AIM:To investigate the effect of exogenous epidermal growth factor(EGF) on expression of EGFR and EGF mRNA of the injuried lung tissue of neonatal premature rats exposed to hyperoxia.METHODS:The neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats of 21-day gestational age model of hyperoxia induced lung injury were made by continually inhaling 95% oxygen.The model rats were divided into two groups randomly,the EGF trail group and the NS control group.The other rats were taken into the air control group.Each group was divided into three subsets:a(1-3 days),b(4-6 days) and c(1-6 days) according to different application times of EGF or NS.Rats in sub groups were executed and the lung tissues were removed at postnatal 3th,7th,14th day respectively.Using immunohistochemistry method,the expression of EGF-R of lung tissues in different groups was observed,and the expression of EGF mRNA was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).RESULTS:The expression of EGF mRNA increased by degrees following the increasing postnatal days.Compared with the air control group,the expression of EGF-R and EGF mRNA increased in the hyperxia group at 7th day and 14th day.The expression of EGF-R increased in corresponding hyperxia NS control group at 14th day(P

Otolaryngology ; Periodicals as Topic ; Quality of Life ; Sickness Impact Profile

Objective: To investigate the expression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin (SYN) proteins in different developmental stages of human embryonic esophagus . Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of NSE and SYN proteins in embryonic esophagus tissues of fetuses of 2, 3 and 4 month gestational age ( n=16 ) .One-way ANOVA and LSD-t test were employed to compare the staining intensity and number of positive expression cells in embryonic esophageal tissues of different gestational age .Results: In fetuses with 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation , the number of NSE-positive nerve cells in the myenteric nerve plexus and submucosa of human embryonic esophageal tissues were 18.38 ±8.37, 25.00 ±11.54 and 38.00 ±15.09, respectively;the staining intensity of NSE-positive nerve cells and nerve fibers in myenteric nerve plexus and submucosa of embryonic esophageal tissues were 74.38 ±14.93, 62.25 ±18.59 and 56.44 ±14.70, respectively .NSE-positive cells were detected in the esophageal epithelium only at the third month.In the fetuses at 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation , SYN in all layers of esophageal tissue were positively or strong positively expressed , especially in the myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus .The staining intensity of SYN-positive cells in embryonic esophagus tissues of 2, 3 and 4 month gestation were 54.69 ±9.34, 51 .84 ±6 .10 and 46 .41 ±6 .44 , respectively .Conclusion: SYN and NSE may be involved in the regulation of nerve system of esophageal tissues during the human embryonic development .

OBJECTIVETo investigate influential factors for the tendency to medicate and medication compliance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODSA total of 188 children aged from 5 to 16 years, who were initially diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria, were included in the study. They underwent symptom assessment and cognitive function test. The compliance of methylphenidate treatment was evaluated.

RESULTSPatients with better emotional state, and fewer oppositional and hyperactive behaviors and those who had a family history of psychiatric diseases and who obtained lower scores in the number cancellation test (NCT), were more prone to medication and/or exhibited better medication compliance. Logistic regression analysis showed that fewer oppositional and hyperactive behaviors and lower NCT scores were the predictive factors for a higher tendency to medicate, and a better emotional state was the predictive factor for better medication compliance. Patients of predominantly inattentive type were more prone to medication and showed better medication compliance, as compared with those of combined type. Gender, age and symptom severity were not associated with the tendency to medicate and/or medication compliance.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a need to enhance medication compliance in children with ADHD who have hyperactive, impulsive and oppositional behaviors, and to improve their long-term social functions.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Central Nervous System Stimulants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medication Adherence ; Methylphenidate ; therapeutic use

AIM: To investigate the effect of glycine on endotoxin and hypoxia-induced necrotizing exterocolitos (NEC) in rats. METHODS: In glycine+NEC group, twenty anesthetized and artificially ventilated rats received 1g/kg glycine (20%, iv). Five minutes later, the rats were treated with 2 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In control group (NS+NEC), twenty rats were treated with normal saline as a substitute for glycine. In all animals, FiO 2 was reduced after 90 min from 21% to 5% and ventilation continued until 180 min or death. At the end of the experiment, the samples of blood and intestine were obtained immediately. Serum TNF? was measured with ELISA, serum NO was determined by nitrate reductase. The histopathology of the necrotic lesions were categoried: grade Ⅰ, focal mild injury confined to villous tips; grade Ⅱ, partial loss of villi; grade Ⅲ, necrosis extending to submucosa; grade Ⅳ, transmural necrosis. RESULTS: The survival time [(159 25?22 78) min vs (138 75?19 05) min] was shorter in the NS+NEC group ( P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Wulongdan, a tradition Chinese medicinal preparation, on the learning and memory abilities of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia and explore the mechanisms.

METHODSMale rats with chronic cerebral ischemia induced by permanent ligation of the bilateral carotid arteries were randomized into sham-operated group, chronic cerebral ischemia (model) group, and high-, middle-, and low-dose Wulongdan groups and Yinxingye group. The corresponding treatments were administered in the rats 24 h after the operation once daily for 8 consecutive weeks. Morris water maze and step-through tests were performed after 7 weeks of drug administration. The brain tissues were then taken to observe the morphological changes in the hippocampal neurons with Nissl staining by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the latency of finding the platform in Morris water maze test was significantly shortened (P<0.05 or 0.01), and that in step-through test significantly prolonged (P<0.05 or 0.01) in high-, middle-, and low-dose Wulongdan groups and Yinxingye group. In the model group, Nissl staining of the hippocampal CA1 region visualized obvious pathological changes in the neurons, showing a significant difference from the sham-operated and high-dose Wulongdan groups.

CONCLUSIONWulongdan can enhance the learning and memory abilities of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia possibly through a mechanism in relation to neuronal protection in the hippocampus CA1 region.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the roles of JAK/STATs signal pathway on anti-proliferative effects induced by IFN-alpha in MHCC97.

METHODSAn IRF9 expression vector was transfected into MHCC97 with Dosper. The expression of IRF9, cycle regulating proteins and the forming of ISGF3 complex were detected using Western blot and EMSA, respectively. Cell proliferation and distribution were monitored using MTT and flow cytometry.

RESULTSHigh expression of IRF9 restored the anti-proliferative response of MHCC97 on IFN-alpha treatment and delayed the cell transition from S phase to G2 phase induced by IFN-alpha.

CONCLUSIONThe integrity and functions of JAK/STATs signal pathway played an important role in mediating the anti-proliferative effects of IFN-alpha in MHCC97.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit ; genetics ; Interferon-alpha ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Janus Kinases ; genetics ; physiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; STAT Transcription Factors ; genetics ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin(SYN) proteins in different developmental stages of human embryonic esophagus.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of NSE and SYN proteins in embryonic esophagus tissues of fetuses of 2, 3 and 4 month gestational age (n=16). One-way ANOVA and LSD-t test were employed to compare the staining intensity and number of positive expression cells in embryonic esophageal tissues of different gestational age.

RESULTSIn fetuses with 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, the number of NSE-positive nerve cells in the myenteric nerve plexus and submucosa of human embryonic esophageal tissues were 18.38 ± 8.37, 25.00 ± 11.54 and 38.00 ± 15.09, respectively; the staining intensity of NSE-positive nerve cells and nerve fibers in myenteric nerve plexus and submucosa of embryonic esophageal tissues were 74.38 ± 14.93, 62.25 ± 18.59 and 56.44 ± 14.70, respectively. NSE-positive cells were detected in the esophageal epithelium only at the third month. In the fetuses at 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, SYN in all layers of esophageal tissue were positively or strong positively expressed, especially in the myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus. The staining intensity of SYN-positive cells in embryonic esophagus tissues of 2, 3 and 4 month gestation were 54.69 ± 9.34, 51.84 ± 6.10 and 46.41 ± 6.44, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSYN and NSE may be involved in the regulation of nerve system of esophageal tissues during the human embryonic development.

Esophagus ; embryology ; Female ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Adriamycin (ADR)-induced heart failure and the protective effects of Sini decoction (SND).

METHODSD rats were randomly divided into three groups, control group, heart failure group and SND group. ADR was injected in the rats of heart failure group and SND group by caudal vein. After injection, the rats in SND group were given SND (3.75 g x kg(-1) x d(-1), p.o.). Three weeks later, cardiac function, content of malondialdehyde (MDA) of both myocardium and mitochondria and activity of Cu-Zn SOD and Mn SOD were measured. The mRNA expression of Cu-Zn SOD and Mn SOD were also detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTCompared with control group, LVSP and +/- dp/dt max were obviously decreased, while LVEDP was markedly increased in the heart failure group. The mRNA expression and the activity of Cu-Zn SOD and Mn SOD in heart failure group were obviously lower than that in the controls'. In addition, the MDA content of both myocardium and mitochondria were clearly increased in heart failure rats. In SND-treated rats, the cardiac function, the activity and the mRNA expression of Cu-Zn SOD and Mn SOD were significantly elevated and the content of MDA was reduced, which had no statistic difference with the rats in control group.

CONCLUSIONThe data suggest that oxidative stress is present in the mitochondria of myocardium in ADR-induced heart failure rats and it can be eased by SND. The mechanism may be closely related to SOD.

Animals ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Heart Failure ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Heart Function Tests ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mitochondria, Heart ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of electroporation-mediated gene transfect on the expression of cyclins during mandible distraction in rabbit.

METHODSBilateral mandibular osteotomy was performed in 45 New-Zeland rabbits. After a latency of 3 days, the mandibles were elongated using distractors with a rate of 0.8 mm/day for 7 days. After the completion of distraction, the rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups. 2 microg (0.1 microg/microl) of pIRES-hVEGF165-hBMP2, recombinant plasmid pIRES-hBMP2, recombinant plasmid pIRES-hVEGF165, pIRES and the same volume of normal saline (NS) was injected into the distraction area in each group, respectively. After injection, electroporation was performed in every group. Three animals in each group were sacrificed at 7, 14, and 28 days after completion of distraction, respectively. The lengthened mandibles were harvested and processed for immunohistochemical examinations. The expression of cyclins A, D1 ,E in positive cells were measured by CMIAS-2001A computerized image analyzer. The data were analyzed with the single factor analysis of variance and q test.

RESULTSCyclins A, D1, E staining was mainly located in inflammatory cells, granulation tissue monocyte, fibroblast, osteoblasts, osteocyte and the connective tissues around the new bone. The expression reached to the peak at 7th day of consolidation, and decreased at 14th day, and weak at 28th day. Image analysis results showed that, at 7th day, the expression absorbance A in group C (0.59 +/- 0.14) was the strongest, compared to group A (0.41 +/- 0.13), B (0.38 +/- 0.14), D (0.34 +/- 0.12) and E (0.31 +/- 0.10), showing a significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no significance difference between group A and B (P > 0.05), but the difference between group A/B and group D/E (P < 0.05). At 14th and 28th day, there was no significant difference among group A (0.39 +/- 0.11), B (0.34 +/- 0.10) and C (0.33 +/- 0.09) (P > 0.05), but there was significant difference between group A/B/C and group D (0.19 +/- 0.12) or E (0.14 +/- 0.04) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSElectroporation-mediated gene transfection can promote cyclins A, D1, E expression effectively, which may promote cell differentiation and proliferation, stimulate extracellular matrix synthesis and new bone formation in distraction gap.

Animals ; Cyclins ; metabolism ; Electroporation ; Genetic Therapy ; Mandible ; surgery ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; methods ; Plasmids ; Rabbits ; Transfection