Objective To investigate the effects of celastrol on the expressions of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)in the aorta of apoE gene knockout mice with earlier atherosclerosis.Methods Eight-week-old ApoE gene knockout male mice were divided randomly into control group and celastrol treatment group(n=6 in each group).The mice in celastrol group were given.celastrol(2 mg?kg-1?d-1)by intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks;and the mice in control group were only given equivalent amount of dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO).HE staining of root aorta were used to observe the histomorphological changes and measure the size of plaque in ApoE-/-mice.The expressions of MIF and MMP-9 were detected by immunological histochemical method.Results The area of lipid plaque in the mice treated with celastrol was significantly smaller than that of the control(P

Objective To investigate the effects of liver X receptor agonist on the expressions of C-reactive protein and CD40 ligand and smooth muscle cell ?-actin in the aorta of ApoE gene knockout mice with earlier atherosclerosis. Methods Male ApoE gene knockout mice (8-week old) were divided randomly into control group and T0901317 treatment group (n=6 in each group). The mice in T0901317 group were administered intraperitoneally with T0901317 at the dose of 20 mg?kg-1?d-1 for 4 weeks. Mice in the control group were only given equivalent amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The expressions of C-reactive protein and CD40 ligand and smooth muscle cell ?-actin were detected by immunological histochemical method. Results The expressions of C-reactive protein and CD40 ligand in the atherosclerotic plaque in the aortic wall were significantly lower in T0901317 group as compared with those in the DMSO control group (P0.05). Conclusion Liver X receptor agonist may reduce the formation of atherosclerotic lesions by inhibiting the inflammation and the expressions of C-reactive protein and CD40 ligand in the aorta of ApoE gene knockout mice.

Objective CXCR4-overexpressing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (CXCR4-BMSC) were constructed and co-cultured with hypoxia/re-oxygenation pretreated renal tubular epithelial cells (HR-RTEC).Repair of HR-RTEC was detected and the possible mechanism was also discussed.Methods CXCR4-BMSC (CXCR4-BMSC/eGFP,eGFP as the tracer gene) and null-BMSC (BMSC/eGFP) were obtained by gene transfection technique,and the level of CXCR4 in the transfected cells was detected.RTEC was cultured under hypoxia/re-oxygenation condition for 12 h,respectively,to obtain HR-RTEC,which was used to simulate AKI in vitro.BMSC and HR-RTEC were co-cultured for 12 h,and the proportion of apoptotic cells among the HR-RTEC was assayed by immunofluorescence technique.Western blot was used to test the protein levels of cleaved Caspase-3 and Bcl-2.The number of migrating BMSC was also assayed.After culturing with the HR-RTEC culture supernatant,the expression of cytokeratin 18 (CK18) in BMSC was tested by immunofluorescence staining.Cytokines including bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7),hepatic growth factor (HGF) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the BMSC culture supernatant were detected by ELISA method.Results Expression of CXCR4 was enhanced in CXCR4-BMSC.Proportions of the apoptotic cells among HR-RTEC after being co-cultured with BMSC,CXCR4-BMSC and null-BMSC were all decreased,especially in the C/H group.The decreased cleaved Caspase-3 and enhanced Bcl-2 were also observed in HR-RTEC.The number of migrating CXCR4-BMSC was the highest.Proportions of CK18+ cells in BMSC,CXCR4-BMSC and null-BMSC were all low and showed no difference.However,CXCR4 overexpression in BMSC stimulated secretions of BMP-7,HGF and IL-10.Conclusions CXCR4-overexpressing BMSC has more repair effect on the co-cultured HR-RTEC,the enhanced migration ability and secretion ability of CXCR4-BMSC are the possible mechanisms.

Objective To investigate the polyploid induction and identification of Nerviliae fordii for harvesting the polyploid plants. Methods The materials and methods for polyploid induction of Nerviliae fordii were screened separately by comparing the induction rates of rhizomes and bulbs under natural conditions and tissue culture environment, and by comparing soaking method with agar method. The effects of colchicine concentration ( 200, 300, 400, 300 mg/L), colchicine action time ( 7, 14, 21, 28 d), DMSO concentration ( 0, 10, 20, 40 mL/L) and KT concentration ( 0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mg/L) on induction rate were observed by orthogonal design method. The polyploid induction in the treated plants was identified by morphology, cytology and chromosome methods. Results After the tissue culture rhizomes were treated with 300 mg/L colchicine, 10 mL/L DMSO, and 2.0 mg/L KT by agar method for 28 days, the polyploid induction rate arrived to 50%, showing better induction effect. The morphology of polyploid plants was characterized by giantism, and the leaf length, leaf width and plant height were respectively 152.17%, 158.67%and 60.90%of those of the diploid plants. The length, width and density of stoma of leaf epidermal cell as well as the number of chloroplast in the treated plants were 138.46%, 153.00%, 59.09% and 109.09% of those of the untreated plants. The results of chromosome identification showed that the amount of the tetraploid ( about 40) was 2 times of the diploid chromosome ( about 20) in the treated plants, proving that the achieved Nerviliae fordii was a tetraploid plant. Conclusion Polyploid plants of Nerviliae Fordii have been successfully obtained, which will supply evidence for improving species, richening seed-breeding resources, and selecting of improved seeds of Nerviliae fordii.

Cell immobilization is a new biotechnology The definition, classification, and carrier selection of cell immobilization are presented in details The technique is efficiently applied to treating strength organic wastewater, nutrient and heavy metals removal of wastewater, as well as hardly biodegradated wastewater It has a widely applied prospect in wastewater treatment

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles and their association with the expressions of aquaporins (AQP) in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles of castrated rats.

METHODSWe randomly divided 18 eight-week-old male SD rats into a control, a castration, and a testosterone (T) replacement group. Four weeks after surgical castration, we detected the plasma T level and measured the volumes of the secretions and the expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the rats.

RESULTSThe plasma T level was significantly lower in the castrated models ([30. 98 ± 28. 84] ng/dl) than in the rats of the control ([700.78 ± 123.8] ng/dl) and T replacement groups ([688.08 ± 132. 47] ng/dl) (P <0. 05). The castration group, in comparison with the control and T replacement groups, showed remarkably reduced ratios of prostatic secretion volume / prostate weight ([11.1 ± 0.30] vs [2.32 ± 0.61] and [2.13 ± 0.56] %, P <0. 05) and seminal vesicle secretion volume / seminal vesicle weight ( [4. 78 ± 1. 97 ] vs [57. 36 ± 11. 86] and [55. 74 ± 7. 21] %, P < 0. 05). Immunohistochemistry revealed the expressions of AQPs 3 and 7 in the epithelial envelop and cytoplasm and that of AQP 11 the in endothelial envelop and cytoplasm of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Western blot exhibited significantly lower expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the castrated rats than in the animals of the control and T replacement groups (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSignificant decreases of the secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles may be related to the reduced expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles in castrated rats.

Animals ; Aquaporins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

Head ; surgery ; Humans ; Neck ; surgery ; United States

Objective To investigate the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) proliferation under acute kidney injury (AKI) microenvironment,and to study its possible mechanism.Methods C57BL/6 mice's MSCs (mMSCs) were isolated by Percoll density gradient centrifugation and adherence cultivation.Surface markers were identified by flow cytometry.AKI mice models were made by clamping bilateral renal pedicles for 30 minutes and reopening for 30 minutes.Then both renal cortex was drew immediately to make IR kidney homogenate supernatant.P3-mMSCs were divided into different groups: Group A: low glucose DMEM medium with 10% fetal bovine serum; Group B: low glucose DMEM medium with 10% fetal bovine serum plus IR kidney homogenate supernatant; Group C: low glucose DMEM medium with 10% fetal bovine serum plus IR kidney homogenate supernatant and different concentrations of EPO (1,5,10,50 U/ml).Each group was incubated for 1 d,3 d,5 d,7 d.Proliferation of mMSCs was detected by CCK-8,and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL.The protein expression of erythropoietin receptor(EPOR) and the proteins of proliferation/apoptosis related signal pathway were examined by Western blotting.Results Under IR kidney homogenate supernatant,the proliferation ability of mMSCs decreased significantly (P＜0.01),while the apoptoic percentage was significantly higher than that of Group A (P＜0.01).After intervention of EPO,mMSCs proliferation enhanced,at the same time,the apoptoic percentage decreased,in a dose-dependent manner.EPOR was positive in P3-mMSCs by Western blotting.EPO decreased the expression of caspase-3 in mMSCs under AKI microenvironment in a dose- and time-dependent manner,but increased the expression of Bcl-2.Cultured for 5 d,the expression of phosphor-Janus kinase2(p-JAK2) [(0.641 ±0.028) vs (0.456±0.012)] and phosphor-signal transducer and activator of transcription(p-STAT5)[(0.398±0.016) vs (0.209±0.020)] was significantly higher in 10 U/ml EPO group compared to group B.Conclusion Erythropoietin can promote proliferation of mMSCs in vitro under AKI microenvironment,which is mediated by EPOR and related with proliferation/apoptosis signal pathway.

Objective To investigate the migration of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) under acute kidney injury (AKI) microenvironment in vitro and the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) intervention,and to explore its underlying mechanism.Methods Renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) were cultured in hypoxia/re-oxygenation (HR) condition for 12 h,respectively,in order to establish HR-RTEC.BMSCs and RTECs were co-cultured by Transwell system and were divided into 7 groups:control group (group①,only BMSC cultured),BMSC-RTEC co-culturing group (group ②),BMSC-HR-RTEC co-culturing + EPO intervention groups (group ③to group ⑦,EPO concentration:0,1,5,10,50 IU/ml).All the groups were cultured for 48 h and the number of migrating BMSCs was detected.Western blotting was applied for the detection of SDF-1 expression in RTECs and pMAPK and MAPK levels in BMSCs.SDF-1 concentration in the RTECs culture supernatant was tested by ELISA.Results The number of BMSCs migrating to the low chamber where HR-RTECs were cultured was increased,and EPO intervention further enhanced this migration which reached the peak at the concentration of 10 IU/ml [Compared with group③,(46.67±7.37) cells vs (19.00±2.37) cells,P ＜ 0.05].Intracellular expression level and the secreated level of SDF-1 in HR-RTECs in group③ were higher than those in RTECs of group② [0.37±0.01 vs 0.19±0.01,P ＜ 0.05; (61.64±4.88) μg/L vs (35.26±8.78) μg/L,P ＜ 0.05].EPO intervention increased above SDF-1 levels and reached the peak at the concentration of 10 IU/ml [group⑥ vs group③:(173.53± 14.66) μg/L vs (61.64±4.88) μg/L,P＜0.05],accompanied with enhanced phosphorylation of MAPK in BMSCs.Conclusions AKI microenvironment has obvious chemotaxis effect on BMSCs,and EPO intervention can strengthen this effect.The increased SDF-1 level and enhanced phosphorylation of MAPK,the downstream signal protein of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis,are the possible mechanism for EPO performance.

Totally, 102 general practitioners (GPs) from 40 community health-care service centers in a district of Beijing were investigated for their awareness of diagnosis, treatment and prevention for chronic hepatitis B and evaluating effectiveness of their training with self-designed questionnaire before and after professional training.Before training, higher awareness of knowledge about prevention for hepatitis B had been achieved in GPs, such as "hepatitis C is communicable" (78/102, 76.5% ), "hepatitis B can be prevented by protective antibody" ( 76/102, 74.5% ), whereas only 3.9% ( 4/102 ) of GPs knew indications of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B, 4.9% (5/102) could describe complications of decompensated cirrhosis and 19.6% (20/102) knew methods for screening primary hepatocellular carcinoma.After training, their awareness increased significantly to 93.1% (95/102), 49.0% (50/102)and 86.3% (88/102), respectively (all P ＜0.01 ).Now, GPs' knowledge about diagnosis and treatment for hepatitis B is still insufficient at community health-care centers and professional training can improve their awareness.It is an important assurance for patients with chronic hepatitis B to be better managed in both of specialized hospitals and community health-care centers by enhancing professional training for GPs indiagnosis and treatment for hepatitis B.