[ Objective ] To supply a technological evidence for the rapid reproduction of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (APN). [Methods] Different explants from sterile seedling of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees were cultured in vitro to induce the production of fascicular buds. [ Results ] Cotyledon with nodes and half cotyledon with nodes were the most suitable explants for culture, and the budding rate was 100% and over 90% respectively. 6-Benzylaminopurine (BA) in the concentrations of 0.5 ~ 1.0mg/L were beneficial for the reproduction and growth of buds. The age of explants had no correlation with budding. The optimal rooting medium was MT (Murashige and Tucher) medium added with Img/L NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) or IBA (indolebutyric acid). A highest rooting rate as much as 61.9% was achieved after 10 days of culture. [Conclusion] An effective plant regeneration system has been established for explants of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees.

Brucella ; isolation & purification ; Brucellosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans

Objective To analyze the variations of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 like gene (GPD1-L) and address the association with sudden m anhood death syndrom e (SMDS). Methods The genom ic DNA was extracted from blood sam ples of the SMDS group and the norm alcontrolgroup.The exons, exon-in-tron boundaries and 3′-U TRs of coding region of GPD1-L w ere PCRam plified and DNAsequenced di-rectly to confirm the types of variations. The genotype frequency and allele frequency w ere analyzed statistically. Results There w ere tw ovariants in the SMDS group, c.465C>Tand c.*18G>T, the latter existed certain degree difference of genotype distribution and allele frequency betw een the SMDS group and the control group, but there was no statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion The relation be-tw een gene m utation of GPD1-L and the occurrence of Chinese SMDS deserves a further research.

Objective To investigate the application of colostomy care products in managing the leakage around PTCD drainage tube, and to discuss its clinical effect. Methods A total of 56 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice, who had received PTCD and suffered from postoperative leakage around PTCD drainage tube, were randomly and equally divided into the study group (n=28) and the control group (n=28). The colostomy care powder, the skin protective film and the colostomy bag were used for the patients of the study group, while iodophors, sterile gauze and mupirocin ointment were employed for the patients of the control group. The incidence of irritant dermatitis around PTCD drainage tube, the degree of comfort to the indwelling tube judged by the patient, and the nursing workload for PTCD drainage tube were determined, and the results were compared between the two groups. Results The incidence of irritant dermatitis around PTCD drainage tube in the study group was obviously lower than that in the control group. And the degree of comfort to the indwelling tube judged by the patient in the study group was much higher than that in the control group. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Combination use of colostomy care powder, skin protective film and colostomy bag can effectively reduce the incidence of irritant dermatitis around PTCD drainage tube and improve the patient’s condition. Therefore, this method is worthy of popularization in clinical practice.

Objective To determine the contents of total flavonoids and xanthohumol in hop from 29 different countries and regions .Methods Rutin colorimetric method was used to determine the content of total flavonoids .HPLC-UV method was established for the determination of xanthohumol in hops .HPLC method was performed by Dikma Technologies Diamonsil C18 (250 mm × 4 .6 mm ,5 μm ) column with mobile phase acetonitrile-1％ glacial acetic acid solution at the flow rate of 1 .0 ml/min .The column temperature was 25 ℃ .The detection wavelength was 370 nm .Results The equation of linear re-gression of total flavonoids was A=30 .345C+0 .0168 ,r=0 .9999 .The equation of linear regression of xanthohumol was A=55446 C+9040 .5 ,r=0 .9999 .Their linear ranges were respectively 20 .2-404 .0 μg/ml ,2 .152-43 .040 μg/ml ,which indica-ted a good linear relationship .The RSDs of precision and repeatability were less than 2％ .The average recoveries of flavonoids and xanthohumol were respectively 102 .71％ and 100 .21％ .Conclusion The contents of total flavonoids and xanthohumol in different hops varieties are significantly different and the import hops was better than the domestic hops in this study .

OBJECTIVETo construct a lentiviral vector for RNA interference (RNAi) of human glycerol kinase (GK) gene to stably down-regulate GK expression in human hepatocytes.

METHODSThe sequence of siRNA for GK interference were cloned into the pSicoR vector. Following packaging in 293T cells, the lentivirus was titrated using fluorescence activated cell sorting. Human hepatocyte L02 cells was infected with the lentivirus and the expression of GK was analyzed using Western blotting.

RESULTSThe lentiviral particle pSicoR-GK was successfully packaged with a virus titer reaching 3×10(7) pfu/ml. The expression level of GK protein was down-regulated to 20% of the control level in L02 cells infected with the lentivirus.

CONCLUSIONThe lentiviral vector for RNAi of human GK gene has been successfully constructed, which can significantly down-regulate GK expression in human hepatocytes.

