Vascular endothelial growth factor is a vascular endothelial cell-specific mitogen.It is the most important angiogenic factor.VEGF expresses highly after cerebral infarction.It plays importmt roles in angiogenesis and neuroprotection.At the same time,its overexpression will also increase vascular permeability;thereby it may aggravate brain edema.This article reviews the advances in research on VEGF and its receptors and cerebral infarction.

Objective To discuss the influence of psychological education on the resourcefulness of perioperative breast cancer patients. Methods Two hundred breast cancer patients from a first-class hospital in Fujian province were randomly assigned to the control group, in which routine care was done, and an intervention group, in which psychological education curriculum was employed at three stages on the basis of routine care. The resourcefulness scale was used in both two groups before and after the intervention to evaluate the score of individual and social resourcefulness and the total score of resourcefulness in these two groups. Results As to the control group, the score on individual resourcefulness and the total score on resourcefulness before and after the intervention had no significant differences (P>0.05), but the difference in the social resourcefulness scores before and after the intervention was statistically significant (P<0.05). The differences in the scores on the individual resourcefulness, social resourcefulness and the total score on resourcefulness in the intervention group before and after the intervention were all statistically different (P<0.001). What′s more, the scores of individual resourcefulness, social resourcefulness and the total score of resourcefulness between these two groups after the intervention were statistically different (P<0.001) as well. The scores of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control one. Conclusion The psychological education can significantly improve the resourcefulness level of perioperative breast cancer patients, which can help individuals to manage stress effectively.

Objective To study the mechanisms involved in the regulation of endogenous β-glucuronidase expression and to explore the more effective methods to prevent recurrence of hepatolithiasis formation.Methods The expression levels of c-myc and endogenous β-glucuronidase in the liver specimens of hepatolithiasis were examined by immunohistochemical staining.The expressions of c-myc and endogenous β-glucuronidase in the human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cell line (HiBEpiC),and normal liver cell line (L02) treated with different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were studied using western blot.The c-myc siRNA transfection was utilized to detect the role of c-myc in the regulation of the expression of endogenous β-glucuronidase.Results Compared with normal liver samples,the expressions of endogenous β-glucuronidase and c-myc in the liver specimens of hepatolithiasis were significantly increased,and they were positively correlated with each other.LPS induced increased expressions of endogenous β-glucuronidase and c-myc in a dose-dependent manner.C-myc siRNA transfection effectively inhibited the increased expression of endogenous β-glucuronidase as induced by LPS.Conclusion LPS played a crucial role in the formation of hepatolithiasis by stimulating the endogenous expression of β-glucuronidase in liver and biliary epithelial cells via c-myc.

Objective:To observe whether 10.6 μm infrared laser moxibustion provides greater pain and stiffness relief and improves joint function in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA)compared with sham laser moxibustion. Methods:A total of 178 patients with KOA were randomly divided into a CO2 laser moxibustion group and a sham laser moxibustion group by block randomization method.Patients in the two groups received 10.6 μm infrared laser moxibustion or sham laser moxibustion treatment symmetrically at bilateral Dubi(ST35),respectively.Patients in both groups received 20 min of treatment,3 times per week for 4 weeks.Treatment effects were assessed by changes in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC)before treatment,at mid-treatment(2 weeks),at the end of treatment(4 weeks),and 4 weeks after treatment.Completion time for walking 50 yards was evaluated as a secondary measurement. Results:There were no statistical differences in the WOMAC scores for pain,stiffness,and function between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05).Patients in the CO2 laser moxibustion group experienced greater improvement in WOMAC pain,stiffness,and function scores at mid-treatment,the end of treatment,and 4 weeks after treatment(P<0.05).No significant inter-group difference was found at each assessment of the 50-yard walking time(P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the sham laser moxibustion,10.6 μm laser moxibustion can significantly reduce pain and improve knee joint stiffness and function in patients with KOA.

BACKGROUND: Stem cell transplantation in repairing infarct myocardium and in improving cardiac function has been widely accepted. However, whether transplanted cells and host cells formed an effective electricity and mechanical couple, whether a relevant independent electrical system with contractile function formed or whether severe malignant ventricular arrhythmia formed, are still unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate electrophysiological abnormaltiy and left ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial infarction following allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized controlled animal study was performed at the Experimental Center, Guangxi Medical University from December 2005 to October 2008.MATERIALS: A total of 120 healthy Wistar rats were equally randomized into normal control, sham operation, saline control and cell transplantation groups. Healthy Wister rats aged 1 month were selected to harvest bone marrow.METHODS: At the third passage, rat BMSCs were collected and treated with 5-aza, and differentiated into cerdiomyocytes.BMSCs were labeled with DAPI at 2 hours before transplantation. In the saline control and cell transplantation groups, rat models of myocardial infarction were established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. In the sham operation group, the coronary artery was not ligated, but only braid. At 7 days following ligation, BMSCs in the cell transplantation group at 2×10-1/L were infused into the edge and center of myocardial infarct region by multipoint injection. Rats in the other three groups were subjected to an equal volume of saline.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Electrocardiogram and cardiac electrophysiology were performed. Ultrasonic cardiography was used to detect left ventricular function. Infarct size was determined. DAPl-labeled donor cell migration and distribution was observed with a fluorescence microscope.RESULTS: BMSCs could differentiate into cardiacmuscle cell-like cells which were capable of pulsing spontaneously, expressing cardiactoponin T and forming myofilament in vitro. Compared with the saline control group, PR interval, QRS duration and ventdcular effective refractory period shortened, ventricular fibrillation threshold increased at 4, 8 and 12 weeks (P < 0.05); left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole reduced, and left ventricular ejection fraction and shortening traction was significantly increased (P< 0.05). At 8 and 12 weeks, infarct size was significantly smaller (P < 0.05). At 4 weeks, DAPl-labeled BMSCs could be seen under the fluorescence microscope, and still could he detected at 12 weeks. However, the fluorescence became weak with prolonged time.CONCLUSION: BMSCs have the plasticity of differentiating into cardiac muscle cell-like cells, which can modulate theelectrophysiological abnormality and left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction.

Objective To determine the effect of COMMD7 inhibition on invasion and migration in liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs),and investigate the possible mechanism.Methods After LCSCs were infected by shRNA lentiviral vectors of COMMD7,adhesion assay and Transwell assay were used to detect the invasion and migration,and phalloidin staining was employed to observe the morphological changes.Western blotting was adopted to measure the expression of E-cadherin,N-cadherin and Vimentin.Results COMMD7 knockdown significantly inhibited the invasion and migration of LCSCs.The relative cell quantity of adhesion was 1.00 ± 0.12 and 2.35 ± 0.20 respectively in control cells and infected cells,suggesting there were significantly more adhesive cells in the infected group (P ＜ 0.05).The relative cell quantity per visual field of migration was 1.00 ±0.04 and 0.24±0.03,and that of invasion was 1.00 ±0.05 and 0.24 ±0.04 respectively in the control cells and infected cells,and there were significantly less invasive and migrated cells in the infected group (P ＜0.05).What's more,COMMD7 knockdown also induced some morphological changes of cells corresponding to the weakened abilities of migration and invasion.All the changes above were associated with up-regulation of E-cadherin (P ＜ 0.05) and down-regulation of N-cadherin and Vimentin (P ＜0.05),the molecules related to mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET).Conclusion COMMD7 knockdown inhibits the invasion and migration in LCSCs,which may be through its regulation on the MET course.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the main factors that influence the results of sperm alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), optimize the conditions, and standardize its procedures.

METHODSUsing alkaline SCGE, we detected the DNA fragments of sperm treated with different concentrations of H2O2 and determined the influences of the number of agarose gel layers, pH during DNA unwinding and electrophoresis, the time of DNA unwinding and electrophoresis, and cumulative sperm number on the results of sperm alkaline SCGE. Then we optimized the procedures, analyzed the repeatability of the optimized method, and examined 40 semen samples using the method.

RESULTSThree agarose gel layers could reduce the background. The optimal pH during DNA unwinding and electrophoresis was 10, and the best times for DNA unwinding and electrophoresis were 40 min and 30 min, respectively. Fifty sperm were adequate to ensure the reliability of the results. Based on the percentage of tail DNA, the intra- and inter-assay repeatabilities of the optimized sperm alkaline SCGE were 3.12% and 7.13%, and by the DNA damage score, they were 2.38% and 6.09%, respectively. Sperm DNA fragments were significantly increased in the infertile patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia as compared with healthy fertile males (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe optimized sperm alkaline SCGE, highly repeatable and easy to be standardized, can be applied to the clinical detection of sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men.

Asthenozoospermia ; genetics ; Comet Assay ; standards ; DNA Damage ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Male ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Oxidants ; toxicity ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Time Factors

Circadian rhythms are self-sustaining oscillations within biological systems that play key roles in a diverse multitude of physiological processes.The circadian clock mechanisms in brain and peripheral tissues can oscillate independently or be synchronized/disrupted by external stimuli.Dental enamel is a type of mineralized tissue that forms the exterior surface of the tooth crown.Incremental Retzius lines are readily observable microstructures of mature tooth enamel that indicate the regulation of amelogenesis by circadian rhythms.Teeth enamel is formed by enamel-forming cells known as ameloblasts,which are regulated and orchestrated by the circadian clock during amelogenesis.This review will first examine the key roles of the circadian clock in regulating ameloblasts and amelogenesis.Several physiological processes are involved,including gene expression,cell morphology,metabolic changes,matrix deposition,ion transportation,and mineralization.Next,the potential detrimental effects of circadian rhythm disruption on enamel formation are discussed.Circadian rhythm disruption can directly lead to Enamel Hypoplasia,which might also be a potential causative mechanism of amelogenesis imperfecta.Finally,future research trajectory in this field is extrapolated.It is hoped that this review will inspire more intensive research efforts and provide relevant cues in formulating novel therapeutic strategies for preventing tooth enamel developmental abnormalities.

Objective: To observe the protective effect of salidroside pretreatment on rabbit heart after limb ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Methods: A total of 24 New Zealand rabbits were randomly and equally divided into sham operation group, I/R + placebo group （I/R group）and salidroside pretreatment group（salidroside group）. Before establishment of rabbit models of limb I/R, salidroside group received salidroside injection via ear marginal vein, and I/R group received saline injection, once a day for three days. After model establishment, echocardiography was used to evaluate rabbit cardiac function of each group 4h after reperfusion, including left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESd), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (FS). Blood sample was taken to measure serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Some ventricular tissue homogenates were taken to measure levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonyl diadehyde (MDA). Then heart sample was taken to receive pathological examination. Results: Compared with I/R group 4h after reperfusion, there were significant decrease in LVESd [(0.69±0.07) mm vs. (0.62±0.05) mm] and significant increase in LVEF [(64.6±3.4) % vs. (72.1±3.6) %], FS [(34.2±3.2) % vs. (41.7±3.4) %] (P<0.05 all), but these indexes of salidroside group were all no significant different than those of sham operation group (P>0.05). Compared with I/R group, there were significant decrease in cTnI [(5.24±0.34) μg/ml vs. (1.06±0.12) μg/ml], MDA [(8.92±2.18) μmol/L vs. (6.79±1.43) μmol/L] and TNF-α [(37.43±10.02) pg/ L vs. (19.73±6.31) pg/ L], and significant increase in SOD level [(16.61±3.75) U/ml vs. (22.26±4.73) U/ml] in salidroside group (P<0.05 all). Pathological results indicated that injury degree in salidroside group was significantly attenuated than that of I/R group. Conclusion: Salidroside pretreatment could protect cardiac function and relieve rabbit cardiac injury after limb ischemia/reperfusion.