Arteriosclerosis ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; physiopathology ; Coronary Disease ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pulse

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of tanshinone IIA (TS IIA) pretreatment on the expression of the inflammatory factor IL-1β and RelA mRNA in rats with focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODSA total of 100 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, namely the model, ischemic preconditioning (IPC), TSIIA preconditioning, TSIIA treatment, sham-operated, and blank control groups. In the former 4 groups, rat models of focal cerebral ischemia were established with corresponding treatments. The expressions of IL-1β and RelA mRNA in each group were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSAll the groups showed expressions of IL-1β and RelA mRNA with the exception of the blank control group. Compared to the model group, TSIIA preconditioning group, TSIIA treatment group, and IPC group all had significantly reduced expression of IL-1β and RelA mRNA (P < 0.05). The expressions were lower in IPC group than in TSIIA preconditioning group and TSIIA treatment group(P < 0.05), and no significant difference was found in the expressions between the latter two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe protective effect of pretreatment with TS IIA against cerebral ischemia is related to the reduction of IL-1β and RelA mRNA expressions.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)gene expression and biological effect after gene transfection into penumbra tissue in rat cerebral ischemic model.Methods Human HGF cDNA was ligated to pIRES2-EGFP vector.The recombinant plasmid was transfected into the penumbra tissue with liposome.Brains of treated and control animals were analyzed 7 days later.Expression of HGF protein was determined by fluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry.Vessel numbers were quantified.Changes of cerebral blood flow(CBF)was detected by CT perfusion.Results Enzymatic digestion and electrophoresis confirmed that HGF fragment had been correctly cloned into BamH I and Sal I sites of pIRES2-EGFP.After HGF gene transfection,expression of HGF in transfected neurocytes was observed with fluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry.The number of vessels was significantly increased in penumbra tissue transfected with HGF vector as compared with control vector(46.71?7.11, 20.43?3.21,18.00?3.27,respective,F = 74.447;P

To establish the Chang liver cell line stably overexpressing human uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and observe the effect of UCP2 on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Chang liver cell line was transfected with recombinant plasmid containing full-length human UCP2 cDNA (pcDNA3.1-hUCP2) or pcDNA3.1 empty vector. The stable cell line was established by antibiotic screening with Zeocin. UCP2 expression was detected by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. The UCP2 overexpressing cells were pretreated with genipin at various doses (25, 50 and 100 munol/L). MMP and intracellular ROS were detected by fluorescence spectrophotometry. The total normalized protein content in UCP2 overexpressing cells was 1.6-fold higher than that in unmanipulated normal cells. The fluorescence intensities of Rhodamine123 and DCFH-DA in UCP2 overexpressing Chang liver cells (11.11+/-2.76 and 4.97+/-0.62, respectively) were significantly lower than those in unmanipulated normal cells (15.56+/-2.55, P less than 0.01 and 6.14+/-1.25, P less than 0.05, respectively) and in cells transfected with empty vector (16.11+/-2.93, P less than 0.01 and 6.23+/-1.13, P less than 0.05, respectively). Treatment of UCP2 overexpressing cells with 25, 50 and 100 munol/L genipin caused a dose-dependent increase in fluorescence intensities of Rhodamine123 (14.89+/-2.89, 17.89+/-2.93 and 24.00+/-2.55, respectively, all P less than 0.01) and DCFH-DA (9.16+/-0.78, 10.84+/-1.09 and 11.83+/-1.25, respectively, all P less than 0.01). The Chang liver cell line stably overexpressing UCP2 was established successfully. Using this cell system, UCP2 was found to play a role in mitochondrial function by regulating MMP and ROS.
Cell Line ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; biosynthesis ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Uncoupling Protein 2

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure on toxicity characteristic and OCT4 and SOX2 gene expression of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC).

METHODSmESC were cultured, and treated with the doses of 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5), 10(-4) mol/L respectively of BPA and DMSO (the solvent control group)for 24 hours, and three groups of cells were treated with the same method. The morphological changes of mESC in the control and exposure groups were observed through an inverted microscope. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) was used to detect the effects of BPA on proliferation of mESC, and based on the results, the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-QPCR) and western blotting were used to detect the expression of OCT4 and SOX2.

RESULTSBPA had certain toxicity on mESC, the treatment of BPA significantly increased cell toxicity in a concentration-dependent manner, and the IC50 was 4.3×10(-4) mol/L, combined with the BPA exposure concentration of the environment and the related literature, eventually taking the five concentrations of 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5), 10(-4) mol/L as the experimental groups. The mESC morphology were effected after the treatment of BPA for 24 h, compared with the control group, the number of cells decreased, appearing some floating cells, and the cell cloning became irregular and differentiation in the higher concentration groups. The OCT4 mRNA expression level in the 10(-7) mol/L (1.146 ± 0.087), 10(-6) mol/L (1.156 ± 0.030), 10(-5) mol/L (1.158 ± 0.103) and the 10(-4) mol/L (1.374 ± 0.053) dose group were all significantly higher than the control group (1.000 ± 0.000) (t values were -2.384, -2.953, -3.203, -4.021 respectively, P value all < 0.05). Meanwhile, the SOX2 mRNA expression level in the 10(-4) mol/L (1.113 ± 0.052) were higher than the control group (1.000 ± 0.000) (t value was -2.765, P value < 0.05). Moreover, the OCT4 protein expression level in the 10(-5) mol/L (1.360 ± 0.168) and 10(-4) mol/L (1.602 ± 0.151) were all significantly higher than the control group (1.000 ± 0.000) (t values were -3.538, -4.002 respectively, P value all < 0.05), while no obvious change of the SOX2 protein expression level was detected in all treated groups.

CONCLUSIONBPA in a certain dose range could upregulate the expression of OCT4 gene in mouse embryonic stem cells while had no significant effect on the expression of SOX2 gene.

Animals ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; toxicity ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Mice ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; genetics ; Phenols ; toxicity ; SOXB1 Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo establish a new function method for the analysis of a-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-hCG in testicular tumors.

METHODSWe reexamined the serum levels of AFP and beta-hCG after radical orchiectomy, and calculated the measured coordinate, with the abscissa representing the number of the half-lives of tumor markers, and the ordinate representing the measured value of tumor markers. Referring to the measured value of tumor markers before surgery as a, the number of half-lives as x, and their theoretical value over a period of x elimination half-lives as y (logarithm to the base 2 of y), we calculated the predicted coordinate according to the formula y = log2(a/2x) ==> x + y = log2a (function 1). Then we assessed tumor residue and metastasis by analyzing the relationship between the measured and predicted coordinates.

RESULTSThe pathological examination of case 1 revealed a germ cell tumor of a mixed histological pattern of syncytiotrophoblast and yolk sac tumor. The measured coordinates of AFP and beta-hCG were (2.22, 6.21) and (10, 8.38), and the predicted coordinates (2.22, 6.34) and (10, 4.41) , indicating the elimination of the yolk sac tumor and metastasis of the syncytiotrophoblast tumor. Case 2 demonstrated the mixed pathological nature of teratocarcinoma and yolk sac tumor. The measured coordinates of AFP and beta-hCG were (2.67, -1.03) and (12, -3.32), and the predicted coordinates (2.67, 1.41) and (12, -5.80). But the review times of AFP and beta-hCG were out of the effective range of half-lives, with the measured values below the normal, which suggested no tumor residue or metastasis. Case 3 was found to be embryonal carcinoma. The measured coordinate of AFP was (0.22, 9.25) , and the predicted coordinate (0.22, 9.55) , indicating the elimination of tumor.

CONCLUSIONThe change of the tumor markers predicted by the function method coincided with the natural course of disease in the three cases. The coincidence of the measured with the predicted coordinate after radical orchiectomy indicates no metastasis, while their disagreement suggests possible residue and metastasis of the tumor.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Statistical ; Orchiectomy ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo establish a mouse model of iron overload by intraperitoneal injection of iron dextran and investigate the impact of iron overload on bone marrow hematopoiesis.

METHODSA total of 40 C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group, low-dose iron group (12.5 mg/ml), middle-dose iron group (25 mg/ml), and high-dose iron group (50 mg/ml). The control group received normal saline (0.2 ml), and the rest were injected with intraperitoneal iron dextran every three days for six weeks. Iron overload was confirmed by observing the bone marrow, hepatic, and splenic iron deposits and the bone marrow labile iron pool. In addition, peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells were counted and the hematopoietic function was assessed.

RESULTSIron deposits in bone marrow, liver, and spleen were markedly increased in the mouse models. Bone marrow iron was deposited mostly within the matrix with no significant difference in expression of labile iron pool.Compared with control group, the ability of hematopoietic colony-forming in three interventional groups were decreased significantly (P<0.05). Bone marrow mononuclear cells counts showed no significant difference. The amounts of peripheral blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin) in different iron groups showed no significant difference among these groups;although the platelets were decreased slightly in low-dose iron group [(780.7±39.60)×10(9)/L], middle dose iron group [(676.2±21.43)×10(9)/L], and high-dose iron group [(587.3±19.67)×10(9)/L] when compared with the control group [(926.0±28.23)×10(9)/L], there was no significant difference(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe iron-overloaded mouse model was successfully established by intraperitoneal administration of iron dextran. Iron overload can damage the hepatic, splenic, and bone marrow hematopoietic function, although no significant difference was observed in peripheral blood count.

Animals ; Bone Marrow ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hematopoiesis ; drug effects ; Iron Overload ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Iron-Dextran Complex ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Spleen ; drug effects

BACKGROUND: Inducing factors are currently used as a main method for the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into chondrocytes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the collaborative stimulation of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to induce the directed differentiation of BMSCs to chondrocytes, and to explore the best inductive effect. METHODS: Rat BMSCs were isolated, cultured and purified using adherent culture. Then, different inducing factors were added in the induction medium: TGF-β1+IGF-1 group, TGF-β1 group, IGF-1 group, and control group without growth factors. Immunofluorescence was carried out at 21 days of induction. The expression of collagen type Ⅱ was evaluated by immuncytochemical staining at 7, 14 and 21 days of induction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Immunofluorescence detection of the TGF-β1+IGF-1 and TGF-β1 groups showed highly expressed collagen type Ⅱ (brown red-stained cytoplasm), while negatively expressed collagen type Ⅱ in the other two groups. (2) Findings from the immuncytochemical staining showed that the expression of collagen type Ⅱ was stronger in the TGF-β1+IGF-1 group than the TGF-β1 group (P < 0.01), and the expression was gradually enhanced with time. Meanwhile, there was also no expression of collagen type Ⅱ in the IGF-1 and control groups. To conclude, the combination of TGF-β1 and IGF-1 can achieve the better inductive effect on the chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs in vitro.

OBJECTIVEThis study was to elucidate the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) types and cofactors in the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

METHODSTwo hundred and twelve women with CIN and 427 women with normal cervical cytology (control group) were recruited from China and Australia. A questionnaire was administered to each participant to obtain the demographic and risk factor information. Cervical biopsies or smears were taken to detect HPV DNA by PCR and to identify HPV types by direct sequencing and/or Amplicor hybridisation. Data were analyzed by logistic regression.

RESULTSHPV prevalence rates of specimens from Chinese and Australian were 11% and 15% among controls (P >0.05), with 99% and 85% of CINs (P<0.001), respectively. The presence of any type of HPV DNA was strongly associated with CIN with OR 43.3 for Chinese and OR 541.6 for Australian women. The strongest risk was for HPV16,followed by HPV31 in Australians, but HPV58, 59 in Chinese women. The risk for multiple HPV infection was stronger in the Australians than that in the Chinese cohort. Except for HPV infection, educational attainment was unexpectedly associated with an increased risk for CIN in Chinese, and cancer history in family was a risk factor for Australians. For the combined cohorts, educational attainment, and frequency of vitamin consumption were identified to be risk factors for CIN.

CONCLUSIONCervical HPV DNA was a major risk factor, with the highest relative risk for type 16 HPV infection for CIN. There were variations in the distribution of HPV genotypes and cofactors in China versus Australia and in CIN.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Australia ; epidemiology ; Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; epidemiology ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Vaginal Smears ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo construct infectious Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) based on the in vitro-ligated cDNA template of the vaccine strain SA14-14-2, and identify the virus.

METHODSFull-length genomic cDNA of JEV SA14-14-2 strain was ligated and then RNA was transcribed in vitro, the infective virus was obtained by transfecting the RNA into Vero cells and identified.

RESULTSThe infective clone of JEV was constructed, the virulence was weaker than the wild virus.

CONCLUSIONIt was possible to construct infectious clone from the production strain of live attenuated Japanese B encephalitis vaccine.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; genetics ; immunology ; pathogenicity ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; pathology ; virology ; Genome, Viral ; Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines ; immunology ; Mice ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; immunology ; Vero Cells ; Virulence