The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) modified liposome as a vehicle for ophthalmic administration. Liposome loaded with 5-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) was prepared by lipid film hydration method. WGA was thiolated and then conjugated to the surface of the liposome via polyethylene glycol linker to constitute the WGA-modified and FAM-loaded liposome (WGA-LS/FAM). The amount of thiol groups on each WGA molecule was determined, and the bioactivity of WGA was estimated after it was modified to the surface of liposome. The physical and chemical features of the WGA-modified liposome were characterized and the ocular bioadhesive performance was evaluated in rats. The result showed that each thiolated WGA molecule was conjugated with 1.32 thiol groups. WGA-LS/FAM had a mean size of (97.40 +/- 1.39) nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.23 +/- 0.01. The entrapment efficacy of FAM was about (2.95 +/- 0.21)%, and only 4% of FAM leaked out of the liposome in 24 h. Erythrocyte agglutination test indicated that after modification WGA preserved the binding activity to glycoprotein. The in vivo ocular elimination of WGA-LS/FAM fitted first-order kinetics, and the elimination rate was significantly slower than that of the unmodified liposome, demonstrating WGA-modified liposome is bioadhesive and suitable for ophthalmic administration.
Absorption, Physicochemical ; Adhesiveness ; Administration, Ophthalmic ; Animals ; Drug Carriers ; Eye ; metabolism ; Fluoresceins ; chemistry ; Liposomes ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Wheat Germ Agglutinins ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of electric heat needle therapy on senile gonarthritis.

METHODSSixty-five patients were divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group of 35 cases were treated by electric heat needling at Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyang (EX-LE 4), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Yin-lingquan (SP 9), and the control group of 30 cases by simple acupuncture at the same acupoints as in the treatment group. In the two groups, the treatment was given once every other day, 10 sessions constituting one therapeutic course. After treatment of 2 courses, their therapeutic effects were compared.

RESULTSThere was a very significant difference between the two groups in the total effective rate (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectric heat needle therapy has a better clinical therapeutic effect on senile gonarthritis, better than simple acupuncture therapy.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Abatract:Objective To study the relationship of the processes of chronic hepatitis B infection with the degree of depression and the level of serum Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).Methods 126 patients with different processes of CHB infection were divided into 3 groups,which were asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASC group),liver cirrhosis (LC group)and hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC group).40 healthy volunteers were selected as normal control.Questionnaire was used to study demographic data and the degree of depression was assessed by using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17).The levels of the serum BDNF were detected by ELISA.Results The ratio of divorced or widowed in LC and HCC groups was higher than that of the control (χ2 = 6.354,11.972;P < 0.01).Severity of depression in ASC,LC and HCC groups was higher than that of the control (χ2 = 16.151,42.150,49.636;P <0.01).Severity of depression in ASC and LC group was lower than that of HCC group (χ2 = 14.345,28.772;P <0.01).The role of BDNF (x ±s,ng/ml)in ASC,LC,HCC and control group were 11.10±3.26,8.66 ± 3.11,7.39 ±2.52 and 12.18±2.59.The levels of serum BDNF in LC and HCC group was lower than ASC group and the control (P <0.01).The process of CHB infection had positive correlation with the score of HAMD (r=0.719,P <0.01),but had negative correlation with thelevels of serum BDNF (r=-0.504,P <0.01). There was negative correlation relationship between the score of HAMD and the levels of serum BDNF (r=-0.526,P <0.01).Conclusion The process of CHB infection can obviously aggravate the degree of depression,and reduce the levels of BDNF gradually.The levels of serum BDNF can be suggested as a psychological laboratory reference basis for the CHB pa-tients with depression.It is expected to improve the level of clinical diagnosis and treatment in CHB with depression.

ObjectiveTo compare the levels of sFas in the sera among Kawasaki disease (KD),incomplete Kawasaki disease (IKD),and normal control groups,and to analyze the relationship of sFas with IKD children.MethodsA total of 32 cases of acute KD and acute IKD children,and 20 cases of the control children were selected,respectively.The levels of serum sFas among three groups were measured using ELISA kits.Each child among the three groups was examined by echocardiography.Results(1)The levels of serum sFas among the three groups were[ (0.54±0.20)ng/L in KD,(0.55±0.16)ng/L in IKD,and (0.24 ± 0.04) ng/L] in control group,respectively.The overall means of sFas in the KD and IKD groups were higher than the control group,and the differences were statistically significant( F=29.276,P＜0.05 ).(2)The levels of serum sFas among echocardiography abnormal and normal groups were[ (0.65±0.19) ng/L and (0.49±0.10)ng/L],respectively; and the difference between two groups were statistically significant ( t=3.139,P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsThe expression levels of sFas in the peripheral serum of IKD children were increased,and there was a close association of overexpression of sFas with the cardiovascular damage in IKD children.

To study the effect of sodium aescinate in inducing human breast cancer MCF-7 cells apoptosis and its possible mechanism. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of sodium aescinate on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The morphological changes were observed under inverted microscope. DAPI nuclear staining was used to detect the changes in cell nucleus. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry was adopted to test the apoptosis rate. Changes in apoptosis-related proteins (PARP, cleaved caspase-8 and pro-caspase-3), cell survival-associated signal molecules (AKT and ERK) and their common upstream kinase SRC was detected by Western blotting. The result showed that after different concentrations of sodium aescinate were used to treat breast cancer MCF-7 cells, they inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, induced cell apoptosis (typical morphological changes in nucleus, significant increase in cell apoptosis rate). The expressions of cleaved PARP and caspase-8 increased, while the expression of pro-caspase-3 decreased, which further verified sodium aescinate's effect in inducing cell apoptosis. Sodium aescinate significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of cell survival-related signal molecules (AKT, ERK) and down-regulate the activation of their common up-stream kinase SRC. The findings indicated that sodium aescinate can block signals transiting to downstream molecules AKT, ERK, inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cell MCF-7 cell apoptosis and induced cell apoptosis by suppressing the activation of SRC.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; src-Family Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To monitor the dynamic changes of liver and kidney functions in the first week after liver transplantation and to assess the value of liver and kidney functions in predicting patient's survival. Methods clinical data of 161 recipients with benign liver diseases were retrospectively reviewed.Total bilirubin ( TB ), aminoleucine transferase ( ALT), aspartate aminotransferase ( AST), prothrombin time (PT) and serum creatinine (SCr) were recorded and analyzed during the first post-transplant week.The data collected at dl were analyzed in the multivariate COX regression. Results From d1 to d7 post-transplant, the median value changed from 116. 2 mmol/L to 66. 7 mmol/L ( Z = 5.901, P < 0. 01 ) for TB,19.4 s to 15.0 s (Z = 11. 657, P <0.01 ) for PT, 285 U/L to 100 U/L (Z = 12.619, P<0. 01 ) for ALT,264 U/L to 50 U/L (Z =9. 776, P <0. 01 ) for AST, 103.4 mmol/L to 86. 6 mmol/L (Z = 1. 353, P 0. 05 ) for SCr. Post-transplant SCr ( RR = 3. 477, P < 0. 001 ) and TB ( RR = 2. 088, P < 0. 05) levels wereindependent factors influencing patient survival. A prognostic score formula was then established as 1. 276 ×InSCr (mg/dL) + 0. 730 × InTB (mg/dL). Conclusion In a successful liver transplantation,transplanted liver function recovers promtly within one week. SCr and TB levels on post-transplant d1 have good prognostic value.

Objective To evaluate the effect of silencing ACAT1 gene on colon cancer cells proliferation,migration,invasion and colon cancer development by using the small interference RNA (siRNA) in colon cancer cell line HT-29.Methods Acyl coenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1) gene was silenced in HT-29 cell lines using Hiperfect transfection reagent.The expression level of ACAT1 was detected by real time PCR.CFSE and transwell assays were used to evaluate the effect of ACAT1 gene interfering on cells proliferation,mi gration and invasion.Result ACAT1 mRNA expression decreased obviously after siRNA interference.Compared with pre-transfection,proliferation,migration and invasion of colon cancer cells have been significantly inhibited (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion ACAT1 gene interference reduced proliferation,migration and of invasion of HT29 cells,which provide a new potential target for colon cancer treatment.

In present study,bovine Lactoferricin was first secretly expressed in Pichia pastors yeast expression system.The synthesized LfcinB gene fragment was cloned into expression vector pPIC9K,and then obtained recombinant plasmid,designated as pPIC9K-LfcinB,was linearized and transformed into Pichia pastors strains SMD1168 by electroporation.The transformants were screened with Geneticin and multiply-copy colonies were harvested,in which LfcinB gene was verified to inserted into yeast chromosome stably.The positive recombinant Pichia strains were induced with methanol to express LfcinB in culture supernatant.It's expressive products has high activity of killing bacteria.We concluded that LfcinB gene was cloned and integrated into yeast chromosomes,and obtained expression peptide was tested to have high antibacterial activity.

Objective To investigate the relationship between refractory hypertension and renal hemodynamics in end stage renal diseases (ESRD) patients.Methods ESRD patients were classified into:patients with refractory hypertension (group A) and patients with normal blood pressure(group B).Renal hemodynamic indices were ex- amined by duplex ultrasonography.Fasting serum lipid (TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,Lp(a),ox-LDL) and serum parathyroid hormane (PTH) were determined in all patients.Results Significant differences were found in renal hemodynamic indices such as peak systolic velocity (PSV),mean flow velocity (MV),pulsatility index (PI),renal- aortic ratio (RAR) and in clinical index such as Lp(a) and ox-LDL between the two group.Refractory hyperten- sion patients had lower renal hemodynamic indices and higher Lp(a) and ox-LDL levels than in patients with con- trolled BP.Logistic regression analysis revealed that refractory hypertension was related with PSV,EDV,Pl and RAR,but not relevant with sex,age,dialysis time,hematocrit,BUN,creatinine,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C, PTH,MV and RI.Conclusion Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and severe disorder in renal hemodynamics is likely the cause for refractory hypertention in ESRD patients.The rise of serum Lp(a) and ox-LDL might acceler- ate renal artery atherosclerosis.