OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the content determination of berberine hydrochloride in the Jiangtang xiao-zhi tablets. METHODS:HPLC was conducted with the Symmetry C18 column. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.05 mol/L sodium dihydrogen phosphate(pH adjusted to 3.0 using phosphoric acid)(24∶76,V/V)at the flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The detection wave-length was 345 nm,the column temperature was room temperature and injection volume was 10 μl. RESULTS:The linear range of berberine hydrochloride was 0.522-4.698 μg(r=0.999 9);RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were no more than 0.72%;the average recovery was 97.79%(RSD=2.09%,n=6). CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,accurate,sensitive and reproducible,and can be used for the content determination of berberine hydrochloride.

BACKGROUND:Titanium and titanium aloy are used mostly in artificial joints, fracture fixation, and oral transplantation, while there are complex cases of insufficient bone mass in these areas. The deepened research of stem cels offers a solution for bone injury to promote new bone formation. The biocompatibility of titanium and stem cels and optimization of titanium surface modification have aroused people's attention. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether the biocompatibility of titanium and human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels can be improved by type I colagen modification of titanium sheets. METHODS:The experiment was divided into two groups. Modification group: titanium sheet was modified with type I colagen; control group: titanium sheet was not modified with type I colagen. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels at passage 6 were implanted into titanium sheet in two groups. Then we calculated the number of adherent cels in two groups at 1, 2 and 4 hours after implantation, and compared the celladhesion rate. MTT assay was used to observe the proliferation of cels on titanium sheet at 2, 4, 6 and 8 days after implantation. DNA and protein content of cels were detected at 3, 6, 9 days after implantation. The growth of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels seeded upon the titanium sheets was observed under scanning electron microscope at 6 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:When the cels were cultured for 1 hour and 2 hours, the number of adherent cels in the modification group was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). The absorbance of cels in two groups was increased as the culture time, as detected by MTT assay. The modification group had a significantly higher absorbance value than the control group at 4, 6, 8 days (P < 0.05). DNA and protein contents of the cels in the modification group were higher than that in control group at 6 and 9 days (P < 0.05). At 6 days, the number of adherent cels and secretion of adherent stromal cellmatrix in the modification group were significantly better than that in control group, observed by scanning electron microscopy. Type I colagen modified titanium sheets have good surface activity and biocompatibility, and can promote the proliferation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels.

Objective To construct eukaryotic expression vector of wild type E 4F1 and the mutant deleting amino acid region 32-81, and to detect the interaction between wild type or mutant E 4F1 and p53 and to study the effect of E4F1 on the expression level of p21.Methods Wild type and mutant sequences of E 4F1 were amplified from the mammary library using standard PCR and recombinant PCR .The sequences were cloned into pXJ 40-MYC vector to generate the MYC-E4F1 and MYC-E4F1(Δ32-81) recombinant plasmids that were transfected into 293T cells and identified by Western blotting . FLAG-p53 and MYC-E4F1 or MYC-E4F1(Δ32-81) were co-transfected into 293T cells and immunoprecipitation assay was performed to detect the interaction of wild type or mutant E 4F1 with p53.Wild type and mutant E4F1 expressing vec-tors were co-transfected into osteosarcoma U2OS cells and the expression of p21was detected.Results Recombinant plas-mids of MYC-E4F1 and MYC-E4F1(Δ32-81) were successfully constructed.Both wild type and mutant E4F1 interacted with p53.Deletion of amino acid region 32-81 of E4F1 increased the interaction .The expression level of p21 was in-creased by wild-type E4F1, but not by mutant E4F1.Conclusion The eukaryotic expression vector of wild type E4F1 and its deletion mutant is successfully constructed .Both of them interact with p53.Deletion of amino acid region 32-81 of E4F1 increases the interaction .This study contributes to further studies on the regulation and mechanism of E 4F1 on p53.

Aim To investigate the optimum trypsin digestion time and the optimum trypsin concentration of the long-term formalin-fixed retina in rats.Methods Male SD rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The removed eyes were fixed in 4% formaldehyde fixa-tive for 2 days,2 weeks,4 weeks,3 months,5 months and 7 months respectively.Fixed retinas at dif-ferent time were separated and put in 3%,6% and 9% trypsin at 37℃ in incubator.The time required was recorded for complete digestion of retinas,which fixed for different time and digested in different con-centrations of trypsin.The retinal blood vessels were recorded under a microscope after PAS staining of stretched retinal blood vessel.Results After conven-tionally fixed for 48 hours,retinas were digested com-pletely in 3% trypsin at 37℃ for 3.5 hours.The di-gestion time extended to 9 hours and 1 4 hours for the 2 weeks and 1 month fixed eyes,using 3% trypsin, which achieved the same result as conventional fixed eyes.For the 3 months fixed eyes,a complete retinal blood vessel could also be attained by using conven-tional concentrations of trypsin,and only by extending digestion time to 22 hours.It is also indicated that the increased concentration of trypsin did not shorten the time of digestion.In addition,for the fixed eye from 5 months to 7 months,6% and 9% trypsin could short-en,to some extent,the time to 22 hours and 28 hours respectively,which was conductive to obtaining rela-tively complete retinal blood vessels.Conclusions Retinal tissues which fixed time shorter than 3 months can completely be digested using 3% trypsin.Howev-er,for retinal tissue,which fixed from 5 months to 7 months,both the extending time of digestion and the increasing concentration of trypsin to 6% are necessary to get optimum retinal vascular digestion.

Objective To construct PES1 shRNA stable expression cell lines in tongue squamous cell carcinoma ( TSCC) cells and to study the effect of knockdown of PES 1 on the growth of TSCC cells .Methods Recombinant lentivirus carrying PES1 shRNA was packaged and obtained in 293T cells.TSCC cells (Tca8113, SCC6 and SCC15) were infected with the lentivirus and selected for stable cells .PES1 expression was identified by Western blot .The effect of inhibition of PES1 on the growth and cell cycle of TSCC cells was detected by growth curve and flow cytometry .Results TSCC cells stably expressing PES1 shRNA were constructed.Knockdown of PES1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle ar-rest at G0/G1 phase.Knockdown of PES1 inhibited expression of cyclin D1 in TSCC cells.Conclusion Inhibition of PES1 results in reduced cell proliferation , cell cycle arrest at G 0/G1 phase and reduction of cyclin D 1 expression in TSCC cells . PES1 may be a target for TSCC gene therapy .

Aim To investigate the protective effect of astragaloside IV (AS-Ⅳ) on human retinal pigment epithelium injury induced by methylglyoxal (MGO), and explore its molecular mechanism.Methods The injury of ARPE-19 cells was induced by MGO and the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 method.The morphology of cell nucleus was analyzed by Hoechst 33342 staining and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry to detect labbled Annexin V-FITC/PI.JC-1 staining and fluorescence probe DCFH-DA were employed to evaluate the change of mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS).The levels of SOD, MDA, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were determined by respective kits.Western blot was used to analyse the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and PARP.Results AS-Ⅳ could significantly inhibit the decrease of cell viability induced by MGO, improve the morphology of cell nucleus, reduce the ARPE-19 cell apoptosis rate and the level of ROS and MDA, and increase the activity of SOD.Furthermore, AS-Ⅳ could enhance mitochondrial membrane potential, the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the expression of PARP, and inhibit the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3.Conclusion AS-Ⅳ may protect ARPE-19 cells from the injury induced by MGO by increasing the antioxidant ability of ARPE-19 cells and inhibiting cell apoptosis.

This study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) on NAFLD in MSG-IR mice and to provide mechanism insights into its therapeutic effect. The MSG-IR mice with insulin resistance were treated with high dose (0.1 micromol.kg-1d-1) and low dose (0.025 micromol.kg-1d-1) of FGF21 once a day for 5 weeks. Body weight was measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, serum lipids, insulin and aminotransferases were measured. Hepatic steatosis was observed. The expression of key genes regulating energy metabolism were detected by real-time PCR. The results showed that after 5 weeks treatment, both doses of FGF21 reduced body weight (P<0.01), corrected dyslipidemia (P<0.01), reversed steatosis and restored the liver morphology in the MSG model mice and significantly ameliorated insulin resistance. Additionally, real-time PCR showed that FGF21 significantly reduced transcription levels of fat synthetic genes, decreased fat synthesis and promoted lipolysis and energy metabolism by up-regulating key genes of lipolysis, thereby liver fat accumulation was reduced and liver function was restored to normal levels. In conclusion, FGF21 significantly reduces body weight of the MSG-IR mice, ameliorates insulin resistance, reverses hepatic steatosis. These findings provide a theoretical support for clinical application of FGF21 as a novel therapeutics for treatment of NAFLD.
Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Dyslipidemias ; metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Fatty Liver ; chemically induced ; complications ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipolysis ; drug effects ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; Sodium Glutamate

Objective To study the mutation of FLCN gene in Chinese patients with sporadic and familial primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Methods A complete genetic analysis of FLCN by use of SSCP-PCR was performed in 102 unrelated Chinese patients with isolated PSP. Results Three novel mutations (c. 924_926del, c. 1611_1631del and c. 1740C.T) and a previously reported mutation (c. 1733insC) were identified in five familial and five sporadic PSP patients. Of the 21 family members of patients with PSP including 3 previous considered as sporadic, 4 ( 19% ) had history of at least one episode of PSP and 9 (43% ) were FLCN mutant carriers without PSP. Seven of the nine (78% ) mutant carriers had pulmonary cysts detected by high-resolution computed tomography ( HRCT) . Although c. 924_926del and c. 1611 _1631 del were found in eight patients from the same geographic district, haplotype analysis demonstrated that they did not share the same affected haplotype,thus excluding common ancestry. Conclusion This study first demonstrates that FLCN mutation contributes to not only familial but also apparently sporadic' patients with isolated PSP. It suggests that mutation analysis and HRCT scan may be recommended for first-degree family members of PSP patients with FLCN mutations, irrespective of their family history status of PSP.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lung metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSThere were 100 patients who underwent surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma between January 2000 and March 2004. They were classified with non-distance metastasis and lung metastasis depend on the close following up till March 2007. Their hepatocellular carcinoma specimens were retrospectively examined for EMT markers (E-cadherin, Vimentin, Fibronectin) with immunochemistry staining in tissue microarray. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used for study the relationship between EMT and lung metastasis.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that down regulation of E-cadherin, overexpression of fibronectin, cytosolic expression of vimentin, AFP >or= 400 ng/ml, tumor size more than 10 cm, portal vein involvement, poorly differentiated of tumor had close correlation with lung metastasis. Multivariate analysis indicated that overexpression of fibronectin was independent factor for lung metastasis apart from tumor size more than 10 cm, portal vein involvement and poorly differentiated of tumor.

CONCLUSIONThe results proposed that EMT has close relation with lung metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stromal Cells ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether S. aureus could activate NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts.

METHODSImmunoblot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were used to detect the degradation of I-κBα and activation of NF-κB in human osteoblasts following infection with S.aureus, respectively, and there were investigated the activated state of NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the secretion of IL-6 in culture supernatants, which was represented as one of important cytokines in osteomyelitis, and an inhibitor of NF-κB, SN50, which was added to human osteoblasts culture prior to 1 hour at 50 µmol/L before the infection of S.aureus, was used to determine whether S.aureus-activated NF-κB signaling pathway regulates IL-6 secretion of human osteoblasts.

RESULTSS.aureus could induce the degradation of I-κBα (I-κBα(15 min)/I-κBα(0 min) = 0.409 ± 0.245 and I-κBα(30 min)/I-κBα(0 min) = 0.061 ± 0.010) and activation of NF-κB in human osteoblasts in a time and dose-dependent manner following infection. In addition, the secretion of IL-6 in the supernatants of human osteoblasts ((2.17 ± 0.11) µg/L) was suppressed by 50 µmol/L SN50 compared to without the addition of SN50 ((3.58 ± 0.31) µg/L) (F = 174.25, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSS.aureus could activate NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts, which could regulate cytokines secretions of human osteoblasts.

Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; secretion ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Staphylococcal Infections ; metabolism