AIM To investigate effects of shenning on nephrotic rats. METHODS Adult male wistar rats were randomly devided into normal control group, pathological pattern group, high-dosage shenning group,middle-dosage group,low-dosage group,shenfukang group and prednisone group. Rats with membranous glomerulonephritis were induced by injection of cation bovine serum albumin into tail vein. The rats were treated respectively for 32 days by gavage. Urinary protein was observed once a week after 2 weeks. After 7weeks ,plasma albumin,renal histology,parameters of renal function and prostaglandins were examined. In addition TXB 2/6-Keto-PGF 1? in serum were also examined. RESULTS The urinary protein,serum cretinine level,BUN and TXB 2/6-Keto-PGF 1? can be reduced in shenning groups compared with pathological pattern group. Plasma albumin was significantly increased in high-dosage shenning group. CONCLUSION High-dosage and middle-dosage shenning can significantly decrease urinary protein in rats with membranous glomerulonephritis. High-dosage shenning can increase the plasma albumin level in rats with membranous glomerulonephritis.

Objective To investigate the preventive effect of Indomethacin for post-ERCP pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia.Methods A total of 600 patients,who were undergoing ERCP,were randomly divided into 3 groups to receive anal Indomethacin (n=200),intravenous octreotide (n=200) or no special medication (n=200) before ERCP.The level of serum amylase before and 24h after ERCP were measured,and the rate of acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia after ERCP were assessed.Results Serum amylase levels before ERCP of all groups were normal.The mean serum amylase level of Indomethacin group (101.3±77.7 U/L) after ERCP was significantly lower than those of octreotide group ( 176.6±138.3 U/L,P =0.040 ]and control group (227.2±264.9 U/L,P=0.048),while there was no difference between octreotide group and control group ( P＞0.05 ).The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in Indomethacin group (2.5％) was significantly lower than that of control group (9.5％,P=0.003),while there was no difference between octreotide group (4.5％) and control group ( P=0.05 ).The incidence of hyperamylasemia after ERCP in Indomethacin group (5.5％) was significantly lower than that of control group ( 13.5％,P=0.006 ),while there was no difference between octreotide group (10.0％) and control group ( P＞0.05 ).Conctusion Anal administration of Indomethacin before ERCP can effectively reduce the incidence of acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia after ERCP.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of tumor resection combined with lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in pulmonary and esophageal patients.Methods 45 patients with lung tumor and 37 patients with esophageal tumor were di- vided into group A(tumor resection plus LVRS) and group B(tumor resection only) randomly.Group A patients underwent tumor re- section combined with LVRS.The target area was determined according to chest computed tomography and ventilation-perfusion scan- ning.The removed pulmonary tissues made up about 20%～30% of the unilateral lung parenchyma.All patients were followed up for 6～12 months.The pulmonary function,blood gas,dyspnea index and 6-min walk distance were compared.Results There were no death during perioperative period.Forced vital capacity in 1 second,PaO_2,PaCO_2,dyspnea index and 6-min walk distance of the group A were all better than preoperative ones,while group B patients had no statistical difference or slight decrease.Conclusion For some tumor patients with emphysema,simultaneous LVRS might provide better opportunity for surgical treatment,but also im- proved the post-operative quality of life.It widens the operative indication for tumor patients.

AIM: To detect the differentiation effects of retinal cells or extracts on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC).METHODS: Human fetal BMSC were previously labeled by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE), and co-cultured with retinal pigment epithelial （RPE） cells which were pre-treated with ultraviolet irradiation at a ratio of 1∶1 to induce the differentiation of BMSC for up to 14 days. In some assays, a retinal extract of bovine retinal extract (BRE) was added to detect the potential effects of retinal component on the differentiation of BMSC. In addition, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), Nestin and Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunostaining were performed to determine the characteristics of BMSC.RESULTS: The results indicated that by co-cultured with RPE cells, fetal BMSC were differentiated into neural-like cells expressing special neuronal markers Nestin, GFAP and NSE. And the expression of these markers was obviously increased by BRE.CONCLUSION: Retina derived cells and extracts can induce the differentiation of BMSC into neural-like cells.

Background Human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell transplantation treating retinal degenerative diseases is a researching topic,and the source of human RPE cells is a key problem.Many biological carriers can be used for the preparation of RPE cell layer.However,some advantages,such as cytotoxicity,lack of stability and immunologic reaction etc.are still existed.To study an ideal biological carrier is very important.Objective This experimental was to determine the effects of amniotic membrane on the proliferation and differentiation of human RPE cells and the possibility as a scaffold for RPE cell transplantation.Methods ARPE19 cell line cells were cultured and passaged in DMEM/F12 medium with 10％ fetal bovine serum,and 8-12generation of cells were used.The cells were divided into two groups.One group of cells were incubated on the denuded amniotic membrane,and the other group of cells were cultured in the medium (control group).MTT was performed to detect the A492 value of RPE cells for the evaluation of cell proliferation ability 24,48,72,96 hours after culture.Cell morphology was compared by histopathological examination 3 weeks after culture.The mRNA expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF),N-cadherin,β-catenin and cell connection related proteins in the cells of both groups were assayed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Ultrastructure of the cells was observed under the transmission and scan electronic microscope 3 weeks after culture.Results The number of ARPE-19 cells cultured on denuded amniotic membrane was decreased significantly in comparison with the normal culture plate(F=41.760,P =0.000).Histopatholy also showed that the cell density on amniotic membrane was lower than of normal cells on plate surface.Moreover,the expression level of claudin 1 mRNA,N-cadherin mRNA and PEDF mRNA were significantly up-regulated in denuded amniotic membrane group in comparison with control group (t=15.828,P=0.000 ;t=6.839,P=0.002 ;t=14.667,P=0.000),but the expression of Connexin 43 mRNA was down-regulated in denuded amniotic membrane group compared with control group(t=3.358,P=0.024).Ultrastructural examination revealed that ARPE-19 cells cultured on amniotic membrane exhibited a polygonal epithelial phenotype with cilium on the apical side,however,the cells cultured on normal culture plate displayed fusiform shape and uneven thickness.Conclusions Amniotic membrane plays a promoting effect on the differentiation of ARPE-19 cells and a inhibitory effect on the proliferation of ARPE-19 cells,suggesting that amniotic membrane might be an useful scaffold for the preparation of functionally mature RPE cells for clinical transplantation.

Bacteria isolated from rotten hides,one identified as Pseudomonas aeraginosa later, were shown to decompose fresh hides completely in 48 hours at room temperature. Strongly collagenolytic activity was detected when native collagen from calfskin was used as substrate. The optimal reaction pH value and temperature of the collagenace produced by P.aeraginosa are 7.5 and 32℃ respectively. EDTA and EGTA inhabit the collagenolytic activity severely while PMSF has little effect on it. Not only media components but also fermentation conditions have differents effect on the production of this collagenolyic enzyme.

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of abdominal obesity on the production of male reproductive endocrine hormones.

METHODSThis study included 342 male patients at the andrology clinic, aged 19 -47 years and higher than 160 cm. We measured their waistlines, hiplines and waist-hip ratio, detected the levels of serum estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and free testosterone (FT) by chemiluminescence and radioimmunoassay, and analyzed the correlation of the waist-hip ratio with the levels of reproductive endocrine hormones. Abdominal obesity was defined as the waist-hip ratio > 0.9.

RESULTSIn the 342 male patients, there were 62 cases of abdominal obesity and 280 cases of the normal somatotype (waist-hip ratio < or = 0.9). The waist-hip ratio was negatively correlated with the T level (r = -0.163, P = 0.003) and the T/LH ratio (r = -0.13, P = 0.02). Both the T level and T/LH ratio were significantly reduced in the abdominal obesity patients ([14.51 +/- 4.53] nmol/L and 2.26 +/- 0.36) as compared with the normal somatotype controls ([17.21 +/- 4.23] nmol/L and 4.61 +/- 0.19) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe waist-hip ratio has a significant negative correlation with the T level and T/LH ratio, and the serum T level is significantly lower in men with abdominal obesity than in those of the normal somatotype.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Estradiol ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Abdominal ; blood ; Somatotypes ; Testosterone ; blood ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: That the nerve growth factor(NGF) is capable of treating peripheral nerve injury has been broadly acknowledged. But it is not sure whether it is able to pass through blood brain barrier(BBB) to act on central nerve system. In this study, the NGF encapsulated in liposome was compared with NGF alone in their abilities of passing through BBB.OBJECTIVE: To compare the dedicated distribution of NGF in different forms using single photon emission computerized tomography(SPECT).DESIGN: It is a randomized controlled study with New Zealand rabbits as subject.SETTING: An affiliated hospital of Nanjing Medical College.MATERIALS:The trial was conducted in Nanjing Senke Medical Company and the Nuclear Medicine Department of the First Hospital of Nanjing Medical College from June 2003 to May 2004. The subjects were 19 New Zealand rabbits of either sex, weighting (2.0 ±0. 2) kg, from Anlimo Technology Company. [99Tcm] -NGF(labeling rate 98.9%, purity 99.7% )was made by Senke Medical Company. Liposome was provided by Shengyang Pharmaceutical College. Urethine solution(200 g/L) was from Pharmacy Department of NanJing Medical Collage.METHODS: [99Tcm]-NGF was encapsulated in liposome and was treated as the following: The liposomesA containing 1.48 × 108Bq[99Tcm] -NGF were injected into rabbits and its distribution percentage was analyzed with SPECT. The same amounts of[99Tcm] -NGF and[99Tcm] -NGF-ordinary liposomesB were treated in the same way.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ratio of concentration and radiation percentage of NGF in brain to those in the whole body.RESULTS: The[99Tcm]-NGF encapsulated in self-made liposomeA presented high radiation in the brain. But[99Tcm] -NGF alone was almost completely excreted through urinary system and[99Tcm] -NGF encapsuled in ordinary liposomeB was mostly phagocytized by liver reticuloendothelial system.CONCLUSION: The self-made NGF-liposomeA is brain-dedicated, which set a basis for drugs to pass through BBB.

AIMTo detect the changes of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in liver following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) of hindlimbs and to elucidate their significance.

METHODSI/R was established using the occlusion of the femoral arteries for 4 h and reopening for 2-24 h in rats. The expression of iNOS mRNA, and iNOS protein and the nitrotyrosine (NT), a marker of peroxynitrite (ONOO-), in liver tissue were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical technique, respectively. The liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were spectrophotometrically measured. The observation of pathologic changes of liver was made following the inhibition of iNOS by aminoguanidine (AG).

RESULTSCompared with control groups, the relative expression level of iNOS mRNA significantly increased in I/R group. There were more iNOS positive hepatocytes and more NT positive hepatocytes in I/R group than control groups. The contents of MDA markedly increased, while the activity of SOD significantly decreased in I/R group, compared with those in the control groups. The pathologic changes of rat liver became milder in I/R group following the inhibition of iNOS by AG.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein in liver are significantly upregulated, excess induction of iNOS-NO is contributed to the liver injury during the I/R of hindlimbs.

Animals ; Guanidines ; pharmacology ; Hindlimb ; blood supply ; Liver ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the possibility of mandibular alveolar ridge augmentation by distraction osteogenesis using TiNi-SMA (shape memory alloy) distractor.

METHODSAll of the mandibular premolars and the first molar were extracted from ten adult mongrel canines. One month later, box-shaped osteotomies of the alveolar bone were performed out and TiNi-SMA distractors were buried in experimental group. The bone height was measured before and 1, 5, 13 weeks after the operation. The radiographs were taken on the day of, and 1, 5, 13 weeks after operation. The animals were killed at one or three months after distraction and examined histologically.

RESULTSThe bone segments were lifted up immediately after the insertion of distractors and the height achieved 7.5 - 11.5 mm one week after the operation. One month after distraction, the radiographs showed there was regeneration of bone in distraction gap. The new bone and the normal bone could not be differentiated clearly three months after distraction. No bone resorption was found during this period. In histological sections, there were collagen bundles in early distraction, then these bundles were calcified and became traeculaes.

CONCLUSIONIt suggests that the canine mandibular posterior alveolar ridge can be augmented by distraction osteogenesis using TiNi-SMA distractor, and the new bone is formed by intramembranous ossification.

Alloys ; Alveolar Ridge Augmentation ; Animals ; Dogs ; Male ; Nickel ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; instrumentation ; Titanium