miRNA, regarded as an important negative gene regulator at the post-transcriptional level, plays a critical role in oligodendrocyte differentiation and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Myelinating oligodendrocytes are important for the conduction of action potentials, synaptic plasticity and also for cognitive deficits of Alzheimer's disease. Application of miRNA, especially oligodendrocyte-specific miRNAs in studying the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, will provide a new insight for the drug development and clinical diagnosis of the disease. In this paper we review the research progress in miRNA, oligodendrocytes and Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUNDHomoharringtonine (HHT) is a cephalotaxine ester derived from an evergreen tree found wildely throughout southern China, which has antileukemic activities against a variety of acute myeloid leukemic cells. For the sake of illustrating the mechanisms of HHT in the treatment of leukemia, we assessed the effect of HHT on the apoptosis of human chronic myeloid leukemic cell line K562.

METHODSThe apoptosis of K562 cells induced by HHT was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA, flow cytometry and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick labeling.

RESULTSCharacteristic apoptosis-related features emerged in K562 cells after exposed to HHT at a concentration 0.05-100 microg/ml. Transmission electron microscopy of HHT treated K562 cells displayed chromatin condensation and aggregation under the nuclear membrane, nuclear fragmentation and apoptosis body formation. Typical DNA ladder in agarose gel electrophoresis was observed in the cells exposed to HHT. The cell cycle analysis measured by flow cytometry showed G1 phase cells decreased with the increase of S phase cells while apoptosis was induced by HHT in K562 cells. The percentage of apoptotic cells in K562 cells treated with 50 microg/ml of HHT decreased significantly when pretreated with 1 microg/ml of cycloheximide, 0.05 microg/ml of Actinomycin D respectively.

CONCLUSIONSHHT has apoptotic effects on K562 cells. The HHT induced apoptosis mainly of the cells in G1 phase and this process required RNA transcription and protein synthesis.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cycloheximide ; pharmacology ; Dactinomycin ; pharmacology ; G1 Phase ; drug effects ; Harringtonines ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; pathology

Targeting rRNA of bacteria is a new strategy for antibiotic agent development. The rRNA such as mRNA are naturally self-folded molecules which expose only limited accessible target-sites for binding. These accessible sites are pivotal for designing the effective antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, and DNAzymes. MAST, an RNA accessible site screening method, illustrated 6 accessible sites on 16S rRNA by immobilizing 16S rRNA and hybridizing with oligonucleotide library. 5 of the accessible sites were identified valid, and the antisense oligonucleotides targeted to which showed inhibition effectiveness on the proliferation. Among the 5 target sites, one showed the priority of accessibility. Ribozyme designed to this site showed obvious inhibition to the growth when induced expressing in the transfection E.coli.

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), or oncogenic osteomalacia (OOM), is a rare acquired paraneoplastic disease characterized by renal phosphate wasting and hypophosphatemia. Recent evidence shows that tumor-overexpressed fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is responsible for the hypophosphatemia and osteomalacia. The tumors associated with TIO are usually phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor mixed connective tissue variants (PMTMCT). Surgical removal of the responsible tumors is clinically essential for the treatment of TIO. However, identifying the responsible tumors is often difficult. Here, we report a case of a TIO patient with elevated serum FGF23 levels suffering from bone pain and hypophosphatemia for more than three years. A tumor was finally located in first metacarpal bone by octreotide scintigraphy and she was cured by surgery. After complete excision of the tumor, serum FGF23 levels rapidly decreased, dropping to 54.7% of the preoperative level one hour after surgery and eventually to a little below normal. The patient's serum phosphate level rapidly improved and returned to normal level in four days. Accordingly, her clinical symptoms were greatly improved within one month after surgery. There was no sign of tumor recurrence during an 18-month period of follow-up. According to pathology, the tumor was originally diagnosed as "lomangioma" based upon a biopsy sample, "proliferative giant cell tumor of tendon sheath" based upon sections of tumor, and finally diagnosed as PMTMCT by consultation one year after surgery. In conclusion, although an extremely rare disease, clinicians and pathologists should be aware of the existence of TIO and PMTMCT, respectively.
Bone Neoplasms ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; blood ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypophosphatemia ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Mesenchymoma ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Metacarpal Bones ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Connective Tissue ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Osteomalacia ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Phosphates ; blood ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the growth status of children under 7 years in Wuzhong City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China and its influential factors, and to provide a basis for related intervention measures.

METHODSChildren under 7 years were selected from two county-level districts in Wuzhong by stratified cluster sampling, and their growth status were evaluated by the Z score method.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of growth retardation, underweight, and wasting were 12.58%, 5.71%, and 5.55% respectively. The height-for-age Z score, weight-for-age Z score, and weight-for-height Z scores were -0.26±2.50, 0.29±4.54. and 0.65±3.02 respectively. There were significant differences in the prevalence rate of wasting among children of different ethnic groups (P<0.05); also, there were significant differences in the prevalence rates of growth retardation and underweight among children from different regions and with different age (P<0.05). The main influential factors for growth retardation were region (OR=0.369, P<0.001), ethnic groups (OR=1.694, P=0.027), and age (OR=1.143, P=0.002). The main influential factors for underweight were region (OR=0.453, P=0.001) and age (OR=1.204，P=0.002). The main influential factor for wasting was nation (OR=1.735, P=0.024).

CONCLUSIONSIn Wuzhong, children under 7 years have poor growth status, which are related to ethnic groups, region, and age.

Body Height ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect between mini-traumatic bone-grafting and non-bone-grafting in percutaneous K-wire fixation for treating the calcaneal fractures.

METHODSFrom 2002 to 2006, 112 patients with the type II (Paley type) fractures of calcaneus were studied. There were 56 cases in bone-grafting group involving 36 males and 20 famales,aged from 21 to 65, averaged (42.0 +/- 2.3) years; 11 cases were in type II a and 45 were in type II b; the course was from 3 to 14 days, averaged (6.0 +/- 1.2) days. And there were 56 cases in non-bone-grafting group involving 38 males and 18 famales,aged from 22 to 67, averaged (43.0 +/- 2.5)years; 13 cases were in type II a and 43 were in type II b; the course was from 2 to 15 days, averaged (5.0-2.1) days. All the cases were treated by closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation, and bone-grafting group(56 cases) were treated by mini-traumatic bone-grafting, but the other group (56 cases) were not. The collapsing rate and fineness rate were compared.

RESULTSAll the cases were followed up from 5 to 52 months. There were no collapsing cases in the bone-grafting group after operation, but 3 cases occurrenced re-collapsing in the non-bone-grafting group. According to the Zhang Tie-liang's evaluation criterion, in the bone-grafting group,the results were excellent in 43 cases, good in 12, fair in 1, the fineness rate was 98.2%. In the non-bone-grafting group,the results were excellent in 37 cases, good in 16, fair in 2, poor in 1, the fineness rate was 94.7%.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of the type II fracture of calcaneus with closed reduction, percutaneous K-wire fixation and mini-traumatic bone-grafting can prevent the posterior talar articular surface of caltaneus from collapsing again after operation, enhance the union of fracture, elevate the curative effect, thus it should be taken with the standard therapeutic regimen.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Bone Wires ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo develop a standard duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) animal model using a local Hubei species of duck, Ma Ya, and use it as an in vivo experimental system to study antiviral strategies against hepatitis B.

METHODSTwo-day-old Ma Ya ducklings were experimentally infected via intraperitoneal injection with the DHBV inocula which was collected from the transfected culture supernatant of 1.5-fold-overlength genome recombinant plasmid. Blood samples were taken twice or thrice a week during post-inoculation for 50 days. Viremia was quantified by serum real-time PCR to show the peak. Antiviral treatment of the DHBV-infected ducklings was started 3 d post-inoculation. The animals received oral administration of lamivudine (3TC) at a dose of 25 mg/kg/d for 5 d, followed by a maintenance therapy thrice weekly for 3 more weeks. Serum was quantified to show the viremia peak and liver biopsy specimens were analysed by Southern blotting and in-situ hybridization at the end of antiviral drug treatment.

RESULTSThe experimental infection rate of 2-day-old ducklings was 87.5%. Viremia started to be detectable on day 7 and reached a peak on day 11 post-inoculation, followed by a decrease and fluctuations. Four weeks of oral administration of 3TC led to a significant decrease in viremia peak during. This effect was not sustained, as a rebound in viremia was observed after drug withdrawal. Similarly, the analysis of liver biopsies at the end of 3TC treatment showed a marked decrease in DHBV DNA. However, after drug withdrawal a rebound of intrahepatic DHBV DNA was observed in duck livers.

CONCLUSIONThe Hubei duck model with experimental DHBV infection of transfected supernatant is more suitable for the hepadnavirus biologic research due to its stability and practicability.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ducks ; Hepadnaviridae Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Hepatitis B Virus, Duck ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Viremia ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of inhibitory effect of Ubenimex on human leukemic cells. METHODS: K562 and HL60 cells were treated with Ubenimex at different concentrations, and the growth inhibition was analysed by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by light microscopy, agrose gel electrophoresis, TUNEL labeling method and flow cytometry (FCM) assay. RESULTS: (1)Treatment with Ubenimex remarkably inhibited the growth of HL60 cells, the IC(50) of Ubenimex for HL60 cells was 13.03&mgr;g/ml. But K562 cells were less sensitive than HL60. Ubenimex inhibited the growth of HL60 and K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner. (2)Apoptosis of leukemic cells was induced by Ubenimex, which was shown by the changes in morphology, DNA ladder on agrose gel, TUNEL labeling,typical peak before G1 phase of cell cycle and the positive of Annexin V(FITC) on the cells membrane with FCM. (3)Ubenimex induced apoptosis of K562 and HL60 cells in a dose-and-time-dependent manner. (4)The cell cycle analysis by FCM showed that the HL60 cells were blocked in G1 phase after treated by Ubenimex. Conclution Ubenimex can efficiently induce apoptosis of HL60 and K562 cells, this may be one of the mechanisms for inhibiting effect of Ubenimex on leukemia.

Objective: To observe the effects of acupoints, cone numbers and durations of moxibustion with different moxibustion methods on skin surface and inside temperature, and to provide references for the clinical standardization of moxibustion amount. Methods: The 42 big-ear white rabbits were divided into 6 groups according to the random number table method, a 1-cone direct moxibustion group, a 2-cone direct moxibustion group, a 3-cone direct moxibustion group, a 1-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, a 2-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a 3-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, with 7 rabbits in each group. Shenque (CV 8), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) were used in each group, but the moxibustion methods, cone numbers and durations of moxibustion were different. Rabbits in each group received moxibustion once every other day for 5 times in total. During the intervention, a thermoelectricity coupled probe and a temperature recorder were used to record the real-time acupoint skin temperature and the temperature at different time points, so as to observe, analyze and process the real-time changes in the temperature difference between the surface and inside of acupoint skin. Results: For herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion, the best temperature for cone changing was (46.38±0.51) ℃ when the highest surface temperature was (49.20±0.52) ℃; the multi-factor comparison of acupoint × cone number × time and acupoint × moxibustion method × time showed that time × acupoint, time × moxibustion method and cone number × acupoint had interactive effects (all P<0.05). Comparing skin temperature differences between different cone numbers at the same acupoint, Shenque (CV 8) on the 1st and the 5th days, Shenshu (BL 23) on the 3rd and the 7th days, Zusanli (ST 36) on the 1st and the 9th days of experiment showed statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The skin temperature comparison of different moxibustion methods at the same acupoint all had statistical differences (all P<0.05), except for Shenque (CV 8) before moxibustion, Shenshu (BL 23) before moxibustion and on the 5th day; Zusanli (ST 36) only showed statistical differences on the 5th and 7th days (both P<0.05). The skin temperature differences of different acupoints after moxibustion in the 1-cone, 2-cone and 3-cone groups were statistically different (all P<0.05); direct moxibustion and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at different acupoints were all statistically different (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Cone changing temperature under the same specifications of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion was confirmed. Temperature difference between surface and inside of different acupoint skin at the same maximum temperature was significantly different due to the cone numbers and moxibustion methods, which showed the highest at Shenshu (BL 23), the second at Shenque (CV 8), and the lowest at Zusanli (ST 36). The influence of acupoint factor should be considered to determine the quantitative indicators of moxibustion.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase or Pin1) in malignant hematopoietic cells and its relation with cell cycle.

METHODSRealtime quantitative PCR with fluorescence probe hybridization was used to measure expression of Pin1 mRNA in malignant hematopoietic cell lines and normal mononuclear cells separated from bone marrow. HeLa cells were blocked with Thymidine and Nocodazole in different cell phases and then the expression of Pin1 mRNA and protein were detected by realtime-PCR and immunoblotting.

RESULTSThe expression of Pin1 in malignant hematopoietic cell lines was significantly higher than that in normal controls (0.339 +/-0.093 compared with 0.038 +/-0.005, P<0.01). Its expression in myeloid malignant hematopoietic cell lines was significantly higher than that in normal controls (0.388 +/-0.115 compared with 0.038 +/-0.005, P<0.01) and so was the malignant lymphocytic cell lines (0.226 +/-0.166 compared with 0.038 +/-0.005, P<0.01). The expression of Pin1 was closely correlated with cell cycle. It was the highest in G1 phase and the lowest in S phase (110.762 +/-16.737 compared with 4.080 +/-0.634, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONPin1 is overexpressed in malignant hematopoietic cell lines and its expression is different during cell cycle that is highest in G1 phase and lowest in S phase.

Cell Cycle ; physiology ; G1 Phase ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphoid ; enzymology ; pathology ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; enzymology ; pathology ; Peptidylprolyl Isomerase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; S Phase ; Tumor Cells, Cultured