Objective To observe the effects of Jieyu-Chufan capsule(JCC) on the behavior and the monoamine neurotransmitter content of cerebral in depression mouse model and explore its mechanism. Methods The ICR male mouse were randomly divided into seven groups according to their weights(the model group, the low, middle and high doses group, Baiyoujie group, the amitriptyline group, the normal control group). The low, middle and high doses group were given JCC with 1.250, 2.500, 5.000 g/kg separately by intragastric administration. Baiyoujie group was given 0.014 g/kg Baiyoujie by gavage. The amitriptyline group was given 0.050 g/kg amitriptyline by gavage. The model group and the normal control group received the same volume of distilled water intragastrically. The drugs were administrated once a day. The brepharoptosis and movement conditions of mouse were observed after 22 days. The monoamine neurotransmitter content of each group was measured after 25 days. Results Compared to the model group, the number of mouse with brepharoptosis decreased in the high dose group after 1, 2, 6 hour with reserpine injection (P<0.05 or P<0.01);the number of mouse came out from the circle increased after 4 hours with reserpine injection (P<0.05 or P<0.01);the content of NA (880.45 ± 428.81 ng/g, 875.98 ± 449.33 ng/g vs. 299.92 ± 267.08 ng/g) and DA (2 305.99 ± 530.37 ng/g, 2 169.99 ± 278.19 ng/g vs. 1 439.34 ± 357.33 ng/g) in the middle and high dose group increased (P<0.01);the content of 5-HT (781.43 ± 135.10 ng/g vs. 492.01 ± 192.80 ng/g) in the middle group increased (P<0.01). Conclusions JCC showed an antidepression influence in depression mouse model induced by reserpine. The mechanism may be related to regulating the level of monoamine neurotransmitter in the nervous centralis .

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the expression of EIIIA+ fibronectin in incised wound of rat's skin and injury time. METHODS: The wounding model was established by cutting the dorsal skin of 48 adult SD rats. The rats were sacrificed at the pre-set injury time as immediately, 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 8 h. The skin samples were taken at the margin of wound. The expression of the EIIIA? fibronectin was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting and the relationship be- tween its expression and injury time was observed. Results The expression of EIIIA+ fibronectin was not observed immediately. The basal cell of skin began to show positive expression 0.5 h after injury. With the extension of injury time, positive staining became stronger. The value of relative optical density was gradually increased with prolonged injury time by the Western blotting analysis. CONCLUSION The expression of EIIIA+ fibronectin could be used for estimation of injury time in the early stage of skin injury.
Animals ; Fibronectins/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Proteins/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin/metabolism* ; Staining and Labeling ; Time Factors

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm and little is known about its radiological features. We present here four cases of follicular dendritic cell sarcomas and we provide the image characteristics of these tumors to help radiologists recognize this entity when making a diagnosis.
Adult ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular/pathology/*radiography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/radiography ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology/radiography ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDAcute renal failure following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Approximately half of all patients who develop acute kidney injury (AKI) subsequently develop acute renal failure (ARF). The purpose of the study was to compare early transient changes in renal function within the first post-operative week following CABG in patients that were either off-pump or on-pump.

METHODSEight hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients with isolated CABG in a single institution between January 1990 and August 2006 were retrospectively analyzed, including 518 off-pump and 331 on-pump patients. A multivariate Logistic regression model was constructed to identify risk factors for the development of AKI.

RESULTSSixty-one off-pump patients and 63 on-pump patients developed AKI. Risk factors for the development of post-operative AKI included an ejection fraction > or =50% or < or =30%, a pulse pressure > or =60 mmHg, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, emergent procedure, triple-vessel disease, body mass index, peri-operative and post-operative. intra-aortic balloon pumping, NYHA class III and IV, and cardiopulmonary bypass. An ejection fraction > or =50% and peri-operative and post-operative intra-aortic balloon pumping were protective (OR <1). Peak serum creatinine for post-operative AKI was noted 12 hours and 24 hours in the off-pump and on-pump patients, respectively. Serum creatinine kinetics revealed rapid recovery in the 24th to 48th hour (off-pump) and the 48th to 72nd hour (on-pump).

CONCLUSIONRenal protection strategies are indicated from general anesthesia induction until 48 and 72 hours post-operatively in off-pump and on-pump patients, respectively.

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; adverse effects ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; adverse effects ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

An experimental model of reproducible focal cerebral contusions in rats was made by a free-drop impacting right hemisphere. The expression of fibronectin and its mRNA after cerebral contusion were detected respectively by immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization. Results indicated that the expression of fibronectin and its mRNA increased after injury, and there existed a relationship between increased fibronectin and its mRNA and different intervals after brain injury. It is inferred that the expression of fibronectin and its mRNA can be used for timing of brain injuries and distinguishing antemortem and postmortem brain contusions.
Animals ; Brain Injuries/metabolism* ; Fibronectins/biosynthesis* ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Postmortem Changes ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDGenetic modification of dendritic cells (DCs) has been used as an effective approach to enhance anti-tumor immunity. RNA interference (RNAi), which can cause the degradation of any RNA in a sequence-specific manner, is a post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanism. In this study, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for the Ii gene was transfected into DCs, and the anti-tumor immunity of Ii-silenced DCs was assessed.

METHODSThe silencing effect of siRNA was evaluated by Western blotting and real-time PCR analyses. In vitro cytotoxic activity of T cells was evaluated using a Cytotox 96(®) non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay kit. The time to tumor onset and the tumor volumes were used as reliable indices to assess the anti-tumor immunity in vivo. To further examine the mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor immunity, flow cytometry analysis was used.

RESULTSThe Ii expression of DCs was significantly reduced after Ii siRNA transfection. Significant in vitro anti-tumor ability was exhibited when DCs were co-transfected with Ii siRNA plus endogenous tumor antigen (P < 0.05). Furthermore, tumor growth was greatly inhibited when mice were immunized with DCs transfected with Ii siRNA plus tumor antigen prior to or subsequent to tumor implantation. Flow cytometry analysis in vitro and in vivo indicated that both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were significantly activated in the Ii siRNA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSilencing of the Ii gene of DCs may offer a potential approach to enhance DC-based anti-tumor immunity.

Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Silencing ; physiology ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; immunology ; RNA Interference ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDBcl-2, the anti-apoptotic protein is overexpressed in the majority of gastric cancers and associated with its pathogenesis. To better understanding of the role of Bcl-2, RNA interference (RNAi) was used to inhibit Bcl-2 expression in the human gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSBcl-2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) was transfected into human gastric cancer cells SGC-7901, and Bcl-2 expression was monitored by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and telomerase activity were examined by MTT, flow cytometry, and TRAP assay, respectively. Gastric cancer cells treated with 100 nmol/L Bcl-2 siRNA were subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice and tumor growth was assessed.

RESULTSBcl-2 siRNA significantly inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 in human gastric cancer cells at both mRNA and protein levels in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Bcl-2 siRNA also decreased telomerase activity (by 78.76%) and increased the rate of apoptosis (by 37.47%). SGC-7901 cell growth was also significantly suppressed in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSIONSBcl-2 expression knockdown suppressed the growth of gastric cancer cells. Thus, Bcl-2 may play a very important role in carcinogenesis of gastric cancer and its knockdown may offer a new potential gene therapy approach for human gastric cancer in future.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on the profile of protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

METHODSEleven patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood samples were collected before CPB (T0), 1 h after CPB (T1) and at the end of operation (T2), and PBMCs were obtained by gradient centrifugation. The profile of protein expression was analyzed using 2-D gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry. The candidate proteins were further identified by Western blotting.

RESULTCompared to protein profile at T0, 12 protein spots were identified to be up-regulated in PBMCs at T1 (P <0.05), among which S100A9 reached the peak level at T1 and decreased after operation,but not returned to its initial level.

CONCLUSIONResults indicate that 12 proteins are likely to be involved in CPB, however, their roles need to be elucidated.

Adult ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Middle Aged ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of snoring on facial growth in children and the changes after surgery.

METHODSObservations on facial growth were taken by X-ray 1.5 - 2 years before and after surgery on 40 children snorers aged between 2 - 5 years old, whose tonsils and (or) adenoids were completely removed. The data collected before surgery in the 2 - 3 years old snorers and in the 4 - 5 years old ones were compared with the data from healthy children at the same age respectively.

RESULTSThe comparison of data between 21 children snorers aged from 2 - 3 and 17 healthy children of the same ages showed that there was no significant difference in the diameter of pharyngeal cavity at tongue base (PAS), the diameter of nasopharyngeal cavity (UPW-PNS) and the angle between mandibular plane and frankfort horizontal plane (FH-MP) within 2 - 3 years group by statistically (P > 0.05). There is no significance in UPW-PNS and FH-MP angle within 4 - 5 years group by statistics (P > 0.05). Others results is significance in all groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in all groups expect Y-axis Angle 1.5 - 2 years after surgery (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAbnormal facial growth was caused by the consistent force from the changed way of breathing due to the increasing narrowness of upper airway obstruction and the long-existing obstructive sleep. Surgery done as soon as possible is helpful to reduce the force caused by the obstruction and helpful to the normal facial growth.

Adenoidectomy ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Case-Control Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillofacial Development ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Snoring ; Tonsillectomy

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and serum Golph2 protein.

METHODSGolph2 gene was cloned by RT-PCR using RNA from WBF44 cell line as template, the point mutations of the cloned sequence were corrected by PCR, then the gene (1206 bp) was cloned into pET-21 plasmid, and the resulted plasmid was transformed into E.coli DH5a. The expression of 6xHis and Golph2 fusion protein was induced by isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside (IPTG). The expression of fusion protein was detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, and was purified by Ni NTA chelating agarose. The rabbit antibody against Golph2 protein was obtained by immunizing 2 rabbits with the purified Golph2 protein. The specificity and titer of the antibody was determined by Western-blot and ELISA respectively. Sandwich ELISA was used to detect the level of serum Golph2 protein.

RESULTSThere were two replacement mutation and 1 deletion mutation in the cloned sequence contrasted to NM177937 in Genbank, including 644(T-->C, L-->P) , 970 (G-->A, V-->I) and 802 G deletion. The sequence was completely reversed by PCR. The sequence of Golph2 gene cloned into expression vector was confirmed by DNA sequencing. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis showed that Golph2 protein was expressed in E.coli DH5a. The antiserum could bind to the 52 kD recombinant protein and serum 73 kD protein specifically. The mean A450 value of ELISA for serum Golph2 protein were significantly higher in HCC and other liver diseases than that in control groups. The sensitivity and specificity for HCC were 44.5% and 82.0%, respectively, at the cut off value is more than or equal to 0.40.

CONCLUSIONThe polyclonal antibody against Golph2 protein is specific. The level of serum Golph2 is significantly higher in patients with HCC and other liver diseases than that in healthy controls.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; analysis ; immunology ; Base Sequence ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rabbits