Background The identification of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) have provided exciting prospects for cell-based regeneration after myocardic infraction.However cell therapy have inherent limitations such as low survival rate of transplanted cells and insufficient cell number.It is known that cell-matrix adhesion plays a key role in cell proliferation,differentiation and survival,and chemokine CXCL12 may involved in these prcesses.Transfected mesenchymalstem cells with CXCL12 for local secretion of CXCL12 and then explored CXCL12 triggered adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells to extracellular matrix proteins.Mesenchymal stem cells was transfected with CXCL12.?V and ?3 integrins content was evaluated by Western blot analysis.Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix was examined in vitro and cell prolife-ration after transplantation in vivo.Transfection of CXCL12 resulted increased CXCL12 in situ.Increased CXCL12 induced elevated adhesion to fibronectin in vitro and higher survival in vivo.CXCL12 mediated adhesion and proliferation was established by ?V and ?3 integrin subunits.Chemoattractive mechanisms are involved in adhesion processes of mesenchymal stem cells.Increased CXCL12 leads to enhanced expression of ?V and ?3 integrins,which may augment cell survival,proliferation and differrentiation.

Objective To investigate the alteration of serotonin-producing gastric enterochromaffin (EC)cell in patients with functional dyspepsia(FD).Methods Fifteen healthy volunteers and 33 patients with FD were enrolled.Proximal gastric mucosal EC cells were countered after immunohisto- chemistry staining.The ultrastructure of EC cell was observed by electromicroscope.Results The EC cells in proximal gastric mucosa in patients with FD were significant higher than that in controls(12.5?2.1 vs 8.3?1.4,t=2.353,P＜0.05),and the staining intensity of EC cell in patients with FD was also stronger than that in controls(3.72?0.42 vs 2.61?0.57,t=2.078,P＜0.05).The more sever the gastric mucosal inflammation was,the more number of EC cells and the stronger staining intensity were.Under the electromicroscopy,more Golgi apparatus,mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were found in EC cells.Special secreting particles were also found in cytoplasm.Conclusions EC cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of FD.The number of EC cell is related with the severity of gastric mucosal inflammation.

Objective To observe the abnormality of gray matter volume and density in patients undergoing postoperative delirium (POD).Methods Forty-seven cases of aged patients, 26 males and 21 females, aged 60-75 years, ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ, were selected.On the third day after operation, cognitive function estimation was performed.The patients were assigned into group POD and group C according to whether POD occurred and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning was implemented.The discrepancy in gray matter volume and density between the two groups were compared using voxel-based morphometry method (VBM).Correlation analysis was performed between the corresponding parameters in the regions where notable differences between the two groups existed and minimum mental state examination (MMSE) score were found.Results Global gray matter volume of group POD was notably lower than that of group C (P<0.01).Cerebrospinal fluid volume of group POD was significantly higher than that of group C (P<0.01).Gray matter volume of bilateral frontal gyrus and right parahippocampus was remarkably reduced in group POD (P<0.001).Gray matter density of bilateral hippocampus and right parahippocampus decreased significantly (P<0.001).Right parahippocampal gray matter volume was positively correlated with MMSE score in POD patients (P<0.05).Conclusion Structural abnormality in frontal regions, hippocampus and parahippocampus may play an important role in pathogenetic and developing process of POD.Gray matter volume in the right parahippocampus may be one of reference index for POD severity.

Eurycoma longifolia,also known as Tongkat Ali in Malaysia,as one of traditional herbal medicines,is used for centuries in South-East Asia.With the discovery of anticancer and anti-HIV properties,this herbal medicine has attracted great attention recently.In this review,the following information on E.longifolia,including chemistry,bioactivities,pharmacokinetics,clinical studies,and side effects and safety,was introduced.Our results,to a certain extent,will provide scientific base for commercial utilization and clearance of the Tongkat Ali products with regard to consumers' safety.

Hyoscyamine 6 beta-hydroxylase (H6H) is the last rate-limiting enzyme directly catalyzing the formation of scopolamine in tropane alkaloids (TAs) biosynthesis pathway. It is the primary target gene in the genetic modification of TAs metabolic pathway. Full-length cDNA and gDNA sequences of a novel H6H gene were cloned from Datura arborea (DaH6H, GenBank accession numbers for cDNA and gDNA are KR006981 and KR006983, respectively). Nucleotide sequence analysis reveals an open reading frame of 1375 bp encoding 347 amino acids in the cDNA of DaH6H, while the gDNA of DaH6H contains four exons and three introns, with the highest similarity to the gDNA of H6H from D. stramonium. DaH6H also exhibited the most identity of 90.5% with DsH6H in amino acids and harbored conserved 2-oxoglutarate binding motif and two iron binding motifs. The expression level of DaH6H was highest in the mature leaf, followed by the secondary root, and with no expression in the primary root based on qPCR analysis. Its expression was inhibited by MeJA. DaH6H was expressed in E. coli and a 39 kD recombinant protein was detected in SDS-PAGE. Comparison of the contents of scopolamine and hyoscyamine in various TAs-producing plants revealed that D. arborea was one of the rare scopolamine predominant plants. Cloning of DaH6H gene will allow more research in the molecular regulatory mechanism of TAs biosynthesis in distinct plants and provide a new candidate gene for scopolamine metabolic engineering.

AIM: To observe the curative effect of titanium wiring in treatment of the fractures of Neer Ⅱ type distal clavicle and dislocation of Tossy Ⅲ type acromioclavicular joint. METHODS: From March 2004 to December 2006, 37 cases with Neer Ⅱ type distal clavicle fractures or Tossy Ⅲ type acromioclavicular joint dislocation were treated with titanium wiring in Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. Titanium wiring (produced by Sofamor-Danek Company in USA) had good histocompatibility, intensity of tension and flexibility. The broken coracoclavicular ligament was repaired directly by titanium wiring in all cases. The outcomes were evaluated according to Herscovici's criteria. RESULTS: All the cases were followed up for 6 to 24 months. All the dislocated acromioclavicular joints returned to normal 2 weeks after operation. Excellent and good rate of shoulder function was 100% according to Herscovici standard. X-ray imaging showed all clavicle fractures united, acromioclavicular joint had no redislocation or titanium wiring breaking. The incisions of all cases had no obvious swelling and exudation. CONCLUSION: When Neer Ⅱ type distal clavicular fracture and Tossy Ⅲ type acromioclavicular joint dislocation are treated with titanium wiring, the acromioclavicular joint can exercise earlier and recover quickly.

Objective To construct the lentivirus carrying human ?-catenin-EGFP(enhanced green fluorescent protein)and observe its expression in human follicle stem cells.Methods The ?-catenin gene sequence was amplified by RT-PCR from extraction of total RNA of human vascular endothelial cells.TA cloning technique was utilized to acquire gene subcloned pUCm-T-?-catenin.After transformation reaction,candidate clone was further analyzed by PCR and gene sequencing.Then the plasmid was transfected into FT293 cells.After identification by Western blotting,the plasmid was transfected into FT293 cells again for packaging.Infection titer was monitored by green EGFP expression.The expression of ?-catenin-lentivirus in human follicle stem cells were observed under inverted fluorescence microscope.Results The ?-catenin gene was cloned into the lentivirus successfully.The high expression of green fluorescence protein in FT293 cell line was found under fluorescent microscope.Viral titer checked by real-time PCR was about 2.0?108 TU/mL.When the multiplicity of infection(MOI)was 10,the infection efficiency of ?-catenin-lentivirus in human follicle stem cells was nearly 80% after infection 48 h around.After 3 weeks of continuous observation,we found the infection efficiency still keeping in the range of 80%-90%.Conclusion The lentivirus expression vector for ?-catenin was successfully constructed.It can steadily infect human follicle stem cells and the infection efficiency is considerable high.

This study tested the effects of the gastrointestinal pulse train electrical stimulation with different parameters and at different locations on the neuronal activities of the lateral hypothalamus area (LHA) in obese rats in order to find the optimal stimulation parameter and location. Eight gastric electrical stimulations (GES) with different parameters were performed and the neuronal activities of gastric-distension responsive (GD-R) neurons in LHA were observed. The effects of stimulations with 8 parameters were compared to find the optimal parameter. Then the optimal parameter was used to perform electrical stimulation at duodenum and ileum, and the effects of the duodenal and ileac stimulation on the GD-R neurons in LHA were compared with the gastric stimulation of optimal parameter. The results showed that GES with the lowest energy parameter (0.3 ms, 3 mA, 20 Hz, 2 s on, 3 s off) activated the least neurons. The effects of GES with other parameters whose pulse width was 0.3 ms were not significantly different from those of the lowest energy parameter. Most gastric stimulations whose pulse width was 3 ms activated more LHA neurons than the smallest energy parameter stimulation, and the effects of those 3 ms gastric stimulations were similar. Accordingly, the lowest energy parameter was recognized as the optimal parameter. The effects of stimulations with the optimal parameter at stomach, duodenum and ileum on the LHA neuronal activities were not different. Collectively, gastrointestinal electrical stimulation (GIES) with relatively large pulse width might have stronger effects to the neuronal activities of GD-R neurons in LHA of obese rats. The effects of the GIES at different locations (stomach, duodenum and ileum) on those neurons are similar, and GES is preferential because of its easy clinical performance and safety.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) family may play important roles in inflammatory bowel disease. This study examined the expression of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 in the colonic tissues of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and explored their roles in the pathogenesis of UC. Colonic biopsies were taken from the colon of 30 patients with mild or moderate UC (at active phase) and 10 healthy controls during colonoscopy. TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 protein expression levels were immunohistochemically detected. The mRNA expression levels of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 were assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The disease activity index (DAI), colonoscopic and histologic grades and fecal microbial flora were determined. Histological examination showed that the intestinal mucous membrane of UC patients underwent acute inflammation changes. Immunohistochemistry exhibited that the expression levels of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 in colon epithelia and inflammatory cells were higher in UC patients than in control group (P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 were increased in UC patients but were not detected in the normal controls. Expression levels of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 were positively correlated, and bore close correlation with DAI, colonoscopic and histologic grades and fecal microbial flora. An important mechanism of UC might be that abnormal activation of mucosal immunity by intestinal dysbacteriosis caused dysregulation of TLRS that mediates innate immunity.