MicroRNA(miRNA)is a small non-coding RNA that contains 21 to 23 nucleotides and can down-regulate gene expression by translational repression.Recent studies found that some miRNAs might function both as oncogenes and tumor suppressors;its role in the tumorigenesis may complement and enrich the mechanisms of tumorigenesis.Liver cancer is a great threat to human health,whose pathogenesis is still not completely understood.MiRNAs can influence the tumorigenesis,differ- entiation and treatment of liver cancer.Here we summarizes the related progression in research of miRNA and liver cancer.

Objective To investigate effects of ginkgo biloba extract(GBE) and tanshinoneⅡ A preventative administration against cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury in gerbils.Methods Cerebral iscthemia and reperfu- sion injury were made by 10 minutes'occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries followed by 24 hours' reperfusion in ger- bils.GBE,tanshinone Ⅱ A,nimodipine or GBE plus tanshinone Ⅱ A were administrated intragastrically 3 days prior to and at the day of ischemia and reperfusion.Effects of experimental agents on mortality,stroke index,brain body index,water content in brain hemisphere,level of SOD activity and MDA in cerebral tissue were measured,and pathological changes of cortex and hippoearnpal CA1 sector were observed.Results GBE 48 mg/kg and tanshinone Ⅱ A 25mg/kg preventive administration could significantly reduce the stroke index,brain body index,and water in brain hemisphere,together with a reduced mortality of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injuried gerbils.The two a- gents could also significantly improve the activity of SOD,reduce the level of MDA in cerebral tissue and the injury in cortex and hippocampal CA1 sector.Moreover,combined treatment of these two agents demonstrated more signifi- cant effects.Conclusion GBE,tanshinone Ⅱ A and combined therapy of these two agents may protect cerebral func- tion from ischemia and reperfusion injury through reducing the cerebral edema and attenuating the injury of oxygen free radicals.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of total flavonoids of propolis (TFP) on apoptosis of myocardial cells of chronic heart failure and its possible mechanism in rats.

METHODSSix male SD rats were randomly selected as normal control group, the remaining rats were made as chronic heart failure (CHF) model by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin. The rats in the successful model were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6): CHF group, total flavonoids of propolis low dose group (LD group), total flavonoids of propolis middle dose group (MD group), total flavonoids of propolis high dose group (HD group), digoxin group (DIG group). After six week treatment, cardiac function indexes of rats were recorded by signal acquisition system; brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) content in plasma were detected; Myocardial morphological changes and collagen fiber hyperplasia by HE and Masson staining were observed; Myocardial apoptosis was detected with TUNEL method and protein connexin 43(P-Cx43) expression was detected by Western blot method.

RESULTSCompared with NC group, left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP) and maximal rise/fall velocity of left ventriculad pressure (± dP/dt(max)) absolute value in CHF group were significantly lowered (P < 0.01) while left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased significantly (P < 0.01); Contents of plasma BNP, cTnI, TNF-α and IL-6 in the CHF group were significantly improved (P < 0.01). Compared with CHF group, LVSP, ± dP/dt(max) absolute value in MD and HD groups were increased (P < 0.05), and LVEDP was significantly lowered (P < 0.01); LVEDP in LD group was significantly lowered (P < 0.01), changes in LVSP and ± dp/dt(max) absolue value were not obvious (P > 0.05). BNP, cTnI, TNF-α and IL-6 contents in MD and HD groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), but those plasma indicator changes were not obvious in LD group (P > 0.05). Western blot showed that P-Cx43 expression in CHF group was significantly higher than that in NC group (P < 0.01) and that in all TFP treatment groups it was decreased compared with CHF group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), among which pairwise comparisons also showed differences (P < 0.05), myocardial apoptosis index (%)(22.62 ± 3.39) in CHF group was higher than that in NC group( 1.12 ± 0.24) (P < 0.01); compared with CHF group, the apoptosis index of myocardial cells (%) in LD,MD and HD groups, (15.79 + 2.8), (9.28 + 2.1) and (4.73 + 1.14) respectively, were significantly lower than those in the CHF group( P < 0.01). The expression level of P-Cx43 positively correlated with the apoptotic index (r = 0. 861, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTotal flavonaids of propolis have inhibitory effect on apoptosis of myocardial cells of chronic heart failure induced by adriamycin in rats, and the mechanism may be closely related to the regulation of Cx43 expression, especially the regulatory phosphorylation status.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Chronic Disease ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Phosphorylation ; Propolis ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Ti-TiO2 nanotubes with different diameters on the adhesion of fibroblast and osteoblast, and to find which diameter was more favorable for cells' respective adhesion.

METHODSPure titanium sheets were polished and then anodized at different potentials for 1 h with Ti as anode and Pt as cathode. TiO2 nanotubes formed at 1, 5, 10 and 20 V potentials served as experimental groups and polished pure titanium served as control group. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (Fe-SEM) was used to analyze the surface topography. Stained nucleus with Hoechst33342 were used to measure the cell adhesion. The cell shape on the sample surface were analyzed with Fe-SEM.

RESULTSTiO2 nanotube array of different inner diameters from 15 nm to 100 nm were grown on titanium sheets by anodization at potentials from 1 to 20 V. At 30, 60 and 120 min, fibroblast adhesion at nanotubes anodized at 5 V was (141 ± 9), (388 ± 14) and (489 ± 15) respectively, significantly less than any other nanotube surface at the same time (P < 0.01). Nanotubes anodized at 20 V had the least inhibitory effect for fibroblast adhesion with a number of (579 ± 14) at 120 min, and the cell shape was also inhibited. At 30, 60 and 120 min, osteoblast had a significant better adhesion on nanotubes formed at 5 V than it did on any other surface at the same time (P < 0.01), except the control group at 30 min, with the adhesion number of (198 ± 10), (431 ± 10) and (501 ± 10) respectively, and osteoblast had a abundant spread on nanotubes formed at 5 V; while osteoblast adhesion on nanotubes anodized at 20 V was (152 ± 11), (403 ± 9) and (465 ± 12) respectively, less than on any other nanotube surface within the same time (P < 0.05), and the cell shape on the surface changed to be more elongate.

CONCLUSIONSFibroblast adhesion is inhabited more or less on Ti-TiO2 nanotubes of different diameters. Nanotubes formed at 5 V have the most osteoblast adhesion, and inhibit fibroblast adhesion.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nanotubes ; chemistry ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry

Objective:To investigate the immune response after injecting polysaccharide nucleic acid of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin(BCG-PSN)under the mucous membrane of bladder in rabbits and to search for the most suitable dose of BCG-PSN.Methods:The rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups:high dose(0.35 mg/ml)BCG-PSN group,mid- dle dose(0.175 mg/ml)BCG-PSN group,low dose(0.0875 mg/ml)BCG-PSN group,BCG(0.35 mg/ml)control group and BCG-PSN(0.35 mg/ml)intra-bladder perfusion control group.T lymphocyte subsets(CD4~+,CD8~+)in the peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry before and 1 week,2 weeks,1 month and 3 months after the treatment; the levels of IL-2,TNF-?,and IFN-?of peripheral blood were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;H-E and Masson staining was used for the pathological examination of the bladder.Results:(1)BCG-PSN injection increased the number of CD4~+ and CD8~+ T lymphocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner,with the peak numbers appeared 2 weeks after BCG-PSN injection;the numbers restored to the normal levels 3 months after BCG-PSN injection.BCG control group had a similar changing pattern to the BCG-PSN injection group.The number of CD4~+ T cells BCG-PSN perfusion group was significantly lower than that in the high-dose BCG-PSN injection group(P

OBJECTIVETo provide a theoretical basis for the further development of new drugs, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and the liver function in mice of anthocyanin from Ligustrum vicaryi were investigated.

METHODSThe 240 experimental mice were splitted equally for 6 kinds of experiments and 40 rats in each kind of experiment were divided into 5 groups (n = 8): normal saline control group (NS); aspirin control group (Asp); high-concentration anthocyanin group (HA); medium-concentration anthocyanin group (MA); low-concentratior anthocyanin group (LA). The analgesia effect of anthocyanin at different concentration was detenmined by hot-plate test and acetic acid writhin test, and the anti-inflammatory effect of anthocyanin was performed by ear edema, ahdomen capillary permeability and cotton granuloma. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in blood serum were determined, and the activities of SOD, T-AOC and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver were measured, while the histological changes of liver tissue were observed.

RESULTSThe pain threshold of mice was enhanced and the times of twist body wa decreased by medium-concentration and high-concentration anthocyanin. The activity of SOD was increased and the conentrs of NO and PGE were reduced in blood serum. High-concentration anthocyanin inhibited the ear swelling , the increase of celiac capillary permeability and th granuloma hyperplasia, and increased the activities of SOD and T-AOC while decreased the content of PGE2. The activities of SOD, T-AOC. GSH-PX were increased in liver, but the morphology of liver tissues in each group had no significant changes.

CONCLUSIONAnthocyanin Ligustrum vicaryi has definite anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which is related to increasing the antioxidant capacity and decreasing th contents of NO and PGE2, and has not obvious damage to liver in the range of experimental concentration.

Analgesics ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anthocyanins ; pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemistry ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Aspirin ; pharmacology ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Edema ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Ligustrum ; chemistry ; Liver ; drug effects ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To explore the changes of tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukemia(AML) and its clinical significance.Methods TNF-? in serum and CSF were measured by radioimmunoassay and CSF samples were obtained from 31 cases of childhood acute leukemia before treatment, on complete remission(CR), and continuous CR.Results Serum TNF-? was in ALL and AML before treatment [(24.35?4.84) pmol/L and(28.65?5.12) pmol/ L],which were significantly higher than those of healthy controls[(11.2 8? 1.69) pmol/L, P

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Erythropoietin ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Microvessels ; chemistry ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Stomach ; chemistry ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tissue Array Analysis ; methods

The NSP2 gene of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)S1 strain was partly amplified and cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-6P-1 and a fusion protein GST-tNSP2 with molecular weight of 50 kDa was expressed in E.coli. The purified GST-tNSP2 protein showed a strong reaction with the PRRSV-positive sera in Western blot assay. Balb/c mice were immunized with the purified protein, and the splenocytes of the immunized mice were fused with murine myeloma cells SP2/0. After subcloning by 3 times, two hybridoma clones which produced McAbs steadily were screened by ELISA, named 3H3 and 2B5. They all reacted strongly with the PRRSV S1 infected Marc-145 cells in IFA, but not with the PRRSV SY0608 strain. Both of the McAbs belong to IgG1 isotype, and their light chains belong ? type. The expressed GST-tNSP2 protein and McAbs could be used for identification of PRRSV isolates and functional analysis of NSP2.

Objective:To express the EMCV 3AB gene by prokaryotic expression systerm,and prepare monoclonal antibodies against it. Method: NSP 3AB gene of Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) was amplified and cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-6P-1 and a recombinant protein 3AB with high antigenicity was expressed in E.coli. Balb / c mice were immunized by purified recombinant 3AB protein of inclusion-body, and the splenocytes of the immunized mice were fused with murine myeloma cells to produce hybridoma cell line. Results: After subcloning by 3 times, one strain of hybridoma cell line steadily secreting antibodies of 3AB protein was obtained, named 2D12. The McAb belongs to IgG1/?. The McAb and was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and Western blot. Conclusion: These results can provide a potential value for structural and functional studies of EMCV-3AB and early diagnosis of Encephalomyocarditis virus infection.