Connexin43 has been shown to play a pivotal role in wound healing process. Wound repair is enhanced by acute downregulation of connexin43, by increasing proliferation and migration of keratinocyte and fibroblast. Angiogenesis is also a central feature of wound repair, but little is known about the effects of connexin43 modulation on functions of endothelial cells. We used connexin43 specific small interference RNA (siRNA) to reduce the expression of connexin43 in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC), and investigated the effects of connexin43 downregulation on intercellular communication, viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC. Treatment of siRNA markedly reduced the expression of connexin43 by -80% in HUVEC (P < 0.05), and decreased the intercellular communication by -65% (P < 0.05). The viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC decreased significantly (P < 0.05), compared with that of the normal cells. The results suggest that temporally downregulation of connexin43 expression at early stage of wound to inhibit the abnormal angiogenesis characterized with leaky and inflamed blood vessels, maybe a prerequisite for coordinated normal healing process.
Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; Wound Healing

Robust and efficient control of therapeutic gene expression is needed for timing and dosing of gene therapy drugs in clinical applications. Ribozyme riboswitch provides a promising building block for ligand-controlled gene-regulatory system, based on its property that exhibits tunable gene regulation, design modularity, and target specificity. Ribozyme riboswitch can be used in various gene delivery vectors. In recent years, there have been breakthroughs in extending ribozyme riboswitch's application from gene-expression control to cellular function and fate control. High throughput screening platforms were established, that allow not only rapid optimization of ribozyme riboswitch in a microbial host, but also straightforward transfer of selected devices exhibiting desired activities to mammalian cell lines in a predictable manner. Mathematical models were employed successfully to explore the performance of ribozyme riboswitch quantitively and its rational design predictably. However, to progress toward gene therapy relevant applications, both precision rational design of regulatory circuits and the biocompatibility of regulatory ligand are still of crucial importance.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Ligands ; Models, Theoretical ; RNA, Catalytic ; genetics ; Riboswitch ; genetics

In order to summarize and perfect the basic skill practicing method in acupuncture teaching and form a characteristic teaching, the research on skill training and technique improving of acupuncture and tuina major was carried out. The undergraduate students in acupuncture and tuina major from College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. Students from both groups received the basic courses of acupuncture-moxibustion and tuina as requested in the syllabus and the special teaching was added to the experimental group, namely "three practice" (strength practice, coordination practice, targeted practice of acupuncture basic skills) and "three enlightenment" (technique enlightenment, mind and qi enlightenment, efficacy enlightenment). During and after the courses, the teaching effectiveness was evaluated on the basis of needling manipulation. The peacetime score in the experimental group was superior to that in the control group (38.03 +/- 1.14 vs 33.25 +/- 1.31, P < 0.05), the total score in the experimental group was superior to that in the control group (84.03 +/- 6.30 vs 78.05 +/- 6.55, P < 0.05). The special teaching method of "three practice" and "three enlightenment" can improve the effect of skill training teaching method. It highlights the unique feature of central plains by integrating the essence of Shaolin internal qigong and Chen-style Taiji, it can also provide new ideas for the practical teaching of TCM professional courses and the construction of characteristic professionals.
Acupuncture ; education ; manpower ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Students ; Teaching

Objective To understand the status of depression and quality of life in the patients with advanced gastric cancer , and to explore their relationship .Methods The depression self rating scale (SDS) and the Chinese Scale of World Health Organiza‐tion Quality of Life Scale‐Brief Form Questionnaire (WHOQOL‐BREF) were adopted to conduct the questionnaire investigation on 131 patients with advanced gastric cancer ,then the results were compared with those of the health population .Results Among 131 patients with advanced gastric cancer ,the prevalence rate of depression was 47 .33% ,and the average SDS score was 45 .99 ± 15 .47 ,which were higher than those of the health population .The scores of quality of life were 61 .61 ± 12 .66 for the physiologic health domain ,59 .54 ± 12 .49 for the mental health domain ,64 .95 ± 14 .16 for the social relation domain and 52 .93 ± 14 .07 for the surrounding environment domain .There was a significant correlation between the depression score with the four domains scores of life quality ,in which the correlation with the mental health domain was strongest (r= -0 .636 ,r2 =0 .405) .Conclusion High depression level and poor quality of life exist in the patients with advanced gastric cancer ,and there is a correlation between them , in which the correlation between depression with the mental health domain is strongest .

0.05).In addition,in different medication intervals and the same total dosage(200 mg),there was no difference in the number of patients who reached ASAS20,ASAS50 anti BASDAI50 in both groups.The changes of other parameters were not observed.Conclusion Two dosages and different medication interval of rhTNFR-Fc have similiar efficacy onset time and maintenee period.Mean- while,at the same total dosage,there is no signifieant difference in therapeutic effect in the two dosage groups. However,50 mg(1/7 d)regimen has better compliance than 25 mg(1/3 d).

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) captopril on Calpain-mediated cardiomyocytes apoptosis and cardiac function in diabetic rats.

METHODSThirty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10), normal control group (NC group), diabetes mellitus group (DM group)and captopril treated group (Cap group). Streptozocin (STZ) were used to make the model of diabetes mellitus, captopril was administrated by gavage at the dose of 50 mg/kg every day, while in NC group and DM group the same volume of normal saline was administrated. Twelve weeks later, left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVDEP), maximal rise rate of left ventricular pressure (+ dp/dtmax) and maximal fall rate of left ventricular pressure (- dp/dtmax) were detected; Western blot was used to detect the expression of Calpain-1 Calpain-2, Bcl-2, Bax and total Caspase3 protein; apoptosis index (AI) were assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL).

RESULTSCompared with NC group, LVDEP was significantly higher; LVSP, + dp/dtmax and - dp/dtmax were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); Bcl-2 protein expression was decreased; the expression of Calpain-1, Calpain-2, Bax and total Caspase3 protein were increased; the value of AI was significantly increased. Compared with DM group, LVDEP was significantly lower; LVSP, + dp/dtmax and - dp/dtmax were significantly increased (P < 0.05); Bcl-2 protein expression was increased, the expression of Calpain-1, Calpain-2, Bax and total Caspase3 protein were decreased; the value of AI was significantly decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCaptopril can protect diabetic myocardial structure through inhibiting activation of Calpain-1 and Calpain-2, up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2, down-regulating the expression of Bax to inhibit Caspase3 dependent apoptosis, thereby improving the ventricular function and myocardial structure.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calpain ; metabolism ; Cardiomyopathies ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of kneepad on expression of Bcl-2 and p53 mRNA of chondrocyte in white rabbits with knee osteoarthritis, so as to explore and treatment mechanism of OA kneepad on apoptosis of chondrocytes of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis in molecular degree.

METHODSForty-four Japanese healthy 6-month-old rabbits (equal male and female,the weight ranging from 2 to 2.2 kg) were used to establish knee osteoarthritis models by modified Hulth method. The rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal group, model group, control group (microwave), experimental group 1 (electricity), experimental group 2 (thermal), experimental group 3 (kneepad). Ten rabbits in the normal group were breed with conventional method; 9 rabbits in the model group were breed with conventional method after model made; 9 rabbits in the control group were treated with microwave for 30 minutes, one time daily; 9 rabbits in the experimental group 1 were treated with electricity (density wave) for 30 minutes,one time daily;8 rabbits in the experimental group 2 were treated with hot (hot soft membrane) for 30 minutes, one time daily; 9 rabbits in the experiment group 3 were treated with electrothermal (OA knee pad) for 30 minutes, one time daily. All the rabbits were treated for 16 weeks and then sacrificed. The expressions of Bcl-2 and p53 mRNA of chondrocytes in knee joint were detected by using fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR method.

RESULTSAt the 16 hthek,th e OD260/OD280 value range of total RNA extracted from rabbit articular cartilage tissue in each group were all at 1.80 to 2.00,wh ich indicates high RNA purity. The p53 relative mRNA in articular cartilage cells of model group,th e control group,th e experimental group 1 ,r oup 2,gr oup 3 were overexpressed,an d Belc2 mRNA expression levels of articular cartilage cells were low expression,an d compared with the normal group there were significant differences (P < 0.01). Belc2, p53 mRNA expression in articular cartilage cells,th ere were significant differences (P < 0.01) between the control group, experimental group 1, group 2, group 3 and model group. The results between the control group, experimental group 1 ,group 2 and group 3 had significant differences (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOA-kneepad can up-regulate the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 as well as down-regulate the mRNA expression of p53, thereby to inhibit the apoptosis of cartilage cells and delay the degeneration of articular cartilage changes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Knee Joint ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; genetics ; pathology ; therapy ; Protective Devices ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and clinical application value of selecting viable spermatozoa by noncontact diode laser.

METHODSWe obtained immotile spermatozoa from 2 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia or severe asthenospermia and selected viable spermatozoa using a single laser shot at the sperm tail. Those that responded to the laser shot by a curling reaction of the tail were regarded as presumably viable and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

RESULTSThe mean fertilization rate was 88.89% after ICSI with the laser-selected viable spermatozoa. Both of the embryo transfers resulted in a single pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONNoncontact diode laser is a useful alternative for the assessment of sperm viability, which may help to achieve successful pregnancy.

Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm Tail ; physiology

Aneurysm ; complications ; therapy ; Cardiac Catheterization ; instrumentation ; Child ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Septal Occluder Device

Background Researches showed that transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) promotes the activity of human Tenon capsular fibroblasts (TFs),which plays a role in the scarring of filtering blebs after antiglaucoma surgery.However,its mechanism is not fully clear.Lysyl oxidases (LOXs) are important extracellular matrix proteases which can catalyze the cross-linking of collagen and elastin.Investigating the impact of TGF-β2 on the expression of LOXs has a great significance for the understanding of the pathogenesis of filtering bleb scarring and its prevention.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of TGF-β2 on the expression of LOXs in cultured human TFs.Methods The TFs at 4-8 generations were divided into normal control group and different concentrations of TGF-β2 treated-groups,and 100,200,400,800 μ1 of TGF-β2 with the final concentration of 2,4,8 and 16 ng/ml was added into the medium to treat human TFs respectively for 24 hours.The LOXs in the cells were detected by Western blot to determine the optimal dose of TGF-β2.The 4 ng/ml TGF-β2(200 μ1) was used to treat human TFs for 6,12,24 and 48 hours respectively,and the change of LOXs expression in the cells over time was assayed by Western blot.The expression and distribution of LOX protein in the normal cells and TGF-β2-treated cells was detected by using immunofluorescence technique.This study was approved by Daping Hospital of Third Military Medical University Ethic Commission.The guardians of the patients who offered the specimen knew the purpose of the study and signed informed consent.Results Western blot assay showed that the expressions of LOX,LOXL1,LOXL2,LOXL3 and LOXL4 in the cells were gradually elevated from the normal control group and 2,4,8,16 ng/ml TGF-β2-treated groups,showing significant differences among the groups (F =37.338,13.438,31.067,11.767,15.167,all at P＜0.01).The expression of LOXL2 protein in the cells was 0.68±0.07,1.09±0.10,1.32±0.07,1.50± 0.06 and 1.89±0.12 in the normal control group and 6-,12-,24-and 48-hour groups respectively after 4 ng/ml TGF-β2 treatment,with a significant increase over time (F =82.832,P=0.000).The expression of LOX was weak in the normal cultured TFs,while the fluorescence intensity of LOX expression was evidently enhanced in the cytoplasm of the cells in the TGF-β2-treated group.Conclusions TGF-β2 upregulates the expressions of LOXs in human TFs in a dose-and time-dependent manner,which probably offers a basis for the further study on the prevention of filtering bleb scarring after glaucoma surgery.