AIM: To investigate the effects of apelin-13 on proliferation, migration and capillary-like tube formation of a monkey choroid / retinal endothelial cell line, RF/6A, to clarify whether apelin-13 could promote retinal angiogenesis in vitro.METHODS: RF/6A cells in good conditions were administrated with DMSO (the control group), apelin-13 at 0.1μmol/L (low dose group) or apelin-13 at 1μmol/L (high dose group).Cell proliferation, migration and capillary-like tube formation were detected by using the MTT assay, scratch assay and matrigel assay, respectively, at 24h after plating the cells.RESULTS: Cell proliferation was promoted in both low and high dose apelin-13 groups compared to the control cells (P<0.05);the cell migration distance of both apelin-13 groups was significantly greater than that of the control group (P<0.05);and the number of capillary-like tube structures of both apelin-13 groups was significantly larger than that of the control cells (P<0.05).In addition, cell proliferation, migration and tube formation increased as the concentration of apelin-13 increased.CONCLUSION: Apelin-13 could obviously promote the angiogenesis capacity of RF/6A cells, suggesting that apelin-13 was an important pro-angiogenic factor in retinal endothelial cells.

Viral hepatitis is clinical multiple strong infectious disease, to know characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine clinical use in patients with viral hepatitis, the research object of this study is 41 180 cases of hospitalized patients with viral hepatitis in hospital information system from 17 grade A hospitals, using frequency statistics and association rules method to analyze the traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine clinical use information, the drug kinds analysis results: western medicine of reduced glutathione tablets use frequency is highest, 14 079 cases (34.61%), traditional Chinese medicine of diammonium glycyrrhizinateuse frequency is highest, 14 058 cases (34.56%); traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine drug combination in diammonium glycyrrhizinate combined with reduced glutathione tabletsuse frequency is highest, 8 607 cases (25.09%). The mechanism of drug classification results :both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine are the sort of educed enzyme medicine that has the highest percentage of drug use, traditional Chinese medicine 10 983 cases (27.01%), western medicine, 9 595 cases (23.59%); traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine combination in a kind of medicine to clear heat and promote diuresis combined with educed enzyme drug use frequency is highest, 5 621 cases (13.82%). Through the analysis above, combine traditional Chinese and western medicine therapy for the treatment of viral hepatitis should be given priority. Traditional Chinese medicine to clear heat and promote diuresis combined with western medicine of educed enzyme drug is the most commonly appear in clinical two drug combination scheme, traditional Chinese medicine to clear heat and promote diuresis combined with western medicine of educed enzyme drug and nucleustide analogsis the most commonly appear in clinical three drug combination scheme.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glutathione ; therapeutic use ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

To study the chemical constituents of Nervilia fordii (Hance) Schltr., various chromatographic methods were used, including D101 macroporous resin, silica gel, ODS and preparative HPLC chromatographic techniques. A new labdane diterpenoid glycoside named as nervilifordoside A was isolated from 60% EtOH extract of Nerviliafordii. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated as 12, 17-epoxy-3-hydroxy-17-methoxy-labdan-13-en-16, 15-olide 3-O-alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-O-beta-glucopyranoside on the basis of HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data as well as chemical methods.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Molecular Structure ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective Helicobacter pylori ( Hp ) infection is an important risk factor of the gastrointestinal disease, including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. However, many recent experimental and clinical studies have shown that its addition to causing gastrointestinal diseases, but also associated with many diseases, and closely related with the occurrence of liver diseases. Summarized recent advances in the study of the relevant studies,including the relationship between hepatitis and cirrhosis,and the occurrence and development of liver cancer.

OBJECTIVETo introduce the experience in the treatment of lower eyelid pouches orbital rim.

METHODSAn incision was made along the margin of lower eyelid and dissection was performed under the orbicularis muscle to expose the orbital septum and periosteum of lower orbital rim. The fat released from orbital septum was transposed just below the lower orbital rim and fixed on the periosteum. If lacrimal groove deformity was not corrected completely, the musculocutaneous flap, which may be excised beside the incision, was kept to correct the deformities further with only the muscle portion.

RESULTS72 cases with lower eyelid pouches complicated with lacrimal groove deformities were treated with transposition of orbital fat and orbicularis muscular flaps. Satisfactory results were achieved in all the patients after a follow-up period of 3-6 months.

CONCLUSIONIt is an effective and feasible technique to correct lacrimal groove deformities with transposition of orbital fat and orbicularis muscular flaps.

Adipose Tissue ; transplantation ; Aged ; Blepharoplasty ; methods ; Eyelids ; surgery ; Humans ; Orbit ; Periosteum ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) related factors in deep tissue injury (DTI) at pressure ulcer rat and to investigate the ERS mechanism of DTI in muscle tissue and protective effect of 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) in local tissue.

METHODSFifty male SD rats were randomly devided into control group, model group, experimental group NS group and PBA group, the experimental groups were divided into 4 d, 7 d, 14 d and 21 d group according to the observation time (n = 5). Rats in the PBA group were administrated with gastric perfusion of 4-PBA after the modeling; the NS group was given normal saline of the same quantity. Using HE staining to observe morphologic character. The expression of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), CHOP, Caspase 12 were detected by immunohistochernical staining. Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay.

RESULTSHE staining results showed that each group demonstrated compression injury compared with control group: cellular swelling, ompaction of nuclear, and apoptosis in muscle tissue. The new muscle fiber in 4-PBA group fused faster than those in NS group. The number of TUNEL positive cells peaked at 4 day after compression, then got decreased on day 7 in muscle tissue, apoptosis positive cells were diminished after 4-PBA treatment. The immunohistochemical staining results showed that the expression of protein GRP78, CHOP, Caspase 12 peakd 4 d after modeling and decreased gradually. The GRP78, CHOP, Caspase 12 protein expression were significantly higher than those of PBA group at all time points (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCell apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress took part in deep tissue injury resulting of pressure ulcer, which mechanism might be related to reducing apoptosis mediated by CHOP, Caspase 12.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; pathology ; Phenylbutyrates ; pharmacology ; Pressure Ulcer ; physiopathology ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have indicated that chronic stress may give rise to brain damage, which is related to the genesis of depression. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) and venlafaxine on depression.

METHODSRats were treated with chronic and comprehensive stress to create a depression model. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampal CA3 neurons of rats treated with different drugs. Behavioral changes of these rats were also examined.

RESULTSThe expression of BDNF in the hippocampal CA3 neurons of the depression model decreased with a reduction in exploring behavior and a significant increase in fecal production. The expression of neuron nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) protein also increased in the rats compared to normal controls. The rats treated with EGb and venlafaxine showed an increase in expression of BDNF and exploring behavior compared to untreated rats, but a decrease in nNOS and fecal production.

CONCLUSIONSRats sustain damage to the brain after being subjected to chronic and comprehensive stress. Our research has indicated that combined EGb with venlafaxine enhances the protection of neurons and decreases damage to the brain, while relieving the side effects of synthetic antidepressants.

Animals ; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation ; administration & dosage ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; metabolism ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; biosynthesis ; Cyclohexanols ; administration & dosage ; Depression ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

BACKGROUNDFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a type of dominant autosomal disease that causes high levels of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In the past years, molecular data related to FH were limited in China. Now, to gain more information about FH, we analyzed one proband with a severe FH phenotype as well as his relatives.

METHODSAfter the entire coding sequence and the intron-exon junctions of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene were amplified using PCR, we sequenced the LDLR gene of a Chinese FH family. RT-PCR was used to detect changes in the mRNA.

RESULTSTwo novel mutations were identified in the LDLR gene of this family. One, W165X, was a G > A substitution at the third nucleotide of codon 165. The other, IVS5-1G > A, was also a G > A substitution at the acceptor splice site of intron 5. The most striking discovery is that the proband was heterozygous for W165X but homozygous for IVS5-1G > A. The cDNA sequencing showed that the IVS5-1G > A mutation caused the insertion of 10 nucleotides, namely GCTCTCACAA, between exon 5 and exon 6.

CONCLUSIONSThe two nucleotide variations are thought to be the FH-causing mutations because the co-segregation of the mutant allele with the phenotype of FH has been shown in this Chinese family. These data show an increase in the mutational spectrum of FH in China and verify a scarce mutational form in the LDLR gene.

Adult ; Child ; DNA, Complementary ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptors, LDL ; genetics

Objective To clarify the genetic characteristics of N protein coding region of HRSV isolates from Beijing and GenBank downloaded sequences.Methods Reverse transciption polymerage chain reaction(RT- PCR)was performed to amplify the N protein gene of 2 A and 2 B subgroups HRSV isolates from Beijing in the year 2004.The RT-PCR products were sequenced for N protein coding region.The sequences of N protein coding region of 4 Beijing isolates and those downloaded from GenBank were compared and analyzed.Results The differences in number of nucleotide and deduced amino acid between 2 A Beijing 2004 isolates and prototype strain Long were 36.40(3.1%-3.4%)and 4(1.0%).The difierences in number of nucleotide and deduced amino acid between 2 B Beijing 2004 isolates and prototype strain CH18537 were 17(1.4%)and 1(0.3%).The differences in number of nucleotide and deduced amino acid were 3-172(0.25%-14.63%)and 0-18(0-4.6%)respectively between 4 Beijing 2004 isolates and GenBank sequences.Conclusion N gene is the hishly conservative gene in the HRSV genome.The variation between A and B subgroups were widely distributed in the entire gene of N protein,while the variation within the A or B subgroups HRSV wag considerably lower.

OBJECTIVEHuman coronavirus (CoV)-HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) was first isolated by Woo et al in Hong Kong. Several successive reports confirmed retrospectively that this new human coronavirus was circulating in different countries worldwide. However, the impact and the role of the emerging HCoV-HKU1 were not defined in children with ARTI. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular epidemiology and clinical characteristics of HCoV-HKU1 infection in children with ARTI in Lanzhou, China.

METHODNasopharyngeal aspiration (NPA) samples were collected from 301 children with ARTI at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Gansu Province, China, between November 2007 and October 2008. Demographic data and clinical findings of these children were collected at the same time. The informed consent was obtained from their parents. This study protocol was approved by the hospital ethics committee. The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to screen HCoV-HKU1. Furthermore, other common respiratory viruses were screened in HCoV-HKU1 positive samples. All PCR positive products were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was conducted.

RESULTThe overall frequency of HCoV-HKU1 infection was 5.0% (15/301). The HCoV-HKU1 pol gene sequences shared a 95.8% - 99.6% nucleotide identity with the human coronavirus-HKU1 strain, whereas the amino acid identity was 90.7% - 99.3%. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the HCoV-HKU1 strain pol gene clustered with the HCoV-HKU1 strain N15 genotype B (no. DQ415911); 11 of 15 HCoV-HKU1 positive sample tested were mixed-infection. HCoV-HKU1 was detected only from November to April. Positive specimens peaked in November. Children with HCoV-HKU1 infection varied in age from 15 day to 12-years (median age, 10 months). The clinical diagnoses of HCoV-HKU1 positive patients included those with AURI and LURI. The clinical presentations of HCoV-HKU1 positive children included fever, cough, sputum production, diarrhea, vomiting; pharynx engorgement, crackles, and wheezing. The mean hospital stay of the 14 patients was 9.9 days. Six of 15 HCoV-HKU1 positive patients had an underlying illness, and they were all inpatients (hospital stay, mean, 11.2 days). There was no statistically significant difference in the detection rate between the two groups with and without underlying illnesses.

CONCLUSIONHuman CoV-HKU1 infection exists in children with respiratory tract infections in Lanzhou region. A single HCoV-HKU1 genotype B was circulating locally. The symptoms and clinical diagnoses of those infected with HCoV-HKU1 had no specificity as compared with patients with other common respiratory viruses infection.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronavirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology