Current study was carried out to optimize the priming condition of Oldenlandia diffusa seeds, and improve germination rate and seed vigor of 0. diffusa seeds under drought conditions. Uniform design was used to optimize the concentration and priming time of three priming materials (PEG, KNO3, GA3). Different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to simulate drought stress. The seedling was cultured in 1/4 Hoagland medium for 30 d. The results showed that seed priming treatment with 366 mg x kg(-1) GA3 for 1h resulted in significant increase in germination rate, germination index, vigor, root length, plant height and biomass of O. diffusa seeds under drought stress (15% PEG), while seed priming with 3.0% KNO3 for 1 h showed little effect on germination and growth of O. diffusa seeds under drought stress. Seed priming treatment with appropriate GA3 concentration and priming time could enhance seed germination and drought resistance of O. diffusa in seedling stage.
Droughts ; Germination ; Oldenlandia ; growth & development ; physiology ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; physiology ; Seeds ; growth & development ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Xuebijing injection(XBJI, traditional Chinese medicine), in inhibiting TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta pathway of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats.

METHODSThirty six male SD rats (280 +/- 30) g were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6): normal group (N group), balanced perfusion group (BP group), model group (M group), low dose XBJI group (XBJI(L) group), middle dose XBJI group (XBJI(M) group), high dose XBJI group (XBJI(H) group). By Langendorff isolated heart perfusion device to establish the model of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats. ELISA was used to detect the concentration of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta); Western blot was used to detect the expression of nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-kappaB p65) protein and toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) protein; and RT-PCR to determine the expression of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA;To observe microstructure changes of hypoxia/reoxygenation myocardial by light microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with M group, the IL-1beta concentration, NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 protein,NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 mRNA of XBJIL group, XBJI(M) group, XBJI(H) group expression decreased in varying degrees,and decreased most obviously all in XBJI(M) group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); Myocardical structural damage was serious in M group, and improved after treatment XBJI, the most obvious was the XBJI(M).

CONCLUSIONDifferent dose of XBJI can inhibit TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta signal transduction pathway and reduce several inflammatory reaction after myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, the 4 ml/100 ml of XBJI is the best.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of acupoint massage dominant early comprehensive intervention on the prognosis of premature infants with brain injury.

METHODSTotally 210 premature infants with brain injury were assigned to the intervention group (112 cases) and the control group (98 cases). All patients received routine therapy (medicinal + routine care instructions). Patients in the intervention group additionally received acupoint massage. Those with abnormal early motion received physical sports treatment. Those with upper limbs dysfunction or with fine movement disorders received occupational therapy. Premature infants' development quotient (DQ) was performed at corrected age of 6 and 12 months by using neuropsychological development examination table for 0 - 6 years old children. The incidence of cerebral palsy was statistically calculated.

RESULTSAt corrected age of 6 months, DQ of gross motor, fine motor, language three functional areas was higher in the intervention group than in the control group with significant difference (P < 0.05). At corrected age of 12 months, DQ of gross motor, fine motor, language, social and adaptive capacities was higher in the intervention group than in the control groupwith significant difference (P < 0.05). The incidence of cerebral palsy was 4.46% (5/112) in the intervention group and 12.24% (12/98) in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint massage dominant early comprehensive intervention could obviously improve the intelligence development level and lower the incidence of cerebral palsy in premature infants with brain injury.

Acupuncture Points ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Cerebral Palsy ; prevention & control ; Early Medical Intervention ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Massage ; Prognosis

Objective To study the relationship between TGF-?signaling pathway and pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma.Methods The expression of TGF-?RⅠ,TGF-?RⅡand Smad4 protein was deter- mined by immunohistochemistry in normal gastric mucosa(26 cases),intestinal metaplasia(22 cases),dysplasia (20 cases)and gastric carcinoma(43 cases).Results The positive expression rate of TGF-?RⅠ,TGF-?RⅡand Smad4 decreased following the malignant degree in gastric tissues(P

Objective :To analyze influence of probucol combined atorvastatin on hemodynamics and blood lipids in patients with large artery cerebral infarction (LACI).Methods :A total of 92 LACI patients were randomly and e-qually divided into atorvastatin group and combined treatment group (received atorvastatin combined probucol ) , both groups were treated for six months .Therapeutic effect etc indexes before and after treatment were compared between two groups .Results :Compared with atorvastatin group after six-month treatment ,there were significant reductions in levels of TC [ (4.57 ± 0.82) mmol/L vs.(3.23 ± 0.71) mmol/L] ,TG [ (1.37 ± 0.45) mmol/L vs. (1.02 ± 0.34) mmol/L] ,LDL-C [ (2.52 ± 0.83) mmol/L vs .(1.50 ± 0.54) mmol/L] ,oxidized low density lipo-protein [ox-LDL ,(78.36 ± 14.05) mg/L vs.(58.37 ± 12.00) mg/L] ,left and right middle cerebral artery pulsatili-ty index (PI) [left :(0.84 ± 0.25) vs.(0.74 ± 0.14) ,right :(0.84 ± 0.23) vs.(0.74 ± 0.16)] and inflammatory factors ,and significant rise in total effective rate (69.57% vs.89.13% P＝0.020) ,left and right middle cerebral systolic blood flow velocity (Vs) [left :(87.45 ± 15.58) cm/s vs.(95.48 ± 18.34) cm/s ,right :(89.27 ± 14.36) cm/s vs.(96.18 ± 14.03) cm/s] and mean blood flow velocity (Vm) [left :(60.90 ± 16.19) cm/s vs .(76.19 ± 17.40) cm/s ,right :(62.08 ± 17.23) cm/s vs .(91.38 ± 19.26) cm/s] in combined treatment group ,P＜0.05 or ＜0.01. There was no significant difference in drug adverse reactions incidence rate between two groups , P＝1. 000 .Conclu-sion :Therapeutic effect of probucol combined atorvastatin is significantly better than that of pure atorvastatin on large artery cerebral infarction .It can more significantly improve blood lipids and intracranial artery hemodynamics with anti-inflammatory effects .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the secondary operation methods and the effects on the prognosis of unexpected gallbladder cancer (UGC).

METHODSA retrospective analysis on the clinical data was made for 41 patients who underwent extended radical excision from June 1995 to December 2002. Among the patients, 12 were male, 29 were female. The average age was 51 years old. The 41 patients had undergone gallbladder excision because of cholecystitis complicated lithiasis of gallbladder (32 cases), polypi of gallbladder or adenoma (9 cases). Postoperative pathology showed that 32 cases were adenocarcinoma of gallbladder, 6 cases were squamous carcinoma, 3 cases were squamous adenocarcinoma. Six cases were on the stage of Nevin I, 16 on Nevin II, 17 on Nevin III, 2 on Nevin IV. The second operation was performed after 6-30 d of the first operation. The second operation chose the improved method of Glenn excision of carcinoma of gallbladder.

RESULTSOn the second operation, 14 cases were with lymphatic metastasis, 14 with gallbladder metastasis, 6 with bile duct metastasis, 2 with pancreas metastasis. Fourteen cases were on the stage of Nevin IV, 9 on Nevin V, none on Nevin I, II and III. After the second operation, 1 year survival rate was 100% (41 cases); The three-year survival rate was 53.8% (22 cases); The five-year survival rate was 17.5% (7 cases).

CONCLUSIONExtended radical excision is one of the most important methods for the treatment of UGC.

Adult ; Aged ; Cholecystectomy ; methods ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo provide DNA molecular marker for identification of Nelumbo nucifera by exploring the differences of nrDNA-ITS sequence of N. nucifera originated from different habitats.

METHODTo compare nrDNA-ITS base sequence using specific PCR-ITS.

RESULTThe completed sequence of ITS and 5.8 S rDNA, and the partial sequences of 18S rDNA and 26S rDNA, totally 750 bp, from N. nucifera were obtained. The differences among N. nucifera from different habitats and from different cultivars were found.

CONCLUSIONThe method can be used to identify N. nucifera among different species and to distinguish their fakes. It provided the basis for identifying N. nucifera from different geographical regions by comparison of their ITS sequences.

Base Sequence ; China ; DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; classification ; genetics ; Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI ; metabolism ; Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific ; metabolism ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Geography ; Nelumbo ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of fluorescent 2-deoxyglucose analog, 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diaxol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG), that could be taken up by breast cancer cells highly expressing glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1). The purpose of this study was to clarify if a fluorescent 2-deoxyglucose analog, 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diaxol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG), can be taken up by breast cancer cells highly expressing glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1), and to assess whether it can be used as a targeting imaging agent.

METHODSThe expressions of GLUT-1 mRNA and protein in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The difference of GLUT-1 protein expression between breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF-7 cells was compared by Western blot. Secondly, MDA-MB-231 cells which were grown in 6-well plates were incubated with 2-NBDG, and the result of 2-NBDG uptake was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The difference of 2-NBDG absorption in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells was compared by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe results of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry confirmed that MDA-MB-231 cells highly expressed GLUT-1. Furthermore, Western blot revealed that GLUT-1 expression of MDA-MB-231 cells (0.946 ± 0.007) was higher than that in the MCF-7 cells (0.833 ± 0.010). Fluorescence microscopic and flow cytometric analysis showed that 2-NBDG was uptaken rapidly by MDA-MB-231 cells. Addition of 50 mmol/L D-glucose to the media with 2-NBDG reduced its uptake by 46.0%. Moreover, flow cytometry indicated that the fluorescence intensity of MDA-MB-231 cells (25.10 ± 0.57) was higher than that of MCF-7 cells (10.12 ± 0.62) when incubated with 2-NBDG for 20 minutes.

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary data clearly demonstrate that 2-NBDG is taken up and accumulated in breast cancer cells that highly express GLUT-1, and may be used as an optical probe for glucose uptake in hypermetabolic malignant cells.

4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Deoxyglucose ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Glucose Transporter Type 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of a new anticoagulant, annexin V derivative (AND) on anticoagulation and antithrombosis.

METHODSHigh and low doses of AND were given to rabbits (groups 1 and 2 respectively) by intravenous (iv) bolus injections followed by half the respective AND doses by iv infusion over 2 hours. Control groups were iv given heparin (group 3) and saline (group 4) of the same volume and procedure as that in group 1 and 2. Blood cell count, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen level were examined before and 15, 30 and 60 min after iv bolus and 2 hours after the end of iv infusion. A 3.0 mm x 15 mm balloon was put into femoral artery to induce endothelial denudation 15 min after IV bolus and the blood pressure of femoral artery was monitored until the pulse pressure recorded 0 mm Hg when the vessel was occluded completely by a thrombus. The femoral arteries were collected and the thrombi were stripped off for measuring their lengths, wet and dry weights.

RESULTSAnticoagulation parameters: APTT at 15 min after iv bolus in AND group was significantly longer than that in group 4 (P < 0.05) but shorter than that in group 3 (P < 0.05); APTT and TT in group 3 were significantly longer than those in groups 1, 2 and 4. Fibrinogen: 0.70 mg/kg AND may decrease fibrinogen. Antithrombosis values: the wet and dry weights in AND groups were significantly lighter than those in group 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). The dry weight in high-dose AND group was remarkably lighter than that in low-dose group (P = 0.029). The length of thrombus in low-dose AND group was remarkably shorter than that in group 4 (P = 0.013), but not for group 3 (P > 0.05). It was remarkably shorter in high-dose AND group than in both group 3 (P < 0.001) and 4 (P = 0.015). The time when pulse pressure equaled to 0 was longer in AND group than in group 4 (P < 0.05), but not in 3.

CONCLUSIONAND is an effective anticoagulant and antithrombosis agent, the highest anticoagulation effect occurs at 15 min after IV bolus. Its anticoagulation effect is not more potent than that of standard heparin, while antithrombosis capacity is more effective. AND in treating thrombosis clinically might be promising.

Animals ; Annexin A5 ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Anticoagulants ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrinogen ; analysis ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Prothrombin Time ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Thrombin Time ; Thrombosis ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of myogenic markers MyoD, myogenin,and desmin in skeletal muscle differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs).

METHODSMyogenic markers MyoD, myogenin,and desmin of hBM-MSCs cultured in vitro were detected by immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. A total of 21 8-to-10 week-old immunosuppressed mdx mice were transplanted with 1x107 passage 5 of hBM-MSCs. The mice were euthanized 2-24 weeks after transplantation,and gastrocnemius muscle were analyzed for human MyoD, myogenin,desmin,and dystrophin (Dys) expressions by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe numbers of MyoD-,myogenin-,and desmin-positive cells per 100 hBM-MSCs were 23.5∓5.3, 30.7∓6.2, and 28.4∓5.7, respectively. MyoD, myogenin, and desmin mRNA was observed in passage 5 of hBM-MSCs. After two weeks of hBM-MSCs transplantation,a small number of MyoD-and myogenin-positive cells were observed in skeletal muscle of mdx mice,and desmin-positive cells were observed 4 weeks after transplantation. Expressions of MyoD and myogenin were detected in the muscle of mdx mice 2-4 weeks after hBM-MSCs transplantation, which reached a peak 12-16 weeks later. Desmin was expressed in the muscle of mdx mice 4-8 weeks after transplantation,with much more expression after 16 weeks of transplantation. A small number of Dys-positive cell and Dys mRNA expression were presented in the muscle of mdx mice 4 and 8 weeks after hBM-MSCs transplantation,respectively. The expression of Dys in the muscle of mdx mice increased gradually after transplantation.

CONCLUSIONhBM-MSCs have the potential of myogenic differentiation in vitro and contribute to myogenic conversion in xenogeneic animal,during which the up-regulation of MyoD and myogenin expressions may play an important role.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred mdx ; Muscle, Skeletal ; cytology ; metabolism ; MyoD Protein ; metabolism ; Myogenin ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation