Xanthan gum is a microbial, natural high molecular weight polysaccharide produced by a the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. Due to its exceptional rheological properties, its numerous areas of application cover a broad range. This review focuses on various aspects of xanthan production, properties, degradation, and application.

OBJECTIVETo culture rat prostate glandular epithelial cells and study their barrier functions in vitro.

METHODSRat prostate glandular epithelial cells were cultured in vitro. The expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry, the structure and composition of the epithelial cells observed under the inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope. The transepithelial electrical resistances (TEERs) were monitored with the Millicell system. The permeability of the prostate glandular epithelial cells was assessed by the phenol red leakage test.

RESULTSCompact monolayer cell structures were formed in the prostate glandular epithelial cells cultured in vitro. Immunohistochemistry showed the expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of tight junctions between the adjacent glandular epithelial cells. The TEERs in the cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells reached the peak of about (201.3 ± 3.5) Ω/cm2 on the 8th day. The phenol red leakage test manifested a decreased permeability of the cell layers with the increase of TEERs.

CONCLUSIONThe structure and function of rat prostate glandular epithelial cells are similar to those of brain capillary endothelial cells, retinal capillary endothelial cells, and intestinal epithelial cells. In vitro cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells have the barrier function and can be used as a model for the study of blood prostate barrier in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Cells, Cultured ; Claudin-1 ; metabolism ; Electric Impedance ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; pharmacokinetics ; Prostate ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Tight Junctions

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on E coliinduced prostatitis in rats.

METHODSBMSCs were isolated, cultured and amplified by the attached choice method. Fifty SD rats were randomized into five groups of equal number: normal control, acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) , chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP), ABP + BMSCs, and CBP + BMSCs, and the animals in the latter four groups were injected with E. coli into both sides of the prostate under ultrasound guidance for 1 - 14 days to induce ABP and for 4 - 12 weeks to induce CBP. The control rats were injected with the same amount of PBS. Two weeks after injection of BMSCs into the prostates, pathomorphological changes in the prostate were observed under the light microscope and the mRNA and protein levels of IL-1β and TNF-α determined by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively, followed by statistical analysis with SPSS 18.0.

RESULTSHistopathological evaluation showed typical pathological inflammatory changes in the prostates of the rats in the ABP and CBP groups, including glandular structural changes, interstitial edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrous hyperplasia, which were all remarkably relieved after treated with BMSCs. The mRNA and protein levels of IL-β ([0.829 ± 0.121] and [271.75 ± 90.59] pg/ml) and TNF-α ([0.913 ± 0. 094] and [105.78 ± 19. 05] pg/ml) in the ABP and those of IL-1β ([0. 975 ± 0. 114] and [265. 31 ± 71. 34] pg/ml) and TNF-α ([0. 886 ± 0. 084] and [107. 45 ± 26. 11 ] pg/ml) in the CBP groups were significantly higher than those in the control rats ([0. 342 ± 0.087] and [45.76 17. 99] pg/ml, P <0. 05); ([0.247 ± 0.054] and ([19.42 ± 7. 75] pg/ml, P <0. 01) as well as than those in the ABP + BMSCs ([0. 433 ± 0. 072] and [51. 34 ± 22. 13] pg/ml, P < 0. 05 ) ; ( [0. 313 ± 0. 076] and [28. 38 ± 8. 78] pg/ml, P < 0. 01) and the CBP + BMSCs group ([0.396 ± 0.064] and [56.37 ± 21.22] pg/ml, P <0.05); ([0.417 ± 0.068] and [29.21 ± 10.22] pg/ml, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONInjection of BMSCs can reduce E coli-induced prostatic inflammation reaction, which.may be associated with its reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration and the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α in the prostate tissue.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; physiology ; Chronic Disease ; Escherichia coli Infections ; therapy ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; microbiology ; therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo improve the method for monitoring sleep state and respiratory rhythm of SD rats, providing a solution for rats' chewing on the wires, signal loss and instability problems in the animal model of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).

METHODSWe improved monitoring electrodes of both electrocorticogram (ECoG) and electromyogram (EMG), signal circuit and animal operation.

RESULTSOperation time was shortened and wound exposure time was reduced, which made it easier for postoperative recovery. The ECoG and EMG signals were more stable with sharp image, and signal circuit lines had better conductivity and material durability, achieving continuous monitoring for a long time and high success rate. We could precisely distinguish the sleep wake state and the sleep apnea events in rats according to these signals.

CONCLUSIONThe improved method is more reliable and practical to test the small animal model of SAS, and is more easily to operate and the signals are more stable.

Animals ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Electromyography ; methods ; Models, Animal ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Rats ; Respiration ; Sleep ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; diagnosis

Objective To evaluate the relationship between Multi-slices spiral(MSCT) perfusion and microvessel density (MVD) in maxillofacial tumors. Methods Thirty-one cases of maxillofacial tumors were studied with MSCT perfusion imaging before operation. The time-density curve, perfusion, time to peak(TTP), and Peak enhancement imaging (PEI) of tumors were calculated. MVD of the tumors was measured with immuno-histochemical method by means of detecting factor Ⅷ in all the histologic specimens. Relativity analysis was carried between MSCT perfusion imaging parameters, perfusion curve types and MVD. Results MVD of maxillofacial tumors were higher than normal tissue. MVD remarkably correlated with malignancy of the tumors. Perfusion and time to peak (TTP) correlated well with MVD(t=7.09,4.10, P0.05). Significant difference of MVD in three types of perfusion curve was found(F=8.09,P

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of Yizhi Jiannao Granule (YZJN) in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) on proteomic level by analyzing the differential expression proteins in entorhinal cortex tissue of senescence accelerated mouse P8 (SAMP8) treated with YZJN.

METHODSSix-month old SAMP8 were randomly divided into 3 groups, the model group, the YZJN group and the control group, 10 mice in each group. The model group was untreated with free water access, the YZJN group was treated with concentrated water extract of YZJN 0.3 g per day via gastric perfusion, and the control group was perfused with equal volume of double distilled water. The total protein in entorhinal cortex tissue of mice was extracted after an 8-week treatment with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and the differential expression protein spots were separated for identification through peptide mass fingerprint analysis and database searching.

RESULTSThirty-two protein spots expressed differentially between the YZJN group and the model group were found, and 14 differential expression proteins were identified, including NADH dehydrogenase iron-sulfur protein 6, Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha, beta2-globin, phosphoglyceric kinase, etc, their functions involved mitochondria energy metabolism, oxidative stress and neuron function.

CONCLUSIONYZJN could regulate multiple protein expressions in entorhinal cortex tissues of SAMP8, suggesting that it has multi-target therapeutic action and its mechanism in treating AD is possibly realized by way of improving mitochondria function, antagonizing oxidation stress, preventing nerve cell apoptosis and protecting neurons.

Aging ; metabolism ; Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Entorhinal Cortex ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Proteome ; analysis ; Proteomics

AIMTo clone and analyse the coding cDNA sequence of alpha1, beta2 and gamma2 subunit of GABAA receptor in American king Pigeon.

METHODSWithdrew total RNA from the American king pigeon brain, reverse transcribing general primers to acquire a gene set cDNA. Designing specific primers of three subunit mRNA of the GABAA receptor, by RT-PCR respectively expanded the conservative gene of al subunit, beta2 subunit and gamma2 subunit of GABAA receptor, and carried on clone, plastid identification and the sequence measurese of three genes.

RESULTSThe experiment on sequence measures has succeeded that sequence analysis indicated that lengths of the conservative gene of alpha1 subunit, beta2 subunit and gamma2 subunit of GABAA receptor was respectively 899 bp, 597 bp and 563 bp, homology on reference sequence was respectively 94.99%, 94.64% and 96.28%.

CONCLUSIONHomology is high on the conservative gene of alpha1 subunit, beta2 subunit and gamma2 subunit of GABAA receptor of brain tissue of pigeon and chicken but there is a discriminating characteristic in different kinds of animals.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Columbidae ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, GABA-A ; classification ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

The chemical constituents of 95% ethanol extract of Melastoma dodecandrum were isolated and purified by chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC, to obtain thirteen compounds eventually. On the basis of their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data, these compounds were identified as quercetin (1), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-(6"-O-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol (4), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O- [2",6"-di-O-(E)-coumaroyl]-β-D-glucopyra-noside (6), luteolin (7), luteolin-7-O-(6"-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucopyranoside (8), apigenin (9), apigenin-7-(6"-acetyl-glucopyranoside) (10) , naringenin (11), isovitexin (12), and epicatechin-[8,7-e] -4β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dyhydroxyl-2(3H)-pyranone (13). Eight compounds(3,5,6,8-11 and 13) were obtained from M. dodecandrum for the first time.
Apigenin ; analysis ; Chromatography ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dextrans ; Flavanones ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Kaempferols ; analysis ; Luteolin ; analysis ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analysis ; Silica Gel

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation Exposure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning

Objective To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue acupuncture method on amygdaloid protein expression in SAMP8; To explore the potential target protein for acupuncture treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods Thirty six-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into acupuncture group and control group, 15 mice in each group. Acupuncture group selected Baihui (GV20), Shenshu (BL23), Geshu (BL17) and Xuehai (SP10) to intervene. The control group was given the same time to catch and stimulate. After 8 weeks, the amygdala was extracted and the differential expression protein spots were identified by proteomic techniques. Results Compared with control group, acupuncture group eventually identified 9 differential expression protein spots, of which 6 up-regulated and 3 down-regulated. According to the relevant information provided in the protein database, the main function of differential expression proteins involved in the mitochondrial energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and production of Aβ. Conclusion Bushen Huoxue acupuncture method can regulate multiple protein expressions in amygdala, suggesting that it may be through improving mitochondrial energy metabolism, oxidative stress, reducing production of Aβ to realize the potential therapeutic effects on AD.