Objective To investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor receptor-p55/p75(TNFR-p55/ TNFR-p75) on the pathogenesis of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats. Methods Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: SAP group and control group. SAP model was ~induced by injection of 5% sterile sodium taurocholate into biliopancreatic duct, while control group was only given sham operation. Rats were sacrificed at 3, 6, and 12 hours after the onset of operation. Blood sample and pancreatic tissues were collected. The severity of pancreatitis was assessed according to the level of serum amylase and histological scoring. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) were examined by ELISA. Expressions of TNFR-p55 mRNA and ~TNFR-p75 mRNA in pancreatic tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results The levels of serum amylase and TNF-? in SAP group were both significantly higher than those in the control group at each time point (P

Twenty-three histone methyltransferase genes were obtained from transcriptome dataset of Lonicera japonica. The nucleotide and proteins characteristics, subcellular localization, senior structural domains and conservative forecasting were analyzed. The result of phylogenetic tree showed that 23 histone methyltransferases were mainly divided into two groups: lysine methyltransferase and arginine methyltransferases. The result of gene expression showed that 23 histone methyltransferases showed preference in terms of interspecies and organs. They were more expressed in buds of L. japonica than in L. japonica var. chinensis and lower in leaves of L. japonica than in L. japonica var. chinensis. Eight genes were specific expressed in flower. These results provided basis for further understanding the function of histone methyltransferase and epigenetic regulation of active ingredients of L. japonica.
Computational Biology ; Gene Expression ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Lonicera ; enzymology ; genetics ; Phylogeny

Objective To investigate the influence of epigallocatechin gallate ( EGCG)on reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mouse podocytes exposed to high glucose. Methods Mouse podocytes cultured in high glucose were exposed to different concentrations of EGCG (0.2, 10, 100 μmol/L) or α-tocopherol (0.2 μmol/L) for 6, 12, 24 hours. The viability of podocytes was detected by MTT. The intracellular formation of ROS was detected by confocal microscopy with fluorescent probe CM-H2DCFDA and was measured by fluorescence microscopy. RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of p22phox, p47phox and p67phox mRNA in cultured podocytes exposed to different concentrations of EGCG. Results Intracellular ROS generation was significantly higher in high glucose than that in control conditions (P<0.01). EGCG could significantly inhibit ROS induced by high glucose significantly (P<0.01). EGCG (100 μmol/L) led to an inhibition of the increased production of NADPH oxidase components of p22phox and p67phox mRNA in high glucose (P<0.05). The expression of p47phox mRNA in high glucose was inhibited by EGCG(0.2 μmol/L) and ot-tocopherol(0.2 μmol/L) (P<0.05). Conclusion EGCG can protect cultured mouse podocytes from injury of high glucose by inhibiting ROS formation.

Objective To investigate the clinical, electrophysiological and pathological features of critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy (CIPNM). Methods The clinical outcomes, electromyogram Results as well as pathological features in nerves and muscles of 3 patients with CIPNM were investigated and analyzed. Results 3 patients were all provided with assisted respiration after tracheal intubation. 7～10 d after intubation, all the patients emerged muscle strength and tendon reflexes of extremities weakening; while 14 days after that, 2 patients appeared amyotrophy of extremities. Electromyogram showed that the conduction of many motor and sensory nerves for extremities decreased, while the amplitude of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of part of motor nerves decreased. Biopsy for nerves revealed decreased medullated nerve fibers and regeneration phenomenon of auxiliary fibers; while that for muscles showed neuralgic damage and myopathy-like changes. Conclusion CIPNM can complicate after tracheal intubation. The electrophysiological and pathological examinations for nerves and muscles can be helpful for the diagnosis.

Background Glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is determined to have a neurotrophy effect and promoting effect to the growth of axon.GDNF has been applied in ophthalmology.Research showed that artemin,a new member of GDNF family,has a better function in protection of neuron,but seldom relevant document of distruibution of artemin in retina is found so far.Objective The aim of the present study is to investigate the distribution and expression of artemin in normal rat retinal neuron cells and retinal ganglion cells,and imitate diabetic environment to observe the expression of artemin at the condition of high glucose.Methods Retinal tissue was isolated from clean neonatal SD rats and cultured by expand culture method in DMEM/F12 containing 10% fetal bovine serum.40 mmol/L of glucose was added in medium in the seventh day after culture for 12 hours as experimental group.The expression and location of artemin in retina were tested by real-time PCR and cell immunofluorescence assay.Use of experimental animals followed the Management Regulation of experimental animals of Jiangsu Province.Results Cultured cells showed the typical cell body and processes in the seventh day.Cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) presented the red fluorescence for Thy1.1 antibody,and multiple fluorescence label revealed that RGCs exhibited the green fluorescence for artemin antibody and red fluorescence for Thy1.1 antibody,indicating artemin protein was positively expressed in cultured RGCs.The numbers of positive cells for Thy1.1 antibody was (442±9)/high field in normal culture group and (263±7) /high field in 40mmol/L glucose culture group,showing a significant difference between them (P＜0.05).The expression of artemin mRNA in normal culture group and in 40 mmol/L glucose culture group,was showing a considerably difference between them(P＜0.05).Conclusion Artemin can be expressed in cultured retinal neuron cells and RGCs in rats.High glucose environment down-regulate the expression of artemin.This study proved a new idea for protecting RGCs against damage.

The transcriptome represents the whole complement of RNA transcripts in cells or tissues and reflects the expressed genes at various life stages, tissue types, physiological states, and environmental conditions. Transcriptomics study concerning medicinal plants has become the most active area in medicinal plant genome research. Transcriptome analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of gene expression and its regulation. The study of its transcriptome has great significance in solving the questions of genetic evolution, genetic breeding, ecology and so on. Here we report the application status of transcriptomics in medicinal plants based on emergence, development and methodology of transcriptomics.
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Transcriptome

Objective To investigate whether expression of XAF1 mediated by edenovirus vector AdS/F35 could induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 and its possible mechanisms.Methods Preconstructed recombinant Ad5/F35-XAF1 virus and negative control Ad5/F35-Null was tranfected into BxPC3:the expression of XAF1 mRNA and protein before and after tranfection was,analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot.The expressions of proteins including Caspase-3,PARP,Caspase-8 and bcl-2 were detected by Western blots.Cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin-v/PI and TUNEL staining.Results After Ad5/F35-XAF1 tranfection,XAF1 mRNA and protein expression significantly increased,and the difference was statistically significant when compared with control group and Ad5/F35-Null group(P＜0.05).The apoptosis rate was(19.90±3.09)%and(9.29±2.13)%,which was significantly different(P＜0.01)from those in the Ad5/F35-Null group[(6.72±0.7)6%,(2.73±0.51)%]or in the control group[(7.22±1.53)%,(1.56±0.47)%].The expression of Caspase-3,PARP and Caspase-8 significantly increased,but the expression of bcl-2 decreased.Conclusions XAF1 plays a major role in the apoptosis of pancreatic cancer that acts thriugh the activation of death receptor pathway and mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.

BACKGROUND:Hereditary factor occupies a certain position in suicidal behavior of depression. The researches in the past are focused on the hereditary effect on bipolar depression suicide.How do hereditary patterns and effects work in suicidal behavior in unipolar depression?OBJECTIVE: To probe into hereditary patterns and effects on suicidal behavior in unipolar depression.DESIGN:Retrospective investigation.SETTING:A municipal psychiatric hygienic centerPARTICIPANTS:Unipolar depression group included 115 outpatients and inpatients diagnosed in Wuxi Psychiatric Hygienic Center from June 1st 1983 to May 31st 2002.The diagnosis tallied with Standards on Depression Onset in Categories and Diagnostic Standards on Psychiatric Disturbance in China of 3rd Edition and with Standards on Severe Depression Onset in Manual of Diagnosis and Statistics of Psychiatric Disturbance in America of 4th Edition.The attack frequency of all the cases ≥ 3 times or the cases had been relieved ≥8 years after a couple of attacks.METHODS:The patients who tallied with the standards on unipolar depression received the investigation in every family tree under the instruction of 2 physicians-in-charge and more than 2 physicians and filled up the self-made investigation form of psychiatric family tree,including mainly the data of social demography of patients and their first grade relatives,characters of disease onset,frequency of attack,history of treatment and suicide. After re-diagnosed by 2 physicians-incharge and more than 2 physicians and checked by one physician-incharge,the cases were collected in patient group. The interview was carried on for the patients with suicidal behavior among all of the survived patients (107 cases) and first grade relatives (14 cases).The interview (337 cases) and investigation with letter (380 cases) were carried on for the first grade relatives without suicidal behavior. The investigation forms of 13 dead cases (8 cases of patients, 5 cases of first-grade relatives) were provided and filled-up by one or two first grade relatives. Two researchers interviewed the cases in the control,inquired the first grade relatives and filled up the investigation form of family tree.Single factor analysis was used for all the data and Falconer pattern of polygenetic threshold-value theory was used to estimate hereditary rate and standard error in suicidal behavior.Separation analysis in medical hereditary mathematic method and polygenetic threshold-value theory were applied to discuss the hereditary patterns.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Hereditary effects and patterns of suicidal behavior in unipolar depressed patients.RESULTS:Suicidal risk of unipolar depressed patients(51.30%,59/115)was higher than their first grade relatives (2.58%,19/736) (x2=283.16,P ＜ 0.01).Suicidal risk of the first grade relatives (2.58%,19/736) of unipolar depressed patients was higher than the control (0.12%,3/2469)(x2=50.36,P ＜ 0.01).Suicidal risk of the first grade relatives of the patients with suicidal behavior (3.8%,14/372) was higher than that of the first grade relatives of the patients without suicidal behavior (1.4%,5/363)(x2=4.14,P＜ 0.05).The weighted average hereditary rate and standard error was (70.16±0.79)% for suicidal behavior in unipolar depression.The predictive morbidity of suicidal behavior in the first grade relatives was 3.1% and the real morbidity was 2.6%,which did not indicate significant difference (u =0.766, P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION:Suicidal behavior of unipolar depression presents obvious hereditary effects and its hereditary patterns tally with polygenetic inheritance.

Objective To evaluate the clinical applications and surgical methods of combined laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration with choledochoscopy. Methods From 2006 to 2009,clinical data of 42 patients with choledocholithiasis undergoing laparoscopic common bile duct exploration were retrospectively analyzed. We applied a step-by-step electric coagulating incision technique on the CBD,the step-by-step suturing technique, and the step-by-step clamping technique with alligator forceps, and soft tube irrigating technique with suctioning by selecting the proper exploration route, improving the common bile duct incision technique and calculus removing techniques. Results Procedures were successful in all the cases. There was no conversions to open surgery, no postoperative bleeding and no operative mortality. The mean operating time was 120 minutes (ranging, 90 to 150 minutes) with minimal intraoperative blood loss ( ranging, 20 to 40 ml). Ductal stone clearance was successful in 41 out of 42 patients ( 93% ). The largest number of the common bile duct stones was 16. With the diameter of stones larger than 15 mm in 18 cases in which the biggest was 30 mm. Bile leak developed in 1 patient, retained stones found in 3 patients,including intrahepatic cholelithiasis in one case. As a result, 38 out of 42 patients underwent common bile duct exploration. 35 patients were placed on T-tubes. Four patients underwent cystic duct exploration in which 3 had primary suture of the cystic duct and 1 had drainage. There was no infection and stenosis of biliary tract in the 42 followed-up cases. Conclusions Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration with stone extraction can be performed with high efficiency, minimal morbidity and without mortality. Improving the way of operation and selecting suitable exploration can result in better clinical outcomes.