Background Studies showed that macophenolic acid (MPA)down-regulates and inhibits the expression and secretion of tissue growth factor and inflammatory factor,and further impacts the proliferation and inflammation process.Pterygium is an inflammatory and proliferative lesion.Whether MPA has an inhibitory effect on pterygium is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the antifibrotic effects of macophenolic acid on pterygium fibroblasts(PFBs) in vitro and discuss its mechanism.Methods Pterygium tissue was obtained from pterygium patient during the surgery.PFBs were cultured using explants and identified with vimentin immunohistochemisty.0,0.125,0.250,0.500,1.000 μmol/L MPA were added into the culture medium,respectively,and the cells were cultured in the medium without MPA as the control group.MTT colorimetry was used to find the optimization effective concentration of MPA and evaluate their inhibitory effect on PFBs,and BrdU fluorescence staining was used to assess the growth statue of PFBs.Expressions of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),p65 and inhibitor of NF-κB-α(IκB-α) in the cells were detected by Western blot.Results The cells was spindle in shape 3 days after cultured and showed the vortex and radial arrangement with the positive response to vimentin.With the increase of MPA,the proliferative value of PFBs (A560)showed gradually decline,with a significant difference among the five groups (F =42.874,P＜0.01).In addition,the proliferative value of PFBs (A560) significantly lowed as the prolong of MPA active time(F=26.038,P＜0.01).BrdU fluorescence staining showed a significant decrease of DNA synthesis of PFBs with the elevation of MPA dose among the five groups(F=175.279,P＜0.05),and the A560of PFBs DNA synthesis in different concentrations of MPA groups was lower than that of the control group (all at P＜0.05).No apoptotic and necrotic cell was found after MPA action by DAPI staining.The expression level of p65 in the PFBs was 0.886±0.072 and 1.542±0.124 in the MPA group and the control group,indicating a declined value in the MPA group(P＜0.05).However,the expression value of IκB-α in the cytoplasm PFBs was significantly higher in the MPA group compared with the control group(2.141 ±0.305 vs.1.559±0.267) (P＜0.05).Conclusions MPA has an inhibitory effect on the growth of PFBs,which probably is related to the arresting of NF-κB pathway.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and therapy of the sclerosing hemangioma of the lung.Mothods The case history of 15 patients were analyzed retrospectively and summarized the diagnosis and therapy of the Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung.Results There were 2 males and 13 females(1:6.5).No patients were diagnosed this disease before operation for there were no specific imageology features.The tumor cell indicated pantomorphia and there were 3 cases were misdiagnosed during the operation frozen section pathology.The optimization therapy methods was to resect the tumor with the VATS.The prognosis of this disease was well and there were no cases recurrence in these 15 patients.Conclusion The sclerosing hemangioma of the lung was the benign tumor and there were no specific imageology features.The misdiagnosis was frequently before operation.To resect the tumor with the VATS was the optimal therapy method.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of single stage cavernostomy and myoplasty on the aspergillus thoracic empyema. Method Four patients suffering from aspergillus thoracic empyema were treated with single stage cavernostomy and myoplasty. They got the inflammation of aspergillus after the operation for tuberculosis in 2, bronchiectasis in 1 and lung cyst in 1. They were performed rib resection, cavernostomy, closure of the bronchial openings and total/partial obliteration of the cavity with a muscle flap as a single stage technique. Pectoralis major muscle was used for the myoplasty in 1, latissimus dorsi in 1 and intercostal muscle in 2. All patients were given the therapy of nutritional support, local pressure dressing and oral anti-fungus drugs. Result Two patients got the primary healing, the chest tube were pulled out 2 days later and they were discharged 12 days after the operation. One patient′s cavity became little and there was pus drained from the chest tube, he cured after prolonged draining and washed with the anti-fungus drugs. One patient dead for pneumonia 67 days after the operation. Conclusion Cavernostomy and myoplasty as a single stage technique is safe and reliable in the management of patients with aspergillus thoracic empyema.

OBJECTIVETo use a new kind of fixing material, i.e. Sol-Gel organic-inorganic hybridized material to immobilize bacterium to detect Biochemical oxygen demand quickly.

METHODSThe biosensor was fabricated using a thin film in which Hansenula anomala was immobilized by sol-gel and an oxygen electrode. The optimum measurement for biochemical oxygen demand was at pH 7.0; 28 degrees C; response time 3 - 12 min. Pure organic compound, sewage and rate of recovery were detected with the biosensor.

RESULTSIt shows that the BOD biosensor can be used to detect many organic compounds such as amino acid, glucide. It is suitable to monitor sewage and industrial waste water which has low level alcohols and phenols. The microbial membrane can work 3 months and remain its 70% activity. It is measured that the rate of recovery of BOD is between 90% to 105% in sewage.

CONCLUSIONThe study confirmed the effectiveness and usefulness of BOD sensor, which is quick, convenient, low cost and reliable with little interference.

Bacteria ; Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; Cells, Immobilized ; Gels ; Membranes, Artificial ; Nylons ; Oxygen ; analysis ; Sewage ; analysis ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupuncture on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in brain tissues of rats with traumatic brain injuny.

METHODSThirty SD rats were randomly and equally allocated to the sham-operated, the model and the acupuncture groups. The traumatic brain injury model was established by the free drop method. For the rats in the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied once a day for 7 days. Brain histotomy was carried out when treatments were completed. Immunohistochemical techniques were adopted to detect the cells that express nestin, neurofilament proteins (NF)-200 and glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP), the markers of neural stem cells, neurons, astrocytes respectively.

RESULTSCompared to the sham-operated group, the number of nestin-positive cells and NF-200-positive cells in brain tissues was decreased significantly in the model group (P < 0.01), whereas the number of GFAP-positive cells was significantly increased P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the positive cells of nestin, NF-200, GFAP in brain tissues in the acupuncture group were increased obviously (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAcupuncture can significantly increase the number of nestin-positive cells, NF-200-positive cells and GFAP-positive cells, indicating the significant increase of neural stem cells, neurons and astrocytes in number. Acupuncture can improve neuranagenesis by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in brain tissues. This might be one of the mechanisms for acupuncture to treat traumatic brain injury and to promote the repair of nervous function.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Injuries ; pathology ; therapy ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cerebral Cortex ; pathology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Nestin ; Neural Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neurofilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between vascular remodeling index (RI) and serum adiponectin, plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), endothelial function and evaluate the mechanism of coronary in-stent restenosis.

METHODSRI 6 months after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), serum adiponectin, plasma MCP-1 and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and 3 days,6 months after PCI were measured in 30 patients with and 30 without coronary in-stent restenosis.

RESULTSCompared with patients without restenosis and those with restenosis before PCI, the patients with coronary in-stent restenosis showed significantly increased plasma MCP-1 3 days and 6 months after PCI (P<0.05) and reduced RI 6 months after PCI, serum adiponectin and FMD 3 days and 6 months after PCI (P<0.05). RI was positively correlated to serum adiponectin and FMD and inversely to MCP-1.

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of coronary in-stent restenosis is the result of the interrelations between multiple factors.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Coronary Restenosis ; blood ; etiology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; adverse effects

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acute ureteroscopy for the treatment of ureterie stones during middle and late pregnancy.Methods From June 1998 to March 2005,17 pregnant women(mean age,27 years;age range,21-35 years)with ureteric stones were treated by ureteroscopy when the fetus was at 20-36 weeks of gestation(mean,29 weeks).All the cases presented with urgent symptoms such as recurrent renal colic(11 cases),fever(4)or acute obstructive anuria(2).Among 17 cases,the stones(between 6 mm?7 mm and 13 mm?21 mm)were located in the upper(8 cases),middle(5)or lower ureter(4);and on the left side(5 eases),on the right(10)and on both(2)of the lower ureter. Mild hydronephrosis were observed in 6 cases and moderate hydronephrosis in 11,Of the 17 cases,14 under- went ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy;in 1 case the calculi were pushed to the renal pelvis;and 2 cases were treated by Double-J catheter drainage.Results All the urgent symptoms in 17 cases were relieved after treatment.The stone-free rate of initial treatment was 82.4%(14 of 17).Three cases with residual stones were treated by Douhle-J catheters,which were replaced every 3 months until the calculi were re- moved.No abortion,premature delivery or complications such as ureter perforation occurred.Mild renal colic occurred in 1 case after insertion of Douhle-J catheter,and it was relieved 3d later;gross hematuria occurred in l case and disappeared 6 d later without treatment.All 17 patients had normal delivery and gave birth to healthy children.Conclusions Ureteroscopy is a safe and reliable method for the treatment of ureteric calculi during middle and late pregnancy.

Objective To establish the vascular endothelial cell lesion model of blood-stasis syndrome of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods ECV-304 cells of logarithmic phase were intervened and divided into the blank control group (group 1), health group (group 2), blood-stasis syndrome of diabetes mellitus group (group 3) and diabetes mellitus group (group 4). The activities of ECV-340 cells were observed by using MTT test. The morphological changes of the cells were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The levels of ET and NO were detected by using radioimmunoassay and nitrate reductase method respectively. The levels of endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR), von Willebrand factor (vWF) and thrombonodulin (sTM) were detected by applying double-antibodies-sandwich-ELISA method. The changes of free calcium in the cells were observed by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) taken Fluo-3/AM as fluorescence indicator. The distribution of actin microfilament was observed by using rhodamine phalloidin staining.Results ①The value of optical density (OD) decreased significantly in group 3 than that in group 2 (P<0.001). ②In group 3 ET level was higher than that in group 1 and that in group 4 (P<0.001), NO level was lower than that in group 1 (P<0.001) and had no statistical difference compared with that in group 4 (P>0.05). ③In group 3 EPCR level was higher than that in group 1 and lower than that in group 4(P<0.001), the level of vWF was higher than that in group 1 (P<0.001) and had no statistical difference compared with that in group 4 (P>0.05), and sTM level was higher than that in group 1 (P<0.001) and had no statistical difference compared with that in group 4 (P>0.05). ④In group 3 the distribution of fluorescence showed uneven and fluorescence intensity was higher than that in group 1 and group 4 (P<0.001). ⑤In group 1 and 2 the distribution of microfilament cytoskeleton was regular and clear with normal cell shape, while in group 3 it was broken and irregular, and in group 4 it was broken but regular.Conclusion ECV-304 cells showed various signs of vascular endothelial cell lesion after the interference by the serum from the patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The vascular endothelial cell lesion model of blood-stasis syndrome combined disease and syndrome was established initially.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the expression level of sRNA SpR19 and its potential target protein GroEL in clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans with different cariogenicity exposed to different pH conditions and explore the possibility of using these molecules as biomarkers for assessing the cariogenicity of the bacteria.

METHODSThe total RNAs were extracted from the clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans with high (strain 17) and low cariogenicity (strain 5) for high-throughput sequencing for profiling of the differentially expressed sRNAs. The candidate sRNA, SpR19, was selected for further study on the basis of bioinformatics analysis considering the role of its potential target in the cariogenic process. The differential expression levels of SpR19 in the strains exposed to both pH5.5 and pH7 culture conditions were verified by quantitative real-time PCR. The expression of the potential target of SpR19, GroEL, was also investigated at both the protein and mRNA level using Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTSBioinformatic analysis suggested multiple potential target sites of SpR19 both in GroEL mRNA and in the upstream and downstream inter-genic regions. Under different pH conditions, the highly cariogenic strain 17 expressed consistently low levels of SpR19 as compared with the strain 5 with a low cariogenicity; GroEL showed a reverse expression pattern in the 2 strains. An inverse correlation was found between the expressions of SpR19 and GroEL.

CONCLUSIONThe highly cariogenic strain 17 expressed low levels of SpR19 and high levels of GroEL in both acidic and neutral culture conditions. SpR19 may negatively regulate the cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutants by targeting at GroEL.

The study was aimed to investigate the anti-myeloma molecular mechanism of thalidomide (TLD) by detecting gene expression profiles of human myeloma cell line RPMI8226 treated with thalidomide. cDNA microarray were used to detect thousands of gene expression in gene chip. Two cDNA probes were prepared through reverse transcription from mRNA of RPMI8226 cells untreated and treated with TLD. These two probes were labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 fluorescence dyes respectively, then hybridized with cDNA microarray containing 1152 different human genes. The genes with differential expression in RPMI8226 cells treated with TLD for 72 hours were screened by scanning and analysis of computer software, and their functions were explored. The results showed that after co-culture of RPMI 8226 cells with TLD in 100 micromol/L concentration for 72 hours, 22 genes with differential expression were screened. Among these genes, the expressions of 4 genes were down-regulated including rpl32 gene, scya3 gene, mmp1 gene and igbp1 gene. Eighteen genes were up-regulated including wars gene, tubb4q gene, ube1l gene, txnrd1 gene and fyb gene. The study indicated that (1) wars gene encoding tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase was up-regulated by TLD, while mmp1 gene encoding matrix metalloprotein 1 was down-regulated, they may be related to the inhibition of angiogenesis caused by TLD. (2) scya3 gene encoding macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha and igbp1 gene encoding immunoglobulin binding protein 1 were down-regulated by TLD, they may play a role in the inhibition of cell proliferation caused by TLD. (3) tubb4q gene encoding tubulin beta4, ube1l gene encoding ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1-like protein and txnrd1 gene encoding thioredoxin reductase 1 were up-regulated by TLD, they may involve in apoptosis of RPMI8226 cells induced by TLD. (4) fyb gene encoding Fyn-binding protein was up regulated by TLD which associated with killing MM cells. It is concluded that 22 differentially expressed genes are involved in protein synthesis and degradation, cell signal transduction, cytoskeletal movement, immune modulation, cell metabolism, regulation of anti-oncogene and cell apoptosis, which relate directly or indirectly to molecular mechanisms of anti-myeloma effects induced by TLD.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Thalidomide ; pharmacology