Adult ; Ankylosis ; surgery ; Arthroscopes ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Huatuo Zaizao extractum (HTZZ) on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) neurogenesis in rats induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and its mechanism.

METHODTotally 55 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the sham operation group, the MCAO model group and HTZZ high, middle and low dose groups (5, 2.5, 1.25 g x kg(-1)), with 11 rats in each group, and orally administered with drugs. The focal cerebral ischemia model was established by performing a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, 90 min) followed by a seven-day reperfusion (once a day). The neurogenesis and expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) were detected by the immunofluorescent staining. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

RESULTMCAO (90 min) followed by a seven-day reperfusion resulted in the significant increase in the number of penumbra cortex newborn neurons (BrdU(+) -NeuN(+)), which was accompanied by the growth of ERK and CREB phosphorylation and VEGF and BDNF levels. HTZZ could promote the generation of newborn neurons (BrdU(+)-NeuN(+)) and the ERK and CREB phosphorylation and increase VEGF and BDNF levels at the ischemic side.

CONCLUSIONHTZZ could promote the neurogenesis, which may be the interventional targets of effective traditional Chinese medicine Huatuo Zaizao extractum in promoting the self-repair function of the cerebral ischemic areas.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Chinese herbal medicine for benefiting qi and nourishing yin to promote the blood circulation (abbr. as CHM) in promoting ventricular wall motion and myocardial contraction in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients after revascularization.

METHODSSubjects were 80 AMI patients after revascularization, of those, the 40 patients in the TCM group were treated with Xinyue Capsule and compound Tanshinon Tablet upon the basic conventional Western medical treatment and the other 40 in the control group were given conventional Western medicine alone, the course for them all was 3 months. Cardiac function indexes, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), wall motion indices, normal myocardial percentage (NMP), longitudinal systolic peak strain (LSPS) and rate (LSPSR), were observed by Doppler ultrasound under dobutamine stress at the 14 days after revascularization and the end of 3-month treatment.

RESULTSExcept the 5 cases (3 in the TCM group and 2 in the control group) dropped out in the observation period, the trial was completed in 75 patients totally. LVEF, NMP, minus LSPS of left ventricular anterior apex and inferior basement, minus LSPSR of anterior apex, middle, basement, and minus LSPSR of inferior middle, basement were more significantly increased in Chinese medicinal treatment group than those in the control group at 14-day after revascularization (P < 0.01). The treatment group, minus LSPS and minus LSPSR of the left ventricular anterior apex and the inferior basement were at markedly higher levels compared with the controls at 3-month after revascularization (P < 0.05). Minus LSPSR of the left ventricular anterior apex and the inferior basement in the treatment group at 3-month was higher than that at 14-day after revascularization (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCHM combining with conventional Western medicine treatment could improve the left ventricular contractive function and wall motion in AMI patients after revascularization.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Qi ; Stroke Volume ; drug effects ; Yin-Yang

Maintaining genetic diversity is a major issue in conservation biology. In this study, we demonstrate the differences of genetic diversity levels between wild and captive individuals of Elliot's Pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti. Wild individuals showed a higher genetic diversity level than that of the captive individuals. Nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity of wild individuals were 0.00628 and 0.993, while those of captive individuals were 0.00150 and 0.584 respectively. Only 3 haplotypes of mtDNA control region sequence were identified among 36 captive individuals, while 16 unique haplotypes were identified among the 17wild individuals in this study. One captive haplotype was shared by a wild individual from Anhui Province. It is concluded that a low number of founders was the likely reason for the lower level genetic diversity of the captive group. Careful genetic management is suggested for captive populations, particularly of such an endangered species, to maintain genetic variability levels.

Maintaining genetic diversity is a major issue in conservation biology. In this study, we demonstrate the differences of genetic diversity levels between wild and captive individuals of Elliot's Pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti. Wild individuals showed a higher genetic diversity level than that of the captive individuals. Nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity of wild individuals were 0.00628 and 0.993, while those of captive individuals were 0.00150 and 0.584 respectively. Only 3 haplotypes of mtDNA control region sequence were identified among 36 captive individuals, while 16 unique haplotypes were identified among the 17 wild individuals in this study. One captive haplotype was shared by a wild individual from Anhui Province. It is concluded that a low number of founders was the likely reason for the lower level genetic diversity of the captive group. Careful genetic management is suggested for captive populations, particularly of such an endangered species, to maintain genetic variability levels.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; genetics ; Animals, Zoo ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Galliformes ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

The study was aimed to isolate and establish mesenchymal stem cell line from adult murine bone marrow as well as to identify its biological characteristics and differentiation potential. Bone marrow cells (BMCs) were collected by flushing the femurs and tibias of 4 - 5-week-old male C57BL/6 mice, and were inoculated at a concentration of 1 x 10(6)/cm(2). mMSCs were isolated, enriched and expanded by using bone marrow adherant culture and monoclonal culture. The characteristics of the cells, such as morphology, growth pattern, cell cycle, phenotype, karyotype and multipotent differentiation potential, cytogenetic stability and tumorigenesis were determined. The results indicated that the cell population consisted of spindle- and star-shaped cells, they were highly positive for CD29, CD44, Sca-1, MHC-I, moderate positive for CD13, CD90.2 and negative for CD117, CD45, Flk-1 and MHC-II. mMSCs could be induced to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblast cells and chondrocytes. It is concluded that mMSC can be isolted, expanded and enriched by using bone marrow adhcrent culture and monoclonal culture. No tumor formations are observed for 3 months in nude mice after subcutaneous injection. mMSCs retain their properties after at least 30 passages in culture as well as from frozen stocks.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; metabolism ; Integrin beta1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude

Objective To stimulate the expansion of natural killer cells (NK) in vivo, to achieve high expression of Flt-3 ligand ( FL) in the mouse liver by hydrodynamic injection technology , to obtain high purity of NK for cell therapy and then to purify the spleen lymphocytes by MicroBeads sorting ( MACS ) technique.Methods C57BL/6 mice were repeatedly treated with hydrodynamic injection of FL expression plasmid .Then, surface markers of splenic NK were analyzed by flow cytometry and purified by MACS technique .Results Compared with mice treated with one hydrodynamic injection, the spleen of mice treated with two hydrodynamic injections showed significant variation, with the absolute num-ber of lymphocytes increased (6.02 ±1.15) times, the proportion of NK subsets increased (2.07 ±0.39) times, and the absolute number of NK subsets increased (12.49 ±2.39) times.Cell surface marker detection confirmed that NK activity and surface markers did not change significantly .NK with a purity of about (83.81 ±0.92)％ was obtained by the combination of two magnetic beads sorted with CD 5 ( Ly-1) MicroBeads Positive selection and EasySep TM Mouse NK Cell Isolation Kit negative selection .Conclusion NK can be expanded in the spleen of mice by hydrodynamic injection of FL plasmid without influence on the NK activity and surface markers.The combined use of CD5 (Ly-1) MicroBeads positive selection with EasySep TM Mouse NK Cell Isolation Kit negative selection can effectively remove T , B and other miscellaneous cells, thereby contributing to obtaining high-purity NK. This study provides good reference for the immunotherapy of tumor cells.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Multiple Sclerosis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

To explore the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA) and its derivants on angiogenesis of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and scavenging DPPH radical in vitro. The protection of benzyl and alkaline hydrolysis of benzyl ester were employed. The structures of PCA-1, PCA-2 and PCA-3, the derivates of PCA, were elucidated by 1H, 13C-NMR and MS data The bioactivity of PCA and its derivants was evaluated on the models of DPPH radical and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), respectively. PCA and PCA-1 showed the best activity of scavenging DPPH radical among all the compounds. In contrast to PCA-2, PCA and PCA-3 displayed inhibition to angiogenesis (P < 0.001). Pyrocatechol hydroxyl is the active site of PCA on scavenging DPPH radical in vitro. PCA with carboxyl and without pyrocatechol hydroxyl seems to show promotion to angiogenesis, but it needs more evidences.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biphenyl Compounds ; Catechols ; chemistry ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Picrates

Objective:To explore concordance between preoperative core needle biopsy(CNB)and resection specimen(RS)in evaluat-ing biomarkers and molecular subtypes with immunohistochemical method.Methods:A retrospective study was performed on 324 breast cancer patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital be-tween August 2015 and November 2016.All patients who had received neoadjuvant systemic therapy were excluded.The aim of this analysis was to report concordance between CNB and surgical specimens in evaluating biomarkers,such as ER,PR HER-2,Ki-67,and molecular subtypes.Results:There was concordance between estrogen receptor(ER)assessment on CNB and RS in 94.1%(305/324) of the patients(κ=0.84).Concordance of the progesterone receptor(PR)and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2) assessments were observed in 90.7%(294/324,κ=0.76)and 61.1%(198/324,κ=0.38)patients,respectively.Evaluation of Ki-67 re-vealed an accordance rate of 86.7%(281/324,κ=0.34),and the concordance for immunohistochemistry detection for assessing breast cancer(BC)molecular subtypes was 73.4%(91/124,κ=0.64).Conclusions:Although CNB showed good accuracy for evaluating hormon-al receptor status and BC molecular subtypes,its evaluation of HER-2 and Ki-67 statuses was less accurate than other biomarkers. Therefore,we should combine immunohistochemical results with both CNB and RS samples in order to improve accuracy when diag-nosing molecular subtypes.Moreover,improved diagnoses can provide the basis for more effective systemic therapies.