Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)is an atypical serine/threonine protein kinase,which is a key protein kinase regulating cell growth,proliferation,translation,metabolism and autophagy.It's first known beca- nuse inhibited by rapamycin.Research indicated that mTOR plays a key regulating role in physiological and patho- logical process of cardiovascular system.The present article mainly reviewed research progress of mTOR signal path- way effect in cardiovascular system.

Stem cells are characterized by self-renewing, multipotent differentiation, and high proliferation and receiving more and more attention for their roles in the development and management of various diseases. There are epithelial stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells in the prostate. The markers of the epithelial stem cells include cytokeratin, stem cell antigen-1, and integrins alpha2beta1, CD49f, CD133, CD117, and CD44. The markers of the mesenchymal stem cells include CD30, CD44, CD133, neuron-specific enolase, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1. Prostate stem cells are involved in the development and treatment of prostatic diseases. This review focuses on the latest progress in the studies of prostate stem cells.
Antigens, CD ; Biomarkers ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Integrin alpha2beta1 ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; chemistry ; cytology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Acupuncture ; history ; Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Terminology as Topic

Rhamnolipid,an important biosurfactant,is reviewed with respect to chemical strocture,properties,physiological role and their fermentation production,especially focusing on the production with inexpensive raw materials,such as vegetable oils and residues from agro- industrial wastes.This can not only reduce the production costs,but also contribute to the reduction of environmental impact generated by the discard of residues,and the treatment costs.

Objective To observe the effects of chronic arsenic exposure on estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated gene 9 (Ebag9) and estrogen-responsive finger protein (efp) mRNA expression in female rat' s myocardium.Methods Fifty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups according to arsenic (As2O3) concentrations in drinking-water:0.00(control),0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L groups and RT-PCR was used to detect Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression of myocardium at the 32 weeks of experiment.Results Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression levels in 0.00,0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L groups were respectively as follows:0.54 ±0.14,0.52 ± 0.10,0.48 ± 0.24,0.58 ± 0.13,0.45 ± 0.19 and 0.85 ± 0.14,0.86 ± 0.12,0.87 ± 0.09,0.99 ±0.10,0.86 ± 0.19.Compared to the control group,Ebag9 mRNA level of the 0.20 mg/L group was increased,and decreased in other groups,but the difference between two groups was not significant(all P ＞ 0.05).Compared to control group,the efp mRNA level of 0.20 mg/L group increased significantly(P ＜ 0.05),and showed increased tendency in other arsenic groups,but the difference between two groups was not significant (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression have changed in myocardium of rats exposed to chronic arsenic.Arsenic may has endocrine disruptor effect to female rat's myocardium.

Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; Computer-Aided Design ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microsurgery ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Starch ; chemistry ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

Objective To detect the tissue stiffness of liver lesions by using acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) and to evaluate the clinical value on the characteristics of liver lesions.Methods ARFI was perforrned in 91 patients with 103 liver lesions (56 benign,48 malignant).Tbe elastographic images of virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI) and the values of virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) were analyzed.The area under the curve and cutoff value for VTQ value were used to assess diagnostic performance.Results On the elastographic images of VTI,79.17 ％ (31/55) malignant liver lesions and 56.36 ％ (38/48) benign liver lesions appeared stiffer compared with the surrounding liver parenchyma.There was statistical difference between malignant and benign liver lesions (x2 =0.627,P ＜ 0.01).The VTQ values of malignant and benign liver lesions were (2.64±0.65) m/s and (1.72±0.39) m/s,respectively,and there was statistical difference between them (t =8.638,P ＜ 0.01).With a cutoff value of 2.10 m/s for VTQ value,the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis for liver malignancy were 83.3 ％ and 81.8 ％,respectively.Conclusion ARFI can provide information of the tissue stiffuess in live lesions,which is helpful in the differentiation between benign and malignant liver lesions and might become the imaging modality in the future.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kartagener Syndrome

Objective To investigate the application of high-frequency ultrasound in pre-operative evaluation of brachial artery elasticity in chronic renal failure patients planning arteriovenous fistula formation.Methods A total of 65 patients with chronic renal failure undergoing radial artery-cephalic vein fistula (chronic renal failure group) and 40 healthy adults (control group) were selected.The elastic modulus (EM) of brachial artery was calculated by ultrasound.All subjects were divided into 5 subgroups according to age (≥50 years),hypertension,diabetes and chronic glomerulonephritis.Patients in subgroup 0 (28 cases),subgroup 1 (22 cases),subgroup 2 (24 cases),subgroup 3 (20 cases),subgroup 4 (11 cases) had 0,1,2,3 and 4 risk factors respectively.Results The levels of systolic blood pressure,pulse pressure,serum creatinine,and the EM of brachial artery in chronic renal failure group were higher than those in control group:(20.65 ± 1.32) kPa vs.(16.38 ± 1.08) kPa,(8.64 ±0.51) kPa vs.(7.12 ±0.35) kPa,(637.3 ± 116.5) μ mol/L vs.(84.7 ±31.1) μmol/L,(132.96 ± 11.78) kPa vs.(102.16 ± 10.10) kPa,and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.01 or ＜ 0.05).The single factor correlation analysis showed that age in control group,serum creatinine in chronic renal failure group and systolic blood pressure in two groups were significantly positively correlated with the EM of brachial artery(r =0.636,0.548,0.703; P ＜ 0.01).With the increase of risk factors,the EM of brachial artery increased gradually:(96.21 ±9.82),(104.45 ± 10.55),(114.87 ± 11.15),(127.26 ± 12.43),(143.54 ± 12.81) kPa in subgroup 0,subgroup 1,subgroup 2,subgroup 3,subgroup 4,and there were significant differences (F=17.43,P＜ 0.05).The EM of brachial artery increased significantly in subgroup 3 and 4 with multiple risk factors.Conclusions Brachial artery elasticity measured by high-frequency ultrasound can be used as an indicator of vascular function preoperative vascular assessment.Age,systolic blood pressure,pulse pressure and serum creatinine levels are the major risk factors for brachial artery elasticity.The coexistence of multiple risk factors of hypertension,diabetes or chronic nephritis could exacerbate the decrease of brachial artery elasticity.

Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Osteogenesis