OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible stimulating mechanism of Huoxue Bushen Mixture (HXBSM), a traditional Chinese compound medicine, on hair growth of mice via measuring the variance of skin blood vessel neogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the hair follicle. METHODS: Hot rosin and paraffin mixture depilation were used to induce C57BL/6 mice hair follicle to enter from telogen into anagen. Ninety C57BL/6 mice were divided into 3 groups randomly: HXBSM group, Yangxue Shengfa Capsule (YXSFC, another traditional Chinese compound medicine) group and untreated group. The mice were fed with corresponding drugs after modeling. The hair growth of the mice was observed every day. Every ten mice out of each group were executed respectively at day 4, 11 and day 17. Skin blood vessel neogenesis was counted through pathological section and VEGF expression in the hair follicle was measured via immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The number of local blood vessel neogenisis in the HXBSM group observed was larger than that in the untreated group at day 4 (P<0.05); and evidently larger than that in the YXSFC group and the untreated group at day 11 (P<0.05). The expression of VEGF in the hair follicle was distinctively higher than that in the YXSFC group and the untreated group at day 11 and day 17 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HXBSM up-regulates VEGF expression to accelerate blood vessel neogenesis and hair growth.

Objective To investigate the role and implication of Engrailed-2 (EN2) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the effect of silencing EN2 genes on the proliferation and invasion of HepG2 cells by RNA interference.Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of EN2 in the HCC tissues and corresponding non-cancerous adjacent liver tissues in 126 patients with HCC.The expressions of EN2 and the relationship between EN2 expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis were analyzed using the Chi-square test.The survival curve was drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method and the survival was analyzed using the log-rank test.EN2-small interfering RNA (siRNA) was transfected into HepG2 cell lines mediated by LipofectamineTM 2000,and the expression of EN2 were detected by Western blotting assay.The cell proliferation and invasion were measured by methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) and Transwell assays.Results EN2 positive expression rate was high (62.7％) in HCC tissue but low in the corresponding peritumoral tissue (23.5％,P ＜ 0.01).The high expression of EN2 was strongly correlated with tumor size,metastasis and AJCC TNM stage.The cumulative 5-year survival rate was 33.9％ in the low EN2 expression group,whereas it was 5.1％ in the high EN2 expression group (P ＜ 0.01).Expression of EN2 in EN2 siRNA group was significantly lower than that in control siRNA group and control group (P ＜ 0.05),respectively.The cell proliferation and invasion ability were significantly reduced in the EN2 siRNA group.Conclusion The expression of EN2 is highly up-regulated in HCC tissues and down-regulation of EN2 could inhibit proliferation and invasion of HepG2 cells,which indicating that EN2 is involved in the process of HCC carcinogenesis and progression and may serve as a biomarker for predicting prognosis of HCC patients.

microRNAs is a group of small non-coding RNAs that play a negative regulation role in expression of target genes at post-transcriptional level by inhibition or degradation of target mRNAs after combination of the seed sequence (SS) in microRNAs with the SS-binding sequences usually located at 5'ends of target mRNAs.microRNAs was firstly found in Caenorhabditis elegans.Subsequently,many different microRNAs in eukaryocytes were revealed.In eukaryocytes,microRNA precursors are transcribed at first and then become functional microRNAs with 21-23 nt in size after splice.Most of eukaryocytic microRNAs combime with the sequences at 3'end of target mRNAs that cause the translation inhibition or degradation of the mRNAs.In the recent years,many different prokaryocytes,such as bacteria,have been confirmed to possess microRNAs.However,the microRNAs in prokaryotes such as bacteria are 50-400 nt in size and have the biological activity without splice.Moreover,the characteristics,action sites and mechanisms of the prokaryotic microRNAs have some certain diversity compared to the eukaryotic microRNAs.Our review briefly introduce the major regulation mechanisms of gene expression as well as the general characteristics of microRNAs and their regulation mechanisms of gene expression in prokaryocytes and eukaryocytes,which will provide a basis for further and profound study on the gene expression regulation and pathogenic mechanisms of prokaryotic microbial pathogens.

