OBJECTIVETo study the effects of low concentration dopamine(DA) on hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in cultured rat cardiomyocytes as well as the possible molecular mechanisms.

METHODSCultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into the following groups: control group (control), hydrogen peroxide group (H2O2), pretreated with low concentration dopamine ( DA + H2O2), dopamine receptor l(DR1) antagonist group (DR1 + DA + H2O2), dopamine receptor 2(DR2) antagonist group (DR2 + DA + H2O2). The cell apoptosis was then assessed by MTT and flow cytometry. The cellular ultrastructure changes were observed by transmission electron micro- scope. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH )and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in cell medium was analyzed by colorimetry. The protein expressions of Cytochrone c, Caspase 3 and Caspase 9 were obtained by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with hydrogen peroxide group, low concentration dopamine(10 µmol/L) decreased the apoptosis rate and the expression of protein of apoptosis related protein, enhanced SOD activity, decreased LDH activity. DR1 antagonist SCH-23390 treatment inhibited dopamine induced cardiac protective effect. DR2 antagonist haloperido treatment had no changes compared with dopamine group.

CONCLUSIONAbove findings indicate that low concentration dopanine inhibits apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, which is partly associated with the activation of DR1.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Benzazepines ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dopamine ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Dopamine D1 ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

AIM:To compare the biological characteristics , surface markers and multi-differentiation potential of the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from the umbilical cord and bone marrow in the green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice.METHODS:Umbilical cord MSCs (UCMSCs) were isolated by collagen type II enzymatic diges-tion and bone marrow MSCs ( BMSCs) were isolated by density gradient centrifugation .The growth of the 2 types of MSCs was observed under inverted microscope .The cell proliferation was detected by determining the growth curve and MTT as-say.The Trypan blue method was performed to analyze the cell viability rate .The cell cycle and cell surface markers were measured by flow cytometry .The differentiation potentials of the 2 types of MSCs were tested by the differentiation kits to-ward adipocytes and osteoblasts .RESULTS:The UCMSCs attached to the culture surface 1 d after the isolation , and the cells showed spiral shape with notable growth and proliferation after 2 d of culture.After 3 d, the cell arrived sub-confluent and was ready for passage .BMSCs still showed circular shape and started to attach to the surface 4 d after culture .They formed the small colony shape only after 5 d with obvious proliferative potential .The cells became confluent 7 d after the culture.The original generation of cultivating UCMSCs growth curve was shown typically an “S” shape.But the BMSCs growth was slower than the UCMSCs .The cell proliferation was obvious for UC-MSCs in 3~5 d.BMSCs proliferated signif-icantly only after 7 d.The viability rate arrived more than 96%for both types of MSCs .The cell cycle of both MSCs did not show significant difference (G0/G1 phases were above 85%, P>0.05).Both MSCs positively expressed CD44, CD90 and CD105 (60.7%±2.3%) but the expression of CD45, CD19, CD14 and CD79 was negative (less than 25.6%±4.8%, P>0.05).More than 90%of the MSCs from the umbilical cord and bone marrow differentiated towards the adipocytes and osteoblasts without significant difference (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:UCMSCs have stronger ability of proliferation and multi-directional differentiation potentials .UCMSCs in GFP transgenic mice as a high-quality tracer can serve for tracking the stem cells in vivo.

Objective To explore the relationship between the volatile components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix from different regions of Gansu Province and its growing environment with metabolomics based on GC-MS. Methods The GC-MS method was used for detecting the volatile components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix from 31 different regions in Gansu province, and principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) methods were used for analyzing and evaluating its relationship with the growing environment. Results The results of PCA showed that the volatile components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix from different regions in Gansu province were related to the altitude and the soil types. The PLS method could divide 31 samples of Angelicae Sinensis Radix from different regions in Gansu Province into three groups according to the difference of altitude. There were significant differences in the volatile components in the samples taken at different altitude regions. After analyzing linear loading plots from PCA and PLS, 11 charateristic components were screened out, including 7 compounds were identified by the retrieval of NIST11 database. Conclusion The volatile components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix from different regions in Gansu Province are closely related to the altitude and the soil type.

OBJECTIVETo determine the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of an ovarian mass which are most predictive of malignancy and assess the value of intravenous gadolinium administration in the characterization of an ovarian mass.

METHODSTotally 74 consecutive patients with a clinically or sonographically indeterminate adnexal mass underwent MR imaging, of whom 59 had subsequent surgical resection of 70 adnexal masses. These 59 patients formed the study population. MR imaging studies were prospectively and independently reviewed by a senior and a junior radiologist. The senior radiologist also reevaluated the studies in a blind fashion after a minimum 6 months interval. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of contrast-enhanced and unenhanced MR imaging were evaluated.

RESULTSThe most predictive MR imaging findings for malignancy were presence of vegetations in a cystic lesion and presence of necrosis in a solid lesion. The odds ratio was even higher when the ancillary finding of peritoneal metastasis or ascites was present. Contrast media contributed significantly to lesion characterization. Total 70 ovarian masses were detected by contrast-enhanced MR imaging including 37 malignant ovarian masses and 33 benign ovarian masses with 87% (61/70) accuracy, 86% (32/37) sensitivity, 88% (29/33) specificity, 89% (32/36) positive predictive value, and 85% (29/34) negative predictive value, whereas 70 ovarian masses were detected by unenhanced MR imaging with 74% (52/70) accuracy, 73% (27/37) sensitivity, 76% (25/33) specificity, 77% (27/35) positive predictive value, and 71% (25/35) negative predictive value. There were significant differences in accuracy (P < 0.01), sensitivity (P < 0.01), specificity (P < 0.01) between contrast-enhanced and unenhanced MR imaging.

CONCLUSIONContrast-enhanced MR imaging is highly accurate in detection and characterization of complex adnexal masses.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Teratoma ; diagnosis ; pathology

This study was aimed to evaluate an effective and stable method for obtaining mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) from the rabbit bone marrow and to investigate the biological characteristics of MSC and EPC. Mononuclear cells were obtained from rabbit bone marrow using density gradient method, and were differentially adhered to the cell culture plate enclosed with fibronectin. Then, MSC and EPC were amplified with EGB-2MV medium. Trypan blue method was used to test the passage survival rate. Growth curve, MTT and DNA cycle were used to evaluate the proliferation ability of MSC and EPC. MSC were identified with induced differentiation into the osteoblasts and adipocytes, and their immune phenotype was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). EPC were characterized by the special digestion of Dil-ac-LDL, FITC-UEA-I, and the conjunction with CD133, VEGFR2/KDR and CD34, their purity was also calculated. The results indicated that the colony was obviously formed when the mononuclear cells were cultured for 24 hours and, 80% of the cells became long spindle and integrated at d 8. Cells, which were adhered for twice, were cultured with EGM-2MV medium, began to extend at d 3, and became strip-shaped and integrated for about 80% at d 8. Passage survival rates were more than 90% for both cells, and after passage 2 the growth curve was like "S". Optical density was changed obviously when the cells were cultured for 3 - 5 d, but there were no significant difference of cell cycles between MSC and EPC, which G0-G1 was (93.32 ± 1.65)% and (93.05 ± 1.95)% respectively. Positive rates were (99.7 ± 1.12)%, (99.1 ± 2.33)%, (4.8 ± 0.38)%, (6.8 ± 0.49)% and (0.4 ± 0.08)% for CD90, CD44, CD14, CD45 and CD79a respectively. MSC were identified by induced differentiation into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Positive rates of the EPC, which were adhered for twice and passaged 2, were (82.1 ± 3.4)% for fluorescent staining of Dil-ac-LDL and FITC-UEA-I, and (74.2 ± 3.2)%, (64.7 ± 4.3)% and (43.5 ± 1.5)% for CD133, VEGFR2/KDR and CD34 respectively. It is concluded that high-purity MSC can be obtained with density gradient and differential adhesion method, and high-proliferation EPC can be cultured with EGM-2MV medium in cell plates enclosed with fibronectin, so they may become the optimal seed cells for tissue engineering study.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunophenotyping ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Rabbits ; Stem Cells ; cytology

Objective To study the efficacy of bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL)combined with prone positioning in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)and atelectasis and its effect on pulmonary function.Methods A prospective study was conducted on 94 children with MPP and atelectasis who were hospitalized in Ordos Central Hospital of Inner Mongolia from November 2020 to May 2023.The children were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 47 children in each group.The children in the treatment group were given conventional treatment,BAL,and prone positioning,and those in the control group were given conventional treatment and BAL.The two groups were compared in terms of fever,pulmonary signs,length of hospital stay,lung recruitment,and improvement in pulmonary function.Results Compared with the control group,the treatment group had significantly shorter time to improvement in pulmonary signs and length of hospital stay and a significantly higher rate of lung recruitment on day 7 of hospitalization,on the day of discharge,and at 1 week after discharge(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the treatment group had significantly higher levels of forced vital capacity(FVC)as a percentage of the predicted value,forced expiratory volume(FEV)in 1 second as a percentage of the predicted value,ratio of FEV in 1 second to FVC,forced expiratory flow at 50%of FVC as a percentage of the predicted value,forced expiratory flow at 75%of FVC as a percentage of the predicted value,and maximal mid-expiratory flow as a percentage of the predicted value on the day of discharge and at 1 week after discharge(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the time for body temperature to return to normal between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusions In the treatment of children with MPP and atelectasis,BAL combined with prone positioning can help to shorten the time to improvement in pulmonary signs and the length of hospital stay and promote lung recruitment and improvement in pulmonary function.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate dietary iodine intake and its potential risks among the Chinese population.

METHODSIndividual dietary iodine intake was calculated using food consumption data multiplying by iodine concentration in foods, table salt and drinking water, followed by summing, and then compared with the corresponding age-specific reference values, including Upper Intake Level (UL) and Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI).

RESULTSIn areas with water iodine concentration (WI) lower than 150 μg/L, 80.8% of residents had iodine intake between the RNI and UL, 5.8% higher than UL, and the remaining (13.4%) lower than RNI if iodized salt was consumed. However, in the uniodized salt consumption scenario, only 1.0% of residents between RNI and UL, 1.4% higher than UL, and a large part of residents (97.6%) lower than RNI. In areas with WI higher than 150 μg/L, all residents had iodine intake between RNI and UL if iodized salt was consumed, except 10.5% and 24.9% of residents higher than UL in areas with WI at 150-300 μg/L and higher than 300 μg/L respectively. However, in the uniodized salt consumption scenario, only 1.5% and 1.7% of residents had higher iodine intake than UL respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggested that in general, the dietary iodine intake by the Chinese population was appropriate and safe at the present stage. People in areas with WI lower than 150 μg/L were more likely to have iodine deficiency. While people in areas with WI higher than 150 μg/L were more likely to have excessive iodine intake if iodized salt was consumed.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Drinking Water ; chemistry ; standards ; Female ; Goiter ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Iodine ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; deficiency ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; analysis

BACKGROUNDThe hypothalamus plays a central role in the regulation of metabolism by sensing metabolic demands and releasing regulatory neurotransmitters. This study investigated the response of the hypothalamus to glucose ingestion in rats by blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) and immunohistochemical techniques to determine the role of the hypothalamus in glyco-regulation during disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism.

METHODSThe signal intensity of the hypothalamus was monitored by fMRI for 60 minutes after oral glucose intake in 48 healthy rats (age 14 months), which included 24 normal weight rats (weighing (365 +/- 76.5) g) and 24 overweight rats (weighing (714 +/- 83.5) g). Then, 12 rats (6 normal, 6 overweight) underwent a repeat fMRI scan after consuming an equivalent amount of water without glucose on a separate day. The procedure for fMRI with water intake was the same as for glucose ingestion. fMRI data was processed using time cluster analysis and intensity averaging method. After fMRI, the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the hypothalamus of all rats was determined by immunohistochemistry. Positive cells for NPY or 5-HT were counted.

RESULTSThere was a transient, but significant, decrease in fMRI signal intensity in all rats (mean (3.12 +/- 0.78)%) in the hypothalamus within 19.5 - 25.5 minutes of oral glucose ingestion. In overweight rats, the decrease in signal intensity in response to the glucose ingestion was more markedly attenuated than that observed in normal weight rats ((2.2 +/- 1.5)% vs (4.2 +/- 0.7)% inhibition, t = 2.12, P < 0.05). There was no significant response in the hypothalamus after oral water ingestion. The percentage of NPY positive cells in obese rats were slightly lower than those in control group (21% vs 23%, t = 0.71, P > 0.05); but there was no significant difference between the two groups; the percentage of 5-HT positive cells in obese rats were significantly lower than those in the control group (22% vs 31%, t = 3.25, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThere is a transient, but significant, decrease in BOLD signal intensity in the hypothalamus following glucose ingestion, which is similar to that observed in humans. The response of the hypothalamus to glucose ingestion was different in overweight and normal weight rats. The percentage of NPY positive cells in obese rats were lower than those in the control group, although this difference was not statistically significant. The percentage of 5-HT positive cells in obese rats was significantly lower than those in the control group.

Animals ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; physiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Neuropeptide Y ; analysis ; Obesity ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; blood ; Rats ; Serotonin ; analysis

The proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) is a key pathological process in the cardiac remodeling. To establish an objective, quantitative method for the analysis of cell proliferation and cell cycle, we applied the high-content screening (HCS) and flow cytometry (FCM) techniques. CFs, isolated by enzyme digestion from newborn C57BL/6J mice, were serum starved for 12 h and then given 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 24 h. Followed by BrdU and DAPI (or 7-AAD) staining, CFs proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed by HCS and FCM, respectively. Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) staining indicated that the purity of isolated CFs was over 95%. (1) HCS analysis showed that the ratio of BrdU-positive cells was significantly increased in 10% FBS treated group compared with that in serum-free control group [(12.96 ± 0.67)% vs (2.77 ± 0.33)%; P < 0.05]. Cell cycle analysis showed that CFs in G0/G1 phase were diploid, and CFs in S phase were companied with proliferation, DNA replication and enlarged nuclei; CFs in G2 phase were tetraploid, and CFs in M phase produced two identical cells (2N). (2) FCM analysis showed that the ratio of BrdU-positive cells was increased in 10% FBS treated group compared with that in the control group [(11.10 ± 0.42)% vs (2.22 ± 0.31)%; P < 0.05]; DNA content histogram of cell cycle analysis indicated that the platform of S phase elevated in 10% FBS group compared with control group. (3) There were no differences between the two methods in the results of proliferation and cell cycle analysis. In conclusion, HCS and FCM methods are reliable, stable and consistent in assessment of the proliferation and cell cycle in CFs.
Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitosis ; Myocardium ; cytology

We investigated the compensatory trends of mesiodistal angulation of first molars in malocclusion cases. We compared differences in the angulation of first molars in different developmental stages, malocclusion classifications and skeletal patterns. The medical records and lateral cephalogrammes of 1403 malocclusion cases taken before treatment were measured to evaluate compensation of molar angulation in relation to the skeletal jaw. The cases were stratified by age, Angle classification and skeletal patterns. Differences in the mesiodistal angulation of the first molars were compared among the stratifications. We observed three main phenomena. First, angulation of the upper first molar varied significantly with age and tipped most distally in cases aged <12 years and least distally in cases aged >16 years. The lower first molar did not show such differences. Second, in Angle Class II or skeletal Class II cases, the upper first molar was the most distally tipped, the lower first molar was the most mesially tipped, and opposite angulation compensation was observed in Class III cases. Third, in high-angle cases, the upper and lower first molars were the most distally tipped, and opposite angulation compensation was observed in low-angle cases. These data suggest that the angulation of the molars compensated for various growth patterns and malocclusion types. Hence, awareness of molar angulation compensation would help to adjust occlusal relationships, control anchorage and increase the chances of long-term stability.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Anatomic Landmarks ; pathology ; Cephalometry ; methods ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Dentition, Mixed ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; classification ; pathology ; Malocclusion, Angle Class I ; pathology ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; pathology ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III ; pathology ; Mandible ; pathology ; Maxilla ; pathology ; Maxillofacial Development ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Molar ; pathology ; Palate ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult