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

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

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.

Objective:To study the diagnostic value of serum microRNA21 and tumor markers CEA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE in early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:From January 2018 to March 2019, 22 patients with NSCLC in Daqing Longnan Hospital were selected as the study group, and 22 people who underwent health examination in our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group.The levels of serum microRNA21, major tumor markers and the relationship between pathological types and markers were observed and analyzed.Results:The serum levels of miRNA-21 (2.15±0.9), CEA [(34.1±4.9)ng/mL], NSE [(27.1±2.2)ng/mL], and CYFRA21-1 [(12.1±1.2)ng/mL] in the study group were higher than those in the control group( t=6.524, 27.392, 23.339, 27.685, all P=0.000). The serum levels of miRNA-21 (1.88±1.14), CEA [(30.1±19.9)ng/mL], CYFRA21-1 [(12.8±5.2)ng/mL] in adenocarcinoma patients were lower than those in patients with squamous cell carcinoma, and the level of NSE [(26.1±3.2)ng/mL] was higher than that of patients with squamous cell carcinomas ( t=1.158, 1.192, 0.423, 1.913, P=0.260, 0.247, 0.677, 0.070). The serum levels of miRNA-21 (2.58±0.96), CEA [(38.1±17.9)ng/mL], CYFRA21-1 [(16.8±6.2)ng/mL], NSE [(26.9±10.2)ng/mL] in NSCLC patients with Ⅲ~Ⅳ stage were higher than those in NSCLC patients with Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage, but only CYFRA21-1 had statistically significant difference( P<0.05), there were no statistically significant differences in the other three indicators ( t=1.478, 0.574, 2.114, 1.015, P=0.155, 0.573, 0.047, 0.322). Conclusion:The combined examination of serum microRNA-21 and tumor markers CEA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE in patients with NSCLC can effectively confirm the diagnosis, which is very important for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of patients.This diagnosis can be the first choice for patients with NSCLC.