BACKGROUND:As the multipotent differentiation potential, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells exert an important role in bone metabolism disorders, which is regulated by a variety of hormones and cytokines. Currently, the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are unclear, and association between histone deacetylase (Hdac) and osteoporosis needs to be further explored. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the epigenetic mechanisms of bone formation by analyzing the expression of Hdac1, 3, 4 mRNA profile in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells isolated from ovariectomized mice. METHODS:A total 30 female healthy Kunming mice were randomly divided into sham group and ovariectomy group. After 7 days of adaptive feeding, mice in the ovariectomized group (n=15) were subject to bilateral ovariectomy;mice in sham group (n=15) were sham-operated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the ovariectomy group, the trabecular bone of the femur was sparse or broken, the width of trabecular bone was narrowed, the trabecular separation was widened, and the trabecular bone volume was reduced. The level of Hdac3 mRNA was lower in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from ovariectomized mice compared with controls, but there was no significance between Hdac1, Hdac4 mRNA expression of the two groups. These findings demonstrate that Hdac might play an important role in bone remodeling in the model of estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis.

AIM: To provide the applied ground of the formulation of Rhizoma Phragmitis by setting up a fingerprint of Rhizoma Phragmitis. METHODS:We gained the extracts of Rhizoma phrapmitis by acetone extraction and assayed its extracts by means of HPLC, with a mobile phase of water (1% acetic acid)-water(5% acetonitrile) on inertsil ODS-3 column. an ultraviolet detector was at 250 nm. RESULTS:Fingerprint was established on the basis of the relative retention value and the relative peak area. CONCLUSION: The method is of high sensitivity and good reproducibility.

OBJECTIVE: To perform the validation and analysis of forensic parameters of Goldeneye DNA ID 26Y system. METHODS: Based on the validation rules of Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM), the kit was assessed from several parts, as test of PCR system, reproducibility, accuracy, and sensitivity, etc. And Y-STR loci of 517 unrelated healthy individuals from Eastern China were genotypes by this kit. The distribution and frequency of haplotype were calculated and forensic parameters of the kit were assessed. RESULTS: The complete profiles can be obtained even when the PCR reaction volume with 6.25 microL. And correct profile was obtained with DNA down to 125 pg. No reproducible peaks were detected with the DNA of common animals and microorganism with the kit. For the male-male mixture testing, average 70% of the minor alleles were obtained when the ratios of 1:19 and 19:1. For the male-female mixture testing, results showed that the sensitivity of the kit was no compromised with the addition of female samples. CONCLUSION The validation studies demonstrated that Goldeneye DNA ID 26Y system has good sensitivity and specificity, and suitable for mixture testing. The polymorphism of 26 Y-STR loci included in this kit are good for forensic application.
Alleles ; Animals ; Asian People/genetics* ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting/standards* ; Female ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic data of 21 autosomal STR included in Goldeneye™ DNA ID 22NC Kit in Chinese Han nationality and to evaluate the forensic application. METHODS: By detected 500 unrelated healthy individuals in Chinese Han nationality of East China with Goldeneye™ DNA ID 22NC Kit, allele frequencies, population genetics parameters and linkage disequilibrium information of the 21 autosomal STR were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: In the 21 autosomal STR, no deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected and all loci were independent form each other. DP values of 21 autosomal STR were all above 0.85, and the combined discrimination power was 1-3.616 5 x 10(-26). Combined mean exclusion chance of this system in duo cases was 1-2.786 81 x10(-6), in trio cases was 1-8.545 82 x 10(-1). CONCLUSION Twenty-one autosomal STR included in Goldeneye™ DNA ID 22NC Kit are highly polymorphic in the Han nationality. Combined with Goldeneye™ DNA ID 20A Kit, the kit can satisfy the needs for full-sibling testing and facilitate the solution of this kind of case tools.
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; China ; Ethnicity/genetics* ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Loci/genetics* ; Genetic Markers/genetics* ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

