Hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) is a mesenchyme-derived pleiotropic factor which regulates cell growth,cell motility,and morphogenesis of various types of cells,and is thus considered a humoral mediator of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions responsible for angiogenesis,apoptosis and oxidative stress,etc.This article reviewed the relationships between HGF and cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To evaluate miniature probe endoscopic ultrasonography (mEUS) in diagnosis of submucosal tumor (SMT) of upper digestive tract.Methods We observed 91 patients with SMT,and mEUS was performed to assess the lesions arised from the specific layer of the wall.Results Among all cases,leiomyoma was the most common,57 cases,found in esophagus more than in stomach;14 of cysts,9 of vascular lesions,5 of lipoma,and 2 cases of malignant stromal tumors.Malignant lesions and part of benign lesions were confirmed by histological examination.Conclusion mEUS is a simple,safe and effective method for SMT,and it can be clue to the location and nature of SMT.

Objective:To study the effects of IGF-1 on the proliferation,total protein amount and cytodifferentiation of mouse dental follicle cells.Methods:The dental follicle cells of passage 3 were incubated with different concentrations((0.005),0.01,0.05,0.1 and 0.5 mg/L)of IGF-1 respectively,cell proliferation,alkaline phosphatase(ALP),total protein amount were measured by MTT assay and spectrophotometer respectively.Effects of 0.05 and 0.1 mg/L IGF-1 on mineralization potential were studied by Von Kossa staining.Results:IGF-1(ml/L) at 0.005~0.1 increased the proliferation and total protein amount(P

Objective To evaluate the possible roles of IL-18 in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods Serum IL-18 level was measured using ELISA, and serum HBV DNA content was detected by FQ-PCR. Results There was significant difference in serum IL-18 level between the fulminant hepatitis patients and chronic hepatitis patients or normal controls (P

Objective To observe the rotenone induced changes of nitric oxide (NO) concentration and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in rat caudate nuclei and blood plasma. Methods Wistar rats were daily administrated with rotenone at the doses of 0.335, 0.670 and 1.005 mg/kg(sc). Animals were sacrificed on days 30, 60 and 90. The NO concentration and the NOS activity in the caudate nuclei and blood plasma were determined by biochemical methods. Results At each time point of days 30, 60 and 90, rotenone induced significant increases in NO concentration and NOS activity in both the caudate nuclei and blood plasma in dose and time dependent manners. Conclusion Long term exposure to rotenone leads to the increase of nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase in brain tissues and blood plasma in rat.

Objective To investigate the expression of netrin-1 in placenta from patients with pre- eclampsia and the relation to placental angiogenesis.Methods Twenty patients with pre-eclampsia(12 mild cases and 8 severe cases)and 20 normal late pregnant women were investigated.The expression of netrin-1 mRNA and protein was determined with RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively.The placenta vascular density was examined by immunohistochemical F8 staining.Results (1)The values of netrin-1 mRNA in normal group and pre-eclampsia groups were 0.51?0.08 and 0.41?0.06;The values of netrin- 1 protein in normal group and pre-eclampsia groups were 26.4?1.8 and 20.5?1.3(P

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of intracoronary stenting for senile patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods42 senile patients with AMI underwent intracoronary stenting were analysed. Before and after stenting, the changes of the patients' blood pressures, heart rates and cardiac functions tested by ultrasonography were observed.Results45 intracoronary stents were implanted in 42 patients, one patient falled during hospitalization. The blood pressure was increased significantly, the heart rate decreased and the candiac function improved after stenting.ConclusionIntracoronary stenting is a very effective and safe therapy for the senile patients with AMI.

Traditionally, stem cells in adult tissues were believed to be restricted in their differentiation potential and limited to generate the types of cell present in the tissue in which the stem cell resides. Recently, however, many studies indicate that stem cells may display a broader differentiation potential, termed plasticity or transdifferentiation, than what was previously thought. But the validity of this understanding has been challenged by some investigators. In this review, the authors present some standpoints on stem cell plasticity and discuss some phenomena of stem cell plasticity observed on animal models those have been generally accepted currently.

Objective To investigate the relationship of circulating zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) as well as adiponectin with adiposity and insulin resistance in humans.Methods Serum ZAG and adiponectin levels were determined by ELISA in 285 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT),impaired glucose tolerance (IGT),and newly diagnosed cases with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).The relationships between circulating ZAG and insulin resistance or metabolic parameters were also explored.Results Circulating ZAG and adiponectin levels were all lower in T2 DM and IGT subjects than those in control subjects [ZAG:(37.14 ± 13.25 and 48.84 ± 18.74 vs 59.36 ± 16.20) mg/L,P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ; adiponectin:(27.79 ± 11.23 and 33.00 ± 9.42 vs 41.81 ± 13.68) μg/L,P＜0.01].Circulating ZAG was correlated positively with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and adiponectin (all P＜0.01),and inversely with body mass index,waist-hip ratio,FAT％,diastolic blood pressure,triglyceride,fasting blood glucose,fasting insulin,HbA1C,and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR,P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).By multivariate analysis,ZAG levels were independently associated with body mass index,HOMA-IR,diastolic blood pressure,and adiponectin (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusions ZAG levels,associated with fat,insulin sensitivity,and adiponectin expression,are likely to play an important role in insulin resistance and energy homeostasis in humans.

Objective To investigate the expressions of glial fibrilary acidic protein (GFAP) in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala in post-stroke depression (PSD) in rats. Methods Healthy adult SD rats w ere randomly divided into a normal group, a depression group, a stroke group, and a PSD group ( n=5 in each group). A model of focal cerebral ischemia w as induced by the intraluminal suture method in the stroke group;a rat chronic stress depression model was induced by using chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS) combined w ith single housing in the depression group;a model of focal cerebral ischemia w as induced by the intraluminal suture method in the PSD group. A rat PSD model w as induced by CUMS and single housing at 1 week after operation. The sucrose preference test (SPT) was performed in each group at day 1, 8, 15, and 29 after the first CUMS, and the open-field test ( OFT ) w as used to evaluate the depressive behaviors. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of GFAP in the prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus and amygdala at day 29. Results At day 29 after CUMS, the sucrose solution consumption in SPT and the scores of horizontaland vertical movement in OFT in the depression group and PSD group w ere decreased significantly compared w ith the normal group and the stroke group (al P<0.05);the numbers of GFAP immunopositive cel s in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala in the PSD group w ere significantly less than those in the normal group, depression group and stroke group (al P<0.05), and there w ere no significant differences among the normal group, depression group and stroke group (al P>0.05). Conclusion The decreased expression of GFAP in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdale may play a certain role in the process of PSD.