Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; Fatty Liver ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objective To study the association between pulse wave velocity and conventional atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with essential hypertension. Methods Automatic pulse wave velocity (PWV) measuring system was applied to examine carotid-femoral PWV (CFPWV) and carotid-radial PWV (CRPWV) as the parameters reflecting central elastic large arterial and peripheral muscular medium-sized arterial elasticity, respectively. Six hundred sixty four hypertensive patients aged 18-82 years (353 males and 311 females, mean age 52.1?12.8 years) were recruited. Blood pressure, fasting glucose, uric acid and cholesterol were measured. Results CFPWV and CRPWV significantly increased with the increase of the blood pressure level (both, P

Objective: To investigate the changes of gene expression in CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) under different growth environments. Methods: Umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB MNCs) were cultured in static and stirred systems. After 7 days of culture, CD34+ cells were isolated and total RNA was extracted. Gene expression patterns of CD34+ cells from fresh, static and stirred cultures were compared using differential display (DD). Results: 30 gene fragments displayed differential expression levels based on the conditions of DD. One of differentially expressed genes was identified as RAN, which is a member of oncogene RAS family. This gene may be associated with proliferation of hematopoietic cells. Conclusion: Different growth environments induced differential gene expression patterns of CD34+ HSPCs. These differentially expressed genes would give new insights into optimizing in vitro environments for expanding hematopoietic cells.

A new benzene derivative microintegerrin C (1) and a new norsesquiterpenoid microintegerrin D (2), along with six known compounds (3-8), were isolated and identified from stems and leaves of Micromelum integerrimum by various chromatographies such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP-18 column chromatography and HPLC. Their structures were mainly identified based on the spectral data analysis such as 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-EI-MS. All known compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between hand and face-mouth, so as to provide nerve reflex basis for the theory "Hegu (LI 4) regulates face and mouth".

METHODSSeven hundred and sixty-three participants who met the inclusive criteria were divided into different age groups. The skin around participants' thenar eminence was gently scraped to be observed whether there was an involuntary movement around the face or mouth, which was palmomental reflex. The results of palmomental reflex were recorded.

RESULTSThe total occurrence rate of palmomental reflex was 46.26%. For those who were 0 to 1 years old, the palmomental reflex was all positive; for those who were 21 to 36 years old, the positive rate was 20.45%, which was the lowest; for those who were 65 to 85 years old, more than half of them were positive. The majority of those who were 0 to 2 years old were bilateral positive palmomental reflex, while the majority of those who were 65 to 85 years old were unilateral positive palmomental reflex.

CONCLUSIONThere is a certain connection between hand and face-mouth. The occurrence rate of palmomental reflex changes from high to low over age increasing, and then changes from low to high with the aging, presenting a "high-low-high" U-shaped curve, which is possible related to the growth and recession of nervous system.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Face ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hand ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; physiopathology ; Reflex ; Young Adult

Objective: Cell cycle has recently become more appealing as a new target of anti-carcinogen-ic agent. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) inhibits growth and induces call cycle G_2/M arrest in human gastric cancer BGC823 cells. Cell division cycle protein 25C (Cdc25C) and CyclinB1 expression are involved in G_2/M arrest.However, mechanisms of G_2/M arrest are not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of cell cycle G_2/M arrest in human gastric cancer BGC823 cells induced by DADS. Methods: The expression of chk1 and Chk2 mRNA associated with cell cycle arrest of BGC823 cells after the induction with DADS for 1 or 2 days was detected by RT-PCR. The protein expression of cycle-related proteins ATM-RAD3-related gene (ATR), checkpoint kinase1 (Chk1), checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2), P-ATR, P-Chk1 and P-Chk2 was measured by Western blot. Interaction between Chk1/2 and Cdc25C was analyzed by immuno-precipitation. Results: After the cells were treated with 15 mg/L DADS for 1 or 2 days, the expression of Chk1 and Chk2 mRNA was not significantly different from that in untreated cells (P>0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the expression of total Chk1 and Chk2 treated with 15 mg/L DADS was not significantly different from that in untreated cells. But phospho-chk1 showed a significant increase after stimulation with 15 mg/L DADS for 2h to 12h and continued to increase gradually as time went on (P<0.05). Phospho-Chk2 showed a eak expression and a weaker expression after stimulation with DADS, but the changes were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Addition of 15 mg/L DADS to BGC823 cells for 15 rain to 120 min resulted in an increase in phospho-ATR expression, whereas no changes were found in ATR expression (P<0.05). The Chk1 Ab in-creasingly precipitated Cdc25C in BGC823 cells treated with DADS (P<0.05). In contrast, Chk2 Ab failed to change precipitation with Cdc25C by DADS (P>0.05). Conclusion: Activation of chk1 was involved in cell cy-cle G_2/M arrest in BGC823 cells treated with DADS. Cell cycle G_2/M arrest by DADS is associated with phos-phorylation of several cell cycle regulatory proteins including ATR and Chk1 which regulate expression of Cdc25C.

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective mechanism of acupuncture on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODSFifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group, a Jiaji group , a Neiguan group and a Yanglingquan group, 10 rats in each group. The model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was duplicated by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) in the later four groups, and the LADCA was not ligated in the sham-operation group. The rats in the treatment groups were treated with electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) on both sides, respectively, once a day for 7 days. No interventions were produced in the sham-operation group and model group. Myocardial apoptosis were examined by the TUNEL method. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were measured by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSApoptosis index(AI) was significantly lower in the Jiaji group, Neiguan group and sham-operation group compared with model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the sham-operation group, AI were significantly increased in other groups (all P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in AI between Jiaji and Neiguan group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased and Bax protein was significantly decreased in Jiaji group and Neiguan group (both P < 0.01). The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were significantly increased in other groups compared with the sham-operation group (all P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins between Jiaji and Neiguan group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at both Jiaji (EX-B 2) and Neiguan (PC 6) has protective effects on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the mechanism is closely related to inhibiting myocardial apoptosis by adjusting the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of mouse astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) on hypoxic and mechanically injured neurons by a cell model in vitro, and to explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSThe model of hypoxic neuronal injury was caused by 3% O2 in three-gas incubator. Neurons were cultured with ordinary medium or 20% ACM respectively and randomly divided into hypoxic group (hypoxia for 4, 8, 24 h and marked as H4R0, H8R0, H24R0) and hypoxia reoxygenation group (H4R24, H8R24, H24R24). Mechanical injury model was developed by scratching neurons cultured in 20% ACM or ordinary medium to different degrees. Neurons in both medium were divided into normal control group, mild, moderate and severe injury groups. The 20% ACM was added 24 h before hypoxia/reoxygenation or mechanical injury. The morphology and survival of neurons were observed and counted by trypan blue staining. The concentration of NO, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and membrane ATPase activity were detected by corresponding kits.

RESULTSIt was showed that 20% ACM can obviously promote the survival rate of hypoxia/reoxygenated neurons and scratched neurons as well. The morphology and number of neurons exposed to hypoxia or scratch injury showed great difference between groups with or without ACM treatment. Compared with control group, the concentration of NO and LDH was much lower in hypoxic/reoxygenated neurons treated with 20% ACM, and the ATPase activity was higher. For the mechanical injury model, neurons with moderate injury also revealed a lower NO and LDH concentration than the control group. All the differences were statistically significant (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONACM can promote the survival and functional recovery of neurons following hypoxia or scratching to a certain degree. The mechanism may be associated with reducing the synthesis and release of NO and LDH as well as increasing the activity of membrane ATPase.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; physiology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Mice ; Nerve Growth Factors ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology

AIM:To investigate the effect of up-regulated expression of microRNA-133a (miR-133a) on myo-cardial fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS:Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with homologous nor-mal blood pressure served as the normal control group. SHR were divided into SHR group, SHR+ adeno-associated virus (AAV) group and SHR+miR-133a-AAV group randomly. miR-133a carried by miR-133a-AAV was transfected into SHR heart by coronary perfusion. The rat tail artery pressure was monitored. The myocardial collagen deposition was observed by Masson staining. The expression of miR-133a in myocardial tissue was detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were determined by immunohisto-chemistry and Western blot. RESULTS:Compared with the WKY rats, the tail artery pressure of the SHR increased sig-nificantly. The expression of miR-133a in heart decreased, and the expression levels of TGF-β1 and CTGF increased (P<0.05), and myocardial fibrosis occurred. After up-regulating the expression level of miR-133a in the heart of SHR, the myocardial fibrosis was significantly reduced, and the expression levels of TGF-β1 and CTGF decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Up-regulation of the miR-133a expression improves myocardial fibrosis induced by hypertension, which may be related to inhibiting the protein expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF in myocardium.

BACKGROUND:The studies have shown that the mesenchymal stem cel s derived from bone marrow and umbilical cord can be continuously cultured in vitro, and maintain the characteristics of stem cel s. The mesenchymal stem cel s can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cel s after“cocktail”induction by various cytokines. OBJECTIVE:To further identify whether umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cel s in vitro co-cultured with normal hepatocytes can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cel s, and to investigate the differentiation method. METHODS:Mesenchymal stem cel s were isolated from human umbilical cord with adherent method, and the surface markers of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cel s were detected with flow cytometry. The umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cel s were co-cultured with liver LO2 cel s without adding exogenous inducers. The expressions of alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and human cytokeratin 19 mRNA of hepatocyte specific markers were detected with reverse transcription PCR at 7, 14 and 21 days after culture, and periodic acid-Schiff staining was used to identify the functions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mesenchymal stem cel s could isolated from human umbilical cord successful y, showing fibroblastic morphology and adherent cel characterization. Among these cel s, 96.02%cel s were CD29 positive cel s and 96.6%cel s were CD105 positive cel s. The percentage of CD34 negative cel s was 99.65%. The percentage of CD105+CD29+double positive cel s was 94.84%. The mRNA of alpha-fetoprotein was found on the 7th day after co-cultured with LO2 cel s, and the mRNA of albumin and human cytokeratin 19 were found on the 14th day. After co-cultured for 21 days, the alpha-fetoprotein mRNA could not be observed in the co-culture group. The expressions of albumin and human cytokeratin 19 were increased at 14 days. After co-cultured for 21 days, the glycogen staining was positive. Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cel s can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cel s after co-cultured with normal hepatocytes.