The effect of glucose on acylcoenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase-1 (ACAT-1) expression in THP-1-derived macrophages was investigated.The results showed that high concentrations of glucose up-regulated ACAT-1 expression in THP-1-derived macrophages.

A in vitro platelet aggregation bioassay was developed for the quality control of XST capsules. The in vitro anti-platelet aggregation effect in rats was observed to detect the bioactivity of XST capsules. Panax notoginseng saponins and Xuesaitong lyophilizedpowder for injection were taken as standard control substances to determine the potency. According to the results, XST capsules showeda significant inhibitory effect on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. The in vitro anti-platelet activity oflyophilized powder for injection was stabler than that of Panax notoginseng saponins, and so suitable to serve as a standard control substance. The biological potency of XST capsules compared with standard control substance was detected by using parallel line assay. According to the results, the established bioassay method had a good repeatability (RSD 2.92%). The sample test results could pass thereliability test(linear deviation P > 0.05, parallel deviation P > 0.05). This bioassay method could be used as one of the complementary quality control methods for XST capsules.
Animals ; Capsules ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology

Cannula ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Duodenal Diseases ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/surgery*

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of phase-weighted imaging in differentiating multiple system atrophy (MSA) from idiopathic Parkinson disease (IPD).

METHODSA phase-weighted sequence was performed covering striatum in 21 patients with MSA, 20 patients with IPD, and 26 age-matched healthy volunteers after conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging examination on a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging system. An experienced neuroradiologist who were blind to the clinical diagnosis applied region of interest (ROI) on post-processing phase images to measure the phase shift value of bilateral globus pallidus, putamen, and caudate head.

RESULTSThe phase shift values at bilateral putamen of MSA group were significantly lower than those of IPD group and control group (P < 0.05), while phase shift values at other locations of MSA group were not statistically different from those of other groups. The phase shift values showed no statistical difference between IPD group and control group at all regions.

CONCLUSIONQuantitative phase-weighted imaging is a useful sequence to reflect the abnormal iron accumulation in brains of patients with movement disorders and is helpful in the differential diagnosis between MSA and IPD.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Caudate Nucleus ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Globus Pallidus ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple System Atrophy ; diagnosis ; Parkinson Disease ; diagnosis ; Putamen ; pathology

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chylous Ascites ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of utilizing self-designed score system for lower lumbar vertebral burst fractures to select surgical approach.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to December 2011, the clinical data of 56 patients with lower lumbar vertebra burst fractures who underwent surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed. There were 42 males and 14 females with an average age of 43.1 years old (ranged, 19 to 65). Causes of injury included falling down (40 cases), traffic accidents (12 cases), and crashing injury by heavy objects(4 cases). Injury site was L3 in 37 cases, L4 in 16 cases, and L5 in 3 cases. According to the AO classification, 17 cases were type A3.1, 14 cases were type A3.2, 25 cases were type A3.3. According to Frankel grade of nerous function, 2 cases were grade B, 5 cases were grade C, 9 cases were grade D and 40 cases were grade E. Surgical methods and approaches were chosen based on the comprehensive evaluation of AO classification, condition of posterior column injury and spinal canal encroachment. Surgical methods and approaches included trans-vertebra fixation (15 cases), intra-vertebra pedicle screw fixation (21 cases), combination of anterior and posterior approaches (11 cases), one-stage posterior approaches (9 cases). Cobb angles, restorations of the affected vertebral anterior border height, and conditions of spinal canal encroachment were compared before and after surgery. Conditions of bone graft fusion and internal fixation (if bending, loosening or breakage existed) were observed. Spinal cord functions were assessed according to Frankel grade. Localized pain and working status of patients were also assessed at the last follow-up.

RESULTSNo incision infection was found and no spinal nerve symptoms improved in all of 56 patients. All patients were followed up for 12 to 60 months with a mean of 28.5 months, without internal fixation loosening or breakage. There was significant differences in Cobb angle, vertebral anterior border height and recovery of spinal canal encroachment between preoperative and postoperative instantly (P < 0.05), however, there was no significant difference between postoperative instantly and final follow-up (P > 0.05). Thirteen cases obtained fusion by trans-vertebra fixation, 20 cases obtained fusion by intra-vertebra fixation, and 20 cases were treated by the combination of anterior and posterior approaches or one-stage posterior approaches all of patients obtained fusion. Spinal nervous function recovered I to II grade, 1 case was grade C, 3 cases were grade D, 52 cases were grade E. Localized pain was assessed as P1 in 52 cases, P2 in 3 cases, and P3 in 1 case. Working status was classified into W1 in 12 cases, W2 in 39 cases, and W3 in 5 cases.

CONCLUSIONThe lower lumbar vertebra and thoracolumbar junction exhibit different injury characteristics due to variations in anatomy and biomechanics. A comprehensive score of the AO classification, posterior column injury and degree of spinal canal encroachment will guide the selection of surgical method and approach for the treatment of lower lumbar vertebra burst fractures.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

Objective To measure the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in neuron-like cells resulted from rat bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSCs) differentiation induced by salvia miltiorrhiza injection and provide some theoretical basis for the BMSCs transplantation. Methods The rat BMSCs were separated from rat bone marrow and cultured in vitro. After induced by basic fibroblast growth factor and 10mL/L salvia miltiorrhiza injection, the cells were identified with immunofluorescence staining against NeuN. The same procedure was performed on primarily cultured hippocampal neurons. Then, the [Ca2+]i of the differentiated neuron-like cells was determined and compared with primarily cultured hippocampal neurons. Results The BMSCs after induced by basic fibroblast growth factor and salvia miltiorrhiza injection expressed neuronal phenotypes similar to the cell appearance of neurons with NeuN. The average fluorescence intensity of the neuron-like cells derived from BMSCs was 984.75±79.51, while the average fluorescence intensity of the primarily cultured hippocampal neurons was 769.42±60.93. No significant difference was found between them (P>0.05). Conclusion The neuron-like cells from rat BMSCs differentiation induced by salvia miltiorrhiza injection possess certain neuronal properties.

OBJECTIVE: To compare different types of peritoneal fibrosis models in rats. METHODS: Thirty-four SD rats were divided into 5 groups: control group (Group 1), normal saline group (Group 2), high glucose group (4.25% peritoneal dialysate, 4.25% PDF, Group 3), high glucose + lipopolysaceharides (LPS) group (4.25% PDF + LPS, Group 4), high glucose + erythromycin group (4.25% PDF + lactobionate erythromycin, Group 5). A 2-hour peritoneal equilibration test (PET) was performed after 5 weeks. Then animals were humanely killed. Dialysate-to-plasma urea ratio (D/ Purea), glucose reabsorption (D2/D0), net ultrafiltration (UF) volume were determined. The level of fibronectin in peritoneal tissues was measured by immunohistochemical method. Peritoneal membrane histology was evaluated by light microscopy. RESULTS: The D2/D0 ratio and net ultrafiltration volume in Groups 3, 4, and 5 were significantly lower than those in Groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05) . The D/Purea ratio in Groups 3, 4 and 5 were significantly higher than that in Groups 1 and 2 (P < 0. 05 ). The level of fibronectin in Groups 3, 4 and 5 were significantly higher than that in Groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05 ). CONCLUSION Different types of peritoneal fibrosis models in rats has been established. The best model is high clusion glucose + erythromycin.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; etiology ; Male ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; Peritoneum ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

5-Flucytosine (5-FC) could be changed to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by cytosine deaminase (CD), the latter is able to kill cancer cells. However, there is no efficient method to deliver the CD gene into the tumor cells, which hampers the application of the suicide gene system. In this experiment, for the first time, the NDV has been utilized as a vector to deliver the CD gene into the cancer cells, the virus can infect the cancer cells specifically, replicate and assemble, while the cytosine deaminase is expressed. Then the CD converts the prodrug 5-FC into 5-FU to achieve the purpose of inhibiting tumor. Firstly, the whole genome of E. coli JM109 was extracted, and the CD gene was obtained by cloning method. Then the CD and IRES-EGFP were ligated into the pEE12.4 expression vector to become a recombinant pEE12.4IE-CD eukaryotic expression plasmid. The human liver cancer cells were transfected with the plasmid. The cells were treated with different concentrations of 5-FC, MTT method was used to determine the killing effect of CD/5-FC system on the human liver cancer cells. The cell deaths were 18.07%, 42.98% and 62.20% respectively when the concentrations of prodrug were at 10, 20 and 30 mmol x L(-1). In 5-FC acute toxicity experiment, Kunming mice were injected with different concentrations of 5-FC at intervals of 1:0.5. The LD50 of 5-FC through iv injection was determined by improved Karber's method, the LD50 was 507 mg x kg(-1) and the 95% confidence limit was 374-695 mg x kg(-1). According to the maximum LD0 dose of the LD50, the maximum safe dose was 200 mg x kg(-1). Body weight and clinic symptoms of the experimental animals were observed. These results laid the foundation to verify the antitumor effect and safety of CD/5-FC system in animal models. The CD gene was ligated into the NDV (rClone30) carrier, then the tumor-bearing animal was established to perform the tumor inhibiting experiment. The result showed that the recombinant rClone30-CD/5-FC system has a high antitumor activity in vivo. To summarize, CD gene has been cloned and its bioactivity has been confirmed in the mammalian cells. It is the first time in this study to utilize the recombinant NDV to deliver the CD gene into the tumor cells; our result proves the rClone30-CD/5-FC system is a potential method for cancer therapy.
Animals ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Chick Embryo ; Cytosine Deaminase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flucytosine ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Fluorouracil ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Genetic Vectors ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Mice ; Newcastle disease virus ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo discuss the central modulating mechanism of Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) differences of the functional brain regions between SP 6 and sham acupoint.

METHODSSixteen volunteers accepted right Sanyinjiao (SP 6) (SP 6 group) or right sham (sham group) acupuncture for two times after 24 h sleep deprivation (SD), there was two weeks between two acupunctures. The needle was retained for 4 minutes and the brain fMRI scanning was performed by 3.0 TMR every time. The ALFF consequent data was processed by REST. One-sample t-test and two-pair t-test were performed by SPM5.

RESULTSSP 6 group mainly caused ALFF change in inferior parietal lobule, posterior cingulated while sham group in precuneus, posterior cingulated. SP 6 group increased ALFF in left fusiform temporal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus with no decreased regions compared with sham group.

CONCLUSIONSRetaining needle dose influence the activity of the brain region during resting-state in both group, especially the mood-related regions. And its mechanism is probably that the relevant effect is carried out by regulating function to target organs of complex brain network comprised of relevant functional center and related brain region. There are differences between SP 6 and Sham acupoint.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiography ; Sleep Deprivation ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult