Side population (SP) cells are highly enriched for stem cell activity and characterized by their ability to efflux the vital dye Hoechst 33342, because they express the ATP binding cassette (ABC)-dependent transporter ABCG2. SP cells can be selected from main population using flow cytometric analysis. Currently SP cells have been isolated from many tissues and organs. SP cells of different origins have some common characteristics. This article introduces the classifications, surface marker, and characteristics of SP cells.

Abscess ; pathology ; Adenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenoma, Sweat Gland ; metabolism ; pathology ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Breast Diseases ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Fistula ; pathology ; Humans ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nipples ; pathology ; Paget's Disease, Mammary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Sweat Gland Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Shuanghuanglian injection on cerebral expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in mice with viral encephalitis.

METHODSThe mice with experimental viral encephalitis received treatment with Shuanghuanglian injection at the dose of 0.2, 1.5, and 5 for 5, 10 or 20 consecutive days. The total RNA of the brain tissue was extracted to analyze the protein and mRNA expression of NF-kappaB using Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the mice with experimental viral encephalitis showed significantly increased protein and mRNA expressions of NF-kappaB (P<0.01). Treatment with Shuanghuanglian injection at the doses of 0.2 and 1.5 mg/kg significantly lowered NF-kappaB protein and mRNA expressions in the brain of mice with viral encephalitis (P<0.05), and the effect was even more obvious at the dose of 5 mg/kg (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONShuanghuanglian injection can reduce the expression of NF-kappaB in the brain of mice with viral encephalitis in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Encephalitis, Viral ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Injections ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo assess the prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension as well as the association with overweight/obesity in Shanghai adolescents.

METHODSSchool children aged 11 - 17 years in four schools in Shanghai were included in this survey. All students were visited in May 2010 at school by trained nurses or physicians who administered a questionnaire and carried out anthropometric measurements. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, heart rate and blood pressure. Repeat measurements were performed in school children with elevated blood pressure within one month. The pre-hypertension and hypertension was defined on the basis of the 2004 National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group definitions. The overweight and obesity was defined using cutoff points recommended by Working Group of Obesity, China (WGOC).

RESULTSThere were 4175 school children aged 11 - 17 years [mean (15.0 ± 1.9) years, 52.3% (n = 2183) girls and 47.7% (n = 1992) boys]. There were 72.5% (n = 3025) participants with normal blood pressure [ girls (n = 1666) 76.3% and boys (n = 1361) 68.3%], 18.0% (n = 750)participants with pre-hypertension [14.2% (n = 310) for girls and 22.1% (n = 440) for boys], 8.3% (n = 346) participants with stage 1 hypertension [8.2% (n = 179) for girls and 8.3% (n = 165) for boys] and 1.3% (n = 54) participants with stage 2 hypertension [1.3% (n = 28) for girls and 1.3% (n = 26) for boys]. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 6.7% (n = 147) and 3.0% (n = 66) for girls and 13.7% (n = 273) and 6.3% (n = 125) for boys. After adjusting for gender, age, parental history of hypertension and physical activities, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the overweight [adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 1.42 (1.16 - 1.75)] and obesity [adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 2.35 (1.78 - 3.11)] were independent predictors of elevated blood pressure in this cohort.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of elevated blood pressure is common in adolescents in Shanghai. Overweight and obesity are closely associated with the elevated blood pressure in this cohort.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

This study is to compare the effects of kaempferide and anhydroicaritin on biomineralization of rat osteoblasts (ROB) in vitro. Calvarias were dissected aseptically from newborn SD rats, the osteoblasts were obtained by enzyme digestion and were cultured in MEM containing 10% FBS. The medium was changed every three days, and serial subculture was performed when cells covered with 90% of the dish. Kaempferide and anhydroicaritin were separately added with final concentrations of 1 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) under the conditions of osteogenic differentiation. The proliferation was measured by MTT, and the optimal concentration was detected by the ALP activity at the 9th day after osteogenic induction culture. The osteogenic indexes of kaempferide, anhydroicaritin and control group with the optimal concentration were compared. The result showed that the anhydroicaritin at concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) had significantly promoted the activity of ALP, calcium content and osteocalcin content, increased the number of CFU-F(ALP) and mineralized nodules, enhanced the mRNA level of BMP-2, OSX and Runx-2, which are key genes of osteogenic differentiation, and raised the protein content of collagen-I. However, the kaempferide group had not significantly represented the ability that promoted osteogenic differentiation of ROB. The difference of osteogenic differentiation on ROB between kaempferide and anhydroicaritin was caused by the prenyl group on C-8 of icariin.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Benzopyrans ; pharmacology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Kaempferols ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the short-term response and tolerance of different doses of amino acids in parenteral nutrition among preterm infants.

METHODSThis study included 86 preterm infants who had a birth weight between 1 000 to 2 000 g and were admitted to the hospital within 24 hours of birth between March 2013 and June 2014. According to the early application of different doses of amino acids, they were randomized into low-dose group (n=29, 1.0 g/kg per day with an increase of 1.0 g/kg daily and a maximum of 3.5 g/kg per day), medium-dose group (n=28, 2.0 g/kg per day with an increase of 1.0 g/kg daily and a maximum of 3.7 g/kg per day), and high-dose group (n=29, 3.0 g/kg per day with an increase of 0.5-1.0 g/kg daily and a maximum of 4.0 g/kg per day). Other routine parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition support were also applied.

