BACKGROUND: Primate is the best animal to establish a model of spinal implants. However, ethics and cost limit its application. Mixed-breed dogs have similar anatomic structures as human. Moreover, it is easy to obtain with low cost, so it may replace primate to serve as models.OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of canine lumbar spine to establish the anterior interfixation model following measurements of related anatomic data.METHODS: A total of 9 adult healthy dogs were selected. The transversal diameter, sagittal diameter and height of vertebral body and disc were measured, and the artificial vertebral body replacement was performed. Bone graft fusion was observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The transversal diameter, sagittal diameter and height of vertebral body and disc increasedgradually from L_(1) to L_(7), and the height was greatly exceeded its sagittal diameter. All dogs survived, but one was paraplegia. Allthe others stood and acted in 12 h to 72 h after operation. The fusion effect was proved to be good by imageology and histology. The establishment of models was simple and cost-effective, and the biocompatibility of bone tissues and implants, as well as thebone tissue ingrowth can be observed. The lumbar spine of dog can be used as an anterior interfixation model in vitro test.

Objective To investigate the value of perfusion CT in the evaluation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma.Methods Sixty-seven patients with Ib2-IIb squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix underwent CT perfusion imaging before neoadjuvant chemotherapy to measure blood flow (BF),blood volume (BV),peak time (MTT),permeability sur-face (PMB),perfusion time to peak (TTP)and MIP(HU);and underwent routine enhancement CT after the two course of neoadju-vant chemotherapy treatment to measure tumor size,and evaluate the therapeutic effect.Results Among 67 patients,48 patents were effective (2 completely remission and 46 partial remission),and 1 9 patients were ineffective (1 5 stable and 4 progressed),with the overall response rate of 71.6%.The differences of PMB and BV value between effective and ineffective group were statistically significant before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P <0.001).The BF,MTT,TTP value were no significant difference between effec-tive and ineffective group before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P >0.05).The BV and PMB value were relatively higher in the patients with effective chemotherapy.Conclusion CT perfusion imaging could measure the BV and PMB value of the tumor before neoadju-vant chemotherapy to provide the basis for treatment selection.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of a integrative medical regimen (IMR), i.e. combined use of Jiangya Capsule (JYC) and Nimodipine (ND), on blood pressure, TCM clinical symptoms, and blood levels of vascular endothelial function and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (EISH).

METHODSAdopting randomized, double-blinded and controlled principle, a trial was conducted on 135 patients with EISH by randomized them into three groups, they were administered IMR (Group A), JYC plus ND simulator (Group B) and ND plus JYC simulator (Group C) respectively, for 4 weeks. Changes of blood pressure and TCM symptoms, as well as the levels of serum nitric oxide (NO), plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), 6-keto-prostaglandin 1alpha (6-keto-PGF(1alpha)), thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and hs-CRP were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment the systolic blood pressure reduced and clinical symptoms improved, with serum NO and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) lelels elevated, plasma ET-1, TXB2 and serum hs-CRP decreased in all the three groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). But the inter-group comparisons showed that the effect in Group A was superior to the other two groups in decreasing systolic pressure, and superior to Group C in improving clinical symptoms, elevating serum NO and decreasing plasma TXB2 (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe integrative medical regimen of combined use JYC and ND has markedly effect in lowering blood pressure, it could obviously improve the symptoms and vascular endothelial function, and inhibit the level of inflammatory factor in patients with EISH.

Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Integrative Medicine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nimodipine ; therapeutic use ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Thromboxane B2 ; blood

Objective To prepare a glycerol reference material.Methods The material was prepared and characterized according to the primary standard substance technological specification(JJG 1006- 1994).Glycerol was dissolved in water containing 0.5% sodium azide and dispersed to glass ampules.The homogeneity and stability of this material were tested with an HPLC method.Glycerol concentration was determined by a titration method as specified in the Pharmacopoeia of China.Results The three time measuring result of glycerol reference material was 1.297 5?0.014 3,1.302 0?0.008 9,1.313 7? 0.007 8,respectively.Statistical analysis showed that this material was homogeneous (F=1.462,P=0.166) .It was stable for at least 4 years at 4℃.The assigned reference value was 0.103 6 g/g and the expanded uncertainty was 0.000 4 g/g.Conclusions This material meet the technical requirements of national primary standard reference material.It is approved as the Certified Reference Material (GBW 09149) by General Administration of Quality Supervision,Inspection,Quarantine of the People's Republic of China in May,2006.

The infection process of Exserohilum monoceras and alteration of cellar ultrastructure in infected barnyardgrass were observed by using scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The observation showed that the hypha began to form from the basal point of the conidia 8 hours after inoculation (HAI) and then penetrated barn-yardgrass leaves through stornata 13 HAI. The infection process finished from 24 to 26 HAI. After infected, cell membranes of the host were dramatically changed; starch particles disappeared in chloroplasts and lots of phenolic compounds occurred in the infected cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Gli1 gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) on proliferation of K562 cells and its mechanisms.

METHODSThe small interference RNA (siRNA) was synthesized in vitro. K562 cells were transfected with Gli1 siRNA by the way of lipofection (lipofectamine 2000). Non-specific siRNA transfected cells were used as control. Transfection efficiencies of different siRNA concentrations were detected by flow cytometry and the best siRNA concentration was selected. The silencing effect of siRNA was demonstrated by real time PCR and Westem blot analysis. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT method, cell cycle by PI assay, c-myc and p21 mRNA level was detected by real time PCR analysis.

RESULTSTransfection efficiency of siRNA was increased in a dose-dependent manner when siRNA concentration was below 200 pmol, and the highest transfection efficiency reached (80.11 ± 5.63)%. Both the mRNA and protein level of Gli1 was down-regulated in Gli1 specific siRNA group, the mRNA level was (52.60 ± 3.57)% of that of control group after 24 h (t = 20.33, P < 0.01) and the protein level was (79.31 ± 5.58)% of that of control group after 48 h (t = 6.54, P < 0.01). The cell proliferation rate in Gli1 siRNA group was (94.41 ± 3.58)% (t = 2.40, P = 0.05) and (90.22 ± 3.34)% (t = 4.37, P < 0.01) of that of control group after 24 h and 48 h, respectively. G(2)/M cell cycle arrest was observed, the mRNA level of c-myc was down-regulated while p21 was up-regulated in Gli1 siRNA group after 24 h and 48 h (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTargeted silencing of Gli1 gene by RNAi inhibits the proliferation of K562 cells, which acts through the down-regulation of c-myc and up-regulation of p21 expression.

Cell Proliferation ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Transfection ; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Tangshenkang Granule (TG) containing serum on renal mesangial cells' (RMCs) proliferation and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway in the high glucose condition.

METHODSTwelve SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the low dose TG group, the middle dose TG group, the high dose TG group, and the blank control group, 3 in each group. After 7-day gastrogavage via portal vein blood, rats were sacrificed and their serum samples were collected. RMCs were cultured in common rat serum and TG containing serum respectively. The proliferation of mesangial cells was determined by methly thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay to determine the optimal TG containing serum concentration. Expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein were determined by real time quantitative PCR and ELISA. Smad2/3 protein expression and phosphorylation were determined by Western blot and immunofluorescence.

RESULTSTG containing serum at different doses could inhibit high glucose induced RMC cells' proliferation, TGF-β1 over-expression and Smad2/3 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONTG containing serum could inhibit high glucose induced RMC cells' proliferation, and its mechanism might be possibly associated with inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; Mesangial Cells ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; Signal Transduction ; Smad2 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Bone Cysts ; complications ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; etiology ; surgery ; Elbow Joint ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; complications

OBJECTIVE To construct the neuroendocrine immunomodulation (NIM) sub-network regulated by Liuwei Dihuang decoction (LW) and analyze its characteristics. METHODS We took the GSE57273 in GEO database and screened the differentially expressed genes (DEGs)(P<0.01) by the GEO2R tool as gene expression signature of LW. The global PPI network was constructed in the context of whole PPI network through direct interaction algorithm and forest algorithm respectively.Then the enrichment and the topological characteristics of NIM signaling molecules were evaluated by permutation test. Finally, we abstracted the NIM sub-network by NIMNT, which combined the NIM molecular network and forest algorithm, and analyzed the topological characteristics of it by the Network Analyzer(release 2.7)plugin in Cytoscape v3.5.1.RESULTS We got 2468 DEGs in the gene expression signature of LW.After analyzing the global PPI network of LW got by two kinds of algorithms,we found that the NIM signaling molecules significantly enriched and located in important positions in the global PPI network. The NIM sub-network regulated by LW contained 1099 nodes and 1056 edges. We screened out 22 hub nodes (Degree>10). Among them, there were 19 NIM signaling molecules in which only ESR1 changed significantly and 3 non-DEGs(NFATC2,RARA,TP53).However,the down-stream of the hub nodes were significantly changes. CONCLUSION The results suggested that LW might mainly regulate the non-hub nodes to recovery of the network imbalance of the body in the state of disease.

A bacterial strain DN25, effective on cyanide-degradation, was isolated from contaminated soil and identified as Alcaligenes sp. on the basis of phenotype analysis and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. It showed great tolerance to the cyanide, which can grow in the medium containing 500mg CN -/L. The suitable condition for the cell growth and boitransformation was pH8.0 and 30oC and the transformation rate for 500mg CN - /L could achieve 99% in 10 h. It has also been found that the screened strain had the ability of K 4Fe(CN) 6 transformation with 96% of transformation rate at 12 h for the concentration of 500 mg CN /L.