Objective To investigate the correlation between Streptococcus pneumoniae (S.pneumoniae) StkP kinase and drug resistance and to analyze the binding ability of StkP extracellular region (EC-StkP) to β-lactam antibiotics.Methods A stkP gene knockout (ΔstkP) mutant was constructed from S.pneumoniae strain ATCC6306 by insertional inactivation method.E-test was performed to detect the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of penicillin (PCN) and cefotaxime (CTX) against ΔstkP mutant and its wild-type strain.Bioinformatic softwares were used to predict the EC-StkP of S.pneumonia strain ATCC6306,to generate the three-dimensional structure model of EC-StkP and to analyze the correlation between the structure and functions of EC-StkP.PCR was performed to amplify the extracellular segment of stkP (EC-stkP) gene and the product of it was sequenced after T-A cloning.A prokaryotic expression system of EC-stkP gene was constructed.SDS-PAGE in combination with a gel image analysis system was used to detect the expression of the recombinant EC-StkP (EC-rStkP).The expressed EC-rStkP was extracted by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography.The binding abilities of EC-rStkP to PCN and CTX were detected by isothermal titration calorimetry (VT-ITC) and surface plasmon resonance (Biacore).Results S.pneumonia strain ATCC6306 was sensitive to PCN (MIC=0.06 μg/ml) and CTX (MIC=0.12 μg/ml),but its ΔstkP mutant was resistant to the two antibiotics (PCN MIC=16 μg/ml,CTX MIC=32 μg/ml).The 295 aa segment was predicted as the extracellular region at C-end of StkP of S.pneumoniae strain ATCC6306,containing four penicillin-binding proteins and Ser/Thr kinase-associated (PASTA) domains.The cloned EC-stkP segment and the EC-stkP segment in GenBank shared 99.6% similarity in nucleotide sequence and 100% in amino acid sequence.The constructed prokaryotic expression system for EC-stkP gene expressed EC-rStkP in soluble form.Both PCN and CTX could bind to EC-rStkP and CTX was better than PCN in term of binding ability.Conclusion The stkP gene of S.pneumonia is closely related to drug resistance and the encoded protein,Ser/Thr kinase StkP,can recognize and bind to β-lactam antibiotics.

Objective To construct a ciaR gene-knockout (ΔciaR) mutant of Streptococcus pneu-moniae ( S. pneumoniae) and to investigate the effects of CiaR in CiaH/CiaR, a streptococcal two-component signal-transducing system, on the expression of genes encoding penicillin-binding proteins ( pbps genes) and cia-dependent small RNAs (csRNAs). Methods Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (ESMA) was per-formed to detect the recombinant CiaR (rCiaR)-binding pbps genes. A suicide plasmid pEVP3ciaR for ciaR gene knockout was constructed and then aΔciaR mutant was obtained through homologous recombination and insertion inactivation of the suicide plasmid, and screening with chloromycin. The mutant was identified using PCR and sequencing analysis. E-test was used to detect the minimal inhibitory concentrations ( MIC) of penicillin ( PCN) and cefotaxime ( CTX) against S. pneumoniae strains. Changes and differences in the expression of pbps genes and csRNAs in theΔciaR mutant and its wild-type strain before and after treatment with 1/4 MIC of PCN or CTX were detected using real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Results The rCiaR could bind to the promoter regions in pbp1a, pbp1b and pbp2b genes of S. pneumoniae. The ciaR gene in ΔciaR mutant was inactivated by insertion according to the results of PCR and sequencing analysis. After treatment with 1/4 MIC of PCN or CTX, the expression of pbps genes at mRNA level ( pbps-mRNAs) in theΔciaR mu-tant was significantly increased (P<0. 05), but the levels of csRNAs were significantly decreased (P<0. 05);whereas a significantly decreased pbps-mRNAs (P<0. 05) and increased csRNAs (P<0. 05) were observed in its wild-type strain. The result of E-test showed that the MICs of PCN and CTX against ΔciaR mutant were increased by 250-fold as compared with those against its wild-type strain. Conclusion The CiaR can enhance the drug resistance of S. pneumoniae to PCN and CTX through down-regulating the expres-sion of PBP1a, PBP1b and PBP2b and up-regulating the expression of csRNAs to inhibit the expression of PBPs.

Objective:Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) acts as a regulator for axon guidance in central nervous system development. However, new evidence indicates that Sema4D has a previously unrecognized function, namely, compensatory angiogenic factor. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Sema4D on tumor growth and vascularity of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in nude mice. Meth-ods:Sema4D was knocked down in CRC cells by infecting the cells with lentiviruses coding for Sema4D shRNA. Two groups of cells, namely, those infected with control viruses and those infected with Sema4D shRNA viruses, were subjected to migration assay to test their ability induce endothelial cell migration. The two cell groups were subcutaneously injected into nude mice. Tumor growth was documented, and the tumors harvested from the mice were subjected to immunohistochemistry or immuno fl uorescence analyses. Re-sults:In vitro migration assay results indicated that media conditioned by HCT-116 cells infected with Sema4D shRNA lentiviruses in-duced low endothelial cell migration. The two groups of subcutaneously inoculated cells showed 100%tumorigenicity. However, tumor growth rates were significantly different between the two groups. Xenografts in which Sema4D was downregulated showed marked re-duction in tumor size and vascularity. Conclusion:Cancer cells may highly express Sema4D to trigger net neo-angiogenesis and gener-ate a tumor blood supply system. Thus, Sema4D could potentially be a target in anti-angiogenic therapy of CRC patients.

Objective To discuss the influence of different antitumor treatments on the survival time of patients with obstructive jaundice caused by cholangiocarcinoma located at middle-low segment of common bile duct after receiving PTCD. Methods During the period from Jan. 2012 to March 2013, a total of 60 patients with pathologically-proved cholangiocarcinoma located at the middle-low segment of common bile duct were admitted to authors’ hospital. According to tumor TNM staging, stage Ⅱ was seen in 9 cases, stage Ⅲ in 39 cases and stage Ⅳ in 12 cases. Based on the degree of cell differentiation, highly differentiated cancer was observed in 9 cases, moderately differentiated cancer in 37 cases, and poorly differentiated cancer in 14 cases. The 60 patients were enrolled in this study. Drainage tube placement and stent implantation were performed in all patients so as to relieve the symptoms of jaundice. According to the antitumor treatment used, the 60 patients were randomly and equally divided into three groups with 20 patients in each group. Draining procedure with subsequent regular arterial infusion chemotherapy was employed in the patients of group A; draining procedure with subsequent particle chain placement in biliary tract was performed in the patients of group B; and draining procedure with subsequent regular arterial infusion chemotherapy together with particle chain placement in biliary tract was carried out in the patients of group C. The results were analyzed using SPSS17.0 statistical software. The death factors of patients were statistically evaluated by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis method, P<0.05 was considered that the difference had statistical significance. Results The median survival periods of group A, B and C were (186.0±36.4) days, (183.0±26.5) days and (252.0±43.6) days respectively. The death factors of cancer patients were analyzed by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis method, which indicated that tumor stage was a risk factor for death (HR=8.434, 95%CI 3.41-20.090);the treatment mode was a protection factor of death (HR=0.616, 95%CI 0.429-0.884); while the degree of tumor differentiation was unrelated to death(score test,字2=0.197, P=0.657>0.05). The risk of death in group B was not significantly different from that in group A (HR=1.012, 95%CI 0.558-2.179); while the treatment mode of group C was a protection factor of death (HR=0.334, 95%CI 0.148-0.075). Conclusion The TNM stage and treatment mode can influence the survival time of patients with cholangiocarcinoma located at the middle-low segment of common bile duct. Therefore, for the treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by cholangiocarcinoma, combination use of regular arterial infusion chemotherapy and particle chain placement in biliary tract should be employed immediately after draining procedure as this therapeutic mode can effectively prolong patient’s survival time.

BACKGROUND: the development of magnetic separation technique,it is feasibility to in vitro sort and amplify CD4+CD25+Treg cells for transplantation; however,the application dosage and immune tolerance have been less reported yet.OBJECTIVE: To investigate dose-effect relationship of CD4+CD25+Treg cells during allograft transplantation.METHODS: SD rats which were considered as the donors and Wistar rats as receptors were used to establish allograff kidney transplantation models.CD4+CD25+Treg cells were separated from splenic cells of Wistar rats and induced phenotype of donor antigenic specificity in vitro.According to the quantities of CD4+CD25+Treg cells injecting through tail vein during the operation of allograft kidney transplantation,models were rolled into four experiment groups: group 1(2×105),group 2(5×105),group 3(1×106),and group 4(2×106).The models out injection were considered as controls.Survival status of kidney was detected at day 15 postoperatively; creatinine level and pathological changes were detected at days 4,9 and 15 according to Banff Schema diagnostic standard; semi-quantitative scores were measured Watanabe technique.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The death rate was the highest in control group(83.3%),and then group 1(66.7%),group 4(58.3%),and group 2(33.3%); but rats in the group 3 were all survival.Creatinine level in experimental groups was significantly less than control group at days 4,9,and 15 postoperatively(P<0.05,P<0.01); the creatinine levels in the group1 and group 2 were significantly greater than in the group 3 and group 4 at days 9 and 15 postoperatively(P<0.05),Semi-quantitative scores demonstrated that there was no significant difference between group 2 and group 1; but the scores in the group 3 and group 4 were significantly greater than control group(P < 0.05).The results indicated that CD4+CD25+Treg cells could improve kidney function following transplantation,and prolong survival time of transplanted kidney.The 1×106 was the best dosaae for application.

Objective To study the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-23R gene in Chinese Han population with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods SNPs rs11209026, rs1343151, rs11209032 and another three SNPs near them based on their physical distances were genotyped by PCR-directed sequencing. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, genotypes and allele frequency analysis were analyzed by SPSS 13.0. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis were carried out by SHEsis software. Results The difference of genotypes of rs11209032 and the difference of genotypes and allele frequencies of rs6677188 between patients and controls were statistically significant (P＜O.01) ; The two SNPs rs11209032 and rs6677188 had strong linkage disequlibfium (D'=0.925, r2=0.561 ). Haplotype analysis had shown a higher proportion of GAC haplotype in patients and a higher proportion of GTC haplotype in controls. Conclusion These results suggest that IL-23R polymorphisms is associated with susceptibility to AS in Chinese Han population and IL-23R gene may be a susceptible gene of AS.

Objective To summarize the clinical results of posterior fusion plus pedicle screw fixation in treatment of dens fracture combined with recoverable atlantoaxial dislocation. Methods Twenty-seven patients with dens fractures combined with recoverable atlantoaxial dislocation were treated with posterior pedicle screw fixation, reduction and fusion. In this series of patients, skull traction was made to restore the normal atlantoaxial joint before the operation. Results Atlantoaxial alignment or stability were restored, without complication due to instrumentation. A follow-up for 12-48 months (average 24 months) showed osseous union. Conclusion Posterior aflantoaxial pedicle screw and rod fixation provides immediate three-dimensional rigid fixation of aflantoaxial joint and is a more effective technique compared with previously reported techniques.