BACKGROUND:Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are similar to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, which can directional y differentiate into neuron-like cells, secrete various cytokines, and provide the base for nerve regeneration. ＜br> OBJECTIVE:To study the role of chitosan composite nerve conduit carrying umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in nerve end-to-side anastomosis. ＜br> METHODS:Thirty while rabbits were randomized into three groups. The central branch of the right posterior peroneal nerve were cut and proximal y ligated, and then sutured evaginably to the muscle. In the control group, the distal end of the common peroneal nerve were anastomosed into the tibial nerve at 30°-45°;in the stenting group, the chitosan conduit was bridged at the same interval and angle into the end-to-side anastomosis site between the tibial nerve and peroneal nerve;in the cel-stenting group, the chitosan conduit carrying human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells was bridged at the same interval and angle into the end-to-side anastomosis site between the tibial nerve and peroneal nerve. After 12 weeks, gross observation, neurophysiological examination and anti-S-100 immunohistochemistry detection were performed. ＜br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 12 weeks of operation, in the cel-stenting group, the conduit degraded completely, the nerve diameter was similar to that of the normal peroneal nerve, and the motor nerve conduction velocity was higher than that in the control and stenting groups (P＜0.01). Anti-S-100 immunohistochemistry results showed that a great amount of brownish red Schwann cells arranged around the regenerated nerve fibers in the cel-stenting group, while there was few and sparse brownish red substance, and the Schwann cells grew worse in the stenting and control groups. These findings suggest that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have an obvious role in promoting nerve regeneration, induce bud growth, accelerate the growth rate of regenerated fibers, and improve growth and maturity of Schwann cells.

Objective To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7(MMP7)in paraquat(PQ)?induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Methods Forty?eight SD rats were randomly divided into the control group and the pulmonary fibrosis model group(PQ model group),each group of twenty?four rats. Rats in the PQ model group received single intraperitoneal injection of 4 mg/mL PQ dilute solution and the control group were in?traperitoneal injected with the same dose of saline. Eight rats of each group were sacrificed on day 7,day14 and day 28 respectively. The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed and the hydroxyproline(HYP)content in lung tissues was determined. The severity of pulmonary fibrosis was observed. The expressions of MMP7 in lungs were observed by immunohistochemistry. Results The observation of general state of the experimental animals showed that except one rat died at day 28 d,all other rats survived to the end point of observation. After intraperitoneal injection with PQ,the weight of rats in the PQ model group gradually declined,and then increased around day 14,yet still much lower than that in the control group at day 28(P<0.05). After intraperitoneal injection with PQ,the pulmonary index in the model group increased gradually and then decreased after reach?ing the peak on day 14. The content of HYP in rat lung tissues in the PQ model group was remarkably higher than in the control group at day 7,day 14,and day 28,with statistical significance(P<0.01). In the PQ model group,the content of HYP was significantly up?regulated with the extension of infected time and reached the peak value at day 28. The results of HE staining showed significant pulmonary alveolitis at day 7,hyperplasia of abundant collagen fibers in alveolar septum at day 14,and obvious pulmonary fibrosis and collapse of alveolar structure on day 28 in the lung tissues of the PQ model group. A weak expression of MMP7 was measured in the lung tissues in the control group and the expression of MMP7 was higher in the PQ model group than in the control group at day 7,day 14,and day 28,with statistical significance(P<0.05). Conclusion Paraquat poison?ing was mainly manifested in inflammatory reactions of lung tissues in the early stage together with increase of fibroblasts and mainly in fibrosis in the late stage. The expression of MMP7was increased along with the severity of pulmonary alveolitis or fibrosis and showed significant changes compared to the control group at day 28 after poisoning,indicating that MMP7may be the marker of paraquat?induced pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have successfully prepared the natural and biologically degraded acellular nerve graft and have proved the effect of promoting neural regeneration.OBJECTIVE: To construct tissue engineered artificial nerve with acellular nerve graft and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and to observe the effect of promoting motor functional recovery and repairing rat sciatic nerve defects. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized control animal experiment was performed in the Medical TIssue Engineering Laboratory of the First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University between June 2008 and February 2009. MATERIALS: Wistar adult healthy male rats weighing 180-200 g were used to prepare acellular nerve graft, while Wistar adult healthy male rats weighing 100-120 g were used to prepare bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Tissue engineered artificial nerve was produced with acellular nerve graft co-cultured with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS: Sixty Wistar adult healthy male rats weighing 180-200 g were induced sciatic nerve defect models, 15 mm long. SD rats were divided into three groups at random with 20 animals in each group. ①Experiment group: Rat sciatic nerve defects were bridged with tissue engineered artificial nerve. ②Blank control group: Rat sciatic nerve defects were bridged with tissue engineered nerve scaffold. ③Autologous nerve control group: Rat sciatic nerve defects were bridged with autologous nerve graft. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At 12 weeks postoperation, the recovery of motor function was evaluated with gross observation, electrophysiology, histological observation and triceps surae wet weight.RESULTS: ①At 12 weeks postoperation, the toes at the operation side could separate and supported to the ground in the experiment group; there was no significant difference in the regenerated nerve conduction velocity between experimental group and autologous nerve graft group. ②At 12 weeks postoperation, histochemical stain results showed AchE-positive motor end-plate arranged regulady in the middle and superior part of gestrocnemius muscle to form end-plate zone in the experiment group. By use of silver staining, the regenerated nerve tract and the emergent branch were shown to be connected with motor end-plate.③There was no significant difference in the tibialis anterior muscle wet weight between experimental group and autologous nerve graft group. CONCLUSION: Bridging acellular nerve graft and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into rat sciatic nerve defects can promote motor functional recovery.

Animals ; Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor-Like Membrane Protein ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enterovirus B, Human ; pathogenicity ; Heart ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-1beta ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; Receptors, Virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Adult ; Faculty ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sampling Studies ; Sleep ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

The activation of coagulation system,especially in the occurrence and development of cardiogenic cerebral embolism,plays an important role.As one of the major preventive measures in ischemic stroke,the anticoagulant therapy is getting more and more attention.At the same time,the studies of anticoagulant drugs aiming to the intervention of different links in coagulation pathway have also made significant progress.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effect of Chinese herbs used by Prof. LI Tao on peripheral blood T subsets in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) by using association rules and statistical methods, thereby providing evidence for optimizing prescriptions.

METHODSData of MS inpatients and outpatients recorded by data collecting system, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences were resorted. The relationship between Chinese herbs and T cell subsets were analyzed using SPSS17.0 and Aprior module in SPSS Clementine 12.0.

RESULTSRadix bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae alba, Fructus Aurantii, Atractylodes, and Radix Glycyrrhizae were most commonly used herbal combinations.Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata and Rhizoma Smilacis glabrae were often added. Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata was associated with decreased Th1 cells (confidence level 83.78%, supportive level 36.26%). Decreased Th1 cell was associated with Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata (confidence level 71.26%, supportive level 36.26%).Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata was obviously associated with decreased Th1 cells. Radix Bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae alba, bitter orange, Atractylodes , Radix glycyrrhizae, and Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata could reduce peripheral blood Th1 subsets of MS patients and elevate Th2 subsets (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe herbal combination of Radix Bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae alba, Fructus Aurantii, Atractylodes, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Smilacis glabrae, and Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata could lower peripheral blood Th1 cells and elevate Th2 cells, and prevent the relapse of MS possibly by reducing Th1 cells and elevating Th2 cells. Especially Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata played important roles in aforesaid changes of Th1 and Th2.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Atractylodes ; chemistry ; Bupleurum ; chemistry ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis ; therapy ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Smilacaceae ; chemistry ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Hazardous Substances ; analysis ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods

PcoI-PcoR is a quorum-sensing (QS) system influencing the biofilm formation and rhizosphere colonization in Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24. The expression of the pcoI, a N-acyl-homoserne lactone (AHL) biosynthase gene, is under the regulation of a number of chromosomal factors, such as the GacS-GacA two-component system. In this paper, we investigated the upstream regulators that influence the transcription of pcoI gene using a chromosomal pcoI-lacZ fusion reporter strain PM203. Cosmids containing genomic DNA of the wild-type strain 2P24 were introduced into the reporter strain PM203 (gacA—, pcoI-lacZ) to screen positive transcriptional regulators of pcoI gene. One of them named pP32-24, which contained a 5-kb Pst I functional fragment was selected. Further analysis identified that the pcoI was the gene responsible for the increase of the pcoI-lacZ expression. The expression of pcoI-lacZ reporter was alsoimproved in both PM101 (pcoI-lacZ) and its gacAmutant PM203 after addition of exogenous AHL, indicating that the expression of pcoI is positively regulated by AHL (autoinduction) in strain 2P24. In addition, deletion mutagenesis and complementation experiments demonstrated that the transcriptional regulator PcoR positively controlled the expression of pcoI and the formation of biofilm. These results suggest that, in strain 2P24, the expression of PcoI-PcoR QS system is auto-inducted, and the transcriptional factor PcoR is involved in the regulation of pcoI transcription and the biofilm formation.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of peripheral electrical stimu- lation(PES)on chronic central pain(CCP)after spinal cord injury(SCI).Methods Twenty-four male Sprague- Dawley rats with CCP following SCI were randomly divided into three groups:a group without stainless steel needles implanted (NSSN group,n=8),a group with a stainless steel needle implanted but no peripheral electrical stimula- tion applied(NPES group,n=8)and a PES group(PES group,n=8).The rats' CCP was evaluated through ob- serving their response to nociceptive stimulation by means of the paw withdrawal pressure threshold(PWPT)and the paw withdrawal latency(PWL).Spontaneous pain behaviors including autophagia and scratching were observed at the same time.PES was applied via stainless steel needles inserted into standard acupoints on the hind limps and the back.The expression of the NMDA receptor 1(NR-1)subunit in the spinal cord horn was measured using immuno- chemical methods.Results Compared with the NSSN and NPES groups,CCP in the PES group was alleviated, PWPT and PWL were dramatically increased(P＜0.01)and the expression of NR-1 was obviously decreased (P＜0.01).Conclusion Peripheral electrical stimulation may alleviate chronic central pain after spinal cord injury in rats.