Adolescent ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Hypertensive Encephalopathy ; etiology ; Male ; Transplantation, Homologous

Cathepsin B from Helicoverpa armigera (HCB) belongs to the group of cysteine proteinases. HCB is proved being involved in the degradation of yolk proteins during embryonic development,which is an acidic preferring enzyme and is resistant to SDS. The expression of the proenzyme may offer a model for investigating the activation of the enzyme. The HCB gene was constructed into pPIC9K and expressed in Pichia pastoris KM71 strain . After induction by methanol, HCB was expressed and secreted into the medium. The molecular weight of the recombinant procathepsin B was determined as about 38 kDa. The expressed product was confirmed to be HCB by immunoblotting assay using specific rabbit anti-HCB polyclonal antibody. The activity of the product was assayed by in situ hydrolysis (gelatin-SDS-PAGE). These results showed that HCB with proteolytic activity was expressed in P. pastoris KM71. This proenzyme can be used for further research on the activation of the proenzyme or industrial production.

The present study investigated the cellular mechanism underlying the effect of ligustrazine on the ion transport in rat distal colon using the short-circuit current (I(SC)) technique. In freshly isolated colonic strips, basolateral addition of ligustrazine stimulated a rise in I(SC), which was resistant to basolateral application of neuronal sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX), but inhibited by 55.2% by basolateral pretreatment with prostaglandin inhibitor indomethacin. The ligustrazine-induced I(SC) increase was inhibited by apical application of Cl(-) channel blockers diphenylamine-2,2'-dicarboxylic acid (DPC) and glibenclamide. Basolaterally administered bumetanide, an inhibitor of Na(+)-K(+)-2 Cl(-) cotransporter, inhibited ligustrazine-evoked current increases by 85.2% and basolateral exposure to Ba(2+), a non-specific potassium channels blocker, and blocked the current by more than 90%, indicating that basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-2 Cl(-) cotransporter and K(+) channels played an important role in the effect of ligustrazine. The results suggested that ligustrazine could stimulate rat distal colon (-) secretion that is mediated by basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-2 Cl(-) cotransporter and K(+) channel.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Colon ; metabolism ; physiology ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Evoked Potentials ; drug effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Intestinal Mucosa ; cytology ; metabolism ; Ion Transport ; drug effects ; Male ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

As the most homologic homologue of silent information regulator 2 of yeast, Sirt1 gene is extensively expressed in mature tissues, and is rich in early embryo and reproductive cells. It is involved in the regulation of gene transcription, energy metabolism and cell aging. It promotes fat mobilization in adipocytes and glucose production in liver and regulates insulin secretion in islet beta cell. Furthermore, Sirt1 gene is an essential endogenous apoptosis inhibitor. In future, it may be used as new drug targets or applied in other disease management modalities.
Animals ; Humans ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

AIMTo study the therapeutic effects of N,N'-diacetyl-L-cystine (DiNAC) on immunological liver failure.

METHODSSerum ALT, AST and T cell subsets in peripheral blood of the experimental animals during the trial period were analyzed by an automatic serum analyzer and a flow cytometer, respectively. The sectioned liver specimens were examined under a light microscope. And 24 h after the injection of Gal/LPS, the survival rate of rats was calculated.

RESULTSDiNAC (50, 200, 800 mg x kg(-1), i.p.) suppressed the elevation of serum levels of ALT and AST, markedly enhanced proliferation and differentiation of T cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+ and Th1, Th2), and improved all the histopathological features. In mice of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), the survival time significantly prolonged and the survival rate increased 24 h after i.p. DiNAC. These effects were obviously dose-dependent.

CONCLUSIONDiNAC on mice with FHF has an inhibitory action which is related to immune mechanism.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; CD4 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD8 Antigens ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cystine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Failure, Acute ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; T-Lymphocytes ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and the correlation between BNP levels and the heart function.

METHODSForty-three children with KD and thirty healthy children were enrolled. Serum levels of BNP were measured using ELISA. KD children received an echocardiographic examination, including measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular shorten fraction (LVSF), cardiac index (CI) and left ventricular inflow velocity through the mitral annulus.

RESULTSMean serum level of BNP at the acute stage in children with KD was significantly higher than that at the recovery stage as well as the control group (p<0.01). The LVEF, LVSF and CI levels at the acute stage were significantly lower than those at the recovery stage in children with KD (p<0.05). The linear regression analysis showed that the BNP level was negatively correlated with the levels of LVEF, LVSF and CI (r=-0.63, -0.52, -0.53, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe serum BNP levels increase significantly in KD children at the acute stage, and are negatively correlated with the levels of LVEF, LVSF and CI. Measurement of serum BNP level is useful for the early diagnosis of KD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the validity and reliability of Thread-tooth Arc-track Screw Plate System (TASPS) in the fixation fusion through expandable channels.

METHODSFrom August 2007 to August 2010, 108 patients with lumbar instability were treated with surgery, including 61 males and 47 females, ranging in age from 26 to 57 years, with an average of 41 years. All the patients were divided into two groups : minimally invasive fusion group and traditional operation group (54 patients in each group). The patients in the minimally invasive fusion group were treated with self-designed TASPS to conduct the fixation fusion through expandable channels by minimally invasive pedicle screw; and the patients in traditional operation group were treated with traditional interbody fixation fusion by pedicle screw. The data were collected and investigated at the 1st week, 3rd month and 1st year postoperatively. The comparative parameters of two groups contained the total operation time, the implanted time, the total amount of bleeding; the VAS score, ODI score and improvement rate at each investigated period; the intervertebral space height of preoperative and postoperative periods; the inefficiency rate of implantation and the fusion rate of postoperative period.

RESULTSAll incisions were healed by first stage without any complications such as dural tear, injury of nerve root or cauda equine, intervertebral space infection. The patients in the minimally invasive fusion group needed longer operative time than that of the traditional operation group, but had less total amount of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding and shorter implanted time of pedicle screw than those of the traditional operation group. The VAS scores of two groups at the 1st week after operation significantly decreased compared with that of the 1st day before the operation, and the difference was of high statistical significance. And the VAS scores of two groups at the 3rd month and 1st year after operation also significantly decreased compared with that of the 1st day before the operation, and the difference was highly statistically significant. By comparing the VAS score and ODI score at the 1st week, 3rd month and 1st year postoperatively, the results showed that the VAS score and ODI score of the minimally invasive fusion group were all lower than those of the traditional operation group, and the differences were of high statistical meaningfulness. After 1 year, the improvement rate of the minimally invasive fusion group was (77.46 +/- 6.34)%, while that of the traditional operation group was (72.73 +/- 4.49)%, and the difference was highly statistically significant (P < 0.01). The intervertebral space heights of two groups remarkably increased. At the 3rd month after operation, the difference of intervertebral space heights of the two groups was of no statistical significance. At the 1st year after operation, intervertebral space heights of the two groups were lost to some extent, but the height of the minimally invasive fusion group was higher than that of the traditional operation group, and the difference was statistically significant. The fusion rates of the two groups after 1 year were 100%.

CONCLUSIONThe fixation fusion through expandable channels by minimally invasive pedicle screw possesses the characteristics of fewer traumas, less intraoperative blood loss, less postoperative pain and rapid recovery. Since its intervertebral fusion rate is similar to the open surgery, it can be viewed as one effective approach for the treatment of lumbar instability diseases. And TASPS is reasonably designed, easy to install and reliably fixed with good reduction effect, which can be applied through expandable channels.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

This study was purposed to explore the effect of a new generation of histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589 alone or combined with bortezomib (Bor) on multiple myeloma cells (MM1R) in vitro. The effect of LBH589 (10, 20, 50 nmol/L) alone or combined with Bor (10, 20 nmol/L) on MM1R proliferation was detected by MTT method; the effect of LBH589 on cell cycle and apoptosis of MM1R cells were determined by flow cytometry; the histone H4 acetylation level of MM1R cells treated with LBH589 (10, 20, 50 nmol/L) for 24 h was analyzed by Western blot. The results showed that the LBH589 alone or combined with Bor all could inhibit the proliferation of MM1R cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. After MM1R cells were treated with drugs for 48 h, the cells in G(0)/G(1) phase increased, the cells in G(2)/M and S phase decreased, suggesting the arrest of cells in G(0)/G(1) phase, at the same time, the apoptosis rate of MM1R cells treated with drugs increased in a concentration-dependent manner, while the effect of LBH589 combined with Bor was more obvious than that of LBH589 alone (P < 0.001). Western blot analysis showed that the histone H4 acetylation level was enhanced in concentration-dependent manner after MM1R cells were treated with different concentrations of LBH589 for 24 h. It is concluded that the LBH589 can inhibit the proliferation of MM1R cells, block the cell cycle, induce cell apoptosis, moreover LBH589 combined with Bor has synergistic effect on MM1R cells.
Acetylation ; drug effects ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Boronic Acids ; pharmacology ; Bortezomib ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo build three-dimensional (3-D) visible model for surgical treatment of infection of fascial spaces of hand.

METHODSSerial thin cross-sections (0.2 mm) of hand were made by cryomicrotome, and the thin cross-sections of metacarpal parts were observed. A personal computer was employed to reconstruct 3-D model of metacarpal fascial space.

RESULTSThe shapes, locations and adjacent relations of the mid-palmar space, thenar space and metacarpal bones were displayed clearly from computerized 3-D model, which could be the cross-reference of the cross-sections expediently.

CONCLUSIONThe computerized 3-D reconstruction of metacarpal fascial spaces can provide some guidance for surgical treatment of infection and other diseases of metacarpal fascial spaces.

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional ; Hand ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional

Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) E2 protein eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAXE2 was constructed. The plasmid pVAXE2 was transformed into Salmonella choleraesuis C500 (S. C500) attenuated vaccine strain by electroporation to generate Salmonella choleraesuis engineering strain S. C500/pVAXE2. The characterization of S. C500/pVAXE2 in morphology, growth, biochemistry and serology indicated that it retained the same properties as its original strain S. C500 with exception of kanamycin resistance originated from the plasmid pVAXE2. The plasmid stable in the bacteria after 15 passages. Kunming mice and rabbits were vaccinated three times at two weeks interval with S. C500/pVAXE2 in oral and intramuscular routes at the dosage of 1 x 10(8) CFU for mice and 2 x 10(9) CFU for rabbits each time. The specific antibody response against CSFV and Salmonella choleraesuis was detected by ELISA. Two weeks after the third boost the immunized rabbits were challenged with 20 ID50 of hog cholera lapinized virus (HCLV), followed by a virulent strain of Salmonella choleraesuis two week later than HCLV challenge. The results showed that all immunized mice and rabbits produced significant antibodies against CSFV and Salmonella choleraesuis, and the immunized rabbits demonstrated the effective protection against the challenge of HCLV and virulent Salmonella choleraesuis. These results indicated the potential of developing multiplex swine DNA vaccine by using this bacteria as the vector.
Animals ; Classical Swine Fever ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Classical swine fever virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Rabbits ; Salmonella arizonae ; genetics ; Swine ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology