Objective To explore changes of local renin-angiotensin system(RAS)in renal tissue of rat during short-and mid-term tail suspension,as well as their relations with humoral regulation and renal function induced by real or simulated weightlessness.Methods 1-and 4-week(wk)tail-suspended rat model were used to simulate short-and mid-term weightlessness,respectively.Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was carried out to examine the mRNA expression of components of local RAS in renal tissue.Results Except for angiotensin Ⅱ receptor type 2(AT2),all of the other components of local RAS,including angiotensinogen(AGT),renin,angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE),angiotensin Ⅱ receptor type 1a(AT1a)and angiotensin Ⅱ receptor type 1b(AT1b),were found their expression in renal tissue of Sprague-Dawley rats.After 1 wk of tail suspension,mRNA expression of renin in renal tissue increased significantly(P

Cofactor engineering, a vital part of metabolism engineering, changes the redox cofactor regeneration approach. Its main goal is to rebuild the components of metabolic products. The bioconversion of xylose for the production of ethanol is being studied intensively because ethanol is an alternative energy source and a potential liquid fuel. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been traditionally used in producing ethanol from fermentable sugars but it cannot utilize xylose, only its isomer xylulose. Introduction of the xylose fermentation pathway from Pichia stipitis into S. cerevisiae enables xylose utilization in recombinant S. cerevisiae, but the ethanol yields of xylose fermentation with recombinant S. cerevisiae has been low and large amounts of the byproduct xylitol are produced. The major reason is that the catabolism of xylose with the fungal pathway leads an imbalance of redox cofactor. The process of the catabolism of xylose requires NADPH and NAD~+, both of which have to be regenerated in separated processes. More and more attention has therefore focused on the redox cofactor balance in S. cerevisia. The research progress of cofactor engineering to solve the imbalance of redox cofactor in xylose metabolism recombinant S. cerevisiae was introduced. This included expression of transhydrogenase, increasing the utilization of NADPH, and achieving the anaerobic reoxidation of NADH. Reversing the cofactor specificity of enzymes is another effective way.

Objective To explore the value of dexamethasone(DEX) for neuronal cell injury and death by observing the effect of DEX on excitatory amino acid(EAA) and monoamine neurotransmitter in cerebral tissue of neonatal rat with hypoxia-ischemia.Methods Hypoxic-ischemic neonatal rat models were established,the levels of EAA and monoamine neurotransmitter in cerebral tissue were analyzed by using capillary electrophoresis and fluorospectrophotometry method.The rats were divided into 4 groups: small dose DEX group pre-treated with DEX(0.5 mg/kg) prior to hypoxia-ischemia,large dose DEX group pre-treated with DEX(10 mg/kg) prior to hypoxia-ischemia,HIE group and shamful operation group.Results The levels of EAA and monoamine neurotransmitter contents in HIE group were significantly higher than those in shamful operation group(P0.05).EAA contents of large dose DEX group greatly decreased compared with HIE group (P

Objective　To observe the effects of Ang-Ⅱ on expressions of c-fos mRNA and pro-α1［Ⅰ］mRNA in fibroblasts (FBC) of rat embryo in the course of collagen synthesis.Methods　The change of free Ca2+(［Ca2+］i) was tested in fluorometry and the expressions of c-fos mRNA and pro-α1［Ⅰ］mRNA were tested by RT-PCR method in incubated FBC.Results　The level of［Ca2+］i in FBC and the expressions of c-fos mRNA and pro-α1［Ⅰ］mRNA were enhanced with the increase of Ang-Ⅱ concentration(10-8～10-5and 10-7～10-6mol/L).Conclusions　The expressions of c-fos mRNA and pro-α1［Ⅰ］mRNA were induced by Ang-Ⅱ activating signal system in FBC.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between microalbuminuria (MAU) and short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.MethodsThe consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to hospital were enrolled prospectively.The first urine specimen was taken on the following morning after admission for detecting urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR).UACR 30-300 mg/g was defined as MAU positive.Stroke severity was evaluated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate functional outcome at discharge, and good outcome was defined as mRS score of 0 to 2.ResultsA total of 244 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled, including MAU positive in 53 patients (27.12%), and poor outcome in 67 patients (27.50%).Univariate analysis showed that age, baseline NIHSS score, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, globulin, D-dimer, white blood cell count, neutrophils, and the proportions of ischemic heart disease in patients of the MAU positive group were significantly higher than those of the MAU negative group (all P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that MAU (odds ratio [OR] 1.520, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.151-1.794;P=0.031), baseline NIHSS score (OR 1.570,95% CI 1.357-1.808;P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for short-term poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.ConclusionsThe incidence of MAU is high in patients with acute ischemic stroke.MAU positive can be used as one of the independent predictors of short-term poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

By analyzing the epidemiological and clinical features of adenovirus in children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI), we provide a theoretical basis for early clinical diagnosis and treatment. Nasopharyngeal secretions were collected from 3480 children with ARTI, who were hospitalized at the No. 2 Hospital of Changzhou from January 2011 to December 2012. Adenovirus were detected using direct immunofluorescence assays. A total of 80 samples were positive for adenovirus (2.30%). The rate of adenovirus infection during 2011 was significantly higher than that in 2012, and the infection rate was higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. The infection rate was 1.14% among children aged < 1-year-old and the rates were higher among children in other age ranges. Adenovirus was found to be an important ARTI pathogen in children in Changzhou, mainly affecting children older than 1 year. ADV infections have various clinical presentations, but affected children tend to be severely ill with poor outcomes.
Acute Disease ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Adenovirus Infections, Human ; epidemiology ; therapy ; virology ; Adenoviruses, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; therapy ; virology ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of triptolide (TPL) on the renal tissue of diabetic rats and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (as the normal group), the diabetic model group (the model group), the low dose TPL treatment group (the low dose TPL group, TPL 0.2 mg/kg by gastrogavage), the high dose TPL treatment group (the high dose TPL group, TPL 0.4 mg/kg by gastrogavage). Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal group and the model group. Five rats were randomly selected from each group at week 4, 8, and 12 of the experiment to detect body weight, kidney weight, 24 h urinary albumin (24 h UAL), plasma glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), total triglyeride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), white blood cell (WBC), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The mRNA and protein expression of regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the renal tissue was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The renal tissue was pathologically stained by HE, PAS, and Masson staining. The glomerular and renal tubular interstitial lesions were observed at each time point. The glomerular sclerosis index (GSI) was observed by PAS staining, and the renal interstitial filrosis index (RIFI) was calcutated.

RESULTSCompared with the same group at week 4, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 significantly decreased in two TPL groups (P <0.01). Compared with the same group at week 8, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 also significantly decreased in the two TPL groups (P <0. 05, P <0.01). Compared with the normal group, body weight and the kidney weight obviously decreased at week 4, 8, and 12 in the model group (P <0. 01); 24 h UAL, FBG, TG, TC, HbA1c, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI were obviously elevated (P <0.01). Compared with the model group, 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI also decreased in the two TPL treatment groups (P <0.01). Compared with the low dose TPL group, they were attenuated in the high dose TPL group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONTPL could not only inhibit the over-expression of RANTES, but also improve the glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis in the renal tissue of diabetic rats.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL5 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; Kidney Tubules ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats

In Western countries, more and more people select acupuncture and moxibustion as medical ways, and more and more acupuncture and moxibustion research organizations are set up. Britain TCM foundation is such one center for acupuncture research. This center is aimed at promoting acupuncture research. Since 1991, a series of clinical trials and several big research tasks have been completed. The clinical designs in the center are very careful and scientific, being worth to be learnt. In the paper, clinical studies in the center are introduced for increasing levels of acupuncture and moxibustion research at home.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Biomedical Research ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; United Kingdom

Objective To examine the neural basis of item memory and source memory with fMRI approach.Methods Eight male and eight female healthy fight-handed native Chinese speakers were involved in this study.The item memory and source memory task were conducted with 504 highly frequent Chinese double-character words in the Block-designed experiment.Participants underwent such a double- round procedure as fMRI scanning following study.The fMRI data collected from a GE 1.5T MRI system were analyzed to generate corresponding activation maps for females and males respectively(P20)using statistical parametric mapping software(SPM).Results For females,item memory task activated the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6,the number of activated voxel clusters was 62 or 11 in the left and the right,respectively),source memory more activated the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6/46,the number was 59).For males,item memory activated the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6/46,the number was 64),source memory activated the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6,9 and 40 in the left and the right).Conclusion On the neural basis of item or source memory,there exists dissociation,which is that right dorsolateral prefrontal areas are more activated by item memory while left dorsolateral prefrontal areas by source memory.For the difference of gender,it is suggested that left dorsolateral prefrontal areas(BA6/46)are more activated in females while right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(BA6/46)more in males.

Objective:To investigate the influence of sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion protein on the unspecific anti- tumor immunity in vitro.Methods:Ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells were separately transfected with recombinant adenoviral vectors containing sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion gene,sCD80 gene,sCD40L gene or with control adenovirus.The expres- sion of the sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion protein,sCD80 protein and sCD40L protein in the supernatants of SKOV3 cells was determined by ELISA.Dendritic cells(DCs)were cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient with ovarian carcinoma.DCs and autologous T cells were co-cuhured and were exposed to different supernatants for 48 h. The allostimulatory effects of DCs on T cells were determined by mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR).The unspecific kill- ing activities of induced T cells against SKOV3/K562 cells were measured by LDH-releasing assay.Results:ELISA assay showed that levels of the sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion protein,sCD80 protein and sCD40L protein in the supernatants of transfeced SKOV3 cells were 2.791 ng/ml,1.956 ng/ml and 1.407 ng/ml,respectively.The fusion protein-exposed DCs ([0.382?0.053]vs[0.167?0.028],P