Objective To explore the effect of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) on S100β expression in rat hippocampus and its mechanisms. Methods At 7 days after bilateral stereotaxis injection of different dose of fibrillar Aβ 25-35 and interluekin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) into the rat CA1 region, the learning and memory abilities of rats were tested with passive avoidance task. Amyloid deposition was detected by using Congo red staining technique. Nissl staining and immunohistochemical techniques were used to analyze the number of neurons, and GFAP and the S100β expression in hippocampal CA1 region , respectively. Results After fibrillar Aβ injection, the step-through latency of rats was significantly shortened compared to that of the control group. The GFAP positive astrocytes were found surrounding amyloid deposition. Neuronal loss occurred in the pyramidal cell layer of CA1 region. The number of S100β positive cells in Aβ-treated group was significantly increased compared with that in the control group. After IL-1ra injection, the number of S100β positive cells was significantly decreased. Conclusion Intrahippocampal injection of Aβ 25-35 could cause similar pathologic changes of Alzheimer's disease. Aβ 25-35 was capable of up-regulating S100β expression in a dose-dependent manner. The injection of IL-1ra could attenuate the effect of Aβ on S100β expression.

Objective To investigate the properties of proliferation and differentiation of neonatal rat retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) in vitro. Methods RPCs were isolated from neonatal SD rats neural retina and cultured in DMEM/F12+N2 with EGF and bFGF (suspension medium )or 10%FBS without EGF and bFGF (differentiation medium). The cells grew as suspended spheres or adherent monolayers, depending on different culture conditions. The neural stem cells or retinal progenitors, neurons, astrocytes, retinal ganglion cells, rod photoreceptors and the proliferating cells were evaluated with immunofluorescence analysis by Nestin or Pax6, Map2, GFAP, Thy-1, Rhodopsin and BrdU antibodies respectively. Results RPCs could propagate and differentiate in suspension or differentiation medium and express the markers of Nestin (92.86%) or Pax6 (86.75%), Map2 (38.54%), GFAP (20.93%), Thy-1 (27.66%) and Rhodopsin(13.33%)in suspension medium; however, Nestin (60.27%), Pax6 (52%), Map2 (34.94%), GFAP (38.17%), Thy-1(30.84%) and Rhodopsin (34.67%) in differentiation medium. 96.4% of the population in the neurospheres was BrdU-positive cells. The cells could spontaneously adherent forming some subspheres and retinal specific cell types. Conclusion Neonatal rat RPCs possess the high degree of proliferation and can differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, retinal ganglion cells and rod photoreceptors in vitro. There are different proportions for RPCs to differentiate into specific cell types.

A phytochemical investigation on the stems of Garcinia bracteata collected from Xishuangbanna resulted in the isolation of a new flavone. By analysis of the HRESIMS, IR, UV, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, the structure of the new compound was determined as 7-methoxy-4',6-dihydroxy-8-isobutyryl-flavone(1). Compound 1 was also tested for its anti-tobacco mosaic virus(TMV) activity. Results suggested the 1 possessed remarkable anti-TMV activity, with an inhibition rate of 28.2%.
Antiviral Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Garcinia ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Tobacco Mosaic Virus ; drug effects ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo determine the affinity of new opioid receptor ligands to cloned mu opioid receptors stably expressed in CHO cell.

METHODSThe binding characteristics of the opioid ligand [3H] diprenorphine (3H-dip) were studied by cellular biological techniques and radioligands binding in cloned mu opioid receptors stably expressed in CHO cells in saturation binding experiments, and were followed by competition binding experiments with a variety of new synthesized opioid receptor ligands.

RESULTSThe Kd and Bmax of [3H] diprenorphine bound to mu receptors were 1.06 nmol/L and 930 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Competition binding experiments revealed that ligand 3# and 12# displayed much higher affinity than DAMGO and Morphine for the cloned mu opioid receptor. However, the affinities of ligands 2#, 6#, 8# and 9# were lower than DAMGO and Morphine.

CONCLUSIONThe present results suggest that the new ligands 3# and 12# have higher affinity to mu opioid receptors. However, ligands 2#, 6#, 8# and 9# have lower affinity to mu opioid receptors.

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Binding, Competitive ; CHO Cells ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cricetinae ; Diprenorphine ; pharmacology ; Ligands ; Receptors, Opioid, mu ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism

This study was aimed to detect the methylation status of FHIT gene promoter region in the DNA from plasma of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and to investigate the demethylating effect of decitabine. Methylation-specific PCR method was used to detect the methylation status of FHIT gene promoter region in the DNA from plasma of 4 patients with MDS before and after treatment with decitabine plus semis CAG therapy (among them, 1 case of newly diagnosed MDS, 3 cases progressed into acute leukemia). The results indicated that 3 cases were found to have an increased methylation in the promoter region. After treatment with decitabine plus semis CAG, increased methylation was reversed in 2 cases. In 4 cases, 2 cases displayed clinical response. It is concluded that FHIT gene hypermethylation is associated with MDS pathogenesis. Decitabine has demethylating effect on the FHIT gene hypermethylation of plasma from MDS patients. Detecting the methylation status of FHIT gene in DNA from plasma may play a role in MDS auxiliary diagnosis or prognosis.
Acid Anhydride Hydrolases ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; DNA ; blood ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; drug therapy ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of huoxuehuayu decoction on macula after phacoemulsification. Into A, B groups. The 80 eyes of A group were treated by conventional phacoemulsification; the patients (60 eyes) of B group were given huoxuehuayu decoction orally for two courses after phacoemulsification. Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), corneal and aqueous conditions ,thickness of macular central fovea and changes of macular retinal tissue in A, B groups were observed before surgery, 1 day; 1 week,2,4,6,8 weeks and 3 months after surgery. Was significantly higher than that of group A. One week after surgery the ratio of mild aqueous flare in group B was significantly lower than that of group A. The thickness of central fixation was significantly increased in both groups 1 week, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks and 3 months after phacoemulsification; the difference between 2 to 8 weeks after surgery and pre-operation showed statistical significance in both groups. 11 eyes in A group had macular edema during 2 to 6 weeks after surgery, including 9 eyes with fovea thickened and 2 eyes with cystoid macular edema, and seven eyes' edema disappeared in 3 months. 2 eyes in B group had macular edema, including 1 eye fovea thickened and 1 eye cystoid macular edema, during 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, and the two eyes' edema disappeared 3 months after surgery. The fovea thickness in group B during 2 to 8 weeks after surgery was statistically lower than group A. Phacoemulsification.

Background Macular edema following phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is a main factor to influent visual function.The administration of traditional medicine can relieve tissue edema,but its preventive and treatment efficacy on macular edema after phacoemulsification with IOL implantation remaines unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the protective effect of huoxuehuayu decoction on macula after phacoemulsification with IOL implantation.Methods A case-controlled observational study was designed.One hundred and eighty eyes of 150 patients with age-related cataract were randomized into operation group and operation + medicine group.Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation was performed in both groups,but huoxuehuayu decoction was orally administered for 14 days in operation+medicine group.The best corrected visual acuity,inflammatory reaction of the ocular anterior segment,and macular edema were recorded before operation and 1 week,2,4,6,8 and 12 weeks,and the central macular thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography.Results Twelve weeks after surgery,the ratio of visual acuity ≥ 1.0 was in significantly higher in operation+medition group than that of in operation group (x2 =1.066,P＞0.05).One week after surgery,the eyes of the aqueous flare were much nore in the operation group than that of operation+medicine group(x2 =9.341,P＜0.05).The thickness of the central fovea was significantly increased in both groups at 1 week,2,4,6,8 and 12 weeks after surgery,showing significant differences in comparison with preoperation (operation group:P ＜ 0.01 ; operation + medicine group:P ＜0.05).Macular edema occurred in 13 eyes in operation group during the following-up duration,including 11 eyes with thickened fovea and 2 eyes with cystoid macular edema.Maeular edema disappeared in 10 eyes 12 weeks later.In the operation+medition group,3 eyes happened macular edema,including thickened fovea in 2 eye and cystoid macular edema in 1 eye.Four to six weeks after surgery,macular edema disappeared in 3 eyes 12 weeks later.The fovea thickness in the operation+medicine group was statistically significantly lower from 2 through 8 weeks after surgery than that in the operation group(t=2.315,2.323,3.104,2.470,P＜0.05).Conclusions Oral administration of huoxuehuayu decoction is helpful for the restoration of the anterior ocular segment.Huoxuehuayu decoction can protect macula from the edema induced by phacoemulsification.

In order to investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograpy (ERCP) in liver cirrhosis patients with common bile duct stones, we retrospectively analyzed data of 46 common bile duct stones patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent ERCP between 2000 and 2008. There were 12 cases of Child-Pugh A, 26 cases of Child-Pugh B, and 8 cases of Child-Pugh C. 100 common bile duct stones patients without liver cirrhosis were randomly selected. All the patients were subjected to ERCP for biliary stones extraction. The rates of bile duct clearance and complications were compared between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. The success rate of selective biliary cannulation was 95.6% in liver cirrhotic patients versus 97% in non-cirrhotic patients (P>0.05). The bile duct clearance rate was 87% in cirrhotic patients versus 96% in non-cirrhotic patients, but the difference was not statistically significant. Two liver cirrhotic patients (4.35%, 2/46) who were scored Child-Pugh C had hematemesis and melena 24 h after ERCP. The hemorrhage rate after ERCP in non-cirrhotic patients was 3%. The hemorrhage rate associated with ERCP in Child-Pugh C patients was significantly higher (25%, 2/8) than that (3%, 3/100) in non-cirrhotic patients (P<0.01%). There was no significant difference between these two groups in the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and cholangitis. ERCP is safe and effective for Child-Pugh A and B cirrhotic patients with common bile duct stones. Hemorrhage risk in ERCP is higher in Child-Pugh C patients.

A new phenylpropanoid (1), together with seven known ones (2-8), has been isolated from the flowers of Rosa rugosa collected from Shanxi province by using various chromatographic techniques. Compound 1 is a new compound, and it displayed cytotoxicity against NB4, SH-SY5Y, PC3, A549 and MCF7 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 8.2, 6.2, 4.3, 2.8, and 9.6 µmol · L⁻¹ respectively.
Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rosa ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of trisomy 22 ( +22) in the diagnosis of inv(16) acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSInterphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed in 18 AML patients with +22. The probe was two-color break apart probe for CBFbeta with SpectrumRed on the centromeric side and SpectrumGreen on the telomeric side. The FISH results were compared with that of R-banding conventional cytogenetics (CC). Multiplex FISH (M-FISH) was used to analyze the relationship of +22 and inv(16).

RESULTSCC revealed inv(16) in none of the 18 AML, with +22, but FISH revealed inv (16) in 11 of them and del( 16) (q22) in one. As CC results, 9 of the 11 cases were sole +22, one complicated with trisomy 8, and one del(16) (q22). Four patients with +22 and inv(16) were analyzed by M-FISH and revealed +22 only.

CONCLUSION+22 can be regarded as an important marker for the diagnosis of inv(16) AML.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chromosome Inversion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Trisomy