BACKGROUND: In vitro cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into neural cells. Some inductors are poisonous and cannot be used in human. OBJECTIVE: To induce the differentiation of rat BMSCs into neuron-like cells with astragalus mongholiens. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized control experiment was performed at the Yunnan Key Laboratory of Faculty of Basic Medicine of Dali University and Stem Cell Research Center of College of Preclinical Medicine and Forensic.Medicine of Sichuan University from January 2002 to January 2005. MATERIALS: Healthy SD rats aged 6-weeks old and weighing 120-130 g were used in this study. METHODS: BMSCs were collected from rat bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation, and then cultured. BMSCs were incubated in serum-free L-DMEM medium containing 0.125 volume fraction of astragalus mongholicus to observe morphologic changes in differentiated cells. Expression of the nestin, neuron specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was detected by immunohistochemistry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Immunohistochemistry of differentiated cells; The expression of Wnt-1 gene and Ngn-1 gene were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcdption-polymerase chain reaction during cell differentiation. RESULTS: After passage, BMSCs were fibroblast-like, and had high reproductive activity. After cultured with astragalus mongholicus, BMSC morphous changed. Nestin, NSE and GFAP were positive. The expression of Wnt-1 gene and Ngn-1 gene increased after astragalus mongholicus treatment. CONCLUSION: BMSCs can differentiate into neuron-like cells induced by astragalus mongholicus. Wnt-1 gene and Ngn-1 gene play a positive regulatory effect during the differentiation.

To observe the changes of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and endothelin (ET) lev-els in patients with c0ngenital heart disease (CHD) and discuss their mechanism and clinical significance.Methods: The pulmonary pressure of the pulmonary hypertension (PH)group was higher than 2 kPa- Thepulmonary pressure of Non-PH group was n0rmal. Healthy children served as control group. Results: (1)Plasma ANP level of the PH group was apparently higher than that 0f the N0n-PH group and c0ntrolgroup. (2) Plasma ET levels in the peripheral vein, vena cava,right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonaryartery and left atrium of the PH group were particularly higher than that of the Non-PH group and c0ntr0lgroup, especially in the left atrium. C0nclusi0n: (l) CHD with PH induces the increase in cardiac v0lumeand pressure load, thus accelerates the release 0f ANP. It is actually a compensatory mechanism for the el-evation of endogenic ANP. (2) ET is a vasoconstrictor. ET owns the importance at PH pathogenesis andhas a certain clinical value in the diagn0sis 0f PH. (3) ET causes ANP releasing, then inhibits ET effectthrough negative feed. B0th of them are antag0nists each other.

OBJECTIVE:To approach the correlations of carbamazepine concentration in serum with clinical therapeutic effect,dosage,sex,age and body weight in epileptic children.METHODS:158 monitoring records for serum concentration of carbamazepine in children with epilepsy in our clinical pharmacy department were consulted retrospectively.Data such as serum concentration,sex and age were recorded into data base and were analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software.RESULTS:No significant correlation was noted between serum concentration of carbamazepine in epileptic children and sex.However,serum concentration of carbamazepine was closely correlated with clinical therapeutic effect,dosage,age and body weight.CONCLUSION:The individual difference in the metabolic processes of carbamazepine was concerned with age and body weight,so it's necessary to make individualized regime according to child's specific condition and monitoring results.

Objective To investigate potential protection by protect against ethanol-induced apoptosis of spermato-genie cells in rat testis. Methods Thirty SD adult male rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group, alcohol group and puerarin group. At 40th day, BCL-2 and BAX of spermatogenic cells of testis tissue were checked by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry; Apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was determined by TUNEL. Re-suits The results of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry indicated that BCL-2 and BAX of spermatogenie cells were not significanty different between puerarin group and normal group, but there was the significant difference between alcohol group and puerarin group (P <0.01). Apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in alcohol group was significantly higher than normal group. Conclusion Spermatogenic cells could generate apoptosis by changing the expression of BCL-2 and BAX. Puerarin could inhibit this damage of didymus by alcohol.

Objective To investigate potential protection by protect against ethanol-induced apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rat testis.Methods Thirty SD adult male rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group,alcohol group and puerarin group.At 40th day,BCL-2 and BAX of spermatogenic cells of testis tissue were checked by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry;Apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was determined by TUNEL.Results The results of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry indicated that BCL-2 and BAX of spermatogenic cells were not significanty different between puerarin group and normal group,but there was the significant difference between alcohol group and puerarin group(P

Objective To explore the reliability and validity of the simplified Chinese version of the Oswestry disability index (SCODI) and the curative effect of community-based rehabilitation for patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods 165 patients with LDH received community-based rehabilitation according to the severity of their LDH. Before treatment and after 3 months, the SCODI, the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the effects. The reliability and validity of the SCODI was thus tested. The reliability analysis included internal consistency as measured by Cronbach's coefficient,and test-retest reliability as measured by an interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The validity analysis used Spearman's correlation coefficient (for concurrent efficacy validity) and factor analysis (for construct validity). The correlation between SCODI, RMDQ and VAS results was analyzed. Results There was statistically significant functional improvement and better QOL in LDH patients after community-based rehabilitation. The SCODI showed good validity and reliability. There was significant correlation among the SCODI, RMDQ and VAS results. Conclusion Community-based rehabilitation can significantly alleviate symptoms for patients with LDH and improve their QOL.The SCODI is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the curative effect of community-based rehabilitation on patients with LDH.

Aim To investigate the effects of panax nonstaining saponins ( PNS ) on the apoptosis of renal cells induced by cisplatin through the path of mitochon-drion . Methods Male Sprague-Dawley( SD) rats were randomized divided into normal control group, cisplatin model group and the cisplatin+PNS group,with 12 rats of each group. Animals were sacrificed to determine the N-acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase ( NAG ) in urine, blood urea nitrogen ( BUN) and serum creatinine ( Cr) concentrations after 8d of intraperitoneal injection. HE-staining was employed to observe renal pathologies. Transmission electron microscopy ( TEM ) was em-ployed to observe the mitochondria of the rats′ injured kidney region. TUNEL staining was employed to detect the distribution of apoptotic cells. Immunnohistochem-istry was used to detect Bax and caspase-9 expression, and expression of Bcl-2 protein was detected by West-ern blot. Results Compared with the normal control group, contents of BUN, serum Cr and urinary NAG levels of rat in the cisplatin model group were increased ( P <0. 01 ) , and some mitochondria of the epithelial cells of renal tubules got injured seriously. The apopto-sis rate of kidney cell was increased ( P<0. 01 ) . The expression of Bax,caspase-9 and Bcl-2 proteins was in-creased ( P < 0. 01 ) . Compared with the cisplatin model group, contents of BUN, serum Cr and urinary NAG levels of rats in the cisplatin model group were decreased ( P <0. 01 ) , and some mitochondria of the epithelial cells of renal tubules were significantly im-proved. The apoptosis rate of kidney cell was decreased ( P<0. 01 ) . The expression of Bax and caspase-9 pro-tein was decreased (P<0. 01),but Bcl-2 protein was increased ( P < 0. 01 ) . Conclusion PNS may in-crease the expression of Bcl-2 protein and decrease the expression of Bax and caspase-9 proteins, which may play a protective role in cisplatin nephritic damage.

Objective To explore the effects of Shengmai Injection on tumor growth and the expression of P-gp in transplanted tumor of human gastric carcinoma of SGC7901/VCR cell in nude mice.Methods Transplanted tumor model of human gastric carcinoma of SGC7901/VCR cell in nude mice was built, which was divided randomly into five groups: normal saline control-group, 5-FU group, 5-FU + verapamil group, 5-FU +Shengmai group, Shengmai group. Nude mice growth state was observed, average weigh and inhibition rate of transplanted tumor were calculated, and the expression of P-gp was detected.Results There was significanf difference in terms of transplanted tumor weight,volume among 5-FU+Shengmai group and 5-FU group and normal saline group(P0.05); P-gp express had difference between normal saline group and shengmai group, P

To observe the changes of endothelin(ET) and atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) lev-els in chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive rats and discuss their mechanism. Methods: We duplicatedthe models of chronic hyp0xic pulmonary hypertensive rats and tested the concentrations of ET and ANP ofplasma and cardiac tissue by radioimmunoassey. Results: In pulmonary hypertension group, plasma ET,plasma ANP and myocardial ET levels increased more significantly than those of controls,except that my-ocardial ANP concentration decreased. There were positive c0rrelati0ns between plasma ET level and plas-ma ANP level and between plasma ET level and myocardial ET level, but a negative correlation betweenplasma ANP level and myocardial ANP level. C0nclusion: It is suggested that the synthesis and secretionof ET and ANP increase in pulmonary hypertension,and therefore provides reference to clinical diagnosisand therapy.

Objective To investigate the impact on renal fibrosis by inhibition of connective tissue growth factor( CTGF) by RNA interference in spontaneous hypertension rat( SHR) . Method Twenty SHR were randomly (random number) divided into SHR group ( n = 10) and RNAi group ( n = 10), eight Wistar-Kyoto rats were set as control. At the end of RNA interference procedure, all the rats were sacrificed and the kidneys were harvested. The mRNA and plasmosin of CTGF and fibronectin(FN) of renal tissue were extracted and measured by RT-PCR and Western Blotting. And the localization of CTGF and FN were analyzed with immunohistochernistry technique. The collagen deposition(shown as collagen volume traction, CVF) were evaluated with 0.1% sirius-picric staining, and the hydroxyproline of myocardium were detected by colorimetry. Results The mRNA and protein expression of CTGF decreased 66% and 62% in RNAi group (P < 0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of FN decreased 56% and 51% in RNAi group.The same inhibition effect was observed by hislological analysis. Immuno-histochemistry showed that CTGF localized both in renal parenchyma and renal interstitium, whereas FN majorly expressed in renal interstitium. Observation with light microscope showed that collagen deposition(CVF)decreased sharply in RNAi group versus SHR group. And the same effect was viewed in hydroxypnoline assay[SHR group: (0.596 ± 0.067) μg/mg, RNAi group: (0.368±0.084) μg/mg, P < 0.01 ] .Further study by polarized microscope displayed that RNA interference mainly suppressed type I collagen synthesis. Conclusions Targeted inhibition of CTGF by RNA interference leads significant decrease of extracellular matrix deposition in kidney. And the anti-fibrotic effect independent of lower the blood pressure. This study indicated CTGF take a key role in the development and progress of renal fibrosis.