AIM: To investigate the effects of aging on the angiotensinⅡ receptors (ATR) in different parts of the kidney. METHODS: Expression of AT 1 receptor in renal cortex was determined by Western and Northern blotting. Five micrometer thick cryostat sections of 3 or 24-month Wistar rats were mounted onto a 1.35?m thin polyethylene membrane. Glomeruli, tubules and arteries of rat kidney were isolated by laser microdissection and pressure catapulting system, AT 1aR mRNA, AT 1bR mRNA AT 2R mRNA were measured with reverse-transcription PCR(RT-PCR). RESULTS: Western and Northern blotting showed that protein and gene expression of AT 1 receptor in kidney cortex decreased in 24 month Wistar rats compared to those in 3 month Wistar rats. Glomeruli, tubules and arteries were quickly isolated by laser microdissection and pressure catapulting system without contamination. Compared to young group, AT 1aR mRNA expression was decreased in the tubules of aged rats, no changes was found in isolated glomeruli. AT 1bR mRNA was decreased in glomeruli and tubules. Both AT 1aR mRNA, AT 1bR mRNA were increased in the arteries. AT 2R mRNA was only increased in the tubules, whereas there were no significant changes in the glomeruli or arteries. CONCLUSION: Angiotensin Ⅱ receptors are regulated selectively in different portions of aged kidney, which might play an important role in aging related changes of the kidney.

OBJECTIVETo research the clinical application of lower cervical pedicle screw fixation procedure.

METHODSFrom September 2011 to July 2013,32 patients underwent posterior pedicle screw-rod system fixation were retrospective analyzed includinig 20 males and 12 females with an average age of 56.4 years old ranging from 21 to 78 years. Among them, 10 patients were traumatic cervical spinal injury, 9 patients were cervical spinal canal tumors, 7 cases were posterior longitudinal ligament ossification of cervical vertebrae, 6 cases were multiple segmental cervical spondylopathy. Preoperatively, X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography of the vertebral artery were performed in all patients. After the operation and during the follow-up,X-ray and computed tomography were performed to confirm the pedicle screw position. The accuracy of the pedicle screw placement was evaluated by 4 grades classification from Lee. The spinal cord function was assessed by ASIA impairment scale for traumatic patients and JOA score for non traumatic patients.

RESULTSTotally 144 pedicle screws performed on 32 patients from C3 to C7 involving 132 screws of grade 0,5 screws of grade 1,5 of screws grade 2 and 2 screws of grade 3 according to postoperative CT. There were 12 screws penetrating the pedicle cortex including 8 screws at lateral,2 screws at caudal, 1 screw at medial and 1 screw at cranial. The follow-up time was 12 to 33 months with an average of (21.0±1.5) months. The spinal cord function was not improved in 6 complete cervical spinal cord injury patients,but their paraplegic level descended 1 to 3 segments. Four incomplete cervical spinal cord injury patients' ASIA impairment scale was increased by 1 to 2 grades in average. The JOA score of 22 atraumatic patients increased from preoperative 11.5±0.8 to 15.9±0.6 of postoperative at 6 months (P<0.01). There were no screw loosening,screw pullout and screw-rod breakage.

CONCLUSIONThe lower cervical pedicle screw fixation can provide excellent 3D stability of the vertebral column. The operation risk and Complication could be minimized by adequate preoperative evaluation for appropriate cases and individual pedicle screw placement. It deserved the clinical expansion.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery

Sweetpotato starch thermal properties and its noodle quality were analyzed using a rapid predictive method based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This method was established based on a total of 93 sweetpotato genotypes with diverse genetic background. Starch samples were scanned by NIRS and analyzed for quality properties by reference methods. Results of statistical modelling indicated that NIRS was reasonably accurate in predicting gelatinization onset temperature (T(o)) (standard error of prediction SEP=2.014 degrees C, coefficient of determination RSQ=0.85), gelatinization peak temperature (T(p)) (SEP=1.371 degrees C, RSQ=0.89), gelatinization temperature range (T(r)) (SEP=2.234 degrees C, RSQ=0.86), and cooling resistance (CR) (SEP=0.528, RSQ=0.89). Gelatinization completion temperature (T(c)), enthalpy of gelatinization (DeltaH), cooling loss (CL) and swelling degree (SWD), were modelled less well with RSQ between 0.63 and 0.84. The present results suggested that the NIRS based method was sufficiently accurate and practical for routine analysis of sweetpotato starch and its noodle quality.
Food Technology ; methods ; Ipomoea batatas ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods ; Starch ; chemistry

Hairy roots appeared in vitro 20 days after inoculation of Phytolacca esculenta leaf explants with the strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenes R1601. The frequency of leaf explants transformed by R1601 was up to 70%. Hairy roots can be incited directly from the veins of explants or via callus. Hairy roots induced by R1601 grew rapidly on medium MS without hormone and were 85.6% higher in respiration rate than control roots. Transformation was confirmed by opine detection and the amplification of rol B and rol C genes from the hairy roots of P. esculenta. The total saponin content in hairy roots of P. esculenta was about 1.54 times as much as in natural roots whereas polysaccharides content was about 70% times as much as in the natural roots.
Phytolacca ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium ; genetics ; Saponins ; metabolism ; Transformation, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the quality of DNA with three methods of DNA extraction and the influence on RAPD-PCR.

METHODthe electrophoresis of total DNA, UV spectrophotometry and RAPD analysis were carried out on DNA extracted from three different methods.

RESULTThe DNA concentration and yields were different, which greatly influenced the result of RAPD-PCR.

CONCLUSIONThe higher quality DNA from Dendrobium can be obtained with the method of CTAB-free extraction medium before total DNA was isolated.

Cetrimonium Compounds ; DNA, Plant ; isolation & purification ; Dendrobium ; classification ; genetics ; Electrophoresis ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Quality Control ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

OBJECTIVETo explore the relation of the anogenital distance (AGD) with cryptorchidism in male newborns.

METHODSThis study included 350 male infants delivered in two community hospitals between September 2013 and September 2014. Within 24 hours after birth, a pediatric surgeon measured the AGD of the neonates and determined whether they had cryptorchidism. According to the testicular position, we divided the undescended testes into three types: upper scrotal, inguinal, and non-palpable.

RESULTSTotally 39 cases of cryptorchidism were found in the 350 newborns. The AGD of the cryptorchidism infants was significantly shorter than that of the normal neonates ([2.01 ± 0.22] vs [2.35 ± 0.19] cm, P < 0.01), and statistically significant differences remained even when preterm and low birth-weight infants were excluded ([2.32 ± 0.14] vs [2.06 ± 0.19] cm; (2.37 ± 0.17) cm vs (2.12 ± 0.12) cm, all P < 0.01). The newborns with higher-position cryptorchidism had a shorter AGD, though with no significant difference (F = 0.434, P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the AGD between unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism ([1.96 ± 0.13] vs [2.02 ± 0.17] cm, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONShorter AGD is associated with a higher incidence of cryptorchidism in male newborns. AGD could serve as a potential biomarker for disruption of androgen action during the male programming window period.

Androgens ; physiology ; Cryptorchidism ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Perineum ; abnormalities

Objective To discuss the clinical value of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of inner ear lesion.Methods 94 patients who took magnetic resonance imaging water imaging were selected as study subjects from February 2014 to October 2016 in Heilongjiang Province Hospital.All the patients had surgical data,CT,MRI water imaging data.Based on the standard data of surgery gold,analyzed the sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CT and MRI in the diagnosis of inner ear lesions,compared the statistical differences between the two methods of examination.Results The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of MRI water imaging in diagnosis of inner ear werehigher than CT,but the differences were no statistically significant (all P ＞ 0.05).In the case of abnormal vestibular aqueduct (x2 =7.265,P =0.015),cochlear deformity (x2 =5.042,P =0.028),diagnostic accuracy of cochlear fibrosis (x2 =5.492,P =0.027),the differences were statistically significant(all P ＜ O.05).Conclusion MRI water imaging can effectively provide the information of ear canal,eudometrial and other internal organs,can provide a favorable clinical diagnosis,it is worth to promote the application in the clinical work.

