BACKGROUND: Embryonic stem cell (ESC) is a kind of highly undifferentiated totipotent cell. It can proliferate and maintain its totipotency in the system cultured in vitro. It is one of most promising stem cells in thetreatment of central nerve injury.OBJECTIVE: To observe the survival and migration of induced transplanted ESC in mice with spinal injury and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.DESIGN: A completely randomized grouping design, controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Laboratory of Developmental Biology Research Center of Shanghai Second Medical University.MATERIALS: Sixty C57/BL6J mice, of clean grade and either gender, aged 6 to 8 weeks (n =30) and 7 days (n =30)were provided by the Shanghai Experimental Animal Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences [Permission No, SCXK (hu)2003-0003]. This animal experiment was approved by Animal Ethics Committee. Mouse ESC strain S8, labeled LacZ marker gene (Provided by Shanghai Developmental Biology Research Center). X-gal dyeing reagent (Sigma Company).METHODS: This experiment was carried out in the laboratory of Shanghai Developmental Biology Research Center (Shanghai Key Laboratory) from October 2002 to December 2003. ① Experimental grouping of spinal injury: Sixteen C57/BL6J successful mice models, aged 6-8 weeks, were randomized into 2 groups: experimental group (n =8), in which, following right spinal semi-sectioning, derivated cell suspension for inducing the in vitro differentiation of ESC was injected at 1 cm away from injury through vertebral canal, and control group (n =8), in which, following right spinal semi-sectioning, phosphate buffer solution (PBS) was injected at the peripheral region of injury. ② Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy experimental grouping: Sixteen successful C57/BL6J mice models, aged 7 days, were randomized into 2 groups: experimental group (n =8), following ligation of right common carotid artery, mice were placed in the closed container containing 0.08 volume fraction of oxygen and 0.92 volume fraction of Nitrogen gas, and taken out 1.5 hours later; 3 μL ESCs were injected into the right cerebral ventricle at about 1 week, and control group (n =8), in which, the same amount of PBS was injected into the right cerebral ventricle. ③ At 12 weeks after transplantation, the survival and migration of induced ESCs labeled by Lac-Z in the spinal cord and brain were observed by zymologic method.MATN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival and migration of ESCs in the central nervous system.RESULTS: ①After being induced in vitro and transplanted to spinal injured region, ESCs differentiated into neural precursor cells. Neural precursor cells could survive in the injured region and migrate to 5 mm away from injured region.Immunohistochemistry proved that the neural precursor cells of transplanted ESCs could differentiate into neurons.Morphologically, it was proved that neural precursor cells-derived from ESCs could well integrate peripheral tissue. ② The induced ESCs were injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle of mice. Derived ESCs widely distributed in the injured hippocampal region, cerebral cortex ventricle choroid plexus, vascular endothelium and other regions, and integrated peripheral tissue, which were similar to adjacent cells in morphology, suggesting that induced ESCs also could survive for long time and far migrate.CONCLUSION:The induced ESC can survive and migrate in the host injured brain and spinal cord, and the migration of ESCs is more obvious in the brain than in the spinal cord.

Objective To investigate the repair and protective effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on liver and bile duct after cardiac death in pig.Methods Eight pigs were purchased and cardiac arrest was induced by the administration of 1 g KCL intravenously,followed by 30 min cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to standard guideline.Cannulas were placed through inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta,and then connected to ECMO extracorporeal circulation pipes.ECMO was performed for 4 h.Circulation flow rate of hepatic artery and bile production were monitored and recorded.Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) in bile were detected.Transaminase,tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-1β (IL-13),hyaluronic acid (HA),endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in serum were detected.Pathological change was observed by HE staining under optical microscope and cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL.Results There was no bile production after cardiac death,which increased to 80％ of the baseline after 4h of ECMO.In addition,γ-GT,LDH and DBIL content in bile was (23.3 ± 11.8) IU/L,(15.9 ± 3.3) IU/L and (72.3 ± 21.4) mmol/ L,and IL-1,TNF-α and HA content in serum was (117.6 ± 39.0) ng/L,(120.4 ± 16.5) ng/L and (63.7 ± 4.4) ng/L,respectively,and no statistically significant differences were observed when compared with the baseline (all P ＞ 0.05).ET-1 content was (4.9 ± 1.3) ng/L and NO content was (135.3 ± 16.7)mmol/L in serum,which was statistically increased (both P ＜ 0.05).Pathological changes of liver and bile duct were significantly alleviated.Conclusion ECMO could exert protective effect on liver and bile duct after cardiac death.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of psychological intervention on anxiety of patients with motor neuron disease (MND) before stem cell transplantation via lumbar puncture.Methods40 MND patients were randomly divided into the group A and group B with 20 cases in each group. Every patient received anxiety assessment on the day of hospitalization, the day before transplantation as well as the day after transplantation. As to the patients in the group B, psychological intervention was performed before the second time anxiety assessment, while no such intervention to the ones in the group A. Then the assessment was statistically analyzed.ResultsThe patients in each group had anxiety. After psychological intervention, the assessments of the second and the third time of the patients in the group B were better than that of the patients in the group A ( P<0.01).ConclusionPsychological intervention before transplantation can effectively ease the anxiety of patients.

We investigated the pathogen of an outbreak of lung infection with unknown causes.By epidemiological analysis,we used real-time PCR,ELISA,gold dipstick,VITEK2 and MALDI-TOF-MS to identify suspicious bacteria.We made use of serum plate agglutination test to confirm the suspicious bacteria and the patient serum.We isolated 2 strains of Cryptococcus albidus from environmental samples.There has been specific agglutination between suspicious bacteria and patient serum.This pneumonia may be related to the infection of Ccryptococcus albidus.

Objective To investigate methods and experience of autologous granular fat transplantation by correction of aging face. Methods 178 cases of aging face subjects were treated by liposuction. Then autologous granular fat was harvested by liposuction,centrifuged and purified, and injected into marked areas of aging face. The injection process should be controled by multilevel and multiple tennel, in order to supplement the loss of facial soft tissue volume and improve the aging face. Results The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 3 years. All the subjects had a satisfactory results with no obvious complications such as fat liquefaction, infection and ulceration. The effect of autologous granular fat transplantation was obvious and permanent. Conclusions Autologous granular fat transplantation is a safe and effective surgical technique for facial soft tissue augmentation that can effectively improve aging face and worthy of clinical application.

The chemical consitituents from cytotoxic fraction of the Callicarpa nudiflora extract were isolated and purified by a combination of HP-20 macroporous resin, silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies. The structures were elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic data and comparison of their spectroscopic data with reported data. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay. The 50% and 70% EtOH elutions of EtOH-extract showed significant cytotoxic activities, leading to the isolation of twelve compounds, which were identified as luteoloside(1), lutedin-4'-O-β-D-glucoside(2), 6-hydroxyluteolin-7-O-β-glucoside(3), lutedin-7-O-neohesperidoside(4), rhoifolin (5), luteolin-7, 4'-di-O-glucoside (6), forsythoside B (7), acteoside (8), alyssonoside (9), catalpol(10), nudifloside(11), and leonuride(12). Compounds 3-6, 10 and 12 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compound 9 was isolated from this plant for the first time. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that flavonoids 1-6, in various concentrations, showed monolithic proliferation inhibitory activities against Hela, A549 and MCF-7 cell lines. Compounds 3, 5 and iridoid glycoside 11 possessed higher cytotoxicacivities. In short, flavonoids are the main components of cytotoxic extract from C. nudiflora, while phenylethanoid glycosides are the predominant ingredient but inactive to cancer cell lines. In addition, the minor iridoid glycoside expressed weak cytotoxic activity.
Callicarpa ; chemistry ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytotoxins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of repeated seizures and anti-epileptic drug on phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) in rat model of cognitive impairment, and the effect of Caoguo Zhimu Decoction (CZD) on it.

METHODSOn the basis of epileptic model induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), cognitive impairment model was induced by kindling epilepsy with PTZ everyday, which were then di-vided into the model-1 group, the CZD-1 group, the nimodipine-1 group, and those by injecting large dosage phenytoin sodium were divided into the model-2 group, the CZD-2 group and the nimodipine-2 group. Changes of pCREB protein in rat's hippocampus were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting assay.

RESULTSThe expression of pCREB was higher in the CZD-1 and nimodipine-1 group than in the model group, while it was significantly different in the CZD-2 and nimodipine-2 groups than in the model-2 group.

CONCLUSIONCZD could relieve the cognitive dysfunction in the epileptic model rats induced by everyday PTZ kindling or by dilantin through increasing the pCREB expression.

Animals ; Cognition Disorders ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kindling, Neurologic ; drug effects ; Male ; Pentylenetetrazole ; Phenytoin ; adverse effects ; Phosphorylation ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To examine the expression of odontoblast related proteins in dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs)induced by BMP-7.Methods:DPSCs were cultured in the common culture medium or medium supplemented with 1 00 ng/ml BMP-7.Electron microscope,CCK8 and immunohistochemical staining were carried out to estimate the cell morphology and differentiation.Results:In-duced by BMP-7,the morphology of DPSCs was not changed,the proliferation of DPSCs was slower than that of the cells without BMP-7 treatment.DPSCs were negative for the expression of DSPP,DMP-7 and ALP.However,DPSCs were found strongly positive for DSPP,DMP-7 and ALP after the induction of BMP-7.Conclusion:BMP-7 induction may promote the differentiation of DPSCs.

Objective To study the effects of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1(ET-1) on cholestasis liver fibrosis. Methods Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomily divided into 3 groups:the control group,the common bile dute ligation(CBDL)group,and the CBDL plus lactulose group.The animals were killed on the 3rd,7th,14th, and 21th days respectively to determine the contents of plasma endotoxin,NO,ET-1, and transaminases(ALT,AST).The degree of hepatic fibrosis was observed by microscopy and the ultrastructural changes of liver were observed by electron microscope. Results After common bile dute ligation,the contents of plasma ET-1 and NO increased significahtly,the plasma endotoxin level also increased and there were positive correlation between the levels of ET-1,and NO and the level of endotoxin.Plasma transaminases also increased greatly compared with those of the control group.The hepatic sinusoidal steonsis and widen Disse space were found.The diameter and number of fenestrate on hepatic sinusoid greatly decreased.Treatment with lactulose could partially alleviate all the pathological changes noted above. Conclusions NO and ET-1 may damage the "liver sieve"to cause the cholestasis liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the presence and significance of Th9 cells and the related transcription factor ( PU.1 ) and cytokine ( IL-9 ) in peripheral blood of patents with hashimoto thyroiditis ( HT) .Methods Thirty patients with HT and thirty age/gender matched healthy subjects were recruited in this study.The peripheral blood and serum samples were collected from each subject.The percentages of Th9 cells and the transcriptional levels of PU.1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMCs) were meas-ured by flow cytometry analysis and real-time RT-PCR.The concentrations of IL-9, the functions of thyroid and the titers of thyroid-specific autoantibodies ( TPOAb and TgAb) in serum samples were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay analysis ( ECLIA) .Results Compared with healthy subjects, the percentages of Th9 cells and the expression of PU.1 at mRNA level in PBMCs and the concentrations of IL-9 in serum samples were all significantly in-creased in patients with HT [(1.49±0.68)%vs (0.87±0.24)%], 4.91±2.14 vs 1.66±0.52, (26.90± 7.74) pg/ml vs (16.71±5.87) pg/ml, all P<0.01).Serum concentrations of IL-9 were positively correla-ted with the percentages of Th9 cells (r=0.419, P=0.021).Moreover, the percentages of Th9 cells were positively correlated with the titers of TPOAb and TgAb in serum samples (r=0.394, P=0.032;r=0.457, P=0.011) of patients with HT.Conclusion The levels of Th9 cells and the related cytokine IL-9 were in-creased in the peripheral blood of patients with HT.A positive correlation was found between the percentage of Th9 cells and the titers of thyroid-specific autoantibodies.This study indicated that Th9 cells might be in-volved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune damage in thyroid.