Objective To investigate the effect of astilbin on expression of CTLA-4 in activated T cells of mouse heart transplantation model with acute rejection.Methods Cardiomyocytes of BALB/ c mouse and spleen cells of C57BL/6 mouse were separated.The cardiomyocytes(2?10~5/ml)as irri- tation cells and spleen cells(1?10~6/ml)as responsers were mixed and cultured.The model of mouse heart transplantation with acute rejection in vitro was established.Three groups were set up:control group,Astilbin(15/?g/ml) group,Astilbin+anti-CTLA-4 mAb 9H10 (30?g/ml)group.Apoptosis of T cells was observed by TUNEL.The expression of CTLA-4 in activated T cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Apoptosis indexes of activated T cells in Astilbin group were sig- nificantly higher than those in the control group(73.4%?12.5% vs 35.1%?9.2%,P＜0.01). The expression of CTLA-4 in Astilbin group was significantly higher than control group(P＜0.01), but there was no apparently difference between control group and Astilbin+CTLA-4 mAb group(P＞0.05).Conclusion Astilbin induces apoptosis of activated T cells in heart transplantation,which may be partially related to its enhanced expression of CTLA-4.

mRNAs of alpha-adrenoceptor (α-AR) subtypes are found in neurons in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and change after peripheral nerve injury. In this study, the distribution of α-AR subtype proteins was studied in L5 DRG of normal rats and rats with chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve (CCI). Using immunofluorescence technique, it was found that α1A-, α1B-, and α2A-AR proteins were expressed in large, medium, and small size neurons in normal DRG, and significantly increased in all size neurons 14 days after CCI. α1D- and α2C-AR was also expressed in all size neurons in normal DRG. However, α1D-AR was significantly increased and α2C-AR was decreased in small size neurons 14 days post CCI. α2B-AR neurons were not detectable in normal and CCI DRG. Co-expression of α1A- and α2A-AR in the same neuron was observed in normal DRG and increased post CCI. Collectively, these results indicated that there is distinct distribution of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons, and the distribution and levels of expression of α-AR subtypes change differently after CCI. The up-regulation of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons may play an important role in the process of generating and transmitting neuropathic pain.

Objective To investigate the effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene modified neural stem cells (NSCs)transplantation on cerebral ischemic injury in rats.Methods NSCs from newborn rat hippocampus were isolated,cultured in a medium containing fibroblast factor (FGF) in vitro. Their proliferation and differentiation were detected by immunohistochemistry.Virus vectors pLXSN-BDNF were built and BDNF were transfected into NSCs.Biological activity were detected to obtained engineering stem cells of BDNF protein with secretary activity.Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models were made and transplanted with NSCs-BDNF by stereotaxic technique.The effect of transplantation on MCAO models was evaluated histologically and behaviorally.Results Statistical analysis showed that the behavioral performance of the animals improved after transplantation (Longa mark being 1.343?0.293 four weeks after stem cell transplantation).The number of hippocampal dentate gyrus neurons increased to 87.5%?6.6% , four weeks after stem cell transplantation on Nissle stained hippocampal sections,which was significantly different from that of controls.Positively BrdU stained neural stem cells revealed by immunohistochemistry in the cultured cells and in the transplanted brain sections,indicated that the engineering cells transplanted had survived in the host brain and began to proliferate.Conclusion Transplantation of BDNF genetically modified NSCs can effectively promote the recovery from cerebral ischemic injury.

Ion beam enhanced deposition (IBED) has been applied to prepare titanium oxide layer on titanium alloy (Ti6A14V) in order to improve its biocompatibility. The layer on titanium alloy is even, and the elements Al and V in substrate are not detected. The layer is composed of TiO containing nitrogen oriented along (111) plane. The critical load of the layer in scratch test is 16.8 N. Morphological observation reveals the layer ends in a failure caused by plastic deformation.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; chemistry ; Ions ; chemistry ; Surface Properties ; radiation effects ; Titanium ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