RESULTSThe maximum weight loss was lower and the growth rate of head circumference was greater in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group (P<0.05). The infants in the medium- and high-dose groups had faster recovery of birth weight, earlier attainment of 100 kcal/(kg·d) of enteral nutrition, shorter duration of hospital stay, and less hospital cost than those in the low-dose group (P<0.05). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in the high-dose group increased compared with the other two groups 7 days after birth (P<0.05). The levels of creatinine, pH, bicarbonate, bilirubin, and transaminase and the incidence of complications showed no significant differences between groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSParenteral administration of high-dose amino acids in preterm infants within 24 hours after birth can improve the short-term nutritional status of preterm infants, but there is a transient increase in BUN level.

Amino Acids ; administration & dosage ; Birth Weight ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Parenteral Nutrition ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of the extracts from Decoction for resuscitation (DRE) and its component herbs on prostacyclin (PGI2), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and nitric oxide (NO) release from rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia.

METHODAfter treatment with the extracts from DRE and its component herbs, the contents of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha(6-keto-PGF1alpha), thromboxane B2 (TXB2) as well as nitrite (NO), which were degradation products of PGI2, TXA2 and NO respectively, in culture medium of rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia were measured with radioimmunoassay and Griess Reaction.

RESULTCompared with the control group, the results indicated that DRE, prepared licorice root extract (LE), dried ginger extract (GE), aconite root extract (AE), extracts of aconite root and prepared licorice root (ALE), extracts of aconite root and dried ginger (AGE) increased significantly the content of 6-keto-PGF1alpha and the ratio of 6-keto-PGF1alpha/TXB2, but had no effect on the content of TXB2 in culture medium of rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia. The content of 6-keto-PGF1alpha in the DRE group was higher than that in the groups of LE, GE, AE, ALE, AGE. The ratio of 6-keto-PGF1alpha/TXB2 in the DRE group was higher than that of the groups of GE, AE, ALE. Compared with the control group, DRE, LE, GE, AE, ALE, AGE increased significantly the content of NO2- in culture medium of rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia. Moreover, the content of NO2- in the DRE group was higher than that of the groups of GE, AE, ALE.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that DRE increased significantly the content of PGI2 and the ratio of PGI2/TXA2 as well as the content of NO. The effect of DRE on the parameters in culture medium of rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia was better than that of the extracts from its component herbs.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha ; metabolism ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; cytology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thromboxane B2 ; metabolism

Weight loss is frequently observed after acute exposure to high altitude. However, the magnitude and rate of weight loss during acute exposure to high altitude has not been clarified in a controlled prospective study. The present study was performed to evaluate weight loss at high altitude. A group of 120 male subjects [aged (32±6) years] who worked on the construction of the Golmud-Lhasa Railway at Kunlun Mountain (altitude of 4 678 m) served as volunteer subjects for this study. Eighty-five workers normally resided at sea level (sea level group) and 35 normally resided at an altitude of 2 200 m (moderate altitude group). Body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were measured in all subjects after a 7-day stay at Golmud (altitude of 2 800 m, baseline measurements). Measurements were repeated after 33-day working on Kunlun Mountain. In order to examine the daily rate of weight loss at high altitude, body weight was measured in 20 subjects from the sea level group (sea level subset group) each morning before breakfast for 33 d at Kunlun Mountain. According to guidelines established by the Lake Louise acute mountain sickness (AMS) consensus report, each subject completed an AMS self-report questionnaire two days after arriving at Kunlun Mountain. After 33-day stay at an altitude of 4 678 m, the average weight loss for the sea level group was 10.4% (range 6.5% to 29%), while the average for the moderate altitude group was 2.2% (-2% to 9.1%). The degree of weight loss (Δ weight loss) after a 33-day stay at an altitude of 4 678 m was significantly correlated with baseline body weight in the sea level group (r=0.677, P<0.01), while the correlation was absent in the moderate altitude group (r=0.296, P>0.05). In the sea level subset group, a significant weight loss was observed within 20 d, but the weight remained stable thereafter. AMS-score at high altitude was significantly higher in the sea level group (4.69±2.48) than that in the moderate altitude group (2.97±1.38), and was significantly correlated with baseline body weight. These results indicate that (1) the person with higher body weight during stay at high altitude loses more weight, and this is more pronounced in sea level natives when compared with that in moderate altitude natives; (2) heavier individuals are more likely to develop AMS than leaner individuals during exposure to high-altitude hypoxia.
Adult ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; physiopathology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; China ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Weight Loss ; physiology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Clavicle ; injuries ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scapula ; injuries

Objective To observe the injury of high intensity focused ultrasound combined with radiotherapy (RT) to the pancreas,the unintended abdominal tissues and organs of swine in vivo.MethodsAccording to the criterion to grade the gross and histological injury of the pancreas and the unintended tissue,the scores of injury between the groups to get the data of safety and feasibility of high intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)combined with RT were compared.Results There was a better tolerance in each group and no fatal complication was observed.For the pancreas there was significant difference for the combined group compared with the other groups.For the unintended target tissue there was no significance difference except the control group with the other groups.Conclusion HIFU combined with RT can increase the injury to the pancreas of the swine compared with HIFU alone; while there was no increase for the injury to the unintended target tissue.The main toxicity of combination treatment is the toxicity of RT and can be tolerated by the animals.If the HIFU treatment is strictly controlled,the combination of HIFU and RT is safe and feasible.