Animals ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Inflammation ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism ; therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

To investigate the feasibility to produce crocetin in tobacco plants.The coding region of zeaxanthin cleavage dioxygenase (CSzCD) gene from Crocus sativus L. was inserted into the downstream of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter of a binary vector pBI121, and integrated into the genome of Nicotiana tabacum L. Twenty-one transgenic lines were identified by genomic southern blotting analysis. Western blotting and HPLC analysis of the leaf extracts of transgenic tobacco showed that crocetin was produced in CSzCD gene-transformed plants, while no crocetin was found in the untransformed tobacco.

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic methods of fracture and dislocation of coccyx and evaluate its curative effects.

METHODSFrom May 2002 to March 2010,56 patients with fracture and dislocation of coccyx were divided into surgical treatment group and non-surgical treatment group. There were 7 males and 20 females in surgical treatment group with an average age of (48.1 +/- 0.6) years (ranged, 29 to 62 years), treated with open reduction and mini-plate internal fixation. There were 8 males and 21 females in non-surgical treatment group with an average age of (47.5 +/- 0.9) years (ranged, 19 to 54 years),treated with manipulative reduction. All patients were underwent X-ray examination and were finally diagnosed before treatment. Clinical symptoms and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) of all patients were statistically analyzed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between two groups in gender, age, BMI index and VAS evaluation. All patients were followed up from 12 to 25 months with an average of 17.2 months. In surgical treatment group,there were 26 cases with I/a incision and 1 case with II/a incision; the excellent rate of clinical symptom was respectively 92.6% and 100% at leaving hospital and final follow-up; the improvement rate of VAS was 97.6% and was excellent result;internal fixtures were removed at the 1 to 2 years after treatment and no unwell symptoms occurred; VAS of all patients in the group was 0 point. In non-surgical treatment group,the excellent rate of clinical symptom was respectively 72.4% and 82.8% at leaving hospital and final follow-up; the improvement rate of VAS was 72.1% and was good result. There was significant difference in clinical results between two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that fracture and dislocation of coccyx should be treated in time. For the treatment of patients with manipulative reduction failures, instability reduction by X-ray examination and serious rectal irritation, open reduction and mini-plate internal fixation can obtain satisfactory results.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Coccyx ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery

This paper reviews the new progress in the research of fractional carbon dioxide laser in treating hypertrophic scar after burn injury, which remains a challenging problem for burn care surgeons. There have been many traditional therapeutic approaches, such as compression remedy, operation, and so on. However, a satisfactory method is lacking to date. In recent years, the newly developed fractional carbon dioxide laser has been employed to treat different kinds of scars, and it has been proved to be effective in terms of an improvement of scar color, texture, and rigidity. It seems to be a promising method for scar treatment in future.
Burns ; surgery ; Cicatrix ; surgery ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; surgery ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the autophagy activity between rat bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) neural differentiation in order to explore the mechanism involve in this process.

METHODSBMSCs were passed by 3 generation, then was induced with the revulsant 2% (DMSO) + 200 µmol/L (BHA), NSE expression was detected by immunocytochemical stain, the mRNA expression of autophagy associated genes L3B, Beclinl, Atg5, Atg7, Atg10 were detected by RT-PCR, the autophagy protein LC3B was examined by Western blot and flow cytometry analysis.

RESULTSBMSCs were passed by 3 generation, the purity of BMSCs could reach more than 90%, the morphology of cells were like fibroblasts, after the revulsant 2% DMSO + 200 µmol/L BRA induced, cells were extended long neurites, like nerve cells, positive rate of NSE staining was (83±5) %, RT-PCR results showed that the expression of autophagy associated genes LC3B, Beclinl, Atg5, Atg7 Atg0 were rised after BMSCs neural differentiation, Western blot analysis showed that the LC3B-II protein expression was increased after neural differentiation and the MFI of L3B was highten by flow cytometry.

CONCLUSIONAutophagy is increased after rat BMSC neural differentiation.

