AIM: To examine whether lipoxin A_4 (LXA_4) induces apoptosis of rat renal interstitial fibroblasts and explore the mechanisms. METHODS: Rat renal interstitial fibroblasts (NRK-49F cells) were incubated in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum and exposed to LXA_4 at the concentration of 10 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L or 1 ?mol/L for 24 hours. Prior to experiment, some cells were transfected with calpain 10 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. Apoptosis of cells was recognized by double staining using fluorescent dye acridine orange and ethidium bromide, observed under laser scanning confocal microscopy and counted by flow cytometry following propidium iodide and annexin staining. Activity of caspase-3 was measured by colorimetric assay. The expression of calpain 10 mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: LXA_4 at the concentration of 100 nmol/L or 1 ?mol/L induced 9.83% or 33.82% apoptosis of cells, respectively. Treatment of cells with LXA_4 up-regulated the expression of calpain 10 mRNA and increased the activity of caspase-3. The transfection of the cells with calpain 10 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibited the LXA_4-induced apoptosis, activity of caspase-3 and expression of calpain 10. CONCLUSION: LXA_4 at high concentration induceds apoptosis in rat renal interstitial fibroblasts via up-regulating of calpain 10 mRNA expression.

0.05).Conclusion:It suggests that HPDLFs exposured to static magnetic field produced by magnetic attachment have little mutagenic effects on chromosomes and DNA.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of mobilization and harvesting by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) on treating myasthenia gravis (MG).Methods One patient with MG was enrolled in the study. Autologous peripheral blood stem cells(APBSCs) were mobilized with cyclophosphamide(CTX) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF). PBSCs harvesting was performed by continuous flow leukapheresis using a CS-3000 plus blood separator.CD +_ 34 cells were analyzed by flow cytometer and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (GM-CFU) was detected by semisolid methlcelluose after mobilization. The clinical effect was evaluated by a relative score system.Results The numbers of mononuclear cells (MNC),GM-CFU and CD +_ 34 cells were 8.08?10 8/kg,7?10 5/kg or 81/10 5/MNC and 1.09?10 6/kg after mobilization in graft respectively. The clinic relative score of the patient was 7/8.Conclusion CTX and G-CSF can mobilize effectively and provide enough peripheral blood stem cells for transplantation in treating MG.

AIM: To find whether lipoxin A_4 (LXA_4) inhibits cell proliferation induced by TNF-? in rat mesangial cells, and to explore the molecular mechanisms of signal pathways of LXA_4 actions. METHODS: Cultured rat mesangial cells were growth-arrested and exposed to TNF-? with or without preincubation with LXA_4. Proliferation of mesangial cells was measured by MTT methods. Activities of STAT_3 were analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Expression of cyclin E mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR. Cyclin E proteins were determined by Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: TNF-?-induced proliferation and increased mRNA and protein expression of cyclin E in mesangial cells were inhibited by LXA_4 in a dose-dependant manner. TNF-?-stimulation of the STAT_3-binding activities in mesangial cells was down-regulated by lipoxin A_4. CONCLUSION: Inhibitory effect of LXA_4 on TNF-?-induced mesangial cell proliferation is mediated by Jak_1/STAT_3 signal pathway.

Objective To investigate the correlation of the expressions of PTTG and VEGF proteins in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma,and study its role in the development of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods Expression of PTTG and VEGF proteins was detected by SABC immunohistochemical technique in 36 cases of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma,30 cases of adjacent histologically noncancerous bile duct tissues and 12 cases of benign bile duct lesions.Results The positive rates of PTTG and VEGF proteins were(72.2)%(26/36) and 83.3%(30/36) respectively,in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma;and 63.3%(19/30) and 76.7%(23/30) in adjacent histologically noncancerous bile duct tissues.The expression of PTTG protein was significantly positively correlated with that of VEGF protein(P

[Abstract ]Objective:To estimate dental maturation norms of permanent dentition in a group of Nanjing children using Nolla's tech-nique.Methods:549 cases of panoramic radiographs (279 males and 270 females)of Nanjing children at the age range of 3 to 16 years were collected for the study.All permanent mandibular teeth on the left side (except for the third molars)were scored according to Nolla's method,and data were presented in tables and used to plot dental maturation curves for the Nanjing boys and girls.Results:Females were found to be more advanced in the degrees of dental development.Dental maturation is significantly associated with chron-ological age (for males and females:r =0.959,P <0.001 and r =0.953,P <0.001,respectively).The mathematical model of them was established,and then the fitting equation was obtained.Conclusion:The dental maturation curve and chronology of permanent dentition can provide the growth norms of permanent teeth for Nanjing children and facilitate the way for dentists to assess the growing children during diagnosis and treatment planning.

