Previous methods used for nuclear transplantation were further investigated to develop a method that was both easy to carryout and did not require any special apparatus, such as Piezoimpact or Spindle-View. Following the puncture of zona pellucida with two holes by injection pipette that contained donor nuclei or cells, the injection pipette was pulled back to the perivitelline space while the negative pressure was increased in the holding pipette until the polar body and karyoplasm were wiped off completely. Then a reconstructed embryo was completed by the direct injection of the donor nucleus or cell without pulling out the injection pipette. 200 oocytes were manipulated using this method and it cost about 40 seconds with nucleus injection and about 30 seconds with cell injection to complete a reconstructed embryo. The success rates were 62.6% and 86. 0%, respectively, and enucleation rate was about 73.3% validated by Hoechst 33342. Using this method, the nucleus was completely eliminated and another was injected using the microscope and micromanipulator. Moreover, the efficiency of nuclear transplantation and survival rate of reconstructed embryos were greatly improved. Furthermore, it is very easy to manipulate and popularize in practice.
Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cloning, Organism ; methods ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; metabolism ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Oocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Zona Pellucida ; metabolism

To develop a reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for rapid and sensitive detection of Norwalk GII. 4 primers which recognized 6 distinct regions on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene of Norwalk GII were designed and used for LAMP assay. Norwalk GII RNA was amplified under isothermal conditions (65 degrees C) for 120 min, and LAMP results were then judged with naked eye, SYBR Green I staining, electrophoretic analysis and restriction digestion. To evaluate the specificity of the RT-LAMP, 48 fecal specimens of Norwalk GII and 12 fecal specimens of group A rotaviruses were tested. To compare the sensitivity of the RT-LAMP with that of conventional RT-PCR, Norwalk GII RNA was serially diluted and amplified by RT-LAMP and RT-PCR, respectively. With 46 fecal specimens of Norwalk GII, observation with naked eyes, SYBR Green I staining and electrophoretic analysis were able to detect the PCR products in the RT-LAMP assay. The specificity of RT-LAMP products was also confirmed by digestion of the RT-LAMP products with restriction enzymes. No RNA amplification was observed in 2 fecal specimens of Norwalk GII and 12 fecal specimens of group A rotaviruses. The specificity of the RT-LAMP assay with regard to RT-PCR were 100% for Norwalk GII. The detection limits of RT-LAMP was 15.6 pg/tube for Norwalk GII and similar to that of a RT-PCR assay. Compared to RT-PCR, the RT-LAMP assay has been proven to be a rapid, sensitive, specific and accurate method for detection of the Norwalk GII in fecal specimens, and that RT-LAMP assay is potentially useful for the rapid detection of Norwalk GII from fecal specimens in outbreaks of infectious diarrhea.
Caliciviridae Infections ; virology ; Feces ; virology ; Humans ; Norwalk virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; RNA Replicase ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cardiac Catheterization ; economics ; methods ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; economics ; methods ; Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Septal Occluder Device ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the biocompatibility of new biomaterials porous calcium phosphate (CPC) and ectopic bone formation of CPC with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs).

METHODSThe BMSCs were cultured from Beagle dog and combined with the porous CPC with the best concentration after transfect green fluorescent protein (GFP). The adhesion and growth of BMSCs on CPC were observed under inversion, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. The ectopic bone formation were observed at the 8th week after CPC and BMSCs were implanted subcutaneously into nude mice.

RESULTSWhen BMSCs with CPC were cultured at the 1st day, cells were climbing out from CPC with normal morphology. At the 7th day cells can be seen protruding pseudopods, secretion of matrix. Bone formation could be seen histomorphologically at the 8th week.

CONCLUSIONPorous CPC has good biocompatibility and is an ideal scaffold material for bone tissue engineering.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Cements ; Bone and Bones ; Calcium Phosphates ; Dental Cementum ; Dogs ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Tissue Engineering

This study was purpose to examine the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Tween 80 on the growth and viability of stromal cells (BMSC), colony-forming units for granulocytes and macrophages (CFU-GM) and bone marrow endothelial cell line (BMEC) from murine bone marrow in vitro, and to analyze the concentration-effect relationship. The colony yields of colony-forming units fibroblastic (CFU-F) and CFU-GM were assessed in the murine bone marrow cell cultures at various concentrations of DMSO or Tween 80 and in the control groups. The MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion were used to determine the cell viability and percentage of survival in BMSC and BMEC cultures with or without either of these organic solvents. The results showed that the colony yields of both CFU-F and CFU-GM were decreased significantly (p<0.05 or <0.01) at the concentrations (v/v final) of 2% DMSO or 0.005%-0.01% Tween 80 respectively, as compared with control. The cell viability and percentage of survival of BMSC and BMEC cultures were significantly reduced (p<0.05 or <0.01) at 0.5%-1.0% DMSO or 0.002%-0.005% Tween 80, as compared with control. With the increase of volume fractions of these solvents, the decreased percentages of corresponding measurements were increased by degrees. It is concluded that when the concentration of DMSO or Tween 80 goes to a certain level in cell culture medium, either of the organic solvents has an inhibitory action or/and cytotoxicity on the growth and viability of BMSCs, CFU-GM and BMECs. The growth inhibition and cytotoxic response are more significant at higher concentrations of these solvents.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Polysorbates ; pharmacology ; Solvents ; pharmacology ; Stromal Cells ; cytology

BSA liposomes were prepared with approximately 100 nm mean particle size under rather gentle experiment conditions, and two-colorimetric coomassie brilliant blue protein was employed to measure the free drug in the entrapped efficiency (EE%) determination of BSA liposomes. Gel filtration was used to measure the EE%, and several Sephadex gels were examined by the separation of liposomes and free drug. To determine the free drug, three methods were compared on two-colorimetric UV spectrophotography, Bradford and two-colorimetric coomassie brilliant blue, separately. Two-colorimetric coomassie brilliant blue process increased the accuracy and improved the sensitivity of the assay about 20-fold comparing with the Bradford method. Two-colorimetric coomassie brilliant blue assay appeared to be more sensitive and showed broader dynamic range to measure the free BSA in the EE% determination of BSA liposome.
Colorimetry ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Liposomes ; Particle Size ; Rosaniline Dyes ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of atorvastatin on advanced glycation end products (AGE) induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and whether this effect could be linked to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB).

METHODSGrouping: (1) Blank control group; (2) BSA group; (3) AGE group: cells were incubated with different concentrations of AGE (10(-4), 10(-3), 10(-2) and 10(-1) g/L) for 24 hours; (4) AGE + Atorvastatin group: cells were incubated with different concentrations of atorvastatin (0.1, 1, 10 µmol/L) for 1 hour, then incubated with AGE (10(-1) g/L) for 24 hours; (5) PPAR-γ agonist (15 d-PGJ2) group: cells were incubated with 15 d-PGJ2 (10 µmol/L) for 1 hour, then incubated with AGE (10(-1) g/L) for 24 hours; (6) PPAR-γ inhibitor (GW9662) group: cells were incubated with GW9662 (5000 nmol/L) for 1 hour, then incubated with atorvastatin (1 µmol/L) and AGE (10(-1) g/L) for 24 hours. Collagenase was used to isolate the endothelial cell from human umbilical vein; RT-PCR was performed to examine the mRNA expression of MCP-1 and PPAR-γ; Western blot was performed to detect NF-κB p65 protein.

RESULTS(1) The expression of MCP-1 mRNA was increased in proportion with increasing concentrations of AGEs which could be blocked by atorvastatin in a dose-dependent manner. (2) AGE (10(-1) g/L) significantly downregulated the expression of PPAR-γ mRNA (0.22 ± 0.08 vs. 0.69 ± 0.09, P < 0.01) while upregulated the expression of phospho-NF-κB p65 protein (0.78 ± 0.06 vs. 0.31 ± 0.01, P < 0.01) and nonphospho-NF-κB p65 protein (1.61 ± 0.16 vs. 0.59 ± 0.14, P < 0.01) compared with the control group which could be significantly attenuated by atorvastatin. (3) PPAR-γ agonist decreased the expression of phospho-NF-κB p65 protein (0.21 ± 0.01 vs. 0.78 ± 0.06, P < 0.01), nonphospho-NF-κB p65 protein (0.67 ± 0.14 vs. 1.61 ± 0.16, P < 0.01) and MCP-1 mRNA (0.17 ± 0.02 vs. 0.93 ± 0.12, P < 0.01) compared with AGE (10(-1) g/L) group. (4) PPAR-γ inhibitor antagonized the effect of atorvastatin on the expression of phospho-NF-κB p65 protein, nonphospho-NF-κB p65 protein and MCP-1 mRNA stimulated by AGE in HUVECs (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe anti-inflammatory properties of atorvastatin in AGE stimulated HUVECs may partly be attributed to the effect on upregulation of PPAR-γ and downregulation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the inhibitory effect of different extract fractions from Longdan Xiegan decoction on biofilms of Candida albicans, and discuss its possible mechanism.

METHODThe micro-dilution method and the XTT reduction assay were adopted to explore the antifungal activity of different extract fractions from Longdan Xiegan decoction and detect the inhibitory effect of different extracts on biofilms of C. albicans. The expression quantity of the adhesion related gene ALS1 and hypha formation SUN41 were detected by qRT-PCR.

RESULTThe MICs of extracts from Longdan Xiegan decoction, including petroleum ether, water, butanol, methanol and ethyl acetate, against C. albicans were > 1 000, > 1 000, > 1 000, 125, 125 mg x L(-1). The SMIC50 against biofilms of C. albicanswere > 1 000, > 1000, > 1 000, 500, 500 mg x L(-1). The SMIC50 were > 1 000, > 1 000, > 1 000, > 1 000 and 1 000 mg x L(-1). 1 000 mg x L(-1) ethyl acetate extracts could considerably inhibit the expression of the adhesion related gene ALS1 and hypha formation SUN41.

CONCLUSIONThe ethyl acetate extract showed the greatest activity against Candida albicans biofilms.

Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Candidiasis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hyphae ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and gene mutation of cluster of differentiation 9 (CD9) in the pathway of the mineral powder induced malignant transformation in immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in Gejiu.

METHODSBEAS-2B cells served as the control group and its malignant transformation cells induced by mineral powder in Gejiu were considered as experiment group. The expression of CD9 protein in 20 bottles of BEAS-2B cells and 20 bottles of malignant transformation cells was evaluated by immunocytochemistry. The mRNA expression of CD9 in 10 bottles of BEAS-2B cells and 10 bottles of malignant transformation cells was examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Gene mutation was detected in the products of RT-PCR by DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThere was significant difference between the expression of CD9 protein in BEAS-2B cells (100%, 20/20) and that in its malignant transformation cells (35%, 7/20 P < 0.01). The expression of CD9 mRNA in BEAS-2B cells 0.91 +/- 0.09 was significantly higher than that in its malignant transformation cells (0.34 +/- 0.14) (P < 0.01). Two point mutation of CD9 gene was detected in the malignant transformation cells of BEAS-2B by DNA sequencing. The change of G-->T in the base of 231 led to the change of Gln-->His in the amino acids of 40. The change of T-->A in the base of 119 led to the change of Val-->Asp in the amino acids of 3.

CONCLUSIONThe absence or down-regulation of CD9 expression and point mutation in the malignant transformation cells of BEAS-2B may play a considerable role in the pathway of the malignant transformation in the BEAS-2B cells induced by mineral powder in Gejiu.

Bronchi ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Dust ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mining ; Mutation ; drug effects ; Tetraspanin-29 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate curative effect of plate and xenogenic bony plate were applied in refracture in plate-screw fixation of femoral shaft.

METHODSThirteen cases of refracture in plate-screw fixation of femoral shaft included 8 males and 5 females, average age was 31.2 years ranging from 14 to 57. Fracture type was comminuted fracture in 7 cases, oblique fracture in 4 cases, transverse fracture in 2 cases. Fixation type used eight holes femoral LC-DCP in 5 cases, eight holes epipodite LC-DCP in 2 cases, six holes femoral LC-DCP in 2 cases, 8 holes La-Plate in 4 cases. All the patients were treated by femoral LC-DCP and xenogenic bony plate.

RESULTSAll of the patients were followed up from 16 to 40 months with average of 32 months. All cases had undergone only one operation and achieved bony union. Average time of bony union was 9 months. The lower limbs resumed walk and beared a heavy burden. According to criterion of Merchan, the results were excellent in 7 cases,good in 4,fair in 1 and poor in 1, the excellent and good rate of knee function was 84.6% (11/13) in one year after operation.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of refracture in plate-screw fixation of femoral shaft with armor plate and xenogenic bony plate is a reliable treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; pathology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Time Factors ; Young Adult