Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of terminating biochemical pregnancy (the stage in which intrauterine or ectopic pregnancy cannot be confirmed) with mifepristone and misoprostol. Methods Mifepristone (150 mg) combined with misoprostol (600 ?g) 3 days later were given to 500 biochemical pregnancies (G_1),500 early clinical pregnancies (G_2) and 500 clinical pregnancies (G_3) which were classified according to amenorrhea days,serum human chorionic gonadotropin-beta subunit (?- hCG) and vaginal B-ultrasonic examinations.All were observed for 6 hours after taking misoprostol and returned for assessment per week.Results Expulsion of conceptus was G_1 123 (24.6%,123/500),G_2 438 (87.6%,438/500) and G_3 467 (93.4%,467/500).Failure rate was G_1 6 (1.2%,6/500),G_2 24 (4.8%,24/500) and G_3 79 (15.8%,79/500) for ongoing pregnancies,hospitalizations for suspected ectopic pregnancies and surgical intervention for heavy or long-time bleeding.Bleeding cases during the administration of mifepristone were G_1 272 (54.4%,272/500),G_2 141 (28.2%,141/500) and G_3 87 (17.4%,87/500);the mean bleeding days were G_1 (5.8?1.5),G_2 (9.0?2.9) and G_3 (14.3?5.9) days.Other side effects including abdominal pain,nausea,vomiting and diarrhea were low and light in each group,increasing with advancing gestational age.Menses recovery was 486 (97.2%,486/500),452 (90.4%,452/500) and 433 (86.6%,433/500) for each group on scheduled time.Satisfaction was 499 (99.8%,499/500),485 (97.0%,485/500) and 369 (73.8%,369/500) respectively.Conclusion Mifepristone and misoprostol in combination is as safe,and effective for termination of biochemical pregnancies as ordinary medical abortion.It does not need to wait till ectopie pregnancy is excluded.

Different human thyroid carcinoma cell lines were treated with all-trans retinoic acid(RA). RA could inhibit cell growth,improve iodide uptake and increase some thyroid specific genes and retinoid acid receptor(RAR)mRNA expressions in FTC-133 cells.However,RA had no effect in C643,HTH74 and XTC. UC1 cells.These findings indicate that different thyroid carcinoma cells display diverse responses to RA.

The complete genomes of more cyanobacterial strains have been completed for sequence, and genetic engineering of cyanobacteria has evolved in the post-genome era. Since Kaneko and colleagues had completed the sequence for the complete genome of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 in 2001, functions of some genes in this genome, including fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) gene, have been predicated using the method of bioinformatics. However, little information is available regarding whether this gene can encode FBA and its product characteristics of related enzyme. Here, to explore this information, the predicted II-FBA gene-encoding region in Cyanobase database was cloned by PCR method and then ligated into pET-32a to generate the expression vector, pET-FBA-II. The results of SDS-PAGE indicated that the expression level of the expected target polypeptide was approximate 23.4 percent as compared to total protein and the molecular weight is about 40 kDa as compared to the protein molecular marker. The results of enzyme activity analysis showed that the activity of II-FBA was ~11.8 U per mg protein and owned a standard activity of II-FBA. To sum up, the results not only prove the functional prediction of this II-FBA gene from the Cyanobase database, but also provide the important conditions for further studying its physiological and biochemical characteristics and functions of the gene expression product.

Objective:To investigate the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in renal tissues of patients with hepatitis B virus- associated glomerulonephritis(HBV-GN).Methods:Twenty HBV-GN specimens with complete nephrology data and 10 normal renal specimens were randomly chosen for the present study.Cell apoptosis was detected by means of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated d-UTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)and the apoptotic index was calculated;immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of Bax and Bcl-2.ResuLts:The apoptotic index in HBV-GN group was obviously higher than that of the control group;the apoptotic cells were mainly distributed in the proximal and distal renal tubules and the collecting duct epithelial cells,seldom seen in the glomerular cells.The expression of Bcl-2 in HBV-GN patients was predominately present in the renal tubular epithelia cells(positive in the plasma,membrane and nuclear);the expression of Bax was found in both glomerular cells and renal tubular cells,mainly in tubular epithelial cells,seldom seen in Bowman's capsule or glomerular mesangial region.Conclusion:Apoptosis in the kidney of HBV-GN patients mainly occurs in the renal tubular epithelial cells;expression of Bax and Bcl-2 is mainly in the renal tubular epithelial cells,suggesting that the injury of tubular interstitial damage may be one of the important factors for the development of HBV-GN.

The 'ECU-1'environmental control units are applied to severely disabld individuals for operating home electrical equipments without other's help.They can freely turn on (off)lights,switch on (off)fan,watch on TV and give alarm for help,The function,principle and clinical application of 'ECU-1'is described in this paper.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) in osteonecrosis of the femoral head defect(ONFH) repair. MethodsAniaml model of ONFH defect were established with rabbits, which were divided into 3 groups,group A did not infill anything as control, nano Hydroxyapatite/collagen(nHAC) as group B,nHAC+MSC as group C.Histology change were investigated 4,8,12 weeks after operation respectively.Results groups B and C were different with group A. The difference between groups A and C was more significant. ConclusionMesenchymal stem cell has a strong activity of osteoconduction,it has a value in repairing the bone defect of ONFH and the treatment of ONFH.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Budesonide (BUD) on pulmonary vascular development and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in newborn rats with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) caused by intrauterine infection.Methods:The 15-day-pregnant SD rats were divided into control group and infection group [intraperitoneal injection of 0.35 mg/(kg·d) lipopolysaccharide], and the newborn rats born by the above groups were divided into 3 groups: BUD group (0.5 mg of BUD suspension), normal control group (NC group, equal amount of 9 g/L saline), BPD group (equal amount of 9 g/L saline), with 40 rats in each group, all of them were inhaled twice a day for 14 days.Ten newborn rats were selected at birth, on the 3 rd, 7 th and 14 th day after administration.Pulmonary histopathological changes and radial alveolar counts (RAC) were observed after HE staining, and the thickness of alveolar respiratory membrane was measured; the platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1/CD 31) in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the density of pulmonary microvessels was calculated; the expressions of VEGF, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 were detected by Western blot; and the levels of serum interleukin( IL)-1β and IL-18 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:With the increase of day-old, the lung tissue of newborn rats in NC group was gradually developed and matured, the structure of alveoli was clear, the size was uniform, the count was significantly increased, and no obvious pathological changes were observed.In BPD group, the lung tissue structure was disordered, the alveoli were different in size and few in count, and inflammatory cells were exuded from the alveoli or the alveoli space.Compared with BPD group, the pathological changes of lung tissue in BUD group were significantly reduced.On the 3 rd, 7 th and 14 th day after administration, compared with NC group, the RAC, average integral optical density of CD 31 positive cells, density of pulmonary microvessel and level of VEGF protein in lung tissue of BPD group and BUD group were lower, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05); while the thickness of respiratory membrane, level of NLRP3, Caspase-1 proteins in lung tissue and serum levels of IL-1β, IL-18 were significantly higher, and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05). Compared with BPD group, the RAC, average integral optical density of CD 31 positive cells, density of pulmonary microvessel and level of VEGF protein in lung tissue of BPD group and BUD group were significantly higher, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05); while the thickness of respiratory membrane, level of NLRP3, Caspase-1 proteins in lung tissue and serum levels of IL-1β, IL-18 were significantly lower, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The occurrence and development of pathological changes of BPD newborn rats caused by intrauterine infection can affect the development of pulmonary vessels through the inflammatory response of lung tissue.BUD can alleviate pathological changes in lung tissues of BPD newborn rats by reducing inflammatory reaction and up-regulating VEGF expression, promoting pulmonary vascular remodeling, and increasing pulmonary microvascular density.

The HPLC method was established to simultaneously determine the contents of myricetin, luteolin, apigenin and kaempferol in Wikstroemia indica ( L. ) C. A. Mey. The method was carried out on a Diamonsil C18 column (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm) eluted with the mobile phases of water containing 0.15% phosphoric acid and acetonitrile in gradient mode. The UV detection wavelength was 365 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 mL · min(-1) and the column temperature was set at 30 °C. All the standard compounds showed a good linearity in the range of 0.100 8-1.008 (r = 0.999 2), 0.484 8-4.848 (r = 0.999 0) , 1. 354-13. 54 (r = 0.999 6), 0.316 8-3.168 mg · L(-1) (r = 0.999 0) for myricetin, luteolin, apigenin and kaempferol, respectively. The average recoveries of these four flavonoids were 98.5%, 100.9%, 99.7% and 98.9% with RSD 1.2%, 1.7%, 0.81% and 1.6%, respectively. In conclusion, the method is simple, rapid and accurate. It can be applied for the quality control of Wikstroemia indica.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Wikstroemia ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDThe plasma concentration of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) is negatively correlated to renal function in glomerular diseases. Effects of VLDL on renal function have been partially attributed to the proliferation of mesangial cells. This study examined the potential role of the p42/44 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in mesangial cell proliferation induced by VLDL.

METHODSMesangial cells were treated with VLDL at different concentrations or for different time. The cell cycle of the mesangial cells was analyzed by XTT assay and flow-cytometry; MAPK activity was also assayed. In some experiments, cells were treated with VLDL together with or without 0.1 µmol/L PD 98059.

RESULTSTen to 500 µg/ml VLDL stimulated the proliferation of mesangial cells cultured in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect was associated with an increase in p42/44 MAPK activity. Increased proliferation of mesangial cells by VLDL was significantly attenuated by PD98059, a specific p42/44 MAPK inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that the p42/44 MAPK pathway is an important regulator of mesangial cell proliferation and of renal functions.

Animals ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Lipoproteins, VLDL ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesangial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley