Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; blood supply ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; pharmacology

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma were widely used in strengthening spleen under different disease conditions, and were easily and often misused each other. Therefore, DNA barcode was used to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma from their adulterants to ensure the safe use. The sequence lengths of ITS2 of Atractylodes macrocephala, Atractylodis Rhizoma (A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana) were both 229 bp. Among the ITS2 sequences of A. macrocephala, only one G/C transversion was detected at site 98, and the average GC content was 69.42%. No variable site was detected in the ITS2 sequences of A. lancea. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of both A. japonica and A. coreana were 0.013. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of A. macrocephala, A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana were less than the minimum interspecific genetic distance of adulterants. The ITS2 sequences in each of these polytypic species were separated into pairs of divergent clusters in the NJ tree. DNA barcoding could be used as a fast and accurate identification method to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Atractylodis Rhizoma, from their adulterants to ensure its safe use.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

Animals ; Arsenic ; toxicity ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects

Objective To compare effection of two kinds of bowel preparation for enteroscopy in aged patients. Methods 100 patients who would receive enteroseopy were divided into two groups. 50 cases in each group. Patients in experimental group received colon dialysis, patients in control group received oral medication. Observed the effectiveness of two kind of bowel preparations and adverse reaction. Results The effectiveness of colon dialysis was superior to oral medication(P <0. 05) ,there was no significant deviation the adverse reaction of two groups. Conclusions Colon dialysis is a suitable method in bowel preparation for enteroscopy in aged patients.

Objectives:To study the expression of GST-pi and MDR1 genes in operative specimens of ovarian cancer,and to analyze the possible clinical role of GST-pi and MDR1. Methods:Eighteen frozen specimens of ovarian carcinoma and ten specimens of normal ovarian tissues from patients were examined for the expression of GST-pi and MDR1 genes by means of RT-PCR, and quantitative analysis was performed using β-actin as internal contrast.Results: Positive expression rate of GST-pi and MDR1 in ovarian carcinoma were 61.1% and 33.3%,respectively,and in contrast, 20% and 10% in normal ovarian tissues respectively. The level of GST-pi gene expression in ovarian carcinoma was obviously higher than that in normal ovarian tissue (P<0.05)and MDR1 gene also had high level expression in ovarian carcinoma, but had no statistical significantance. Four patients with ovarian carcinoma had GST-pi and MDR1 coexpression. Expression levels of GST-pi mRNA were lower than that of protein. Conclusions: (1) GST-pi and MDR1 had higher level expression in ovarian carcinoma than in normal ovarian tissues. (2) GST-pi and MDR1 may have same regulating factors but different mechanisms of action. (3)Processing after transcription and/or regulation of translation level may exist in GST-pi expression.

In this work, polyelectrolyte microcapsules containing gold nanoparticles were prepared via layer by layer assembly. Gold nanoparticles and poly (allyamine hydrochloride) (PAH) were coated on the CaCO3 microparticles. And then EDTA was used to remove the CaCO3 core. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the surface of microcapsules. SEM images indicate that the microcapsules and the polyelectrolyte multilayer were deposited on the surface of CaCO3 microparticles. FITC-bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA, 2 mg) was incorporated in the CaCO3 microparticles by co-precipitation. Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the fluorescence intensity of microcapsules. The encapsulation efficiency was (34.31 +/- 2.44) %. The drug loading was (43.75 +/- 3.12) mg g(-1).
Calcium Carbonate ; chemistry ; Capsules ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Electrolytes ; chemistry ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Gold ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; chemistry

In order to explore the probability of curcumin treating multiple myeloma (MM) via the inhibition of angiogenesis, the expressions of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its specific receptor in human MM cells and endothelial cells were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The angiogenic activity was evaluated by endothelial cell migration assay and tubule formation assay in vitro. The results showed that exogenous BDNF significantly induced endothelial cell tubule formation and endothelial cell migration, these two effects were inhibited by curcumin. Furthermore, BDNF was detected in the MM cell and TrkB was detected in the endothelial cell and curcumin depressed the mRNA expression of BDNF and TrkB in the dose- and time-dependent manners. It is concluded that BDNF is a novel angiogenesis protein. Curcumin interrupts the interaction between multiple myeloma cells and endothelial cells by reducing TrkB expression in endothelial cells and inhibiting BDNF production in multiple myeloma cells, eventually, resulting in inhibition of angiogenesis. This is probably one part of the mechanism of the curcumin treating MM via the inhibition of angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood supply ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; prevention & control ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between the genetic polymorphisms of mannose-binding protein (MBP) alleles and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODS125 pulmonary tuberculosis cases and 198 healthy controls were collected. A case-control study was conducted. Three structural gene mutations in exon 1 of MBP gene (codon 52, codon 54 and codon 57) were studied. Polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) was carried out in the polymorphism in MBP alleles. Information on related risk factors of tuberculosis was collected, using a pre-tested questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were conducted with SPSS software package.

