Alcohol consumption leads to injury in multiple organs and systems,including the liver,brain,heart,skeletal muscle,pancreas,bone,immune system,and endocrine system.Emerging evidence indicates that alcohol also promotes adipose tissue dysfunction,which may contribute to injury progression in other organs and systems.Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway that has been shown to regulate adipose tissue homeostasis and adipogenesis.Increasing evidence also demonstrates that alcohol consumption affects autophagy in multiple tissues.This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the effect of autophagy on adipose tissue and its potential roles in alcohol-induced adipose tissue atrophy as well as its contribution to alcohol-induced liver injury.

Objective To explore the in vitro isolation of ?2m-/Thy-1+ bone marrow-derived liver stem cells(BDLSCs) which bear double features of stem and liver cells from bone marrow stem cells(BMSCs)as so to provide suitable donor cells for the treatment of liver diseases by cellular transplant. Methods ?2m-/Thy-1+ BDLSCs were isolated by magnetic bead cell sorting(MACS) method from cholestatic rats in vitro,and cell purity was detected using flow cytometry.Liver associated phenotype markers were characterized by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. Results BDLSCs isolated by MACS were purified and viable,and possessed hepatocyte-like features at gene and protein levels. Conclusion ?2m-/Thy-1+ BDLSCs are special subsets of BMSCs which may have promising potentials in the stem cell-based treatment of liver diseases.

Objective To explore the value of time-invariant CTA in assessing collateral circulation of patients with acute ischemic stroke and assisting clinicians in predicting clinical outcomes.Methods The score of collateral circulation was compared between single-phase and time-invariant CTA.NIHSS score was calculated at admission and two weeks after admission.A 50% or greater decrease in NIHSS score over two weeks was considered as major neurologic improvement,which showed good clinical outcome;otherwise,it indicated bad outcome.The predictive ability of time-invariant CTA for clinical outcomes was assessed based on ROC curves.Results Compared with single-phase CTA,more collateral vessels could be viewed on time-invariant CTA.The average score of collateral circulation on time-invariant and single-phase CTA was 1.50±0.69 and 1.15±0.49 respectively (P=0.006<0.05 ).Time-invariant CTA had the moderate predictive ability for clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AUC=0.810;P=0.032<0.05). Conclusion The time-invariant CTA showed potential value in assessing collateral circulation of patients with acute ischemic stroke and assisting clinicians in predicting clinical outcomes.

Objective To investigate how vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) up-regulates intercellular adhesion molecule-1 via protein kinase C(PKC)/ nitric oxide(NO) pathway in the retina of diabetic rats.Methods All the rats were divided into 4 groups: normal,diabetes,diabetes+PKCI and control groups.Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of STZ.PKC inhibitor GF109203X was injected intravitreally after 5 months of streptozotocin induced diabetes.NO was determined by nitrate reductase method.VEGF and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) were measured by Western blot.Results VEGF and NO expressions increased obviously in the retina of diabetic rats compared with those in the normal group(P

The study is to develop a method to determine 3 batches leaves of Nauclea officinalis and stems of N. officinalis by HPLC. The differences between strictosamide contents and fingerprints was compared, then chromatographic peak of fingerprints was validated with the assistance of LC-MS. The strictosamide contents in stems of N. officinalis were higher than leaves of N. officinalis. The main chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis and stems of N. officinalis were alkaloid which revealed by LC-MS. There are 7 chemical compositions were same between them, but the chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis is more than stems of N. officinalis. This provides a scientific basis for the development of the potential medicinal value of leaves of N. officinalis and the sustainable utilization of N. officinalis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rubiaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) fingerprint of Rhodiola rosea medicinal materials was established, and used to distinguish the quality of raw materials from different sources. Pulse sequence for water peak inhibition was employed to acquire 1H-NMR spectra with the temperature at 298 K and spectrometer frequency of 400.13 MHz. Through subsection integral method, the obtained NMR data was subjected to similarity analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). 10 batches raw materials of Rhodiola rosea from different origins were successfully distinguished by PCA. The statistical results indicated that rhodiola glucoside, butyl alcohol, maleic acid and alanine were the main differential ingredients. This method provides an auxiliary method of Chinese quality approach to evaluate the quality of Rhodiola crenulata without using natural reference substances.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Rhodiola ; chemistry

Objective:To study the effects and mechanisms of acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid ( AKBA) in myocardial ischemic model induced by isoproterenol hydrochloride ( ISO) in rats. Methods:The SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group, model group, AKBA low dose group and AKBA high dose group. Myocardial injury model was induced by subcutaneous injection of ISO (100 mg·kg-1 ) . The change of ST segment in ECG was observed. Creatine kinase ( CK-MB) , cardiac troponin I ( cTnI) , lactate dehydro-genase( LDH) , malondialdehyde( MDA) and superoxide dismutase( SOD) in the blood were detected by ELISA. The change of histo-logical tissue was determined by HE staining, and cell apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL assay. Results: Serum CK-MB, cTnI and LDH were decreased significantly in AKBA high dose group when compared with those in the model group. Compared with that in the model group, MDA content was lowered and the SOD activity was increased in AKBA high dose group. Furthermore, AKBA high dose group improved the pathologic changes of myocardium. TUNEL assay revealed significant reduction of cardiomyocytes apoptosis in the hearts of the ischemic rats in AKBA high dose group. Conclusion:AKBA has excellent cardioprotective effect on myocardial ischemic induced by ISO and protection of myocardial cells from injury.

BackgroundRetinal pigment epithelial(RPE) cells can secrete platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and PDGF receptor(PDGFR).Studies have shown that PDGF plays a key role in the formation of proliferative vitreous retinopathy(PVR). ObjectiveThis study was to investigate the proliferation and apoptosis changes of RPE after blockage of the PDGFR-α expression by antisense oligonucleotide ( ASODN ) in vitro. Methods Human RPE cells strain was cultured in low glucose DMEM with 10％ fetal bovine serum.Logarithmic phase cells were collected and incubated in 96-well plate at the density of 5 × 105 cells/hole.PDGFR-α ASODN was transfected into RPE cells at different concentrations for 48 hours.The cells of the blank control group were regularly cultured without any transfection.The changes of PDGFR-α expression were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),and the proliferation of RPE was detected by MTT as the A490 value.Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining was used to determine the apoptosis of RPE.Flow cytometry method (FCM) was applied to detect the change of cell cycle and apoptosis rate of RPE cells. ResultsThe A490 values of RPE cells were 1.45±0.12,1.07±0.06,0.65±0.05 in blank control group,1.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group and 2.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group with the significant difference(P=0.00 ),and that of 1.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group and 2.0 μ mol/L Lipo-ASODN group were significantly lower than the blank control group ( P =0.00,0.00).Hoechst 33258 staining showed that the apoptosis cells were obviously more in Lipo-ASODN group compared with blank control group.PDGFR-α ASODN transfection induced an increase of percentage of RPE cells in G0/G1 phase( F =206.70,P =0.00),and the apoptosis rates in 1.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group and 2.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group were significantly enhanced in comparison with blank control group ( 37.8 ± 1.3 vs 10.5 ± 0.1,61.2 ± 1.9 vs 10.5 ± 0.1 ) ( F =1808.90,P =0.00 ).Expression intensity of PDGFR-α mRNA in RPE cells in Lipo-ASODN groups was lower. ConclusionsBlocking the PDGFR-α expression with ASODN technology can suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis of RPE cells.Intensity of PDGFR-α mRNA expression in RPE cells is ASODN dose-dependent.ASODN targeted to PDGFR-α offers an experimental basis of the gene therapy for PVR.

AlM: To examine the retinal nerve fiber layer ( RNFL ) changes in early primary open angle glaucoma ( POAG ) by comparing the superior half of the optic disc with the inferior disc half.METHODS: lt was a clinical observational study. The study included 30 patients ( 39 eyes ) with POAG and 20 normal subjects ( 40 eyes ) . Visual field was tested by Zeiss Humphrey750 and the optic disc topographic parameters and RNFL thickness were measured by Zeiss Cirru HD-OCT. Collecting information included visual field mean defect ( MD ) , glaucoma hemifield test ( GHT ) , intraocular pressure ( lOP ) , C/D ratio and RNFL thickness. Data were analyzed by statistic software SPSS18. 0. The differences between two groups were assessed using t test.RESULTS: The differences of superior RNFL minus inferior RNFL thichness on the corresponding clock-hour locations were caculated in two groups. There was a significant difference in superonasal- inferonasal RNFL thickness between two groups (t=2. 526, P=0. 014), and there were no significant differences in the others ( all P>0. 05).CONCLUSlON: The asymmetry of optic disc hemifield RNFL is found in early primary open angle glaucoma patients. The superonasal RNFL ( 1 o’clock for right eye, and 11 o’clock for left eye ) is more fragile to loss than inferonasal RNFL (5 o’clock for right eye, and 7 o’clock for left eye) .

BACKGROUND:Numerous studies have demonstrated that estrogen can regulate the proliferation and migration of endothelial progenitor cel s (EPCs), while EPCs can also promote the function and activity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s (BMSCs) in vitro. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the ability of the BMSCs and EPCs which construct the composite cel sheet in the repair of alveolar bone defect in ovariectomized rats. METHODS:BMSCs/EPCs composite sheet, EPCs sheet and BMSCs sheet were respectively implanted into the defects of the alveolar bone in ovariectomized rats. Rats with no implantation served as control group. Repaired alveolar bone was assessed by gross examination, histological observation and micro-CT scan at 2, 4, 8 weeks after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:BMSCs/EPCs composite sheet has greater osteogensis activity and bone repair capacity than BMSCs or EPCs sheet alone.