Osteoclast, a huge coenocytes,originates from mononuclear macrophages or monocytic series hematopoietic precursor cell, plays an important role in the progree of bone resorption. Formation and abnormal activity of osteoclast may cause osteoprosis, rheumatoid arthritis and aseptic loosening after arthroplasty. Therefore, osteoclast is the target for treating these disease. At present, a lot of study on formation of osteoclast were reported, but the study on how to identify and degradation of bone tissue is not yet reported. Bone mineral are seen as important component of identifing osteoclast, and the research suggested that bone matrix is not the essential ingredients of activiting osteoclast, petri dish covered by vitronectin also can make osteoclast occure certain form of bone resorption, vitronectin plays an significant role in activiting osteoclast. Otherwise, the research found that swallowing and secretion of bone matrix degradation products is benefit for differentiation of osteoclast and maintain of function, and this may be therapeutic target for treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
Animals ; Bone Matrix ; metabolism ; Bone Resorption ; Humans ; Osteoclasts ; physiology

Objective To investigate the applications of antibacterial agents to outpatients in primary hos -pitals in Hefei City of Anhui Province,and to provide reference for rational use of antibacterial agents.Methods In 2011, fourty-five primary hospitals in Hefei City were selected randomly ,including urban community health service centers (Group A) and township hospitals(Group B),and thirty or fourty outpatient prescriptions were analyzed monthly . Results In Group A, the percentage and intensity of antimicrobial usage , the proportion of the combination and injectable formulation were ( 45.36 ±20.02 )%, ( 89.73 ±25.50 ) DDDs · ( 100 cases ) -1 · d-1 , 13.34%, 23.16%,respectively,and the data in Group B were (61.36 ±17.18)%,(108.46 ±32.27)DDDs· (100 cases) -1 · d-1,29.13%,46.39%,respectively,which the former were significantly lower than the latter.Conclusion In primary hospitals,the applications of antibacterial agents to outpatiants are not rataional ,including high percentages of usage and unreasonable selection of species ,and more supervision and training need to be given to the medical staff , especially in township hospitals .

OBJECTIVE To study the in virto interaction of allicin combined with cefoperazone against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.METHODS The protocol was designed by checkerboard method and the MICs of allicin combined with cefoperazone against the 17 strains of sensitive and 14 strains of drug-resistant P.aeruginosa were determined by broth dilution method,the FIC index was calculated according to MIC results.The combined effects were confirmed by FIC index.RESULTS The percentage of the FIC index less than 0.5,from 0.5 to 1,from 1 to 2,and more than 2 was 41.2-64.3% 35.7-41.2% 0-17.6%,and 0%,respectively.CONCLUSIONS Synergism and additivity of allicin combined with cefoperazone against P.aeruginosa are their main action,there are little autonomy and no antagonism.Allicin can significantly improve the antibacterial activity of cefoperazone against drug-resistant P.aeruginosa.

Objective To study the impacts of the Three Gorges dam and change of water level on the survival of the local rodents, and to provide scientific basis to control the outbreak of rodent-borne diseases.Methods Four villages located around the Three Gorges dam were selected in the study. The mouse populations by using Elton night trapping method was monitored. Metallic spring traps were set for two consecutive nights. The mouse density and identified the mouse species was calculated. The mouse species indoor and outdoor, as well as the mouse density indoor and outdoor were compared. The impacts of water level in the dam and cleaning work on local mouse density were also analyzed. Results A total of 678 mice were caught in this study, 517 were caught indoor and 161 outdoor. Indoor dominant species was flavipectus; accounting for 36.49%(189/517), while outdoor was apodemus, reaching 56.88% (91/161). For mouse species, there was a significant difference between indoor and outdoor(x2 = 678.00, P ＜ 0.01 ). The average mouse density was 8.44%(678/8036) in trap nights. Indoor mouse density reached 14.44%(517/3581 ), which was significantly higher than that of outdoor(3.61%, 161/4455 ).For mouse density, there was a significant difference between indoor and outdoor(x2 = 301.04, P ＜ 0.01 ). When the water level was up to 156 m, mouse density reached 10%(513/5132), which was higher than that of before (5.68%, 165/2904). There was a significant difference in mouse density before and after reserving water (x2 = 44.68, P ＜ 0.01 ). With the change of water level, upstream mouse density formed a high platform from May 2007 to May 2008, followed by 12.25%(80/653), 13.16%(90/684), 12.95%(90/695), and decreased to 8.38%(28/334) after cleaning of the dam. Conclusions The Three Gorges dam and change of water level actually alter the survival environment of the local mouse, and affect local mouse density and mouse species. These may lead to local outbreak or epidemic of rodent-borne diseases.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) combined with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on left ventricular function and ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and investigate the possible mechanism.

METHODSThe experimental design consisted of 5 groups of rats, namely the sham, myocardial infarction (MI) model, MI with EPO treatment, MI with G-CSF treatment, and MI with EPO plus G-CSF treatment groups. Apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes was detected by TUNEL staining, and HE staining, Masson trichrome staining, scarlatinum staining, and VIII agent staining were used to evaluate the survival, scar collagen deposition, and angiogenic effects. The cardiac structure and function of the rats after the treatments were assessed by echocardiography and hemodynamic examination.

RESULTSEchocardiography indicated that LVEF and FS were improved in all the intervention groups 7 days after MI, and the rats in EPO plus G-CSF treatment group showed the most obvious reduction of LVESD and LVESV (P<0.01). On day 28 after MI, all the intervention groups showed improvements in LVEF, FS, LVESD, LVEDD, LVESV and LVEDV, which were especially obvious in the combined treatment group; the interventions, especially the combined treatment, also resulted in decreased LVEDP and increased LVSP and +dP/dtmax. On day 1 after MI, the number of apoptotic cells was significantly greater in the MI model group than in EPO and G-CSF groups, and was the fewest in the combined treatment group (P<0.01). On day 28, the number of new vessels increased and the scar and collagen deposition reduced in the EPO and G-CSF groups, and these changes were more obvious in the combined treatment group.

CONCLUSIONSEPO combined with G-CSF can prevent left ventricular remodeling and improve cardiac systolic and diastolic functions by inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis, reducing tissue collagen deposition and inducing neovascularisation.

Animals ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Erythropoietin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

For diabetes mellitus, little research has been done on the tissue-based or cell-based drug screening model, which has advantages over traditional animal diabetic model in high specificity, high screening volume, low cost and simple manipulation. Considering that the maintenance of complete islet tissue structure is the prerequisite for islet cells to perform their functions normally, an in vitro islet-based drug screening model for diabetes mellitus was established and evaluated. Pancreatic islets were isolated from 3 weeks old mice of either sex by collagenase digestion and density gradient centrifugation as prescribed by Ramanadham S. The volume of 0.1% (W/V) collagenase IV, 0.1% (W/V) Hyaluroridase and 0.1% (W/V) DNase I were 4 times, 2 times and 1 times that of the islets to be digested. And a 2 hours' cold digestion at 4 degrees C was followed by a 10 minutes' warm digestion at 37 degrees C. Under the optimized digestion condition, the islet recovery could be increased by 10%. The isolated islets could survive 6 weeks in vitro and show stable insulin secretion in the first 10 days after inoculation. The obtained islets were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium at 37 degrees C with 5% CO2. Then a diabetic model was established by selecting streptozotocin (STZ) as the evocator and nitric oxide (NO) as the responding index. After 1 day's inoculation, islets culture was treated with STZ, whose concentration ranged from 0 to 5.0 mmol/L. NO was measured by a colorimetric assay at 540nm based on the Griess reaction for 10 min with 0.1 mL Griess reagent and 0.1 mL culture supernatants. Insulin secretion was assayed by RIA methods. Due to the islets-related inoculation variations, NO release and insulin content were both expressed as a percentage of the value recorded in basal experiment which was in the only presence of Krebs culture medium. It was testified that the amount of NO released from islet itself remained steady at 30-35 mmol/L regardless of the changes of STZ concentration from 0 to 5.0 mmol/L. However the NO content in the supernatants of islets culture had close relationship with STZ concentration. This indicated that in this STZ-induced islet diabetic model, NO mainly comes from STZ when it dissolves in water. On the other hand, when STZ changed from 0 to 5.0 mmol/L, the dose-dependent relationship between NO content and insulin secretion showed that the increase of NO came along with the decrease of insulin secretion, which is an important symbol of islet function. As a kind of oxidative free radical, NO is capable of impair islet cells. Thus, NO is a reliable responding index of the model. The optimal STZ concentration in the model is finally determined to be 5.0 mmol/L, under which condition the NO content and insulin secretion is 10.81 times and 0.43 times that in the medium before STZ is added. So if anything is effective in lowering the NO content in the culture, it could protect islets cells from the oxidative attacks of NO. Finally, as an application of the model, the scavenging effect of KOSCr on NO was studied. In a series of KOSCr with different chromium content, all had shown better NO scavenging effects than KOS itself, which could give us an enlightenment of the influence of chromium ion on oligosaccharide. And 1 g/mL KOSCr with 3.519% chromium content can significantly inhibit the NO formation. This has lain a theoretic basis for the research of KOSCr bioactivity and quality control. These results suggested that the STZ-induced diabetic islet model which is impaired by NO free radical can be used effectively, fast and conveniently when screening potential diabetes drugs.
Animals ; Chromium ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Streptozocin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of Xinmaitong capsule (XMT) on serum matrix metalloproteinases-9, high sensitive C-reactive protein levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

METHOD63 cases were divided by randomized, contrastive assigned to XMT group (n = 31) and control group (n = 32). The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP before and after treatment in 12 weeks were detected.

RESULTAfter treatment, the serum levels of MMP-9 in control group had no changed and the levels of hs-CRP reduced. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP in XMT group had significantly decreased. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP had positive correlation, but had no correlation to levels of serum lipids.

CONCLUSIONXMT decreased breakdown of matrix collagen, and inflammatory reaction in the patients of ACS, which may have effect on plaque stabilization.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of biejiajian pill (BP) on the proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of hepatoma carcinoma cells (HepG2), and to primarily explore the mechanisms for fighting against metastasis and invasion.

METHODSUsing sero-pharmacological methods, HepG2 cells were respectively cultured by high and middle dose BP containing serums and the vehicle serum. Using MTT colorimetry, cell adhesion test, and Transwell invasion test, effects of BP on the proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of HepG2 cells were detected, thus further exploring the mechanisms for fighting against the metastasis and invasion of HepG2 cells.

RESULTSHigh and middle dose BP containing serums could significantly prohibit the growth and proliferation, the adhesion and invasion of HepG2 cells on the basilar membrane. Besides, these effects were correlated with the concentrations of BP.

CONCLUSIONBP could effectively inhibit the growth and proliferation, adhesion and invasion of HepG2 cells.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Rats

It is critical to generate marker gene free transgenic plants for retransformating or eliminating the potential harmfulness of marker gene and its product. In this study, Ac/Ds transposon system was developed for removal of hpt selection marker gene to obtain marker-free transgenic plants in rice ( Oryza sativa L.). Ds element containing the interesting gene bar was constructed next to the selection marker gene hpt to get Ds-T-DNA. Rice plants were transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 containing Ac-T-DNA and Ds-T-DNA respectively. Rice plant containing single copy Ac-T-DNA was crossed with plant containing single copy Ds-T-DNA to obtain the F1 plant containing both Ac and Ds elements. F1 plant was self-crossed to produce F2 progeny in which T-DNA insert and transposed Ds element segregated independently. Two plants contained Ds element but no hpt marker gene in total 100 F2 plants. The result indicated that Ac/Ds transposon system could be used as a vector system for generating marker gene free transgenic plants in rice.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; genetics ; Blotting, Southern ; Crosses, Genetic ; DNA Transposable Elements ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Oryza ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transformation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the causes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level elevation in HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with low HBV DNA loads.

METHODSOne hundred nineteen HBsAg positive CHB patients with both serum HBV DNA loads less than 1000 copies/ml and ALT more than 1.25 upper limits of normal (ULN) lasting for at least 6 months were enrolled in this study. Patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus or HIV or suffering from other liver diseases were not included. HBV DNA loads were assayed by PCR. Serological biochemistry and liver biopsy histopathological changes and clinical characteristics of the patients were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 119 patients 102 were males and 17 were females. The mean age of the patients was (33.9+/-9.7) years and their body mass index (BMI) was (23.4+/-3.7) kg/m2. Mean ALT levels were (150.0+/-166.6) U/L and AST levels were (102.4+/-193.2) U/L. Liver biopsies showed hepatic steatosis in 26.9 % (32/119) of the cases, chronic hepatitis in 53.8% (64/119), non-specific changes in 12.6% (15/119), and 1 without any change. However, hepatic steatosis was more frequently seen in patients taking nucleoside analogs (56.7%), x2=10.394, Probability value less than 0.01. BMI, apolipoprotein B (APO-B), triglyceride, cholesterol and uric acid were all significantly higher in patients with hepatic steatosis than those without (t values were 5.369, 4.276, 3.216, 4.223 and 2.438 respectively, all P less than 0.05) while ALT, AST and apolipoprotein A were much lower in those with steatosis than those without (t values were -2.234, -3.877 and -2.956 respectively, all P less than 0.05). Obesity, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia were more frequently seen in patients with steatosis than in patients without it (x2 value 3.829, 7.659, 13.389, 0.549, all P less than 0.05). The severity of inflammation and fibrosis were also more significant in patients with steatosis (x2 value 20.978, 17.550, all P less than 0.05). As compared to those patients without specific changes, serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT in patients with chronic hepatitis were obviously higher, all P less than 0.05. In contrast, there were no significant differences in mean age, BMI, male preference, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia or hyperuricemia, and the levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONOur data indicate that hepatic steatosis might be a factor associated with elevated ALT levels in HBsAg-positive CHB patients with low HBV DNA loads, especially in patients treated with nucleoside analogs.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Carrier State ; Fatty Liver ; physiopathology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; virology ; Hepatocytes ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Viral Load ; Young Adult