BACKGROUND:Healthy human umbilical cord jel y is a mucous connective tissue without vessels and has been used in eye plastic operation because of its elasticity and toughness. It contains lysozyme, placental globulin, hyaluronic acid enzyme, AMP antibody and complement, and also contains a lot of mesenchymal stem cells, so it is not prone to infection and rejection. OBJECTIVE:To observe the histocompatibility and histopathological changes of human umbilical cord jel y as a tarsal substitute transplanted for eyelid reconstruction in guinea pigs. METHODS:The mucous connective tissue of healthy neonate umbilical cord jel y was made into tissue blocks at even thickness. Models of tarsal defects were established in guinea pigs, and then the mucous connective tissue of healthy neonate umbilical cord jel y was implanted. Samples of implanted materials were col ected for histological examination at 1, 2, 3 weeks postoperation under light microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were no obvious rejection, infection and eyelid deformation observed, the corneas of al the animals were clear, corneal epithelial shedding did not occur, and the eyelid could move normal y. One week after implantation, there was no infection and rejection on the conjunctiva and the incision of the eyelid, the eyelid could move normal y, and partial inflammatory cells were observed between the human umbilical cord jel y and the muscle of the eyelid with microscopy. Two weeks after implantation, there was no infection and rejection on the conjunctiva and the incision of the eyelid, the cornea was clear, the eyelid and eye could move normal y, and no symblepharon occurred;umbilical cord jel y showed the tendency of absorption, and the inflammatory cells were reduced at 2 weeks after implantation. Three weeks after implantation, the incision of the conjunctiva healed wel , the cornea was clear;there was no difference in the eyelid form and movement between the two eyes;the umbilical cord jel y was absorbed partial y, normal fibrous tissues formed and there were no inflammatory cells. With low immunogenicity, human umbilical cord jel y can guide the growth of new col agen and serve as an ideal tarsal substitute.

Objective To evaluate the effect of emulsified isoflurane on cognitive function in rats.Methods Seventy-two adult male SD rats,aged 8 weeks,weighing 250-300 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal control group (group C,n =12),intralipid group(group E,n =12),and 8％ emulsified isoflurane group ( group EI,n =48).Morris water maze test was performed at 2 h after administration in group E and at 2 h,1,7,14 d after administration in 12 rats at each time point in group EI.The escape latency,staying time at the original platform quadrant,frequency of crossing the original platform and swimming speed were recorded.Orbital blood samples were taken from 6 rats in each group after water maze test for determination of the plasma corticosterone concentration,and then the animals were sacrificed and their hippocampi were removed for determination of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) contents.Brains were removed from another 6 rats in each group after water maze test for determination of the expression of BDNF and NGF in DG,CA3,CA2,CA1 of hippocampus.Results Compared with group C,in group EI the escape latency at 2 h after administration was prolonged,staying time at the original platform quadrant was shortened,the expression of BDNF in DG and CA3 of hippocampus was down-regulated and the BDNF content in hippocampus was decreased at 2 h and 1 d after administration( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The escape latency was shortened and staying time at the original platform quadrant was prolonged at 7 and 14 d after administration,the content of NGF in hippocampus was increased at 1,7 and 14 d after administration and the expression of BDNF in DG and CA3 of hippocampus was up-regulated at 1d after administration as compared with those at 2 h after administration in group E1( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).There was no significant difference in the variables mentioned above between groups E and C( P ＞ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in plasma corticosterone concentration among the 3 groups ( P ＞ 0.01 ).Conclusion The mechanism by which emulsified isoflurane results in transient cognitive impairment in rats is related to down-regulating the expression of BDNF in hippocampus,but not related to corticosterone and NGF.

Objective To study the expression level of miR-21 in UVB irradiated HaCaT cells and A431 cells. Methods Real-time qPCR was used to examine the expression level of miR-21 in HaCaT cells and A431 cells after 50 J/m2UVB radiation. The possible target genes were predicted by PicTar and performed function categories with Gostat analysis. Results Compared with the HaCaT cells, miR-21 the expression level in A431 cells increased over 4 times. At 2h and 4h after UVB irradiation, the expression level of miR-21 in HaCaT cells were up regulated, and it lowered 2 times at 8 h compared with the control.There was no further change in the expression level of miR-21 after 12 h. While miR-21 expression levels in A431 cells were not changed signifcantly. The results of target prediction and Gostat analysis suggested that PIK3R1, BCL2 and E2F3 were involved in the cell differentiation and cell process. Conclusion miR-21 possibly involved in the pathogenesis of epidermal squamous cell carcinoma and the mechanism of UVB-induced injury.