To investigate cytotoxic secondary metabolites of Micrococcus sp. R21, an actinomycete isolated from a deep-sea sediment (-6 310 m; 142 degrees 19. 9' E, 10 degrees 54. 6' N) of the Western Pacific Ocean, column chromatography was introduced over silica gel, ODS, and Sephadex LH-20. As a result, eight compounds were obtained. By mainly detailed analysis of the NMR data, their structures were elucidated as cyclo(4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-leu) (1), cyclo(L-Pro-L-Gly) (2), cyclo( L-Pro-L-Ala) (3), cyclo( D-Pro-L-Leu) (4), N-β-acetyltryptamine (5), 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (6), and phenylacetic acid (7). Compound 1 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against RAW264. 7 cells with IC50 value of 9.1 μmol x L(-1).
Animals ; Biological Factors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mice ; Micrococcus ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Phylogeny ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Seawater ; microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism

Objective To investigate the immunological rejection in the brain of cloning goats received neural stem cell transplantation. Methods Eight cloning goats of CL series were chosen at random and divided into 2 groups. Neural stem cells and saline at the same dosages were transplanted into the fixed site by surgical intervention in the brain cortex of each group, respectively. The levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the blood of each group were detected at different times (1 w before, and 0, 1 and 3 w,and 3 months after the cell transplantation) to reflect the systemic immune rejection of the goats after the transplatation. The CD3+ cells in the cell transplantation areas in each group were also detected by the method of immunohistochemistry to reflect the local immune rejection after the transplatation. Results The level of IL-2 was obviously higher and the level of IL-10 was obviously lower in the neural stem cell transplantation group than those in the control group 1 and 3 w, and 3 months after the cell transplantation (P＜0.05). The quantity of CD3+ cells in the neural stem cell transplantation group was much larger than that of control groups at the acute period (1 w after cell transplantation) and chronic period (3 months alter cell transplantation, P＜0.05). Conclusion Systemic and local immunological rejections at acute or chronic periods will appear at the brain of cloning goats with neural stem cells transplantation.

Objective:To study the expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in simple and radiation-combined wound healing and their effects on the healing process and tissue remodeling. Methods: A rat model of radiation-combined wound healing was used. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed which enabled the detection of MMP1 and TIMP1 expression in the healing process. Ultrastructural changes were observed with transmission EM. Results: The wound healing process was impaired and delayed. In rats receiving 25 Gy of gamma ray locally the irradiated wounds healed 6 days later than non-irradiated controls. The following changes in MMP1 and TIMP1 expression were found: (1) In the early inflammatory phase and in the period of granulation tissue formation, MMP1 expression in the newly-formed epidermis of irradiated wounds approximated that in the controls. Later, the epidermal expression of MMP1 in radiation wounds was comparatively increased with the delay of the healing process.On days 3 to 14 after wounding, TIMP1 was weakly positive in the proliferating keratinocytes of control wounds and became negative after epidermal covering, whereas no or only slight epidermal expression was detected in radiation wounds before epidermal covering.(2)MMP1 and TIMP　1 expression in radiation wounds was markedlydecreased in fibroblasts　, endotheliocytes and macrophages as compared with the controls. The expression phase was prolonged due to the delay of the healing process.Conclusions:The reduced expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in granulation tissue retards such important processes as cell migration, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, thus retarding the healing process. The expression of MMP1 in the newly-formed epidermis may help the process of reepithelialization,but in the late healing period, overexpression of MMP1 and decreased expression of TIMP1 in the epidermis may hinder the establishment of basal membrane and the formation of granulation tissue, and thus affect the matrix remodeling process.