlation with the total ovarian volume and antral follicle count. Conclusions The high level of NO, VEGF and low level of ET-1 in follicular fluid are good predictors of ovarian blood flow and ovarian response in IVF-ET.

Objective To analyze the relationship between the clinical features of hepatoblastoma and serum alpha-fetoprotein level.Methods We did a retrospective study in 74 cases into the relationship of clinical stages,treatment,prognosis,and AFP value in hepatoblastoma.Results In Stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ patients,the average AFP was (36 333 ± 13 782) ng/ml and in Stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ,the average AFP was (78 346 ± 27 956) ng/ml,P ＜ 0.05.68 patients received preoperative chemotherapy with alpha-fetoprotein determinations before and after chemotherapy respectively.In 44 cases AFP decreased ＞ 50％ after chemotherapy,and in 20 cases AFP declined ＞90％,while in 13 cases AFP increased after chemotherapy.15 cases had serum AFP measured on the first postoperative day,among them 10 cases had a ＞ 50％ AFP decline,3 cases had a ＜ 50％ AFP decline,while in 2 cases AFP value increased.52 cases were postoperatively followed-up,with overall 3 year-survival rate of 86.5％ ; 7 cases recurred,4 died.The average preop AFP level in 7 recurred cases was (27 060 ± 3 569) ng/ml,while the average preop AFP level in those of 3-year recurrence-free was (29 865 ± 5 867) ng/ml,P ＞ 0.05.Only 57％ tumor recurred cases had back to normal AFP level within one month postop,while 89％ long term survivals reported normal range of AFP during that period,P ＜ 0.05.Conclusions Serum AFP level in patients with hepatoblastoma is related to the course of disease.It can be used to estimate the effect of clinical chemotherapy.The speed of alpha-fetoprotein decline postop can be used as an indicator of prognosis.The postoperative normal AFP level within 4 weeks predicts a favorable prognosis.

Objective To obtain antibiotic-resistant mutants producing metabolites with antitumor activity from wild-type actinomycete strains without antitumor activity. Methods An actinomycete strain L35-1 was used as an initial strain for obtaining antibiotic-resistant mutants, which is a marine-derived wild-type strain without antitumor activity with an inhibition rate of 2.8% at the 1000 μg/ml of high sample concentration on K562 cells. The antibiotic-resistant mutants both from auto-mutagenesis and chemical mutagen-induced mutagenesis were selected by single colony isolation on antibiotic-containing plates according to the method for obtaining drug-resistant mutants in ribosome engineering. The antitumor activity was assayed by the MTT method using K562 cells for the mutants with aqueous acetone extracts of the whole broth of their fermentation.Results A total of 114 neomycin-resistant (ner) and 68 streptomycin-resistant (str) mutants, all from auto-mutagenesis, was obtained on drug-containing plates. Among them, the 7 ner and 3 str mutants appeared to be bioactive with an inhibition rate above 20% at the 100 μg/ml sample concentration on K562 cells. On the other hand, 41 str and 32 ner mutants from DES-induced mutagenesis and 46 ner mutants from NTG-induced mutagenesis were obtained by mutagen-induced mutation coupled with the single colony isolation on antibiotic-containing plates, among which, one str mutant from DES-induced mutagenesis and one ner mutant from NTG-induced mutagenesis were bioactive with an inhibition rate over 20% at the 100 μg/ml sample concentration on K562 cells. Conclusions The present result has revealed that the wild-type actinomycete strains without bioactivity might become a great source initial strains to obtain bioactive mutants by drug-resistant mutation technique.

OBJECTIVE:To prepare Puerarin polymeric micelles and establish a method to determine its entrapment efficiency. METHODS:Puerarin polymeric micelles were prepared by film dispersion method. The polymeric micelles and free drug were sepa-rated by centrifugal-millipore filter filtration method. The entrapment efficiency of puerarin polymeric micelles was determined by HPLC. Diamonsil C18(2)column was used with 1% citric acid solution-methanol(65∶35)at the flow rate of 1 ml/min. The detec-tion wavelength was set at 250 nm,and column temperature was room temperature. RESULTS:The prepared polymeric micelles were spherical and spherical-like in shape with a mean particle size of 54.12 nm,polydispersity index of 0.122,Zeta potential of -13.60 mV;the linear range of puerarin was 2-10μg/ml(R2=0.999 4)with average recovery rate of 99.2%(RSD=0.9%,n=3). The re-covery rate of free drug was 95.3%(RSD=1.7%,n=3). The mean entrapment efficiency and drug-loading amount of puerarin were(35.5±2.12)% and(0.3±0.07)%,respectively(n=3). CONCLUSIONS:Film dispersion method is suitable for the prepara-tion of Puerarin polymeric micelles. Established method is convenient,accurate and reliable for the content and entrapment efficien-cy determination of Puerarin polymeric micelles.

