BACKGROUND: Nerve tissue-engineered scaffolds must have axial y aligned structures, that can promote oriented growth of new axons, to guarantee the effective repair and regeneration of damaged nerves. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of heparin sulfate/col agen nerve tissue-engineered scaffolds on peripheral nerve injury repair. METHODS: Heparin sulfate/col agen nerve tissue-engineered scaffolds were prepared, and its internal structure and porosity was observed and measured. Then rat Schwann cel s were seeded on the scaffolds to observe cel adhesion. Afterwards, 32 rats undergoing removal of left sciatic nerve were randomly divided into two groups (n=16 per group), and the rats were implanted by heparin sulfate/col agen nerve tissue-ergineered scaffolds as experimentd group, and the rats were implanted by autdogous sciatic nerve as control group. At 16 weeks after implantation, diameter, thickness of myelin sheath as wel as density of myelinated nerve fiber, the percentage of neural tissue and electrophysiology was detected, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The tissue-engineered scaffolds whose porosity was 91% were composed of microtubules arranging paral el y along the axial direction, and the microtubule diameter was 180 μm; the scaffolds had good biocompatibility with the Schwann cel s. In addition, at 16 weeks after implantation, no significant differences were found in myelin sheath thickness, myelinated nerve fiber density, as wel as conduction velocity and latency of motor and sensory nerves between two groups;compared with the control group, diameter of myelinated nerve fiber, percentage of neural tissue and amplitude of motor and sensory nerves in the experimental group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). To conclude, the heparin sulfate/col agen nerve tissue-engineered scaffold can effectively repair peripheral nerve injury, but its effect is weaker than that of autologous nerve repair.

Objective: To screen for differentially expressed genes associated with the development and progression of human growth hormone adenoma, so as to lay a foundation for future study. Methods: The whole genome oligonucleotide microarray (Affymetrix 133 plus 2.0) was used to examine gene profiles of 8 growth homone adenoma samples and 2 normal pooled pituitary samples. Differentially expressed genes were subjected to bioinformatics analysis. Real-time qPCR was used to verify the microarray result of a randomly selected candidate gene. Results: A total of 187 up-regulated genes and 899 down-regulated genes associated with growth hormone adenoma were screened out, with their functions mainly associated with molecular binding, apoptosis/tumor, metabolism, signal transduction, cell cycle, and transportation activities. Conclusion: Microarray technology can be used for preliminary screen of growth hormone adenoma associated genes. The development and progression of growth homone adenoma are complex processes involving multiple genes, molecules, and pathways.

AIM: To study the action of NF-?B p65 in tubule-interstitium in rats with active Heymann nephritis(AHN). METHODS: Twenty female Wistar rats in 6-8 weeks of age were divided into two groups. The nephritis was induced with Fx1A/CFA by subcutaneous injection and with CFA as control. After rats were killed, the activation of NF-?B p65 in renal tissue was observed by immune histochemistry. RESULTS: The lesion score of renal interstitium and activation of NF-?B p65 of renal tubule in rats with AHN was higher than those of control group(P

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in the proliferation, growth, invasion, and metastasis of human cancers. Moreover, β-catenin/T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) interaction regulates the transcription of the key oncogenes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, β-catenin/TCF4 interaction would be a promising therapeutic target for the development of highly selective anticancer agents. At present, most ongoing small-molecule inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction, including PKF222-815, iCRT3/5/14, LF3, and sanguinarine, have been developed in preclinical studies for human cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarized the research advances of up-to date inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction, including the molecular structure and cellular functions of β-catenin in canonical Wnt signaling pathway. This review holds a hopeful avenue for the development of novel and highly selective Wnt inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction for future anticancer strategy.

Objective To study the time-and dose-effect of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 4934 bp and 4977 bp deletions in the human peripheral blood irradiated by137 Cs γ-rays,and to evaluate its implication in biological dosimetry.Methods The peripheral blood from five healthy adults was collected and irradiated with γ-rays.The peripheral blood of one healthy adult was irradiated with 5 Gy and cultured for 2,24,48 and 72 h after irradiation.The peripheral blood from the other four healthy adults was cultured for 2 h after 0,0.5,1,2,5 and 10 Gy irradiation.The peripheral blood mtDNA 4934 bp and 4977 bp deletions were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis.The doseeffect curves were fitted using Curve Expert 1.4 Software.Results mtDNA 4934 bp and 4977 bp deletions were induced at 2 h post-irradiation and the mtDNA 4934 bp deletion had relative high levels at 2 h and 48h after radiation (t =10.782 and 8.966,P ＜ 0.05),and mtDNA 4977 bp deletion reached the highest level at 48 h after radiation (t =7.433,P ＜0.05).mtDNA 4934 bp (t =2.895-8.105,P ＜0.05) and 4977 bp deletion (t =3.006-7.715,P ＜0.05) irradiated at 0.5-10 Gy increased with a dosedependent manner.The incidence of mtDNA 4977 bp deletion was higher than that of 4934 bp deletion for those samples exposed with same dose of irradiation,especially at 10 Gy (t =2.919,P ＜ 0.05),which suggested that 4977 bp deletion might be more sensitive than 4934 bp deletion at high dose.But larger individual differences were found in 4977 bp deletion compared with 4934 bp deletion.The dose-effect equations for 4934 bp deletion and 4977 bp deletion were Y1 =1.178 + 0.1219D (R2 =0.9269) and Y2 =1.2578 +0.1933D (R2 =0.9016),respectively.Conclusions The induction of mtDNA deletion was correlated with radiation dose,and thus it may be a available method for biological dose estimation and prognostic evaluation.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of thyroglobulin antibody (ATG) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (ATPO) in patients with vitiligo. Methods Venous blood samples were obtained from 87 patients with vitiligo and 90 age- and sex-matched normal human controls. Chemiluminescence was applied to measure the serum levels of ATG, ATPO, free triiodothyronine, free tetraiodothyronine and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Results There was a significant increase in the positivity rates of ATG (23.0% vs 6.7%, P < 0.01) and ATPO (24.1% vs 7.8%, P < 0.01) as well as the serum level of TSH (3.4 ± 2.4 vs 2.4 ± 1.2 pmol/L, P < 0.05) in the patients with vitiligo compared with the normal human controls. It is worth mentioning that all patients positive for ATG or ATPO were diagnosed with vitiligo vulgaris. The positivity rates of ATG and ATPO in patients with vitiligo aged from 11 to 20 years and 21 to 40 years were significantly higher than those in age-matched normal controls (all P < 0.05). Also, female patients had a higher positivity rate of ATG and ATPO than female controls did (34.1% vs 8.5%, χ2 = 8.90, P < 0.01; 34.1% vs 10.6%,χ2 = 7.29, P < 0.05). The highest positivity rates of both ATG and ATPO were 53.3%, which were observed in vitiligo patients aged from 11 to 20 years, followed by patients from 21 to 40 years (ATG 34.5%, ATPO 34.5%). In patients with vitiligo positive for both ATG and ATPO, the occurrence of autoimmune thyroid disease was 70% (14/20), significantly higher than that in ATG- and ATPO- positive healthy controls (16.7%, χ2 = 5.4, P < 0.05). Conclusions ATG and ATPO were observed in young female patients with vitiligo vulgaris, and they may be associated with the development of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Objective To statistically analyze data of blood transfusion from General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command,Mianyang field blood station,Deyang field blood station and other military medical institutions from May 12 to June 30,2008 so as to provided certain references for reasonable blood supportability in wartime and disaster.Methods A statistical analysis was done on data of blood collection and supply including self-taken blood and assembled blood,total amount of blood supply as well as the transfusion information of inpatients injured by earthquake in our hospital.Results The amount of self-taken blood was 5 111 U,the amount of assembled blood 3 380 U and the total amount of blood supply 1 0405.5 U.But blood transfusion was 4 090.6 U in 132 patients admitted into General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command.In addition,the crest-time of transfusion appeared at 96 hours after earthquake.Moreover,patients with fractures received the highest rate of blood transfusion and crush syndrome patients received the most blood transfusion and the highest per capita transfusion.Conclusions Blood supportability in earthquake is different from that in wartime and other disasters in aspects of transfusion time,blood types and blood transfusion volume.It is important to analyze the characteristics of transfusion in patients injured by earthquake for national strategy of blood supportability in disasters and for blood supportability in the wartime.

Animals ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; HIV ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; immunology ; virology ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

Animals ; Central Nervous System ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Mice ; Microwaves ; Rats