BACKGROUND: It has reported that nicotinamide is capable of protecting intervertebral disc (IVD) against interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) induced degeneration. However, the protective mechanism of nicotinamide on IVD cells apoptosis and proliferation remains unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate regulatory effects of nicotinamide on rabbit nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis and proliferation in vitro.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized control grouping design, which was carried out in the Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Stem Cell Center, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from April to October 2007.MATERIALS: Ten Japanese white rabbits (aged 2-3 months weighing 1.5-2.0 kg) were used in this study. Furthermore, nucleus pulposus cells obtained from L1-6 lumbar spine were harvested and cultured for further experiments.METHODS: The NP cells were divided into 6 groups, including control group (without any drug as control), nicotinamide group (0.5 g/L nicotinamide), IL-1β group (10 μg/L IL-1β), IL-1β + caspase group (10 μg/L IL-1β and non-specific caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK), IL-1β + small-dose nicotinamide group (10 μg/L IL-1β and 0.05 g/L nicotinamide), and IL-1β + large-dose nicotinamide group (10 μg/L IL-1β and 0.5 g/L nicotinamide). After 3 days of culture, the cells were examined with Annexin V-PI staining, caspase-3, 8 and 9 activity staining and MTT assay.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The apoptotic rates, the positive rates of caspase-3, 8 and 9 activity staining and the absorbance of MTT assay of each group.RESULTS: ① As compared to IL-1β group, the apoptotic rates were decreased in the IL-1β + caspase group and IL-1β + large-dose nicotinamide group (P < 0.01). ②As compared to IL-1β group, the positive rates of caspase-3, 8 and 9 activity staining were decreased in the IL-1β + caspase group, IL-1β + large-dose and small-dose nicotinamide groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.01). ③As compared to IL-1β group, the absorbance was increased in the IL-1β + caspase group and IL-1β + large-dose nicotinamide group (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Nicotinamide is capable of promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting IL-1β induced apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells in vitro. The inhibition of apoptosis mainly acts via inhibition of the mitochondrial pathway.

In order to investigate the characteristics of transdermal delivery of ferulic acid under the treated of microneedle arrays and the influence on permeability of rat skin capillaries, improved Franz-cells were used in the transdermal delivery experiment with the rat skin of abdominal wall and the length of microneedle arrays, different insertion forces, retention time were studied in the influence of characteristics of transdermal delivery of FA. The amount of FA was determined by HPLC system. Intravenous injection Evans blue and FA was added after microneedle arrays treated. Established inflammation model was built by daubing dimethylbenzene. The amount of Evans blue in the rat skin was read at 590 nm wavelength with a Multiskan Go microplate reader. Compared with passive diffusion group the skin pretreated with microneedle arrays had a remarkable enhancement of FA transport (P <0.01). The accumulation of FA increased with the enhancement of insertion force as to as the increase of retention time. Microneedle arrays with different length had a remarkable enhancement of FA transport, but was not related to the increase of the length. The research of FA on the reduce of permeability of rat skin capillaries indicated that the skin pretreated with microneedle arrays could reduce the content of Evans blue in the skins of rat significantly compared with the untreated group. The permeation rate of ferulic acid transdermal delivery had remarkable increase under the treated of microneedle arrays and the length of microneedle arrays ,the retention time so as to the insertion force were important to the transdermal delivery of ferulic acid.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Coumaric Acids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Needles ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin Absorption

Objective To investigate the effects of the interaction between human hepatoma cells and hepatic stellate cells on their growth state,and study its role of interaction on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and hepatic stellate cell line hepatic stallate cells (HSC)-T6 were used and the methods including methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay,flow cytometry (FCM) analysis,immunohistochemistry,and electron microscopy were employed in this experiment.The effects of conditioned medium (CM) of HepG2 on the activation and proliferation of HSC were explored.The effects of activated HSC CM on HepG2 proliferation were investigated.The uhrastructural changes of the two co-cultured cells were observed.Results MTT assay result showed that HepG2/HSC CM could promote HSC/HepG2 proliferation.FCM result demonstrated that HepG2/HSC CM could influence the cell cycle distribution in HSC/HepG2.Immunohistochemistry exhibited that after the treatment of HepG2/HSC CM,the expression ofα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in HSC and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in HepG2 were increased.When HepG2 and HSC were co-cultured,the ultrastructure of HSC displayed an activated feature.Conclusions HepG2 cells can induce the activation and proliferation of HSC,and the activated HSC can also stimulate the proliferation of HepG2.Interaction between hepatoma cells and hepatic stellate cells may play an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; pathology ; Adult ; Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Metaplasia ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of low-dose once-daily tadalafil combined with Shuganyiyang Capsules in the treatment of mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSNinety patients with mild-to-moderate ED were equally randomized to groups A, B and C to receive Shuganyiyang Capsules, tadalafil, and tadalafil + Shuganyiyang Capsules, respectively. The scores of the patients on IIEF-5 and SF-PAIRS (15-Item Short Form of Psychological Interpersonal Relationship Scales) were recorded before and at 1 and 3 months after treatment.

RESULTSThe IIEF-5 scores of groups A, B and C were 10.13 +/- 1.55, 11.00 + 1.60 and 10.73 +/- 1.91 before treatment, and 13.77 +/- 2.11, 17.77 +/- 2.13 and 17.17 +/- 3.84 at 1 month after treatment, significantly higher in B and C than in A (P <0. 001) , but with no remarkable difference between B and C (P =0. 411). At 3 months after treatment, the IIEF-5 scores were 15.77 +/- 2.05, 18.07 +/- 2.24 and 19.37 +/- 3.76 in the three groups, dramatically higher in B and C than in A (P <0.001) as well as in C than in B (P<0.05). The scores on sexual self-confidence, sexual spontaneity and time concerns in SF-PAIRS were 3.90 +/-0.80, 8.67 +/- 1.94 and 14.43 +/- 1.92 before medication, 5.83 +/- 1.02, 9.90 +/- 1.75 and 11.17 +/- 1.68 at 1 month and 6.73 +/- 0.98, 11.07 +/- 2.08 and 10.67 +/-1.60 at 3 months after medication in group A; 4.17 +/- 0.87, 9.37 +/-1.43 and 14.47 +/-1.57 before medication, 6.47 +/-0.78, 10.83 +/- 2.18 and 10.20 +/-1.56 at 1 month and 6.83 +/-0.91, 11.30 +/- 1.88 and 9.47 +/- 1.57 at 3 months in group B; and 4.23 +/-0. 94, 9.50 +/- 1.89 and 14.67 +/- 2.91 before medication, 8.03 +/- 1.67, 13.43 +/-1.10 and 9.70 +/-1.21 at 1 month and 8.93 +/- 1.78, 14.70 +/- 1.26 and 8. 87 +/- 0. 97 at 3 months in group C. Compared with the baseline, the SF-PAIRS scores of the three groups were all significantly improved after treatment (P <0. 05) , and markedly higher in C than in the other two groups (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow-dose once-daily tadalafil combined with Shuganyiyang Capsules is obviously effective in the treatment of mild-to-moderate ED, which not only improves the patients'erectile function, sexual self-confidence and sexual spontaneity, but also reduces their time concerns.

Adult ; Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

Ten cell strains were obtained from the human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 by using the method of single cell cloning. Through inoculation of these cell strains in nude mice and subsequent observation of their metastatic capability, four cell lines, C_1, C_6 with high, and C_5, C_8 with low metastatic capability were selected out; and their biological and morphological properties were studied. It was demonstrated that all of them did not show apparent difference in growth ability, but morphologically, the mictovilli of C_5 and C_8 cells were scarce and short; and their microfilaments were thick, straight and well organized. Whereas the microvilli of C_1 and C_6 strains were long and abundant comparatively, but their microfilaments were poorly organized. On the basis of present observation,we suggested that the organization of microfilaments in cancer cells appeared to bear reversed relationship with their metastatic capability.

A novel reverse emulsification-phase transition process was designed to prepare alginate-based nanocapsules in the present study. Ca alginate nanocapsules with an average hydrodynamic diameter below 300 nm were obtained by adjusting surfactant and alginate concentration. Instrumental analysis observations revealed a morphologically spherical shape with a relatively uniform size distribution without aggregation.?-potential measurements indicated an topically electrostatically negative nature of capsules in neutral aqueous solution. These nanocapsules were proven to have an equivalent potency to stimulate the maturation of dendritic cells originated from CD14 positive cells isolated from human peripheral blood. Protein loading via covalent conjugation was demonstrated feasible with EDC/NHS facilitated reaction between carboxyl and amino groups. These nanocapsules are considered to have important applications as a new adjuvant in cancer cell therapy, vaccine design and targeted drug delivery for active components of protein nature.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the nuclear ribosome DNA (nrDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of 4 Leonurus species, and the possibility of using them for molecular authentication of the crude drugs from the genus.

METHODSThe nrDNA ITS sequence (including ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, ITS2, and partial 18S rDNA and 26S rDNA) of L. japonicus and its 3 adulterant species were amplified and sequenced, and CLUSTRAL X and MEGA software was employed for analysis.

RESULTSThe variation of ITS1 and ITS2 between L. japonicus and its adulterant species ranged between 7.2% and 18.8% and between 14.2% and 27%, respectively. The phylogenic tree derived from the dendrograms based on the ITS sequence data contained some discrepancy from the traditional classification.

CONCLUSIONThe nrDNA ITS sequences can be used potentially as efficient markers for identification of L. japonicus and its adulterants, and further study is needed for studying the phylogeny of Leonurus.

DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; chemistry ; genetics ; Leonurus ; classification ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the binding domain of hydroxypyruvate isomerase homologues (HYI) in the interaction with protein P311 in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (Fb).

METHODS(1) P 311 was amplified by PCR using plasmid pMD18-T-P 311 as template. The total RNA of hypertrophic scar Fb was extracted by Trizol to amplify HYI with RT-PCR. Recombinant vectors pGADT7-P 311 and pGBKT7-HYI were constructed by double-enzyme digestion, and they were verified by PCR and sequencing. The secondary structure of protein HYI was analyzed with software Prot Seale and HNN. Fragments of HYI-1 (1-447 bp), HYI-2 (247-447 bp), HYI-3 (1-279 bp), and HYI-4 (247-654 bp) were amplified based on the result of software analysis. And then the recombinant vectors pGBKT7-HYI-1, 2, 3, and 4 were constructed by double-enzyme digestion and verified by PCR and sequencing. (2) AH109 yeast cells were transformed into competent cells by lithium acetate method and divided into 7 groups roughly in the same amount, including HYI full length, HYI-1, HYI-2, HYI-3, and HYI-4 hybrid groups, positive control group, and negative control group. Cells in the first five groups were respectively transformed with recombinant vector pGBKT7-HYI full length, pGBKT7-HYI-1, pGBKT7-HYI-2, pGBKT7-HYI-3, pGBKT7-HYI-4 and recombinant vector pGADT7-P 311, and that in the rest two groups were transformed with recombinant vectors pGBKT7-53 and pGADT7-RecT, pGADT7-RecT and pGBKT7-Lam by polyethyleneglycol/lithium acetate method. Immediately after transformation, a part of the transformed cells in each group was spread onto the medium lacking leucine, tryptophan, adenine, and histidine (briefly called four-factor lacking medium), and another portion of the cells was spread onto the medium lacking leucine and tryptophan (briefly called two-factor lacking medium). After 3 to 6 days' culture, the growth of yeast was observed, and the expression of β-galactosidase of yeast was detected by color reaction with 5-bromo-4-chloro-indolyl-β-D-galactopyranoside.

RESULTS(1) Cloned P 311 and the reported P 311 (GenBank ID hsu36189) had the same sequence. The A base at 496 bp in reported HYI (GenBank ID AY775560) was replaced by G base as found in cloned HYI. It was verified that the insert segment of each recombinant vector was correct. (2) Among those 216 amino acids which composed the protein HYI, 101 amino acids might form α helices, 90 amino acids might form random coils, 25 amino acids might form extended-chains as revealed in the simulated structure analysis by computer. (3) Cloned segments HYI-1, 2, 3, 4 showed expected lengths. It was verified that the insert segment of each recombinant vector was correct. (4) Except for strains in negative control group which did not show growth on four-factor lacking medium, all strains in other groups grew on both kinds of media, and growth of colonies was less in HYI-2 (with the fewest number of α helices) and HYI-3 hybrid groups. (5) Positive expression of β-galactosidase was observed in strains of all groups growing on four-factor lacking medium except for the HYI-2 hybrid group. No expression of β-galactosidase was observed in strains of negative control group which grew on two-factor lacking medium.

CONCLUSIONSProtein HYI may closely bind with protein P311 by α helix, which plays an important role in fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation in hypertrophic scar.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases ; genetics ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; enzymology ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Fibroblasts ; enzymology ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Protein Binding ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs

Objective To investigate whether elevated pre-procedural C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations may be relevant to early outcome in patients undergoing PCI.Method 100 consecutive patients undergoing pereutaneuous coronary intervention (PCI) were included in our study.Peripheral blood samples for CRP and IL-6 testing were withdrawn before PCI.Acute vascular complications resulted from PCI were determined by subsequently coronary angiography.The early coronary events during hospitalization were clinically followed.Results Thirty patients developed acute vessel occlusion,and another one developed subacute coronary thrombosis at 2 days after PCI.Increased levels of CRP correlated well with the occurrence of vascular complications as regards the significant difference existing amongⅠvsⅢandⅠvsⅣquartile groups,P