Objective To study the ultra-structural features of interstitial cajal cells (ICC)in fetal enteron and then classify them.Methods Ultra-structural features of ICC in fetal enteron with spontaneous abortion or premature birth were detected under JEM-2000EX transmission electron microscope for the cause of fetal death, including two fetus specimens of a gestation 18 months and 28 months stained with lead nitrate and uranium acetate.Results ICC had a big oval karyon and a little of cytoplasm. ICC formed spindle or stellate cells with 2 to 5 long cell processes . From the esophagus to the terminal ileum ICC mostly had the same ultra-structural features, but with mitochondria and a well-developed endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex in the whole colon and the rectum , more than those of esophagus and small intestine. In the whole colon and rectum ICC had similar ultra-structural features. ICC also possessed an abundance of mitochondria and a well-developed endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex. ICC also possessed Caveloae lipid droplet with more electron dense and heterochromatin. Two types of ICC were identified under JEM-2000EX transmission electron microscope. One type was present from the esophagus to the terminal ileum and the other type was observed in the colon and rectum. The first type ICC in circular muscle layer was bipolar cells which extended to tapering processes in opposite directions. These processes rarely branched, and their appearance was similar to smooth muscle cells.Most of them ran parallel to the circular muscles . The second type of ICC in the myenteric plexus and longitudinal muscle layer was mostly multipolar and rarely bipolar cells with long processes. They showed an irregular appearance characterized by numerous short spike-like branches. Processes of multipolar cells extended in every direction and connected with each other. ICC nerve cells and smooth muscle cells were connected with gap-like junction, which was the main connection mode .Conclusions The ultra-structural features of ICC in fetal enteron varied with the diffe-rent locus and different tissue sheets in the enteron. The mitochondria and a well-developed endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex of the whole colon and rectum are more and more developed than that of esophagus and small intestine. Ultra-structural features of ICC will develop further with the gestational age. The gap- like junction among ICC nerve cell and smooth muscle cell are highly important for ICC to educe function.

Objective　To study the effects of hypoxia and glutamic acid on the kinetic properties of NMDA receptor channel of the hypothalamic neurons in rats. Methods　Cell-attached mode patch clamp technique was employed to record the single channel current of the NMDA receptor. Results　The open probability of NMDA receptor channel was increased after acute hypoxia compared with that of normal state, the open time τ1,τ2 was changed from (0.33±0.10)ms，(4.36±0.26)ms to (0.93±0.22)ms，(7.64±0.72)ms, and the close time τ1,τ2 was from (18.03±3.50)ms，(171.50±19.10)ms to (3.42±1.02)ms，(19.39±3.07)ms. The mean open probability was changed from 0.12±0.05 in normal state to 0.66±0.36 in hypoxia state. Furthermore, glutamic acid can increase open time and open probability of NMDA receptor channel,decrease close time. Conclusion　The excitability and the open probability of NMDA receptor channel of hypothalamic neurons increased by hypoxia is related to glutamate.

Adult ; Coal Mining ; Dermatitis, Occupational ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence

Objective To study the expression and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase(FAK) in rat's au- tologous vein graft and the olmesartan modulating effect.Methods Autologous external jugular veins were grafted to common carotid arteries in 40 male Sprague Dawley rats.After surgery,rats were randomly assigned to the fol- lowing groups:sham;control;olmesartan treatment(10mg/kg.d by gavage);or physiological saline.The intimal thickness,the I/M in vein grafts was quantitated by HE stain.The expression and phosphorylation of focal adhe- sion kinase were assessed by Western-blotting,PCNA and ?-smooth muscle actin were measured by immunohisto- chemistry.Results Neointimal hyperplasia in control group was characterized by significantly increased intimal thickeness I/M(P

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of Jiji decoction (Traditional Chinese Medicine) on the cognitive function and oxidative stress in mice with vascular dementia (VD) induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

METHODSThirty-two mice were randomly divided into nonnal group (n = 8), sham group (operation, but no cerebral ischemia/reperfusi6n, n = 8), model group (vascular dementia model induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, n = 8), and Jiji decoction-treated group (vascular dementia model plus treatment with Jiji decoction, n = 8). Fourteen days of treatment after operation, the cognitive behavior was measured in step-through test, spatial probe test and platform test. Afterwards, to assess the levels of oxidative stress, the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and content of malonaldehyde (MDA) in brain of these mice were measured.

RESULTSData from step-through test indicated that the escaping latency of Jiji decoction-treated group was prolonged and the error counts were decreased significantly ( P <0.01) compared with those of model group. Data from spatial probe test indicated that the time of entering darkroom, the time of climbing height and the time of entering bright room in Jiji decoction-treated group were shortened and the counts of climbing height were increased (P < 0.05-0.01) significantly compared with those of model group. Data from platform test showed that the escaping latency of Jiji decoction-treated group was prolonged significantly (P < 0.01) compared with that of model group. Compared with normal and sham group, the activity of SOD was decreased and the content of MDA was increased in model group significantly (P < 0.01). Compared with those of model group, the levels of SOD and MDA in Jiji decoction-treated group were improved significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJiji decoction could improve cognitive function of VD mice. Its mechanism might be related with the inhibition of oxidative stiess in the brain.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; physiopathology ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Due to the irregular of diet and overfeeding greasy and surfeit flavor closely associated with hyperuricemia disease, the lipid emulsion containing high cholesterol was used to model. To obtain a more stable and sustained animal model for the efficacy evaluation of traditional Chinese herbs, we observed the influence on the serum uric acid of rat induced by the lipid emulsion compared with high purine diet. 36 SD male rats were randomized to the normal control group, high purine diet group and lipid emulsion group respectively. The general behavior, body weight and daily food intake of rats were observed. The orbital blood was taken to separate into the serum and 24 hours urine was collected. The serum indexes such as UA, BUN, Cr, ALT, AST, TC, TG, LDL-c were determined every 2 weeks, and XOD, ADA enzyme activity were determined at the 4th week. The urine indexes such as UA, Cr and Cua/Ccr were determined at the 4th week. After stopping modeling, the serum UA were determined two weeks and four weeks later respectively. At the 2nd week, the body weight and daily food intake of rats in the lipid emulsion group reduced significantly, and the level of serum UA, BUN, Cr, TC, LDL-c, ATL, AST raised significantly meanwhile TG reduced. At the 4th week, the serum UA in high purine diet group did not raise, and the serum XOD raised obviously while ADA did not; the serum UA in lipid emulsion group was higher significantly, and the serum XOD and ADA raised while Cua/Ccr reduced obviously. At the 6th weeks, the serum UA in both the high purine diet group and lipid emulsion group raised obviously. After stopping modeling, the serum UA in lipid emulsion group still maintained a high level at the 2nd week and back to the normal level at the 4th week. Compared with high purine diet, the hyperuricemia model induced by lipid emulsion forms earlierand more stable. It maybe has great value to study the pharmacodynamics of traditional Chinese medicine treatment to hyperuricemia disease. Its mechanism may be related to increasing XOD and ADA enzyme activity which can promote uric acid synthesis, meanwhile inhibiting of uric acid excretion.
Animals ; Diet ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Emulsions ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To conduct a microbiological and parasitological investigation of experimental minipigs in Guangdong province. Methods Four major experimental minipig production units in Guangdong province were included in this investigation. Samples were taken from a total of 154 pigs of 4 brreds, i. e. , Bama minipigs, Juema minipigs, Tibet minipigs and Wuzhishan minipigs. Pig fur, scales, serum, rectal swabs and feces samples were collected for detection of 20 pathogens. The data were analyzed and compared among the production units and breeds. Results Mixed infections were detected in all the four institutions. The infection rates of 7 pathogens were rather high: Streptococcus suis type 2 (50. 7%), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (40. 3%), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (100%), Japanese encephalitis virus (41. 3%), porcine circovirus type 2 (74. 8%), porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (73. 8%),gastroenteritis virus (44. 7%). Porcine parvovirus (26. 0%), pseudorabies virus(15. 6%) and intestinal worms (3. 2%) were also detected in some animals. The immune qualified rates of classical swine fever virus (62. 8%) and foot-and-mouth disease virus (35. 8%) were rather low. The immune qualified rate of pseudorabies virus was as high as 98. 4%. Besides, Salmonella, Brucella, swine dysentery snake like spirochetes, dermatophytes, influenza virus. Toxoplasma gondii, ectoparasites, and coccidia were not detected. Conclusions The results of this investigation indicate that epidemiological quality control of pathogens in experimental minipigs and efforts to establish high grade minipig population in Guangdong province remain to be strengthened. Our study also provides a basis for revision of local and even national standards for experimental minipigs.

Objective To investigate the gene expression profiles of peri-implantation endometrium of high responders during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Methods High responders with cancelled embryo-transfer during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (high responder group, n=4) and healthy fertile volunteers (control group, n=3) were performed endometrial biopsies during peri-implantation. Histologic changes of endometrium were observed by HE staining, genes of differential expression were screened with microarrays Affymetrix U133A 2.0 and identified by Real-time PCR. The biological process analysis was performed by online biological information analysis tool PANTHER. Results The ehdometrium was in mid-secretory phase in control group, while development delay was found in some glandular organs in endometrium of high responder group. Three hundred and sixty-four genes of differential expression were screened, among which 233 were up-regulated genes and 131 were down-regulated genes. OPN, PLA2G2, DPPIV, IGFBP5 and SSAT were identified as endometrial function-related genes, whose Real-time PCR findings were positively correlated to gene signal values detected by microarray(r=0.44, P<0.01). PANTHER analysis indicated that genes of differential expression participated in the biological processes of cytokine signal transduction and immunological regulation. Conclusion Ovarian high response affects the gene expression profiles of peri-implantation endometrium, which may be one of the causes of sub-optimal endometrial receptivity.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of etoposide on protein kinase B (PKB) activity in distinct differentiated gastric cancer cell lines and the change of sensitivity to etoposide after pretreatment by wortmannin, a PKB inhibitor. To explore the relationship between PKB activity in gastric cancer cells and their sensitivity to etoposide chemotherapy.

METHODSFour distinct differentiated gastric cancer cell lines, including MKN-28 (well differentiated), SGC-7901 (moderate differentiated), BGC-823 (poorly differentiated) and HGC-27 (undifferentiated), were studied. The PKB activities of these cell lines were detected by nonradioactive protein-kinase assay at different time points after etoposide treatment for 0,3,6,12,24 h with or without wortmannin pretreatment. Cell viabilities were assayed by MTT and cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSPoorer differentiated gastric cancer cell lines had higher PKB activities. Etoposide treatment resulted in increase in PKB activity and apoptosis rate,and decrease in cell survival rate in a time-dependent manner in gastric cancer cell lines. Wortmannin pretreatment abolished PKB activity completely in gastric cancer cells,and decreased survival rate and increased apoptosis rate in SGC-7901, BGC-823, and HGC-27 cell lines.

CONCLUSIONSEtoposide can induce the PKB activity in gastric cancer cell lines. Wortmannin pretreatment enhances sensitivity of median and low differentiated gastric cancer cells to etoposide chemotherapy.

Apoptosis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Etoposide ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of distribution of pulse pressure (PP) in Chinese population and its relationship to major cardiovascular diseases in them.

METHODSData from the Third National Blood Pressure Survey involved 882,681 subjects aged over 18 in 1991 were reanalysed for the relationship between PP and risks of major cardiovascular diseases, with t-test, chi2 test and logistic regression model. PP is defined as the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

RESULTS(1) Overall mean PP was (44.61 +/- 13.59) mm Hg for the subjects aged over 18, higher in men [(44.92 +/- 12.72) mmHg] than that in women [(44.34 +/- 14.32) mmHg]. PP increased progressively with age, and its increase accelerated significantly at age over 50 but higher in women than in men. Proportion of the subjects with PP equal to or greater than 60 mmHg was more in those aged 60 or over than that in younger ones. (2) Prevalence of stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) increased with PP and age, whether in the normotensives, or in the hypertensives or in the isolated systolic hypertensives. (3) Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that risks of stroke in the subjects with PP of (45-59) mmHg, (60-74) mmHg and over 75 mmHg were 1.9, 3.5 and 5 times as in those with PP less than 45 mm Hg, respectively, adjusted for other risk factors, and their risks of myocardial infarction (MI) were 1.2, 1.5 and 1.7 times, respectively. Furthermore, PP was significantly and independently related to the risks of stroke and MI, even adjusted for systolic and diastolic pressures.

CONCLUSIONSPrevalence of stroke and MI increased with the breadth of PP and age. Broader PP may be an important and independent predictor of risks of stroke and MI, especially in the aged people.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; epidemiology