Objective To investigate the changes of plasma adrenodullin(ADM) and C-type natriuretic peptide(CNP) level in children with chronic heart failure(CHF) and its clinical implications.Methods Forty-two children with CHF were collected.The patients suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy,congenital heart defects,and other heart diseases.According to a modified scoring system described by Ross and Reithman,16 patients were classified as class Ⅱ,14 as class Ⅲ,and 12 as class Ⅳ.Plasma levels of ADM and CNP were measured by radioimmunoassay assay in these patients and 11 healthy children.Echocardiography was performed to measure left ventricular function and the ratio of E/A.Results Plasma ADM and CNP levels of CHF patients were significantly elevated as compared with those of the control subjects [(218.27?106.53) ng/L vs(74.39?53.99) ng/L,P=0;(190.27?108.38) ng/L vs(92.59?(59.46) ng/L),P0.05).ADM levels were elevated with the advancing severity of CHF determined by a modified scoring system described by Ross.However,the plasma CNP levels in the normal state wasn′t significantly different from those observed in class Ⅱ.Likewise,the plasma CNP level in the class Ⅲ was not significantly different from that observed in class Ⅱ.Conclusions ADM and CNP might play a compensatory and defensive roles in the pathophysiology of the pediatric CHF.ADM may be a biochemical marker for evaluation the severity of the chronic heart failure in children,but also a new prognostic indicator of this syndrome.

Objective To observe the efficacy and toxicities of RF transparent heating (RTH) combined with transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of advanced primary hepatic carcinoma. Methods In a randomized manner, 69 patients with advanced primary hepatic carcinoma were divided into two groups: study group (TACE+RTH) 34 cases and control group (TACE alone) 35 cases, the control group were treated with DDP 80mg, FU 1000mg and E-ADM 60mg, E-ADM was used with iodized oil embolism 10ml. Results The total effective rate in the near future were 70.59% and 45.71%, the overall survival rates of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 years were 82.35%, 73.53%, 58.82%, 38.24% in study group and 74.29%, 75.14%, 45.71%, 22.86% in control group, respectively. Toxicities were similar comparing with the two groups. Conclusions RTH combined with TACE in the treatment of advanced primary hepatic carcinoma is better than TACE alone, at the same time TACE +RTH method is no increasing toxicity and is an effective safe combined one.

Objective To explore the influencing mechanism of Zhengan Xifeng Decoction on blood pressure and gastrointestinal motility in SHR. Methods After 15 WKY and 90 SHR rats were were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, Benner Pury group, amlodipine group, Zhengan Xifeng Decoction high, middle, and low dose groups. The normal control group and model group were fed with distilled water daily. Rats in treatment group were administered with corresponding drugs daily. Blood pressure, gastric residual and intestinal propulsive ratio of rats was detected after eight-week intervention. Results Compared with the blank control group, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and mean arterial pressure were significantly higher than WKY rats of same age (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and mean arterial pressure of treatment groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, gastric residual rate of rats in the model group significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the gastric residual rate in Zhengan Xifeng high dose group increased significantly, and intestinal propulsive ratio significantly increased (P<0.05), without statistical significance in the other treatment groups. Conclusion Zhengan Xifeng Decoction can reduce blood pressure in SHR, and regulate gastrointestinal motility.

OBJECTIVESome research has shown that B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNF) is helpful in differentiating cardiac from pulmonary etiologies of dyspnea in adults. This study was designed to investigate whether BNP concentration could be similarly applied in children presenting with dyspnea.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from 65 children presenting with dyspnea, due to congestive heart failure (CHF, n=24), pneumonia (n=23) or pneumonia together with CHF (n=18). The samples from 15 healthy children were used as the controls. There were no significant differences in age among the four groups. Serum BNP levels were measured using ELISA.

RESULTSSerum BNP levels in the CHF group (141.55 +/- 75.99 pg/mL) were significantly higher than those in the Pneumonia group (26.00 +/- 14.57 pg/mL; P < 0.01), and the Pneumonia together with CHF group (113.73 +/- 87.05 pg/mL; P < 0.05), as well as the Control group (19.31 +/- 10.30 pg/mL; P < 0.01). The patients with pneumonia together with CHF had significantly higher serum BNP levels than those of the Pneumonia and the Control groups (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in BNP levels between the Pneumonia and the Control groups. The area under the receive operator characteristic (ROC) curve, which demonstrated the diagnostic utility of BNP in differentiating CHF from pneumonia, was 0.978 (P < 0.01). At a cut-off of 49 pg/mL, BNP had a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 95.8% for differentiating CHF from pneumonia. In the 18 patients who were diagnosed with pneumonia together with CHF, 11 had BNP levels above 49 pg/mL. The mean levels of BNP of the 11 patients were significantly higher than those of the patients with pneumonia (172.08 +/- 56.47 pg/mL vs 25.00 +/- 14.57 pg/mL; P < 0.01) but were significantly decreased after treatment (26.12 +/- 15.71 pg/mL; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBNP level is of value in differentiating cardiac from pulmonary causes of dyspnea in children. BNP level is also helpful in assessing whether or not severe pneumonia couples with heart failure in children.

Child, Preschool ; Dyspnea ; blood ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Pneumonia ; blood ; ROC Curve

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 6-gingerol, the main active component of ginger, on hair shaft elongation in vitro and hair growth in vivo.

METHODSFirstly, Hair follicles were co-cultured with 3 different concentration of 6-gingerol for 5 days and hair elongation in three groups was measured. Secondly, The proliferative effect of 6-gingerol on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. Thirdly, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in DPCs were measured using Western blotting. In vivo study, the influence of 6-gingerol on hair growth in C57BL/6 rats was measured through topical application of 6-gingerol on the dorsal skin of each animal.

RESULTSThe length of hair shaft in 20 microg/ml 6-Gingerol group (0.50 +/- 0.08 mm) is less than 0 microg/ml (0.66 +/- 0.19) mm and 10 microg/ml (0.64 +/- 0.03) mm 6-Gingerol group (P < 0.05). In cell culture, compared to 0 microg/ml and 5 microg/ml 6-Gingerol, 10 microg/ml 6-Gingerol can significantly inhibited the proliferation of DPCs (P < 0.05). Along with the growth inhibition of DPCs by 6-gingerol, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased obviously. In vivo study, the hair length and density decreased a lot after using 1 mg/ml 6-gingerol.

CONCLUSIONS6-Gingerol can suppress human hair shaft elongation because it has pro-apoptotic effects on DPCs via increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. It might inhibit hair growth by prolonging the telogen stage in vivo.

Animals ; Catechols ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Fatty Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Hair ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Retinoic acid plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function in male testis. Recent studies showed that there is a group of genes that can be specially activated by retinoic acid during the development of male reproductive gland. The gene Stra 8 (Stimulated by Retinoic Acid) was one of the gene in this group. In mouse, Stra 8 is restrictively expressed in male germ line cells, and its function is related to the development of sperm. In order to investigate the feature of Stra 8 gene expression,the 1.4 kb (-1407 - +7) promoter region of Stra 8 gene was amplified from mouse genomic DNA. The DNA fragment was then cloned into a promoter less vector to form the construct that contained the 1.4 kb promoter region, and the reporter gene of EGFP that was regulated by 1.4kb Stra 8 promoter. To investigate the specificity of Stra 8 promoter,the vector pStro-EGFP was transfected into undifferentiated mouse stem cells such as ES-129, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (mMSC) and spermatogonial stem cell (mSSC). The results showed that the expression of GFP was only observed in the mSSC cells,which indicated that Stra 8 gene was specially regulated in testis tissue. As the gene marker,vector pStra8-EGFP was then transfected to undifferentiated mMSC cells. After being selected by G418 for 2 weeks,the mMSC cells were induced by retinoic acid. After 12 hours induction, some induced cells started to express GFP protein, which was observed under the fluorescence microscope. At the same time, several stem cell specificity biomarkers such as Oct4, and spermatogonial stem cell biomarkers such as CyclinA2 and Stra 8 were detected in the induced cells by RT-PCR method. These results showed that the mMSCs would differentiated to spermatognial stem cells after induced by Retinoic Acid.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression ; Male ; Mice ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Proteins ; genetics ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; blood ; metabolism ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Toll-Like Receptor 9 ; agonists ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Yiqi Huoxue Recipe (WYHR) on the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in retinal degeneration slow (RDS) mice, and to investigate its molecular mechanisms.

METHODSRDS mice were randomly divided into the model group and the Chinese medicine group,and C57BL/6J mice were selected as the normal control group. Each group consisted of 4 female mice and 2 male mice. Mice in the Chinese medicine group were administered with WYHR (10 mg/g) by gastrogavage since mating. Baby mice drunk WYHR decoction instead of drinking water once they were born. The offspring were administrated with low dose WYHR decoction by gastrogavage from the 7th postnatal day, and the dose was increased to that for adult mice from the 21st postnatal day. Physiological saline was administrated to mice in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. At 18, 28 and 48 postnatal days, electroretinogram (ERG) was used to evaluate the retina functional variation, and the apoptotic rate of photoreceptor cells was determined by TUNEL staining. HE staining was performed. The number of photoreceptor cells of the outer nuclear layer was calculated. Furthermore, effect of WYHR on Rhodopsin and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression was examined using immunochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude, as well as the bFGF expression sharply increased in the Max-ERG of the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) at 18 postnatal days. At 28 and 48 postnatal days, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude sharply increased, photoreceptor cell layer numbers of the outer nuclear layer obviously increased, the apoptosis rate of retinal photoreceptor cells obviously decreased, expressions of Rhodopsin and bFGF in the Chinese medicine group significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWYHR could effectively inhibit the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in RDS mice, which might be attributed to up-regulating bFGF expression.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Retinal Degeneration ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To observe the protective effect of schisandrin and deoxyschisandrin on acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) in mice and to study its mechanism. Methods Mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal group(0. 5％ carboxymethylcellulose sodium,0. 5％ CMC-Na) ,model group (0. 5％ CMC-Na) ,control group(bicyclol 300mg·kg-1·d-1) , schisandrin group(schisandrin 400 mg·kg-1·d-1) ,and deoxyschisandrin group(deoxyschisandrin 400 mg·kg-1·d-1) ,with 10 mice in each group, intragastrically twice a day for 7 d. One hour after the last administration,except for normal group,the mice of other groups were intraperitoneally injected with 0. 3％ CCl4 peanut oil solution for reproduction of acute liver injury model in mice. The serum and liver tissues of mice of each group were collected. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in liver tissue were measured by biochemical kits. Results The serum levels of ALT in normal group,model group,control group,schisandrin group,and deoxyschisandrin group were (30. 90 ± 3. 14) , (3986. 90 ± 78. 63) , (387. 00 ± 24. 39) , (1914. 70 ± 89. 35) , and(2142. 10 ± 98. 35) U·L-1,respectively; the serum levels of AST in the 5 groups were (191. 50 ± 18. 02) ,(2337. 70 ± 80. 34) ,(978. 10 ± 95. 65) ,(1525. 60 ± 96. 91) ,and (1405. 30 ± 92. 31) U·L-1,respectively; the MDA levels in liver tissue in the 5 groups were (3. 08 ± 0. 18) ,(8. 67 ± 0. 28) ,(5. 13 ± 0. 22) ,(6. 63 ± 0. 28) ,and (6. 18 ± 0. 34) μmol·g-1,respectively; the SOD levels in liver tissue in the 5 groups were (162. 42 ± 4. 03) ,(102. 86 ± 3. 55) ,(148. 78 ± 7. 57) ,(132. 83 ± 6. 42) ,and (138. 21 ± 4. 94) U·mg-1,respectively. Comparison between model group and normal group or between control group, schisandrin group,deoxyschisandrin group and model group, the differences of the factors were significant (all P < 0. 01). Conclusion Schisandrin and deoxyschisandrin have protective effects on acute liver injury induced by CCl4 in mice,and its mechanism is related to anti-oxidation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and hair follicle regeneration.

METHODSPRP was prepared using the double-spin method and applied to DPCs. The proliferative effect of activated PRP on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. To understand the influence of activated PRP on the hair-inductive capacity of DPCs, freshly isolated epidermal cells and DPCs of passage 4 were resuspended, mixed with various concentrations of a PRP (0%, 5% or 10%) and were then transferred to a grafting chamber, which was implanted onto the dorsal skin of nude mice. The chambers were removed 1 week after grafting and HF formation was monitored for 4 weeks; the graft site was harvested and processed for histological examination.

RESULTSActivated PRP increased the proliferation benefited the aggregative growth of DPCs. There are significant difference in the yield of hair follicles compared with 10% PRP (344 +/- 27) with 0% PRP (288 +/- 35) in the area of reconstituted skin (P < 0.05). The areas treated with PRP demonstrated an increase in hair follicles density of 19.4%. Ten percent PRP (18 +/- 1) d also can significantly shorten the time of hair formation, compared with 0% PRP (20 +/- 1) d (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is a considerable effect of PRP on the time of hair formation and the yield of hair follicles reconstitution.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; growth & development ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Regeneration ; Skin ; cytology ; Skin, Artificial