?-(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.

Cerebral Hemorrhage ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Cerebral Ventricles ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control

Animals ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; metabolism ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Myocarditis ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Animals ; Cocaine ; pharmacology ; Habenula ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pain Threshold ; drug effects ; Rats

Using the field sampling and indoor soil cultivation methods, the dynamic of ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial activity and biomass with three cultivated ages was studied to provide a theory basis for illustrating mechanism of continuous cropping obstacles of ginseng. The results showed that ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial activity and biomass accumulation were inhibited observably by growing time. The soil respiration, soil cellulose decomposition and soil nitrification of ginseng rhizosphere soil microorganism were inhibited significantly (P <0.05), in contrast to the control soil uncultivated ginseng (R0). And the inhibition was gradual augmentation with the number of growing years. The soil microbial activity of 3a ginseng soil (R3) was the lowest, and its activity of soil respiration, soil cellulose decomposition, soil ammonification and soil nitrification was lower than that in R0 with 56.31%, 86.71% and 90. 53% , respectively. The soil ammonification of ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial was significantly promoted compared with R0. The promotion was improved during the early growing time, while the promotion was decreased with the number of growing years. The soil ammonification of R1, R2 and R3 were lower than that in R0 with 32.43%, 80.54% and 66.64% separately. The SMB-C and SMB-N in ginseng rhizosphere soil had a decreased tendency with the number of growing years. The SMB-C difference among 3 cultivated ages was significant, while the SMB-N was not. The SMB of R3 was the lowest. Compared with R0, the SMB-C and the SMB-N were significantly reduced 77.30% and 69.36%. It was considered by integrated analysis that the leading factor of continuous cropping obstacle in ginseng was the changes of the rhizosphere soil microbial species, number and activity as well as the micro-ecological imbalance of rhizosphere soil caused by the accumulation of ginseng rhizosphere secretions.
Agriculture ; Ammonium Compounds ; metabolism ; Bacteria ; growth & development ; Biomass ; Cellulose ; metabolism ; Nitrification ; Panax ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Time Factors

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

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.