OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Huoxue Lishui Recipe (WHLR) containing serum on the expression of cathepsin L (CatL) in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced injury of mouse glomerular podocytes.

METHODSMouse podocyte cells (MPCs) in vitro cultured were divided into the normal control group, the model group, the dexamethasone (DEX) group, 10% WHLR containing serum group, 20% WHLR containing serum group, the vehicle serum control group. MPCs in the normal control group were cultured at 37 degrees C culture solution for 24 h. 45 mg/L puromycin was acted on MPCs in the model group for 24 h. On the basis of puromycin intervention, 1 limol/L DEX was co-incubated in MPCs of the DEX group for 24 h; 10% or 20% WHLR containing serum was co-incubated in MPCs of the 10% WHLR containing serum group and 20% WHLR containing serum group for 24 h. The vehicle serum control group was also set up by incubating with WHLR containing serum alone for 24 h. The expression of CatL and its substrate Synaptopodin in podocytes were detected by cell immunofluorescence staining. FITC-conjugated phalloidin was used to stain F-actin. A cortical F-actin score index (CFS index) was designed to quantify the degree of cytoskeletal reorganization in cultured podocytes.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the expression of synaptopodin significantly decreased and the expression of CatL significantly-increased in the model group. F-actin arranged in disorder, gradually forming pericellular F-actin ring. CFS index was obviously elevated (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the epression of synaptopodin increased, the expression of CatL decreased, and CFS index also decreased in the DEX group, 10% WHLR containing serum group, and 20% WHLR containing serum group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the DEX group, the expression of synaptopodin decreased in 10% WHLR containing serum group, CFS index also decreased in 20% WHLR containing serum group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWHLR could up-regulate the expression of synaptopodin, down-regulate the expression of CatL, and alleviate cytoskeletal reorganization of F-actin. It was helpful to stabilize the cytoskeleton of F-actin and improve the merging of podocytes.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cathepsin L ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; cytology ; Mice ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside ; adverse effects ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVE: To determine Ginsenoside Rg1,Ginsenoside Re and Ginsenoside Rb1 in Yixin fumai granula by HPLC.METHODS: Samples were determined on a Diamond C18(150 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m).The mobile phase consisted of accetonitrile-water by gradient elution with flow rate at 1 mL?min-1,UV detection wavelength at 203 nm,column temperature at 25 ℃ and sample size at 10 ?L.RESULTS: The linear ranges of Ginsenoside Rg1,Ginsenoside Re and Ginsenoside Rb1 were 0.645～6.450 ?g(r=0.999 8),0.54～5.40 ?g(r=0.999 7) and 0.605～6.050 ?g(r=0.999 9),respectively;the average recoveries were 100.59%(RSD=2.03%),98.70%(RSD=1.46%)and 98.99%(RSD=1.19%),respectively.CONCLUSION: The method is sensitive,simple and accurate,and it can be used for the quality control of Yixin fumai granula.

Objective To explore the surgical treatment of advanced rectal carcinoma in aged people. Methods The clinical data of 65 aged patients with advanced rectal carcinoma from 2000 to 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Results All cases were Dukes D stage or accompanied with hepatic metastasis. Hartmann's operation was performed in 26 cases, single lumen sigmoidostomy in 11 cases, double lumen sigmoidostomy in 11 cases and resection of hepatic metastatic cancer in 12 cases. Rectal upper arterial catheter chemotherapy was performed in 19 cases and hepatic arterial catheter chemotherapy in 15 cases. The 3-year survival rate of Hartmann's operation was 34%(9/26), and the average survival time was 20?3.17 months in the patients underwent rectal upper and hepatic arterial catheter chemotherapy, and 10?1.77 months in the patients who could not be treated surgically(P

BACKGROUND:Currently, there is a lack of efficient, non-invasive way to transplant stem cels to the target organ or tissue. Exploring a way to guide targeting transplantation of stem cels and to improve the efficiency of stem cel homing is now one of focuses in the field of stem cels research.
OBJECTIVE: To establish a simple and feasible method to chemicaly modify the cel surface using biotin-streptavidin reaction system, and to evaluate the efficiency of this method to label bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels (BMSCs) and its effects on cel biological functions.
METHODS: Passage 3 BMSCs were obtained by whole bone marrow culture method and verified by flow cytometry. Biotin, streptavidin, sulfonated biotin-N-hydroxy-succinimide were used to equip the adhesion molecule ligand, sialyated LewisX (SLeX), to the BMSCs surface. The labeling rate of BMSCs was assessed using fluorescence microscope, the vitality of BMSCs was evaluated by trypan blue staining, and the proliferation of BMSCs was evaluated by cel counting kit-8 assay. Adipogenic and osteogenic inductions were used to evaluate the effect of the method on the multi-differentiation function of BMSCs.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After culture for 2 weeks, passage 3 BMSCs were obtained and confirmed by expressing CD90, CD29 and lack of CD34, CD45. Biotin, streptavidin, sulfonated biotin-N-hydroxy-succinimide were successfuly used to equip sialyated LewisX (SLeX) to the BMSCs surface and had minor effects on the vitality, proliferation, and differentiation of BMSCs. This method was simple for surface modification and had a high modification rate of 88%. The homing of BMSCs modified by this method to the target organ or tissue could be greatly enhanced. Therefore, this method potentialy could have extensive and important applications.

Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Churg-Strauss Syndrome ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Laminin ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Risk Assessment ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Silicosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood

This study is to compare the influence of CYP2D6 *3 and *4 genotypes and phenotypes on the metabolic activity of CYP2D6 in Chinese Han, Uygur and Kazakh ethnic groups. Allele specific amplification (ASA) was used to determine the CYP2D6*3 and CYP2D6*4 genotypes. Phenotypes of CYP2D6 in all subjects were determined using dextromethorphan as probe drug by HPLC methods. Among the 132 Han subjects, one subject (0.76%) exhibited the *1/*3 combination, and one (0.76%) exhibited the *1/*4. Among the 136 Uygur subjects, 4 subjects (2.94%) showed the *1/*3 combination, 12 (8.82%) showed *1/*4, 4 (2.94%) showed *4/*4, and one (0.74%) showed *3/*4. Among the 116 Kazakh subjects, 2 (1.72%) exhibited the *1/*3 combination, 7 (6.03%) exhibited *1/1*4, and one (0.86%) showed *4/*4. This research revealed significant differences in the occurrence frequencies of the CYP2D6 genotype between Han and Uygur ethnic groups, as well as between Uygur and Kazakh populations. However, no difference was found between Han and Kazakh populations. In addition, the prevalence of PMs of the Uygur is comparable to that of the Caucasians. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the poor metabolism is different in these two populations.

Objective To investigate the methylation status of Foxp3 gene and its roles in immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease(KD). Methods Thirty children with KD and eighteen agematched healthy children consented to participate in this study. Quantitative methylation specific polymerase chain reaction(MSQP) was used to assess the methylation status of Foxp3 promoter and regulatory T cells specific demethylated region(TSDR) in CD4+ T cells. The proportion of CD4+ CD25 + Foxp3 + regulatory T (Tr) cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. Transcriptional levels of CD4+ CD25 + Foxp3 + Tr associating genes (Foxp3, CTLA4, GITR, LAG3 and CCR8 ) and Foxp3-dependent molecules (UBD and LGAIS3)were measured by real-time PCR. Results ( 1 ) Demethylation level of Foxp3 promoter in CD4 + T cells from patients with KD was lower significantly than that of health subjects( P ＜ 0.01 ), and increased significantly after treated with intravenous gamma globulin therapy(IVIG) (P ＜ 0.01 ). No difference of demethylation level of TSDR region was observed among all groups ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). ( 2 ) The proportion of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Tr in peripheral blood from patients with KD , as well as mRNA levels of Foxp3 gene in CD4+ T cells, was significantly lower than those of health subjects ( P ＜0. 01 ), and increases significantly after IVIG therapy (P ＜0.01 ). Significant positive correlations between demethylation level of Foxp3 promoter and the proportion of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Tr , or expression levels of Foxp3 in CD4 + T cells, were observed during acute phase of KD (CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ Tr: r=0.76, P＜0. 01; Foxp3: r=0.89, P＜0. 01). (3)Transcription level of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tr associating factors, such as CTLA4, GITR, LAG3 and CCR8, was significantly down-regulated in acute phase of KD(P＜0. 01 ), and up-regulated to some extent after treated with IVIG(P ＜0. 01 ). Expression levels of Foxp3-dependent molecules UBD and LGALS3 in CD4 + T cells decreased significantly during acute phase of KD (P ＜ 0.01 ), and basically recovered to the levels of health subjects( P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion Decrease of demethylation level of Fopx3 promoter is correlated with immune dysfunction in Kawasaki disease.

Attention was gradually paid by biologists to the using of RNA secondary structure in the classification of microbiology and phylogenetic relationship analysis in recent years. The development around the research was summarized here briefly. And more emphasis was given to the part introducing the application of RNA secondary structure to the analysis of phylogenetic relationship.

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) is one of the most important sources of new drugs.The rapid development of modern science and technology has brought new opportunities for TCM.Admittedly,new academic theory is getting into a golden period of innovation.Key technologies that enbody TCM features and adapt to modern drug-screening requirements are urgently needed.After five years' endeavor,the authors' group has made great progress in the new theories and methodologies for the discovery of bioactive compounds from TCM.In this review,a total of five key technologies:library-bioactivity-structure integration,biological and chemical fishing technology,ligand-and receptor-based virtual screening,profile-bioactivity relationship and the technology for discovering bioactive equivalent combinatorial components (BECCs),were introduced.In the text,several valuable demonstrations over the TCM-based drug discovery were provided,for uncovering the scientific basis of TCM and accelerating the process of TCM modernization.