Objective To establish the model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with selective motor neuron disorder by organotypic spinal cord cultures, and analyze the role of astrocyte in the pathagenisis of ALS.Methods Organotypic spinal cord cultures were prepared using lumbar spinal cord slices from 8-day-old SD rat pups. The threohydroxyaspartate (THA) was applied into culture medium to establish ALS organotypic spinal cord cultures model. Motor neurons survival was evaluated by monoclonal SMI-32 immunohistochemical staining and glial fibrillary acidic protein staining to show astrocyte survival.Results Compared with the control group, there was significantly astrogliosis in the anterior horn and surrounding white matter in THA 100 μmol/L group, and the level of gliosis was increased followed the elongation of THA interference time. With the increasing of the number of astrocyte, the morphology of astrocyte was changed.Conclusion There is significantly astrogliosis in the anterior horn and the time of astrogliosis is markedly earlier than the time of motor neuron loss in the ALS model intervented with THA.

The distribution and morphology of supraependymal cells residing within thethird ventricle of the adult rabbit and adult rat have been investigated by means ofscanning electron microscopy.Supraependymal cells can be classified into twofundamental types,those with neuronal characteristics were designated Type Ⅰ incontrast to those that appear to be macrophagic in character,which were termedType Ⅱ.The neuron-like supraependymal cells have oval cell bodies and long slen-der processes.They occurred not only singly along the ventricular surface,but alsotended to occur in clusters which may be named as neuronal complex.Usually theneuronlike structures possessed varicose fibers of various calibers,runing among thecilia,microvilli,and bulbous protrusions of the ependymal surface.The morphologyof macrophage-like ependymal cells are variable.In general,they had one or severalbroad pseudopodia.According to the number of processes,the macrophage-likesupraependymal cells may be divided into three main types.The morphology of supraependymal cells within the third ventricle of the rabbitand rat is quite similar.The role of supraependymal cells were discussed.

An acidic xylanase gene,named xyl3,was cloned from the genomic library of enviromental microbes constructed by using shotgun cloning strategy,and submitted to GeneBank with accession number of gb:AY300805.BLAST analysis indicated that the gene xyl3 has low similarity with other xylanase genes and the encoded xylanase,sorted as Glycosyl hydrolases family 10,has 77% similarity with the intra-cellular xylanase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus at amino acid level.Treated with T4 DNA polymerase,the gene xyl3 was ligated with the linearized Pichia pastoris expression vector pHBM905 produced by digestion of restriction endonuclease CpoI and NotI to generate the recombinant plasmid pHBM706.Then the plasmid pHBM706,digested by restriction endonuclease SalI,was transformed into P.pastoris GS115 to obtain the recombinant P.pastoris GS115(pHBM706),which was induced to produce the recombinant xylanase with 0.5% methanol at 28℃.At the 36th hours of induction,the porduced crude enzyme was detected to reach the higest enzyme activity of 0.177 IU/mL.The optimal pH and temperature of the enzyme activity is 5.5 and 50℃ respectively.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

A 36-year-old female presented with multiple dark brown papules on the chest and abdomen for more than 10 years,which had gradually increased in number.Physical examination revealed dozens of dark brown,flat papules measuring 1-3 mm in diameter in the chest and abdomen.Most of the lesions had a smooth surface,and some lesions gave a papilloma-like appearance,with no confluent trend.Biopsy of abdominal lesions showed mild hyperkeratosis of epidermis,acanthosis,extension of epidermal protrusions forming a reticulated appearance,horn pseudocysts in prickle cell layer,enhanced pigmentation of basal layer,and a sparse lymphocytic perivascular infiltrate in superficial dermis.A diagnosis of dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN) was made.

A 53-year-old man presented with prunosus nodules and plaques on the trunk and extremities for half a month and with periorbital swelling for 4 days.Hematological examination in a local hospital showed thrombocytopenia,and pulsed corticosteroid therapy did not work.On physical examination,there were splenomegaly and multiple enlarged superficial lymphnodes.Serum calcium and 1-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)were increased to 3.12 mmol/L and 853 U/L,respectively.Serum immunofixation electrophoresis evidenced the presence of a monoclonal immunoglobulin IgM (κ chain).Positron emission tomography (PET-CT) showed abnormal uptake in multiple lymph nodes,back wall of the pharynx,and spleen.The biopsy of a nodule in the neck revealed a diffuse infiltration of numerous atypical lymphoid cells in the subcutaneous fat tissue,which were medium-sized with round nuclei,obvious nucleoli and karyokinesis, Immunophenotyping of the abnormal lymphocytes indicated positive reactions for L26,CD79a,Bcl-2,cyclin D1,multiple myeloma oncogene 1 (partly),Ki-67 (＞80％),but negative for CD5,CD21,CD23,CD38,CD3,CD10,Bcl-6,CD45RO,terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT),myeloperoxidase (MPO),CD30,anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK),CD117,or CD34.Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed the presence of a fusion gene (t(11:14) CCND1/IGH) in the abnormal lymphocytes.Based on the above findings,the diagnosis was made as blastoid mantle cell lymphoma with skin and periorbital involvement complicated by hypercalcemia.After treatment with rituximab injection,cyclophosphamide,vincristine,doxorubicin,dexamethasone,and intermittent treatment with intravenous high dose of methotrexate and cytarabine (R-Hyper-CVAD),serum calcium returned to a normal level three days later,and the patient made a quick and excellent recovery on the 6th day,with the regression of skin lesions and poriorbital swelling.Unfortunately,the patient eventually died of severe pulmonary infection one month later.

Using the field sampling and indoor soil cultivation methods, the dynamic of ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial activity and biomass with three cultivated ages was studied to provide a theory basis for illustrating mechanism of continuous cropping obstacles of ginseng. The results showed that ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial activity and biomass accumulation were inhibited observably by growing time. The soil respiration, soil cellulose decomposition and soil nitrification of ginseng rhizosphere soil microorganism were inhibited significantly (P <0.05), in contrast to the control soil uncultivated ginseng (R0). And the inhibition was gradual augmentation with the number of growing years. The soil microbial activity of 3a ginseng soil (R3) was the lowest, and its activity of soil respiration, soil cellulose decomposition, soil ammonification and soil nitrification was lower than that in R0 with 56.31%, 86.71% and 90. 53% , respectively. The soil ammonification of ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial was significantly promoted compared with R0. The promotion was improved during the early growing time, while the promotion was decreased with the number of growing years. The soil ammonification of R1, R2 and R3 were lower than that in R0 with 32.43%, 80.54% and 66.64% separately. The SMB-C and SMB-N in ginseng rhizosphere soil had a decreased tendency with the number of growing years. The SMB-C difference among 3 cultivated ages was significant, while the SMB-N was not. The SMB of R3 was the lowest. Compared with R0, the SMB-C and the SMB-N were significantly reduced 77.30% and 69.36%. It was considered by integrated analysis that the leading factor of continuous cropping obstacle in ginseng was the changes of the rhizosphere soil microbial species, number and activity as well as the micro-ecological imbalance of rhizosphere soil caused by the accumulation of ginseng rhizosphere secretions.
Agriculture ; Ammonium Compounds ; metabolism ; Bacteria ; growth & development ; Biomass ; Cellulose ; metabolism ; Nitrification ; Panax ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Time Factors

Objective: To explore the structural and functional changes of femoral and popliteal arteries in hypertension patients before and after drug therapy. Methods: A total of 201 hypertension patients treated in our hospital from 2010-03 to 2016-01 were studied. Based on blood pressure levels, the patients were divided into 3 groups: Grade-1 group,n=72, Grade-2 Group,n=68 and Grade-3 group,n=61. The patients were treated for 3 months and blood pressure was reduced below 140/90 mmHg. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of femoral and popliteal arteries was measured by two-dimensional ultrasound, blood vessel elasticity parameters of β, Ep, AC and PWV were determined by ET technology. The differences were compared between pre- and post-medication. Results: Compared with pre-medication, post-medication IMT in femoral artery was decreased in 3 groups, allP<0.05 and IMT in popliteal artery was similar,P>0.05; blood vessel elasticity parameters of β, Ep, PWV were decreased in 3 groups and AC was increased, allP<0.05. Conclusion: Drug therapy could effectively improve the elasticity of femoral and popliteal arteries in hypertension patients; two-dimensional ultrasound combining ET technology may dynamically monitor vascular elasticity of lower extremity which provides an objective basis for evaluating medication efifcacy in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the gene expression of hepatic TNF-α and IL-1β by crush injury of rat's soft tissues. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into sham group, crush group, crush+aminoguanidine (AG) group, and crush+L-arginine (L-Arg) group. Activities of ALT and AST as well as NO level in serum were measured. Gene expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were detected with RT-PCR. RESULTS: Obvious increase in TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA expression was detected in the crush group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). After pretreated L-Arg, expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA were markedly increased (P<0.05). After pretreated AG, those indices obviously decreased (P<0.05). Activities of ALT and AST enhanced and NO level increased in the crush group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). Pretreatment with L-Arg or AG led to substantial increased or reduced activities of ALT and AST as well as NO levels, respectively. CONCLUSION Endogenous NO mediated TNF-α, IL-1β mRNA up expression in liver induced by increased production of NO after crush injury of rat's soft tissues.
Animals ; Gene Expression ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Liver ; Nitric Oxide/physiology* ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Xianxiong decoction on the mice with acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide.

METHODEighty female ICR mice were randomly divided into 8 groups: model group, Xianxiong decoction group, Daxianxiong decoction group, Xianxiong decoction group without Kansui Radix group, Xianxiong decoction group without Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Kansui Radix group, normal group and control group. Animals of each group, except normal group, were undertaken intraperitoneal injection and intranasal inhalation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on day 1, 2, 3 to establish acute lung injury (ALI) model. 30 min after modeling, 0.2 mL corresponding drugs were administrated to each mice, dexam ethasone and normal saline were given to the mice of control group and normal group respectively. White blood cell in blood, neutrophil percentage of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) supernatant, the ratio of wet and dry lung tissue ( W/D), histopathological changes of lung tissue were estimated. Sixty ICR mice were randomly divided into normal, model, control, high, middle and low dose Xianxiong decoction groups and were modeled in the same way. ELISA was applied to detect the level of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BALF, PCR for NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha mRNA in lung tissue, and Western blot for NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. Half of 20 ICR mice were administrated with Xianxiong decoction of its maximum tolerant normal saline.

RESULTCompared with model group, the number of WBC in blood of Xianxiong decoction group mice decreased (P < 0.01), percentage of neutrophils in both blood and BALF decreased as well (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); it also significantly reduced the ratio of W/D (P < 0.01); and found the alveolar wall, the number of inflammatory cells infiltrating improved, compared with model group. Xianxiong decoction reduced the level of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BALF (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05); its high and low dose groups only found TNF-alpha level declined. Five mice died 24 h after administration of Xianxiong decoction which indicated its toxicity when other influential factors were considered.

CONCLUSIONXianxiong decoction is effective on the ALI mice induced by LPS, but it is of toxicity at 3 g x mL(-1).

Acute Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism