BACKGROUND:Stem cel transplantation is a new method for blinding eye disease. But there is a lack of research about the protective effect of retinal stem cel transplantation on retinal ganglion cel s in glaucoma. OBJECTIVE:To explore the protective effect of retinal stem cel transplantation on retinal ganglion cel s of rats with glaucoma. METHODS:Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=15 per group) including control, model and retinal stem cel transplantation groups. Rat models of glaucoma were prepared in the latter two groups, and at 7 days after modeling, rats in the three groups were given intravitreal injection of 1 mL retinal stem cel s (5x106 cel s), the same amount of PBS, and no treatment, respectively. Subsequently, relative indicators were detected at 2 weeks after transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and insulin-like growth factor I protein as wel as the number of retinal ganglion cel s were the highest in the control group, fol owed by the retinal stem cel transplantation group model group, and the lowest in the model group (P<0.05). The number of apoptotic retinal ganglion cel s in model group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05), and which in the retinal stem cel transplantation group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.05), but higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). These results suggest that retinal stem cel transplantation for rat glaucoma can exert a protective effect on retinal ganglion cel s.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of Angelica polysaccharide on the glaucoma-induced retinal neuronal injury, and to elucidate its mechanism. Methods: Eighty-four SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive drug group, low, middle and high doses of Angelica polysaccharide groups. The model of rat glaucoma was established by sclera sclerotherapy. The intraocular pressures (IOP) of rats in each group were measured. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and nitric oxide (NO) levels in retina tissue of the rats were measured by colorimetric assay. The expression levels of Caspase-3 mRNA and protein in retina tissue of the rats were observed by RT-PCR and Western blotting method. Results: Compared with control group, the IOP of the rats in model group at each time point were significantly increased (P<0. 05); compared with model group, the IOP of the rats in different doses of Angelia polysaccharide groups were significantly decreased (P<0. 05); compared with low dose of Angelica polysaccharide group, the IOP of the rats in high dose of Angelica polysaccharide group was significant decteased (P<0. 05). The levels of MDA and NO in the retina tissue of the rats in model group were higher than those in control group (P<0. 05), but the SOD activities were decreased (P<0. 05); compared with model group, the levels of MDA and NO in retinal tissue of the rats in different doses of Angelica polysaccharide group were significantly decreased (P<0. 05), and the SOD activities were significantly increased (P<0. 05); compared with low dose of Angelica polysaccharide group, the above indexed had significant differences in high dose of Angelica polysaccharide group (P<0. 05). Compared with model group, the expression levels of Caspase-3 mRNA and protein in different doses of Angelica polysaccharide groups were significantly decreased (P<0. 05); compared with low dose of Angelica polysaccharide group, the expression levels of Caspase-3 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased (P < 0. 05). Conclusion: Angelica polysaccharide has protective effect on the retinal tissue of glaucoma model rats, which can decrease the levels of MDA and NO in retina tissue and increase the activity of SOD and decrease the expression levels of Caspase-3 mRNA and protein in retina tissue. It may be one of the mechanisms of polysaccharide protecting in retinal tissue nerve cells.

Calcium ion is involved in many processes of cellular living activities. It is critically important for maintaining normal functions of human body. The review will discuss intracellular calcium regulation, distribution changes of calcium in ischemic cerebravascular and cardiovascular diseases, and intracellular intervention of calcium by specific drugs.

AIMTo determine Danshensu in urine and study its pharmacokinetics in human.

METHODSA solid phase extraction-HPLC method was used for determination of Danshensu in urine of human. HPLC separation is performed on a Shim-pack CLC-ODS column (150 mm x 6.0 mm ID, 5 microns) with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile -0.01 mol.L-1 KH2PO4 (adjusted to pH 2.8 with phosphoric acid). The flow rate was 1.0 mL.min-1 and the UV detector was set at 280 nm. The linear range of Danshensu was 0.2-50 mg.L-1 (r = 0.9999), and its limit of detection was 1.5 ng. The mean recovery was 99.4% (RSD = 2.9%).

RESULTSThe pharmacokinetics of Danshensu after p.o. administration of two kinds of pharmaceutical preparations containing Danshen (with 20 mg of Danshensu) were investigated in 6 healthy human volunteers by determining the Danshensu in urine samples. The elimination half lives (T1/2) of Danshensu after p.o. administration of compound granule preparation A and decoction of Danshen were (0.92 +/- 0.16) h and (0.94 +/- 0.21) h, respectively. Their excretions of Danshensu in urine were (6.2 +/- 2.8)% and (14 +/- 4)% of the dose in 8 hours, respectively.

CONCLUSIONUnder normal doses, Danshensu can be eliminated from kidney. There is no evident difference on elimination half lives of Danshensu after p.o. administration of the two doses, but the excretions of Danshensu by urine after p.o. administration of compound granule preparation A were lower than that of decoction of Danshen.

Adult ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Lactates ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the effects on SOD, MDA, gamma-GT, GSH-Px and inflammatory factor (TNF-alpha, NF-kappaB, ICAM-1) in rats that induced by fructus toosendan, and to search for the hepatotoxicity mechanism of rats that induced by fructus toosendan.

METHODThe SD rats were given fructus toosendan 120 g x kg(-1) by orally for 45 days, then take the liver tissue of control and fructus toosendan group to prepare liver homogenate. The activities of SOD, the content of MDA, the ratio of SOD and MDA, the content of gamma-GT and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected according to the methods of kit. The tumor necosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was detected by ABC-ELISA. The expression of NF-kappaB p65 and ICAM-1 were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTThe rats were given fructus toosendan 120 g x kg(-1) by orally for 45days, the SOD and GSH-Px activities in liver tissue decreased, the content of MDA increased, the ratio of SOD and MDA decreased, the content of gamma-GT and TNF-alpha, the masculine expression of NF-kappaB p65 and ICAM-1 increased.

CONCLUSIONAfter the rats were given fructus toosendan, the liver can be damaged obviously, and the mechanism of hepatotoxicity perhaps related to free radical and inflammatory factor.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Annao tablet (main component is beta-asarone) on S100B and NPY of cortex in chronic epilepsy rats.

METHODThe remedy was administered orally. The effects were observed in convulsion model induced by PG, then S100B protein and NPY of cortex were determined.

RESULTAnnao tablet could depress the epileptic degree, postpone spasm latent period and reduce the wet dog sample (WDS) times. The remedy could decline S100B and NPY of cortex in chronic epilepsy rats.

CONCLUSIONAnnao tablet has obvious antiepileptic effects and can reduce the nerve cell damage induced by epilepsy.

Acorus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anisoles ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Anticonvulsants ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; Epilepsy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Female ; Male ; Neuropeptide Y ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Tablets ; beta-Cyclodextrins

Through the collection of the literatures published in recent years on the opportunity of acupuncture therapy for post-stroke dysphagia, the therapy of acupuncture-moxibustion combined with the rehabilitation training is regardes as the optimal program in the paper. In this program, the timing of acupuncture intervention is a key factor to impact the efficacy on post-stroke dysphagia. It is vitally significant to grasp the intervention timing of acupuncture-moxibustion in the recovery of swallowing function as well as articulation function with dysphagia involved.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Stroke ; complications

This study was purposed to explore the feasibility of BIOMED-2 protocols for detection of immunoglobin (IG) and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene clonal rearrangement in bone marrow of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL) patients, and to evaluate its clinical value. Gene clonal rearrangment (IGH, IGK, IGL, TCRβ, TCRγ, TCRδ) was detected by using BIOMED-2 protocols in 73 bone marrow examples of NHL patients. The PCR results were compared with the cytomorphologic examination of bone marrow. The correlation between PCR detection results and clinical stage, pathological factors were also evaluated. The results showed that clonal IG or TCR gene rearrangements were found in 31 of 73 cases (42.5%), higher than the positive rate of cytological analysis (24.7%, 18/73, p < 0.05). IG/TCR clonality rates were 40.0% (22/55) for B-NHL and 50% (9/18) for T-NHL. IG/TCR clonality rates detected in patients with III/IV stage were higher than those with I/II stage (p < 0.05). It is concluded that BIOMED-2 protocols are effective methods for detection of abnormalities in bone marrow in patients with lymphoma, and are superior to cytomorphologic examination. The positive rate of PCR detection is correlated with Ann Arbor stage, but is not related with malignant degree, age, treatment status, B symptoms or the involvement of spleen.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; genetics ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Young Adult

As a novel population of neural crest-origin precursor cells, skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs) can be isolated from both embryonic and adult dermis. These cells have important values for research and potential clinical application in wound healing, organ regeneration and disease treatment for advantages in the abundance of cell sources, accessibility, potential of multipotent differentiation, and absence of ethical concerns. Here we review the developmental and anatomical origins of SKPs and their potential application in regenerative medicine. SKPs originate from the embryonic neural crest, and their sources may vary in different areas of the body. SKPs are widely found in the dermis, especially in the dermal papilla (DP), which was known as a niche of SKPs. The multipotent SKPs can used for autologous transplantation and are of vital importance in tissue repair.

Using overlapping and mutant oligonucleotides as probes, gel mobility assays and competition experiments identified a sequence from -47 to -32 bp upstream of the LIM2 CAP site, which a lens protein complex bound with high affinity which appeared to bind only to the "sense" strand of the double-stranded DNA molecule. This sequence consisted of a string of four guanine residues followed by seven other nucleotides (AACCTAA) and followed by another four guanines, i.e. GGGGAACCTAAGGGG, called the Hsu element. Promoter-CAT constructs containing this sequence or mutations of the sequence indicated that the Hsu element is located within the basal promoter, and is essential for expression of the LIM2 gene. The trans factors binding to the Hsu element are present throughout development, and appear to be lens-specific. Since the LIM2 gene promoter does not contain a classic TATA box, the Hsu element may serve as the site for binding the RNA polymerase complex.
Base Sequence ; Eye Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; TATA Box