Objective: To study the potential of growth and mineralization of cultured osteoblasts on the indium tin oxide conductive(ITO) glass disk coated with polypyrrole film (Ppy) . Methods: Osteoblasts were seeded onto ITO glass or ITO glass coated with polypyrrole film of implant materials. The cells were stained by HE and Von Kossa, observed by light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) on day 3, 7, 14 and 28 after seeding respectively. Results: The osteoblast cells attached well to both ITO surfaces and Ppy films, mineralized nodules was observed on Ppy film. Conclusion: The polypyrrole films have good bone biocompatibility and it can be used as the biomaterials for dental implant.

Fifty-eight samples belonging to 7 species of Arisaematis Rhizoma and its adulterants were collected. The ITS2 locus was employed as a DNA barcode and amplified, sequenced and assembled for all of the collected samples. Then, ITS2 sequences have been annotated using HMM-based method. The intra- and inter-specific variations were calculated and NJ tree was constructed using MEGA 6.0 software. The results showed that inter-specific K2P distances were significantly larger than intra-specific distances for all of the three origin species of Arisaematis Rhizoma. Furthermore, three origin species, Arisaema amurense, A. erubescens and A. heterophyllum, can be respectively formed to be a single branch with high bootstrap values. It is concluded that ITS2 can be used to correctly identify Arisaematis Rhizoma from its adulterants and the application of ITS2 in the identification of traditional Chinese medicine has an important prospective.
Arisaema ; 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

Objective To investigate the protective effect of edaravone against ischemiareperfusion injury in small-for-size rat liver grafts and its possible mechanisms. Methods 40 % small-for-size rat liver transplantation model was established by using modified two-cuff technique, adult male SD rats were used as donors and recipients, and 16 recipient rats were randomly divided into two groups (8 cases in each group), saline control group (control group) and edaravone treatment group (ED group). In the ED group, 3 mg/kg edaravone was given intravenously via penile vein 30 min before transplantation in the recipients. The same amount of saline was given in the control group at the same time points. Serum hepatic function (AST and ALT) and histopathological changes were analyzed; the contents of MDA and SOD, and hepatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in liver grafts after 6 h were determined; and TNF-α levels at 6th h after reperfusion were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA method). Results As compared with control group,serum AST and ALT levels were significantly reduced at the 6th h after reperfusion in ED group (AST: 825. 50 5±72. 87 vs 1188. 03 ± 124. 04; ALT. 687. 40 5±72. 21 vs 988. 66 ± 91.07, P<0. 01 ).The content of MDA was lower and SOD level was higher in ED group significantly than in control group (P<0. 01). As compared with control group, hepatic TNF-α levels and MPO activity at the 6th h after reperfusion were significantly decreased in ED group (P<0. 01 ). Histopathological analysis revealed disruption of lobular architecture, apparent hepatocelluar degeneration accompanied by focal necrosis, significant edema, congestion and inflammatory cell infiltration in periportal area at the 6th h after reperfusion in control group, but minimal liver damage was observed in ED group. Conclusion Edaravone could ameliorate early ischemia-reperfusion injury in small-for-size liver grafts significantly.The protective mechanisms were mediated in part by increasing antioxidant ability, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, and down-regulating inflammatory reaction.

Objective To investigate the possible association of IRAK4 polymorphisms with susceptibility to and prognosis of severe sepsis.Methods A total of 192 patients hospitalized in emergency department of Zhongshan Hospital from February 2006 to December 2009,and another 192 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this case-control study.Patients were excluded if they had metastatic tumors,autoimmune diseases,AIDS or received immunosuppressive drugs.This study was approved by the ethical committee of Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University.Sepsis patients were divided into survival group(n =124)and non-survival group(n =68)according to the 30-day mortality.Primer 3 software was used to design the PCR and sequencing primers.Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Seven tagSNPs were selected based on the data of Chinese Han in Beijing from the Hapmap projectand genotyped by direct sequencing.We used x2 analysis to evaluate the significance of differences in genotype and allele frequencies between different groups.Results The distributions of all tagSNPs were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.The allele and genotype frequencies of rs4251545(G/A)were significantly different between severe sepsis and healthy control groups(P =0.015,P =0.035,respectively).Carriers of the rs4251545A had a higher risk for severe sepsis compared with carriers of the rs4251545G(OR =1.69,95％ CI:1.10-2.58).The allele and genotype frequencies of all SNPs were not significantly different between survivor group and non-survivor group.Conclusions These findings indicated that the variants in IRAK4 are significantly associated with severe sepsis susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.

