Objective To explore clinical significence of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecular(SVCAM - 1),immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti- endothelial cells antibodies(AECA) in Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) and their relationships. Methods SVCAM-1 were detected by ELISA between 55 cases with HSP (40 cases in acute stage and 15 cases in recovery) and 20 controls. Results The levels of serum SVCAM - 1 of the HSPN cases were significantly increased compared with the other HSP. In addition, the serum level of SVCAM - 1 in acute stage HSP children was significantly higher than that in recovery stage and normal controls. IgA AECA positive rate in HSPN was higher than that of without nephritis group. The level of serum SVCAM - 1 in IgA AECA positive children was higher than that of IgA AECA negative children. Conclusion SVCAM - 1 and IgA AECA may participate in the pathogegesis of HSP, and the level of molecule is correlated with the progress of HSP.

Apoptosis of PK-15 cells induced by Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) in vitro was reported in this paper. Typical cell apoptosis was detected by use of Hoechst 33258 fluorescence probe, agarose gel electrophoresis and in situ end-labeling (TUNEL). After PK-15 cells were infected by titration of 4.8 lg TCID50/mL FMDV for 32 h, apoptosis characteristics of nuclear condensation, fragmentation, accompanied by apoptotic bodies formation (Hoechst 33258 staining), 180-200 integer-fold sized pieces DNA Ladders (agarose gel electrophoresis) and strong green fluorescence dots (TUNEL) were all exhibited, and cell apoptosis was approximately 20%. In addition, the quantitative analysis of apoptosis in PK-15 cells induced by FMDV showed that apoptosis was correlated with infection of virus, and it was also time-dependent. Results indicate that FMDV can induce apoptosis of host cells and apoptosis plays an important role in the cytopathogencity effect of FMDV.

0.05). After dividing the patients into early-onset and late-onset subgroups, there were significant differences of DRD4 genotype and allele frequency between early-onset patients and controls (P0.05). Conclusion The results suggested that the polymorphism of DRD4 receptor gene may be associated with early-onset OCD. The 3/4 genetype may be the risk factor of early-onset OCD. Early-onset and late-onset OCD may have different etiology.

BACKGROUNDThymosin beta-4 (TB-4) is considered key roles in tissue development, maintenance and pathological processes. The study aimed to prove TB-4 positive biological function on nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis and slowing the process of cell aging while increasing the cell proliferation.

METHODSTB-4 recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) was constructed and induced to human NP cells. Cell of same group were cultured without gene modification as controlled group. Proliferation capacity and cell apoptosis were observed during 6 passages of the cells. Morphology and expression of the TB-4 gene were documented as parameter of cell activity during cell passage.

RESULTSNP cells with TB-4 transfection has normal TB-4 expression and exocytosis. NP cells with TB-4 transfection performed significantly higher cell activity than that at the control group in each generation. TB-4 recombinant AAV-transfected human NP cells also show slower cell aging, lower cell apoptosis and higher cell proliferation than control group.

CONCLUSIONSTB-4 can prevent NP cell apoptosis, slow NP cell aging and promote NP cell proliferation. AAV transfection technique was able to highly and stably express TB-4 in human NP cells, which may provide a new pathway for innovation in the treatment of intervertebral disc degenerative diseases.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; genetics ; physiology ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Thymosin ; genetics ; metabolism

Endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) has protective effect on the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury and arrhythmia, but the electrophysiological mechanism is unclear yet. In this study, the sinoatrial node (SAN) samples from New Zealand rabbits were prepared, and intracellular recording technique was used to elucidate the effect of AEA on the action potential (AP) of SAN pacemaker cells of rabbits and the mechanism. Different concentrations of AEA (1, 10, 100, 200, 500 nmol/L) were applied cumulatively. For some SAN samples, cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist AM251, cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor antagonist AM630, potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA) and nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-nitro-arginine methylester (L-NAME) were used before AEA treatment, respectively. We found that: (1) AEA (100, 200 and 500 nmol/L) not only shortened AP duration (APD), but also decreased AP amplitude (APA) (P < 0.05). (2) AM251, but not AM630, abolished the effect of AEA on APD shortening. (3) TEA and L-NAME had no influence on the AEA effect. These findings suggest that anandamide can decrease APA and shorten APD in SAN pacemaker cells of rabbits, which may be mediated by activation of CB1 receptors, and is related to blockade of calcium channels but not potassium channels and NO.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Arachidonic Acids ; pharmacology ; Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Endocannabinoids ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Polyunsaturated Alkamides ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Sinoatrial Node ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of curcumin derivatives B06 on myocardium from type 2 diabetic rats.

METHODSThirty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, normal control group (NC group), high fat group (HF group), high fat treatment group (FT group), diabetes mellitus group (DM group) and diabetes treatment group (DT group) (n = 7). The late four groups were fed with high fat food, after four weeks of high fat feeding, the rats from DM group and DT group were injected with low dosage of streptozocin intraperitoneally to induce diabetes mellitus, FT group and DT group were gavaged with curcumin derivatives B06 at the dosage of 0.2 mg/kg x d. The blood glucose and lipid were detected biochemically, blood insulin was assayed by ELISA and the insulin resistance index was calculated, the morphology of myocardium was observed by light and transmission electron microscopy, the protein expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKalpha) and phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (p-AMPKalpha) in myocardium were tested by Western blot.

RESULTSThe level of blood glucose, lipid, insulin and the insulin resistance index were increased in HF group and DM group, but they were decreased after the treatment with B06. The expression of AMPKalpha and p-AMPKalpha were decreased, but they became increased after the treatment of B06. There were increased collagen fibers in interstitium and expansion of mitochondria in cytoplasm of myocardium from DM group, but they were ameliorated in B06 treatment group.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that B06 may relieve the damage of myocardium from type 2 diabetic rats and the increased expression of AMPKalpha and p-AMPKalpha may be involved in it.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin

Self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) were developed to overcome the problems of delivery and administration of piroxicam, a drug with low bioavailability and gastrointestinal irritation, The in vitro properties of it were assessed. The solubility of piroxicam in several oils and surfactants was determined, and the compatibility of various oils and surfactants was investigated. Ternary phase diagrams were constructed to optimal area of microemulsion, and the influence of different oily phases, surfactants and co-surfactants was studied. The droplet size and dissolution of optimal formulation were determined to prove that the dosage form is a useful delivery system for piroxicam. In the optimized piroxicam SMEDDS, cinnamic alcohol was selected that gave the maximal solubility to piroxicam. Labrafil M 1944CS, Cremophor EL and Transcotol P were used as oils, surfactant and co-surfactant, respectively. Droplet size and distribution of three piroxicam SMEDDS formulations were (32.2 +/- 5.0), (40.1 +/- 6.4), (81.9 +/- 12.2) nm individually. And the releasing of piroxicam was rapid and complete. The optimized SMEDDS for piroxicam was obtained.
Administration, Oral ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; Glycerides ; chemistry ; Glycerol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Piroxicam ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Propanols ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Solvents ; chemistry ; Surface-Active Agents ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo determine the relation between the apolipoprotein E(apoE) promoter -427C/T polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a Chinese Han population in Shanghai.

METHODSThe apoE promoter -427C/T polymorphism in 104 AD cases and 110 healthy subjects was detected using polymerase chain reaction method and restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping technique. The differences in polymorphic distribution between the two groups were tested, and odds ratio was computed.

RESULTSNo differences in apoE -427C/T genotypic distribution were observed between AD cases and controls (P>0.05). Even after stratification according to apoE epsilon 4 stratum, there was not any polymorphic distribution difference when epsilon 4 carriers or non epsilon 4 carriers were compared with controls (P>0.05). The association between AD and apoE epsilon 4 appeared in the TT group(OR=3.94,95%, CI:22067038, chi-square=21.48, P<0.05), but not in CT or CC group.

CONCLUSIONApoE -427C/T polymorphism was not a susceptibility factor for AD in this Han population in Shanghai.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between G72 gene polymorphisms and depression,and to probe the difference of G72 gene polymorphisms between depression with and without mixed family history.

METHODSThe polymorphisms of G72 gene (rs947267 and rs2181953) were detected by PCR technique in 100 depressive patients without mixed family history, 50 depressive patients with mixed family history and 86 normal controls.

RESULTS(1) The frequencies of rs947267 genotypes and alleles in female depressive patients without mixed family history were significant different to the controls (P=0.017 and P=0.008), the OR scores were 0.300 (A/A, P=0.010), 0.456(A, P=0.008) and 2.195(C, P=0.008) respectively; but in male patients there were no significant differences to the controls (P>0.05). (2) The frequencies of rs2181953 genotypes and alleles in the depressive patients without mixed family history were not significantly different to the controls regardless of sex (P>0.05). (3) The frequencies of rs947267 and rs2181953 genotypes and alleles in the depressive patients with mixed family history were not significantly different to the controls regardless of sex (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe G72 gene polymorphism may be associated with female depressive patients without mixed family history,C allele of rs947267 may be the risk factor.

Alleles ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Depressive Disorder ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

AIM:To study the influence of lithium chloride (LiCl) on the neuronal differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and to explore whether autophagy was involved in this process .METHODS:MSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro.The cells were divided into LiCl group and control group .MSCs were treated withβ-mercaptoethanol as an inducer for triggering the cells to differentiate into neurons .The expression of neuronal markers-neuron specific enolase (NSE) and microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2), and autophagic marker-microtubule-associ-ated protein 1 light chain 3 ( LC3) were measured by immunofluorescence method and Western blot .An autophagy activator rapamycin and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) were applied to modulate the autophagy in the LiCl treated-cells.The protein expression of NSE and MAP-2 were determined by Western blot .RESULTS: After induction, the ex-pression of NSE and MAP-2 were increased .The percentage of NSE-and MAP-2-positive cells and the expression of NSE and MAP-2 in the LiCl group were greater than those in control group (P<0.05).After induction, the number of LC3-positive dots and the expression of LC3-Ⅱin LiCl group were greater than those in control group (P<0.05).The expres-sion of NSE and MAP-2 increased when the autophagy was modulated by rapamycin in LiCl treated -cells, and on the contra-ry, the expression of NSE and MAP-2 were inhibited as autophagy was modulated by 3-MA.CONCLUSION: Lithium chloride may promote the neuronal differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by modulating autophagy .