Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; injuries ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Infusions, Intravenous ; methods ; Injections ; methods ; Male ; Rabbits ; Syringes

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and its receptor CC chemokine receptor-2 (CCR-2) in coronary atherosclerosis plaques between sidden coronary death (SCD) and non-SCD. Methods The expression levels of MCP-1 and CCR-2 in SCD group, coronary atherosclerosis group (non-SCD), control group (normal coronary artery) were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Positive rates of MCP-1 among the three groups were 78%, 47%, and 0%, respectively, with significant expressing differences between each two groups (P<0.05). Positive rates of CCR-2 among three groups were 72%, 47%, and 0%, respectively, with significant expressing differences between the SCD group and coronary atherosclerosis group as well as between the SCD group and control group (P<0.05), but with no significant expressing difference between coronary atherosclerosis group and control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Overexpression of MCP-1 and CCR-2 in coronary atherosclerotic plaques is closely correlated with SCD.
Chemokine CCL2/metabolism* ; Coronary Artery Disease/pathology* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac/pathology* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Receptors, CCR2/metabolism*

The plants of the genus Ehretia Linn. composed of about 50 species mainly distributed in tropical Asia and Africa.They have been used as folk medicines or traditional tea to treat various ailments in China for a long time. This contribution reviews the chemical constituents isolated from the plants of the genus Ehretia Linn. and related biological activities of these species in the past few decades. The compounds in the genus mainly belong to the classes of phenolic acids, flavonoids, benzoquinones, cyanogenetic glycosides, and fatty acids. The main biological activities include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antisnake venom, and anti-allergic activities.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of ~(125)I seeds based on physical properties, the significance of therapeutic planning system (TPS), the therapeutic means and the clinical efficacy. Methods Eighteen cases with advanced carcinoma were treated through percutaneous implantation of 125 I for interstitial radiotherapy. Results No serious complications occurred in the patients after radiotherapy associated with apparent improved living quality. Two months after therapy, the tumors had shrunk in different degrees with conspicuous decrease in 12, of which 5 tumors disappeared. Conclusions Short-term efficacy demonstrates that intra-tissue radiotherapy of ~(125)I had significant efficacy for advanced tumors.

Objective To evaluate the effects of perioperative probiotics administration on patients with colorectal cancer and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Seventy patients with colorectal cancer who were scheduled to undergo radical colorectomy at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital between May 2011 and July 2011 were randomly divided with random number table into the control group (n =35) and the treatment group (n =35).The two groups in 5 days preoperatively and 7 days postoperatively were given daily doses of probiotics preparation consisting of two combined live bacteria and placebo,respectively.The structure of intestinal epithelial tight junction was observed by electron microscopy in colorectal tissue specimens collected during the operation.The expression of tight junctional protein was detected using Western blot and real-time RT-PCR technology.Intestinal epithelial permeability was evaluated by Ussing Chamber system.Stool samples and blood samples were collected on the 7th day after operation.The diversity of faecal flora was analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) technique,and the quantitative detection of specific bacteria was conducted by bacterial culture.Clinical parameters including the first exhaust and defecate time,distension and diarrhea incidence,systemic inflammatory response,and postoperative infective complications were recorded.Results Compared with the control group,the treatment group showed better intestinal epithelial tight junction ultrastructure.The expression of tight junction proteins occludin,claudin-1,and ZO-1 (protein:all P ＜ 0.001 ; mRNA:P =0.005,0.001,0.006) and the transepithelial electrical resistance [(28.3 ±5.2) Ω · cm2 vs.(22.1 ± 4.7) Ω · cm2,P =0.002] were significantly increased,the large molecule permeability [(0.91 ± 0.17) ％ vs.(1.65 ± 0.33) ％,P ＜ 0.001] reduced,the diversity of intestinal flora (P=0.006) increased,the growth of intestinal Bifidobacteria [(143.4 ±35.9) vs.(100.0 ±0.0),P=0.002] and Lactobacilli [(111.3 ± 52.9) vs.(100.0 ± 0.0),P ＜ 0.001] promoted,and the growth of Clostridium perfringens [(66.2 ±23.7) vs.(100.0 ±0.0),P ＜0.001] inhibited in the treatment group.The treatment group also showed shorter postoperative exhaust [(2.5 ± 1.7) d vs.(4.5 ±2.0) d,P ＜0.001] and defecate time [(5.0 ± 1.3) d vs.(6.3 ± 1.1) d,P =0.002],lower incidence of diarrhea (20％ vs.40％,P =0.005) and abdominal distension (35 ％ vs.60％,P =0.021).Conclusion Probiotics used perioperatively in patients with colorectal cancer can effectively enhance the intestinal epithelia barrier function,maintain the homeostasis of gut flora,shorten the postoperative first exhaust and defecate time,reduce the incidence of diarrhea and abdominal distension,and promote the recovery of intestinal function.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncutre at Tianzhu point on the expressions of bcl-2 and bcl-XL in the degenerative cervical intervertebral disc of rats. Methods: Forty SD male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, sham surgery group, model group, Western medicine group and electroacupuncture group, there were 10 rats in each group. Except for rats in the sham surgery group, rats in the other groups were made to be of cervical intervertebral disc degeneration by unbalanced dynamic and static forces. Rats in the electroacupunture group were treated with electroacupuncture at Tianzhu (BL 10) and Dazhu (BL 11) points, while rats in the Western medicine group with Fenbid, and rats in the model group were not treated. After 30-day treatments, the expressions of bcl-2 and bci-XL were observed with immunohisto-chemical method in the cervical intervertebral disc. Results: The expression of bcl-2 was higher in the electroacupuncture, sham surgery, and western medicine groups than that in the model group (P<0.01), whereas, there was no difference among these three groups. The expression of bcl-XL in the electroacupuncture group was lower than that in the sham surgery group (P<0.01), and higher than those in the Western medicine group and model group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture treatment can enhance the expressions of bcl-2 and bcl-XL, which may be the mechanism of delaying the cell apoptosis in the intervertebral disc to treat diseases.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects on thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis treated with aconite cake-separated moxibustion and option the better therapeutic program.

METHODSEighty-five cases were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (42 cases) and a western medication group (43 cases). The moxibustion group was treated by aconite cake-separated moxibustion therapy with acupoints of two groups [(1) Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4); (2) Dazhui (GV 14), Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4)] alternatively and oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. The western medication group was oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. Indices of thyroid function before and after treatment and clinical effect were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe clinical total effective rate and effective rate of thyroid function were 25.0% (10/40), 87.5% (35/40) in moxibustion group respectively, 7.53% (3/40) and 57.5% (23/40) in western medication group, with significant differences between two groups (both P < 0.05). Content of serum free thyroxine index (FT4) increased significantly in the moxibustion group after treatment (P < 0.01); content of serum supersensitive thyrotropin (S-TSH) in the moxibustion group was lower than that of western medication group, and contents of serum FT4 and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were higher than those of western medication group, but with no significant differences (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAconite cake-separated moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Mingmen (GV 4) combined with oral administration of Euthyrox can improve clinical symptoms and thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is better than simple oral administration of Euthyrox.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hashimoto Disease ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Thyroid Gland ; physiopathology ; secretion ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Young Adult

The vip3 A gene in a size of 2.3 kb amplified from wild-type Bacillus thuringiensis strain S184 by PCR was cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector and its sequence was analysized by DNASTAR. The plasmid pOTP was constructed by inserting vip3A-S184 gene into the expression vector pQE30 and then was transformed into E. coli M15. E. coli M15 cells harbouring the plasmid pOTP were induced with 1 mmol/L IPTG to express 89 kD protein which was confirmed to be Vip3A-S184 by Western blot. Experiments showed that about 19% of Vip3A-S184 proteins were soluble, and others were insoluble proteins and formed inclusion bodies observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The target protein was purified under the native condition and the polyclonal antibody was prepared by immunizing rabbits. The polyclonal antibody was used to detect Vip3A proteins expressed in Bacillus thuringiensis. Bioassay showed that Vip3A-S184 showed a high toxicity against 3 tested insect larvae including Spodoptera exigua, Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera.
Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Insecticides ; pharmacology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pest Control, Biological ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Spodoptera

The viral spike protein is the main surface antigen of the coronavirus, and it could be useful in the research of clinical diagnosis, SARS vaccine and the structure biology.According to the analysis of the main antigen of the SARS spike protein, 5 fragments of the whole spike gene were cloned, and ligated to the vector pNMT1. Through electroporation transformantion to TCP1, the recombinant S. pombe strains capable of expressing the 5 fragments were constructed. SDS-PAGE or Western blot analysis of the induced expression products demonstrated that the 5 recombinant proteins were expressed in the fission yeast respectively.
Cloning, Molecular ; Electroporation ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; Schizosaccharomyces ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

AIM:To investigate the effect of over-expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator-1α (PGC-1α) on mitochondrial morphology and cell apoptosis in the cortical neurons with oxygen glucose depriva-tion/reoxygenation(OGD/R). METHODS:The whole gene sequence of PGC-1α was obtained from the cerebral cortex of C57BL/6 mice by RT-PCR and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1. The pEGFP-N1-PGC-1α was iden-tified by PCR,and transfected into cortical neurons. The level of PGC-1α expression was identified by Western blot. The cortical neurons transfected with pEGFP-N1 and pEGFP-N1-PGC-1α vectors were treated with OGD/R. The mitochondrial mass,reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ATP production,cell apoptosis and changes of cleaved caspase-3 were detected by MitoTracker Red staining,flow cytometry,ATP metabolic assay kit and TUNEL. RESULTS:Over-expression of PGC-1α inhibited the decrease in mitochondrial biogenesis capacity and the ROS formation of OGD/R neurons(P<0.05),en-hanced the ability of ATP synthesis (P<0.01),inhibited neuronal apoptosis (P<0.01) and decreased the activation of caspase-3 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:PGC-1α over-expression inhibits neuronal apoptosis with OGD/R treatment by promoting mitochondrial biogenesis,inhibiting the production of ROS and maintaining mitochondrial function. PGC-1α may be used as a target for the development of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury drugs.