To counteract the immune system in parasitic hosts, some viruses encode proteins to suppress the RNA interference (RNAi) effect. In this report, we established two RNAi systems to be easily observed with strong and obvious effect. The function of the P19 of tomato bushy stunt virus, which suppresses RNAi in mammal cells, was then studied using these two systems. Short hairpin RNAs targeting green fluorescence protein (pshRNA-GFP) and firefly luciferase (pshRNA-luc) were designed and inserted into a eukaryotic transcriptional vector pTZU6+1, respectively. The shRNA expressing vectors were co-transfected with plasmids containing the target gene with or without P19. The GFP expression level was assayed by fluorescence microscopy, Western blotting and RT-PCR. The luciferase expression level was analyzed by the dual-luciferase assay system. pshRNA designed in this study down-regulated the target gene specifically and efficiently, with a decrease of expression of both genes of about 70%, respectively. When P19 was introduced into the RNAi systems, the expression of both GFP and the luciferase were mostly recovered compared with the control groups. The RNAi systems of GFP and luciferase were constructed successfully, demonstrating that P19 of tomato bushy stunt virus has the ability to counteract the RNAi effect induced by shRNA in mammal cells.

To discuss the effective method of decreasing the postoperative recurrence rate of recurrent pterygium.
●METHODS:Totally 126 cases (126 eyes) with recurrent pterygium were randomly divided into A group (56 cases) and B group ( 70 cases ). Group A was treated by pterygium conjunctive reverse transplantation combined with amniotic membrane transplantation, group B was treated by amniotic membrane transplantation. The followed-up time after surgery was 6-24mo.
●RESULTS:ln group A, postoperative 5-7d (average 5. 62± 1. 38d), cornea epithelium was repaired. ln group B, postoperative 7- 10d ( average 7. 38 ± 1. 12d), the corneal wound was healed. There was statistical significant difference between two groups (t = 4. 307,P<0. 05). Three cases recurrence were noted in A therapeutic group (56 cases), the recurrent rate was 5. 4%; Twelve cases recurrence were noted in B compared group (70 cases), the recurrent rate was 17. 1%. There was statistical significant difference between two groups(P<0. 05).
●CONCLUSlON: lt is suggested that pterygium conjunctive reverse transplantation combined with amniotic membrane transplantation is effective in the treatment of recurrent pterygium.

Objective To determine if Shenfu injectio(SFI)has any analeptic action in patients emerging from general anesthesia.Methods Eighty-six ASAⅠorⅡadult patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into 2 groups(n=43 each):SFI group and control group.The patients were premedicated with intramuscular phenobarbital 0.1g and atropine 0.5mg.Anesthesia was induced with propofol 2 mg?kg~(-1),fentanyl 4-5?g?kg~(-1) and vecuronium 0.1 mg?kg~(-1) and maintained with propofol infusion(2-4 mg?kg~(-1)?h~(-1)),0.5%-1.0% isoflurane inhalation and intermittent i.v.boluses of fentanyl and vecuronium.The patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated.The propofol infusion and isoflurane inhalation were stopped during skin closure.The patients were still unconscious and on mechanical ventilation at the end of surgery and transferred to PACU with a tube in trachea.As soon as the patients reached the PACU,SFI 1 ml?kg~(-1) in Ringer's solution 100 ml was infused over 10 min.In control group the patients received Ringer's solution 100 ml without SFI.The following times were recorded:(1)the time when the patients opened their eyes on command;(2)the time when mechanical ventilation was stopped;(3)the time when oxygen inhalation was stopped;(4)the extubation time;(5)the time of staying in PACU.Venous blood samples were taken before(T_0) and 5,15 and 45 min(T_(1,2,3))after SFI infusion for determination of plasma?-endorphin concentration.Results The awakening time,the mechanical ventilation time,oxygen inhalation time,extubation time and duration of PACU stay were significantly shorter in SFI group than in control group.There were no significant differences in MAP and HR after SFI between the two groups.The plasma?-endorphin concentration was significantly higher in group SFI than in control group.Conclusion Shenfu injectio can make patients emerging from general anesthesia faster.

Objective To study the relation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in serum and tumor necrosis fac- tor-?in serum and amniotic fluid in predicting ehorioamnhionitis in patients with premature rupture of membranes (PROM).Methods The levels of MMP-9 in serum and TNF-?in serum and amniotie fluid were measured by ra- dioimmunoassay and ELISA in 67 cases with premature rupture of membranes as study group and 40 cases normal full-termed pregnant women as controls group.Results(1)The levels of TNF-?in amniotie fluid and MMP-9 in serum in study group were significantly higher than those in controls group(P0.05).(2)In study group,the levels of MMP-9 of serum in0.05).Conclusions The levels of TNF-?in amniotic fluid and MMP-9 in serum were valuable clinical indices for identification of chorioamnionitis in patients with PROM.The levels of MMP-9 in serum also could assess the time of rupture of membranes and the degree of ehorioamnionitis.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects and mechanisms of Pongamia pinnata root flavonoids (PRF) on the experimental gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid and to study the mechanism of PRF on the quality of ulcer healing.

METHODSThe models were established by acetic acid erosion, the quality of ulcer healing of PRF on the model of gastric ulcer were observed. The contents of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. The expression of EGF and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) were detected by immunohistochemistry (SP).

RESULTSPRF significantly inhibited ulcerative formation induced by acetic acid (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). PRF could significantly increase the EGF and TGF-alpha (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) expression of para-ulcer mucosa tissue and improve the EGF contents in blood serum (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPRF increases the contents of EGF in serum and the expression of EGF and TGF-alpha in the tissue around gastric ulcer which might be one of possible mechanisms that PRF improves quality of ulcer healing.

Acetic Acid ; Animals ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; blood ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Male ; Millettia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach Ulcer ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application of power spectral entropy (PSE) in epileptic rats induced by penicillin, and to exploreits its value in predicting epileptic seizures. METHODS: Eighteen SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a normal group, a control group and an epileptic group. Acute chemical models were made using penicillin microinjection in the right hippocampus of rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats received continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring by deep department electrode. Changes of PSE of EEG signal in the epileptic group were analysed in the whole seizure process and compared with those in the normal group and the control group. RESULTS: In the whole seizure process of the rats induced by penicillin, PSE began to decline during the pre-ictal period and dropped sharply during the ictal period. PSE in the pre-ictal and ictal period declined apparently comparing with that in the non-ictal period. PSE in the epileptic group had significant differences during the ictal and pre-ictal period compared with that in the normal group and the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Changes of PSE reveal the changes of the complex ictal EEG signals, and may be useful to predict epileptic seizures.
Animals ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Entropy ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; Male ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Penicillins ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of HCV NS5A protein on HCV IRES-dependent translation in HepG2 cells.

METHODSHepG2 cells were co-transfected with a plasmid vector containing a bicistronic transcript carrying Renilla luciferase and firefly luciferase genes separated by HCV IRES sequences, and an expressing vector producing the NS5A protein. The luciferase activity and the mRNA of the luciferase gene were then detected. The NS5A expression was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTSHCV NS5A protein was detected in the cytoplasm of the HepG2 cells transfected with pcDNA-NS5A, and the luciferase activity was up-regulated in the presence of the HCV NS5A protein while the expression of luciferase mRNA showed no difference.

CONCLUSIONHCV NS5A protein can upregulate the HCV IRES activity and this effect is dose-dependent with NS5A.

Hep G2 Cells ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Ribosomes ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: The proliferation of peripheral blood stem cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) invitro remains unclear. There is no optimal marker for tracing PBMCs transplanted in vivo.OBJECTIVE: To observe the degree of PBMC proliferation in stem cell medium by EdU labeling and to explore thefeasibility of EdU-labeled peripheral blood stem cells.METHODS: New Zealand rabbit PBMCs were isolated and cultured for 1 to 5 days in stem cell medium supplementedwith EdU. The cells were observed and counted at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days in culture. The cells were harvested at eachtime point and stained with EdU fluorescent reagents. Then, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to detectEdU-labeled cells.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Freshly isolated rabbit PBMCs were rounded and showed clear outline. After 1 dayculture, most of the cells were suspended in the medium, spherical or round. There were also a few cell clusters andadherent cells scattered in a triangle or polygon shape; after 2 days culture, more cell debris were observed, and mostcells were round; when cultured for 3-5 days, increased cell debris, smaller cell mass and decreased cell densitysignificantly were observed. (2) With the prolongation of culture time, the cell count decreased gradually. (3) Whencultured for 1 day, EdU labeled cells in red were scattered. The number of cells marked with EdU red label increasedsignificantly at day 2 and remained unchanged after 3 days of culture. At 5 days of culture, the number of red cellsmarkedly decreased; the highest positive rate of EdU-labeled cells was (2.38±0.10)% at 2 days after culture. To conclude,these results showed that the proportion of proliferating cells in rabbit PBMCs was very low. EdU is capable of labelingproliferative cells among PBMCs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the changes of the behaviors, EEG and expression of c-fos, c-jun on induced seizure in rats by injecting penicillin after transmitting epileptic discharge from brain tissue to muscular tissue on skull. Eighteen experimental rats were divided into 3 groups, with each 6 rats. Seizure group: 6 acute seizure models were established by injecting penicillin in hippocampus of rats; Transferring group, 6 acute seizure models were established by injecting penicillin in hippocampus of rats, and electrode connected to muscles was planted into epileptic focus of each rat; Control group, 6 rats were only planted electrode in hippocampus without injecting penicillin. Then we observed the changes of behaviors, EEG and expression of C-fos, C-jun in hippocampus with immunohistochemical method. There was no statistic difference in seizure frequency of rat between seizure group and transferring group, but the discharging frequency in EEG of transferring group lowered significantly (P<0.05). The expression of C-fos, C-jun in hippocampus of transferring group rats was significantly lower than that of seizure group (P<0.005). It could be concluded that under the model of transmitting epileptic discharge from brain tissue to muscular tissue on skull, the burst times on EEG electrode decreased, concomitantly with the lower expression of C-fos, C-jun in hippocampus.
Animals ; Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiopathology ; Penicillins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDAdipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are capable of differentiating into cardiomyogenic and endothelial cells in vitro. We tested the hypothesis that transplantation of ADSCs into myocardial scar may regenerate infracted myocardium and restore cardiac function.

METHODSADSCs were isolated from the fatty tissue of New Zealand white rabbits and cultured in Iscoves modified dulbeccos medium. Three weeks after ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery of rabbits, either a graft of untreated ADSCs (UASCs, n = 14), 5-azacytidine-pretreated ADSCs (AASCs, n = 13), or phosphate buffer saline (n = 13) were injected into the infarct region. Transmural scar size, cardiac function, and immunohistochemistry were performed 5 weeks after cell transplantation.

RESULTSADSCs in culture demonstrated a fibroblast-like appearance and expressed CD29, CD44 and CD105. Five weeks after cell transplantation, transmural scar size in AASC-implanted hearts was smaller than that of the other hearts. Many ADSCs were differentiated into cardiomyocytes. The AASCs in the prescar appeared more myotube-like. AASCs in the middle of the scar and UASCs, in contrast, were poorly differentiated. Some ADSCs were differentiated into endothelial cells and participate in vessel-like structures formation. All the ADSC-implanted hearts had a greater capillary density in the infarct region than did the control hearts. Statistical analyses revealed significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction, myocardial performance index, end-diastolic pressure, and peak +dP/dt, in two groups of ADSC-implanted hearts relative to the control hearts. AASC-implanted hearts had higher peak -dP/dt values than did control, higher ejection fraction and peak +dP/dt values than did UASC-implanted hearts.

CONCLUSIONSADSCs transplanted into the myocardial scar tissue formed cardiac islands and vessel-like structures, induced angiogenesis and improved cardiac function. 5-Azacytidine pretreatment before implantation is desirable for augmenting myogenesis. Transplantation of 5-azacytidine-treated ADSCs into the myocardial scar was more efficient than that of untreated ADSCs in preservation of cardiac function.

Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Animals ; Azacitidine ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Rabbits ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Ventricular Function, Left