Objective To observe the effect of acidic fibroblastic growth factor (aFGF) on traumatic brain edema. Methods Recombinant human aFGF (10mg/ml) was continuously injected into the intraventricle for 12 h before brain traumatic injury in rats, and the brain water content was determined and the histological and ultrastructural changes in the brain tissue observed. Results Brain edema and neuronal damage were reduced remarkably by the administration of aFGF. Conclusion aFGF can obviously alleviate brain edema and neuronal damage.

Objective To observe the effect of acidic fibroblastic growth factor (aFGF) on traumatic brain edema. Methods Recombinant human aFGF (10mg/ml) was continuously injected into the intraventricle for 12 h before brain traumatic injury in rats, and the brain water content was determined and the histological and ultrastructural changes in the brain tissue observed. Results Brain edema and neuronal damage were reduced remarkably by the administration of aFGF. Conclusion aFGF can obviously alleviate brain edema and neuronal damage.

OBJECTIVETo clone the full-length Rcet3 gene, a novel gene related to family 2 cystatins, from mouse testis or other tissues.

METHODSRcet3 gene was cloned using digital differential display (DDD) and RT-PCR was performed for cloning the full-length Rcet3 gene from adult mouse testis cDNA library with sequence analysis.

RESULTSRcet3 cDNA was 610 bp in length, consisting of 4 exons to encode a protein with 140 amino acid residues. The encoded protein contained a potential signal peptide and a cystatin domain, but lacked critical consensus site important for cysteine protease inhibition. These characteristics could be seen in the Cres subgroup related to the family 2 cystatins. Rcet3 was specifically expressed in adult mouse testis, epididymis and the cerebrum, but at higher levels in the testis than in the epididymis and cerebrum.

CONCLUSIONRcet3 may be a new member of Cres subgroup of family 2 cystatins.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cystatins ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Testis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitive effects of exogenous carbon monoxide-releasing molecules 2 (CORM-2) on expression of tissue factor (TF) in sepsis.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured with trypsin digestion method, which were divided into NC group (with normal treatment), LPS group (with culture of 10 microg/mL LPS), LD group (with 10 microg/mL LPS and DMSO in co-culture), LC1 group (with 10 microg/mL LPS and 10 micromol/L CORM-2 in co-culture), LC2 group (with 10 microg/mL LPS and 50 micromol/L CORM-2 in co-culture), LC3 group (with 10 microg/mL LPS and 100 micromol/L CORM-2 in co-culture). After culture for 4 hours, TF activity, TF protein expression, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity were examined. Forty-five C57 BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into NC (without treatment, n = 5), CLP (n = 5) and CLP + CORM-2 (with treatment of 8 mg/kg CROM-2 after CLP, n = 5) groups. The serum samples in CLP, CLP + CORM-2 groups were collected at 2, 6, 12 and 24 post operation hour ( POH, 5 mice at each time point) for determination of TF and TFPI levels,which were also examined in NC group.

RESULTSCompared with those of NC group, TF activity increased (P < 0.01) , TF protein expression and NF-KB activity also increased in LPS group. Compared with those of LPS group, above indices were decreased in LC1, LC2, LC3 groups. The serum level of TF in CLP group at 6 POH was higher than that of NC group (80.0 +/- 11.9 pg/mL vs 58.4 +/- 6.9 pg/mL, P < 0.05), peaked at 12 POH, and still higher than that of NC group at 24 POH, while the serum level of TFPI showed no obvious difference in NC and CLP groups. Compared with that of NC group, TFPI levels obviously increased in CLP + CORM-2 group at 6, 12 POH (23.7 +/-3.5 ng/mL, 24.4 +/- 5.0 ng/mL vs 12.4 +/- 2.8 ng/mL, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExogenous CORM can obviously inhibit TF and NF-KB activity,decrease TF protein expression. Meanwhile, it can also decrease serum level of TF, and increase serum level of TFPI, preventing activation of procoagulant system, balancing procoagulant and anticoagulant system in sepsis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Organometallic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Sepsis ; metabolism ; Thromboplastin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitive effect of exogenous carbon monoxide-releasing molecules 2 (CORM-2) on the activation of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway in sepsis.

METHODSRAW264.7 cells were divided into normal control group, LPS group (10 mg/mL LPS, the same concentration below), LPS + inactive CORM-2 (iCORM-2) group, LPS + 50 mmol/L CORM-2 group, and LPS + 100 mmol/L CORM-2 group. TNF-alpha level in the supernatant was determined with ELISA, and the phosphorylation levels of JAK1 and JAK3 were determined with Western blot. Thirty-five male BALB/c mice were divided into normal control group, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group, CLP + iCORM-2 (8.0 mg/kg) group and CLP + CORM-2 group (8.0 mg/kg) according to the random number table. Mice in CLP + CORM-2 group were treated the same as mice in CLP group except for administration of CORM-2 after CLP. The plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and the phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in liver tissue were determined with ELISA 24 hours post CLP. Data were processed with t test.

RESULTSCompared with that of normal control group [(1.9 +/- 0.3) pg/mL], the TNF-alpha level [(8.2 +/- 2.7) pg/mL, t = 2.844, P < 0.01] and phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in LPS group increased significantly; while TNF-alpha levels in LPS + 50 mmol/L CORM-2 and LPS + 100 mmol/L CORM-2 groups decreased obviously as compared with that of LPS group [(5.7 +/- 1.4), (3.2 +/- 0.9) pg/mL, with t value respectively 2.104 and 2.363, P values all below 0.05], and it was the same with phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with those of normal control group, plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in liver tissue significantly increased in CLP group (with t value respectively 2.916 and 2.796, and P values all below 0.05); while plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and the phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in liver tissue decreased significantly in CLP + CORM-2 group (with t value respectively 2.115 and 2.398, and P values all below 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExogenous CORM-2 can obviously inhibit the phosphorylation of JAKs molecules and then inhibit the activation of JAK/STAT signal pathway in sepsis, and decrease the expression of downstream cytokines to effectively prevent cascade reaction in the inflammatory response after severe infection.

Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Janus Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Janus Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organometallic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Sepsis ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective To analyze three different classification criteria, the clinical characteristics of antiphospholipid syndrome(APS)in a cohort of Chinese patients. Methods From January 1996 to October 2006, APS patients diagnosed with different classification criteria were retrospectively studied. Results There were totally 120 APS patients fulfilled at least one criterion, One hundred and one patients fulfilled the 1988 Asherson criteria, 96 patients fulfilled the 1999 Sapporo criteria, and 115 patients fulfilled the 2006 Sydney criteria. The ratio of male to female in a cohort of 115 definite APS patients was 1 to 10.5. The mean period of the disease until entry into the study was 82.6 months, the mean age at study entry was(41?12)years. Ninety patients had thrombosis episodes, among which the most common presenting manifestations were deep venous thrombosis, stroke and skin vasculitis. Forty-six of 92 married women in our cohort had fetal morbidity. Catas- trophic APS occurred in 7 patients. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies(aCL)was detected in 86 pa- tients, anti-beta-2 glycoproteinⅠantibodies in 58 patients and lupus anticoagulant(LA)in 27 patients. Conclusion The most common presenting manifestations are deep venous thrombosis, stroke and cutaneous manifestations. The sensitivity of Sydney classification criteria is improved by adding anti-beta-2 glycopreteinⅠantibody as one of the laboratory criteria. However, primary APS patients who only presented with thrombo- cytupenia and positive laboratory tests could not satisfy this criterion. In addition, the significance of autoanti- bodies to some coagulant factors in APS needs further study.

Objective To analyze the gene expression profiles in relation to the migration ability of adult human bone marrow-derived neural stem cells (Md-NSCs), and identify the genetic basis of the high migration potential of Md-NSCs in the central nervous system (CNS). Methods Adult human bone marrow stromal celIs(BMSCs) obtained from adult healthy volunteers were induced to differentiate into Md-NSCs in vitro, and the expressions of the genes related to cell invasiveness and metastasis were investigated by microarray analysis. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to verify the microarray results. Results The results of microarray analysis revealed significant overexpressions of the genes MMP1, MMP2, MMP17, ITGA3, RhoB, RhoC and RhoD in the Md-NSCs as compared with the expressions in fresh normal human adult bone marrow cells depleted of red blood cells. Quantitative RT-PCR verified the overexpression ofMMP2 gene by 2.84×100 folds, ITGA3 gene by 2.22×102folds, and RhoC gene by 4.92×100 folds. Conclusion The high migration potential of the Md-NSCs in the CNS is probably associated with the overexpression of the genes that promote cell invasiveness and metastasis. These overexpressed genes are also important oncogenes, and therefore the tumorigenicity of the Md-NSCs warrants further investigation.

Nineteen compounds, including one organic acid (1), one anthraquinone (2), one amide (3), and sixteen triterpenoid saponins (4 - 19) were isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax henryi (Oliv.) Harms (Araliaceae). Their structures were determined on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral analyses (HR-MS and NMR). Among them, compounds 2, 3, 7, 12 and 19 were new within Araliaceae. Compounds 4, 5, 9 - 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18 were reported for the first time from the Acanthopanax genus. Except for compounds 4 and 9, other compounds were isolated from A. henryi (Oliv.) Harms for the first time. The rare anthraquinone, compound 2, significantly decreased the production of NO and the levels of other inflammatory factors, such as TNF-alpha and IL-6, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. This is the first time to report anti-inflammatory effect of this compound.
Eleutherococcus* ; Araliaceae ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Nitric Oxide ; Saponins ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of complement C3 with clinical and serological features of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.MethodsData was collected by the same methods in the past ten years in fifteen hospitals in Jiangsu Province and then data weres summarized for retrospective analysis.Clinical and laboratory data were selected and then analyzed by Chi-square test,Wilcoxon rank sum test and Logistic regression.ResultsOne thousand four hundred and five patients were investigated.One thousand and forty two had low serum complement C3 level.In this case control study,hospitalization age,disease course,admission times,pleurisy,gastrointestinal involvement,general lymphadenopathy/hepatosplenomegaly,white blood cell count, haemoglobin level,platelet count, serum C-reactive protein level,serum albumin level,serum creatinine level,Urine protein quantification,anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA),anti-dsDNAantibodies, anti-SmantibodiesandSLEDAIscore were possible factors associatedwith complement C3 reduction(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that CRP (OR=0.396,0.254-0.617,P=0.000),ANA (OR=2.907,1.267-6.670,P=0.012),urine protein level(OR=1.702,1.043-2.779,P=0.033) and SLEDAI score (OR-0.930, 0.886-0.975,P-0.003) were correlated with complement C3 reduction.Conclusion Complement C3 level is valuable for lupus flare assessment.The complement C3 reduction is a risk factor for renal impairment.

Objective To investigate the initial manifestation and disease onset feature of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) in the past ten years in fifteen hospitals in Jiangsu Province.Methods Data was collected by the same Methodsin all the participated hospitals and then it was summarized for retrospective analysis.Two groups were compared by chi-square test.Results ① One thousand nine hundred and fifty eight patients were investigated and the male-to-female ratio was 1∶15.0.② One thousand seven hundred and ninty eight patients had clear initial manifestations.The most common initial manifestations were skin and mucosal lesions(769 cases,42.8％ ) and arthritis (697 cases,38.8％ ).The main skin lesion was malar rash (706 cases).Arthritis was found to be more common in female than male.③ All hospitalized patients at their first admission showed multiple organ/system involvement:the most common involvement was skin and mucous membrane (82.3％),hematologic damage (74.0％),in which at least one series of blood cells were involved,arthritis (1156 cases,56.5％ ) much more than myositis (51 cases),proteinuria 1046 cases and hematuria in 385 cases.Renal biopsy pathology showed type Ⅳ glomerulonephritis.Conclusion ① SLE patients are mainly female and the male to female ratio is 1∶15.0.② The most common initial manifestations are skin and mucosal lesions.③ The most commonly involved organ/system are skin and mucous membrane,blood,joint and kidney.The most common pathological changes shown in renal biopsy is type Ⅳ glomerulonephritis.