?-(1,3)-D-glucan is a core structure of many bioactive fungal polysaccharides. It has drawn intensive attentions in recent because of its multiple bioactivities, particularly the immunomodulatory and antitumorous actions. In this review, we introduced the studies of structure-activity correlation of these ?-(1,3)-D-glucans, particularly the contributions of main backbone, branch degree and residues, molecular weight and conformation to the activities. We also summarized the recent progress in the detective methods for both quantitation and qualification using limulus G factor assay,galactosyl ceramide ELISA and etc.

Objective To observe the changes of neural stem cells(NSCs) in subventricular in developing human fetal brain at(diffe)-rent ages.Methods Thirty cases of embryoes at gestational age 24-28 weeks induced by labor with water bag were collected to determin distribution,shapes and growth modes in subventricular with hybridization in situ under light microscope.Results NSCs expressing Nestin mRNA existed in subventricular from human fetal brain at different ages,NSCs existed in subventricular of different fetal age included astro-NSCs,each had enations from 3 to 6,and all projections crowded together into a reticular plexiform,in which NSCs districuted.Nucli were round in shape,each had nucleoli from 1 to 4.NSCs had rarefaction chromatin,most NSCs existed in a single growth mode,symmetral cleavage growth mode and clony with 3 NSCs would be seen.There were no differences between positive Nestin mRNA NSCs in distribution and cell shapes,but had differences in growth mode.Conclusion NSCs exist in subventricular from different gestational ages and their growth mode are changing with difference of gestational age.

Objective To explore a precise and dependable method for determining neural stem cells(NSCs)in hippocampus from human fetal brain.Methods Ten cases of embryo at gestational age 32 weeks and induction of labor with water bag were collected,affused and sliced including frost slice and paraffin slice for determining alteration of tissue and NSCs in hippocampus from human fetal brain with HE stain and immunohistochemical staining under light microscope.Results Nestin proteins located in NSCs and the number of NSCs were less in paraffin slice of tissue than those in frost slice.Integrality of structure of tissues and cells in paraffin slice excelled in frost slice.Conclusions There is a precise and dependable method including induction of labor with water bag and allusion and frost slice,which is necessary for wide useness in study of NSCs in human fetal brain.

Objective To investigate the expression of Oct-4 as a stem cell marker in gastric carcinoma tissues and its clinical significance. Methods From June 1996 to March 2006, 63 paraffin samples of gastric carcinoma tissues were obtained, and the expression of Oct-4 was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Another 58 normal tissues adjacent to gastric carcinoma and 10 normal gastric mucosa tissues were served as controls. The clinieopathologieal data of 63 patients with gastric carcinoma were retrospectively analysed, and their relationship with the expression of Oct-4 was analysed. Fifty of these 63 patients were followed up for 8 years, Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank teat were employed to explore the correlation between Oct-4 expression and survival, and Cox Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the possibility of Oct-4 expression as an independent prognostic factor for gastric carcinoma. Results The positive expression rate of Oct-4 in gastric carcinoma tissues was 80.95% (51/63), significantly higher than that of normal tissues adjacent to gastric carcinoma (5.2%, 3/58) and normal gastric mucosa tissues (0) (P < 0.01). The expression of Oct-4 was positively correlated to the clinical stage of gastric carcinoma(P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the expression of Oct-4 among patients with different differentiation, age, and gender (P>0.05). Patients with higher expression of Oct-4 had significantly shorter survival time (P<0.05). The expression of Oct-4 was not significantly correlated with the prognosis of gastric carcinoma(RR, 0.554; 95% CI, 0.209-1.466). Conclusion The expression of Oct-4 is correlated with the clinical stage and survival time of patients with gastric carcinoma, however, it is not an independent prognostic factor for gastric carcinoma.

Objective To investigate a simple and dependable approach to establish the hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy model in neonatal rat. Methods Twenty-one neonatal rats of 7 days old were randomly divided into control group,hypoxic group,and hypxic-ischemic group.Every group was randomly divided into 3 hours,6 hours,1 day,3 days,7 days, 14 days,and 21 days group,according to the time of killing.Left common carotid artery of neonatal rats at age of 7 days in hypoxic-ischemic group were ligated.Then,the rats in hypoxic and hypoxic-ischemic group were put in a state of 8% oxygen for 2.5 hours. Brain tissues of rats in 3 groups were observed with HE staining under light microscope.Results In hypoxic-ischemic group,there was found mild brain damage after hypoxic-ischomic 3 hours,the brain lesion was most severe at 1 day,glial cell proliferation was found at 3 days,much neur were losed at 14,21 days,and colloid scar was formed in cortex,striatum and hippocampi.Conclusion The method that left common carotid ontery of neonatal rats were ligated and then put in 8% oxygen for 2.5 hours is simple, rapid and dependable, which can be applied widely.

Objective To investigate the characters of culture of neural stem cells(NSCs) from neonatal rats in different states in vitro.Methods Forty-two neonatal rats at age 7 days were divided randomly into 3 groups as control group,hypoxic group and hypoxic-ischemic group,each having 14 rats.Forteen rats of every group divided randomly into 7 small groups,each including 3 h,6 h,1 d,3 d,(7 d),14 d and 21 d,according to the time to put to death,each having 2 rats.After builting rat models of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,NSCs from hippocampus in 3 groups were isolated,then cultured,passed,differentiated and differentiated with single cell clone and immunocytochemistry tecnique.Results NSCs in hippocampus from 3 groups were cultured in form of typical neuraospheres in suspension.The cells could be cloned,passed continuously and induced.There were differences among 3 groups when primary NSCs were cultured at 3 h and 6 h time points.But at 1 d,3 d,7 d,14 d and 21 d time points,clony neuraospheres from primary NSCs in hypoxic group were the most among 3 groups while clony neuraospheres from primary NSCs in hypoxic-ischemic group were the lest.Conclusions NSCs from hippocampus of neonatal rats in different states remain to be cultured,meanwhile,NSCs are decreased with increase of age,elongation of illness course and progress of state of an illness.

Objective To study the effects of matrine on accumulation of ? globin mRNA and induction of erythroid differentiation in K562 cells in vitro.Methods K562 cells were cultured for 6 days with different concentration of matrine,viable cell counts were determined by trypan-blue dye exdusion test. Erythroid differentiation was evaluated by percentage of benzidine-positive cells at different days after culture. Morphological changes were observed under microscope after Wright-Gimesa staining; ? globin mRNA was quantitative by real time quantitative reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Different concentrations of matrine inhibited proliferation of K562 cells in dose-dependent manner; otherwise, K562 cells were successfully induced by erythroid differentiation with matrine. After treatment with matrine, percentage of benzidine-positive cells significantly increased from 0.7% to 15.7% and characteristic changes of erythroid differentiation in the cell morphology were observed, G? globin mRNA had a preferential increase (2.7 fold)in K562 cells. Conclusions Matrine accumulation G? globin mRNA and induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. The results provides an experimental evidence for the pharmacological therapy of hematological diseases associated with a failure in the expression of normal ? globin genes.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of glutamic acid(Glu) levels,ATP levels,free calcium ion,mitochondrial membrane potential,apoptosis related to mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis and Na+-K+-ATPase activity,and explore the mechanism of mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis in neuron injury of rats with kainite acid(KA)-induced epilepsy.Methods KA-induced epilepsy model was induced by injection of KA into the hippocampus.Forty SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group(n=8)and KA group(6 h,1 d,3 d,7 d,n=8).The concentration of Glu in hippocampus CA3 area was detected by high performance liquid chromatography.The apoptosis of hippocampus neurons and the concentration of Ca2+ were assayed by flow cytometry.The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1.The Na+-K+-ATPase activity was examined.Results 1.The concentration of Glu in hippocampus increased at 3 d after KA injection and reached the peak after 7 d injection.2.The concentration of Ca2+ level,mitochondrial membrane potential,and the number of apoptosis neurons were significantly increased,wherase the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased after 6 h of KA injection,7 d after KA injection,and the changes were more severe.3.In the hippocampus,the activities of the Na+-K+-ATPase significantly decreased at 1 d after KA injection,and they decreased more over at 7 d after KA injection.4.The levels of ATP,mitochondrial membrane potential,and the activity of the Na+-K+-ATPase were negatively correlated with the neuron apoptosis(Pa

Objective To examine the relationship between plasma homocysteine level and status of congestive heart failure. Methods Plasma homocysteine level was determined in 106 patients with congestive heart failure(CHF).Among them,40 patients were diagnosed as having recent onset of CHF(group 1) and the remaining 66 were receiving conventional treatment(group 2).Thirty healthy subjects were served as a control group. Results(The plasma) homocysteine levels in group 1,group 2 and the control group were(14.87?5.22),(13.25?5.45) and((7.52)?1.73) ?mol/L,respectively.The plasma homocysteine level was significantly higher in group 1 and group 2 than in the control group(P

Background: Radiation pneumonitis is one of the most common complications during radiotherapy of thoracic tumors. It impacts the quality of life of the patients and has life-threatening danger. However, there is a lack of drugs for prevention and treatment of this disease. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Liangxue Jiedu Huoxue Decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in prevention of radiation pneumonitis. Design, setting, participants and interventions: A prospective randomized clinical study was conducted. A total of 100 patients diagnosed with lung cancer from Department of Radiotherapy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, who were planning to receive radiotherapy, were randomly assigned into treatment group and control group, with 50 patients in each group. In the treatment group 3 cases were lost to follow-up and one case was excluded, while in the control group 6 cases were lost to follow-up and 2 cases were excluded. Patients in the treatment group were treated with Liangxue Jiedu Huoxue Decoction in addition to radiotherapy, while patients in the control group were treated with radiotherapy alone. Main outcome measures: The incidence rates of radiation pneumonitis in the two groups were calculated. Acute radiation injury scoring criteria by Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), clinical-radiographic-physiologic (CRP) score system, and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS) were used to evaluate the status of the patients. Results: The incidence rate of radiation pneumonitis was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (13.04% versus 33.33%, P<0.05). According to the RTOG scale, the extent of lung injury was improved in the treatment group as compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). The CRP score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The KPS score in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Liangxue Jiedu Huoxue Decoction can decrease the incidence rate of radiation pneumonitis, reduce the extent of the lung injury, alleviate the symptoms of radiation pneumonitis, and improve life quality of the patients.