Objective: To study the preparation technology of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) compound liposomes (GT-Lip). Methods: The compound liposomes were made of soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) and cholesterol (Ch) by film dispersion ultrasonic probe method. Hydration temperature and ultrasonic power were optimized by single factor tests and the optimum formulation was selected by orthogonal design. The encapsulation efficiencies (EE) of GA and Tan IIA were determined by low-speed centrifugation. The particle size and Zeta potential of liposomes were detected by dynamic light scattering particle size meter. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe morphous. Results: The optimal preparation conditions were as follows weight ratio of SPC-Ch 6:1, molar ratio of SPC-Tan IIA and SPC-GA was 30:1 and 24:1, hydration temperature 30 °C, and ultrasonic power 380 W for 5 min. Using the optimal method, the EE values of GA and Tan IIA in GT-Lip were (81.50 ± 0.76)% and (98.63 ± 0.90)% (n = 3), and the average particle size of liposomes was (120.5 ± 1.62) nm and the Zeta potential of liposomes was (-19.00 ± 0.98) mV (n = 3). Conclusion: The optimal preparation method of GT-Lip in this study is stable and feasible.

Objective To approach the expressions and the roles of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinases (MT1-MMP) in valve disease with pressure overload which induces extracellular matrix remodeling of left ventricle. MethodsOf 32 patients, 16 cases were pressure overload group (PO), who had the multiple valve disease with predominately aortic valve stenosis, having a ring diameter of aorta valve less than 1.3 cm, cross valve pressure gradient equal or more than 40 mmHg, and valvular regurgitation less than 4.0 cm2; The other 16 cases, as mitral stenosis group (MS), were simple mitral stenosis patients with single valve replacement. Meanwhile, 5 normal individuals served as control, who died from accident. Echocardiography was used to analyze the left ventricular function and detect the hypertrophic level of the left ventricle. Left ventricle muscle samples were obtained during operation. Histological features were studied by Masson staining, and collagenous contents were quantitated with a computer-assisted imaging analysis system. The mRNA expressions of CTGF and MT1-MMP were detected with RT-PCR. ResultsConcentric hypertrophy was observed significant in PO group, but myocardial hypertrophy was not found in MS group. Compare to the MS group and control, PO group had significantly more collagenous contents in left ventricle, thickened vessel wall, and narrow lumen of blood vessel (P0.05), but CTGF mRNA expression was increased in MS group compare to control (P

Human tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (hTRAIL) might be developed as a novel anti-tumor drug due to its selective cytotoxicity in tumor cells. The predicted Macaca mulatta TRAIL (mmTRAIL) is highly homologous to hTRAIL in nucleotide acid as well as amino acid sequence, suggesting that mmTRAIL might induce apoptosis of human cancer cells. However, the cytotoxicity of mmTRAIL in human cancer cells has not been investigated. In this paper, it is reported that the gene encoding mmTRAIL has been cloned by using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from monkey peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in our laboratory. Subsequently, an expression plasmid was constructed by inserting mmTRAIL gene into pQE30 plasmid. After induction by addition of Isopropyl β-D-1-Thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), mmTRAIL was expressed. MmTRAIL was recovered from supernatant of sonicated bacteria by Ni-NTA agarose affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography demonstrated that mmTRAIL forms trimer in solution. In vitro assays indicated that mmTRAIL was cytotoxic to human COLO205 tumor cells but not to normal cells at low concentration of nanomole. In addition, antitumor effect of mmTRAIL was evaluated in mice bearing human COLO205 tumor xenografts. Intratumorally injected mmTRAIL significantly inhibited growth of tumor grafts. These results suggested that mmTRAIL was valuable as candidate drug for cancer-targeted therapy.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Macaca mulatta ; Mice ; Plasmids ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; genetics ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective To investigate the possible effect of citrate on electrolyte metabolism in healthy people with different genders and races and provide a reference for the possible clinical interventions.Methods A cross over,placebo-controlled study was conducted in 22 age-matched Chinese(11 males and 11 females)and 10 male Caucasian volunteers after informed consents were obtained.Volunteers received of saline solution,separated by a wash-out period of two to three weeks.Serial blood and urine samples were collected during the observation period and analyzed for the selective biochemical parameters.Results Comparable basal levels of serum albumin[male(43.05±1.81)g/L vs female(42.26±2.67)g/L]and serum ionized calcium[male(1.27±0.04)mmol/L vs female(1.26±0.04)mmol/L]were observed between different genders of Chinese volunteers.However,citrate intervention led to more pronounced decrease of ionized calcium level in Chinese females compared to Chinese males[-28.68%(-20.00%--35.2%)vs-23.84%(-16.53%--29.32%),t=3.19,P ＜ 0.01].There was no differences of the levels of serum inorganic phosphate[-18.81%(-3.16%--25.09%)vs-19.23%(-1.22%--32.16%),t=0.36,P＞0.05]and albumin[-0.32%(3.27%--7.60%)vs 1.88%(6.03%--9.31%),t=0.47,P＞0.05].Independent of gender,citrate intervention resulted in an increased excretion of urine calcium in Chinese volunteers[before 0.34(0.09-0.87)vs after 0.96(0.18-1.47),t=6.66,P ＜0.01].Compared to Caucasian males,Chinese males has a higher basal level of serum ionized calcium [(1.27±0.04)mmol/L vs(1.22±0.02)mmol/L,t=3.7,P ＜0.01]and larger amplitude basal rhythm in serum albumin level[-11.72%(-5.70%--14.21%)vs-1.74%(2.43%--7.68%),t=7.43,P ＜ 0.01].Application of citrate resulted in comparable changes of serum ionized calcium [-23.84%(-16.53%--29.32%)vs-21.95%(-18.31%--30.92%)],phosphate[-19.23%(4.65%--32.16%)vs-12.68%(0.68%--42.19%)],albumin[-0.32%(1.05%--7.60%)vs-1.39%(1.87%--7.26%)]and urine calcium excretion[237.70%(11.8%-935%)vs 234.37%(5.45%-504.00%)]between Chinese and Caucasian males(t=0.32,0.03,0.25 and 0.04 respectively,P＞0.05).Serum levels of magnesium were not influenced in all volunteers during two interventions.Conclusions Independent of race and gender,the invention of citrate results in comparable changes of serum magnesium,inorganic phosphate and albumin.The effect of citrate on ionized calcium levels between genders implicates a higher risk for hypocalcemic reactions in females compared to males undergoing automatic apheresis procedures.

Health Personnel ; psychology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Professional Competence ; statistics & numerical data ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology

Acrocephalosyndactylia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant

Background Ultraviolet irradiation promotes cellular apoptosis by affecting the mitochondrial transmembrane potential,including human lens epithelial cells (LECs).Gene associated with retinoid-interferoninduced mortality-19 (GRIM-19),a cell death regulatory protein,is essential for the assembly and function of mitochondrial complex Ⅰ.However,whether LECs apoptosis induced by ultraviolet irradiation is related to GRIM-19 is still unclear.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the apoptosis of human LECs caused by ultraviolet with GRIM-19 expression in vitro.Methods Human LEC line(SRA01/04)was cultured in α-MEM containing 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were exposed to ultraviolet ray at doses of 0,30,60,90,120 or 150 mJ/cm2 when cell growth reached the logarithmic phase and 80％ confluency.The rate of apoptosis of the cells was assayed using flow cytometry,and the level of expression and relative amount of GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) were detected by Western blot.The relationship between apoptosis and the GRIM-19/β-actin value among the different treatment groups was compared using One-way ANOVA,and the correlation of LECs apoptosis rate and GRIM-19 expression level was assessed by Pearson linear analysis.Results A significant difference was found in the apoptosis rate among the different treatment groups(F=149.32,P＜0.01).Compared with the 0 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation group,the apoptosis rate of LECs was significantly increased in the 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups (q =17.02,-25.20,-29.41,-8.61,P ＜ 0.01).The expression of the GRIM-19 protein in the LECs suspension was enhanced by ultraviolet irradiation at 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2.The relative expression of the GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) was significantly different among the various groups (F=6.87,P＜0.05),and the GRIM-19/β-actin values in the 60,90,120,150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups were elevated in comparison with the un-irradiated group(2.01±0.76,2.98± 1.80,3.97± 1.61,2.42± 1.28 vs.0.56±0.23),which showed statistically significant differences (q =4.12,-5.04,-7.09,-3.85,P ＜ 0.01).In addition,a positive correlation was seen between the rate of apoptosis and the expression of the GRIM-19 protein(r=0.71,P＜0.01).Conclusions GRIM-19 is expressed in normal human LECs.The apoptosis of human LECs accompanies the up-regulation of GRIM-19.The expression of GRIM-19 in LECs increases with ultraviolet irradiation in a doseindependent manner.

Background Epithelial-myofibroblast transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) induced by transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) is the main mechanism in the pathogenesis of posterior capsular opacification(PCO).Seeking an effective drug capable of inhibiting this process is important for the prevention and treatment of PCO.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of rapamycin (RAPA)on the proliferation of human LECs and TGF-β2-induced EMT.Methods Human LEC strain(SRA01/04)was cultured in DMEM with high glucose and 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were consequently cultured in serumfree DMEM with 5 mg/L TGF-β2,TGF-β2+10 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA or TGF-β2 +10 000 mg/L RAPA for 72 hours,and SRA01/04 cultured in serum-free DMEM were used as control.The proliferation rate(A490)of SRA01/04 in the different groups was detected using the MTT assay and the rate of inhibition of RAPA was calculated.The expressions of the α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) and E-cadherin(E-cad)mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot,respectively.The changes in the expression of α-SMA and E-cad in SRA01/04 were evaluated by Western blot 24,48 and 72 hours after TGF-β2 +400 mg/L RAPA treatment.Results The A490 value of SRA01/04 was 0.680±0.020,0.550±0.013,0.480±0.014,0.400±0.011 and 0.200±0.019 in the control group,TGF-β2 group,TGF-β2 + 10 mg/LRAPA group,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA group,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA and TGF-β2 + 10 000 mg/L RAPA group,respectively,showing a gradually declining trend in SRA01/04 rate of proliferation with increasing RAPA concentrations (F =101.920,P =0.000).RT-PCR and Western blot assay showed that the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA (α-SMA mRNA/β-actin mRNA)and protein (α-SMA/β-actin)in the cells were significantly increased in the TGF-β2 treatment group.However,with exposure to RAPA,the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA and protein were significantly lowered with increasing RAPA concentrations,but the expression levels of E-cad mRNA and protein were raised (α-SMA mRNA:F =294.660,P =0.000 ; α-SMA protein:F =346.950,P =0.000 ; E-cad mRNA:F =264.250,P =0.000 ; E-cad protein:F =317.327,P =0.000).In addition,after exposure to 400 mg/L RAPA,the expression levels of α-SMA protein gradually reduced and those of E-cad protein gradually increased with increasing treatment durations,showing significant differences among the different time points (α-SMA:F =693.864,P =0.000 ;E-cad:F=369.286,P =0.000).Conclusions RAPA can inhibit the proliferation of SRA01/04 in vitro and arrest EMT of SRA01/04 induced by TGF-β2 in a dose-and time-dependent manner.

AIM To prepare the moisture-proof granules of polysaccharides from Astragali Radix.METHODS Mixture design was adopted in the optimization of excipient proportion after moisture absorption determination of mixed powder of polysaccharides and seven excipients.With the influencing factors of ethanol concentration,ethanol amount,drying temperature and drying time,together with the evaluation indices of moisture absorption rate and non-forming rate,the preparation was optimized by orthogonal test based on single factor test.The critical relative humidities were then compared after drawing moisture absorption curves of polysaccharides,mixed powder and granules.RESULTS The mixed powder with an optimal ratio (1 ∶ 2) of polysaccharides to mixed excipients (46.3％ lactose,14.5％ mannitol and 39.2％ microcrystalline cellulose) was found to remain the moisture absorption rate of 11.6％ within 168 h.The optimal conditions were determined to be 70％ for ethanol concentration,0.125 times for ethanol amount,55 ℃ for drying temperature,and 60 min for drying time,the moisture absorption rate was 8.1％ within 168 h,and the non-forming rate was 11.46％.Compared with polysaccharides and mixed powder,the granules showed relatively lower initial velocity and acceleration (absolute value) of moisture absorption,and relatively higher critical relative humidity.CONCLUSION The granules of polysaccharides from Astragali Radix prepared by this method show a good moisture-proof effect.

AIM:To study the expression level of S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) in synovial tissue of the knee joint in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and normal persons, and the effect of S100A4 on the angiogenesis induced by rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RAFLSs).METHODS:The synovial tissue was taken from the knee joint of the RA patients (RA group) and the normal persons (control group).The protein expression of S100A4 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the synovial tissue of the 2 groups was observed by immunohistochemistry.RAFLSs were isolated from synovial tissue of patients with active RA.ELISA was used to detect the effect of S100A4 on the secretion of VEGF by RAFLSs.The effect of S100A4 on the angiogenesis of HUVECs cultured with conditioned medium from RAFLSs was also detected.RESULTS:The protein of S100A4 and VEGF was highly expressed in the synovial tissues of RA group (P<0.05).rhS100A4 significantly stimulated the secretion of VEGF in RAFLSs in a time-and dose-dependent manner (P<0.05).Cultured with conditioned medium from RAFLSs, rhS100A4 significantly promoted HUVECs to form tube-like structures in vitro.CONCLUSION:S100A4 protein is highly expressed in synovial tissue of the knee joint in RA patients, and S100A4 stimulates synovial angiogenesis by promoting RAFLSs to generate VEGF, indicating that S100A4 may be used as a potential target for the treatment of RA.