AIMTo investigate the effect of interleukin-8 (IL-8) on the differentiation and clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte during the differentiation period.

METHODSThe morphological changes of 3T3-L1 cells during differentiation after the treatment of IL-8 was observed by Oil-Red O staining. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method. MTT method and 3H-TdR incorporation were applied to examine the changes of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 cells. Cell cycle analysis was taken by flow cytometry.

RESULTSIL-8 could inhibit the differentiation and GDPH activity in a dose dependent manner. IL-8 decreased the cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion after induction. Also, the proportion of cells in G1 phase was increased and that of cells in S and G2 phase was declined after the treatment of IL-8.

CONCLUSIONIL-8 inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by decreasing the clonal expansion of the cells.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Interleukin-8 ; pharmacology ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of metformin on the endothelial function and the mechanisms in rats with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) injection.

METHODSA single dose (4 mg/kg) of natural LDL was injected through the sublingual vein of rats to induce vascular endothelial dysfunction. Blood samples were then collected from the rats to detect the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and serum lipid levels. The thoracic aorta of rats was obtained to assay acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced endothelium-independent relaxation. The effects of metformin pretreatment on the endothelial functions in the rats were investigated.

RESULTSA single-dose LDL significantly inhibited ACh-induced EDR without affecting SNP-induced endothelial-independent relaxation. The injection decreased serum NO and elevated serum MDA level, but had no effect on serum lipid level. Metformin markedly attenuated LDL-induced inhibition of EDR, serum MDA elevation, and serum NO reduction without affecting the serum lipid levels.

CONCLUSIONMetformin provides protection against vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by LDL in rats, the mechanism of which is probably associated with protection of endothelium-dependent relaxation factor and inhibition of the oxidative stress.

Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Metformin ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ghrelin on duodenal migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF).

METHODSThirty healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into sham-operated group (n=6) and CRF group (n=24), and the latter group was divided into 4 subgroups according to ghrelin doses administered with or without pretreatment with the receptor antagonist D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6. After a 18-h fasting, the rats with or without pretreatment with D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6 were given subcutaneous injections of ghrelin at different doses to observe the changes in duodenal MMC recorded using a multi lead physiological recording system.

RESULTSGhrelin significantly increased the MMC cycle duration and dose-dependently enhanced the frequency, amplitude and percentage of phase III MMC cycle. This effect was inhibited by the pretreatment with ghrelin receptor antagonist D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6.

CONCLUSIONGhrelin can promote gastrointestinal motilities of rats with CRF, and the receptor of ghrelin can regulate the activity of MMC.

Animals ; Duodenum ; drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; Ghrelin ; pharmacology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To establish a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) model for the classification and diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with renal involvement,and to provide a new method for the timely detection and diagnosis of the disease.Methods Simulated annealing(SA) algorithm was used to optimize the penalty coefficient C and kernel function parameter g of the support vector machines(SVM) algorithm before an SA-SVM classifier model was established and was applied to the intelligent assistant diagnosis of SLE.Results Unlike the single SVM classifier,this method never fell into local optimum,and improved the classification accuracy of a classifier.The classification accuracy for SLE with renal involvement was as high as 98.72％.Conclusion The experimental results show that this classification model is well applicable to the intelligent diagnosis of SLE with renal involvement.

OBJECTIVETo review the outcome of repeated percutaneous sperm aspiration (PESA) and testicular sperm extraction (TESE) for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

METHODSForty-three cycles of 31 cases of azoospermic patients which underwent at least two PESA or TESE for ICSI from January 2001 to December 2002 were collected. The sperm retrieval, fertilization, implantation and clinical pregnancy were analyzed.

RESULTSTwenty-four cases underwent PESA and 7 cases underwent TESE. There were not any complications in these patients. Compared with the first cycle of 154 cases, the fertilization rate, implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were 78.39% vs 73.64%, 19.68% vs 18.38% and 34.88% vs 37.91%, respectively(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRepeated PESA or TESE is safe and well tolerated in azoospermic patients. Compared with the first cycle, the differences of repeated PESA or TESE cycles in fertilization rate, implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were not statistically significant.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic feasibility of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from partially HLA-mismatched related donors for hematologic diseases.

METHODSThirty patients with hematologic diseases received allo-HSCT from 1 - 3 loci mismatched related donors conditioning regimen consisting of ATG (thymoglobulin, total dose of 10 mg/kg, intravenously on - 4 d to - 1 d), and only 5 (18%) of 28 recipients from HLA-identical sibling donors were treated with regimen containing ATG. Donors were given G-CSF prior to hematopoietic stem cell harvest and CsA, short-term MTX and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were used for GVHD prophylaxis in both group.

RESULTSAll patients were successfully engrafted. There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and grade III to IV aGVHD between the mismatched and matched groups (34% vs 32%, and 13% vs 11%, respectively). 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in mismatched and matched groups were 57% vs 77% (P = 0.14) and 57% vs 69% (P = 0.28), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that advanced disease pre-transplant (P = 0.006) and CMV infection (P = 0.04) were risk factors for OS. OS for patients with stable disease in mismatched and matched groups were 87% vs 81% (P = 0.65) respectively, and for those with advanced disease were 21% vs 71% (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONSIt is feasible to perform allo-HSCT from 1 -3 loci HLA-mismatched related donors for patients with stable disease who lack HLA-identical sibling donors. Nevertheless, for patients with advanced disease optimized conditioning regimen and intensive supporting therapy should be administered to obtain better clinical outcomes.

Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; HLA Antigens ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation Conditioning

OBJECTIVESTo review the retrospective treatment results of the azoospermia patients during January 2001 to January 2002 in the fertility center.

METHODSOne hundred males attempted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle for treatment of azoospermia. All patients were undergone sperm retrieval by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) while their wives received conventional ovarian hyperstimulation. The hormone levels, testicular histology, the rates of sperm retrieval, fertilization, implantation and pregnancy were analysed and evaluated.

RESULTSSperm were retrieved by PESA in 76 of 100 (76%) and by TESE in 23 of 100 (23%) men of azoospermia. The fertilization rate, implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were 71.3%, 20.35% and 42.11% respectively in PESA group, and 75.18%, 22.05% and 41.60% respectively in TESA group. Thirty-two clinical pregnancies were achieved with 15 ongoing pregnancies and subsequent live delivery for 15 cases in PESA group, and 2 cases of miscarriage, while 10 clinical pregnancies were achieved with 6 ongoing pregnancies, 2 cases of live delivery and 2 cases of miscarriage in TESA group. One case failed to retrieve sperm by TESE and canceled.

CONCLUSIONSHormonal levels and testicular histology are unable to predict which men with azoospermia will have sperm retrieved by PESA and TESE. PESA and TESE with ICSI are effective methods to treat azoospermia. There were no significant differences in fertilization, implantation and clinical pregnancy rate between two groups.

Adult ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; blood ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-tumor immunotherapeutic effect induced by the suicidalcancer vaccine FC/TK, and to evaluate the safety of this vaccine.

METHODSThe suicidal cancer vaccine, named FC/TK, was prepared by fusion of suicide gene (HSVI,-TK gene) -modified ovarian carcinoma NuTu-19 cells with rat bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs). The morphology of FC/TK was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The stimulatory effect of FC/TK on T cells was determined by T cell proliferation assay. In immunotherapeutic studies in vivo, Fischer344 rats were injected subcutaneously with NuTu-19 cells, followed by treatment of FC/TK on days 7 and 14, compared to controls treated with irradiated FC/TK, FC or PBS, respectively. Tumor incidence and volume were measured in 90 days after challenge. To determine the killing effect of FC/TK in vivo, TUNEL assays were applied to detect apoptotic cell death in spleen of vaccinated rats with prodrug ganciclovir administration.

RESULTSFC/TK cells were of irregular shape with surface membrane processes. Compared to the control groups, FC/TK significantly promoted T cell proliferation (P <0.01). The rats vaccinated with FC/TK and FC significantly inhibited the tumor growth compared to rats vaccinated with irradiated FC/TK (P <0.05) or with PBS ( P <0.01). The immunotherapeutic effect induced by FC/TK was similar to that using FC. Fluorescence microscopy showed that fluorescein-stained FC/TK cells migrated into spleen also showed to be TUNEL-positive, suggesting that the FC/TK cells were killed by ganciclovir in vivo.

CONCLUSIONOur data indicate that suicidal cancer vaccine is an effective and safe therapy for ovarian carcinoma and may serve as a broadly applicable approach for other cancer vaccines in the future.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Cell Fusion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Ganciclovir ; pharmacology ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; enzymology ; genetics ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Survival Analysis ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between microwave radiation and male reproductivity.

METHODSAfter filling out questionnaire and body check, we carried out molecular epidemiological studies, using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and sperm automatic analysis among people working on radar.

RESULTSQuality of semen and semi-clinical injury of sperm among the people working on radar had changed when radar electromagnetic wave frequency distance, intensity, lasting time and protection shield were changing. Dose-response relationship was noticed and the increase of sperm dysmorphia played a principal role. The results between exposed group and control group showed significant difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPeople working on radar who suffered from non-ionization for long time and had bad radar shield protection would show semi-clinical injury on sperm and bad semen quality. However, it did not affect the male reproductive function. It was necessary to reinforce the protection of non-ionization and to improve male reproductive health care of people working on radar.

Adult ; Comet Assay ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Fertility ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Radar ; Radiation, Nonionizing ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the survival rate and secretory function of islet cells in rats under condition of three-dimensional microgravity.

METHODSIsolated islet cells were assigned to flask-cultured or bioreactor-cultured. Survival rate of islets cultured for days 3, 7, 14 in stationary flasks or microgravity bioreactors was measured by AO-PI double-staining. Cultured islets were identified by dithizone (DTZ) staining, and insulin contents of different culture liquids were measured by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSPancreatic islets stained nacarat with DTZ were easily visualized. When islet cells were cultured for 7 days and 14 days, survival rate of bioreactor-cultured islets was (0.9000 +/- 0.0107)% and 0.8038% +/- 0.0092% and higher than flask-cultured islets (P < 0.01). Insulin level of bioreactor-cultured islets is (70.875 +/- 0.31) m micro /L on the cultured 7 days while flask-cultured islets is (41.246 +/- 0.35) m micro /L. There was statistically significant difference of insulin production between the two groups (P < 0.01). Bioreactor-cultured islet contents were higher than flask-cultured on the cultured 14, 21 and 30 days (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIslet cells survival rate and secretory function revealed that bioreactor-cultured islets functioned better compared with flask-cultured islets.

Animals ; Bioreactors ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Insulin ; secretion ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; secretion ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Weightlessness Simulation