Objective To explore impact of high pulmonary blood flow on the content and metabolism of collagen in rats.Methods Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into shunt group and control group.Rats in shunt group were subjected to an abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt to create an animal model of high pulmonary blood flow.In control group,rats experienced the same expe-rimental processes except the shunting procedure.After 4 and 11 weeks of experiment,these changes of pulmonaryartery collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ,matrix metalloproteinase(MMP-13)and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase(TIMP-1) protein expression of rat were investigated by immunohistochemistry.Results After 4 weeks and 11 weeks of shunt,the collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ,MMP-13 and TIMP-1 of pulmonary artery in rats of shunt group increased significantly compared with those of control group,respectively(all P

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; pathology ; surgery

This study aims to investigate the effect of total flavones of Fructus Chorspondiatis (TFFC) on the mRNA and protein expression of collagen type I and III of rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II), and explore its anti-myocardial fibrosis molecular mechanism. Neonatal rat CFs were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats (1-3 d after birth). The expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The study showed that stimulation of neonatal rat CFs with 100 nmol.L-1 of Ang II for 72 h resulted in a significant increase of the expression of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein. The changes on the expression level were blocked by TFFC. The results demonstrated that TFFC can inhibit myocardial fibrosis induced by Ang II in rats, which is probably associated with the collagen type I and III mRNA and protein levels up-regulated by Ang II, and TFFC was shown to decrease the expression levels of collagen type I and III mRNA and protein.
Anacardiaceae ; chemistry ; Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Flavones ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Myocardium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical curative effect of thoracolumbar burst fracture treated by the posterior unilateral approach corpectomy fusion screw-rod fixation and anterior corpectomy bone fusion screw plate fixation.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to May 2014,36 cases of thoracolumbar burst fracture underwent operation of decompression, fusion, and internal fixation was retrospective analyzed. Among them, 16 patients were treated through posterior approach as posterior group, including 13 males and 3 females aged from 37 to 62 years old; 9 cases caused by falling injury, 3 cases by traffic accident injury,4 cases by heavy aboved;the injury segment was on T₁₂ in 2 cases, L₁ in 5 cases, L₂ in 7 cases, L₃ in 2 cases; according ASIA grade, 3 cases were grade A, 2 cases were grade B, 2 cases were grade C, 5 cases were grade D, 4 cases were grade E; the time between injury and operation ranged from 5 to 15 days. Other 20 patients were treated through anterior-lateral approach as anterior-lateral group, including 15 males and 5 females with age from 27 to 62 years old; 12 cases caused by falling injury, 4 cases by traffic accident injury, 4 cases by heavy aboved; the injury segment was on T₁₂ in 2 cases, L₁, in 7 cases, L₂ in 9 cases, L₃ in 2 cases; for ASIA grade: 4 cases were grade A, 2 cases were grade B, 4 cases were grade C, 6 cases were grade D, 4 cases were grade E; the time between injury and operation ranged from 4 to 12 days. The operation time, bleeding during operation and postoperative drainage volume were observed in two groups,and the changes of nerve function of ASIA grade, clinical efficacy,improved degree of thoracic and lumbar lordosis,and bony fusion were compared between two groups.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months with an average of (15.8 ± 3.3) months. The operation time, bleeding during operation, and postoperative drainage volume had no significant different between two groups (P > 0.05). As compared with preoperative, ASIA grade of two groups at last follow-up had statistically significantly different (P < 0.01), the neural function of two groups after operation was recovered for different extent. The JOA score of two groups was compared between last follow-up and preoperative, the difference had statistically significant (P < 0.01), the two groups showed good clinical effect. The clinical results of ASIA grade, JOA score and RIS had no significant differences between two groups. All patients of two groups were obtained fusion. Thoracic and lumbar lordosis angle improvement degree had no significant difference between two groups ,it bad significant difference had statistical significance compared with preoperative, the two approaches could effectively restore the spinal sequence.

CONCLUSIONFor patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture just treated by anterior decompression and reconstruction of anterior column, according to the degree of operation performer' skill proficiency and the patient' condition to choose, but for patients must performed the spinal canal decompression anterior and posterior, the three column-reconstruction to required anterior-posterior approach, the posterior unilateral approach corpectomy fusion screw-rod fixation obviously shorten operation time, reduce the operation wound, it is worth the clinical promotion.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of baicalein on the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the TM4 Sertoli cells of the mouse testis and its related mechanism.

