Biological Clocks ; Genetic Therapy ; Heart Diseases ; therapy ; Humans ; Stem Cell Transplantation

Trans-cinnamaldehyde, the main component of volatile oil from cassia twig or Cinnamomum cassia, which is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Trans-cinnamaldehyde is a kind olefine aldehyde of organic compounds and has many pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and neuroprotection etc. The compound has preventive and therapeutic effects on the nervous system, cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes and other diseases. Trans-cinnamaldehyde, as a preventive care of nature medicine, has great clinical and market potential. This paper gives a review about the pharmacological effects and mechanism of trans-cinnamaldehyde researched in the latest five years. We hope to provide some basic information for further research on trans-cinnamaldehyde.
Acrolein ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cinnamomum aromaticum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans

Objective To observe the changes of osteoblasts and vascularization during osteogenesis by tissue engineering technique under the electron microscope and study the feasibility of improving vascularization of the tissue engineering bone by using the small intestine submucosa(SIS) as the scaffold. Methods The bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) were isolated by using the gradient centrifuge method.BMSCs were seeded in the SIS.The scaffold-cell constructs were cultured in vitro for two weeks.There were no cells on the SIS as control.They were implanted subcutaneously in the dorsa of the athymic mice.The implants were harvested after(in vivo) incubation for 4,8 and 12 weeks.The changes of osteoblasts and vascularization were observed under the transmission electron microscope and the scanning electron microscope. Results The BMSCs grew quite well.BMSCs differentiated on the surface of the SIS and secreted a great deal of extracellular matrices.The scaffold-cell constructs formed a lot of bone and vessels in vivo.The scaffold degraded after 12 weeks.No osteoblasts but vascularization and fibroblasts were observed as control. Conclusion SIS can be used as the scaffold for constructing tissue engineering bone as it can improve the formation of bone and vessels in vivo.

Objective To analyze the difference of frontal-cingulate functional connection between patients with major depression and healthy controls in recognization of sad facial expression, and discuss the neutral basis of emotional bias in preliminary. Methods 12 female patients with major depression and 12 matched healthy controls were scanned. The intensities of brain activation in the process of sad and neutral facial expression recognition were analyzed, and the strengths of frontal-cingulate functional connection were compared between the two groups based on dynamic causal modeling. Results Comparing the stimulus adjusting connection models with Bayesian model indicated that model Ⅱ matched with the observation data better. In the comparison between model Ⅱ and model I ,the average Bayes factor was more than 7.38. In the comparison between model Ⅱ and model Ⅲ,the average Bayes factor was more than 2.71. Calculating the intrinsic connection parameters and stimulus adjusting connection parameters based on intrinsic connection model and stimulus adjusting connection model( model Ⅱ ), the result showed that connection strength between anterior cingulate and right inferior frontal gyrus in depression was greater than that in healthy controls. Conclusion The frontal-cingulate functional connection of patients with major depression is increased abnormally ,which may be the neural basis of negative emotional bias.

Identification and functional analyses of antiviral restriction factors in hosts have become hot research topics. Four HIV restriction factors, APOBEC3G, Trim5alpha, Tetherin, and SAMHD1, have been identified in recent years. By encoding auxiliary proteins, lentiviruses can counteract host restriction factors. For example, the auxiliary proteins Vif, Vpu, and Vpx of HIV antagonize APOBEC3G, Tetherin, and SAMHD1, respectively. Furthermore, these auxiliary proteins enable the entry of HIV into host cells and influence the replication and pathogenicity of HIV. In this paper, we review the research progress in the functions of the three HIV auxiliary proteins that can antagonize the host restriction factors.
Animals ; HIV ; metabolism ; physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Viral Proteins ; metabolism

Adult ; Faculty ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sampling Studies ; Sleep ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo construct and identify a lentiviral vector of RNA interference targeting human Notch-1 gene.

METHODSTo determine the Notch-1 gene sequences, three RNAi target sequences (shRNA1-3) were designed in accordance with the RNAi sequence design principles and cloned into the lentiviral vector pLenOR-THM by endonuclease BamH I restriction, EcoR I double digestion, and T4 DNA-ligase ligation. After the transformation into competent DH5alpha bacteria, the candidate clones were identified by Kpn I and EcoR I double digestion and DNA sequencing. The recombinant and three packaging plasmids were co-transfected into human embryonic kidney cell line 293T cells by lipofectamine to produce the lentiviral particles. The viral titer was determined. The 293T cells were infected by the lentiviral particles obtained, and transfection efficiency was assessed using a fluorescent microscope. The lentiviral vector particles were also transfected into ACC-M cells. The Notch-1 expression in the transfected cells was assayed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe lentiviral RNAi vector pLenOR-THM-Notchl for Notch-1 gene was constructed successfully. Strong green fluorescence was observed in the 293T cells under fluorescent microscope after co-transfection of the cells with the four plasmids of lentiviral vector. The virus in the supernatant reached a titer of 5.8 x 10(8) TU x mL(-1). The transfection efficiency of the collected virus exceeded 90% in 293T cells with 1 as a multiplicity of infection. The third lentiviral vector was found to significantly inhibit the Notch-1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSIONThe lentiviral RNAi vector of Notch-1 has been successfully constructed and identified.

Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Receptor, Notch1 ; Transfection

Objective To evaluate the effects of 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy(3DCRT) in form of local control and survival of rectal cancer patients. Methods Forty-two patients with rectal cancer were irradiation by 3DCRT. They first received 40 Gy with larger field, at 1.8-2.0 Gy/f, 1 fraction qd, then followed by a boost of 24-27 Gy with reduced field, at 3.0-4.0 Gy/f, 1 fraction qod, to a total dose of 0,64-67 Gy. Results The 1-,2-,3-year survival rates were 83.3% ,64.3% and 45.2% .The 1-,2-,3-year local recurrence rates were 2.4%,11.9% and 23.9%. Conclusion Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy is able to prolong the survival and improve the life quality of patients with rectal cancer.

Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; blood ; Humans ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; Occupational Exposure

Objective To observe adhesion and growth of Sehwann cells(SCs) on small intestinal submueosa(SIS) and study the bioeompatibility of SIS with SCs.Methods The SCs of SD neonate rat were isolated and cultured in vitro,then were seeded on prepared SIS.At different times,the adhesion,growth and proliferation of SCs on SIS were observed by phase contrast microscope,histological examination,scanning e- lectron microscope and transmission electron microscope.Results By phase contrast microscope,SCs grew well on the edge of SIS after 3 and 5 days.SCs adhered tightly on the surface of SIS after 5 days through histo- logical examination.By scanning electron microscope,on the surface of SIS,SCs grew and adhered actively, prominence of cells body were obvious.They connected end-to-end with each other or arranged in clusters. Protein granules were secreted on cells surface.By transmission electron microscope,SCs grew in good condi- tion and adhered tightly on the surface of SIS.At the interface of SCs and SIS,prominence was seen to contact with SIS in the bottom of cell body.Conclusion SCs are able to adhere and grow well on the surface of SIS.As a scaffold,SIS has good biocompatibility with SCs.