Morbidity of myocardial infarction is increasing.Owing to the lack of replacement of necrotic cardiac myocytes,the therapeutic methods today are not sufficient to prevent left ventricular remodeling.However,the current insights into stem cell have opened up new perspectives for the infracted heart.Varied stem cells,including embryonic or foetal stem cells,myoblasts,and bone marrow stem cells,have been used for(cellular cardiomyoplasty.The review discusses recent animal experimental data and the clinical potential of varied stem cells.

Objective:To investigate the effect of alendronate(ALN) solution on the healing of replanted dog teeth after extended dry time. Methods:The first, second incisor and first premolar in maxilla and the second, third incisor and first premolar in mandible in two mature mongrel dogs were used for the test. The right tested teeth were included in experimental group, and the left in control. Firstly, all tested teeth were endodontically treated. Seven days later, they were extracted, then naturally dried for 60 min. The teeth in experimental group were soaked for 5 min in a 1 mmol/L solution of ALN before replantation. The teeth in control group were not treated with any other methods before replatation. Bone masses including teeth were taken out 3 monthes after replantation. The samples were examined histologically.Results:The average percentage of cementum healing in experimental group was higher than that in control group(P

Objective To investigate the effects of ramipril on nitric oxide(NO) concentration and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) activation in lung of rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension induced by monocrotaline(MCT).Methods Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group,MCT group and ramipril group.Rats in MCT group and ramipril group were subcutaneously injected with 60mg/kg of MCT.Then the rats in ramipril group received ramipril gavage and rats in MCT group received normal saline gavage for 4 weeks,respectively.Rats in control group were subcutaneously injected with normal saline first and then received normal saline gavage for 4 weeks.Right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP) and right ventricle hypertrophy index(RVHI) were measured.The ratio of arteriol wall thickness/vascular external diameter(WT%) and wall area percentage(WA%) were evaluated.NO concentration in lung was determined.eNOS,P-Ser1177-eNOS and Akt phosphorylation were analyzed by Western blotting.Results The RVSP,RVHI,WT%,WA% were significantly increased,and NO concentration,the level of eNOS,P-Ser1177-eNOS,the state of Akt phosphorylation were significantly decreased in MCT group compared with that in control group(P

[Objective] To explore the genetic mechanism of acupoint catgut embedment in inhibiting hippocampal neuron apoptosis in rats with status epileticus (SE). [Methods] Forty SD rats were randomized into 5 groups: blank control (A), model (B), dilantin (C), routine acupuncture (D) and acupoint catgut embedment (E). Rat models of SE were established by intra-abdominal injection of penicillin. With immunohistochemical method, the expressions of apoptosisrelated genes of c-jun and bcl-2 were observed in the vulnerable neurons of the hippocampus 24 hours after modeling. [Results] Compared with SE model group, the expression of c-jun was decreased and the expression of bcl-2 was increased in group C, D and E 24 hours after modeling; c-jun expression was positively related with the apoptotic index (AI) and bcl-2 expression was negatively related; the effects in group E much differed from those in model group. [Conclusion] The possible mechanism of the acupoint catgut embedment in treating epilepsy is related to the inhibition of the hippocampal neuron apoptosis by prohibiting the expression of c-jun and promoting the expression of bcl-2.

To meet community demands with optimal Chinese and conventional medical treatment, the University of Hong Kong is promoting integrative medicine by developing Chinese medicine programmes that train students of both Western and Chinese medicine. The programmes emphasize multi-disciplinary training and interaction between the two therapeutic approaches, enabling students to establish reliable, consistent, and respectful mutual cooperation in their future careers.

0.05).The inflammatory resorption of root in experimental group was lower than that in the control(P

AIM: To explore the expression of caspase -3 (cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase) in the neonatal rat cerebral cortex a nd hippocampal after hypoxia-ischemia. METHODS: Sham and hypoxia-ischemia (HI) groups were set up. The neonatal HI procedure was performed in 7-day-old rat pups. The double-lateral co rtex and hippocampal was subjected to pathological assessment, immunohistochemic al staining with caspase-3 antibody and half-quantitative reverse transcription and polymerization chain reaction (RT-PCR) to measure the change in caspase-3 pr otein and mRNA expression. RESULTS: Caspase-3 mRNA in ipsilateral cerebral cortex and hippo campal increased immediately after HI followed by a partial recovery. Thereafter caspase-3 mRNA and protein simultaneously increased with a maximum reached at 2 4-48 h after HI. CONCLUSION: Caspase-3 may play a key role in the development of apoptotic hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in immature rats. Neuroprotective medicine should be used before 24-48 h after HI.