12E7 Antigen ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Giant Cell Tumors ; pathology ; Giant Cells ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymoma ; pathology ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Myositis Ossificans ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Penile Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objectives To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)H558R in SCN5A gene and chronic Keshan disease (KSD) complicated with hypertension,and the relationship between H558R and occurrence of arrythmia in chronic KSD complicated with hypertension.MethodsThirty nine patients with chronic KSD complicated with hypertension and 63 geographical region matched hypertension control subjects were recruited in our study in Fuyu county,Qiqihaer city,Heilongjiang province between 2006 and 2010.H558R polymorphism in case and control groups was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) and sequenced,and electrocardiography(ECG) characteristics were examined in the two groups.Case-control study analytical methods were applied to analyze the relationship between H558R and chronic KSD complicated with hypertension,and the relationship between H558R and occurrence of arrythmia in chronic KSD patients complicated with hypertension.Results Subjects of genotype 558 TC in the case group had a decreased risk of chronic KSD complicated with hypertension with odds ratio of 0.288[95％ confidence interval (CI):0.104 - 0.794],and subjects of genotype TC in chronic KSD complicated hypertension patients had a decreased risk of QRS prolongation with odds ratio of 0.061 (95％CI:0.006 - 0.612).Conclusions Polymorphism H558R in SCN5A gene may be a predisposition factor of chronic KSD complicated with hypertension and occurrence of arrythmia in chronic KSD complicated with hypertension.

Female ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of glycogen synthase 3β (GSK-3β) in the regula-tion of NLRP3 inflammasome activation after acute myocardial infarction (MI) in Sprague Dawley(SD) rats. METHODS Ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) in SD rats was used to establish an acute myocardial infarction model. SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10, each group):sham group,MI group,and MI+SB group:the GSK-3β inhibitor(SB216763)was given 1 h by intrave-nous injection(0.6 mg·kg-1·d-1)before surgery.The serum and heart tissue were collected to measure lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and IL-1β content and mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, Cas-pase-1,IL-1β and GSK-3β after 2 days and 7 days operation,respectively.RESULTS The serum levels of LDH and IL-1β in the MI group were significantly higher than those in the sham group(P<0.01),and the MI+SB group was obviously lower than the MI group(P<0.01).In addition,mRNA and protein levels of NNLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β and GSK-3β expressions in MI group were clearly increased (P<0.01) compared with those in sham group.These indicators were significantly decreased in SB+MI group (P<0.01). Interestingly, the indicators were all higher at 7 days than 2 days. CONCLUSION GSK-3β inhibition induces cardioprotection via attenuating the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome after the acute myocardial infarction in rats.

AIMIn order to study the effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide(PACAP) on brain edema induced by ischemia in rats and its underlying receptor mechanism.

METHODSBrain ischemia model in rats was established by ligaturing four--vessels. The percentage ratio of wet over dry tissue weight, sodium and potassium contents of dry brain tissue were measured by weighing and enzymatic analysis methods.

RESULTSThe brain water contents significantly increased after rats exposed to 1 h of reperfusion following 30 - minute ischemia. Furthermore, sodium contents in brain tissue increased and potassium contents decreased following perfusion. Changes of brain water contents, sodium and potassium contents were relieved by lateral ventricular injection of PACAP in the concentration of 1 x 10(-9), 1 x 10(-10) or 1 x 10(-11) mol respectively before ischemia. The effect of PACAP could be blocked by MCAP6 - 38 (specific type I PACAP receptor antagonist) lateral ventricular injection prior to PACAP administration.

CONCLUSIONExogenous PACAP may act as a protective effect in brain edema induced by ischemia in rats, which is mediated by type I receptor.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Brain Edema ; etiology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuropeptides ; metabolism ; Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide ; pharmacology ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium ; metabolism

Aquilaria sinensis callus induced by stem tips were used to establish the suspension cell system. The results showed that the most suitable medium for callus induction and subculture is MS + 2.0 mg x L(-1) NAA + 1.0 mg x L(-1) 6-BA. After 12 times of subculture, the energetic and loose callus, which were appropriate for cell suspension culture, were cultured and shook in liquid medium MS + 2.0 mg x L(-1) NAA + 1.0 mg x L(-1) 6-BA + 500.0 mg x L(-1) casein hydrolysate (CH) to establish the suspension cell system. The growth curve of suspension cells showed a "S" type. At the beginning of the culture, cell density increased slowly; during 4 to 6 days, suspension cells reached logarithmic growth period; during 7 to 12 days, suspension cells were in the platform period; but after 12 days, cell density and activity went down obviously. Agarwood sesquiterpenes were not detected in the suspension cells during the growth period, however, they could be detected in MeJA treated suspension cells. In this study, a stable and active growing suspension cell system was established, which was a proper system to study the mechanism of agarwood sesquiterpene formation, and additionally provided a potential way to generate agarwood sesquiterpenes through application of cell culture.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Plant Cells ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; cytology ; Sesquiterpenes ; metabolism ; Thymelaeaceae ; cytology ; growth & development