Increasing attention has been focused on the antitumor activity of artemisinin derivatives in recent years, for artemisinin had been reported to have cytotoxic effects against HL-60, P388 and MCF-7 tumor cells. We report here the synthesis and evaluation for antitumor activity of a series of artemisinin-ether derivatives bearing tetrahydropyrrole, morpholine, piperidine, substituted piperidines and azoles with various linkers. Sixteen 10-O-substituted dihydroartemisinin derivatives were designed and synthesized, all of which have never been reported in literatures and whose antiproliferative effects on human breast cancer MCF-7, MCF-7/Adr and HL-60 cells were determined by MTT assay or direct cell counting. Each of these artemisinin derivatives possessed better effects than dihydroartemisinin evidently against HL-60 and MCF-7 cells growth, while less potent than doxorubicin. All target compounds exhibited significantly improved potency compared to DHA and doxorubicin on the doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7/Adr cells, so did they in their sensitive counterparts MCF-7 cells. Among them, compounds GF02, GH04 and ZH04 showed strong activity against these three cell lines growth. Further research is undergoing.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Artemisinins ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Design ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of depression on clinical outcome of patients undergoing revascularization.

METHODSSelf-rating depression scale (SDS) assessment was made before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, n = 345) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, n = 308) procedure. Patients were divided into depression and non-depression group. All patients were followed up for 12 months after procedure for the occurrence of rehospitalization and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization.

RESULTSDepression was present in 40.9% (n = 141) of patients after CABG, which was significantly higher than before procedure (24.3%, P < 0.01). The MACE rate was significantly higher in patients with post-procedure depression [8.5% (12/141)] than in patients without depression [2.9% (6/204), P < 0.05] and the incidences of target lesion revascularization and rehospitalization were also significantly higher in depression patients than in non-depression patients during the 12 months follow-up (all P < 0.05). Depression was present in 36.4% (n = 112) of patients after PCI, which was significantly higher than that before procedure (28.6%, P < 0.05). The MACE rate [8.0% (9/112) vs. 2.0% (4/196)] and rehospitalization rate [12.5% (14/112) vs. 4.6% (9/196)] were significantly higher in depression patients than in patients without depression during the 12 months follow-up (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference on SDS score between the PCI and CABG before the procedure. However, after the procedure, the SDS score for patients undergoing CABG was significantly higher than in patients undergoing PCI (48.9 ± 9.8 vs. 45.7 ± 10.5 P = 0.01). The level of serum IL-6 was significantly higher in depression patients than in patients without depression (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPrevalence of depression is high in patients treated with revascularization procedures and is linked with poor post-procedure prognosis.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Disease ; diagnosis ; psychology ; therapy ; Coronary Stenosis ; Depression ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and heat co-exposure on serum urea and creatinine (Cr) concentrations in rats.

METHODSMale Wistar rats were randomized into normothermic saline injection control group (group C), heat exposure saline injection group (group H), normothermic LPS injection group (group L), and heat exposure LPS injection group (group HL). The rats in groups H and HL were exposed to heat in a chamber at an dry bulb temperature (Tdb) of 35.0-/+0.5 degrees Celsius, and those in groups C and L were kept in a chamber at Tdb of 26-/+0.5 degrees Celsius. LPS (8 mg/kg) was injected via the tail vein in the rats in groups L and HL to induce endotoxemia, while those in groups C and H were given normal saline injection (8 ml/kg) via the tail vein. The serum levels of urea and Cr were determined at the time points of 0, 40, 80, and 120 min after the injections.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in serum Cr level at any level of the main effects of time, drug, or Tdb (P>0.05), but serum urea level varied significantly between the different time points, different levels of Tdb, and the drug injections (P<0.01). Significant interactions were identified between the time after injection, injected agents, and Tdb (P<0.01). Except for those in the group C, all rats showed elevated serum urea levels 40 min after the injection, particularly those in group HL. The serum urea levels were positively correlated to the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCo-exposure to LPS and heat in rats may elicit and worsen systemic inflammatory response syndrome and kidney injury.

Animals ; Creatinine ; blood ; Hot Temperature ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Septic ; blood ; etiology ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; blood ; etiology ; Urea ; blood

AIM: To investigate therapeutic efficiency of amniotic extraction on dry eye in rabbit model induced by topical benzalkonium chloride (BAC).
METHODS: Totally 26 rabbits (26 right eyes) with dry eye model were studied and divided into two groups:group A (control group with PBS eye drops, n = 13) and group B ( amniotic extraction group, n = 13). Another two rabbits were chosen as normal control. The SchirmerⅠ tests ( S Ⅰ t) and corneal fluorescein staining ( FL) were made, and the tear total protein content, amylase activity, lactoferrin, lysozyme contents, goblet cell density were performed in two groups before treatment and 1, 2, 4 and 8 wk after treatment.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in SIT, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density among different groups at different time points (P<0. 05). But, there was no significant differences in SⅠt, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups before treatment (P>0. 05). After 8wks' treatment with PBS, the mean differences of the group A showed great changes in SⅠt, lysozyme and goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P < 0. 05); but there was no significant differences in FL scores compared with those before treatment (P>0. 05). As for group B, 8wks after treatment, there were statistical changes in SⅠt, FL, lysozyme (P<0. 05); but there was no significant differences in goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P > 0. 05). It was evident that statistical differences were observed in S Ⅰ t, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups at each time point (P<0. 05). However, there were no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity at different time points (P>0. 05). Meanwhile there was no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups before treatment ( P > 0. 05 ). But there were significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups after 4 and 8 wks'treatment (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: Amniotic extraction has significant therapeutic effect on the dry eye in rabbit model.

Objective: To learn the results of MNA ( mini nutritional assessment ） nutrition screening and influencing factors in the elderly living at home, so as to provide basis for improving the nutritional status of the elderly living at home. Methods: The elderly people at home were recruited from Yinzhou District, Yiwu City and Changshan County in Zhejiang Province by the multi-stage random sampling method. Their demographic information, living habits and nutritional status were collected by the MNA scale and the questionnaire for nutrition and health status surveillance. The multivariate linear regression model was used to analyze influencing factors for the nutritional status. Results: Of 374 study subjects, 186 ( 49.73% ) were males and 188 ( 50.27% ) were females. The age was ( 69.63±6.68 ) years ( range, 60-90 years ). The average score of MNA scale was 25.26±2.81. The prevalence of malnutrition risk in the elderly living at home was 20.59%. Age ( β'=-0.140), marital status ( β'=0.110 ), annual income ( β'=0.155 ), active physical exercise ( β'= 0.104 ), eating health products/nutritional supplements ( β'= 0.110 ) and satiety ( full diet β'=0.196 ) were influencing factors for MNA scores ( P<0.05 ）. Conclusion The prevalence of malnutrition risk among the elderly living at home is 20.59%. The prevalence increases with age. Having a spouse, doing active physical exercise, eating health products/nutritional supplements, having healthy eating habits are conducive to maintaining the nutritional health of the elderly.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on central vestibular disequilibrium syndrome.

METHODSForty-six cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 23 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20) and other points, combined with rehabilitation training, and the control group with the rehabilitation training. After treatment for 4 weeks, the Berg Balance Scale and the parameters of static posturogram were observed to assess the therapeutic effects.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86.96% in the treatment group and 65.22% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05); after treatment, the treatment group in the cumulative score for the Berg Balance Scale was superior to the control group (P<0.05); and the parameters of static posturogram with opening eyes in the treatment group improved significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture plus rehabilitation training is an effective method for central vestibular disequilibrium syndrome.

Acupuncture Points ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Eye ; Humans