OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of mutation or polymorphism of ameloblastin (AMBN) gene in ameloblastomas.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from frozen tissues of 10 ameloblastomas and one malignant ameloblastoma. AMBN gene alterations were detected by PCR-direct sequencing. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was used to further determine the nature of the changes in AMBN detected in tumor samples in comparison to 100 control samples.

RESULTSAMBN mutation was not identified in all 11 tumor samples. The 7 types of AMBN gene alteration identified in 9 cases were proven to be polymorphisms, three of which were not previously reported. The frequency of genotype and allele of the three SNPs complied with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Neither genotype nor allele frequency showed a significant association with ameloblastoms.

CONCLUSIONSAMBN gene mutation is not identified in the present group of ameloblastomas. The frequently detected AMBN alterations in ameloblastomas are polymorphisms, which appear to be unrelated to the occurrence of ameloblastomas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ameloblastoma ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Dental Enamel Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Jaw Neoplasms ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanisms of Compound Astragalus Recipe (CAR) for regulating cellular immune in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).

METHODSSixty MG patients were equally assigned to two groups randomly, the test group administered with CAR and the control group with prednisone for 3 months. Changes of patients' symptoms and adverse reactions were observed. The peripheral lymphocyte subsets distribution was examined by flow cytometry, and the levels of immunoglobulins and complements in the peripheral blood were measured by immuno-turbidimetry before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the test group after 12-week treatment reached 80% (24/30), while that of the control group reached 83.3% (25/30), difference between them showed no statistical significance (P > 0.05). CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were lowered significantly in both groups, but the decrement of CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the test group was more significant than that in the control group, showing significance between groups (P < 0.05). While CD8+ in the test group after treatment was significantly increased as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference in comparing with that in the control group (P > 0.05). Serum levels of IgM and IgA in MG patients were significantly higher than normal range (P < 0.01). Levels of C3 and C4 were significantly increased in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05). Moderate high level of ALT and AST revealed transiently at the 2nd week in 5 patients of the control group, while no adverse reaction was found in the test group.

CONCLUSIONOne of the mechanisms for CAR in playing its immuno-modulate effect may be its regulation on lymphocyte subsets distribution and humoral immune function.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Child ; Complement System Proteins ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Phytotherapy ; Young Adult

The medicinal plant resource reserve refers to the natural resources of medicinal plants in a certain time and a certain region within the scope of the volume. In recent years, with the demand of medicinal plant resources surging and the change of the environment and human intervention factors, the medicinal plant resources reserve had accelerated pace of change. It is the prerequisite and basis for the development and utilization of medical plants that how to quickly and accurately attain reserve of some medicinal plants resources, the selection of suitable and accurate estimating method is reliable basis and can guarantee medicinal plant reserve survey, and also is one of the key reserve investigation of success. This paper systematically summarized the estimation method of medicinal plants in recent 30 years, and discussed the basic principle, the estimation model of development and evolution, advantages and disadvantages and applicability, and it aimed to improve the accuracy about reserves survey of medicinal plant resources, and provide scientific and reliable support data to medicinal plants resources for sustainable development and utilization of resources.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Models, Statistical ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of mesenteric lymph duct (MLD) ligation on erythrocyte rheology in acute hemorrhagic rats.

METHODSTwenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into hemorrhage group and ligation group (n = 10). Blood (one fourth of body whole blood volume) was withdrawn through right common carotid arteries after rats were anesthetized. In ligation group, the MLD was ligated after hemorrhage, and only threading under the MLD in hemorrhage group. The survival situation at 24 h was recorded. After 24 h, survival rats were anesthetized again, blood sample was withdrawn through left common carotid artery rapidly. And the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), electrophoresis of erythrocytes, hematocrit (Hct) were determined in blood samples of before and after hemorrhage, the erythrocytes aggregation and deformability indices were calculated.

