Objective:To study the effects of miR-20a on the osteogenic differentiation potential of inflammatory periodontal liga-ment cells(IPDLSCs).Methods:Cells were isolated and cultured from the healthy and inflammatory periodontal ligament samples (HPDLSCs and IPDLSCs)respectively.miR-20a expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR.Alizarin red staining,Western blot and PCR were used to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation potential of IPDLSCs after transient transinfection of miR-20a mimics or inhib-itor.Results:miR-20a expression in IPDLSCs was lower than that in HPDLSCs,and the osteogenic differentiation potential of IP-DLSCs were promoted by miR-20a mimics,and reduced by miR-20a inhibitor.Conclusion:The miR-20a in IPDLSCs was down reg-ulated.miR-20a can promote the osteogenic differentiation potential of IPDLSCs.

Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Maxillofacial Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skull Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the exprestion of apoptotic signal proteins(FADD,Fas,FasL and NF-?B) in peripheral blood T lymphocytes in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) children and its correlation with clinical outcome.Methods Collecting aseptic peripheral blood from ITP children (n=35) and healthy children (n=30), T lymphocytes were isolated and purified by the T cell Segregation Enrichment Column, Fas,FasL and T cell apoptosic ratio were detected by FCM. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the level of NF-?B and FADD.Results The expression rates of Fas,FADD in ITP children decreased,but the expression rates of FasL,NF-?B increased.The differences between ITP children and heathy children had statistics significance(P

OBJECTIVETo establish an implanted model of human colonic carcinoma on chick embryo, and to study the effects of anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody on its vascularization.

METHODSThe human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 was transplanted on the chick embryo's chorioallantoic membrane(CAM), and the angiogenesis characteristics were observed by stero-microscope, light microscope and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the effects of anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody on angiogenesis and tumor growth were also investigated.

RESULTSThree to seven days after HT-29 cell line was implanted into CAM, tumors grew rapidly and new blood vessels grew toward tumors. Five days after anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody was given, the number of blood vessels in anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody group was significantly down-regulated than that in tumor control group observed by stero-microscope (37.2+/-4.6 vs 56.8+/-7.4, P<0.01), but was up-regulated than that in normal control group (37.2+/-4.6 vs 9.6+/-2.4, P<0.01). Microvessel density(MVD) in anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody group was much lower than that in tumor control group by histological examination (9.6+/-2.4 vs 20.2+/-5.8, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAngiopoietin-2 antibody is able to inhibit the angiogenesis induced by colorectal cancer cell line HT-29 obviously. The anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody may be potentially useful for clinical treatment of colonic carcinoma.

Angiopoietin-2 ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Chick Embryo ; Colonic Neoplasms ; blood supply ; HT29 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic

OBJECTIVEAcute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP) is a common autoimmune disease in children. Thrombocytes decrease extremely in serious patients, its pathogenesis involves abnormal activation of T lymphocytes and T cell-dependent production of autoantibody. The aim of the present study was to investigate changes of protein kinase C (PKC) activity in peripheral blood T lymphocytes in children with AITP and the relationships between PKC activity and T lymphocytes activation and thrombocytopenia.

METHODSPeripheral blood specimens were collected from children with acute ITP (n = 35) and healthy children (n = 30), and T lymphocytes were isolated and purified by using T cells Segregation Enrichment Column. PKC activity was detected by using PepTag Assay, a non-radioactive detection method. The reaction mixture, in a final volume of 25 microl, consisted of 5 microl reaction buffer, PepTag C1 5 microl (0.4 microg/microl), PKC activator solution (DG) 5 microl, peptide protection solution 1 microl and sample 9 microl. Phosphorylation reaction was allowed to continue for 30 minutes, then 25 microl reaction mixture was subjected to electrophoresis on a 0.8% agarose gel at 100 V for about 20 minutes. After electrophoresis, the PepTag C1 peptides which were phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated were separated, phosphorylated PepTag C1 peptide with negative electricity migrated toward the anode (+), but nonphosphorylated PepTag C1 peptide with positive electricity migrated toward cathode (-), the gel was photographed. Electrophoresis bands on anode represented PKC activity and were analyzed quantitatively. FasL, which is T cell activation marker, was determined by flow cytometer and platelet was counted by cell counting meter.

RESULTSCompared with healthy children, children with AITP had significantly higher PKC total activity [(0.97 +/- 0.21) nmol/(min.ml) vs. (0.55 +/- 0.13) nmol/(min.ml), (P < 0.05)]. Expression of FasL on T cell subpopulation in children with AITP was significantly higher [Th FasL: (32.7 +/- 3.4) vs. (14.7 +/- 4.2); Tc FasL: (17.3 +/- 9.7) vs. (11.6 +/- 8.5)%, (P < 0.05)]. Besides, relationships between the changes of PKC activity, Th FasL and Tc FasL had positive correlation (r(1) = 0.68, r(2) = 0.53, P < 0.05). However, PKC activity and platelet count had a significantly negative correlation (r = -0.75, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIncreased PKC activity was seen in children with AITP, which can cause damage to thrombocytes and reduction of thrombocytes. PKC signal transduction pathway might play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of AITP.

