Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is angiogenic and effective in down-regulating excess collagen production. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin E (Tocotrienol Rich Fraction) in altering the level of bFGF, a cytokine involved in the scar formation process. In this model, normal human fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of vitamin E at different time frames. The levels of bFGF were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA). This study demonstrated that Tocotrienol Rich Fraction (TRF) stimulated bFGF production by fibroblast and postulate that vitamin E may decrease aberrant scar formation.

Objective:To investigate the quality of indoor air of different wards and units of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, to ascertain their contribution to infection rate in the hospital. Methods: The microbial quality of indoor air of nine wards/units of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria was conducted. Sedimentation technique using open Petri-dishes containing different culture media was employed and samplings were done twice daily, one in the morning shortly after cleaning and before influx of people/patients into the wards/units and the other in the evening when a lot of activities would have taken place in these wards. Isolates were identified according to standard methods. Results: Results showed that there was a statistically significant difference (χ2=6.016 7) in the bacteria population of the different sampling time whereas it was not so for fungi population (χ2= 0.285 7). Male medical ward (MMW) and male surgical general (MSG) recorded the highest bacterial and fungal growth while the operating theatre (OT) was almost free of microbial burden. The bacteria isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella sp., Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogenes and Serratia marscences while the fungi isolates included Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Candida albicans and Alternaria sp. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominantly isolated bacterium while Penicillium sp. was the most isolated fungus. Conclusions: Though most of the microbial isolates were potential and or opportunistic pathogens, there was no correlation between the isolates in this study and the surveillance report of nosocomial infection during the period of study, hence the contribution of the indoor air cannot be established. From the reduction noticed in the morning samples, stringent measures such as proper disinfection and regular cleaning, restriction of patient relatives’ movement in and out of the wards/units need to be enforced so as to improve the quality of indoor air of our hospital wards/units.

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.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common microangiopathies of diabetes mellitus (DM). It is due to abnormal blood glucose metabolism caused by insufficient insulin secretion or decreased activity. Its pathogenesis is complex, related to multi-gene inheritance and environmental factors. At present, the etiologic study of DR has been gradually deepened at home and abroad, but the epidemiological study of minority DR is lacking. This paper reviews DR's characteristics, ethnic differences and its characteristics in ethnic minority.

Objective:The prokaryotic expression vector of human anti-Siglec-9 Fab fragment antibody was constructed and purified,while was identified. Methods:The variable and conserved regions of heavy chain and light chain were obtained by polymerase chain reaction respectively(PCR),which was combined by overlap extension PCR and was digested with restriction enzyme,and then it was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 and was purified by His-trap Lambda Fab column and AKTA system. SDS-PAGE,ELISA and Western blot were used for the identification of human anti-Siglec-9 Fab fragment antibody. The effect of human anti-Siglec-9 Fab fragment antibody on regulating the mRNA expression of TNF-α,IL-1,IL-6,IL-8 was detected by real-time PCR. Results:Successfully obtained the chains of heavy and light, while constructed an activation human anti-Siglec-9 Fab fragment antibody which could specifically bind to Siglec-9 protein. The human anti-Siglec-9 Fab fragment antibody could specifically bind to Siglec-9 was confirmed by SDS-PAGE,ELISA and Western blot. The human anti-Siglec-9 Fab fragment antibody inhibited the mRNA expression of TNF-α,IL-1, IL-6,IL-8. Conclusion:Successful prokaryotic expression,purification,character analysis,and suppressed the mRNA expression of in-flammatory cytokines with the human anti-Siglec-9 Fab fragment antibody and lay the biology foundation for the further study.

A 59-year-old female patient with rheumatoid arthritis showed hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, normotensive hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism and high urinary prostaglandin level. She was thought to have Bartter's syndrome. But, her kidney biopsy specimen showed chronic interstitial nephritis. She have used acetaminophen containing analgesics for recent three years. So we thought her disease was caused by drug. But, in this case, clinical manifestations are correspond with Bartter's syndrome and we have witnessed a successful respond to kalium replacement, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, prostaglandin inhibitor and spironolactone administration.
Acetaminophen ; Alkalosis ; Analgesics ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Bartter Syndrome ; Biopsy ; Female ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type VI ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Kidney ; Middle Aged ; Nephritis, Interstitial* ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Prostaglandin Antagonists ; Spironolactone

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of microRNA-214(miR-214) in advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and its effects on the invasion, migration and colone formation of FaDu cells.

METHODSmiR-214 expression in 30 cases of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and normal hypopharyngeal mucosa tissues was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). miR-214 was upregulated through transfecting the overexpression vector hsa-mir-214 into FaDu cells. The influences of miR-214 upregulation on the invasion, migration, clone formation and Twist expression were measured by Transwell invasion, Transwell migration, plate clone formation and Western blot assays, respectively.

RESULTSThe expression of miR-214 in advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues (0.311 ± 0.206) was significantly less than normal hypopharyngeal mucosa tissues (1.620 ± 1.394; t = 5.09, P < 0.05) . The expression of miR-214 was notably upregulated after tranfected with hsa-mir-214 compared with the negative control group (t = 6.347, P < 0.05). The migration and invasion ability of FaDu cells transfeced with hsa-mir-214 was decreased by comparison with negative control cells (t = 11.6, P < 0.01; t = 6.499, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of the average clony number and the cloning efficiency between the experimental and negative control groups (t = 0.592, P > 0.05).

RESULTSof Western blot assay showed that, Twist expression in the miR-214-overexpressed group was apparently decreased compared with that in the control group (t = 6.545, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSmiR-214 is expressed at a low level in advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, and can obviously inhibit the invasion and migration abilities of FaDu cells, possibly because of its inhibiting effect on Twist expression. Additionally, miR-214 plays no significant role in the proliferation of FaDu cells.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; blood ; drug therapy

Aim To investigate the effect of Aesculus hippocastanum seed extract(AH) on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute liver injury in mice,and to ex-plore whether the mechanism was related to the inhibi-tory effect of AH on oxidative stress and c-Jun N-termi-nal kinase (JNK). Methods ConA(20 mg·kg-1) was administered via tail vein injecting to induce he-patic damage in mice. The groups of AH were given at 12.5,25,50 mg·kg-1by oral gavage separately for 20 days. The serum levels of AST,ALT,TP,and Alb were determined by automatic biochemical analyzer and the A/G ratio was calculated. TNF-α and IFN-γ levels were assayed by ELISA. The liver tissue was attained by HE and the histopathological changes were calculat-ed. The MDA, SOD, GSH contents of liver tissues were assayed by related kits. The activity of caspase-3 was detected by spectrophotometry. The expressions of cytochrome C and Bax, Bcl-2, p-JNK and p-Akt were detected by Western blot. Results The serum levels of ALT, AST, IFN-γ and TNF-α in AH groups were significantly lower than those in ConA-injured group, while the levels of TP,Alb and A/G were significantly higher. The SOD and GSH levels of liver tissues signif-icantly increased and MDA level decreased; liver his-topathological changes were consistent with those of the serological indicators, and AH treatment significantly reduced the pathological damage induced by ConA. In AH group,the expression of cytochrome C,caspase-3, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and p-JNK markedly decreased, while the expression of p-Akt protein increased compared with ConA model group. Conclusion AH could sig-nificantly protect the ConA-induced acute liver injury in mice via inhibition of ROS and JNK pathway.