RESULTSIt showed that the ligation group survival (9 rats alive) was slightly better than that in hemorrhage group (6 rats alive). The results of erythrocyte rheology indices showed that the ESR, K value of equation, K value of emendation and electrophoresis time in hemorrhage group and ligation group were higher or longer than those before hemorrhage, the erythrocyte deformability was reduced significantly, respectively. And the erythrocytes aggregation index in hemorrhage group was increased, the electrophoresis length and migration of erythrocyte in hemorrhage group were lower than those before hemorrhage, respectively. But compared with hemorrhage group, the ESR, K value of equation, K value of emendation, erythrocytes aggregation index and electrophoresis time in ligation group were lower, the electrophoresis lenght, migration and deformability of erythrocyte were increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that the higher erythrocyte aggregation ability, lower electrophoresis function and deformability are caused by acute hemorrhage in rats, and the MLD ligation can improve the abnormal erythrocyte rheology.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erythrocyte Deformability ; Erythrocytes ; pathology ; Hemorrhage ; surgery ; Ligation ; Lymphatic Vessels ; surgery ; Male ; Mesentery ; surgery ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rheology ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; surgery

AIMTo observe the effect of mesenteric lymph duct ligation on free radical and inflammatory mediator of myocardium with severe hemorrhagic shock in rats at different period, and explore the effect of intestinal lymphatic pathway on myocardium injury pathogenesis in shock rats.

METHODS78 male Wistar rats were divided into the sham group, shock group and ligation group. The model of serious hemorrhagic shock was established in shock group, ligation group, and mesenteric lymph was blocked by ligating mesenteric lymph duct in ligation group after resuscitate. All rats were executed and taken out heart making for homogenate of 10 percent to determine the MDA, SOD, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), NO and NOS at after shock 90 min, after transfusion and resuscitate 0 h, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h etc. different times, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in myocardium was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe contents of MDA, TNFalpha, IL-6, MPO, NO, NOS and iNOS expression in myocardium of shock group were rising after transfusion and resuscitate, and that was higher level at 3 h to 12 h, and that was significantly higher than sham group, the activity of SOD was significantly lower than sham group. The contents of MDA, TNFalpha, IL-6, MPO, NO, NOS and iNOS expression in myocardium of ligation group were significantly lower than that of shock group at sameness points, and the SOD activity was higher.

CONCLUSIONThe mesenteric lymph duct ligation and blocking mesenteric lymph could reduce the PMN detaining, decrease the discharging of TNFa and IL-6, reduce the NO and expression of iNOS mRNA, and reduce the releasing of free radical and consuming of SOD.

Animals ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Vessels ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesentery ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the maturation effect of CpG2006 and phosphodiester oligonucleotides on leukemia-derived dendritic cells.

METHODSLeukemia cells K562/A02 were induced into dendritic cells by rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4. After 7 days induction, the cell-morphology was observed, the immunophenotype of cells was detected by flow cytometry and the cell function was evaluated by allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions, CTL responses and secretion of IL-12 and IL-6. Then a CpG oligonucleotide CpG2006, two synthetic bacterial phosphodiester oligonucleotides A-ODN and T-ODN were added to these leukemia-derived DCs. Three days later, the DCs were re-detected by the above-mentioned methods.

RESULTSAfter induced by CpG2006, A-ODN or T-ODN, the leukemia-derived DCs with typical dendritic morphology were increased. The expressions of CD83, HLA-DR and CD86 were (65.5 +/- 8.4)%, (32.0 +/- 4.3)% and (18.6 +/- 3.2)% respectively in day 7 leukemia-derived DCs, raised to (88.9 +/- 3.6)%, (53.9 +/- 3.2)% and (39.9 +/- 7.3)% respectively after exposing CpG2006 for 3 days; increased to (97.0 +/- 5.3)%, (63.9 +/- 7.3)% and (40.2 +/- 7.4)% respectively after treated by A-ODN; and further increased to (93.26 +/- 4.65)%, (58.3 +/- 5.6)% and (36.2 +/- 6.8)% respectively after treated by T-ODN. These results was markedly different than unaffected cells did. These DCs induced by the above-mentioned three oligonucleotides could upregulate significantly the capacity for stimulating allogeneic T cells. They could also induce CTL to generate specific cytotoxic activity against K562/A02 cells. The secretion of IL-6 and IL-12 was increased remarkably.

CONCLUSIONCpG2006, as well as two phosphodiester oligonucleotides can induce leukemia-derived DCs maturation.

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; pharmacology ; Oligonucleotides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVESTo study the effect of lead acetate on the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) protein in rat brain and the regulation of thyroid hormone.

METHODSLead acetate was given to SD rats intraperitoneally ip. at the dosage of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively. 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) was used to make a hypothyroid model and then lead acetate was given at the dosage of 50 mg/kg body weight through i.p. The NGF protein expression in rat brain was observed by immunohistochemistry Triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), TSH in serum and T3, T4 in brain tissue were determined by radio immunoassays (RIAs).

RESULTSThe average gray value of NGF protein in cerebral cortex of 50 mg, 100 mg treated groups (180.49 +/- 10.33, 169.72 +/- 19.75, respectively) were lower than the control (200.75 +/- 3.27, P<0.01). The area density of NGF protein in hippocampus of three treated groups (0.08 +/- 0.14, 0.12 +/- 0.02, 0.13 +/- 0.04, respectively) were significantly different from the control (0.025 +/- 0.015, P<0.05). The area density and the average gray value of NGF protein in lead acetate treated hypothyroid rat brain were of no significant changes. The levels of serum T3 in three treated groups [(0.68 +/- 0.02), (0.57 +/- 0.04), (0.54 +/- 0.02) microg/L respectively] and T4 [(28.30 +/- 1.83), (27.35 +/- 2.55), (24.00 +/- 3.01) microg/L] in serum were significantly lower while TSH [(6.34 +/- 1.13), (7.74 +/- 0.79), (9.16 +/- 0.77) IU] higher than those in the control [T3 (0.97 +/- 0.14) microg/L, T4 (54.50 +/- 3.70) microg/L and TSH (4.62 +/- 2.16) IU], and there was a good dose-response relationship. The levels of T3 in cerebral cortex of three treated groups [(13.26 +/- 0.81), (11.49 +/- 0.10), (10.42 +/- 1.19) pg/mg pro respectively] and T4 [(0.50 +/- 0.03), (0.49 +/- 0.13), (0.42 +/- 0.01) ng/mg pro] were significantly lower than those in control [(20.85 +/- 11.01) pg/mg pro, (0.76 +/- 0.14) ng/mg pro, P<0.05, P<0.01].

CONCLUSIONLead could increase the NGF protein expression in rat brain, which may be regulated by thyroid hormone.

Animals ; Brain Chemistry ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; analysis ; Organometallic Compounds ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thyroid Hormones ; analysis ; blood ; physiology

Objective To investigate the effects of advanced glycation end-products(AGEPs)on the function of normal keratinocytes in vitro so as to explore the role of AGEPs in impaired wound healing. Methods Normal rat keratinocytes were incubated with different concentrations of AGEPs.After 48 hours of culturing,the cell proliferation rates were measured by MTT colorimetric determination.The cell cycle distributions and apoptosis were analyzed with flow cytometry,and the migration was investigated by 24-well fluorimetric cell migration assay kit by exposing to 100?g/ml AGEPs.Nuclear extracts from these cells were examined for binding of nucleotides containing NF-?B consensus by immunocytochemistry and EMSA in vitro.Results The proliferations of normal keratinocytes were significantly arrested and many cells were induced to early apoptosis compared with control ones(P＜0.05)by exposing to AGEPs for 48 hours. Meanwhile AGEPs also irritated keratinocytes migration compared with control ones(P＜0.05).Inhibiting the activation of NF-?B could partly recover the proliferation of keratinocytes,reverse apoptosis and attenu- ate migration.Conclusion AGEPs are correlated with the migration,proliferation and apoptosis of kera- tinocytes by NF-?B.

Objective: To study therapeutic effect of metoprolol combined trimetazidine on ischemic heart failure (IHF) and its influence on inflammatory factors. Methods: A total of 172 IHF patients treated in our hospital were collected. They were randomly and equally divided into trimetazidine group and combined treatment group (received metoprolol combined trimetazidine), and both groups were treated for 30d. Cardiac function, levels of inflammatory factors, N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), heart type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and quality of life (QOL) before and after treatment, and cerebral infarction rate after one-year treatment were compared between two groups. Results: Compared with trimetazidine group after treatment, there were significant rise in left ventricular ejection fraction [(44. 68±4. 51) ％ vs. (49. 79±4. 99) ％], significant reductions in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension [(50. 41± 5. 06) mm vs. (47. 28±4. 83) mm], left ventricular end-systolic dimension [(41. 57±4. 22) mm vs. (36. 72±3. 71) mm], levels of NT-proBNP [(3. 48±0. 35) ng/L vs. (3. 06±0. 32) ng/L], H-FABP [(11. 41±1. 26) μg/L vs. (8. 55±0. 86) μg/L], interleukin 6 [(53. 21±5. 36) ng/L vs. (43. 58±4. 44) ng/L], tumor necrosis factorα [(161. 97±16. 28) ng/L vs. (108. 27±10. 11) ng/L]and C reactive protein [(15. 72±1. 59) ng/L vs. (11. 10±1. 12) ng/L]and QOL score [(48. 75±4. 89) scores vs. (43. 15±4. 33) scores]in combined treatment group, P＜0. 05 or＜0. 01. Total effective rate of combined treatment group was significantly higher than that of trimetazidine group (90. 70％ vs. 72. 09％, P=0. 002); after one-year treatment, incidence rate of cerebral infarction in combined treatment group was significantly lower than that of trimetazidine group (2. 33％ vs. 10. 47％, P=0. 029). Conclusion: Metoprolol combined trimetazidine can significantly improve myocardial blood supply, correct immune imbalance, improve cardiac function and quality of life in IHF patients. The therapeutic effect is significant, and it can prevent cerebral infraction, which is worth extending.

This study was purposed to investigate the infection incidence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and curative efficacy of glucocorticoids combined with anti-helicobacter. 100 ITP patients with positive HP were divided randomly into 3 groups: glucocorticoid group (treatment with glucocorticoids, n = 35), anti-HP treatment group (HP eradication, n = 30) and combined treatment group (glucocorticoid combined with HP eradication, n = 35). 100 healthy individuals were selected as control. The results showed that HP infection rate in ITP group was 70%, while HP infection rate in control group (persons received physical examination) was 56%, there was significant difference between two groups (p < 0.05). The HP of 31 cases in combined treatment group was eradicated that the platelet count in 23 out of 31 cases recovered to normal, and in 8 cases was higher than that before treatment, which mean count was (165 +/- 225) x 10(9)/L, this value had statistical significance as compared with that before treatment (p < 0.01). Total efficiency in this group reached to 89%, and relapse rate within 1 year was 8%. The HP infection of 2 cases in glucocorticoid group had been turned to negative naturally, and platelet count recovered to normal, while HP infection in remained 33 cases was still positive. The platelet count in 23 out of 33 cases of that group was not back to normal, but back to normal in 10 cases. The platelet mean count in that group was (78 +/- 26) x 10(9)/L with total efficiency rate of 68% and relapse rate within 1 year was 37%. In the anti-HP treatment group, HP infection in 25 cases was eradicated and platelet count in 9 out of 25 cases recovered to normal, that platelet count in 9 cases was higher than that before treatment, platelet mean count was (135 +/- 174) x 10(9)/L), there was significant difference (p < 0.01), as compared with value before treatment. Total efficiency rate in this group reached to 60%, and relapse rate within 1 year was 33%. It is concluded that the patients with ITP have higher HP infection incidence, and the eradication of HP is effective therapy for the ITP patients with HP infection, which can be used as initial treatment.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Case-Control Studies ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; complications ; drug therapy ; microbiology