Gene therapy refers to the introduction of normal genes into human target cells for correcting gene defects or exerting therapeutic action,and thus achieves the goal of treatment of disease.Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are stem cells that possess self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation potential and easy to amplify in vitro,and they also express many therapeutic exogenous genes in vitro or in vivo.So BMSCs have been regarded as an ideal target cell of cell and gene therapy.This article reviews the biological characteristic of BMSCs,some commonly used gene therapy vectors and their applications in gene therapy of central nervous system diseases.

Objective To investigate the characters of the COL3A1 gene polymorphisms in Chinese population of Hunan region and the relationship between the COL3A1 gene polymorphisms and ischemie stroke.Methods Objects examined were composed of 70 healthy controls,110 patients with acute cerebral infarction.The frequencies of the genotypes were detected by using PCR-SSLP techniques and correlated PCR segements were analyzed by directly sequence to detect the COL3A1 gene polymorphisms.Result There were significant differences in the distribution of VNTR with COL3A1 genotype polymorphism between the patients of acute cerebral infarction and healthy controls,the former being 0.93,the latter 0.43,with a significant difference(P

There have been very few studies on the effect of Gualou Xiebai Banxia decoction combined with Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in inhibiting apoptosis in myocardial ischemial injury caused by coronary heart disease. In this experiment, Gualou Xiebai Banxia decoction combined with-Xuefu Zhuyu decoction were used to intervene the miniature swine phlegm and blood stasis type coronary heart disease model, in order to observe the effect of the combined prescription on the myocardial apoptosis and the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 in the model. Totally 15 Chinese experimental miniature swine were adopted and randomly divided into the control group, the model group and the phlegm and stasis-treating group. The model group and the stasis-treating group were fed with high fat diets for two weeks, intervened with the coronary artery injury and then given drugs and high fat diets for eight weeks. The control group was fed with ordinary diets for 10 weeks, without the coronary artery injury. After the experiment, myocardia at the juncture of infracted areas were collected and made into formalin-fixed paraffin sections. The TDT-mediate dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect the myocardial apoptosis. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique was applied to detect Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 levels in myocardial tissues. According to the findings, the apoptosis indexes (AI) for the control group, the model group and the phlegm and stasis-treating group were 0.92%, 27.68%, 17.28%, respectively. The AI of the phlegm and stasis-treating group was significantly lower than that of the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the phlegm and stasis-treating group showed significantly higher Bcl-2 protein expression (P < 0.01) and lower Bax, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expressions (P < 0.01). In conclusion, Gualou Xiebai Banxia decoction combined with Xuefu Zhuyu decoction have a significant protective effect against the myocardial apoptosis in miniature swine phlegm and blood stasis type coronary heart disease model.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis

Myopia is the highest incidence of eye disease in society, it threated people`s eye health seriously.At present, many researchers measure the structural changes of retina which caused by the extension of eye axial due to the refractive error according to the optical coherence tomography(OCT).Besides, multifocal electroretinography(mf-ERG) was used to detect the function of retina in myopia.Global flash mf-ERG can evaluate the function of retina including both outer and inner retina.Some researchers focus on the correlation between structural and functional changes in myopia using OCT and mf-ERG.More researches are needed to clarify the structural and functional changes in myopia.

Decoction is one of the most commonly used dosage forms of traditional Chinese medicine. The stability of chemical constituents in decoction is closely related to the clinical efficacy and safety. There were few reports about the influence of metal ions in the stability of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicine. However, there is no evidence that metal ions in decoction water need to be controlled. In this study, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG), one of the main constituents in Polygoni Multiflori Radix was studied. Ordinary tap water, deionized water, and water containing different metal ions were used to investigate and compare the influence on THSG. The results showed that after storage in a dark place at the room temperature for 10 days, the degradation of THSG was 7% in deionized water, while undetectable in tap water. The content of THSG could be decreased by different kinds of metal ions, and the effect was concentration-dependent. Moreover, Fe3+ and Fe2+ showed the greatest influence at the same concentration; and our study has shown that THSG decreased more than 98% in Fe and Fe2+ solutions at 500 ppm concentration. In the same time we found out p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (molecular weight: 122.036 7) and 2,3,5-trihydroxybenzaldehyde-2-O-glycoside (molecular weight: 316.079 4) were the main degradation products of THSG in tap water and water containing Cu2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+ and Al3+. The product of THSG dimer with a water molecule was found in water containing Fe3+ and Fe2+. The above results showed that the metal ions in water could significantly influence the stability of THSG in water, indicating that the clinical efficacy and safety of decoction would be affected if the metal ions in water were not under control. It's suggested that deionized water should be used in the preparation of decoction containing Polygoni Multiflori Radix in the clinic to avoid degradation of THSG. Meanwhile, decoction prepared by tap water should be taken by patients in a short time. Our investigation provides important information and reference about the influence of metal ions on the stability of decoctions in other traditional Chinese medicine that have unstable groups such as hydroxyls and unsaturated bonds, etc.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Ions ; chemistry ; Metals ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Polygonaceae ; chemistry ; Stilbenes ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the causes, clinical features, therapy and treatment outcomes of recurrent hemoptysis in children and to improve the skills of pediatricians in the etiological diagnosis and treatment of recurrent hemoptysis in children.

METHODSThe clinical, laboratory, and imaging data of 39 children with recurrent hemoptysis between January 1996 and February 2013 were collected to retrospectively analyze the age of onset, etiology, amount of hemoptysis, imaging changes, treatment methods, and follow-up outcomes.

RESULTSIn the 39 children, including idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (16 cases, 41%), pulmonary vascular malformation (8 cases, 21%), pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (7 cases, 18%), bronchiectasis (3 cases, 8%), pulmonary tuberculosis (2 cases, 5%), pulmonary cystic fibrosis (2 cases, 5%), and lung tumor (1 case, 3%). The contrast-enhanced lung CT scans and pulmonary and bronchial arteriography revealed varying degrees of lung imaging changes in 35 cases. Of all cases, 51% were classified as degree I, 28% as degree II, and 21% as degree III. All children were treated according to the etiology, with the disease controlled. During 0.5-5 years of follow-up, 3 patients with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis were lost to follow-up, and the other cases did not develop hemoptysis again.

CONCLUSIONSIdiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is the main cause of recurrent hemoptysis in children. Contrast-enhanced lung CT scans and pulmonary and bronchial arteriography are important methods for the etiological diagnosis of recurrent hemoptysis in children. Treatment methods should be selected according to the etiology.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy on primary osteoporosis treated with spreading moxibustion for warming yang and activating blood circulation so as to provide the effective clinical therapeutic methods for osteoporosis.

METHODSSixty cases of primary osteoporosis were randomized into a spreading moxibustion group (30 cases) and a calcium tablet group (30 cases). In the calcium tablet group, caltrate was prescribed for oral administration, 600 mg per day. In the spreading moxibustion group, on the basis of the treatment as the calcium tablet group, the spreading moxibustion was applied at Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2) for warming yang and activating blood circulation. The duration of treatment was 12 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, TCM clinical symptom score and bone mineral density (BMD) were observed and compared before and after treatment in the patients between the two groups.

RESULTSVAS scores were reduced apparently after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.01) and the results in the spreading moxibustion group were obviously superior to that in the calcium tablet group (2.36 +/- 0.43 vs 4.52 +/- 0.35, P < 0.01). BMD were all increased in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and the results in the spreading moxibustion group were superior to those in the calcium tablet group (both P < 0.05). The total clinical effective rate was 86.67% (26/30) in the spreading moxibustion group, apparently better than 63.33% (19/30) in the calcium tablet group (P < 0.05). TCM clinical symptom scores after treatment were all reduced apparently in the two groups (both P < 0.01), and the result in the spreading moxibustion group was obviously superior to that in the calcium tablet group (4.72 +/- 1.90 vs 6.82 +/- 2.30, P < 0.01). The total effective rate of TCM symptoms was 93.33% (28/30) in the spreading moxibustion group, apparently better than 70.00% (21/30) in the calcium tablet group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of spreading moxibustion for warming yang and activating blood circulation and the oral administration of caltrate apparently relieves pain and TCM clinical symptoms, improves BMD in the patients of osteoporosis and achieves definite clinical efficacy in the patients of osteoporosis.

Aged ; Blood Circulation ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Yang Deficiency ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) in the diagnosis of spina bifida in fectuses.

METHODSEight fetuses suspected of having spina bifida following 2-D ultrasound underwent TUI examination. The fetal spines were observed on the coronal, transverse and sagittal views to confirm the location and severity of the spinal lesions, and the ultrasound findings were compared with the pathological results.

RESULTSIn 6 of the 8 fetuses with spina bifida, TUI obtained clear images demonstrating the presence of the lesions, and the results of TUI diagnosis were consistent with pathological examination of the fetuses.

CONCLUSIONSTUI can clearly visualize spinal bifida in fetuses, and as a useful complementary technique to 2-D ultrasound, TUI may obviously improve the capacity of conventional ultrasound for diagnosis of fetal spina bifida.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spinal Dysraphism ; diagnosis ; Tomography ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective: To study the recombinant epitope antigens of hepatitis C virus (HCV), in order to fulfil the requirements of recombinant immunoblot assay kit. Methods: An expressing vector pBVIL1 for expression of recombinant antigens in a fusion manner with IL-1β was constructed. A series of selected genes from the HCV antigens including the C, NS3, NS4 and NS5 were amplified from HCV gene-containing plasmids using PCR and the expression plasmids for these genes were constructed in pBVIL1, respectively. The activity of the purified recombinant antigens were tested against an identified HCV antibody positive and negative panel with ELISA. Results and Conclusions: All the cloned genes of chosen antigen epitopes were highly expressed in pBVIL1 in E.coli. The activity of the C and NS4 antigens were slightly higher than the RIBA3.0 antigens, while the activity of NS3 was slightly lower than the RIBA3.0 antigen. But the total evaluation for the panel was same as RIBA3.0. That means the cloned antigens were suitable for the use in RIBA test kit.

Objective　To investigate the changes of free calcium distribution in hepatocytes after administration of phenylephedrine. Methods The changes of fluorescence intensity were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy after administration of phenylephedrine alone or pretreated with phentolamine before phenylephedrine administration. Results　The fluorescence intensity increased rapidly after administration of phenylephedrine to hepatocytes. When liver cells were pretreated by phentolamine before phenylephedrine administration, the changes of fluorescence intensity not obvious. Meanwhile, the inconformity of the fluorescence intensity in hepatocytes suggested the existence of the second subarea of free calcium distribution. Conclusion　Ca2+ signal can be arisen by phenylephedrine via the α-receptor in hepatocytes in vitro. The distribution and dynamic changes of free calcium in hepatocytes display some characteristics.