Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors ; Luciferases ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics

BACKGROUND: Incidence rate of cervical osteoarthritis in the middleaged and elderly is high. Some researches on risk factor causing cervical osteoarthritis have been performed abroad, but most of the factors are being discussed.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurring cervical osteoarthritis risk factors in the middle-aged and elderly from different regions of China and provide evidences for prevention and intervention of cervical osteoarthritis in community.DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.SETTING: Beijing Hospital, Ministry of Health, together with Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiantong University, Institute of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine of Hebei Medical University, Shanghai Huadong Hospital, Nanfang Hospital, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, West China Hospital of Sichuan University.PARTICIPANTS: The investigation was conducted from July to August2005. On the basis of stratified multi-stage cluster sampling method, 6 218formal registered permanent residents of over 40 years old from Xi'an,Shijiazhuang, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Harbin and Chengdu were enrolled.They all agreed to join the investigation voluntarily. There were 2 916males of 40-94 years and 3 302 females of 40-86 years.METHODS: Questionnaire investigation of epidemiology of cervical osteoarthritis was performed in the testees, and radiograph was used in the persons with clinical symptom. The basic sample unit was neighborhood committee (city) and village committee (countryside). Sampling method:Taking each city as a whole, composed of two levels, namely city and countryside, in the first phase the persons were extracted from district (county),in the second phase from sub-district (countryside), in the third phase from neighborhood committee (village eommittee). Diagnosis standard of cervical osteoarthritis was positive clinical symptom and 2 grade or above of radiograph Kellgren & Lawrence grading. The content of questionnaire contained 6 aspects: general condition, history of present illness, history of past illness, physical check-up, radiographs and disease diagnosis, totally94 questions and 141 variation indexes. Influential factors of prevalence rate of cervical osteoarthritis were analyzed using multifactor non-conditional Logistic regression analysis. Odds ratio (OR) was used for expressing index of strength of relationship between disease and exposures. If OR ＞ 1,it was indicated that there was positive correlation between disease occurrence and exposures. If OR ＜ 1, it was suggested that there was negative correlation between disease occurrence and exposures.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence rate of cervical osteoarthritis in each city and OR.RESULTS: Totally 6 218 investigational subjects were included in the result analysis, without drop out. ①Total prevalence rate of cervical osteoarthritis in population of 40 years or above from 6 domestic cities was23.6%. There was significnat difference of prevalence rate in each city (P＜0.01). ②Result of Logistic regression analysis: Age (OR=1.010-1.058),defecation with squat ting pot (OR =1.024-1.997) and history of hypertension (OR =1.815-3.078) were common risk factor in most areas. In northern area the common risk factor compos ed of daily stair climbing or grade climbing (OR =1.018-1.020), while drinking colored wine (OR=3.451, Xi'an), history of osteoarthri tis of father (OR =2.491, Xi'an), history of diabetes (OR =5.013, Shijiazhuang), history of osteoarthritis of mother (OR =2.045, Shanghai), smoking (OR =6.857, Guangzhou), age of starting drinking (OR =3.044, Guangzhou) and full-time athletic sports (OR=9.020, Harbin), etc. emerged in different areas.CONCLUSION: The onset of cervical osteoarthritis has the same risk factor in 6 domestic areas, and main risk factor in different areas has certain differences, which can provide reference data for the prevention and cure of cervical osteoarthritis for the future and reduce waster of medical resources.

Aim To explore the effects of salvianolic acid B(SAB) and tanshinone ⅡA(TA) alone or the compatibility of these two effective components on the proliferation of rat vascular adventitial fibroblasts, and to observe the effects of the compatibility of the two on cell proliferation with the stimuation of angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ).Methods The effects of SAB and TA alone or the compatibility of the two on cell proliferation were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) method, and flow cytometry was adopted to detect cell cycle with or without the induction of Ang Ⅱ.Results It was shown that SAB and TA alone could inhibit fibroblast proliferation in different degree.Through a series of concentration screening, three effective concentrations were obtained respectively and then the inhibition of cell growth was detected by Pairwise compatibilities.The results showed that the compatibility of TA(10-8 mol·L-1) and SAB(10-5 mol·L-1) had the most significant inhibitory effect(P<0.01), and they could inhibit cell proliferation, further flow cytometry was adopted to detect drug effects on cell cycle, the results indicated that the compatibility of SAB and TA mainly blocked the cells in G0/G1 phase.Induced by Ang Ⅱ, the compatibility of SAB and TA group, compared with Ang Ⅱ group, blocked thee cells in G0/G1 phase;and compared with combination of SAB and TA group, it mainly blocked cell cycle in S phase.Conclusion SAB and TA have certain inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation, also they could inhibit the proliferation induced by Ang Ⅱ, mainly by blocking the cells in G0/G1 phase.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-tumor immune response of dendritic cells (DCs) acquiring antigens from apoptotic cholangiocarcinoma cells and their therapeutic effects on cholangiocarcinoma cells.

