Objective To modify the methods of operation and establishment of cerebral ischemia rat models made by thread occlusion. Method We randomly divided 120 male SD rats into a common group (n = 50), an improvement group (n = 60) and a sham-operated group (n - 10). Rats in the common and improvement groups were made into models using the common and improvement methods separately. All models were evaluated on the basis of physical sign indices and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The TTC staining results were taken as gold standards. Then, we compared the achievement ratios of the two groups, and computed the sensitivity and specificity of every physical sign index based on these standards. The χ~2 or correction χ~2 test was used to compare the ratios. Results (1) The achievement ratio in the improvement group was significantly higher than that in the common group (71.67% vs. 52.00%, P = 0.034). (2) The sensitivity of evaluation for both common and improvement methods was 98.55%. However, the specificity of evaluation for the improvement method was significantly higher than that for the common method (100.00% vs. 40.00%, P =0.000). Conclusions The establishment achievement ratio and evaluation correctness of models are obviously elevated by modification of the operation and establishment methods.

Orthotopic liver transplantation has proven to be effective in the treatment of a variety of life-threatening liver diseases, however, the limitations of donated organs available and long-term immunosuppression provided an impetus for developing alternative therapies. Cell replacement strategies have been one major effective approach for overcoming the obstacles of organ transplantation in recent years. The exogenous cells should be able to proliferate and differentiate into mature hepatic cells after grafting. Use of mature hepatocytes is also hampered by limited tissue source and inability to proliferate and maintain the function for a long term in vitro. Embryonic stem cells are immortal and pluripotent and may provide a novel cell source for potential cell therapy. This review summarizes the mechanisms of controlling early liver development and hepatic differentiation of visceral endoderm in embryoid bodies, and provides an overview of diverse differentiation systems in vitro and in vivo that were applied to hepatic research in recent years. Several studies have demonstrated that ES cell-derived hepatocytes can incorporate into liver tissue and function in vivo , but a few of them have shown complete restoration of liver function after transplantation into mice with liver diseases. Further studies should be made to exploit efficient methods and clinical applications of hepatocytes derived from ES cells in the future. In addition to clinical transplantation for treatment of liver diseases, ES cells can provide a valuable tool for drug discovery applications and study on of molecular basis of hepatic differentiation.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; transplantation ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of preconditioning morphine on rabbit myocardium during ischemia-reperfusion.

METHODSThirty New Zealand male white rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups: control, I/R and morphine groups. In morphine group 1.0 mg/kg morphine was given preoperationaly, in control and I/R groups 1.0 ml/kg NS was given. Twenty-four hours later rabbits in morphine and I/R groups underwent 40 min of coronary occlusion followed by 2 hours of reperfusion; for control group only sham operation was performed. At the end of the reperfusion, infarct size (IS) and area at risk (AAR) were defined by Evans blue and TTC staining. At the end of the reperfusion blood samples were taken for determination of plasma SOD activity and MDA levels. The heart was harvested and levels of the HSP27 were determined by Western blot, and the heart ultrastructures were observed under the electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with I/R group,morphine significantly reduced infarct size (21.5%+/-2.4% Compared with 37.8%+/-1.7%, P<0.05). The morphine had a lower level of MDA and higher levels of SOD and HSP27 than those in I/R.

CONCLUSIONPreconditioning of morphine demonstrates cardioprotective effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury, which may be associated with increased HSP27 levels in the heart.

Animals ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; methods ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of calcitonin receptor mRNA in the osteoclasts of the resorbing deciduous teeth.

METHODSAfter fixing the collected deciduous teeth, toluidine blue was performed and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used to identify the osteoclasts on the resorbing surface of human deciduous teeth and in situ hybridization of calcitonin receptor mRNA to show its existence.

RESULTSThere were a number of TRAP positive osteoclasts on the root surface which showed the expression of calcitonin receptor mRNA.

CONCLUSIONOn the resorbing surface of human deciduous teeth there are osteoclasts that express calcitonin receptor mRNA, so it is feasible to use this kind of osteoclast to test the effect of external factors on the expression of CTR mRNA.

Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; In Vitro Techniques ; Osteoclasts ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Receptors, Calcitonin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tooth, Deciduous ; cytology ; metabolism

Objective To observe apelin and its receptor (APJ) expressions in human osteoblasts and evaluate the effect of apelin on osteoblasts.Methods The expressions of apelin and APJ in human osteoblasts were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot.After human osteoblasts were treated with apelin,cell proliferation was measured by [~3H] thymidine incorporation and cell counting.Cell function was measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity,the secreted osteocalcin level and typeⅠcollagen production .The activation of signaling cascades was tested by Western blot.Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to blockade APJ was applied to observe effects of apelin on cell proliferation and the activation of signaling cascades.Results Both apelin and APJ were expressed in human osteoblasts.Apelin increased the proliferation and did not show the influences on ALP activity, osteocalcin secretion and type I collagen production in human osteoblasts.Apelin induced activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) downstream effector (Akt),but not mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) such as c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),p38 and ERK1/2 in human osteoblasts.Suppression of APJ with siRNA or LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) abolished the apelin-induced cell proliferation and the activation of Akt.Conclusion Human osteoblasts express apelin and APJ.Apelin stimulates the proliferation of human osteoblast via APJ/PI3K/Akt pathway,but has no effect on osteoblast differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Acute liver failure (ALF) caused by viral and non-viral hepatitis is often accompanied with severe metabolic disorders, the accumulation of toxic substances and continuous release and accumulation of a large number of endogenous toxins and inflammatory mediators. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of various combined non-biological artificial liver treatments for patients with acute liver failure (ALF) complicated by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). METHODS: Thirty-one patients with mid- or late-stage liver failure complicated by MODS (score 4) were randomly divided into three treatment groups: plasmapheresis (PE) combined with hemoperfusion (HP) and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), PE+CVVHDF, and HP+CVVHDF, respectively. Heart rate (HR) before and after treatment, mean arterial pressure (MAP), respiratory index (PaO2/FiO2), hepatic function, platelet count, and blood coagulation were determined. RESULTS: Signifi cant improvement was observed in HR, MAP, PaO2/FiO2, total bilirubin (TBIL) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels after treatment (P<0.05). TBIL and ALT decreased more signifi cantly after treatment in the PE+CVVHDF and PE+HP+CVVHDF groups (P<0.01). Prothrombin time (PT) and albumin were signifi cantly improved only in the PE+CVVHDF and PE+HP+CVVHDF groups (P<0.05). TBIL decreased more significantly in the PE+HP+CVVHDF group than in the HP+CVVHDF and PE+CVVHDF groups (P<0.05). The survival rate of the patients was 58.1％ (18/31), viral survival rate 36.4％ (4/11), and non-viral survival rate 70％ (14/20). CONCLUSION: Liver function was relatively improved after treatment, but PE+HP+CVVHDF was more efficient for the removal of toxic metabolites, especially bilirubin. The survival rate was significantly higher in the patients with non-viral liver failure than in those with viral liver failure.

Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; physiopathology ; virology ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

OBJECTIVETo explore effects of kurarinol combined with Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate on specific cellular immunity of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSSixty-three CHB patients were randomly divided into two groups, 32 cases in group of kurarinol combined with Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate group (combined therapy group) were treated with 600 mg kurarinol glucose injection intravenously, once a day for one month, then 200 mg kurarinol capsule was used orally, three times a day for two months. 150 mg Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate for Injection was added to 250 ml 10% glucose injection for intravenous drip, once a day for one month, then 150 mg Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate capsule was used orally, three times a day for two months; 31 case in kurarinol group (single drug group) only used kurarinol, methods and dosage were the same as those of treatment group. HBV specific CTL, T cell subgroups, change of Th1 and Th2 level, HBV-DNA and HBeAg negative rate of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSThree months after treatment, HBV specific CTL, CD4 + and Th1 of combined therapy group were higher than those before treatment, and higher than those of single drug group after treatment (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHBV-DNA and HBeAg negative rate between the two groups had no statistic significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONKurarinol combined with Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate can further increase HBV specific CTL, CD4+ and Th1 level of CHB patients.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; analysis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged

In this study,the current status for breast diseases in a region with high-incidence of cervical cancer were epidemiologically investigated.From March to August,2009,17618 women,from Wufeng area of Hubei province,China,were recruited to screen breast diseases by using breast infrared diagnostic apparatus.Other diagnostic methods,such as B-mode ultrasound,X-ray mammography,needle biopsy and pathological examination were,if necessary,used to further confirm the diagnosis.The screening showed that 5990 of 17618 cases (34.00％) had breast diseases,5843 (33.16％) had mammary gland hyperplasia,48 (0.27％) had breast fibroadenoma,ll (0.06％) had breast carcinoma,and 88 (0.50％) had other breast diseases.The peak morbidity of breast cancer was found in the women aged 50-0 ages.The morbidity of breast cancer was significantly increased in women elder than or equal to 50 years old (n=8,0.157％) in comparison with that in the subjects younger than 50 years old (n=3,0.024％) (u=2.327,P＜0.05).It was shown that the occurrence of breast diseases was concentrated in women aged 20-40 years,while the total morbidity reached its peak at the age of 30 years and then decreased sharply after age of 40.Compared with the patients elder than or equal to 40 years old (n=3289,27.46％),the morbidity rate of breast diseases was significantly increased in women less than 40 years old (2648 cases,47.18％; P＜0.001).However,there was no significant difference in the morbidity of breast diseases between the age group of 20-29 years and that of 30-39 years (P=0.453),and both of them were high.There was no significant association between the morbidity of breast diseases and cervical cancer.Since the morbidity of breast diseases was higher among young women,more attention should be paid to the screening of breast diseases among young women for early diagnosis.

In this study, we employed Q Exactive to determine the main differential metabolites of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex du-ring the "sweating" process. Further, we quantified the color parameters and determined the activities of polyphenol oxidase(PPO), peroxidase(POD), and tyrosinase of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex during the "sweating" process. Gray correlation analysis was performed for the color, chemical composition, and enzyme activity to reveal the effect of enzymatic reaction on the color of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex during the "sweating" process. Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex sweating in different manners showed similar metabolite changes. The primary metabolites that changed significantly included amino acids, nucleotides, and sugars, and the secondary metabolites with significant changes were phenols and phenylpropanoids. Despite the different sweating methods, eleven compounds were commonly up-regulated, including L-glutamic acid, acetylarginine, hypoxanthine, and xanthine; six compounds were commonly down-re-gulated, including L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, and phenylalanine. The brightness value(L~*), red-green value(a~*), and yellow-blue value(b~*) of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex kept decreasing during the "sweating" process. The changes in the activities of PPO and POD during sweating were consistent with those in the color parameter values. The gray correlation analysis demonstrated that the main differential metabolites such as amino acids and phenols were closely related to the color parameters L~*, a~* and b~*; POD was correlated with amino acids and phenols; PPO had strong correlation with phenols. The results indicated that the color change of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex during "sweating" was closely related to the reactions of enzymes dominated by PPO and POD. The study analyzed the correlations among the main differential metabolites, color parameters, and enzyme activities of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex in the "sweating" process. It reveals the common law of material changes and ascertains the relationship between color changes and enzymatic reactions of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex during "sweating". Therefore, this study provides a reference for studying the "sweating" mechanism of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex and is of great significance to guarantee the quality of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex.
Magnolia/chemistry* ; Quality Control ; Sweating