Planarian is among the simplest animals that possess a centralized nervous system (CNS), and its neural regeneration involves the replacement of cells lost to normal 'wear and tear' (cell turnover), and/or injury. In this review, we state and discuss the recent studies on molecular control of neural regeneration in planarians. The spatial and temporal expression patterns of genes in intact and regenerating planarian CNS have already been described relatively clearly. The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt signaling pathways are identified to regulate neural regeneration. During neural regeneration, conserved axon guidance mechanisms are necessary for proper wiring of the nervous system. In addition, apoptosis may play an important role in controlling cell numbers, eliminating unnecessary tissues or cells and remodeling the old tissues for regenerating CNS. The bilateral symmetry is established by determination of anterior-posterior (A-P) and dorsal-ventral (D-V) patterns. Moreover, neurons positive to dopamine, serotonin (5-HT), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) have been detected in planarians. Therefore, planarians present us with new, experimentally accessible contexts to study the molecular actions guiding neural regeneration.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; metabolism ; Central Nervous System ; cytology ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; Gene Expression ; physiology ; Nerve Regeneration ; genetics ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Planarians ; genetics ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Wnt Proteins ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of acupoint injection desensitization with autoblood and routine combined therapy for treatment of chronic urticaria.

METHODSTwo hundred patients with chronic urticaria were randomly divided into an acupoint injection with autoblood (AJA) group and a medicine group, 100 cases in each group. The AJA group was treated by acupoint injection desensitization with autoblood and Dazhui (GV 14), Fengfu (GV 16), Feishu (BL 13), Neiguan (PC 6) and etc. were selected, 3-5 acupoints each time, once every three days, 30 days for a course. The therapeutic effect was assessed after one course. The medicine group was treated with external application of Dexamethasone Acetate cream, twice a day, and oral administration of Setastine Hydrochloride, twice a day, 1 mg each time and the treatment duration was the same as that in the AJA group.

RESULTSThe clinical cured rate was 66.0% (66/100) in the AJA group, which was superior to that of 0 (0/100) in the medicine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint injection desensitization with autoblood has obvious therapeutic effect on chronic urticaria with no apparent dependence and rebound problem.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Urticaria ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo discuss the changes of lymphocyte subsets in HCV children with different genotypes during treatment with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.

METHODSThe genotype of 45 HCV infected children were identified by real time PCR. The lymphocyte subsets were dynamically detected by BD FACSCalibur flow cytometer with four color MultiTEST IMK Kit during the treatment.

RESULTSFor the children with 1b genotype, after 24 weeks, the CD4+ T cells were higher than pre-treatment (P < 0.05). For the children with 2a genotype, after 12 weeks and after 24 weeks, the CD3+ T cells and CD4+ T cells significantly increased while the NK cells decreased than pre-treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe lymphocyte subsets of HCV children with 2a genotype were different from 1b genotype during trentment with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; classification ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Male ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the whole process of cranio-maxillofacial development of an animal model with bilateral premaxillary clefts, after being exerted with premaxillary retro-pressing forces.

METHODSExperimental rabbits with premaxillary clefts and without clefts were exerted with retro-pressing forces respectively. Roentgenographic cephalometric analysis and different investigations of premaxillary suture were performed during the whole craniofacial development.

RESULTSThe longitudinal cephalometric analysis showed that a temporary retarding effect of mid-facial growth existed. The hindrance of maxillary growth potentiality did not occur in spite of being exerted retro-pressing force as to this experimental extent.

CONCLUSIONS(1) Infant rabbit combined with the designed retro-pressing appliance is an ideal experimental model for quantitative study of active orthopedic treatment of protruding premaxilla. (2) Using active preoperative orthopedics to reposit the protruding premaxilla of bilateral cleft palate is a reasonable and effective approach.

Animals ; Cephalometry ; Cleft Lip ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Cleft Palate ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Maxilla ; growth & development ; Maxillofacial Development ; physiology ; Models, Animal ; Orthodontic Appliances, Removable ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of lemon peel extracts (LPE) on the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and sucrase of Streptococcus mutans (Sm).

METHODSAfter serial dilution with trypticase soy broth (TSB) medium containing 2% glucose, LPE was used as the experimental group, and TSB without LPE as the control group. Sm was added to each group, which was then cultured for 6, 18, 24 and 48 hours in the anaerobic tank. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) was measured with the method of oxidation of reduction coenzymeIand the pH value of the culture solution was also detected. The activity of the sucrose was determined with the method of coloration of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid.

RESULTSThe activity of LDH, sucrase and the changes of solution pH were decreased with the increase of the concentration of LPE (P < 0.01). The activity of LDH were declined from (0.8025 ± 0.0913) × 10(3) U/L to (0.2099 ± 0.0283) × 10(3) U/L; the activity of sucrase were declined from (-0.0107 ± 0.0003) × 10(3) U/L to (-0.0078 ± 0.0002) × 10(3) U/L; the ΔpH were declined from (2.8067 ± 0.0404) to (2.5033 ± 0.0416) (24 h results). The differences were significant between experimental groups and the control group (P < 0.01), and there were also significant differences among experimental groups with different LPE concentration (P < 0.01). The inhibitory effect of acid generation and lactate dehydrogenas' activity of Sm were positively correlated (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLPE can inhibit the activity of lactate dehydrogenase, sucrase and the acid production capacity of the Sm in a dose dependent manner. The inhibitory effects in logarithmic phase is stronger than that in other phases of growth cycle.

Citrus ; chemistry ; Glucose ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lactic Acid ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Streptococcus mutans ; enzymology ; Sucrase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Erlong Zuoci Pill (, ELZCP) and its disassembled: prescriptions on gentamicin (GM)-induced ototoxicity model in vitro.

METHODSAfter the spiral organ of cochleae: of newborn mice (postnatal days: 2-3) cultured for 24 h, GM alone or combined with water extracting-alcohol precipitating solution of ELZCP or with its disassembled prescriptions was added. Hair cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope after TRITC-phalloidin staining, and the cochlear hair cell loss rate was calculated by counting the whole cochlear hair cells and analyzed by whole cochlear hair cells analyzing software.

RESULTSGM induced cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) and inner hair cells (IHCs) injuries in a dose-dependent manner, and they were significantly different as compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ELZCP at the concentration of 0.003-3 mg/mL could decrease the hair cells loss induced by the 0.3 mmol/L GM (P<0.05, P<0.01), the effects was in a dose-dependent manner, and the concentration of 0.3 mg/mL showed the optimal protective effect. For the ELZCP disassembled prescriptions, Liuwei-Dihuang could decrease OHC loss rate than that in the 0.3 mmol/L GM model group (P<0.05), but the OHC loss rate was still higher than that in the ELZCP group (P<0.01), which indicated that the protective effect of hair cells by Liuwei-Dihuang was not better than that of ELZCP. Poria decreased OHC loss rate from 72.1 % +/-3.7 % to 58.8 %+/- 8.2 % (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSELZCP could play a role in antagonizing the injury of cochlear hair cells induced by GM ototoxicity,: and its disassembled prescriptions, Liuwei-Dihuang was the main component to protect the cochlear hair cells from GM-induced ototoxicity, and Magnetitum combined with Radix Bupleurui could strengthen the action of the whole prescription; Poria could reduce GM-induced OHC loss.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gentamicins ; toxicity ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner ; drug effects ; pathology ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer ; drug effects ; pathology ; Mice ; Organ of Corti ; drug effects ; pathology ; Prescriptions ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo construct a novel kind of nonviral gene delivery vector based on polyethylenimine (PEI) conjugated with polypeptides derived from ligand FGF with high transfection efficiency and according to tumor targeting ability.

METHODSThe synthetic polypeptides CR16 for binding FGF receptors was conjugated to PEI and the characters of the polypeptides including DNA condensing and particle size were determined. Enhanced efficiency and the targeting specificity of the synthesized vector were investigated in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTSThe polypeptides were successfully coupled to PEI. The new vectors PEI-CR16 could efficiently condense pDNA into particles with around 200 nm diameter. The PEI-CR16/pDNA polyplexes showed significantly greater transgene activity than PEI/pDNA in FGF receptors positive tumor cells in vitro and in vivo gene transfer, while no difference was observed in FGF receptors negative tumor cells. The enhanced transfection efficiency of PEI-CR16 could be blocked by excess free polypeptides.

CONCLUSIONThe synthesized vector could improve the efficiency of gene transfer and targeting specificity in FGF receptors positive cells. The vector had good prospect for use in cancer gene therapy.

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Carcinoma ; therapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ligands ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Particle Size ; Peptides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Polyethyleneimine ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Surface Properties ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic feature, immunophenotype and differential diagnosis of cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease (CRDD).

METHODSClinical manifestation, morphologic features and immunohistochemical staining were studied in 8 cases of CRDD.

RESULTSAll 8 patients presented with multiple papules, nodules and/or coalescent patches or plaques distributing over the extremities or trunk, without lymphadenopathy or other systemic abnormalities. Microscopically, the lesions were located intradermally and/or subcutaneously. CRDD was characterized by the presence of S-100 positive histiocytic cells exhibiting emperipolesis, accompanying with infiltration of mixed inflammatory cells. Fibrosis, somewhere in vague storiform pattern due to stromal responses, with distribution of individual neutrophil microabscess was seen in cases with a long course of illness. Dilated vascular spaces in dermis containing numerous large typical histiocytes were seen in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONSCRDD is a benign, persistent proliferative disease of histiocytes. Systemic involvement is rare, outcome favorable. It should be differentiated from other types of histiocytosis, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, xanthoma and lymphoproliferative disorders. Immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein and CD68 is helpful in making a correct diagnosis.

Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Histiocytosis, Sinus ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Skin Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influencing factors of polyethylenimine (PEI) in gene transfer in vitro.

METHODSCytotoxic effects of PEI on in vitro cultured NIH 3T3 cells were quantified by MTT assay. The interaction between PEI and DNA at different charge ratios was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis retardation assay. The expression of gene transfer was monitored in Cos-7 cells using pEGFP and pSV beta plasmids as the reporter gene systems. Influences of chloroquine, albumin, serum, salt ion strength, and Mg(2+) ion and other factors on PEI/DNA transfer efficiency were evaluated.

RESULTThe survival rate of NIH3T3 cells at 6 mg/L of PEI was 64.2% and at 7 mg/L of PEI was 54.4%. Gel electrophoresis retardation assays showed that PEI completely retarded DNA migration at 3.0 PEI nitrogen per DNA phosphate. Chloroquine enhanced the transfection efficiency of PEI. Albumin and serum in the culture medium decreased the transfection efficiency. HBS(HEPES buffered solution) or 150 mmol/L NaCl as the dilution solution of PEI/DNA was superior over 278 mmol/L glucose solution in the transfection efficiency. Mg(2+) in the dilution solution decreased the transfer efficiency of PEI/DNA.

CONCLUSIONPEI is efficient gene transfer agent of eukaryotes in vitro, and can be possibly used in vivo.

Animals ; COS Cells ; Cell Survival ; Chloroquine ; pharmacology ; Culture Media ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Magnesium ; pharmacology ; Mice ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Osmolar Concentration ; Polyethyleneimine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analyse the relationship between superantigens produced by Staphylococcus aureus and the mRNA expression of T-cell receptor V beta region (TCR Vbeta), and to investigate the possible role of Staphylococcal superantigens in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps.

METHODSSinonasal mucus and polyp/mucosa tissue were obtained from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (22 patients with bilateral nasal polyps, 15 without nasal polyps) and 12 normal subjects as comparative negative controls. Mucus specimens were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Staphylococcal exotoxins,and analyzed for the expression of TCR Vbeta genes using the technique of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe percentages of Staphylococcus exotoxins in nasal polyps were 54.54% (21/22) for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyp (CRSwNP) subjects. There were no positive results in the CRSsNP or control groups. The expressional intensity of Vbeta3 (10.02), Vbeta14 (3.54), Vbeta15 (2.39), Vbeta17 (3.48), and Vbeta20 (2.94) was increased significantly for Staphylococcal exotoxin B (SEB) positive subjects (P < 0.05). Vbeta2 (13.8) and Vbeta6. 1-3 (6.53) were significantly highly expressed for toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSTf-1) positive subjects in CRSwNP group (P < 0.05). There were no dominantly used Vbeta fragments in ELISA- negative specimens. In the group of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyp (CRSsNP), most of TCR Vbeta gene subfamilies demonstrated a trend toward higher expressional levels compared with those of normal controls, although there was no statistical difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere was relationship between Staphylococcal superantigens and the excursion of TCR Vbeta gene spectra in nasal polyp, and superantigens possibly play an important role in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Polyps ; genetics ; immunology ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; genetics ; Sinusitis ; genetics ; immunology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; immunology ; Superantigens ; immunology ; Young Adult