OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the expression function of substance P and the formation of osteoclasts in the periodontal tissues after the inferior alveolar nerve sectioned in rats.

METHODSThirty Wistar male rats were used in the experiment and were divided into six groups (n = 5) randomly: 0 d (normal), 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, 21 d, and 28 d. The periodontal tissues were removed from the denervation of the inferior alveolar nerve in rats. The periodontal tissues were checked by paraffin sections through immunohistochemical staining to trace the expression of substance P and through tratrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining to detect the osteoclasts. The average optical density and osteoclast were measured, and the obtained data was statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression level of substance P in the first three days decreased significantly after the inferior alveolar nerve was cut. In addition, the lowest expression level was measured after 7 d. Normal levels in the periodontal tissue were measured after 21 d. In addition, we found that osteoclasts vary proportionally with the changes in substance P.

CONCLUSIONThe changes in substance P is positively correlated with the quantity of osteoclasts after the inferior alveolar nerve section. Therefore, we deduce that substance P may regulate the differentiation of osteoclasts formation, and thereby participate in the balancing of aveular bone metabolism.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Male ; Mandibular Nerve ; Osteoclasts ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Substance P

Objective To investigate the relationship between insulin like growth factor (IGF Ⅰ)、IGF Ⅱ and IGFBP 3 and Child Pugh classification in patients with liver cirrhosis and to determine the potential clinical markers of functional hepatic reserves. Methods Forty four patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis were divided into 3 groups according to disease severity (Child Pugh Score) and 38 healthy subjects severed as controls. Serum levels of IGF Ⅰ, IGF Ⅱ and IGFBP 3 were measured in these groups by immunoradiometric assay. Results Baseline IGF Ⅰ, IGF Ⅱ and IGFBP 3 levels were significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis than in controls, and the serum concentrations of IGF Ⅰ, IGF Ⅱ and IGFBP 3 were associated with the marked changes of liver function due to Child Pugh score. They all showed a significant correlation with the degree of hepatic dysfunction and dropped markedly during the progression of liver failure. The sensitivity of IGF Ⅱ is much higher than that of IGF Ⅰ and IGFBP 3. It was found that IGF Ⅰ

Best vitelliform macular dystrophy ( BVMD ) is an autosomal dominant disease mostly caused by mutations in BEST1 gene. These mutations change the normal physiological functions of BEST1-encoded bestrophin-1 protein, and finally lead to a reduction of visual acuity. This review is composed of the following aspects: the structure and functions of BEST1 gene, the characteristics of the mutations, clinical features of BVMD, genotype-phenotype correlations as well as possible gene therapy. Our contribution serves for further research on BVMD and BEST1 gene.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection (SMI) on peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS) induced injuries of peritoneal structure and function in a rat model, and to observe the relationship between the failure of peritoneal dialysis and expressions of aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) and zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) in peritoneal tissues. METHODS: Fifty-six SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, 1.5% PDS group, 4.25% PDS group, 1.5%PDS+1% SMI group, 1.5%PDS+2% SMI group, 4.25% PDS+1% SMI group and 4.25% PDS+2% SMI group. Two-hour peritoneal dialysis test was performed in rats in different groups by intraperitoneal injection for 8-week. Then rats were killed on the 8th week, and the bloods and peritoneal tissues were gathered. The rate of ultrafiltration, clearance rates of urea nitrogen, creatinine and glucose of peritoneum and content of total protein in PDS were detected. Peritoneal membrane histology was evaluated by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Expressions of ZO-1 and AQP-1 proteins in peritoneal tissues were detected by immunohistochemical method, and AQP-1 protein expression was also detected by Western blotting technique. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, using of 1.5% PDS and 4.25% PDS caused the changes of structure and function in peritoneum, such as pathological change of peritoneum, decreasing of the rate of ultrafiltration (P<0.05), clearance rates of creatinine and glucose (P<0.01) and the expression of ZO-1 protein (P<0.05), and increasing of the expression of AQP-1 protein (P<0.05). Compared with the simple PDS groups, the pathological damage of peritoneum was lessened and the rate of ultrafiltration and clearance rates of creatinine and glucose were increased in the 1.5% PDS+2% SMI group and 1.5% PDS+2% SMI group. Expression of AQP-1 protein was decreased by 1.5% PDS+2% SMI as compared with 1.5% PDS (P<0.05).[JP] CONCLUSION: SMI can relieve the injuries of function and structure of peritoneum by down-regulating the expression of AQP-1 protein.

15 oocytes group than in the ≤15 oocytes group. All parients with the acute abdmen caused by ectopic and heterotopic pregnancy had tubal factor causing infertility. The misdiagnostic rate was significantly lower of reproductive-specialty doctors than non-reproductivespecialty doctors. Conclusion Excessive oocytes induced by ovarian hyperstimulation and tubal damage were main risk factors of acute abdomen. To reduce the misdiagnosis, non-reproductive-specialty doctors should know about IVF-ET and patients should be informed about the occurrence of these procedure related complications.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are traditional dairy strains which have a long history of safe use. They are a kind of food-grade microorganisms that can be used in industry to produce lots of food and drink, such as yoghourt. In the last two decades the physiology and genetics of these bacteria have been thoroughly studied. Because of their genetic accessibility and easy to handle, LAB, in addition to their traditional applications, have been extensively developed and used for the expression of heterologous genes. So they have an important foreground in agricultural, medical and many other fields. People have developed a series of food-grade gene expression systems of LAB. LAB, especially their model strain Lactococcus lactis and their most useful food-grade induced expression system--nisin controlled gene expression system NICE and its food-grade inducer nisin, food-grade host, expressing vectors and applications in expressing heterologous proteins of NICE will be introduced.

OBJECTIVETo reveal the quality variation of polysaccharides, triterpenoids and proteins in spores and fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum from producing areas, different varieties, harvesting parts and periods, and wall-breaking treatments.

METHODSpores and fruiting bodies from varieties of Longzhi No. 1 and Hunong No. 1 were collected as test samples, together with wall-broken spores sold in domestic main producing areas. The anthrone-sulfuric acid colorimetric method was used to determine the content of total polysaccharides. The vanillin-glacial acetic acid-perchloric acid colorimetric method was used to determine the content of total triterpenoids. The Lowry method was used to determine the content of total proteins.

RESULTThe content ranges of total polysaccharides, total triterpenoids, and total proteins from 6 domestic main producing areas were 0.40% - 2.25%, 1.36%-3.15% and 0.74% -1.91% respectively. The content ranges of total polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and proteins in the fruiting bodies from 2 varieties cultured in Zhejiang were 0.25% -1.42%, 0.44% -1.42% and 1.82% -3.67% respectively. In addition, the ranges of samples from wall-unbroken spores were 0.41% - 0.91%, 0.09% - 0.12%, 0.78% - 0.90% respectively and wall-broken spores are 1.03% - 2.25%, 1.89% - 3.15%, 0.96% - 1.04% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThere are significant differences in the contents of main chemical ingredients of wall-broken G. lucidum spores saled in the markets. The samples from Zhejiang contain high content of total polysaccharides and triterpenoids, and samples from Fujian contains more proteins. Between the 2 major varieties cultured in Zhejiang, Longzhi No. 1 contains higher content of triterpenoids, but Hunong No. 1 has more polysaccharides. Contents of triterpenoids and polysaccharides from wall-broken spores are much higher than those of fruiting bodies. The stipes from fruiting bodies contains more polysaccharides than those of the pileus, while the triterpenoids contents are higher in the pileus than stipes. The pileus and stipes collected in the second year contain higher content of polysaccharides than the first year's samples, but the contents of triterpenoids are lower. Wall-breaking treatment would significantly improve the extraction and dissolution rate of total triterpenoids and polysaccharides.

Fungal Proteins ; analysis ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Spores, Fungal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; analysis

ObjectiveTo study the effect of testing amino acids levels in brain microdialysate by method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with α-aminobutyric acid (AABA) as the internal standard.MethodsReversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), orthophthaladehyde (OPA) precolumn derivatization method and fluorescence detector were used. The separation was performed using an ODS-C18 column. AABA, an isomeric compound of GABA, served as the internal standard, phosphate buffer solution and methanol as the mobile phase, gradient elution lasted in 35 min.Results7 kinds of amino acids and internal standard were separated completely. The mean recovery of amino acid was 88.2%—102.3%. The mean correlation coeffeicient of the linear relationship was 0.998±0.0015.Limits of detection for amino acids were 1.0—8.6 ppm respectively.ConclusionThe method mentioned above is simple and sensitive for operation, and can be used for determined levels of amino acids in microdialysate.

Animals ; Cadmium Compounds ; toxicity ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Lung ; cytology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Quantum Dots

Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Humans ; Toluidines ; blood