Objective The purpose of this study is to determine whether atrial expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-13,) is altered in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and chronic atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods Atrial tissue was obtained from the right atrial appendage during heart surgery from 35 patients. In 27 patients with rheumatic heart disease, 8 patients had no history of AF, and 19 had chronic persistent AF (≥6 months cAF). Other 8 patients with congenital heart disease had no history of AF were the control group.The mRNA expression of HGF, CTGF, TGF-β1, collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ was measured by the real-time fluorescence quota polymerase chain reaction (real time PCR). The fibrosis of right atrial appendage was detected by HE and Masson staining. Results The amount of CTGF, TGF-β1, collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ was significantly increased in patients with sinus rhythm compared with the control group (P<0.05) and further increased in patients with chronic AF compared with patients with sinus rhythm (P<0.05). The amount of HGF was significantly decreased in patients with chronic AF compared with patients with sinus rhythm and the control group (P<0.05). But the difference of the latter two groups was not statistically significant.Correlation analysis demonstrated that the mRNA expression of collagen Ⅰ , collagen Ⅲ, TGF-β1, and CTGF in right atrial appendage of RHD and AF was positively correlated with the left atrial diameter and the area of myocardial fibrosis. Conclusion In human atrium with RHD, the mRNA expression of collagen Ⅰ , collagen Ⅲ, CTGF and TGF-β1, is up-regulated. HGF has anti-fibrosis function and the down-regulation of its mRNA expression in patients with RHD may be an important factor in the initiation or maintenance of AF.

Objective To study the influences by a Cyelin-dependent kinase inhibitor Roscovitine on cell cycle in mitotic hepatoma carcinoma cell SMMC-7721. Methods Microscope,MTT, flow cytometry and R-T PCR were used to observe the effects of Roscovitine on morphology, proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and the mRNA expression of CDK2, Caspase-3, bcl-2 in SMMC-7721 cells. Results Roscovitine inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells in dosage and time dependent manner and induced apoptosis. Flow cytometry showed the ratio of G0, G1 increased. R-T PCR showed that the expression of bcl-2 reduced, Caspase-3 increased. Conclusion Reseovitine can inhibit the growth, proliferation, block the cell cycle at G0/G1 and promotes apoptosis of mitotic SMMC-7721 cells, and the mechanism of apoptosis is dependent on the activity of bcl-2 and Caspase-3.

BACKGROUND: Studies have confirmed that Atorvastatin drugs can increase the number of endothelial progenitor cells significantly in vitro, as well as the content of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Atorvastatin on VEGF expression in necrotic femoral heads of rabbits. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized controlled animal experiment was performed at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, from September 2007 to November 2008. MATERIALS: Forty-five male and female healthy New Zealand white rabbits weighing 2.5-3.5 kg were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group and AtorvastaUn group, 15 rabbits in each group. METHODS: Nitrogen refrigeration was used to develop femoral head necrosis models of rabbits in the model control and Atorvastatin groups. Two weeks after modeling, the animals in the Atorvastatin group were administered intragastically with Atorvastatin, normal control and model control group were treated with the same volume of normal saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Each five rabbits were sacrificed at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks respectively for general observation, X-ray and histological observation. VEGF protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry method and VEGF mRNA level was assessed by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: The VEGF protein and mRNA levels in the model control and Atorvastatin groups were obviously lower than those in the normal control group, while the VEGF protein and mRNA levels in the Atorvastatin group were much higher than those in the model control group at the 8th and 12th weeks alter the treatment with Atorvastatin (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin can significantly upregulate the expression of VEGF, which is probably an effective clinical treatment to avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

BACKGROUND: Cytoskeleton is a carrier of cell growth, and its pore caliber is one of the most important factors to affect the curative effect of tissue engineered spinal cord.OBJECTIVE: To explore the optimal pore size of poly lactic-co-glycotic acid (PLGA) scaffolds for tissue engineered spinal cord by in vitro culture of neural stem ceils (NSCs) and various pore sizes of PLGA scaffolds.METHODS: 50 μL (cell number 10~(10)/L)NSCs suspension at passage 1 was separately seeded on 200-300 pm, 400-500 μm PLGA stant for 7 days. Two sorts of tissue engineered spinal cord were constructed in vitro. Thirty rat models of spinal cord injury were established, and then assigned to 3 groups. The detect sites of these models were filled with above-mentioned spinal cord immediately, but the blank control was not treated with any material. The cells growth and proliferation implanted on PLGA were observed by phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope. Relative number of NSCs in two tissue engineered spinal cords was measured by MTT assay. The effects of transplantation with tissue engineered spinal cord were evaluated by the BBB scala.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Neural stem cells implanted on different pore size scaffolds were seen growing by phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope, with good histocompatibility. After 7-day coculture, absorbance was similar between 200-300 pm PLGA and 400-500 pm PLGA groups (P > 0.05). These indicated that the pore size had no effects on NSC number. At week 4 following transplantation, in the blank control group, neural function was recovered to different degrees in the 200-300 μm PLGA and 400-500 μm PLGA groups. BBB motor functional score was significantly increased (P < 0.05). The pore size of 200-300 μm utilized in fabriceting tissue engineered spinal cord has the best transplantation effect as compared to others.

Quite a few orthopedics experts have fabricated some novel bone scaffolds with nanotechnology and have carried out some researches on nano-biological effects. The study of the biological effects about nano-biomaterials can facilitate the understanding of the interaction between the biomaterials and the organism, and provide research ideas and direction to construct new biomaterials with physiological function. To better understand the interaction of nano biomaterials with protein, cells and bio-security, this review presents recent advances of biological effects about nano scaffold for bone tissue engineering.
Biocompatible Materials ; metabolism ; Bone Substitutes ; Bone and Bones ; Humans ; Nanostructures ; Nanotechnology ; Surface Properties ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

BACKGROUNDGastrodin, as one of the major components extracted from the Chinese herb Gastrodia elata Bl., has many biologic effects, one of which is anti-apoptosis. Apoptosis is considered to be one of the pathogenetic mechanisms in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Therefore, we performed this study to investigate whether gastrodin has the potential to prevent steroid-induced ONFH.

METHODSAll 18 male adult Wistar rats were divided equally into three groups: the steroid group, the gastrodin+steroid group, and the control group. Osteonecrosis was induced by low-dose lipopolysaccharide and subsequent high-dose methylprednisolone. Histomorphometric method was used to determine the incidence of osteonecrosis. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to detect apoptotic index of osteocytes and osteoblasts. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect mRNA and protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3. Fisher's exact probability test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Turkey's post hoc test were used to examine significant differences between groups.

RESULTSThe incidence of osteonecrosis in the gastrodin+steroid group (16.7%) was significantly lower than that in the steroid group (83.3%). According to TUNEL assay, the apoptotic indices in the steroid group, the gastrodin+steroid group, and the control group were 91.1%, 27.1%, and 5.4%, respectively, and the differences were significant between groups. Compared with the control group and the gastrodin+steroid group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly higher in the steroid group, but the Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly lower.

CONCLUSIONGastrodin could prevent steroid-induced ONFH by anti-apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzyl Alcohols ; therapeutic use ; Femur Head Necrosis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Glucosides ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Steroids ; pharmacology