Cell Line ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genetic Vectors ; Glycerol Kinase ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; enzymology ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

Abnormalities, Multiple ; Anus, Imperforate ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney ; abnormalities ; Male ; Rectum ; abnormalities ; Urethra ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo observe the inhibitory effect of angiotensin-(1-7) on liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation in rats.

METHODSEighteen Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups and subject to sham operation, bile duct ligation (BDL), or BDL with angiotensin-(1-7) treatment. An osmotic minipump was implanted intraperitoneally for administration of saline in the sham-operated and BDL groups and angiotensin-(1-7) (25 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1)) in angiotensin-(1-7) treatment group. After a 4-week treatments, the fibrosis score, Masson staining, and hydroxyproline assay were used to evaluate the level of liver fibrosis in the rats, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the liver tissue.

RESULTSCompared with BDL group, a 4-week treatment with angiotensin-(1-7) following BDL significantly reduced the fibrosis score (2.33±0.52 vs 5.17±0.75), hydroxyproline content (0.36±0.03 vs 0.52±0.04) and α-SMA expression (54.11±17.55 vs 191.84±31.72) in the liver tissue of the rats (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONProlonged infusion of angiotensin-(1-7) inhibit the formation of hepatic fibrosis in rats following bile duct ligation.

Angiotensin I ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Bile Ducts ; surgery ; Infusions, Parenteral ; Ligation ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the occurrence of epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype transition (EMT) in the liver of rats following bile duct ligation (BDL).

METHODSTwenty-four male Wistar rats were randomized into sham-operated group and BDL group. Liver fibrosis of the rats was evaluated by HE staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of the epithelial markers albumin and E-cadherin and the mesenchymal markers type I collagen and vimentin in the liver tissue. Immunofluorescence was employed to determine the co-localizations of FSP-1+vimentin, FSP-1+type I collagen, FSP-1+albumin, and albumin+type I collagen in cells.

RESULTSCompared with those in sham-operated group, the rats in BDL group showed significantly increased ISHAK fibrosis score (4.42+1.16 vs 0, P+0.000), METAVIR fibrosis score (3.42+0.67 vs 0, P+0.000) and type I collagen levels (0.30+0.06 vs 0.11+0.07, P+0.000) with up-regulated protein levels of albumin (0.53+0.63 vs 1.12+0.01, P+0.000) and E-cadherin (0.21+0.01 vs 0.44+0.01, P+0.000) and down-regulated type I collagen (8.21+0.12 vs 0.24+0.01, P+0.000) and vimentin (3.14+0.01 vs 0.37+0.01, P+0.000). The number of cells with co-localizations of FSP-1+vimentin, FSP-1+type I collagen, FSP-1+albumin, and albumin+type I collagen was also significantly increased in BDL group.

CONCLUSIONBDL causes significantly decreased expression of epithelial markers and increased expressions of the mesenchymal markers in rats, indicating the occurrence of EMT in some of the liver cells.

Animals ; Bile Ducts ; surgery ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; physiology ; Ligation ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Phenotype ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To measure the efficacy of combining motor imagery training ( MIT) with convention-al therapy in improving stroke patients′upper-extremity function. And to seek a cortical reorganization mechanism as-sociated with the improvement using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging ( rs-fMRI) . Methods Ten stroke survivors were selected as an experimental group. They were given motor imagery training for four weeks ( 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) and conventional rehabilitation therapy ( 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week) . Another 10 healthy counterparts were the control group. Before and after the four weeks of treatment, both groups were as-sessed using the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment ( FMA-UE) and the modified Barthel index ( MBI) . Moreo-ver, rs-fMRI was conducted to assess functional connectivity between cortical regions and the ipsilesional primary mo-tor cortex ( M1) before and after the intervention. The laterality index ( LI) of the primary motor or sensory cortex was also calculated. Results After the intervention, the average FMA-UE and MBI scores of the experimental group had increased significantly. After MIT and conventional therapy there was increased functional connectivity between the ip-silesional and contralesional M1 areas, and between the ipsilesional M1 and contralesional primary sensory cortex ( S1) and frontal lobe, the functional connection between the ipsilesional M1 and the ipsilesional paracentral lobule and the anterior cingutate was also increased. More specifically, the LI relating M1 and S1 decreased after the inter-vention, tending toward the normal level. LIMI decreased significantly. Conclusion The 4-week regimen of motor imagery training and conventional therapy resulted in functional improvement in the upper limbs and greater ability in the activities of daily living. The observed improvements may be due to cortical reorganization, including better func-tional connectivity between the bilateral M1 areas and increased connectivity between the ipsilesional M1 area and some non-motor areas. There is some recovery of symmetry in the bilateral primary motor cortex.