BACKGROUND: Studies showed cellular adhesion molecule and neurotrophic factor secreted from olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) could protect the spinal neurons and promote the regeneration of spinal axon. OBJECTIVE: To compare the competence to repair spinal cord injury between olfactory mucosa OECs and olfactory bulb OECs. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized control animal experiment was performed in the central laboratory of Xidian Group Hospital between June 2007 and June 2008. MATERIALS: Twelve male SD rats were randomized selected and divided into experiment group (n=6, 23 months old) and control group (n=6, 3 months old). They were used for in vitro culture and purification of OECs; other 30 SD rats were randomized into three groups of 10 rats each: neonatal rat olfactory bulb OECs transplantation group, normal olfactory mucosa OECs transplantation group and blank control group.METHODS: Spinal cord injury models were produced in 30 rats, which were transplanted with the neonatal rat or SD rat OECs cultured in vitro. No transplant was given in the control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At 4 and 8 weeks postoperation, the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) score for nerve function, the evoked potential of legs and the histopathological diversify of injured spinal cord. RESULTS: Seven rats died dudng the experiment process, and the death rate was similar between groups. At 4 and 8 weeks postoperation, there was no significant difference in the BBB scores between neonatal rat olfactory bulb OECs transplantation group and normal olfactory mucosa OECs transplantation group (P > 0.05), which were both significantly higher than blank control group (P < 0.001); the BBB scores in two transplantation groups were higher at 8 weeks than at 4 weeks (P < 0.01 ). At 4 weeks postoperaUon, no animal was shown to elicit motion evoked potential, but it was present in two transplantation groups at 8 weeks, with no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The blank control group had still no motion evoked potential (P < 0.001 ). At 8 weeks postoperation, more cell infiltrations were found in the injured spinal cord of two transplantation groups, while few in the control group.CONCLUSION: Both OECs dissociated from olfactory bulb and olfactory mucosa have the same ability to repair the injured spinal cord, and their effect is similar.

Background Studies showed that inflammatory process participates in the pathogenesis anddevelopment of diabetic retinopathy targeting retinal vascular endothelial cells (RVECs).A growing body of evidence revealed that metformin reduces the risk of micro-and macro-vascular complications by protecting blood-brain barrier,however,whether it plays a protective effect on human retinal vascular by similar mechanism is still unelucidated.Objective This study was to investigate the effects of metformin on the proliferation,migration and secreting monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) of human retinal vascular endothelial cells (RVECs) under the stimulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).Methods RVECs were cultured and divided into normal control group,metformin (5 mmol/L) group,TNF-α 2.5 ng/ml group,and TNF-α+metformin (5,10,20 and 40 mmol/L,respectively) groups.Corresponding drugs were added into medium according to grouping for 24 hours.Cell numbers were calculated before and after treatment.The metabolic activity (absorbancy) of RVECs was measured with MTS assay.Cell migration of RVECs was assessed with transwell migration assay.The MCP-1 and IL-8 concentrations in the cell supernatant were detected by ELISA assay.Results The number of the cells was significantly different among the normal control group,metformin group,TNF-α group,and TNF-α+metformin (5,10,20 and 40 mmol/L,respectively) groups (F =189.31,P ＜ 0.01).The metabolic activities of RVECs were 0.32 + 0.02,0.32±0.03,0.97 ± 0.02,0.90 ± 0.05,0.76 ± 0.15,0.74 ± 0.05 and 0.41 ± 0.03;migrated cell numbers were (1 214±49),(1 200±45),(1 648±43),(1 309±48),(1 279±73),(961±60) and (942±106)/field;the concentrations of MCP-1 were (0.385 ±0.050),(0.362±0.060),(2.285 ±0.200),(1.131 ±0.180),(0.622 ± 0.120),(0.537±0.090) and (0.492±0.130) μg/ml,and those of IL-8 were (0.385±0.080),(0.390±0.120),(1.123±0.130),(0.899±0.180),(0.680±0.060),(0.417±0.090) and (0.335±0.100) μg/ml in the normal control group,metformin group,TNF-α group,and TNF-α + metformin (5,10,20 and 40 mmol/L,respectively) groups,showing significant differences among the groups (F =73.31,103.89,150.92,268.32,all at P＜ 0.01).The cell number,cell metabolic activity,migrated cell number,and MCP-1 and IL-8 levels in the cell supernatant were evidently increased in the TNF-α group compared with the normal control group,and those in the TNF-α+10 mmol/L metformin group,TNF-e +20 mmol/L metformin group and TNF-α+40 mmol/L metformin group were significantly decreased in comparison with the TNF-α group (all at P＜0.05).Conclusions Metformin can inhibit TNF-α-induced proliferation,migration and MCP-1 and IL-8 secretion of the cells,and therefore plays a protective role on RVECs in the inflammatory environment.

An expanded-granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor was set-up with artificial water by seeding a 60 d stored ANAMMOX sludge. The nitrogen removal efficiency of ANAMMOX enrichment culture in the reactor was determined. In addition, the main microbial populations and the relative abundance of ANAMMOX bacteria were investigated by molecular approaches. Results show that the maximum nitrogen removal rate was 3.0 kg-N·m(-3)·d(-1) after 185 d, and the ammonium and nitrite removal efficiencies were all over 85%. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene-cloning indicates that the main microbial population in the ANAMMOX enrichment culture was changed from Candidatus Brocadiafulgid and Candidatus Brocadia brasiliensis (0 day) to Candidatus Jettenia asiatica (185 day). Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis shows that the relative abundance of ANAMMOX bacteria was increased from (57.69 ± 4.79)% to (83.32 ± 4.40)%. The results of qPCR further indicate that the gene copies of ANAMMOX bacteria in the granules were increased from 1.14 x 10(11) copies/g wet weight to 3.69 x 10(11) copies/g wet weight.
Ammonia ; chemistry ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria ; classification ; Bioreactors ; microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Nitrites ; chemistry ; Nitrogen ; chemistry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sewage ; microbiology

Objective To study the curative effect and practicability of traditional anterior cervical surgery for cervical spondylosis.Methods retrospective lyunaly2ed,104 cage8 of anterior cervical sugery from June 1997 tO October 2005 Among them,there were 17 patients with radculopathy,31patients with cervical myelopathy,56 patients with combination of myelopathy and radieulopathy.all cases were treated by traditional anterior trephiement to excise prominent uncleus+interbedy fusion with auto-ilium graft.Results The resuhs were evaluated by Odom.The cases were all followed up.13 excellent,68 good,23 fair,0 poor.Excellent/good rate is 77.9%.The average medical coat of one patient is 4200 RMB.Conclusion The traditional Anterior cervical surgery for cervical mydopathy is safe、effective、practical.

Epigenetic mechanisms influence gene expression and function without modification of the base sequence of DNA and may generate a genetic phenotype.Epigenetic modifications include DNA methylation,histone modifications,and deployment of noncoding RNA.There is growing evidence that epigenetic mechanisms could play a crucial role in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR).Molecular biological methods which could maintain mitochondrial homeostasis through the regulation of epigenetic mechanisms may prevent the development of DR.Epigenetic-related treatment modalities will become the new direction of targeted therapy for DR.

Objective:To investigate the effect of recombinant Elafin on A549 apoptosis induced by paraquat and the underlying mechanism.Methods:pEGFP-C1-Elafin was transformed into A549 competent cells by electroporation.Transformed A549 was cultured for additional 24 h before Elafin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and cocultured with or without various concentration of paraquat( PQ ) for different duration.A549 apoptosis percentage and reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) content were tested by flow cytometry .Nuclear factor erythroid like-2(Nrf2) heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) were examed by Western blot .Results:Elafin expressed successfully in A549 after transformation.PQ caused A549 apoptosis in a concentration dependent manner and leaded to ROS content increasing and Nrf2 and HO-1 decreasing.However,elafin could inhibit ROS production and A549 apoptosis,upregulate Nrf2 and HO-1.Conclusion:Elafin could restrict A549 apoptosis to some extent and the possible mechanism lied in its ability to upregulate Nrf2 ex-pression.

Objective To evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin(PCT ) and C-reactive protein(CRP) analysis in the differenti-ation of the cause of fever in cancer patients .Methods 218 cases with fever enrolled were divided into three groups ,including bacte-rial infection group ,viral infection group and tumor related fever group .The positive rates of white blood cell(WBC) count ,percent-age of neutrophil ,PCT and CRP were determined and there correlations were analyzed .Results The positive rates of WBC count , percentage of neutrophil ,PCT and CRP in bacterial infection group were significantly increased compared to viral infection group and tumor related fever group(P<0 .05) .The positive rate of PCT in tumor related fever group was also statistically significant difference compared to viral and bacterial infection group(P<0 .05) .The sensitivity of PCT was 97 .83% and the specificity of PCT was 83 .33% .Conclusion PCT and CRP can help identify causes of fever in cancer patients .PCT has better sensitivity and specific-ity ,it can help anti-infective and provide experimental evidence for tumor treatment ,and also help determine the disease outcome and clinical deterioration .

Objective To investigate the effects of moldavica total flavone on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in ovalbumin-induced bronchial asthmatic rats, and explore its mechanism. Methods A total of 60 SD rats was randomly divided into control group, model group, dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) group and moldavica total flavone low (90 mg/kg), medium (180 mg/kg) and high (360 mg/kg) dose group. Rats asthma model was established by ovalbumin challenge methods except the control group. After modeling, rats in control and model groups were intragastrically given distilled water, rats in medicine groups were intragastrically given moldavica total flavone and dexamethasone for 30 d. VEGF in lung tissue and ICAM-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected respectively by ELISA. The content of ET-1 and NO in BALF were analyzed with radioimmunity method and nitric acid reductase method. Results The VEGF in lung tissue and ICAM-1, NO and ET-1 in BALF were decreased by moldavica total flavone at 180 and 360 mg/kg (P<0.05, P<0.01) in ovalbumin-induced bronchial asthmatic rats. Conclusion Moldavica total flavone is effective in adjusting abnormal increase of VEGF, ICAM-1, ET-1 and NO of bronchial asthma rats.

Objective:To develop a method of quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker( QAMS) for nine kinds of alkaloids in Xiaohuoluo pills. Methods: An HPLC-QTOF-MS method with an Agilent ZORBAX Extend-C18 RRHT(2. 1 mm × 50 mm,1. 8 μm) column was applied. The flow rate was 0. 21 ml·min-1 . The column temperature was 30 ℃. The mobile phase was methanol (A)-water (B;containing 0. 1％ formic acid and 2. 5 mmol·L-1 ammonium acetate) with gradient elution. The aconitine was used as the internal standard, and the relative correction factor ( RCFs) of hypaconitine, mesaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoyl-hypaconine, benzoylmesaconine, aconine, hypaconine and mesaconine was respectively established, and the reproducibility inspection on the RCF was performed. The contents of the other 8 kinds of aconitum alkaloids were calculated according to the RCF. At the same time, an external standard method ( ESM) was performed for the content determination of the nine alkaloids. The results of the two methods were compared. The feasibility and accuracy of the QAMS method were verified. Results:Within a certain range,the RCF of hypacontine,mesacontine, benzoylaconine, benzoylhypaconine, benzoyl mesaconine, aconine, hypaconine and mesaconine to aconitine was 1. 736,1. 979,1. 0471,0. 9242,1. 2901,1. 3078,1. 2859,and 1. 0948,respectively. The QAMS method was established for determi-ning alkaloids. There were no significant differences between the results of the QAMS method and those of the external standard method ( ESM) . Conclusion:With the validation of methodology, the method established in our study can be used for the content determina-tion of aconitine, hypaconitine, mesaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylhypaconine, benzoylmesaconine, aconine, hypaconine and mesaconine in xiaohuoluo pills.

Objective: To investigate the hydrolysis conversion rate of alcohol amine-diterpene alkaloids from aconitum alkaloids, hydrolyze aconitum alkaloids reference substance, calculate the amount of alcohol amine-diterpene alkaloids in the hydrolysis solution by the hydrolysis conversion rate, which is used as the amount of alcohol amine-diterpene alkaloids reference substance, and establish a content determination method for aconine, hypaconitine and aconine in Aconiti radix cocta.Methods: Through controlling the hydrolysis conditions of aconitine, hypaconitine and mesaconitine, aconine, hypaconitine and aconine were obtained.The determination was performed on an Agilent ZORBAX Extend-C18 RRHT(2.1 mm×50 mm,1.8 μm) column with the mobile phase consisting of methanol(A)-water(B containing 0.1% formic acid and 2.5 mmol·L-1 ammonium acetate) with gradient elution by HPLC-QTOF-MS.The flow rate was 0.21 ml·min-1.The column temperature was 30 ℃.MS instrument was equipped with an ESI+ ion source.Results: Under the hydrolysis conditions of this study, the conversion rate of aconine from aconitine was 99.64%;the conversion rate of hypaconitine from hypaconine was 99.94%;the conversion rate of mesaconitine from mesaconine was 99.57%.The HPLC-QTOF-MS methodological investigation showed the 3 kinds of alcohol amine-diterpene alkaloids were with good linearity (r>0.999 1).The RSD of the precision, repeatability and stability tests were less than 5%.The average recoveries were within the range of 99.43%-100.10%.Conclusion: The validated method is simple, specific, reliable and reproducible.In the absence of reference substance, it can be used for the quality control of the herbs of Aconitum L.species.