ObjectiveTo study the effects of vitamins on human pr eadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. MethodsVit amins (A, B, C, D, E and K families) were added to the culture media of human p readipocytes, then the proliferation of cells, the expression of GPDH and lipid droplet accumulation in the cytoplasm were recorded. ResultsVitamin A inhibited human preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. Vi tamin C enhanced differentiation and proliferation. Vitamin B 6 stimulated diff erentiation. vitamin D 3 inhibited differentiation. Vitamin E had a strong inhi bitory effect on human preadipocyte differentiation. Vitamin K 1 had an unexpec tedly great stimulatory effect on human preadipocyte differentiation. Vitamin K 3 inhibited both human preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. Other v itamins tested showed no noticeable effects. ConclusionT hese data are advisory to our balanced daily intake of vitamins.

BACKGROUND:It has been confirmed that carboxymethylated chitosan has an promoting effect on Schwann cel proliferation and secretion, but its impact on the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-mediated protein kinase A signaling pathway in schwann cel stil needs further study. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of carboxymethylated chitosan on cyclic adenosine monophosphate/ protein kinase A signaling pathway in rat schwann cels. METHODS:The Schwann cels of the second generation neonatal rats were obtained and seeded in 6-wel plate at a concentration of 1×109/L. These Schwann cels were cultured and divided into four groups. The Schwann cels in the control group were cultured by adding PBS. The Schwann cels in the experimental groups were cultured by adding 50, 100 and 200 mg/L of carboxymethyl chitosan solution, respectively. After 24 hours, the concentration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, protein kinase A activity and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein mRNA expression were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, carboxymethyl chitosan increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate concentrations, the activity of protein kinase A and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein mRNA expression within the Schwann cels in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that carboxymethyl chitosan can increase the concentration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate within the Schwann cels and promote protein kinase A activity, thereby activating cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A signaling pathway.

Objective In order to explore the mechanizms of thymosin action on hypothalamus. Methods RT-PCR and in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH)were used. Results The expression of prothymosin ?1-mRNA was detected in preoptic area of hy- pothalamus by using RT-PCR technique. The results of ISHH showed that prothymosin ?1-mRNA was expressed in the preoptic mag- nocellular nucleus, suprachiasmatic nuclei and paraventricular nuclei of hypothalamus. In addition, the positive signal of prothymosin ?1- mRNA was also observed both in the microglicyte near the third ventricle and in medium to small sized pyramidal cells in cerebral cor- tex. Conclusion Prothymosin ?1 is produced in preoptic area of the hypothalamus by means of paracrine, which indicates that prothy- mosin ?1 participates in the regulation of hypothalamic function.

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) against oxidative stress induced apoptosis in Schwann cells (SCs). Methods: SCs were cultured in vitro, identified by S-100 immunofluorence staining. SCs were divided into control group, H₂O₂ induced group, H₂O₂ + PQQ treated group. CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with Annecin V-FITC/PI staining, mitochondrial transmembrane potential was detected by flow cytometry with JC-1 labeled staining, cytochrome C (CytC), Bax and Caspase-9 protein levels was detected by Western blot analysis. Results: In this study, the S-100 positive cells were more than 95%, cell proliferation was decreased in H₂O₂ induced SCs, apoptotic rate was increased, mitochondrial transmembrane potential was decreased, CytC, Bax and Caspase-9 protein levels were increased. After PQQ added, cell proliferation was increased, apoptotic rate decreased, mitochondrial transmembrane potential increased, CytC, Bax and Caspase-9 protein levels decreased. Conclusions PQQ protects SCs from oxidative induced apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the curative effect of penile elongation with four differentoperative approaches.

METHODSThrough four different operative approaches (the coronary sulcus ringincision, Y or Z shaped incision or Z shaped incision combined with coronary sulcus ring incision), thepenile skin and fascia were degloved until the penile root. Then the superficial and deep dorsal penilesuspensory ligament were cut off. After electric coagulation of the residue ends, the two-side tissue at thefront of the pubic symphysis was sutured. Then the penile skin and fascia were repositioned and the incisionat the inner and outer plate was closed.

RESULTSThe increased penile static length was (2.9 ± 0.2) cmwith abdominal wall Y incision (12 cases); (3.1 ± 0.3) cm with transabdominal modified Z incision (260 cases); (3.9 ± 0.7) cm with coronary sulcus ring incision (363 cases); (3.4 ± 0.8) cm with combined incision (39 cases). The lengthening effect was significantly different between the coronary ring incision and abdominal wall Y/Z incision (P < 0.05). The postoperative follow-up period was 6 months to 5.5 years without serious complications. Only 3 cases of subcutaneous hematoma occurred with treatment of debridement and drainage. 4 cases with ischemic necrosis at distal penile skin, were treated with debridement, dressing and physiotherapy, leaving no scar.

CONCLUSIONSPenile lengthening surgery are safe and effective through different approaches. The coronal ring incision has the best therapeutic effect.

Bandages ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Electrocoagulation ; Fasciotomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligaments ; surgery ; Male ; Necrosis ; surgery ; Organ Size ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin ; Time Factors

Pectin, a polysaccharide extracted from the cell wall of plants, was used as the drug carrier to synthesize the pectin-adriamycin conjugates (P(A)n). The structure of the conjugates was confirmed by UV and IR. The degree of esterification (DE) of the pectin was assessed, and it was found that DE significantly influenced the carboxy group contents, inherent viscosity and galacturonic acid contents of the pectin. The results of drug release test in vitro showed that the conjugate was stable in normal saline, but was gradually enzymolyzed to release the adriamycin in blood plasma and in lymph nodes. The results of lymphatic targeting study of P(A), demonstrated that the modification of DE or drug coupling capacity of pectin significantly influenced the lymphatic targeting characteristics of P (A)n. The adriamycin concentration of lymph nodes was 208 times higher than that of plasma after local injection of the P(A)n, of which the adriamycin content was 27.9% and the pectin was deesterificated 120 minutes by the use of hypothermy alkaline deesterification method.
Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Esterification ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; Pectins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular biological mechanism of endothelial cell proliferation induced by bFGF.

METHODSCultured rat myocardial microvascular endothelial cells were stimulated with bFGF of various concentrations. By northern blot analysis, the levels of c-myc mRNA expression were detected.

RESULTSThe expression of c-myc mRNA in the bFGF-treated groups increased (P < 0.05) with a dose- and stimulating time-dependent manner. The c-myc mRNA expression reached to a peak level at 2 hours.

CONCLUSIONSC-myc expression may be an important component in controlling the transit of cells through the cell cycle.

Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genes, myc ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

Study of mechanism of medicine actions, by quantitative analysis of cultured cardiac myocyte, is one of the cutting edge researches in myocyte dynamics and molecular biology. The characteristics of cardiac myocyte auto-beating without external stimulation make the research sense. Research of the morphology and cardiac myocyte motion using image analysis can reveal the fundamental mechanism of medical actions, increase the accuracy of medicine filtering, and design the optimal formula of medicine for best medical treatments. A system of hardware and software has been built with complete sets of functions including living cardiac myocyte image acquisition, image processing, motion image analysis, and image recognition. In this paper, theories and approaches are introduced for analysis of living cardiac myocyte motion images and implementing quantitative analysis of cardiac myocyte features. A motion estimation algorithm is used for motion vector detection of particular points and amplitude and frequency detection of a cardiac myocyte. Beatings of cardiac myocytes are sometimes very small. In such case, it is difficult to detect the motion vectors from the particular points in a time sequence of images. For this reason, an image correlation theory is employed to detect the beating frequencies. Active contour algorithm in terms of energy function is proposed to approximate the boundary and detect the changes of edge of myocyte.
Algorithms ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To predict and assess biomechanical responses and injury mechanisms of the thorax and abdomen for small-sized females in vehicle collisions. Methods The accurate geometric model of the thorax and abdomen was constructed based on CT images of Chinese 5th percentile female volunteers. A thoracic-abdominal finite element model of Chinese 5th percentile female with detailed anatomical structure was developed by using the corresponding software. The model was validated by reconstructing three groups of cadaver experiments (namely, test of blunt anteroposterior impact on the thorax, test of bar anteroposterior impact on the abdomen, test of blunt lateral impact on the chest and abdomen). Results The force-deformation curves and injury biomechanical responses of the organs from the simulations were consistent with the cadaver experiment results, which validated effectiveness of the model. Conclusions The model can be used for studying injury mechanisms of the thorax and abdomen for small-sized female, as well as developing small-sized occupant restraint systems and analyzing the forensic cases, which lays foundation for developing the whole body finite element model of Chinese 5th percentile female.