RESULTSThe frequencies of mutant heterozygote or homozygote of MBP-52, 54, 57 were 8.0%, 7.2% and 0.4% for cases and 5.3%, 4.3%, 0.5% for controls, respectively. The distribution of mutant genotypes of MBP did not show significant difference between tuberculosis patients and control by Mantel-Haenszel chi2 on sex. The univariate analysis demonstrated that body mass index, marital status, vaccinal vestige, bacillus of Calmette-Guerin vaccine immunization, contacted with pulmonary tuberculosis patients, familial traits were the risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis. After adjusting those related environmental factors in the multivariate logistic analyses, the total MBP (MBP-52, MBP-54 and MBP-57) and MBP-52 heterozygote genotypes were significantly overrepresented in cases, with adjusted OR (95% CI) being 2.182 (1.058-4.499) and 2.574 (1.028-6.446).

CONCLUSIONTotal MBP and MBP-52 mutant genotypes might be associated with the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis.

Case-Control Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the in vivo antitumor effect of anti-brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) monoclonal antibody (MoAb) on a human myeloma xenograft animal model.

METHODSThe xenograft tumor model was established in the nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/ SCID) mice by subcutaneous injection of human myeloma cell line RPMI 8226. The antibodies were injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 20 microg/mouse at day 1, day 2, day 3 after tumor cell inoculation or at a dose of 100 microg/mouse once a week after tumors were developed. The histologic and cytologic examination were performed to confirm the development of plasmacytomas. The microvascular densities (MVD) in tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The effect of anti-BDNF MoAb on the proliferation of RPMI 8226 cells in vitro and on endothelial cell network formation in the co-culture system were determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation assay and Matrigel network formation assay, respectively.

RESULTSThe xenograft NOD/SCID animal model had high capacity for growth of RPMI 8226 subcutaneous tumors and presented pathologic features of plasmacytomas. After subcutaneous injection of RPMI 8226 cells, all mice developed localized tumors in (20 +/- 2) d. On 20 microg anti-BDNF MoAb 3 consecutive treatment, the mean tumor-free time was extended to (30 +/- 6) d and survival was significantly prolonged compared with IgG-treated group [(57 +/- 7) d vs (48 +/- 4) d, P < 0.05]. When mice died naturally, the tumors size in anti-BDNF MoAb treated ones was also reduced compared with control group [(157.9 +/- 21.6) mm3 vs (405.5 +/- 35.2) mm3, P < 0.05]. When the antibody treatment (100 microg/mouse) underwent from 27 th to 60 day once a week after tumor inoculation, the local tumor growth was inhibited partially and necrosis and infiltration were observed in the tumors. The median MVD in the antibody-treated mice (100 microg/mouse) was 11 vessels/0.216 mm2. The IgG treated mice had no decrease in MVD of subcutaneous tumors compared with untreated mice. In vitro, anti-BDNF MoAb (1.5 microg/ml) significantly but partially inhibited HUVEC network formation induced by RPMI 8226 (68.2% reduction) and significantly inhibited RPMI 8226 proliferation, too. The IgG (1.5 microg/ml) treated mice had no significant effect on both of two assays.

CONCLUSIONSAnti-BDNF monoclonal antibody could inhibit growth and angiogenesis in subcutaneous myeloma tumors. BDNF is a potential therapeutic target in MM.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the safety of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with epididymal or testicular sperm, this study compared children born after ICSI treatment with epididymal or testicular sperm with children conceived after ICSI with ejaculated sperm.

METHODSThis retrospective study included 317 children born after ICSI with percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA), 103 children born after ICSI with testicular sperm aspiration (TESA), and a control group of 1008 children born after ICSI with ejaculated sperm. All of the patients received their assisted reproductive treatment in the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2004 to December 2011. Data, such as the rate of stillbirths, perinatal mortality, gestational age, birth weight, and the rate of congenital malformations of the three groups, were compared.

RESULTSPESA and TESA children were not different from ICSI children in the rate of stillbirths, perinatal mortality, infant mortality rate, gestational age, the rate of prematurity, and the rate of malformations (P > 0.05). A slight increase in birth defects was reported in the TESA group compared with those in the control group, but there was no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONICSI with epididymal or testicular sperm does not lead to more stillbirths or congenital malformations compared with ICSI using ejaculated sperm.

Adult ; Congenital Abnormalities ; epidemiology ; Epididymis ; Female ; Fetal Death ; epidemiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic