Proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are common pathological features of diabetic vascular complications,such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. Phenotypic modulation of VSMC is the basis for VSMC proliferation and migration. Therefore, studies on VSMC phenotypic modulation and its mechanisms in diabetes mellitus were of important significance to the prevention and therapy of diabetic vascular complications. This paper introduces VSMC phenotypic modulation and the underlying mechanisms in diabetes mellitus, and summarizes advance of studies on traditional Chinese medicine intervention upon VSMC phenotypic modulation, so as to provide reference for preventing and treating diabetic vascular complications with traditional Chinese medicines.
Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Phenotype

Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Balloon Occlusion ; Cardiac Tamponade ; etiology ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Coronary Disease ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects

Notch signaling pathway is involved in oogenesis and the secretion of ovarian hormones .It controls prolifera-tion and differentiation of ovarian stem cells .In addition, the Notch pathway is also involved in ovarian carcinogenesis .

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of bexarotene in combination with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) on apoptosis of leukemic cell line KG1a. Methods KG1a cells at logarithmic growth phase were obtained, and were divided into TRAIL group, bexarotene group, 300 ng/mL TRAIL in combination with bexarotene group and 2.0 μmol/L bexaroten in combination with TRAIL group. Cell apoptosis rate was detected in each group by flow cytometry. Flow cytometry was also employed to determine the apoptosis rates of KG1a cells after treatment with bexarotene and TRAIL in different sequences. The expression of Fas associated death domain-like IL-1 beta converting enzyme inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) was detected by Western blotting. Results There was no significant difference in cell apoptosis rates between TRAIL group and bexarotene group of each concentration (except for bexarotene 2.0 μmol/L) (P > 0.05). The cell apoptosis rates of 300 ng/mL TRAIL in combination with bexarotene group and 2.0 μmol/L bexaroten in combination with TRAIL group were significantly higher than those in TRAIL group and bexarotene group of each corresponding concentration (P <0.01). Sequential analysis revealed that bexarotene could reverse the resistance of KG1a cells to TRAIL (P < 0.001). Compared with single use of 2.0 μmol/L bexarotene or 300 ng/mL TRAIL, combination use could significantly down-regulated the expression of c-FLIP (P < 0.05). Conclusion Bexarotene can significantly enhance the apoptosis of KG1a cells induced by TRAIL, which may be attributed to the down-regulation of c-FLIP expression.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of transverse compression suture in the lower uterine segment for the control of postpartum haemorrhage in cesarean section caused by placenta previa. Methods From Jan 2011 to Jan 2013, 21 patients with postpartum haemorrhage in cesarean section due to placenta previa were given transverse compression suture in the lower uterine segment after routine medical treatment. And the hemostatic efficacy and safety were observed. Results 20 cases of the vaginal bleeding were controlled efficient-ly, with an efficiency of 95. 2%. There was no complication occurred, and menstruation were back to normal during the follow-up, and there was nothing abnormal in the uterine double accessories through B ultrasound reexamination. Conclusion Transverse compression suture in the lower uterine segment is an easy, safe and highly effective surgical technique, it is especially suitable for the control of haemorrhage in the lower uterine segment caused by placenta previa.

Objective To investigate the frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients and its association with disease activity.Methods Pe- ripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)from 28 patients(including 18 active SLE)and 22 healthy controls were counted and stained for CD4,CD25 and intracellular FOXP3.Cells were examined by 3-color staining on the Epics XL-MC and data were analyzed using EXPO32 software.Disease activity was assessed by systemic lupus erythematousus activity index(SLEDAI).Results The frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells was significantly decreased in patients with active SLE compared with patients with inactive SEE and controls [(1.08?0.43)%,(1.58?0.45)% and(1.66?0.34)%,P

There is controversy regarding the roles of Ureaplasma urealyticum (U. urealyticum) colonization in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study explored the association between U. urealyticum and bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks post-menstrual age (BPD36). Studies published before December 31, 2013 were searched from Medline, Embase, Ovid, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases, with the terms "Ureaplasma urealyticum", "chronic lung disease", or "BPD36" used, and English language as a limit. The association between U. urealyticum colonization and BPD36 was analyzed with RevMan 4.2.10 software, using the odds ratio (OR) and relative risk (RR) for dichotomous variables. Out of the enrolled 81 studies, 11 investigated the BPD36 in total 1193 infants. Pooled studies showed no association between U. urealyticum colonization and subsequent development of BPD36, with the OR and RR being 1.03 (95% CI=0.78-1.37; P=0.84) and 1.01 (95% CI= 0.88-1.16, P=0.84), respectively. These findings indicated no association between U. urealyticum colonization and the development of BPD36.

We use direct-write laser micromachining technology to fabricate the microfluidic chip, and to establish a microfluidic chemiluminescence immunoassay system based on superparamagnetic microbeads, for detecting alpha- fetoprotein (AFP). The AFP analysis can be completed in 20 minutes with 5 microl sample and 5 microl reagent, and there is a good linear correlation in the range of 1-800 ng/ml.
Equipment Design ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; instrumentation ; methods ; Luminescent Measurements ; instrumentation ; methods ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ; instrumentation ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in circulating bone marrow stem cells in pregnant rabbits after AMI (AMI) and their relationship with estradiol.

METHODSThree groups of rabbits were used, namely pregnancy and AMI group, AMI group without pregnancy, and sham operation group with pregnancy. The ratio of CD90(+) cells in the peripheral blood was determined with flow cytometry in all the rabbits, and serum estradiol level measured. Four weeks after AMI, hemodynamic measurements were carried out. The morphological changes of the myocardial tissues were examined with ImageJ 1.31.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONFour weeks after AMI, the two pregnancy groups showed a higher Left ventricular end systolic pressure(LVESP) and+dp/dtmax, lower left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and -dp/dtmax and high levels of CD90(+) cells in peripheral blood than AMI group without pregnancy (P<0.01). The ratio of circulating CD90(+) cells increased gradually with gestational age and peaked at the end stage of pregnancy. After delivery the circulating CD90+ cell ratio decreased sharply, showing a significant correlation with serum estradiol level (r=0.725, P<0.01). Four weeks after AMI, the pregnancy group had smaller myocardial infarction (MI) volume than the non-pregnant group (22.17+/-6.34% vs 38.86+/-5.97%, P<0.05). Circulating bone marrow stem cells increased during pregnancy with gestational age and peaked at the end stage of pregnancy. Ten days after delivery, the stem cells resumed basically the normal level. The proportion of circulating bone marrow stem cells was significantly correlated with the level of serum estradiol during pregnancy, and mobilization of the bone marrow stem cells induced by acute ischemic event in pregnant rabbits was advanced. 4 weeks after AMI, the pregnant rabbits showed better heart contraction and diastolic function than the non-pregnant ones.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular ; blood ; Rabbits ; Thy-1 Antigens ; blood ; Time Factors

HIV and AIDS remain as the crucial global health concern, therefore, research and development of novel anti-HIV-1 chemical therapeutics is still of paramount significance, which may be illuminated by cases of successful marketed drugs. Herein, we document the discovery and biological profile of new anti-HIV-1 drugs approved by FDA between 2005 and 2008 and some drug candidates are also discussed.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Anti-HIV Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; HIV Fusion Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; HIV Integrase Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; HIV Protease Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use