METHODSDCs from human peripheral blood monocytes which acquired antigen capturing and processing capacity, characteristics of maturation, were established in vitro using granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Then cholangiocarcinoma cells were induced to apoptosis with mitomycin. The three groups included (1) coculture of DCs, apoptotic cancer cells and T cells, (2) coculture of DCs, necrotic cancer cells and T cells, (3) coculture of DCs, cultured cancer cells and T cells. After 7 days, DCs and T cells were riched separately to perform anti-tumor cells test and immune response test.

RESULTSthese cells had typical dendritic cell morphology, expressed high levels of CD1a and B7, acquired antigen from apoptotic cells caused by mitomycin and could stimulate T cells to inhibit, even kill cholangiocarcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe DCs from peripheral blood monocytes induced by GM-CSF and IL-4 can efficiently present antigen derived from apoptotic cells caused by mitomycin, and stimulate T cells activity obviously. It maybe become an effective therapy for tumor.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; immunology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; immunology ; pathology ; Coculture Techniques ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Mitomycin ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sustaining effects of gene-transferring hepatic stellate cell strain CFSC/HGF on the development of hepatocytes.

METHODSA CFSC/HGF strain, expressing HGF steadily and effectively was established by recombined retroviral vector pMSCV-HGF infection. Morphology and ultra structure of hepatocytes, albumin and urea production, as well as ICG uptake and excretion were studied continuously following the hepatocytes cultured on the CFSC/HGF feeder layers. Parallel group of collagen-dependent hepatocytes culturing and hepatocytes culturing on CFSC were also conducted. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis was made to evaluate the expression of HGF receptor c-Met.

RESULTSThe hepatocytes cocultured on CFSC/HGF feeder layers had a higher survival rate, and the functions of albumin secretion and urea syntheses and ICG uptake and excretion, were superior to the other two culture methods. The result of RT-PCR indicated that the c-Met expressed on the CFSC/HGF coculturing hepatocytes was up-regulated 2.23 times.

CONCLUSIONGene-transferring hepatic stellate cell strain CFSC/HGF exhibited a remarkable sustaining effect on the hepatocytes development. The up-regulation of c-Met expressed on the surfaces of the hepatocytes induced by CFSC/HGF might play some part in this function.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Aidi Injection (艾迪注射液,ADI) applied in the bronchial artery, applied in the bronchial artery infused (BAI) neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III A non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) before surgical operation.

METHODSThe 60 patients with NSCLC stage III A underwent two courses BAI chemotherapy before tumor incision were assigned to two groups, the treatment and the control groups, using a random number table, 30 in each group. ADI (100 mL) was given to the patients in the treatment group by adding into 500 mL of 5% glucose injection for intravenous dripping once daily, starting from 3 days before each course of chemotherapy, and it lasted for 14 successive days, so a total of 28 days of administration was completed. The therapeutic effectiveness and the adverse reaction that occurred were observed, and the levels of T-lymphocyte subsets, natural killer cell activity, and interleukin-2 in peripheral blood were measured before and after the treatment.

RESULTSThe effective rate in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group (70.0% vs. 56.7%, P<0.05). Moreover, as compared with the control group, the adverse reaction that occurred in the treatment group was less and mild, especially in terms of bone marrow suppression and liver function damage (P<0.05). Cellular immune function was suppressed in NSCLC patients, but after treatment, it ameliorated significantly in the treatment group, showing significant difference as compared with that in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONADI was an ideal auxiliary drug for the patients in stage III A NSCLC received BAI neo-chemotherapy before surgical operation; it could enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy, ameliorate the adverse reaction and elevate patients' cellular immune function; therefore, it is worthy for spreading in clinical practice.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Bronchial Arteries ; drug effects ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Injections ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; immunology ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; surgery ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo induce hepatic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) in vitro.

METHODShADSCs were isolated from human adipose tissue and treated with improved hepatic medium containing HGF, bFGF and FGF4. After 7 days of culture, OSM was added to the culture media. Cell growth during hepatic differentiation was evaluated by CCK8 assay. Morphology of differentiation was examined under light microscope. Liver specific genes and proteins were detected by RT-PCR analysis and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. And functional characteristics of hepatocytes were also examined.

RESULTSThe number of hADSCs cultured in the improved hepatic media was increased significantly in comparison to hADSCs cultured in control media from 5 days to 21 days (t=6.59, 8.69, 15.94 and 24.64, respectively, P<0.05). The hADSCs-derived hepatocyte-like cells exhibited hepatocyte morphology, expressed hepatocyte markers, possessed hepatocyte-specific activities, such as uptake and excretion of indocyanine green, glycogen storage and albumin production.

CONCLUSIONhADSCs can be induced into hepatocyte-like cells in this differentiation system. And this differentiation system promoted the growth of hADSCs.

Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Albumins ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

The TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) transdermal plaster (also known as "cataplasma") are flexible adhesive patches used for treatment of pain, resulted from arthritis, sprain and bruise, tendovaginitis, lumbar spine protrude, neuralgia, hyperosteogeny ache, abdominal discomfort and metastatic cancer, etc. Since the 1980's, investigators in China have used this modern patch delivery system for herbal drugs and obtained satisfactory results especially from the treatment of various types of pain associated with bone diseases, abdominal discomfort, and tumors, etc. The production of TCM cataplasma was successfully scaled up in early 90's and the commercial product line for an antirheumatic agent was first established in Shanghai by Leiyunshang Group. Thus far, a number of products in the form of TCM cataplasma became commercially available in the market, and clinical investigations with these products indicated that topically applicable herbal preparations, especially in the form of cataplasma, are preferred formulations with respect to the treatment comfort of the patient. Compared to the traditional preparations which utilize rubber and rosin as adhesives, cataplasma is advantageous in that the lipophilic and hydrophilic ingredients of the herbal extracts are solubilized and then "gellified" with the organic polymers, and that the drug matrix containing up to 40%-70% of water serves as a "drug reservoir" that will sustain the quick and continuous release of herbal ingredients over several days across the skin. While there are conventional remedies for palliation of pain and discomfort associated with bone diseases or cancers, administration of oral medicinal herbs combined with topical agents such as TCM cataplasma may significantly alleviate the symptoms and improve their quality of life. This article provides a review on three aspects, which include the process development, characteristics and developmental status of TCM cataplasma, and future development of such a technology.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pain ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Phytotherapy ; Skin Absorption ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Stem cells in the individual life are the cell population with high self-renewal capacity and multiple differentiation potential. At present, embryonic stem cells and tissue stem cells are the major objects for study in the field of stem cell engineering. At the same time, with the development of tissue engineering, cell replacement therapy became a new approach to treat some diseases. Tissue stem cells were tried to expand and committedly induce in vitro to some cells that are needed, then implanted them into patients to repair damage, replace regressive tissue and improve the function of hereditarily defect tissue. Based on recent progress of research on stem cells, this paper reviewed the biological characters and clinic application prospects of tissue stem cells.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; trends

UNLABELLEDTo identify differentially expressed genes between fetal mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and adult MSC, especially specified genes expressed in fetal MSC, a cDNA subtractive library of fetal MSC was constructed using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique. At first, total RNA was isolated from fetal and adult MSC. Using SMART PCR synthesis method, single-strand and double-strand cDNAs were synthesized. After Rsa I digestion, fetal MSC cDNAs were divided into two groups and ligated to adaptor 1 and adaptor 2 respectively. Results showed that the amplified library contains 890 clones. Analysis of 890 clones with PCR demonstrated that 768 clones were positive. The positive rate is 86.3%. The size of inserted fragments in these positive clones was between 0.2 - 1 kb, with an average of 400 - 600 bp.

CONCLUSIONSSH is a convenient and effective method for screening differentially expressed genes. The constructed cDNA subtractive library of fetal MSC cDNA lays solid foundation for screening and cloning new and specific function related genes of fetal MSC.

Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; metabolism ; Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific ; metabolism ; Fetus ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Mesoderm ; cytology ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism