Objective To evaluate the effect of operation on breast duct fishtula. Methods 41 patients with breast duct fitula were subjected to fistulectomy or mastectomy. Results All patients had no re ccurrence after operation from 0.5 to 17 years. The clinical analysis showed that the causes of breast duct fistula were bacterial infection, retracted nipple, tissuration in the middle of nipple and breast duct dialation. Conclusions Fistulectomy or mastectomy is the most effective treatment of breast duct fistula.

Objective:To study the expression of osteoprotegerin(OPG)and receptor activator nuclearfactor kappa B ligand(RANKL)at protein level in human periodontal ligament cells(HPDLCs),and theeffect of 1?,25(OH)_2 vitamin D_3[1,25(OH)_2 vitD_3] on the secretion of OPG protein in vitro.Meth-ods:HPDLCs were harvested in vitro by sequential digestion with trypsin and collagenase.The expressionof RANKL in HPDLCs at protein level was tested by immunocyto-chemistry.Enzyme-linked immuno-adsordent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the OPG protein which was secreted into the culture mediumby HPDLCs cultured with and without 10~(-8) mol/L 1?,25(OH)_2 vitD_3 on the 0,2nd,4th,and 6th days,respectively.Results:RANKL protein was detected on the membrane and plasma of HPDLCs,and OPGprotein was secreted in the culture medium.The secretion of OPG protein was down-regulated by 10~(-8)mol/L 1?,25(OH)_2 vitD_3.Conclusion:HPDLCs have the bone metabolism system of OPG/RANKL,which works during the process of 1?,25(OH)_2 vitD_3 inducing HPDLCs.The conclusion has laid thegroundwork for the study on bone remodelling mechanisms of HPDLCs.

OBJECTIVETo establish a method to test citrinin (CIT) in monascus products by immuno-affinity chromatography (IAC)-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and to detect the content of CIT in monascus products in Fujian province.

METHODSIAC-HPLC was applied to detect the CIT content in monascus products. The conditions to use HPLC were as follows: C(18) reversed-phase chromatographic column, 150.0 mm×4.6mm×3 µm; mobile phase: the volume ratio of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid solution at 65:35; isocratic elution; column temperature: 28°C; flow velocity: 0.8 ml/min; fluorescence detector, excitation wavelength (λ(ex)) was 331 nm and emission wavelength (λ(em)) was 500 nm. The standard curved was established by the linear regression of peak area (Y) to CIT content (X, ng/ml). The accuracy and precision of the method would then be verified. And 32 kinds of monascus products were determined and their color values were compared by this method.

RESULTThe standard curve established in this study was Y = 4634.8X-136.42, r = 1.000; whose limits of detection was 20 µg/kg and the limits of qualification was 64 µg/kg. In the range between 200 and 800 µg/kg, the standard recovery rate was 98.9% - 110.0% (n = 3), and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 0.51% - 1.76%. Out of the 32 samples, CIT was detected from 11 samples of monascus rice, 9 samples of monascus powder and 5 samples of monascus pigments, the content was around 0.212 - 14.500 mg/kg. 4 out of 7 functional monascus samples were detected out CIT, whose content at 0.142 - 0.275 mg/kg.

CONCLUSIONThe method to detect CIT in monascus products by IAC-HPLC has been established.

Chromatography, Affinity ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Citrinin ; analysis ; Drug Contamination ; Monascus

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have indicated that chronic stress may give rise to brain damage, which is related to the genesis of depression. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) and venlafaxine on depression.

METHODSRats were treated with chronic and comprehensive stress to create a depression model. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampal CA3 neurons of rats treated with different drugs. Behavioral changes of these rats were also examined.

RESULTSThe expression of BDNF in the hippocampal CA3 neurons of the depression model decreased with a reduction in exploring behavior and a significant increase in fecal production. The expression of neuron nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) protein also increased in the rats compared to normal controls. The rats treated with EGb and venlafaxine showed an increase in expression of BDNF and exploring behavior compared to untreated rats, but a decrease in nNOS and fecal production.

CONCLUSIONSRats sustain damage to the brain after being subjected to chronic and comprehensive stress. Our research has indicated that combined EGb with venlafaxine enhances the protection of neurons and decreases damage to the brain, while relieving the side effects of synthetic antidepressants.

Animals ; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation ; administration & dosage ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; metabolism ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; biosynthesis ; Cyclohexanols ; administration & dosage ; Depression ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (h-TERT), c-myc, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in chronic viral hepatitis (CVH), liver cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and understand their possible role in liver carcinogenesis.

METHODSTotally 157 liver disease specimens were collected, including 56 CVH, 52 liver cirrhosis and 49 primary HCC specimens. In situ hybridization was performed on these specimens to examine the expressions of h-TRET and c-myc mRNA, and immunohistochemistry carried out for PCNA detection, with the cell apoptosis detected with in situ ending labeling.

RESULTSIn the CVH, liver cirrhosis and primary HCC specimens, h-TERT expression was detected at the frequencies of 11/56 (19.6%), 43/52 (82.7%) and 44/47 (93.6%), c-myc expression at 7/56 (12.5%), 21/52 (40.4%) and 26/47 (55.3%), with apoptotic index of (27.3-/+4.7)%, (16.5-/+2.6)% and (8.7-/+1.3)% and PCNA expression rate of (17.1-/+2.9)%, (49.3-/+7.8)% and (62.5-/+9.1)%, respectively. Correlations among h-TERT, c-myc, and PCNA expressions and the apoptotic index were not found in the examined tissues (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONLiver carcinogenesis may involve increased h-TERT, c-myc, and PCNA expressions and suppressed cell apoptosis.

Adult ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Cirrhosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Telomerase ; genetics

BACKGROUNDMany studies have indicated that hyperpolarizing cardioplegia is responsible for myocardial preservation and researchers have suggested that the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) were the end effectors of cardio-protection. But whether mitochondrial K(ATP) plays an important role in hyperpolarizing cardioplegia is not apparent. The present study investigated the effect of hyperpolarizing cardioplegia containing pinacidil (a nonselective K(ATP) opener) on ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat hearts, especially the role of mitochondrial K(ATP) in pinacidil hyperpolarizing cardioplegia.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rat hearts were Langendorff-perfused for 20 minutes with Krebs-Henseleit buffer at 37°C before equilibration. Cardiac arrest was then induced in different treatments: there was no arrest and ischemia in the normal group, the control group were arrested by clamping the aorta, depolarizing caidioplegia (St. Thomas solution containing 16 mmol/L KCl) and hyperpolarizing cardioplegia groups used St. Thomas solution containing 0.05 mmol/L pinacidil and 5 mmol/L KCl to induce cardiac arrest in group hyperkalemic and group pinacidil, in group hyperkalemic + 5-hydroxydecanote (5HD) and Pinacidil + 5HD, 5HD (0.1 mmol/L) was added to the above two solutions to block mitochondria K(ATP) channels. Global ischemia was then administrated for 40 minutes at 37°C, followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. At the end of equilibration and reperfusion, hemodynamics, ultrastructure, and mitochondrial function were measured.

RESULTSIn the control group, ischemia/reperfusion decreased the left ventricular developed pressure, heart rate, coronary flow, mitochondrial membrane potential, impaired mitochondrial respiratory function, increased reactive oxygen species and left ventricular end diastolic pressure. Damage to myocardial ultrastructure was also evident. Both depolarized arrest and especially hyperpolarized cardioplegia significantly reduced these lesions. 5HD partially blocked the beneficial effects of pinacidil cardioplegia but showing no effects on hyperkalemic arrest.

CONCLUSIONSPinacidil cardioplegia provides better cardioprotection with preservation of hemodynamics, ultrastructure, and mitochondrial function than traditional cardioplegia. The mitochondria K(ATP) channels may play an important role in the protection mechanism.

Animals ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Pinacidil ; therapeutic use ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Animals ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Kidney ; microbiology ; pathology ; Leptospira interrogans ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Leptospirosis ; microbiology ; pathology ; Liver ; microbiology ; pathology ; Lung ; microbiology ; pathology ; Male ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo construct a reasonable substitute for the autograft bone in vitro and transplant it back into the rabbit models to induce the spine fusion.

METHODSThe bone marrow stem cell from the seven New Zealand rabbits were cultured. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-4 (rhBMP-4) that has been proved to be bioactive was obtained by the way of genetic engineering. Using the vacuum freezing machine to mix a certain quantity of rhBMP-4 into type I collagen to form a new kind of carrier. Animal model of spine facet process fusion was used. Bone marrow stem cells combined with rhBMP-4 and I type collagen were implanted between the facet process to induce the spine fusion. type I collagen and bone marrow stem cell was used in the controlled group.

RESULTSNew bone formation was obvious in the test group. The facet joint was fused very well in this side. No bone formation was present on the other side.

CONCLUSIONSThe new composite: bone marrow stem cells, rhBMP-4 and type I collagen was an ideal kind of substitute for the autograft bone.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Bone Substitutes ; therapeutic use ; Bone Transplantation ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; chemistry ; Implants, Experimental ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering

Postnatal mesenchymal stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into multiple cell lineages. This study explored the possibility of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) for potential application in tendon tissue engineering. The expression of tendon-related markers such as scleraxis, tenascin-C, tenomodulin, eye absent homologue 2, collagens I and VI was detected in dental pulp tissue. Interestingly, under mechanical stimulation, these tendon-related markers were significantly enhanced when DPSCs were seeded in aligned polyglycolic acid (PGA) fibre scaffolds. Furthermore, mature tendon-like tissue was formed after transplantation of DPSC-PGA constructs under mechanical loading conditions in a mouse model. This study demonstrates that DPSCs could be a potential stem cell source for tissue engineering of tendon-like tissue.

Objective To compare the 1 α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3)-stimulated interleukin 1 receptor,type Ⅰ (IL-1R type Ⅰ) expression in young and aged human periodontal ligament cells.Methods Osteoclast formation was examined in coculture of mouse bone marrow cells and calvariae ostecblasts in present of VD3.VD3-stimulated IL-1 R type Ⅰ expression was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) method in mouse bone marrow cells,calvariae ostecblasts,3rd-5th passages and 17th-20th passages human periodontal ligament cells.Results VD3 enhanced osteoclast formation powerfully in cocuhure of mouse bone marrow cells and calvariae ostecblasts.Osteoblasts were the response cells for VD3 stimulati in IL-1R type Ⅰ expression in coculture sytstem.VD3 stimulated IL-1R type Ⅰexpression in young periodontal ligament cells.The ratio of IL-1 R type Ⅰ and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was 41％,but not aged human periodontal ligament cells.Conclusions The non-response of aged periodontal ligament cells for VD3-stimulated IL-1 R type Ⅰ expression could be related to the delay in the onset of alveolar bone resorption and tooth movement.