METHODSWe measured the cytotoxicity of different concentrations of baicalein on the TM4 Sertoli cells in the mouse testis by MTT, detected the fluorescence transfer of the TM4 Sertoli cells by parachute assay, and determined the expression of the protein connexin 43 ( Cx43) in the baicalein-treated cells by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSBaicalein produced no obvious cytotoxicity on the TM4 Sertoli cells at the concentration below 60 µmol/L but significantly increased their GJIC at 0-20 µmol/L (P < 0.01). Western blot and immunofluorescence assay showed that 0-20 µmol/L baicalein remarkably elevated the expression of Cx43 in the TM4 cells (P < 0.01) and on the membrane of the TM4 cells.

CONCLUSIONBaicalein at the concentration of 0-20 µmol/L can significantly enhance GJIC in mouse TM4 Sertoli cells by increasing the expression of the Cx43 protein.

Animals ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure

Objective To investigate the function of soluble stem cell factor receptor(s-kit)and stem cell factor(SCF) in chronic aplastic anemia(CAA).Methods ELISA assay was employed to determine the levels of s-kit and SCF in peripheral blood of CAA patients and umbilical cord blood.Results The levels of s-kit and SCF in peripheral blood of CAA patients are lower than those of normal group and umbilical cord blood group.Conclusions The decreased levels of s-kit and SCF show that s-kit and SCF may play a role in CAA mechanism.The raised levels of s-kit and SCF show that s-kit and SCF may be applied in the field of cord blood transplantation.

AIMTo explore the possible impact of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on the content and metabolism of collagen in rats with high pulmonary blood flow.

METHODSThirty-two male SD rats, weighing 120-140 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8), shunt group, shunt + PPG (propargylglycine, an antagonist of endogenous H2S producing enzyme) group, sham group and sham + PPG group. Rats in shunt group and shunt + PPG group were subjected to an abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt to create an animal model of high pulmonary flow. In the sham group and sham + PPG group, rats experienced the same experimental processes except the shunting procedure. After 4 weeks of experiment, lung tissue H2S content of rat was determined by a modified sulfide electrode method. Pulmonary artery collagen I, collagen III, MMP-13 and TIMP-1 protein expressions of rat were investigated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSAfter 4 weeks of experiment, lung tissue H2S content increased significantly in rats of shunt group as compared with that of sham group (P < 0.05). Pulmonary artery collagen I and collagen III protein expression increased obviously in rats of shunt group as compared with that of sham group (P < 0.01). After administration of PPG for 4 weeks, lung tissue H2S content decreased significantly in rats of shunt + PPG group as compared with that of shunt group (P < 0.05). In contrast to rats in shunt group, collagen I and collagen III protein expression in pulmonary arteries of shunt + PPG group increased significantly, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared with rats of shunt group, pulmonary artery MMP-13, TIMP-1 and the ratio of MMP-13/TIMP-1 in shunt + PPG group down-regulated significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEndogenous H2S might play a protective regulatory role in the development of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular structural remodelling in rats by decreasing the content of pulmonary artery collagen resulting from catabolism of collagen.

Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Lung ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the occurrence of new cretinism cases and the prevalence of endemic goiter, and the reason of lower coverage rate of iodized salt in the iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) high-risk areas of China, so as to put forward target prevention measures for these areas. Methods A hundred and one counties from 11 provinces(autonomous regions, municipality), such as Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Sichuan, Hainan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, were chosen into the survey by simple random sampling. In the counties of high risk, typical sampling principle was used. In the selected townships, searching for new cretinism cases were carried out in the children under 10 years old, the thyroid volume of children aged 8-10 years old were determined by B-ultrasonography methods and their urinary iodine (UI) were determined by As3-Ce<'4+> catalytic spectrophotometry, the intelligence quotient(IQ) values of children aged 8-10 years old were measured by the combined Raven Test in China. In the household survey, the housewives were asked to fill in the questionnaire, the iodized salt coverage rates and the UI levels of child-bearing age women were investigated, the salt iodine content was determined using self-quantitative kit. Epi Info software was used to analyze the determination results. Results In the 101 high-risk counties, 249 were diagnosed as new cretinism cases from 4122 suspected cases searched. The goiter rate of children aged 8-10 years old by B-ultrasound was 8.28% (4434/53 541), 44 counties had goiter rates in the range of 5%-20%, 5 counties had goiter rates in the range of 20%-30%, and 3 counties had goiter rates of 30%. The mean IQ of children was 85.44, and the percentage of IQ value less than 70 was 16.52%(8713/52 745). The median urinary iodine(MUI) of children was 154.69 μg/L, the percentage of UI less than 50 μg/L was 17.26% (9069/52 558). Twenty-five counties had a MUI of children less than 100 μg/L. The MUI of housewives was 107.14 μg/L, the percentage of UI less than 50 μg/L was 27.50% (3722/13 534). MUI of housewives in 46 counties were less than 100.0 μg/L. The coverage rate of iodized salt at household level was 77.85%(13 150/16 891). The coverage rate of iodized salt was 52.80%(1585/3002), 44.72% (631/1411) and 72.82% (1850/2506) in Tibet, Hainan and Qinghai, respectively. More than 10% residents of Tibet, Sichuan, Hainan, Gansu and Qinghai complained that iodized salt was not convenient to buy. There were 71.39%(7652/10 719) of observed people ate crude salt. The average price of crude salt price(0.30-1.20 Yuan/kg) was lower than iodized salt(1.20-3.00 Yuan/kg). Conclusions In these IDD high-risk areas, the risk of endemic goiter and cretinism prevalence is threatening. The IDD monitoring should be carried out successively in these high-risk areas. The prevention measures, increasing iodized salt coverage rate and establishing the sustainable mechanism for eliminating IDD should be strengthened. Emergent iodine fortification measure for high risk region people should be implemented as soon as possible, a long term effective mechanism of eliminating IDD should be established.

