Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a potent chemotactic and mitogenic factor, is involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis and platelet production. Our studies demonstrate the presence of functional PDGF receptors (PDGFR) on human megakaryocytes/platelets and CD34(+) cells, and their ability to mediate a mitogenic response. PDGF promotes the ex vivo expansion of human hematopoietic stem (CD34(+)) and progenitor (CD41(+)) cells. More significantly, PDGF enhances the engraftment of human CD45(+) cells and their myeloid subsets (CD33(+), CD14(+) cells) in NOD/SCID mice. PDGF also stimulates in vitro megakaryocytopoiesis via PDGFR and/or the indirect effect on bone marrow microenvironment to produce TPO and other cytokines. It also shows a direct stimulatory effect of PDGF on c-Fos, GATA-1 and NF-E2 expressions in megakaryocytes. We speculate that these transcription factors may be involved in the signal transduction of PDGF on the regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis. PDGF also enhances platelet recovery in mouse model with radiation-induced thrombocytopenia. This radioprotective effect is likely to be mediated via PDGFR with subsequent activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. It provides a possible explanation that blockage of PDGFR may reduce thrombopoiesis and play a role in imatinib mesylate-induced thrombocytopenia.
Animals ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; Mice ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Thrombopoiesis

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 explore epidemic characteristics and trend of livestock brucellosis in Zibo,and to provide a scientific basis for development of prevention strategies to brucellosis.Methods Epidemiology statistical analysis and forecast was made based on related information such as the active immunization data of human brucellosis,the infection data between people and livestock,and the active immunization data among livestock over the years since 1954.Results From 1954 to 2011,37 years had brucellosis cases reported in Zibo City,with accumulative reports of 380 cases,and the average incidence rate was 0.2512/100 000,distributed in 118 villages 56 counties 3 towns 5 districts of the whole city.From 1954 to 1988,only 14 years had brucellosis cases reported,with accumulative reports of 94 cases,and the average incidence rate was 0.1573/100 000.From 1989 to 2011,each year had brucellosis cases reported,with accumulative reports of 283 cases,and the average incidence rate was 0.3158/100 000,of which the highest incidence was in 2011 (45 cases).From 1958 to 2011,there were a total of 140 154 livestock went through serology monitoring,1162 positives,and the positive rate was 0.83％,while the total immunization number of sheep was 884 900,of which 28 years did not carry out immunization work.Conclusions The incidence rate has decreased year by year since the seventies of last century.But the epidemic is on the rise since 1989,while new epidemic areas are emerging and the history affected areas are still serious,therefore the brucellosis prevention and control situation is still grim.

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 observe the effect of nitroglycerin(NTG) on pulse wave velocity(PWV) in patients with hypertension(HTN).Methods36 volunteers,mean age 48.1±10.2 years,were divided into HTN group and non-hypertension(NHTN) group according to whether he or she had hypertension or not.The baseline PWV and PWV at 5th minute and 10th minute after sublingual NTG were detected.PWVs of the two groups were compared.ResultsThe basal PWV in HTN group was higher than that in NHTN group.PWV was reduced significantly after NTG were given sublingually 5 minutes or 10 minutes compared with baseline condition(both P<0.01).PWV 10 minutes after sublingual NTG raised a little compared with that after 5 minutes(P<0.01).PWVs 5 minutes or 10 minutes after sublingual NTG in HTN group were higher than those in NHTN group(both P<0.05).ConclusionNTG can reduce PWV in patients with HTN.

Imatinib mesylate has been commonly used in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, a significant number of CML patients treated with imatinib developed thrombocytopenia, oligocythemia, granulocytopenia. It has been confirmed that imatinib not only inhibits BCR-ABL mutations, but also suppresses other tyrosine kinase receptor genes such as PDGFR, JAK2V617F and C-KIT mutations, providing an important potential of targeted therapy for myeloproliferative disease. As the PDGFR, JAK2 and C-KIT play important roles in the regulation of hematopoiesis, suggesting that imatinib may block the phosphorylation of PDGFR, JAK2V617F and C-KIT receptors, interrupt the signal transduction cascades, disrupt cell differentiation and proliferation. In this review, the application and the potential molecular mechanism of imatinib in the treatment of thrombocythemia and other myeloproliferative diseases are discussed.
Benzamides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; drug therapy ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Thrombocytosis ; drug therapy

Imatinib mesylate has been commonly used in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, a significant number of CML patients treated with imatinib developed thrombocytopenia. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)/platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) plays a significant role in the regulation of thrombopoiesis. It is suggested that imatinib may block the PDGF/PDGFR and PI3-K/Akt pathway, then inducing the apoptosis of megakaryocytes and developing thrombocytopenia in these patients. In this review, the potential molecular mechanism of imatinib-induced thrombocytopenia in the treatment of CML patients is discussed, including imatinib and thrombocytopenia, PDGF/PDGFR and thrombopoiesis, potential mechanism of imatinib-induced thrombocytopenia in treatment of patients with CML and so on.
Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Piperazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Pyrimidines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Signal Transduction ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; Thrombopoiesis

OBJECTIVETo explore the differences of electroacupuncture (EA) on onset time and symptom improvement for treatment of different types of functional constipation.

METHODSThirty-eight cases of constipation were selected, including 9 cases of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C), 10 cases of slow transit constipation (STC), 10 cases of pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD) and 9 cases of inadequate defecatory propulsion (IDP). The electroacupuncture was applied at Tianshu (ST 25), Fujie (SP 14), Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25) and so on in abdominal and lumbosacral area, 5 times per week, 10 times as a treatment course. The onset time, score of clinical symptoms of constipation and improvement of every symptom in each group were compared.

RESULTS(1) The onset time was (1.78 +/- 0.83) days in IBS-C type, (3.11 +/- 1.90) days in IDP type, (4.10 +/- 1.85) days in STC type and (4.30 +/- 2.00) days in PFD type, indicating statistical differences between IBS-C type and STC type, IBS-C type and PFD type (both P < 0.05). (2) Compared before the treatment, the total scores of symptoms on the onset day in each group were all improved (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and score of IBS-C type was superior to the rest 3 types (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (3) EA improved desire to defecate or frequency of defecation in each type (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), in which both were improved in STC type and PFD type, and the improvement of defecation frequency was more significant in STC type (P < 0.01). EA relieved unsmooth defecation or pendant-expansion feeling in each type (all P < 0.05), in which both were improved in IBS-C type (both P < 0.05). EA relieved abdominal distension and pain in IBS-C type, STC type and PFD type (all P < 0.05), while its effects were not obvious on defecation difficulty, defecation time and defecation texture (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture for treatment of 4 types of constipation is characterized by rapid onset; the improved symptoms are not identical in the electroacupuncture treatment plan for each type of defecation; the main improvement of symptoms are lied on desire to defecate and frequency of defecation, unsmooth defecation or pendant-expansion feeling and abdominal distension and pain. Meanwhile the improvements of defecation texture, defecation difficulty and defecation time were not signi-ficant.

Adult ; Aged ; Constipation ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Defecation ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Floor Disorders ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Neuritin is a new neurotrophic factor found recently. In order to identify the function of Neuritin clearly, the coding sequence of human neuritin was amplified by PCR from neuritin cDNA , this fragment digested by NocI and NotI was inserted into pET32a by T4 ligase and transformed into E. coli BL21 then the recombinant plasmid named pET32a-neuritin was constructed successfully . Neuritin was expressed distinctly after inducing by EPTG. The product was identified as neuritin by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis . The expression production was purified on Ni2+-NTA column.