OBJECTIVE: To investigate the uptake of self-assembled sodium alginate(SA) nanoparticles labeled by FITC(sSAN-FITC) in Caco-2 cells and the influencing factors.METHODS: Fluorescence microscope was utilized to exam the uptake of sSAN-FITC in Caco-2 cells.Multifunction continuous spectrum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system was used for the detection of the fluorescence intensity of FITC in the cells and quantitative assay of the effect of sSAN concentration,its action time and pH on the uptake of sSAN-FITC in Caco-2 cells,with blank group as control.RESULTS: Pictures of Caco-2 cells taken by fluorescence microscope showed uptake of sSAN-FITC by Caco-2 cells.As compared with blank control group,among the 3 factors,the fluorescence intensity increased with the increase of the sSAN concentration and the prolonging of the action time(P

Interleukin 33 (IL 33),one member of the IL-1 family,is expressed in many types' tissue and regulation of multiple target cells via its suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) receptor.Therefore,the crucial roles of the novel cytokine IL-33 in allergic,endocrine diseases,infectious diseases and cancer are becoming characterized.The function of IL-33 in different parasite infection is distinctive in parasitic infections,due to the difference in pathogenic mechanism and in the time course of IL-33 expression.

AIM To study the dynamic changes of color and five constituents during processing of Gardeniae Fructus.METHODS Camera and Adobe Photoshop software were applied to collecting images and obtaining chromatic values (L,a,b) of processed products,respectively.HPLC was adopted in the content determination of genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside,geniposide,crocin-Ⅰ,crocin-Ⅱ,crocin-Ⅲ.Then the correlation between color and constituent contents was investigated by linear regression and partial least squares method.RESULTS With the process of processing,the chromatic values of epicarp and seed pellets expelled showed decreasing trends,especially for that of the former.On the whole,the contents of geniposide,crocin-Ⅰ and crocin-Ⅱ were decreased,while those of genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside and crocin-Ⅲ were first increased and then decreased.The chromatic values of epicarp and seed pellets expelled showed significant correlations with crocin-Ⅰ content.CONCLUSION Color and crocin-Ⅰ can be considered as control index and monitoring index during processing of Gardeniae Fructus,respectively.

Objective: To study the effects of glycosaminoglycan from scallop skirt (SS-GAG) on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the mechanism of anti-atherosclerosis action of SS-GAG. Methods: U937 cells were incubated with 80mg/L oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 48h to establish a macrophage-derived foam cell model. In addition, U937 cells were divided into 6 groups: ①control group; ②ox-LDL group; ③ox-LDL+200mg/L SS-GAG group; ④ox-LDL+400 mg/L SS-GAG group; ⑤ox-LDL+800 mg/L SS-GAG group; ⑥ox-LDL +Heparin 100 mg/L group.After 48h's incubation, the concentration of VEGF in the medium was determined by ELISA. Results: The expression of VEGF in U937 foam cells was obviously higher than that of the control group. After treatment with heparin (100 mg/L) and SS-GAG of different concentrations (200mg/L, 400 mg/L, 800 mg/L), the expression of VEGF decreased obviously, especially in the ox-LDL+800 mg/L SS-GAG group (P＜0.01). Conclusion: The antiatherogenic effect of SS-GAG is probably due to its ability to inhibit VEGF expression.

ObjectiveTo Compare the clinical results between microscope and loupes which used in microsurgical discectomy.MethodsA prospective randomized controlled trial of 93 patients who had undergone microsurgical discectomy from January 2007 to December 2010 was performed.Clinical results were assessed by comparing the following parameters between patients who had undergone the surgery by microscope and loupes:length of stay,hospitalization cost,operative time,estimated blood loss,Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and JOA recovery rate,Odom's standard.ResultsForty-nine patients underwent surgery by microscope,and forty-four patients underwent surgery by loupes.Eighty patients received outpatient or telephone follow-up.The follow-up period was 6.17 to 52.90 months with an average of (29.64±13.05) months,and the follow-up rate was 86.02％.According preoperative data,the two groups didn't differ with respect to age,gender,level of radiculopathy,or preoperative JOA score and JOA recovery rate.No statistically significant differences were identified in postoperative JOA score and JOA recovery rate,length of stay,hospitalization cost,length of follow-up,or relapse rate.Statistically significant differences were identified in operative time,estimated blood loss,and follow-up JOA score and JOA recovery rate.Conclusion Microscope can provide relatively more clear and comfortable vision for the surgery.It can short the operative time,decrease blood loss,reduce the potential risk of nerve injury,and retain more normal tissue,which can ensure better clinical results.

italic>Artemisia argyi (A. argyi) is a Chinese herbal medicine in China. The main active components are volatile oils, flavonoids, and other compounds, which have various pharmacological activities. Methoxylated flavonoids are the main active ingredients in A. argyi. Flavonoid O-methyltransferase (FOMT) is a key enzyme in the O-methylation of flavonoids. In order to further understand the function and characteristics of FOMT proteins, this paper carried out the whole genome mining and identification of FOMT genes in A. argyi and performed phylogenetic, chromosomal localization, gene sequence characterization, subcellular localization prediction, protein structure, gene structure analysis, and expression pattern analysis. The results showed that a total of 83 FOMT genes were identified in the genome of A. argyi. The phylogenetic tree shows that FOMT genes are divided into two subgroups, CCoAOMT (caffeoyl CoA O-methyltransferase) subfamily (32 genes) and COMT (caffeic acid O-methyltransferase) subfamily (51 genes). Gene sequence analysis showed that the number of amino acids encoded by FOMT was 70-734 aa, the molecular weight was 25 296.55-34 241.3 Da, and the isoelectric point was 4.51-9.99. Compared with 32 members of the CCoAOMT subfamily, nearly 1/3 of the 51 members of the COMT subfamily were hydrophobic proteins and 2/3 were hydrophilic proteins. Subcellular localization prediction showed that more than 80% of CCoAOMT subfamily members were located in the cytoplasm, and 96% of COMT subfamily members were located in the chloroplast. COMT subfamily members have more motifs than CCoAOMT subfamily members. The N-terminal motifs of COMT subfamily proteins are relatively variable, while the C-terminal motifs are relatively conserved. Expression pattern analysis showed that CCoAOMT subfamily members were mainly expressed in roots, while COMT members were mainly expressed in leaves. Some FOMTs showed the tissue expression specificity by real-time quantitative PCR analysis, especially in leaves. In this study, we identified and analyzed the FOMT gene family in A. argyi, and provided a theoretical basis for further research on the function of FOMTs and the biosynthesis of methylated flavonoids in A. argyi.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of neferine against damages of endothelial cells induced by lysophos-phatidylcholine (LPC) and the relationship with asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA).

METHODThe human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC-12) were treated with LPC (10 mg x L(-1)) for 24 h to establish the model of endothelial cells damages; HUVECs were prior exposed to neferine (0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 micromol x L(-1) ) for 1 h, and then exposed to LPC in the presence of the neferine for 24 h. At the end of the experiment, the cultured medium was collected for measuring the concentration of nitric oxide (NO), aleic dialdehyde (MDA) as well as ADMA and the cells were collected for measuring the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).

RESULTCompared with control group, exposure of endothelial cells to LPC (10 mg x L(-1)) for 24 h significantly increased the concentration of MDA and ADMA in the medium and the level of intracellular ROS and coinstantaneously significantly decreased the concentration of NO in the medium. Neferine (0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 micromol x L(-1)) significantly inhibited the elevated concentration of MDA, ADMA as well as the level of intracellular ROS and coinstantaneously significantly attenuated the decreased level of NO induced by LPC.

CONCLUSIONNeferine can protect the endothelial cells against damages induced by LPC and the protective effect is related to the decrease of the concentration of ADMA.

Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Benzylisoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bleomycin ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hemangioma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

Objective:To study the performance of the elastic fixation with our self-designed Tightrope system for inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis (ITFS) diastasis.Methods:In this self-control study, 6 specimens of normal cadaveric ankle were used as a normal ITFS group while the models of the ITFS diastasis were constructed as a group of ITFS diastasis. On the models of ITFS diastasis, elastic fixation with transverse Tightrope system (transverse fixation group) or binding Tightrope system (binding fixation group) was applied. The reduction and stability of ITFS were compared between transverse fixation and binding fixation for ITFS diastasis in terms of ITFS parameters on X-Ray[tibiofibular clear space (TFCS) and medial clear space (MCS)] and on CT[inferior tibiofibular anterior clear space (ITFACS), inferior tibiofibular middle clear space (ITFMCS), inferior tibiofibular posterior clear space (ITFPCS), anterior inferior tibiofibular interval (AITFI) and fibular rotation (θfib)].Results:The transverse fixation with Tightrope system for ITFS diastasis on the models led to iatrogenic injury to the fibular and the ITFS interosseous ligaments and to the perforating peroneal artery, and malreduction as well while the binding fixation with Tightrope system caused no injury to the anterior or the posterior ITFS ligament or the superior peroneal retinaculum but fine reduction as well. In comparisons of TFCS, ankle MCS, ITFACS, ITFMCS and AITFI between the 4 groups, normal ITFS group

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of the integrated backscatter (IBS) technique for carotid artery atherosclerosis (AS), to investigate the correlation between IBS of carotid artery and the serum level of matrix metalloprotease-9(MMP-9), and to explore the effect of simvastatin on the IBS value of the carotid artery and serum MMP-9 level in hyperlipemia patients. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with hyperlipemia and 26 normal controls were enrolled in this study. Patients with hyperlipemia were randomly divided into 2 groups: a simvastatin treatment group (20 mg/d) and a control group (without simvastatin treatment). Twenty-six healthy people were served as normal control group(n=26).The corrected IBS values(C-IBS) in carotid arteries,the intima-media thickness (IMT), and the serum MMP-9 levels were measured in the normal control group and the patients with hyperlipemia before and 8 weeks after the simvastatin therapy. RESULTS: The C-IBS of the simvastatin treatment group and the control group was significantly lower than that in the normal control group (all P<0.05). The IMT and MMP-9 in the simvastatin treatment group and the control group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between the C-IBS of carotid arteries and the serum MMP-9 levels in the patients with hyperlipemia (r=-0.76,P<0.05). Eight weeks after the simvastatin treatment, the serum MMP-9 levels decreased significantly(P<0.05). CONCLUSION There is a negative correlation between the decreased C-IBS of carotid arteries and the increased serum MMP-9 levels in patients with hyperlipemia.The decreased C-IBS of carotid arteries and the increased serum MMP-9 levels may be the early indicators of atherosclerosis in hyperlipemia patients. The anti-atherosclerosis effect of simvastatin may partly attribute to its ability to lower the serum MMP-9.
Adult ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Simvastatin ; therapeutic use ; Tunica Intima ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; Tunica Media ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; Ultrasonography