Objective To investigate the effects of berberine on cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage derived foam cells, and explore the possible mechanism. Methods HP-1 cells were induced into macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and were treated with acetylated low-density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL) to establish the THP-1 macrophage derived foam cell models. Foam cells were divided into blank control group and berberine (5 to 20 μmol/L) treatment groups according to the way of treatment and berberine concentrations. After treatment for 24 h, flow cytometry was employed to detect AcLDL aggregation, enzymic method was adopted to detect contents of cholesterol and triglyceride, scintillation counting technique was used to detect cholesterol efflux, and effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) antagonist GW9662 pretreatment on cholesterol efflux (pioglitazone as positive control) were analysed. Besides, RT-PCR was applied to detect expression of liver X receptor α (LXRα) and ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mRNA. ResultsCompared with blank control group, AcLDL aggregation and contents of cholesterol and triglyceride of foam cells in various berberine treatment groups decreased significantly (P＜0.01), while cholesterol efflux increased (P＜0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. After GW9662 pretreatment, there was no significant difference in cholesterol efflux between various berberine treatment groups and control group (P>0.05). Furthermore, expression of LXRα and ABCA1 mRNA of foam cells in various berberine treatment groups was higher than that in blank control group. Conclusion Berberine may increase cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage derived foam cells, the mechanism of which may be associated with activation of PPARγ pathway and increase of expression of LXRα and ABCA1 mRNA.

ObjectiveTo objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of three-step acupuncture-cupping therapy for cervicogenic headache.MethodSixty patients were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups. The treatment group received three-step acupuncture-cupping therapy and the control group, conventional acupuncture based on “Acupuncture Therapeutics”. Both groups were treated for three courses (10 days as acourse with two days of rest between two courses) and then the clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated. The evaluation included the overall therapeutic effect on the symptoms, the VASscore and the follow-up recurrence rate at six months after treatment.ResultThe total efficacy rate was 96.7% in the treatment group and 83.3% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). A follow-up of six months after treatment in the two groups showed that the recurrence rate was 16.7% in the treatment group and 46.7% in the control group;there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).ConclusionThree-step acupuncture-cupping therapy has a definite effect on cervicogenic headache. Its immediate and long-term effects are superior to those of conventional acupuncture. The recurrence rate in six months is lower in this therapy than in conventionalacupuncture.

BACKGROUND:Culture supernatant containing myocardiocyte has been demonstrated to induce differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cel s into myocardiocyte-like cel s. This may associate with some or several cytokines in the culture supernatant.
OBJECTIVE:To explore if the supernatant of myocardiocyte induces bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cel s to differentiate into myocardiocyte-like cel s is associated with the different cytokine content in the supernatant of myocardiocyte.
METHODS:Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cel s were isolated and cultured in vitro by the whole bone marrow adherent culture. Cardiocytes were isolated and cultured by enzyme digestion. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cel s (1×108/L) and cardiocytes (1×105/L) were cultured for 72 hours and the supernatant was col ected. Hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, platelet-derived growth factor, stem cel factor, fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in culture supernatant of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cel s and cardiocytes were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The content of insulin-like growth factor 1, platelet-derived growth factor and fibroblast growth factor in the supernatant of cardiocytes was significantly higher in cardiocytes group compared with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cel s group (P<0.01). Results indicated that insulin-like growth factor 1, platelet-derived growth factor and fibroblast growth factor in the supernatant of cardiocytes may have capability to induce bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cel s to differentiate into myocardiocyte-like cel s, and insulin-like growth factor 1 may serve as the main cytokine.

We established methods to isolate human amniotic fluid-derived progenitor cells (hAFPCs), and analyze the ability of hAFPCs to secrete human coagulation factor IX (hFIX) after gene modification. The hAFPCs were manually isolated by selection for attachment to gelatin coated culture dish. hFIX cDNA was transfected into hAPFCs by using a lentiviral vector. The hFIX protein concentration and activity produced from hAFPCs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and clotting assay. The isolated spindle-shaped cells showed fibroblastoid morphology after three culture passages. The doubling time in culture was 39.05 hours. Immunocytochemistry staining of the fibroblast-like cells from amniotic fluid detected expression of stem cell markers such as SSEA4 and TRA1-60. Quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated the expression of NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2 mRNAs. Transfected hAFPCs could produce and secrete hFIX into the culture medium. The observed concentration of secreted hFIX was 20.37% +/- 2.77% two days after passage, with clotting activity of 16.42% +/- 1.78%. The amount of hFIX:Ag reached a plateau of 50.35% +/- 5.42%, with clotting activity 45.34% +/- 4.67%. In conclusion, this study established method to isolate and culture amniotic fluid progenitor cells. Transfected hAFPCs can produce hFIX at stable levels in vitro, and clotting activity increases with higher hFIX concentration. Genetically engineered hAFPC are a potential method for prenatal treatment of hemophilia B.
Amniotic Fluid ; cytology ; Blood Coagulation ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Separation ; methods ; DNA, Complementary ; Factor IX ; biosynthesis ; Genetic Engineering ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Transfection

Objective　To evaluate the therapeutic efficiency of reversed lamellar keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy, Terrien's marginal degeneration and ocular chemical burns.Methods　Twenty eyes of patients with bullous keratopathy, twelve eyes with Terrien's marginal degeneration, ten eyes with chemical burns were recruited in this study.Diseased tissues were removed by means of dissection.Reversed lamellae corneal tissues which had been prepared by cryopreservation were thawed and rinsed. Then the prepared posterior corneal lamellae was turned over, endothelium facing upwards. The diameter of the graft should be 0.5～1.0mm larger than that of the recipient bed. The reversed donor posterior lamellae was sutured into the host keratectomy bed with 10-0 nylon sutures continuously or interruptedly.Results　Allograft reaction episode occurred only one (chemical burn) of the total 42 eyes enrolled.The grafts of the rest 41 eyes maintained clear or semitransparent for 1～5 years. Graft edema could be observed within 2～4 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative interface separation was not found. For all 20 patients with bullous keratopathy, the symptoms of pain disappeared. The visual acuity improved 2～3 lines of Snellen among eleven of twelve patients with Terrien's marginal degeneration. The visual acuity improved 2～3 lines of Snellen with four patients with chemical burns.Conclusion　The technique of reversed lamellar keratoplasty can be applied successfully for tectonic reconstruction of corneal surface such as bullous keratopathy, Terrien' s marginal degeneration and also chemical burns.The effects of therapy was satisfactory.

Background and Objectives: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has major effects in premature infants. Although previous literature has indicated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can alleviate lung pathology in BPD newborns and improve the survival rate, few research have been done investigating significantly differentially expressed genes in the lungs before and after MSCs therapy. The aim of this study is to identify differentially expressed genes in lung tissues before and after hAD-MSC treatment. Methods: and Results: Human amnion-derived MSCs (hAD-MSCs) were cultured and met the MSCs criteria for cell phenotype and multidirectional differentiation. Then we confirmed the size of hAD-MSCs-EXOs and their expressed markers. An intratracheal drip of living cells showed the strongest effect on NHLI compared to cellular secretions or exosomes, both in terms of ameliorating pulmonary edema and reducing inflammatory cell infiltration. Through gene chip hybridization, PCR, and western blotting, acylaminoacyl-peptide hydrolase (APEH) expression was found to be significantly decreased under hyperoxia, and significantly increased after hAD-MSC treatment. Conclusions The intratracheal transplantation of hAD-MSCs ameliorated NHLI in neonatal rats through APEH.

Objective To investigate the brain perfusion changes in patients with refractory depressive disorder (RDD) and non-refractory depressive disorder (NDD) using arterial spin labeling (ASL).Methods Present study included 12 patients with RDD, 37 patients with NDD and 42 controls,and their age, sex and handedness were matched among the three groups.FAIR sequences were performed using a 3 T MR imaging system with an 8 channel phase array head coiL The labelled and controled images were subtracted and then averaged to obtain perfusion-weighted images.The first 2 images were excluded to avoid T, equilibrium effects and then voxel based analysis was performed using SPM2. One way ANOVA analysis using age as covariance ( thresholded at P ＜ 0.01 uncorrected) was performed.Results Patients with NDD showed regional alteration of the brain perfusion, mainly involved in two frontal subcortical circuits, i.e. significantly decreased perfusion in the left frontal and thalamus (the limbic thalamo-cortical circuit) whereas significantly increased perfusion in bilateral hippocampi, fight lentiform and left anterior cingulated gyros (the limbic-striatal-pallidal-thalamic circuit).In contrast, patients with RDD presented significantly decreased perfusion involving bilateral frontal areas (the limbic-thalamo-cortieal circuit) whereby no significantly increased perfusion areas were observed.Conclusion In addition to the reported experimental evidences, our results suggest that the RDD is associated with inactivity of bilateral frontal areas, while the NDD is associated with inactivity of left frontal areas and overactivity of bilateral limbic system.

Objective To evaluate the correlation of different fractionation schedules in radiotherapy with the local control ( LC) and overall survival ( OS) rates in patients with extensive?stage small cell lung cancer ( ES?SCLC ) , and to figure out the relationship between different fractionation schedules in radiotherapy and the prognosis of ES?SCLC. Methods One hundred and ten patients newly diagnosed with ES?SCLC from February 2010 to March 2015 received chemoradiotherapy. According to the radiation dose, all patients were divided into hypo?fractionation group ( 30?45 Gy/3 Gy/10?15 f, n=31) and conventional fractionation group ( 54?60 Gy/1?8?2?0 Gy/27?30 f, n=79) . In all patients, 90?9% had stageⅣSCLC;21 patients had brain metastasis;39 patients were treated with prophylactic cranial irradiation ( PCI ) . The Kaplan?Meier method was used to calculate the survival time and log?rank test was used for between?group comparison. Between?group comparison of categorical data was made by χ2 test. Results The number of patients followed?up were 85 at 2?years. In all patients, the 2?year OS, progression?free survival ( PFS) , and LC rates were 27?7%, 17?5%, and 38?9%, respectively. The hypo?fractionation group had similar prognosis to the conventional fractionation group. There were no significant differences in the 2?year OS, PFS, and LC rates between the two groups ( 35% vs. 26%, P=0?886;18% vs. 16%, P=0?560;67% vs. 36%, P=0?159) . There was also no significant difference in the 2?year OS rate between patients treated with and without PCI (44% vs. 18%, P=0?044). In 84 patients with treatment failure, 11 had local recurrence, 41 had distant metastasis, and 32 had local recurrence plus distant metastasis. Conclusions The hypofractionated radiotherapy has similar efficacy but substantially shortened radiation time compared with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy. The palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy requires further study for ES?SCLC.

Brain atlas provides a spatial reference system on which other images can be interpreted in a consistent way, and it is essential for the brain imaging research. However, because of the differences in structure between occidental and oriental brains, the brain atlas based on Western populations, e. g., the International Consortium for Brain Mapping's 154 T1 Weighted Average Atlas, may not be appropriate for other ethnic groups. Therefore, in the present study, we produce an average brain atlas which is based on the data collected from 100 healthy Chinese volunteers. The differences in brains between the Chinese population and the Western population were also investigated. Comparatively,Chinese brains are wider and shorter in size, and smaller in volume.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Brain ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Reference Values

We developed a three-dimensional mini-type permanent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device in our lab. The purposes of this study were (1) for further development of MRI technologies, (2) for support of broadening practices of animal test modeling in medical research, and (3) for training more specialists from colleges or universities in the field of MRI. This paper describes the research and development at our lab(s), especially stressing on the design of the main magnet, the gradient coil and the radio frequency coil. In addition, the specific methodologies used in our lab(s) and the related data are emphasized. The 3D MRI technologies have met the needs of using small animals, super thin sections of live animal body and high imaging resolutions. MRI images of mice head and abdominal have been obtained successfully by using the imager that we developed. The imaging results and analyses have also been discussed.
Animals ; Equipment Design ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; instrumentation ; methods ; Mice