AIM: To investigate the effect of 17?-estradiol(E2) on myocardial hypertrophy induced by endothelin-1(ET-1) and the related mechanism.METHODS: Myocardial cells from neonate rats were cultured in vitro and myocardial hypertrophy model was established with ET-1.The effects of 17?-estradiol on myocardial hypertrophy were observed.The role of ERK1/2 in the effects of 17?-estradiol was also detected.RESULTS: Compared with control group,ET-1 increased cell protein content,cell surface area and -Leucine(-Leu) incorporation.Pretreatment with E2 for 24 h could inhibit the increase in cell protein content,cell surface area and -Leu incorporation induced by ET-1.ET-1 significantly stimulated ERK1/2 activity,which was prevented by pretreatment with E2.Tamoxifen,estradiol receptor antagonist,partially inhibited the effect of E2.The ability of ET-1 to stimulate -Leu incorporation was significantly blocked by PD98059,which could enhance the inhibitory effect of E2 on the increase of -Leu incorporation in cardiomyocytes induced by ET-1.CONCLUSION: E2 can inhibit cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by ET-1.This effect is mediated by estrogen receptor.ERK1/2 signal pathway is closely correlated with the inhibitory effect of E2 on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by ET-1.

Bacterial Infections ; transmission ; Drug Resistance, Microbial

Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; surgery

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Dental Implants, Single-Tooth ; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Maxilla

Objective To establish normal range of components of cord blood cells in healthy fetuses from 19 to 37 weeks' gestation and to provide proof for diagnosis of hematological disorders in prenatal fetuses and premature infants.Methods Twelve hematological parameters were determined in 182 fetuses using Coulter GENS system 2 full automated blood cell counter,and the blood cells were classified by microscope.Results The number of white blood cell(WBC) was increased gradually from 3.58?10~9/L to 5.76?10~9/L with the gestational weeks increasing from 19 to 37 weeks.The differential counts indicated that the lymphocytes represented the main population.The number of lymphocytes and normoblast was decreased gradually and that of neutrophils was increased gradually.The numbers of monocytes,eosinophils and basophils remained stable as the increasing of gestational weeks.The red blood cell(RBC),hemoglobin(HGB) and hematocrit(HCT) were increased gradually but mean corpuscular volume(MCV) was decreased.The differences between mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH),platelet volume distribution width(PDW),mean platelet volume(MPV),plateletcrit(PCT) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration(MCHC) were not significant among different fetuses' ages.Conclusion The components of cord blood cells in healthy fetuses are dynamic and the establishment normal range of components of cord blood cells in healthy fetuses is helpful to diagnose the disorders in prenatal fetuses and premature infants.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) inducing angiogenesis on the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone and its mechanisms after focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODThe middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed to mice for 30 minutes to establish the model. The rats were divided into sham group, model group, BYHWD group and endostatin group. BYHWD (20 g x kg(-1), ig) and endostatin (10 μg, sc) were administered 24 h after ischemia once a day for consecutively 14 days. At 14 d after ischemia, the density of micro-vessel and the number of neuroblasts in the ischemia border zone were determined by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expression of cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF) were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTCompared with the model group, BYHWD significantly increased the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), and significantly increased the SDF-1 and BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01). Compared with BYHWD group, endostatin significantly reduced the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), as well as the SDF-1, BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBYHWD could promote the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone via inducing angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia, the mechanism may be correlated with up-regulating the expression of SDF-1 and BDNF.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cerebral Ventricles ; pathology ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; analysis ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology

AIMTo explore the causes of the difference in spermatogenic suppression between responders and non-responders in Chinese men treated with levonorgestrel (LNG) implants plus testosterone undecanoate (TU) injectable.

METHODSThe 16 Chinese volunteers treated were divided into two groups in regard to the sperm count during the treatment period, 7 men in the responder group (Group R), including 6 azoospermia and one severe oligozoospermia, and the remaining 9 in the non-responder group (Group N), including 4 oligozoospermia and 5 with sperm counts greater than 20 x 10(6)/mL. The differences in serum profiles of FSH, LH, T, LNG and T/LH ratio were compared between the two groups and the correlation between the seminal fluid parameters and serum reproductive hormones was analyzed.

RESULTSThe serum FSH level was lower in Group R than that in Group N (P<0.05), while the serum LH and LNG levels were higher in Group R than those in Group N (P<0.05). The sperm density (P<0.01, r=0.235), motility(P<0.01, r=0.326) and vitality (P<0.01, r=0.219) showed significantly positive correlation with the serum FSH level.

CONCLUSIONThe blood LNG and T levels, the degree of FSH inhibition and/or the sensitivity of the pituitary-testis axis to exogenous steroids, as well as the individual spermatogenetic potential and the functional status of the Leydig cells may be factors bringing about individual differences in spermatogenic suppression in Chinese men treated with LNG and TU.

Adult ; Contraceptive Agents, Male ; administration & dosage ; Drug Implants ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Injections ; Levonorgestrel ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Leydig Cells ; physiology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood

Objective To investigate the screening significance of transcranial Doppler (TCD) for patients with patent foramen ovale ( PFO) induced cerebral embolism and to improve the treatment aiming at the causes.Methods Thirty-six patients of less than 60 years old with unknown-cause cerebral embolism and transient ischemic attack were enrolled.Besides conventional examination,the 24 h Holter,transthoracic echocariiography,carotid artery Doppler ultrasonography (CAU),routine TCD,TCD foaming test,transesophageal echocardiography (TEE),CT angiography (CTA) of head and neck,ultrasonography of vein in bilateral lower limbs were examined in all patients.Results All the patients showed no atrial fibrillation.No structural heart disease and intracardiac occupying lesion were shown in transthoracic echocardiography.No carotid stenosis was shown in carotid artery Doppler ultrasonography.Routine TCD showed no intracranial artery stenosis.No thrombus was found in ultrasonography of deep veins in bilateral lower limbs.CTA of head and neck showed everything was normal.Fourteen patients were observed with right-to-left shunt in heart by TCD foaming test,including 10 cases with microbubble signals(MBS) in 10 s,and 4 cases with MBS after Valsalva maneuver.Among 14 patients,12 patients were proved PFO by TEE.Conclusions PFO is one of the causes of cardiogenic cerebral embolism.TCD is accurate and reliable for the screening of PFO.

TGF-β signaling pathway plays a central role in the signaling networks that control the growth, differentiation of the cell, and the initiation of fibrosis and cancer. Wnt signaling pathway is critical for the embryonic development and the invasion and migration of cancer cells. TGF-β signaling and Wnt signaling, both of which play an important role in regulating embryonic development, fibrotic disease and tumor progression, have a close relationship. Researches find several typical cross points between these two signaling systems, such as Smad, Axin, Dvl and β-catenin. In this review, we focus on the crosstalk between TGF-β signaling and Wnt signaling through these typical factors, intending to better understand the process of fibrosis and tumor progression.
Fibrosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; physiology ; Wnt Proteins ; physiology ; Wnt Signaling Pathway