OBJECTIVETo explore the role of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the directional differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into Leydig cells.

METHODSAfter purification and identification, we inoculated the third-generation BMSCs of SD rats onto a six-orifice board and then randomly divided them into groups A (normal saline control), B (human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] + platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF] induction), C (hCG + PDGF + 5.0 ng/ml bFGF induction), D (hCG + PDGF + 10.0 ng/ml bFGF induction), and E (hCG + PDGF + 20.0 ng/ml bFGF induction). On the 7th, 14th and 21st day of induction, we observed the morphological changes of the cells and measured the level of testosterone (T) and expression of 3 beta hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) in the supernatant by immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSAfter induction, the BMSCs of groups B, C, D, and E exhibited microscopic features of enlarged size, inter-connection, long-shuttle or irregular shape, adherent growth, and large round nuclei, all characteristic of Leydig cells. With the prolonging of time and enhanced concentration of bFGF, gradual increases were observed in the T level and the count of 3β-HSD-positive BMSCs in the four induction groups, with statistically significant differences between group B and groups C, D, and E (P < 0.05), as well as between group C and groups D and E (P < 0.05), but not between D and E (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe bFGF has an obvious promoting effect in the in vitro induced differentiation of rat BMSCs into Leydig cells.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; metabolism

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)is a critical problem of liver surgery,especially when comes to liver transplantation.Presently.there are no effective measures for diagnosis,prevention and therapy of IRI,as the mechanisms of IRI still remain unclear.This review summarizes several new hepatic ischemia-reperfusion markers related to cell signal transduetion pathway.including transcription factor STAT,HIF-1 and PPARs,transmission factor MAPK,membrane receptor TLR4 and PARs.and iNOS.Animal studies have indicated that IRI was ameliorated by activating or blockading these markers,which might serve as targets for diagnosis,prevention and therapy of IRI.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vulva ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Disease Notification ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis

To solve separating problem of natural soda, fifty-seven strains screened from soil, floul water and activated mud were of flocculating activity. Two strains of bacteria, which were screened from above mentioned strains have higher activity and better steady than the whole culture liquid of bacteria was observed that its flocculating use to natural soda was strong and the mean flocculating rate of two strains were 79.80% and 87.% respectively.

ObjectiveTo study the clinical features, arterial involvement, therapeutic strategies and outcomes of Takayasu arteritis (TA). MethodsThe clinical symptoms, arterial images, inflammatory parameters and follow-up information of 173 patients with TA were retrospectively studied. Comparisons between groups were performed by t-test. ResultsThere were 136 female and 37 male patients in this study. The mean age at onset was(26±11 ) years. Hypertension, pulse deficit or asymmetrical pulse, and fever were present in 46.6％, 41.1％, 28.7％ of patients, respectively. The distribution of arterial involvement were 64.7％in aorta, 9.8％ in pulmonary artery, 19.1％ in innominate artery, 65.9％ in common carotid arteries, 65.3％in the subclavian artery, 36.2％ in the renal artery, 12.1％ in the vertebral artery, and 5.8％ in coeliac axis.Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) was found in 61.0％ patients. Active tuberculosis or history of tuberculosis was implicated in 45 patients(26.0％). Ten patients(5.8％) were hepatitis B virus carriers.Among 105 followed-up patients, 98 patients(94.2％) achieved persistent remission, 17 patients relapsed when corticosteroids were tapered. ConclusionCorticosteroids combined with or steroid alone, supplemented with endovascular intervention procedures or surgical bypass procedures when necessary, can effectively control the clinical symptoms and inflammatory parameters and improve the quality of life of patients.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of two different protocols of ketogenic diet (KD)-eating on demand or eating at regular intervals for refractory epilepsy in children.Methods Sixty children with refractory epilepsy were randomly divided into eating on demand group (n =30) and eating at regular intervals group (n =30) by random number table method.After taking the whole amount of KD,the capillary blood ketone and glucose level and urine ketone were monitored every 6 hours in 72 continuous hours.Seizure frequency and onset time were recorded.Antiepileptic efficacy and diet tolerability of the two groups were evaluated on 4 weeks,12 weeks,24 weeks and 48 weeks after initiating the diet.Adverse effects were monitored.Results After treatment of 4 weeks,the complete seizure remission rates of eating on demand group and eating at regular intervals group were 33.3％ (10/30) and 30.0％ (9/30) respectively,which suggested a comparable efficacy for two groups (P ＞ 0.05).The day when KD started to work was averaged (6.18 ± 2.42) d and (8.63 ± 2.63) d respectively.The group of eating on demand showed a faster onset of action (P ＜0.05).After treatment of 12 weeks,24 weeks and 48 weeks,complete seizure remission rates of eating on demand group were 30.0％ (9/30),34.8％ (8/23) and 36.8％ (7/19) respectively;the eating at regular intervals group were 33.3％ (10/30),30.4％ (7/23) and 44.4％ (8/18) respectively.The two groups had no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).One year later,the treatment retention rates of the two groups were 63.3 ％ (19/30) and 60.0％ (18/30) respectively.There was no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).The adverse effects mainly including transient gastrointestinal symptoms and metabolic disturbances were mostly tolerable and curable.Conclusion The two different protocols of KD-eating on demand and eating at regular intervals are both effective and well-tolerated for refractory epilepsy in children.While protocol of eating on demand is more easier to achieve ketotic state and the effect is more quickly,so it can be more easily received by children.Therefore in clinical practice,we can choose flexible eating time according to children's eating habits,which can improve the therapeutic compliance.

Culture environment is the key factor in the construction of dermal skin.It was investigated that the effects of the culture methods,including the static culture and spinner flask culture,and stir speeds on the cells proliferation,metabolism and distribution within collagenchitosan sponges.A higher cell density and specific growth rate was obtained with spinner flask culture versus static culture,especially,the 80 r/min spinner flask culture.The cell distribution in dermal substitutes from stirred culture system was more uniform than static culture,as well as that with increase of stir speeds in spinner flask.In summary,the spinner flasks culture with proper stir speed shows promise for the construction of dermal substitutes in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of paraquat (PQ) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and neutrophil apoptosis and its possible signal transduction pathways.

METHODSCultured neutrophils were treated with different concentrations of PQ for 6-24 h. The apoptosis rate of neutrophils and ROS content were determined by flow cytometry. The exoressions of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and Caspase 3 were detected by Western blot. These parameters were checked again after NF-κB and Caspase 3 antagonist were applied.

RESULTSPQ could boost ROS generation and depress neutrophil apoptosis significantly. At the same time PQ could enhance the expression of NF-κB and inhibit the expression of Caspase 3. These effects could be reversed by ROS inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) and NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC).

CONCLUSIONPQ is a potent inducer of ROS and can inhibit neutrophil apoptosis by activating NF-κB and surpressing Caspase 3 activity.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; drug effects ; Paraquat ; toxicity ; Pyrrolidines ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology

The leading cause of drug withdrawal from market and clinical trials failure is drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Varying clinical, histological and laboratory features of DILI, as well as undefined underlying mechanisms, hinder patients to be diagnosed in the early-stage of the disease and receive effective treatments. Conventional indicators, like serum transaminases and bilirubin, have inevitable limitations referring to sensitive prediction and specific detection of DILI. In order to reduce the occurrence of DILI, researchers have attempted to discover potential biomarkers with higher specificity and sensitivity from blood and urine in recent years. This article aims to review recent advances in biomarkers of DILI.
Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity