Objective To study the enhancing effect of ultrasound plus microbubble on small interference RNA(siRNA)transfection in vitro and in vivo.Methods Human vascular epithelial growth factor(VEGF)siRNA with 2'deoxy modification(VEGF 2'-eoxy siRNA,VdsR)was used.The human CNE cells(fromnasopharyngeal carcinoma)line was used for in vitro cell-based experiments and in vivo mouse xenograft model.Two different microbubble agents.BR14 and Levovist.were used together with the RNA transfection reagent RNA-mate.ELISA and RT-PCR assays were used to assess VEGF gene expression.Immunohistochemical staining (IHC)was performed to assess CD31 expression in xenograft tumors.Results VdsR transfection in CNE cells abolished VEGF expression as determined by ELISA experiments.In the first mouse xenograft experiment,ultrasound exposure dramatically enhanced VdsR-mediated tumor inhibition.In the second mouse xenograft experiment,when VdsR was mixed with the microbubble reagents and then injected into xenografts,ultrasoundexposure significantly reduced tumor growth in BR14-mixed VdsR group but not in the Levovist-mixed VdsR group compared to the control.RT-PCR experiments demonstrated that VEGF expression in ultrasound-exposed tumors was significantly lower than that in the control.Meanwhile,VEGF expression in the tumor tissue treated by BRl4-mixed VdsR declined as compared with the controls.Tumor vascular density as measured by CD31 immunostaining was significantly decreased in ultrasound-exposed tumors compared to the control.Conclusions Ultrasound exposure and/or microbubble can significantly enhance delivery and the efficiency of VdsR-mediated anti-tumor effects,and should be a location-specific enhancement approach for siRNA-based anti-cancer therapy.

ObjectiveTo study the levels of Tau protein and β amyloid protein(Aβ) in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) in patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and their significance of diagnosis. MethodsSensitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were performed to detect the CSF levels of Tau protein and Aβ in 32 patients with MCI and 15 healthy controls. ResultsSignificant elevation of the level of Tau protein and decrease of the level of the Aβ were observed in patients with MCI compared with healthy controls.ConclusionThe assays of the CSF Tau and Aβprotein levels can provide valuable biological marker for the diagnoses and treatment of MCI.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible differences in antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from different samples in children.

METHODSSix hundred and twenty-nine samples from urine, sputum, blood and secretion were collected from June 2004 to May 2009 for bacterial identification by VITEK-32 automatic system and antimicrobial susceptibility tests by Kirby-Bauer method. The drug resistance rate of Escherichia coli isolated from different samples was compared.

RESULTSTwo hundred and sixty strains of Escherichia coli were isolated , and 108 of which were from urine , 64 from sputum, 54 from secretion and 23 from blood. ESBLs were detected in 96 (36.9%) of the 260 isolates, AmpC enzymes in 32 (12.3%), and ESBLs+AmpC in 8 (3.1%). The ESBLs positive rate of Escherichia coli isolates from sputum was significantly higher than that from other samples (P<0.05). The antimicrobial resistance rate of Escherichia coli strains from different samples to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, piperacillin, cefotaxime, cefuroxime, cefepime, gentamicin, cotrimoxazole, and nitrofurantoin was different. The resistance rate of the strains from sputum samples was higher than that from the other samples (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEscherichia coli isolated from different samples have different antimicrobial resistance rates in children, so the selection of antibiotics for infections confirmed by bacterial cultures from different samples should based on drug sensitivity results.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; enzymology ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; beta-Lactamases ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of alcohol extract of Plumula Nelumbini (AEPN) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic fibrosis rats and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSTotally 32 male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the high dose AEPN group, and the low dose AEPN group, 8 in each group. 1,000 mg/kg AEPN was given to rats in the high dose AEPN group by gastrogavage at 10 mL/kg, once daily, while 500 mg/kg AEPN was given to rats in the low dose AEPN group by gastrogavage at 10 mL/kg, once daily. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin (ALB) were examined using automatic biochemical analyzer. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline (Hyp) in the hepatic tissue were determined using colorimetry. The degree of liver fibrosis was observed by HE staining and Masson staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was detected using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the normal control group, serum levels of ALT and AST obviously increased and the serum ALB level obviously decreased in the model group (all P < 0.05). After treated by AEPN, serum levels of ALT and AST were lowered. and the serum ALB level was higher (all P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the normal control group, collagen deposition was obviously seen in rats' livers of the model group, and pseudolobule had formed; inflammatory activities and fibrosis degrees were serious; contents of Hyp also increased (P < 0.05).After treated by AEPN, collagen deposition was obviously reduced with no obvious pseudolobule; inflammatory activities and fibrosis degrees were alleviated; contents of Hyp were also lowered (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with the normal control group, contents of MDA in the liver tissue obviously increased, while activities of SOD obviously decreased (P < 0.05) in the model group. After treated by AEPN, contents of MDA in the liver tissue decreased and the serum SOD level significantly increased (all P < 0.05). (4) Compared with the normal control group, the expression of α-SMA was obviously elevated in the model group (P < 0.05). After treated by AEPN, its expression was obviously lowered (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAEPN could fight against CCl4 induced liver fibrosis in rats. Fighting against lipid peroxidation and inhibi- ting activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells might be possibly main mechanism.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Collagen ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective • To investigate the relationship between the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and the severity of right heart failure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods • A total of 265 patients with simple COPD and 268 COPD patients with right heart failure admitted to Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from October 2011 to September 2016 were enrolled. According to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria, all COPD patients with right heart failure were divided into Group A (Class ), Group B (Class Ⅱ), Group C (Class III) and Group D (Class ). The RDW, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured within 24 h after admission for all patients. The RDW trends and related influencing factors in different groups were analyzed and compared. Results • There was no significant difference in the gender, age, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and COPD exacerbation times between the COPD group and the COPD with right heart failure group (all P>0.05). However, there was a significant difference in red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin, MCV, RDW, pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) (all P<0.05). In COPD with right heart failure group, there was no significant difference in age, RBC, hemoglobin, MCV, and PaO2 among the four groups (all P>0.05). With the increase of the patients' NYHA functional class, both pro-brain natriuretic peptide and RDW showed a similarly significant increase (both P=0.000). Through further multiple comparisons of RDW among four groups, there was a significant difference between any two groups (all P<0.05). Conclusion • RDW in patients with COPD with right heart failure is significantly elevated, and is closely related to right heart failure.

Objective To compare the effects of short- term high- intensity interval training (HIT) and moderate continuous training (MCT) on inflammatory mediators for healthy young males. Methods 19 healthy young male volunteers were randomized into HIT group (n=6), MCT group (n=7) and no training control (CON, n=6) group. The groups of HIT and MCT accepted treadmill exercise once per 2 days to 6 times (2 weeks), and the CON group did not accepted treadmill exercise. The levels of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL) -1α, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were detected 3 days before exercise, immediately after the first exercise, 3 days after the course. Results There was no difference among groups in the level of hs-CRP, IL-1α, IL-6 and TNF-α in all the time (P>0.05). The concentration of IL-1α increased in the MCT group after the first exercise (P<0.01), and also the concentration of IL-6 in the CON group after the course (P<0.05). Conclusion It needs further srudy for the significance of HIT and MCT in the levels of inflammatory media.

Objective To investigate plasma levels of total carnitine (TC) and free camitine (FC) in patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.Methods 200 cases of normal group came from physical examination in this hospital,all testing cases were the in-hospital patients in the department of nephropathy.TC and FC were determined by use of an enzymatic cycle assay on Hitachi 7170 automatic biochemical analyzer.Results In 200 cases of normal group,TC level was (56.52?9.61) ?mol/L,and FC was (46.60?8.23) ?mol/L.In 37 hemodialysis patients,TC and FC levels were (41.47?13.22) ?mol/L and (24.58?8.91)?mol/L before dialysis,a statistic difference was observed against the control group (P0.05).Conclusions Carnitine deficiency was seen in most patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.Furthermore,the deficiency status got worse along with the dialysis course in hemodialysis patients.Carnitine infusion can effectively improve the status of these patients.

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for organotypic slice culture of neonatal rat cortex in a modified condition and investigate the effect of spatial signals on neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation.

METHODSThe brain slices (200 µm in thickness) of neonatal SD rats (3 to 5 days old) were prepared and cultured in modified serum-free DMEM/F12 medium at 37 degrees celsius; with 95% O(2) and 5% CO(2). The organotypic slice cultures were observed regularly. NSCs isolated from the cortex of rat embryos (14-15 embryonic days) were cultured in serum-free DMEM/F12 supplemented with B27 and N2, and the passage 3 NSCs were labeled by CM-DiI before transplanted onto the organotypic slices cultured for 2 weeks. The survival of transplanted NSCs was assessed, and the cell differentiation was identified by immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSThe organotypic slice cultures were well maintained for at least 4 weeks in the modified medium. The thickness of the organotypic slices reduced from 200 µm to 130 µm after 2-week culture in vitro due to the migration of the cells on the edge of the slices. CM-DiI-labeled NSCs survived well and differentiated into GFAP(+) glia and β-tubullin III(+) neurons.

CONCLUSIONNeonatal rat organotypic brain slice can be successfully cultured in a modified condition to serve as a model for studying NSC differentiation induced by spatial signals.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Coculture Techniques ; methods ; Fetus ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; transplantation ; Organ Culture Techniques ; methods ; Rats

As an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), mineral medicine plays an irreplaceable role. However, little has been reported on its species and valence state of heavy metals and deleterious elements, and also the relevance to pharmacological effect and toxicology. The present paper, in a new perspective, summarized the determination of the species and valence state of heavy metals and deleterious elements in recent years, discussed the progress of the pharmacological effect and toxicology, and prospected for future study which might provide reference for mineral medicine.
Animals ; Drug Contamination ; statistics & numerical data ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; toxicity ; Minerals ; analysis ; pharmacology

Objective To study the correlation between level of nitric oxide/ nitricoxide synthase(NO/NOS) on placenta homogenate and ultra-structure changes of placenta in pregnancy lead exposure in rats.Methods Seventeen normal pregnant rats and 46 rats of exposured in lead which were divided into A,B,C groups were studied.The level of NO/NOS of placenta were measured by nitrate reductase and NOS kit.Placentas were randomly selected from each group to detect ultra-structure by electron-microscope.Results There were significant difference among A,B and control groups on level of NO/NOS(all P0.05).Compensation hyperplasy or minor injury were observed in lead exposure of stage groups.Lead exposure during whole gestation period,the lead level was maxmum,and decompensation were observed on placental construction.Conclusions There is a close correlations between level of lead,NO/NOS and pathological change of placental tissue,and both of them may play an important role in the pathogenesis of peripartum lead exposure.