Identification of genetic risk factors is the hotspot of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Through candidate gene approach and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), some genes were preliminary identified. To review AIS related genes,and construct the gene network map of AIS gene. We searched on NCBI PubMed and Web of Science database using search terms "adolescent idiopathic scoliosis" and "gene", to classify induction genes. We then constructed gene diagram using string-db. We found 35 AIS genes relating to connective tissue, nervous system active substances, melatonin synthesis and metabolism, puberty and growth, and genes whose function is unknown. Gene diagram shows that a network relationship between gene and other genes,in which IL6, ESR1, ESR2, VDR, TGFB1, IGF1 gene may as the key gene about AIS' genetic mechanism. Two sites of 3 GWAS results outside the network, it is suggesting new pathway that need to be explored. The study about AIS susceptibility gene is still preliminary, requiring in-depth research to identify the new networks.
Adolescent ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; Matrilin Proteins ; genetics ; Scoliosis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics

OBJECTIVEHydrogen sulfide, a well known toxic gas, has been found to play important roles in many organs and tissues, especially in cardiovascular system recently. The aim of this study was to explore the producing rate of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) in aorta and the level of H(2)S in plasma of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR), and to study the role of H(2)S on the development of hypertension.

METHODSTwenty-four male SHR rats at the age of 4 weeks were randomly divided into SHR control group, SHR + NaHS (H(2)S donor) group and SHR + DL-propargylglycine (PPG) group, respectively. Another twenty-four male WKY rats were also divided into WKY control group, WKY + NaHS group and WKY + PPG group. SHR control and WKY control rats were injected with water. Rats of SHR + NaHS group and WKY + NaHS group were injected with NaHS, and rats of SHR + PPG group and WKY + PPG group were injected with PPG every day. Five weeks later, the blood pressure and the left-to-whole heart weight ratio were determined. The producing rate of H(2)S in aorta and the H(2)S level in plasma were also detected.

RESULTSThe producing rate of H(2)S in aorta and the plasma level of H(2)S in SHR groups were all less than those of the corresponding WKY groups, however, the differences between SHR + PPG group and WKY + PPG group were not significant (P > 0.05). The producing rate of H(2)S and the plasma level of H(2)S in SHR + PPG group were similar to those of SHR control group. The producing rate of H(2)S and the plasma level of H(2)S in SHR + NaHS group were higher than those of SHR control. Both the producing rate and the plasma level of H(2)S in WKY + PPG group were less than those of WKY control. The producing rate of H(2)S in aorta of WKY + NaHS group was higher than that of WKY controls, while the plasma level of H(2)S in WKY + NaHS group was not different from that of WKY controls significantly. The blood pressure of SHR groups increased compared with that of WKY groups (P < 0.05). The blood pressure of SHR + PPG group was similar to that of SHR controls, while the blood pressure of SHR + NaHS reduced significantly compared with that of SHR controls. The blood pressure of WKY + PPG group was higher than that of WKY controls while the blood pressure of WKY + NaHS was similar to that of WKY controsl.

CONCLUSIONSH(2)S plays an important role in maintaining normal pressure and the reduced production of endogenous H(2)S is an essential factor in the development of spontaneous hypertension. Exogenous H(2)S provides a new way for interfering with the progression of hypertension.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; blood ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Sulfides ; administration & dosage ; metabolism