Acute Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Separation ; Child ; Electrophoresis ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Platelet Count ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; enzymology ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; enzymology

Antioxidant activity of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) plays an essential role in preventing the airway epithelium integrity from damage in structure and function. Integrin expressed by BECs is the receptor of extracellular matrix such as fibronectin (Fn), and it is involved in modulation of proliferation, differentiation and metabolism of the cells. In order to test the hypothesis that integrin-ligand binding reaction supports the ability of cells to withstand oxidant attack, the present study evaluated the antioxidant activity of primary cultured rabbit BECs treated with fibronectin or its sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD peptide), by determining changes in the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and in the level of glutathione (GSH). The results are as follows: (1) Fn (10 μg/ml) increased significantly the activity unit of GSH-Px (P<0.05, n=5), which was inhibited by calmodulin-inhibitor W7 　(10－5 mol/L) (P<0.05). Both Fn (5～20 μg/ml) and RGD (15～60 μg/ml) showed a dose-dependent upregulatory effect (respectively r=0.93 and r=0.73). (2) Treatment with Fn increased SOD activity (P<0.01,　n=7), which was abolished by W7 　(P<0.01). (3) Catalase activity was also stimulated by Fn (P<0.05, n=6) and reversed by W7 　(P<0.01). (4) A dose-dependent increase of GSH level was observed in both Fn (r=0.82) and RGD treatment (r=0.84). The data suggest that the binding of integrin with extracellular matrix can upregulate activity of antioxidant enzymes, and increase the content of GSH and improve the ability of BECs to resist oxidant injury.

To explore the role of regulatory peptides in the secretion of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs), we observed the effects of four peptides, i.e.vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), epidermal growth factor (EGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), on the secretion of ILs from unstimulated or O3-stressed BECs. The results of the experiments showed that VIP exerted an inhibitory effect on the secretion of IL-1 and IL-8 from unstimulated and O3-stressed BECs, VIP also decreased the secretion of IL-5 from O3-stressed BECs; EGF promoted secretion of IL-1 and IL-8 from unstimulated BECs, but decreased the secretion of ILs from O3-stressed BECs; ET-1 and CGRP enhanced the secretion of IL-1, IL-5, and IL-8 from unstimlated BECs, CGRP also increased the secretion of ILs from O3-stressed BECs. The results obtained demonstrate that intrapulmonary regulatory peptides modulate the secretion of ILs from BECs, and may play an important part in transduction of inflammatory signals.
Animals ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelin-1 ; pharmacology ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Female ; Interleukins ; secretion ; Male ; Rabbits ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of ghrelin gene polymorphisms with metabolic syndrome in Han Nationality Chinese.

METHODSA total of 240 patients with metabolic syndrome and 427 adults aged above forty years were recruited. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

RESULTSThe allelic frequency of the Leu72Met polymorphism was 17.3% in the patient group and 11.9% in the control group (chi2 = 7.36, P = 0.007). Metabolic syndrome was more prevalent among carriers of the Met72 variant (43.8 vs 33.1%, age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio = 1.57, P = 0.01). No Arg51Gln variants were found in our study subjects.

CONCLUSIONRather than being associated with its individual components, Leu72Met polymorphism is associated with metabolic syndrome in the Han Nationality Chinese. Arg51Gln polymorphism is rare in the Han Nationality Chinese.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Ghrelin ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a rare benign tumor that is usually located in the superficial cerebral hemisphere. Most reports of PXAs have included only a single case or small series. Therefore, the data with respect to the natural history of this tumor are fragmentary. We report a case of a PXA in the unusual location of the right lateral ventricle with extensive subarachnoid dissemination. To our knowledge, this is a rare case of PXA in the lateral ventricle. In addition, extensive subarachnoid space dissemination of this distinctly benign type of glioma is exceedingly rare. In our case, there was meningeal dissemination and metastases to the bilateral trigeminal nerves and oculomotor nerves. The neuroradiographic features, tumor location, and dissemination were reviewed.
Adult ; Astrocytoma ; diagnosis ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo observe the histopathological changes of the lung of rats which exposed to the suspension of PM(2.5) and detect the effect of silver staining showing dust particles deposited in the lungs.

METHODSThe dissociative PM(2.5) of Beijing city was collected to make suspension. The rats were divided into different groups and exposed to different dosage of PM(2.5) (0.3 mg/0.2 ml per rat, 0.75 mg/0.2 ml per rat, 2 mg/0.2 ml per rat) by intratracheal instillation every week. These rats were sacrificed at 4, 12 weeks and 24 weeks (total dosage: 7.2 mg per rat, 18 mg per rat, 48 mg per rat) after the treatment, and their lungs were sampled. The pathological varieties and the situation of these rats' lungs were observed macroscopically and using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Warthin-Starry (WS) silver stain, as well as the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The dust particles in these rats' lungs were observed by x-ray spectrum chemical element analysis (X-RSA). The granulomatous lesion in the lungs of the rats was counted, and the deposition degree, integrated optical density (IOD) value and integrated area density (IAD) value of the dust particles deposited in the lungs were measured. The variance, least significance difference, and the unitary linear related and regression were analyzed.

RESULTSThe number of the granulomatous lesion in the lungs of the rats became more and more with time. In WS staining the dust particles were dark brown and became clearer. The IOD and IAD value of these dust particles were much higher in WS staining than that in HE staining (P < 0.05). The IOD value of the dust particles was positively correlated with the number of the granulomatous lesion (R = 0.639, P < 0.01). The ultrastructure of the dust particles in the rats' lungs and the dissociative PM(2.5) was basically same in TEM. Their main compositions were similar, by X-RSA, and both of them were silicon.

CONCLUSIONThe suspension of PM(2.5) could result in the granulomatous lesion in the lung of rats. WS silver staining is a good method to show PM(2.5) phagocytized by macrophage, and is better than HE staining.

Animals ; Dust ; Female ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Macrophages ; ultrastructure ; Particulate Matter ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silver Staining