OBJECTIVETo study the molecular mechanism of extracts from Euodia rutaecarpa on hepatotoxicity in mice.

METHODTotally 30 KM mice were divided into 3 groups and orally administrated extracts from E. rutaecarpa for consecutively 15 days. The expressions of Erkl/2, CDK8, CK1e, Stat3 and Src were detected by Western blotting method.

RESULTThe extracts from E. rutaecarpa could up-regulated Erkl/2, CDK8 and CK1e expressions (P <0.01) and down-regulate Stat3 and Src (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe molecular mechanism of E. rutaecarpa on hepatotoxicity may be correlated with Erkl/2, CDK8, CKle, Stat3 and Src signal molecules.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Evodia ; chemistry ; Female ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Up-Regulation

Objective To investigate the value of multi-slice CT (MSCT) in diagnosing early acute appendicitis (AA).Methods From June 2008 to June 2011,abdomen MSCT images of 41 patients with acute simple appendicitis confirmed by surgery and pathology were evaluated retrospectively. Thirty-six patients with clinically confirmed normal appendix served as the control groups with 18 patients in complicated-normal-appendix (CNA) group and 18 patients in noncomplicated-normal-appendix (NCNA)group. The appendix was reconstructed by using multiplanar reformation (MPR) and curved planar reformation (CPR) techniques. The differences between early AA and normal appendix in appendiceal diameter,thickness of the appendiceal wall, maximum depth of the intraluminal appendiceal fluid (MDIAF), abnormal enhancement of the appendiceal wall, appendicolith and the periappendiceal abnormalities were evaluated and compared by using analysis of variance,R test and Chi-square test.Results The mean thickness of the appendiceal wall was (2.88 ±0.62),(2.58 -±0.50) and (2.73 ±0.53) mm in early AA,CNA and NCNA groups respectively,with no statistically significant difference among them ( F =1.73,P=0.19).The nean appendiceal diameter was (11.37 ± 1.94),(7.03 -±0.89),(6.75 ±0.63) mm,and median MDIAF was 4.05 (2.65-8.50),1.68 (0-.40),0 (0-1.90) mm in early AA,CNA and NCNA groups respectively,with statistically significant differences between early AA and the two normal appendix groups ( Z =7.02,7.24 ; P =0.00 ).The abnormal enhancement of appendiceal wall was found in 61.1％ (11/18) of early AA,16.7％ (3/18) of CNA and 11.1％ (2/18) of NCNA groups respectively,with statistically significant differences between early AA and the two normal appendix groups (x2 =12.83,P =0.00). Using a cutoff value of 7.8 mm of the appendiceal diameter and 2.6 mm of MDIAF for the early AA,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were 97.6％ (40/41),91.7％ (33/36) and 94.8％ (73/77),and 100.0％ (36/36),88.9％ (32/36) and 94.4％ (68/72),respectively.Conclusions MSCT is particularly useful for the diagnosis of early AA. When appendiceal diameter is greater than 7.8 mm,and MDIAF greater than 2.6mm,early AA can be diagnosed with confidence.

BACKGROUND:Sirius red is a strong acid anionic dye. Being not-easyto-fade and specific, sirius red becomes the best dye for collagen staining.Collagen is a major component of extracellular matrix and has some specific physiological functions. Through synthesis and reconstruction of collagen, bone fracture repair will be accomplished.OBJECTIVE: Picric acid-Sirius red stained slides were observed under a polarized light microscopy for evaluation the dynamic changes in the ratio of different collagen types and their distributions in bone fracture healing.DESIGN: It was a controlled observation.SETTING: It was conducted in the Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University; Department of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin Hospital; Department of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Jishuitan Hospital,Medical Department, Peking University; Tissue Engineering Center of Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences of Chinese PLAMATERIALS: It was conducted at Tissue Engineering Center of Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences of Chinese PLA from March 2002 to September 2003. Three healthy adult Chinese sheep, male and in weight from 25 to 35 g, were selected.METHODS: All the animals were anesthesized and sterilized; a transverse osteotomy of the trunk of metatarsus was performed; and the end of fracture was fixed with a six-hole Medoff sliding plate. At the post-operative month 1, 3 and 6, samples were taken from bone fractures. After decalcification with EDTA, they were stained with Picric acid-sirius red, and the types and distribution of collagens were observed under a polarized light microscopy.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Types and distributions of collagens in bone lesion in different period of bone healing were investigated.RESULTS: Three sheep used in this study entered the statistical analysis.①Morphological features of various collagens under a polarized light microscopy postoperatively: Type Ⅰ collagen packed tightly, with a strong refraction and yellow, orange or red thick fibres. Type Ⅱ collagen formed a loose reticulation with fibres exhibiting different colour and a weak refraction. Thin fibres of type Ⅲ collagen with weak refraction and green colour formed a loose reticulation. ②Quantitative studies on various collagens under a polarized light microscopy postoperatively: At postoperative month 1,red or orange fibres (type Ⅰ collagen) were rarely seen in bone fracture,while green fibres (typical of type Ⅲ collagen) were dominant with a disorder pack. At postoperative month 3, red or orange fibres increased significantly and the ratio of type Ⅲ collagen reduced. The collagen fibres assembled regularly. At postoperative month 6, thick yellow-red collagen became dominant and thin green type Ⅲ collagen decreased dramatically and arranged in an obvious oblique, spiral and crossed orientations.CONCLUSION: Picric acid-sirius red stain combined with polarized light microscopy technique is not only capable of identifing type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagens in bone fraction, but also can reflect the morphological features,distribution and the ratio of these two type collagens. This approach has the virtues of easiness in operation, strong specificity and high sensitivity.

On the basis of the Uncaria transcriptome, specific primers were designed for UrSTR. The full-length cDNA of UrSTR (GeneBank: OL310251) was 1 541 bp, encoding 345 amino acid residues, and the promoter region sequence of UrSTR (GeneBank: OL310252) was 1 179 bp. Phylogenetic tree is revealed that UrSTR had a closest relationship with STR from Ophiorrhiza pumila and Ophiorrhiza japonica. Localization of UrSTR protein is revealed located in the vacuole membrane. Plant-care analysis indicated that the promoter region sequence of UrSTR, covering multiple light, stress and hormone-response cis-regulatory elements, and verified transcriptional activity. The results of SDS-PAGE show that pET-28a-UrSTR recombinant protein was successfully expressed, and the size was anticipated. The UrSTR prokaryotic expression system needs to be optimized in the later stage. The research lays the foundation for further purification to study its structure and functional characterization of the UrSTR protein.

In order to study the chondrogenic phenotype differentiation of adult sheep bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a defined medium as potential seed cells for cartilage tissue engineering. MSCs were isolated by density centrifugation with Percoll solution from bone marrow aspirated from sheep iliac crest. The third passage of MSCs were induced with H-DMEM containing TGF-beta3, IGF-I, Dexamethasone and VitC. The shape and ultrastructure of cells were observed, toluidine blue stain for GAG and immunohistochemistry for type II collagen were applied for chondrogenic phenotype identification. After 14 days of induction, MSCs changed from a spindle-like appearance to a polynal shape, a large amount of endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex and mitochondria were observed, and the differentiation of MSCs chondrogenic phenotype was verified by positive staining of toluidine blue and immunohistochemistry. MSCs derived from bone marrow can differentiate to chondrogenic phenotype when induced in vitro and can be used as optimal seed cells for cartilage tissue engineering.
Bone Marrow Cells/*cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes/*cytology ; *Chondrogenesis ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*cytology ; Phenotype ; Sheep ; Tissue Engineering

Nitrite reductases (NiRs) are the key enzymes in the denitrification pathway of the nitrogen cycle. By the catalysis of NiRs, the nitrites are turned into nitric oxides and the nitrogen pollution is decreased in water body. NiRs are divided into two different types based on their prosthetic groups, namely heme-containing nitrite reductases (cd1-NiRs) and Copper-containing nitrite reductases (Cu-NiRs). As all know, Cu-NiRs have trimeric structures, in their each monomer, there exist two types of Cu centers that play pivotal roles as the components of electron transfer pathway in the process of catalysis. Furthermore, some residues alteration of Cu-NiRs would contribute to the catalytic reaction. In this review, the latest progresses about the construction features, the process of electron transfer and catalytic mechanism of Cu-NiRs were discussed.

The practice and exploration of bilingual teaching for the course of microbiology has been made in order to improve the students foreign lingual level and to meet the higher requirement on tip-top person with the social development. As a result,bilingual teaching is welcome,and the teaching effect is so distinct that the aim was reached to either study the fundamental knowledge or enhance the English level.

To establish a method for detecting microdialysis recovery of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and ferulic acid (FA) and investigating the influencing factors, providing the basis for further in vivo microdialysis experiments. The concentration of FA and TMP in dialysates were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography ( HPLC) and probe recovery were calculated respectively. The influence of the flow rates, medium concentration, temperature and in vivo probe stability on the recovery of FA and TMP were investigated by using concentration difference method (incremental method and decrement method). The recovery obtained by incremental method were similar to by decrement method. The in vitro recovery rate of FA and TMP decreased with the increase of 1-2.5 μL min(-1), and increased obviously with the temperature of 25-42 degrees C under the same conditions. The concentration of FA and TMP had no obvious effect on the probe recovery under the same flow rate. In addition, the recovery of TMP and FA remained stable and showed similar trends under the condition of four concentration cycles, indicating that the intra day reproducibility of the concentration difference method was good. The recovery of brain microdialysis probes in vivo 8 h maintained a relatively stable, but certain differences existed between different brain microdialysis probes, demonstrating that each probe was required for recovery correction in vivo experiment. Microdialysis sampling can be used for the local brain pharmacokinetic study of FA and TMP, and retrodialysis method can be used in probe recovery of FA and TMP in vivo.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumaric Acids ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Pyrazines ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats

UNLABELLEDTo study the effect of S-3307 on the yield and main ingredients of Alisma plantago-aquatica.

METHODThe contents of 24-acetyl alisol A and the 23-acetyl alisol B in tuber were determined by HPLC.

RESULTSThe contents of 24-acetyl alisol A and the 23-acetyl alisol B as well as yield were significantly increased in all groups applied with different concentrations of S-3307 comparing with control group. The optimal concentration of S-3307 was 80 mg x kg(-1). The residues of S-3307 was detected under 0.316 8 mg x kg(-1) (detecting limit).

CONCLUSIONThe optimal concentration of S-3307 is 80 mg x kg(-1), it reached the best result when applied 36 d after seedling.

Alisma ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Cholestenones ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology

Tissue-engineering bone with porous ,betatricalcium phosphate (3-TCP) ceramic and autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) was constructed and the effect of this composite on healing of segmental bone defects was investigated. 10-15 ml bone marrow aspirates were harvested from the iliac crest of sheep, and enriched for MSC by density gradient centrifugation over a Percoll cushion (1. 073 g/ml). After cultured and proliferated, tissue-engineering bones were constructed with these,cellS seeded onto porous f-TCP, and then the constructs were implanted in 8 sheep left metatarsus defect (25 mm in length) as experimental group. Porous ,-TCP only were implanted to bridge same size and position defects in 8 sheep as control group, and 25 mm segmental bone defects of left metatarsus were left empty in 4 sheep as blank group. Sheep were sacrificed on the 6th, 12th, and 24th week postoperatively and the implants samples were examined by radiograph, histology, and biomechanical test. The 4 sheep in blank group were sacrificed on the 24th week postoperatively. The results showed that new bone tissues were observed either radiographic or histologically at the defects of experimental group as early as 6th week postoperatively, but not in control group, and osteoid tissue, woven bone and lamellar bone occurred earlier than in control group in which the bone defects were repaired in "creep substitution" way, because of the new bone formed in direct manner without progression through a cartilaginous intermediate. At the 24th week, radiographs and biomechanical test revealed an almost complete repair of the defect of experimental group, only partly in control group. The bone defects in blank group were non-healing at the 24th week. It was concluded that engineering bones constructed with porous -TCP and autologous MSC were capable of repairing segmental bone defects in sheep metatarsus beyond "creep substitution" way and making it healed earlier. Porous ,-TCP being constituted with autologous MSC may be a good option in healing critical segmental bone defects in clinical practice and provide insight for future clinical repair of segmental defect.
Bone Marrow Cells/cytology ; Calcium Phosphates/*pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fractures, Bone/*therapy ; Implants, Experimental ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*cytology ; Metatarsus/*injuries ; Porosity ; Sheep ; Tissue Engineering