BACKGROUND: Astragalus root can inhibit apoptosis through reducing the release and interstitial accumulation of excitatory amino acids, alleviating calcium overloading and antioxidative effect.OBJECTIVE: Astragalus root was used to treat anoxic-ischemic brain injury in immature brain. We evaluated the effect of astragalus root on caspase-3 mRNA expression, and meanwhile, labyrinth test was employed to investigate the intervention of astragalus root on learning and memory function of mature rats after anoxic-ischemic brain injury.DESIGN: Randomized and controlled study.SETTING: Pediatric Department, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to the Medical College of Southeast University; Pathological Department, the Basic Medical Sciences Institute of Southeast University.MATERIALS: From October 2002 to June 2003, this study was conducted at the Experiment Center of the Medical College, Southeast University.A batch of 114 seven-day-old SD rats were selected from the same brood and divided into 3 groups, namely, sham-operation group (n=18), model group (n=48) and astragalus root group (n=48). Astragalus injection was produced by Chengdu DIAO Pharmaceutical Factory, with 10 mL astragalus injection corresponding to 20 g raw material.METHODS: Animal model of anoxic-ischemic brain injury was established in model group and astragalus root group, but was not established in sham-operation group. In astragalus root group, immediately after establishing anoxic-ischemic model and at the same time point each day, 0.08 mL astragalus injection was administered intraperitoneally until the 7th postoperative day. In model group, 0.08 mL normal saline was administered at the same time points. In sham-operation group, no treatment was given. In astragalus root group and model group, animals were decollatedat 24 hours and 5 days postoperatively to take out the brains. In sham-operation group,animals were decollated and their brains were taken out at 24 hours postoperatively. In all the groups, hippocampal brain injury was detected using histopathological method combined with semi-quantified RT-PCR methods for detecting caspase-3 mRNA. Adult rats aged 90 days were used in modified y maze to examine their learning and memory functions. All these three experiments were independent.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:① Hippocampal brain injury in each group was evaluated using pathological method.② Caspase-3 mRNA in the ligated side of hippocampus was detected.③ Results of modified Y maze test were analyzed.RESULTS:All of the 114 rats entered the statistical analysis.① Assessment ofhippocampal brain injury in each group with pathological method:In sham-operation group, the bilateral hippocampus showed no swelling or necrosis, and neural cells in this area had normal morphological features with a density of (87.7±0.6) × 103 per high amplification field. In model group, the ligated side of hippocampus was swollen with a widened spatium and the cell density decreased to (68.8±3.0) × 103 per high amplification field, which significantly differed from that in sham-operation group (P ＜ 0.01). At the fifth day, the volume of ligated side of hippocampus reduced with pyramid layer disorganized and neural cells sparse at a density of (48.7±2.2) × 103 per high amplification field. These changes were significantly different from those of sham-operation group and the same side at 24 hours (P ＜ 0.01). At 24 hours the ligated side of hippocampus was less swollen in astragalus root group than in model group.At day 5, the whole hippocampus was observed. At these two time points,cell death rate in astragalus root group was significant lower than that in model group(P ＜ 0.01).②Caspase-3 mRNA in the ligated side of hippocampus in all the groups: In sham-operation group, the expression of caspase-3 was low, with an absorbency value of 0.220±0.009. In model group, after ischemia and anoxia its expression increased. At 6 hours, it was 11% higher than that in sham-operation group. In astragalus root group, mRNA level reached its peak, which was 260% higher than that in sham-operation group (P ＜ 0.01). The peak of mRNA continued, decreased after 48 hours and returned to baseline at 5 days and 7 days. The fluctuation of mRNA was similar between astragalus root group and model group,but the peak value at 24 hours and 48 hours in astragalus root group was 44％-46％ lower than that in model group (P ＜ 0.01). ③ Results of modified Y maze test: As compared to model group, in astragalus root group, the number of training times for meeting the standard made by the Association was significantly smaller [(45.7±2.7), (16.1±2.5) times, P ＜ 0.01] and at 24 hours after anoxia and ischemia, memory retention was significantly higher [(48.3±11.7), (80.0±9.0)%, P ＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION: Astragalus root can effectively inhibit the apoptosis of neural cells in hippocampus in immature brain after anoxia and ischemia and enhance the survival rate of them. This protective effect may be related to its inhibitory effect on the expression of caspase-3. Meanwhile, astragalus root can dramatically improve learning and memory function of the immature brain after anoxia and ischemia.

For thousands of years, moxibustion has been used for various diseases in China and other Asian countries. Despite the recent surge in Chinese herbal studies, few randomized controlled trials have been conducted on this modality, possibly due to the lacking of suitable double blinding methodology. This is a review of extant sham moxa devices and an introduction to a recently developed device that needs further validation.

BACKGROUND:Currently, there is no uniform, standardized approach to isolate, purify and proliferate bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Chlormethylbenzamido-1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (CM-Dil) is a stable, reliable, high marking and simple marker.
OBJECTIVE:To develop the methods for isolation, culture and identification of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.
METHODS:Two male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 50-100 g were taken to col ect the bilateral femur and tibia bone marrow under sterile conditions, and then, primary bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured using bone marrow adherent separation and density gradient centrifugation. cells were amplified and purified through timely and repeated passage, and labeled at the third generation with fluorescent dyes CM-Dil in vitro as a source of donor cells.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured successful y in vitro using bone marrow adherent separation and density gradient centrifugation separation methods, but the former was superior to the latter in the number of cultured cells significantly, while the two methods were not different significantly in terms of cellviability and proliferation. Flow cytometry results showed that the positive rates of cultured cells were 17.5%for CD34, 97.9%for CD44, and 91%for CD90. CM-Dil can label bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells successful y, which is a stable, reliable, high marking and simple marker.