ObjectiveTo study the scope of excison in breast-conserving surgery for breast carcinoma.MethodsClinical data of 275 breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery in t he First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,the Affiliated Zhenjiang Hospital of Jiangsu University and Changzhou Traditional ChineseMedicine Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.The operation procedure and postoperative adjuvant therapy were carried out with the same protocol.Local and general conditions of patients were followed up regularly.Results271 out of 275 patients got follow-up.The follow-up rate was 98.5％.The follow-up time ranged from 1 month to 117 months,median follow-up time was 34 months.Six patients died of distant metastasis,2 with local recurrence.The 1-year,3-year,and 5-year overall survival rates were 99.5％,98.1％,and 95.7％,respectively.ConclusionsIt is safe to excise 1 cm normal breast tissue with clear margin confirmed by frozen section,followed by postoperative adjuvant therapy,endocrine therapy,and radiotherapy,this improves the life quality of patients with breast cancer.It is safe and effective to determine whether the disease is multicentric or multifocal by mammogram plus clinical breast examination.

Objective The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI in lesions with architectural distortion manifested in mammography. Methods A retrospective analysis of MRI was performed in 60 patients with 61 lesions manifested as architectural distortion in full?field digital mammography (FFDM) and subsequently confirmed by pathology or two year's follow?up, 30 were malignant and 31 were benign. All the patients underwent MRI within 2 weeks of mammography. MRI protocol included conventional MR, DWI and dynamic contrast?enhanced MRI. The breast imaging reporting and data system (BI?RADS) was used as the reference standard. BI?RADS categories 1 to 3 were considered as negative for malignancy and BI?RADS categories 4 to 5 were considered as positive for malignancy. ADCs of suspicious lesion of interest and glandular tissue were calculated. nADC was then calculated using the following formula:nADC=ADC(lesion)/ADC(glandular tissue). ADC and nADC were compared by using t test. ROC analysis was carried out to define the most effective threshold ADC and nADC value to differentiate malignant from benign lesion in the breast. Diagnostic performance of the FFDM, DCE?MRI and DCE?MRI combined nADC were calculated. Results ADC value of malignant and benign lesions was (1.35±0.31)×10?3 mm2/s and (1.07±0.40)×10?3 mm2/s, respectively . nADC values were 0.83±0.17 and 0.59± 0.25, respectively (t values were 2.82 and 4.54, P<0.01). Area under the curve of ADC and nADC were 0.829 and 0.753 respectively. When threshold of ADC was set at 1.19×10?3mm2/s, sensitivity and specificity were 71.0%and 86.7%, respectively. For a nADC value threshold of 0.589, sensitivity and specificity were 93.5%and 76.7%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy with FFDM were 80.0%(24/30), 9.7%(3/31) and 44.3%(27/61), Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy with DCE?MRI were 90.0%(27/30), 41.9%(13/31) and 65.6%(40/61), Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy with DCE?MRI combined nADC were 93.3%(28/30), 77.4%(24/31) and 85.2%(52/61), respectively. Conclusion Sensitivity and specificity with DCE?MRI combined nADC is higher, and DCE?MRI combined nADC values is helpful to differentiate malignant from benign lesions with architectural distortion manifested in FFDM.

Objective To investigate the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ? (PPAR?) in trophoblast and relation between PPAR? ligands and trophoblast invasion.Methods We examined the expression of PPAR? by immunohistochemistry,immunocytochemistry and real time quantitative PCR.We next examined,using the cytotrophoblast culture model,the biological role of PPAR? ligands in vitro.Results PPAR? was mainly localized in the nuclei of villous cytotrophoblast and extravillous cytotrophoblast of cell islands and cell columns.In villous tissue and cultured trophoblast from early first trimester,the level of expression of PPAR? mRNA and protein was 36.0?5.1,13.4?3.1 and 1.35?0.08,1.13?0.11;from late first trimester it was 23.3?5.5,6.1?1.3 and 1.17?0.03,0.86 ?0.05,and the expression of PPAR? was obviously decreased (P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of vascular graft material polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as gene carrier of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

METHODSThe PTFE strips were soaked in pCDI-hVEGF(121) solution,marked with EB solution, and then observed under ultraviolet light. The PTFE strips carrying pCDI-hVEGF(121) were soaked in normal saline and the value of optical density at 260 nm on different time was measured, then the controlled release curve was made. The PTFE strips carrying pCDI-hVEGF(121) were implanted into the left thigh muscles of rabbits and the PTFE strips without VEGF gene were implanted into the right. The expression of VEGF(121) mRNA versus beta-actin mRNA in muscles around vascular graft materials was evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The expression of VEGF(121) protein in muscle was determined by Western blot method.

RESULTThe fluorescence on PTFE strips carrying pCDI-hVEGF(121) was observed under ultraviolet light. The controlled release curve demonstrated that the gene release was fast during 0.5 -4 h, then slowed down afterwards,and lasted for 72 h. RT-PCR and Western blot showed VEGF(121)/beta-actin mRNA ratios were 1.053+/-0.356,1. 718+/-0.404, 2.021+/-0.303, 1.872+/-0.231, 0.986+/-0.254, 0.340+/-0.116 and VEGF(121)protein expression levels were 0.328+/-0.088, 1.019+/-0.105, 2.249 +/-0.203, 2.036+/-0.079, 1.670+/-0.132, 0.636+/-0.107 at 1, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 days after implantation, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe PTFE graft can be used as carrier of VEGF gene and VEGF gene can be transferred to skeletal muscle by this method.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Feasibility Studies ; Gene Expression ; Implants, Experimental ; Plasmids ; chemistry ; genetics ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

We predicted the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) active components and mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza based on network pharmacology. The active components of S. miltiorrhiza were obtained through TCMSP, PubChem database and literature research. The potential targets of the active components and HBV infection were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction and GeneCards databases, respectively. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by String database. Cytoscape software was adopted to construct a visual network of active component-disease target and perform topological analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed using DAVID platform. The molecular docking of key components and core targets was carried out by AutoDock Vina software. We screened out a total of 38 active components and 178 disease-component overlapping targets. Enrichment analyses obtained 405 related GO items and 68 signaling pathways, such as T/B cell receptor signaling pathways, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and mTOR signaling pathway. According to the results of molecular docking, most characteristic components of S. miltiorrhiza (miltionone Ⅱ, miltirone, protocatechuic acid, lithospermic acid, protocatechualdehyde) showed good affinity with the key targets (PIK3CA, APP, STAT3,AKT1 and mTOR). Furthermore, the anti-HBV activity of lithospermic acid, the representative active component of S. miltiorrhiza, and its regulation on PI3K/AKT and mTOR signaling pathways were investigated in an HBV replicating mouse model. Animal welfare and experimental procedures follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics and Welfare Committee of Hubei University. The results showed that lithospermic acid significantly inhibited HBV DNA replication, reduced serum HBsAg and HBeAg levels, and decreased the phosphorylation protein expression levels of AKT and mTOR in liver, indicating that lithospermic acid might exert the anti-HBV activity by regulating PI3K/AKT and mTOR signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVETo assess the antihypertensive effect and safety on medicine named 'Beijing Hypertensive No. 0' in a three-year treatment of primary hypertension.

METHODSA community-based intervention study was conducted. The antihypertensive effects and adverse events were observed.

RESULTS4000 patients with primary hypertension were randomly divided into two groups with 1529 patients treated with 'Beijing Hypertensive No. 0' and 976 patients treated with other antihypertensive drugs, among which 946 and 853 patients in the two groups completed the three-year study. After treatment, the systolic blood pressure decreased 13 mm Hg and 7 mm Hg while diastolic blood pressure decreased 8 mm Hg and 4 mm Hg in the 'No. 0' group and controlled group respectively. After three years of treatment, 90.0% and 79.5% in the 'No.0' group and in the control group had reached the BP 'fulfillment criteria', which were much higher than the baseline data. Side effects occurred in 33/1274 (2.6%) cases during three years' treatment with most commonly seen as dizziness, headache, palpitation and weakness. No serious adverse reactions occurred. There were some positive effects after treated by 'No. 0', including 0.13 mmol/L decrease of TC, 0.70 mmol/L decrease of LDL-C and an average 0.12 mmol/L increase of HDL-C. All of these changes were statistically significant. There were also opposite effects as 0.13 mmol/L increase of TG, 0.24 mmol/L increase of K+, and 0.88 mmol/L increase of Na+ on average, which were also statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONCompared with the conventional treatment, this treatment of 'Beijing Hypertensive No.0' was more convenient, safe and effective in treating mild to moderate primary hypertension in the community.

Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Male ; Safety