Objective To detect the expression of tenascin-C(TN-C)and tenascin-X(TN-X)in the embryonic heart of rats,investigate their role during the heart development.Methods Sixty-four Spraque-Dawley female rats and 20 male rats were put into the same cage,when vaginal suppository was found,the femate was pregnant 0.5 day(ED 0.5),then executed the pregnant rats on ED 12.5,ED 15.5 and ED 19.5,got out the hearts.Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was used to detect the TN-C and TN-X mRNA expression in the rat hearts aged embryonic day 12.5(ED 12.5),ED 15.5 and ED 19.5.The protein expression of TN-C and TN-X in the embryonic hearts was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results TN-C mRNA was highly expressed in ED 12.5 embryonic hearts(0.683 7?0.043 1),the expression of TN-C mRNA of ED 15.5(0.454 3?0.038 8)and ED 19.5(0.250 5?0.038 4)embryonic hearts decreased,they were different from the expression of ED 12.5(Pa

Objective To investigate the effects of inducible hypothermia on expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1) and small heterodimer partner (SHP) in rat model of hemorrhagic shock.Methods SD rats were randomly (random number) divided into three groups:control (C),normothermia (N) and hypothermia (H).Exsanguination was carried out in rats by continuously drawing out venous blood (25 mL/kg) over 15 minutes to establish hemorrhagic shock model.Then,rectal temperatures of rats were maintained by body surface cooling to 32℃ in H group and by body surface warming to 38℃ in N group,respectively.After a shock period of 60 minutes,rats received the infusion of whole blood of their own and lactated Ringer's solution (1 ∶ 2) treatment for 60 min.Rats were warmed to 38℃ by body surface warming and monitored for 3 h after resuscitation.Hematocrit (Hct),base excess (BE),lactate (Lac),and glucose (Glu) were recorded before modeling and after different lengths of hemorrhagic shock period (HSP).The expressions of PGC-1 mRNA and SHP mRNA and the levels of their protein in liver were tested by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting,respectively.Results The H group had lower lactate levels and higher BElevels than the N group [(6.3±2.1) vs.(10.4±1.5) and (-4.7±2.5) vs.(-9.0±3.2)] (P＜ 0.05).At 72 hours after modeling,there were four survivors in the N group and seven survivors in the H group (P ＜ 0.05,Log Rank).The expressions of PGC-1 mRNA and SHP mRNA increased in N group.Hypothermia resuscitation down-regulated PGC-1 mRNA expression,meanwhile,increased expression of SHP mRNA.Both Hypothermia and Normothermia resuscitation increased SHP protein levels,but decreased PGC-1 protein levels.Conclusions Inducible hypothermia ameliorated acidosis and energy metabolism imbalance through adaptive regulation in PGC-1 and SHP.

Angina Pectoris ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

Objective To investigate the correlation between ~(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and hypoxia inducible factor1α (HIF-1α) level,microvessel density (MVD) in human gliomas.Methods ~(18)F-FDG PET scan was performed preoperatively in 41 patients with gliomas (including 23 highgrade and 18 low-grade tumors).The ratios of maximum standardized uptake value(SUV_(max))between tumor (T)and contralateral white matter (WM) were calculated (T/WM).Immunohistochemical stain methods were used to evaluate the level of HIF-1α and measure the MVD in tumors.Correlation analysis between SUV_(max) of T/WM and HIF-1α level,MVD wag performed.The t-test,one-way ANOVA test,Spearman rank correlation and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were calculated using SPSS 11.5 software.Results (1)The SUV_(max) of T/WM,HIF-1α level and MVD in high-grade and low-grade tumors groups were 3.39±1.43,95.7% and 44.13±16.1 vs 1.46±0.55.55.6% and 18.83±7.07,respectively.The difierences of SUV_(max) of T/WM,HIF-1α level and MVD between two groups were statistically significant (t=-5.921,z=-3.938,t=-6.745,all P＜0.05).(2)Among 41 gliomas,the strong positive expression of HIF-1α was observed in 8,mederate in 9,weak in 15 and negative expression was found in 9,SUV_(max) of T/WM and MVD increased with increasing HIF-1α level.The differences of SUV_(max) of T/WM and MVD among 4 different groups were statistically significant (F=7.41,P＜0.05).(3) The MVD of all gliomas was ranged from 9.76 to 94.52,which correlated with SUV_(max) of T/WM(r=0.759,P＜0.05).Conclusions The SUV_(max) of T/WM correlates with HIF-1α level and MVD in gliomas.Therefore,~(18)F-FDG PET provides preoperatively a noninvasive assessment of hypoxia or angiogenesis in human glionma.

Objective To isolate,purify and identify pancreatic duct derived stem cells (PDSCs) from the pancreatic duct of rats,and culture in the three-dimension cell culture system.Methods Adult male Wistar rats underwent perfusion with collagenase V via the pancreatic duct,then the pancreas was surgically procured,digested,followed by discontinued density gradient centrifuge to isolate ductal tissue from islets.The acinar and ductal tissue was cultivated in serumcontaining medium in the three-dimension cell culture to obtain adherent cells,as PDSCs,which were expanded by consecutive passages.The morphology and characterization of PDSCs on phenotype were examined.Results PDSCs could be obtained through in situ collagenase V digestion,discontinued density gradient centrifuge,and culture in the three dimension cell culture system.Morphologically,PDSCs had remarkable size,most with one nucleus.PDSCs grew in many layers in three-dimension cell culture system.PDSCs was revealed to express CD29,CD73,CD90,CD105,but not CD14,CD19,CD34,CD45 by FACS,in agreement with MSCs.Conclusion PDSCs of rats could be obtained through in situ collagenase V digestion,discontinued density gradient centrifuge,and culture in the three-dimension cell culture system.PDSCs lines were successfully established.

Chinese materia medica resource (CMM resource) is the foundation of the development of traditional Chinese medicine. In the study of sustainable utilization of CMM resource, adopting innovative theory and method to find new CMM resource is one of hotspots and always highlighted. Pharmacophylogeny interrogates the phylogenetic relationship of medicinal organisms (especially medicinal plants), as well as the intrinsic correlation of morphological taxonomy, molecular phylogeny, chemical constituents, and therapeutic efficacy (ethnopharmacology and pharmacological activity). This new discipline may have the power to change the way we utilize medicinal plant resources and develop plant-based drugs. Phylogenomics is the crossing of evolutionary biology and genomics, in which genome data are utilized for evolutionary reconstructions. Phylogenomics can be integrated into the flow chart of drug discovery and development, and extends the field of pharmacophylogeny at the omic level, thus the concept of pharmacophylogenomics could be redefined in the context of plant pharmaceutical resources. This contribution gives a brief discourse of knowledge pedigree of pharmacophylogeny, epistemology and paradigm shift, highlighting the theoretical and practical values of pharmacophylogenomics. Many medicinally important tribes and genera, such as Clematis, Pulsatilla, Anemone, Cimicifugeae, Nigella, Delphinieae, Adonideae, Aquilegia, Thalictrum, and Coptis, belong to Ranunculaceae family. Compared to other plant families, Ranunculaceae has the most species that are recorded in China Pharmacopoeia (CP) 2010. However, many Ranunculaceae species, e. g., those that are closely related to CP species, as well as those endemic to China, have not been investigated in depth, and their phylogenetic relationship and potential in medicinal use remain elusive. As such, it is proposed to select Ranunculaceae to exemplify the utility of pharmacophylogenomics and to elaborate the new concept empirically. It is argued that phylogenetic and evolutionary relationship of medicinally important tribes and genera within Ranunculaceae could be elucidated at the genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic levels, from which the intrinsic correlation between medicinal plant genotype and metabolic phenotype, and between genetic diversity and chemodivesity of closely related taxa, could be revealed. This proof-of-concept study regards pharmacophylogenomics as the updated version of pharmacophylogeny and would enrich the intension and spread the extension of pharmacophylogeny. The interdisciplinary knowledge and techniques will be integrated in the proposed study to promote development of CMM resource discipline and to boost sustainable development of Chinese medicinal plant resources.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Knowledge ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo review the mechanisms of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its role in the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

DATA SOURCESThe data used in this review were obtained mainly from the studies of EMT reported from 2000-2006.

STUDY SELECTIONRelevant articles on studies of EMT in tubulointerstitial fibrosis were selected. Data were mainly extracted from the 45 articles listed in the reference section of this review.

RESULTSThe process of EMT has gained wide recognition as candidate mechanism in progression of chronic fibrotic disorders. New markers were identified and facilitate the observation of EMT. EMT is regulated by many factors through activation of kinase-dependent signaling cascades. Recent findings suggest that EMT is a reversible process, which can be controlled by factors for their epithelial inducing activities.

CONCLUSIONRemarkable progresses of EMT research have been made recently. Preventing or reversing EMT is a promising strategy against renal fibrosis.

Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Disease Progression ; Epithelium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; metabolism ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Mesoderm ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factors ; metabolism

Objective: To investigate the mRNA expression of chemokine receptors in human villi and trophoblasts of first trimester gestation . Methods: The authors first obtained villous tissues from fifteen women who had undergone selective termination at 5 - 10 weeks of normal gestation. Total RNA was then extracted, using the TRIzol reagent, from villous tissues or Percoll-gradient purified trophoblasts. Consequently, the expressions of chemokine receptors in villous tissues and trophoblasts were investigated by way of semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.Results: The chemokine receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR6, were highly expressed in each villous tissue, while the CCR6, CCR7, XCR1 and CX3CR1 were moderately expressed in villi. The chemokine receptors, CCR1- CCR5, CCR8 - CCR10, CXCR1 -CXCR3, were expressed only in some villous samples, while no CXCR5 mRNA was found in any villous tissue. The authors also found that the freshly isolated and Percoll-purified trophoblasts expressed CCR1, CCR3 - CCR5, CCR8 - CCR9, CXCR1 - CXCR4, CXCR6, XCR1 and CX3CR1 mRNA. Conclusion: A variety of chemokine receptors were expressed in villous tissues and trophoblasts of human first trimester gestation, hence, these receptors may play an important biological role at the materno-fetal interface in normal human pregnancy.

Objective To investigate the role of acid and bile reflux in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to evaluate the significance of detecting acid and bile reflux in diagnosing GERD in children.Methods Using ambulatory 24 h pH mo-(nitoring) and bilirubin monitoring technique, we simultaneously assessed the changes of intraesophageal pH and bile reflux in 23 subjects (including 11 healthy controls and 12 patients with GERD).Results The time of esophageal acid exposure (pH

Objective To observe the dynamic serological test results of 28 patients with acute brucellosis,and to investigate the relationship between serological test results and diagnosis,curative effect and prognosis of brucellosis.Methods Twenty eight patients(infected with sheep brucellosis) with acute brucellosis in the Department of Brucellosis in Heilongjiang Provincial Land Reclamation Headquarters General Hospital were selected as research subjects,and their serological changes were tested by means of tube agglutination test (SAT)and clinical outcomes were compared before and after each stage of treatment.In addition,symptoms of fever,weakness,sweating,joint pain,swollen lymph nodes and biochemical parameters [alanine aminotransferase (ALT),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] were also tested 3,6 and 9 weeks after the treatment.Results Antibody titer reached the peak at the third week,1 ∶ 400(++),which accounted for 39.29％ (11/28); 2857％(8/28) of the patients became negative at the sixth week; 50.00％ (14/28) became negative at the ninth week.Before the treatment,20(71.43％) patients had the symptom of fever,8 (28.57％) patients had the symptom of hyperhidrosis,28 (100.00％) patients had the symptom of joint pain,7(25.00％) patients had the symptom of lymph node enlargement,28 (100.00％) patients' ALT was elevated,and 26(92.86％) patients' LDH was elevated.After three weeks of treatment,except the three patients (10.71％) who occasionally had fever,the rest of the patient's temperature was returned to normal.Also the numbers of patients with the symptoms of fatigue,sweating and joint pain were significantly reduced,and specifically,the conesponding number was 13(46.43％),2(7.14％),and 21 (75.00％)patients,respectively.ALT and LDH returned to normal(only one patient's ALT was out of the range).At the sixth week,all the patients' symptoms of fever and hyperhidrosis disappeared.The number of patients with the symptoms of joint pain and lymph node enlargement reduced to 12(42.86％) and 3(10.71％),respectively.The results of biochemical tests(ALT and LDT) returned to normal.At the ninth week,most patients' clinical symptoms disappeared.A few patients still had the symptoms of weakness[2(7.14％)] and joint piin[6(21.43％)].Conclusions After effective treatment,antibody titer of patients decreases rapidly,at the same time,the clinical symptoms improve quickly.There is a parallel relationship between the change of antibody titer and clinical symptoms.It is demonstrated that the appearing time of brucellosis specific antibodies,the ampfitude and speed of change of antibody titers can be used in diagnosis,therapeutic evaluation and prognosis of the disease.