Animals ; Autophagy ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; Rats

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Bushentongluoshugan Formula's effect in penile erection.Method All 40 adult male rats were randomly divided into the control group, castrated group, Bushentongluoshugan Formula group and sterandryl group.The rats of all groups, except the control group, were ablated bilateral testes. Bushentongluoshugan Formula group and sterandryl group were given the formula and sterandryl respectively. After 3 weeks the penile tissue was collected and the expression of transforming growth factor-β-mRNA (TGF-β-mRNA) was detected by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.Result The expression of TGF-β-mRNA in the castrated group was higher than that in other three groups, and among them the incremental order was the control group, sterandryl group and Bushentongluoshugan Formula group according to the decreasing performance of TGF-β-mRNA expression. The internal control of TGF-β-mRNA was less in the control group, sterandryl group and Bushentongluoshugan Formula group with a significant difference compared with that in the castrated group (P<0.01), and there was no significant difference between the sterandryl group and Bushentongluoshugan Formula group (P>0.05).Conclusion Bushentongluoshugan Formula plays an important role in penile erection through regulating the expression of TGF-β-mRNA.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Herba Siegesbeckiae extracts on mouse rheumatoid arthritis induced by arthrogen-CIA monoclonal antibody.

METHODSThe rheumatoid arthritis was induced by arthrogen-CIA arthritogenic monoclonal antibody in mice. The sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the concentration of IL-1βin mouse serum,and the content of IL-6,IL-17 and MMP-3 in supernatant of tissue homogenate of hind limb below the stifle of mice. One-way ANOVA was used for data analysis.

RESULTSThe toe swelling was attenuated in Siegesbeckiae group than that in model group [(0.218 ± 0.0307)cm(3) compared with (0.2545 ± 0.0179)cm(3), P<0.05]. The serum IL-1β level in Siegesbeckiae group was lower than that in model group [(63.74 ± 21.74)pg/ml compared with (104.96 ± 31.22)pg/ml, P<0.01]. The contents of IL-6, IL-17 and MMP-3 in tissue supernatants of Siegesbeckiae group were all lower than those of model group [(171.10 ± 48.35)pg/ml compared with (249.64 ± 75.08)pg/ml, P<0.05; (115.42 ± 56.52)pg/ml compared with (208.40 ± 88.54)pg/ml, P<0.05;(3660.31 ± 1680.99) pg/ml compared with (5420.79 ± 1201.43)pg/ml, P<0.05, respectively].

CONCLUSIONThe extract of Herba Siegesbeckiae has anti-inflammatory effect on mouse rheumatoid arthritis induced by mixed arthrogen monoclonal antibody.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) on dendritic cells (DC).

METHODSMurine bone marrow cells were cultured with different cytokine combinations to develop immature DC (imDC, GM-CSF only) and TGFbeta-DC (GM-CSF + TGF-beta1), and their responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation were observed. The cell ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy and their phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). The allogeneic stimulating capacity of DC was assayed by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) with BrdU incorporation. IL-12p70 protein was detected by ELISA and the expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on DCs were analyzed with semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared to imDC, the TGFbeta-DC had no significant alterations in ultrastructure after LPS stimulation. The expressions of CD80, CD86 were lower on TGFbeta-DC than on imDC [(4.14 +/- 0.95)% vs (13.90 +/- 7.22)%; (8.60 +/- 0.75)% vs (20.63 +/- 5.03)%, P < 0.05, both]. The TGFbeta-DC kept their immature morphology after LPS stimulation, but the expressions of I-Ab and CD80 were slightly increased. After 96 h MLR, TGFbeta-DC had weaker stimulating capacity than imDC did, especially when DC/T cells ratios were 1:4 and 1:1 (P < 0.05, both). TGFbeta-DC showed impaired IL-12p70 production and down-regulation of TLR4 expression.

CONCLUSIONSTGF-beta1 can inhibit the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on DC. The TGFbeta-DC is resistant to maturation stimulus (LPS) and might be linked with TLR4 down-regulation.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; immunology ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo probe into the therapeutic effect of catgut implantation at acupoint on exercise fatigue and to study on the mechanism.

METHODSCatgut implantation was given at main points Guanyuan (CV 4), Shen shu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) in 41 players during training for 2 courses. Training-related condition and changes of blood testosterone (T) and hemoglobin (Hb) before and after training were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, sleeping quality, the mental state at the time of getting out of bed in the morning, appetite, training wish, training stamina, training quality, training attention, etc. in the player significantly improved, and blood T and Hb levels significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONCatgut implantation at acupoints can significantly improve exercise fatigue in the player and the mechanism is possibly related with increase of testosterone and hemoglobin levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; Exercise ; Fatigue ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hereditary tendency of varicocele.

METHODSWe included in this study 112 varicocele patients, 117 direct male relatives of the patients, and 100 healthy men as controls. We compared the incidence of varicocele tween the direct relative group and the control group.

RESULTSThe direct male relatives of the varicocele patients had a significantly higher incidence of varicocele than the healthy controls (36.8% vs 17%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe increased incidence of varicocele in the direct male relatives of the patients indicated a hereditary tendency of the disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Varicocele ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Young Adult