ObjectiveTo investigate prognostic factors in Stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)treated with definitive radiation therapy (RT) with PET-CT-based radiotherapy planning. MethodsFifty nine patients with Stage Ⅲ NSCLC treated with radiation therapy of 60 Gy or more were enrolled into this study.The impact of prognostic factors on survival was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The following-up rate was 98％.Nineteen patients completed 2 years' followed-up. The overall l-year and 2-year survival rate was 66％ and 37％, respectively, with a median survival time of 17 months. At a univariate analysis, cigarette smoking status, T stage, radiation dose, the standardized uptake value, the gross tumor volume and clinical stage were significant prognostic factors ( x2 =7.46,7. 52,8.37,4. 97,5.82,4. 37, P =0. 006,0. 006,0. 004,0. 026,0. 016,0. 037, respectively ).At multivariate analyses, cigarette smoking status, radiation dose, gross tumor volume and clinical stage were significant prognostic factors ( x2 =6. 20, 9. 69, 6. 39, 10. 09, P =0. 013,0. 002, 0. 011,0. 001,respectively). Conclusions Cigarette smoking status, radiation dose, gross tumor volume and clinical stage are significant prognostic factors on survival in patients with Stage Ⅲ NSCLC treated with RT based on PET-CT radiotherapy planning.

Aim To investigate the time-dependent effect of insulin on the expression of SREBP-1(sterol regulatory element binding protein-1),FAS(fat acid synthase)and lipid droplet formation in HKC cells(human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells line).MethodsHKC cells were respectively treated with 100 nmol·L~(-1) insulin for 0,2,4,6,12 h and 24 h.The analysis of SREBP-1 and FAS mRNA was performed by RT-PCR and the expression of SREBP-1 protein was detected by Western blot and immunocytochemistry.Furthermore,Oil Red O staining was used to determine cellular lipid droplet formation.ResultsCompared with HKC cells of 0 h group,there was no difference of SREBP-1 and FAS mRNA in HKC cells of 2 h group.However,the expression of SREBP-1 and FAS mRNA was significantly increased in HKC cells of 4,6 h and 12 h group.Further,the most expression of SREBP-1 and FAS mRNA was at 6 h group and was respectively increased by 3.578 and 4.272 times compared with 0 h group.The results of Western blot showed that the precursor and mature segments of SREBP-1 protein in 4,6 h and 12 h group HKC cells were increased and those of 6 h group HKC cells were the highest and about 4.106 and 5.167 times than those of 0 h group HKC cells.Immunocytochemistry presented the result that SREBP-1 protein was located in the plasma and the expression of 4,6 h and 12 h group HKC cells was significantly higher than that of 0,2 h and 24 h group HKC cells.The result of Oil Red O staining showed that lipid droplet markedly deposited in 6 h group HKC cells,contrarily,no lipid droplet was found in HKC cells of other groups.ConclusionAbove results suggested that insulin up-regulated SREBP-1 and FAS in time-dependent manner that led to cellular lipid droplet deposit,which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of renal lipid accumulation in metabolism syndrome.

Aim To investigate the effects of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1(SOCS-1)on advanced glycation end products(AGEs)induced-renal tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation and activation of JAK/STAT in cultured human renal tubular epithelial cells(HKC).Methods Stable transfections of HKC with pCR3.1 vector and pCR3.1/SOCS-1 were performed with Lipofectamine 2000,and cells were selected with geneticin.Cells were stimulated with BSA and AGEs. The protein expressions of SOCS-1,α-SMA,E-cadherin,Col I,signal transducer and activatior of transcription 1,3(STAT1,STAT3),p-STAT1 and p-STAT3 were observed by Western blot.The protein synthesis of TGF-β_1 in the supernatants of the HKC was detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay(ELISA).α-SMA and E-cadherin mRNA were measured by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Compared with control group,the expression levels of α-SMA protein and mRNA and Col I were significantly increased in HKC with AGEs stimulation and there was a higher concentrations of TGF-β_1 in the supernatants.However,the expression of E-cadherin protein and mRNA were decreased with AGEs stimulation.Overexpression of SOCS-1 inhibited AGEs-induced activation of STAT1 and STAT3 and high expression of α-SMA protein and mRNA and Col I,and reversed the expression of E-cadherin protein and mRNA induced by AGEs.Meanwhile,overexpression of SOCS-1 reduced the concentration of TGF-β_1 in the supernatants of HKC with AGEs stimulation.Conclusion Overexpression of SOCS-1 inhibits AGEs-induced renal tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation maybe partly through blocking activation of JAK/STAT.

Objective To examine the clinical effects of intravenous lyophilize recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) in patients with refractory heart failure caused by coronary artery disease.Methods Seven patients with refractory heart failure caused by coronary artery disease were treated with rhBNP.The rhBNP nea grade,symptoms and signs,24 hours urine output,heart rate,blood pressure and central venous pressure were evaluated at 0,15,30 min and 1,2,4,8,12,24,and 48 h.Serum potassium,sodium,creatinine and plasma BNP before and after treatment were measured.Results After rhBNP therapy,dyspnea grade were improved in 5 patients.Symptoms and signs got better in 6 patients.Systolic blood pressure at 15 min of treatment distolic blood pressure was decreased slightly from (112.00±10.42) mm Hg to (105.14±7.76) mm Hg (P＜0.05) and became (108.71±6.63)mm Hg at 30 rain which was the same with that before treatment.There was no statistical significance in heart beat[ ( 88.57±16.92 ) vs.( 86.00±16.21 ) ] beat/min,serum sodium [ ( 133.57±5,38 ) mmol/Lvs.( 133.57±8.16) mmol/L ],serum potassium [ (3.83±0.37) mmol/L vs.(4.19±0.58 ) mmol/L ],ereatinine [ (93.11±27.90) μmol/L vs ( 123.01±93.01 ) μmol/L ] before and after treatment,and BNP[ ( 1218.43±847.83) vs.(1433.71±676.08)ng/L] before treatment and at24 h treatment,as well as urine output [(2329±1573 ) vs.(2126±1074) ml ] ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Urine output was increased during the treatment,but the usage of diuretic was remarkably decreased.Central venous pressure was gradually decreased from 30 rain to 48 h( P ＜ 0.05 ).Condusion rhBNP can decrease central venous pressure and increase urine output with exerts little side effects on electrolytes and renal function.Therefore rhBNP has positive clinical effects on refractory heart failure which is caused by coronary artery disease.

In this paper, miRNAs features were briefly introduced and agreeable points were discussed from 4 aspects: organs relationship, syndrome research, Chinese medical pathogeneses, and actions of Chinese herbs. miRNAs, as information media for organs interrelation, was believed to explain Chinese medical pathogeneses and reveal partial molecular mechanisms of Chinese medicine. miRNAs in the body fluid could be taken as one of biological bases of syndromes.
Biomedical Research ; China ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; MicroRNAs ; Syndrome

0.05).Conclusion: Enteral nutrition may improve the nutrition status.The naso-jejunum tube feeding has no advantage to nasogastric tube feeding in our patients.The route of enteral nutrition should be selected according to the individual condition and local nosocomial experience.