BACKGROUND:Activating transcription factor 4 is found as an activating factor that can regulate osteogenic differentiation and function, and plays a critical role in the osteogenic differentiation.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression and significance of activating transcription factor 4 in the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from Sprague-Dawley rats.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured using the whole bone marrow adherence method, and ossification revulsant was added to induce passage 3 cells. cells with no osteogenic induction served as controls. RT-PCR and western blot assay were employed to dynamical y monitor expression of activating transcription factor 4.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:RT-PCR results showed that activating transcription factor 4 mRNA expression increased with the increasing osteogenic differentiation, and peaked at day 16. Western blot analysis showed that the protein expression of activating transcription factor 4 tended to increase with the increasing osteogenic differentiation, peaked at day 16 and stil maintained at a higher level at day 19. Compared with the uninduced cells, activating transcription factor 4 in the induced cells exhibited a higher expression at mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). These findings indicate that activating transcription factor 4 expression is elevated during osteogenic differentiation, showing a positive correlation with osteogenic ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To investigate the influence of bushenhuoxue drug-containing serum on PI3K and Akt signaling pathway in purified retinal ganglion cell (RGCs) in vitro of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats,and to explore the protective mechanisms of bushenhuoxue recipe on RGCs.Methods At first,bushenhuoxue drug-containing serum was prepared,and the RGCs of SD rats were purified;after the apoptotic model of pressurized and purified RGCs was established successfully in vitro using open pressure control system,RGCs were dealt with 50 g · L-1,100 g · L-1,200 g · L-1 concentration gradient of bushenhuoxue drug-containing serum.Then the subjected cells were divided into normal culture group (N group),control group (C group),50 g · L-1 bushenhuoxue group (50 g · L-1 BSHX group),100 g · L-1 bushenhuoxue group (100 g · L-1 BSHX group),200 g · L-1 bushenhuoxue group (200 g · L-1 BSHX group).Finally,cell apoptotic rate was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining,while real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of PI3K and Akt in each group respectively.Results The results of qRT-PCR detection showed that PI3K,Akt mRNA expression level in C group (0.04 ±0.01) was decreased compared with N group (1.00 ± 0.04),and the difference was statistically significant (all P＜0.05),while PI3K,Akt mRNA levels in 50 g · L-1,100 g · L-1 and 200 g · L-1 BXHX group (0.18 ±0.01,0.21 ±0.02,0.22 ±0.01,0.36 ±0.01,0.84 ±0.10,1.07 ± 0.17) were increased compared with the C group,and the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜0.05).The Western blot results of each group showed that PI3K,Akt protein expression level in C group was decreased compared with N group,with statistical difference (all P ＜ 0.05),while PI3 K,Akt protein expression levels in 50 g · L-1,100 g · L-1 and 200 g · L-1 BSHX group were increased compared with C group,with staffstical difference (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Bushenhuoxue drug-containing serum may inhibit the RGCs apoptosis induced by pressure,which may be related to the activation of PBK/Akt signal transduction pathway.

As a pleiotropic cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6) participates in many physiological activities in vivo. IL-6 plays an important role in the physiology and pathology of chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, tumors and other diseases through diverse mechanisms. At present, inhibitors targeting IL-6/IL-6R have been shown to improve treatments for some inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. IL-6 binds to a specific receptor to activate the downstream JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. However abnormally activated STAT3 often appears in various types of malignant tumors and participates in the occurrence and development of tumors. In addition, studies have shown that IL-6 is a key factor in the cytokine storm associated with COVID-19 patients. The physiological participation of IL-6/STAT3 pathway in complex diseases makes this pathway become a research hotspot for drug discovery. Therefore, we summarize the latest research progress of small molecular inhibitors on IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway, in order to provide a reference for the development of IL-6/STAT3 related drug in the future.

Objective To investigate the role of cyclophilin A (CypA) and CD147 in the process of skin aging. Methods Twenty cases of tissue samples from junior group(＜15 years old), middle age group(30-40 years old)or old age group (＞65 years old) were collected from photophobic and exposal parts of skin, respectively. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) were carried out to semi-quantitatively detect the expression level of CyPA and CD147. Results IHC demonstrated that both CyPA and CD147 were expressed in both photophobic and exposal parts of normal human skin in all 3 groups. The expression levels of both CyPA and CD147 were increased with increase in age. There were significant differences in both CyPA and CD147 expression among 3 groups (P<0.05). CyPA and CD147 were also positively correlated in all 3 groups. Similar results were achieved by ISH. Conclusion The interaction between CD147 and CyPA might play an important role in the process of skin aging.

Objective To improve the recognition of nervous system symptoms of inborn errors.Methods Five patients with organic acidemias were screened by urine organic acid analysis(gas chromotography-mass spectrometry,GC/MS),3 cases of methylmalolic acidemias(MMA) and 2 cases of propionic acidemias(PA) were confirmed.They were treated with special diet and medicine after diagnosis.Result The improvement of mental development was observed after treatment.Conclusions Most of organic acidemias involve nervous systems,causing non-specific symptoms of nervous system as lethergy,seizures,mental retardation.Inborn errors of metabolism shall be kept in mind when causes of the symtoms of acidosis,seisures,mental retardation and lethergy are investigated.GC/MS is a very important method in diagnosis of organic acidemias.Early diagnosis and early treatment can improve the mental prognosis.

Objective To investigate the status of medical institution sewage treatment in Qingpu District of Shanghai, and to make corresponding measures in improving sewage management in medical institutions. Methods Questionnaire survey was conducted on selected 95 medical institutions in Qingpu District to investigate sewage treatment status and sewage samples were collected from 30 medical institutions with 20 beds or above to test their sanitary quality. Results Operating rate of sewage handling equipment was 98.9%, the proportion of medical institutions using chlorine disinfectant was 87.4%, the total qualified rate of residual chlorine was 66.7%, the total qualified rate of fecal coliform number was 70.0%, and overall qualified rate was 60.0%. Conclusion The qualified rate of medical institutions sewage in Qingpu District is not optimistic enough.It is necessary to strengthen sewage personnel training and health supervision to ensure the safety of medical institution sewage.

Objective To explore the effect of TNF-α in intracellular Ca~(2+)-overload associated myocardial injury. Methods Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:control group,Ca~(2+)+-paradox group,and pentoxifylline treatment group. The intracellular Ca~(2+)-overload rat model was established by pre-filling the rats with Langendorff for 20 minutes,isolated rat hearts subjected to Ca~(2+)-depletion for 5 minutes and Ca~(2+)-repletion for 30 minites(Ca~(2+)-paradox). Changes in hemodynamics indexes were monitored continuously. TNF-α in cardiac tissues was tested by ELISA method,and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)in cardiac tissues was detected with Western blot. Results Dramatic depression in left ventricle contraction function was found in the Ca~(2+)-paradox hearts:significant decrease in left ventricular diastolic pressure(LVDP),markedly elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure(LVEDP),decreased dP/dt ratio,increased TNF-α content,decreased cytosolic/homogenate NF-κB ratio. All these changes in Ca~(2+)-paradox group were significantly attenuated upon the treatment with 100 μmol/L pentoxifylline. Conclusions Activation of NF-κB and increased production of TNF-α may play important roles in cardiac injury associated with intracellular Ca~(2+)-overload.

Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

Objective: To understand the prevalence of hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) infection in sentinel surveillance in Liaoning Province from 2015 to 2019, in order to provide evidence for the precise prevention and control of HCV. Methods: The HCV sentinel surveillance data of 5 kinds of populations, including dialyzed patients, patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment, family planning outpatients, people receiving physical examination and unpaid blood donators in Liaoning Province from 2015 to 2019 were retrieved, and the HCV positive rates of different years, gender and age groups in the five populations were analyzed. Results: There were 26 000 persons surveyed and 61 HCV positive cases were detected from 2015 to 2019. The HCV positive rate was 0.23%. The HCV positive rates of dialyzed patients, patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment, family planning outpatients, people receiving physical examination and unpaid blood donators were 0.40%, 0.70%, 0.25%, 0.24% and 0.14%, respectively. The HCV positive rates of dialyzed patients, patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment, and unpaid blood donators had significant downward trends ( P<0.05 ). The HCV positive rates of males and females were 0.22% and 0.26%, without any significant difference ( P>0.05 ). The HCV positive rate of people aged above 70 years old was 1.15%, the highest among different age groups. Conclusions The prevalence of HCV infection among the patients with hemodialysis and with invasive diagnosis and treatment is relatively high. The level of HCV antibody of older age groups should be monitored regularly.

To investigate the anticancer effects of ring C in 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a series of GA derivatives featured with 9(11)-ene moiety in ring C were designed and synthesized. The structures were confirmed by IR, LC-MS and 1H NMR. Their inhibitory effects towards human prostate cancer PC-3 and leukemia HL-60 cell lines were determined. Most of the derivatives displayed stronger antiproliferative activities than GA. Particularly, compound 14 showed promising anticancer activity with the GI50 values of 4.48 µmol · L(-1) and 1.2 µmol · L(-1) against PC-3 and HL-60 cells respectively, which is worth further study.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Design ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology