Endothelial progenitor cells(EPC),which have the capacity to differentiate into mature endothelial cells,have been found to home to and incorporate into the angiogenic vasculature of growing tumors with high specificity once mobilized into the circulation.Yet the mechanism still remains unclear.EPC have potential as spatial-specific delivery vehicles.Thus,further studies on the mechanisms of tumor neovascularization and tumor therapy in glioma using genetically engineered EPC as angiogenesis-selective vectors will be of help to explore the potential in the basic and clinical application of EPC in(glioma.)

Humans ; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Objective To investigate the expression pattern of microRNA (miRNA) in the kidneys of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats and to identify specific miRNA related to renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF).Methods Forty-eight male SD rats were divided into two groups:UUO group and sham-operated (Sham) group.Rats were sacrificed at 3,7 and 14 days after operation.Histologic changes were examined by Masson staining.Forty-eight selected miRNAs were examined by stem-loop real-time qPCR.Results At the 3rd day after operation,obstructed kidneys from operation rats showed mild edema in the interstitium and mononuclear cell infiltration.At the 7th day after operation,focal interstitial fibrosis was observed.At the 14th day after operation,fibrosis became more severe.The Sham kidneys showed no pathological changes.At the 3th day after operation,25 miRNAs were differentially expressed.At the 7th day after operation,24 miRNAs were aberrantly expressed,whereas 21 miRNAs were differentially expressed at the 14th day after operation (P＜0.05).Among these miRNAs,miR-132,miR-192,miR-194,miR-29c and miR-203 were consistently up-regulated or down-regulated in a time-dependent manner after operation.There were significantly correlations between the expression of five miRNAs and severity of tubulointerstitial injury (P＜0.05).Conclusions There are at least 20 miRNAs differentially expressed in the process of RIF induced by UUO.There are significantly correlations between the expression of miR-132,miR-192,miR-194,miR-29c and miR-203 and the severity of tubulointerstitial injury.They may be closely related to RIF.A further study is needed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Septum ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective:To'synthesize BODIPY-FL-labeled phenylephrine(BODIPY-FL-PE)and deter-mine its biological activity.Methods:Condensation of BODIPY-FL(green fluorescence dye)and phe-nylephrine(?_1-adrenoceptor agonist)was performed by adding dicyclohexylcarbodiimide(DCC)in thepresence of absolute tetrahydrofuran(THF).The reaction occurred in absolutely oxygen and water condi-tion at room temperature.The crude product was separated and purified by thin-layer chromatography(TLC).The structure of BODIPY-FL-PE was characterized by TLC and mass spectrometry(MS).Itspharmabiological activity was determined by Western blot.Results:BODIPY-FL-PE,the target mole-cule,was synthesized and its structure was identified by using ultra-violet spectrometry(UV)and MS.The result of Western blot indicated that ?_1-adrenoceptor(?_1-AR)induced ERK phosphorylation wasconfirmed in both BODIPY-FL-PE and PE treated groups.Conclusion:The synthesized BODIPY-FL-PEhas pharmacological activity that could activate ?_1-AR.Visualization of AR behaviors could be achievedby tracing the trajectories of BODIPY-FL-PE labeled AR.It might be a promising tool for investigatingdynamic behaviors of AR in living cells.

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) dementia and Alzheimer(')s disease.

METHODSLevels of amyloid protein β (Aβ42, Aβ40) and phosphorylated Tau-protein (P-tau) in CSF and ratio of Aβ42/Aβ40 were tested in 5 cases with CAA dementia and 20 cases with Alzheimer's disease collected at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from December 2001 to March 2011.

RESULTSThe levels of Aβ42, Aβ40, and P-tau in CSF and ratio of Aβ42/Aβ40 were (660.4 ± 265.2) ng/L, (7111.0 ± 1033.4) ng/L, (71.8 ± 51.5) ng/L, and 0.077 ± 0.033, respectively in CAA dementia and (663.6 ± 365.6) ng/L, (5115.0 ± 2931.1) ng/L, (47.7 ± 38.8) ng/L, and 0.192 ± 0.140, respectively in Alzheimer's disease patients. There were no statistically significant differences between CAA dementia and Alzheimer's disease in terms of these CSF biomarkers (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMeasurements of CSF biomarkers may not be helpful in differential diagnosis of CAA and Alzheimer's disease.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Biomarkers ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Dementia ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Humans ; Male ; tau Proteins ; cerebrospinal fluid

Objective To investigate therapeutic effects of phlorizin on the early stage of diabetic retinopathy(DR)in diabetic db/db mice.Methods The 24 db/db male mice were divided into 3 groups of phlorizin-treated diabetic group(20mg/kg of phlorizin by intragastric gavage)(DMT,n =8),diabetic group(normal saline solution by intragastric gavage)(DM,n=8),with C57BLKS/J db/ m mice as the control group(CC,n=8)for ten weeks.After ten weeks,all mice were sacrificed and the retina was isolated.The specimen was embedded in paraffin wax and sliced.The sections were dyed with Sudan red and observed for retinal morphological change.Meanwhile,the expressions of GSK-3β and phospho-GSK-3β in retinas were determined by western blot.Results During the study,the CC group showed good condition.The DM group featured with polydipsia,polyphagia and a rapid increase of body weight.Phlorizin-treated diabetic mice displayed much better than the DM group.Compared with CC group,DM group showed cells proliferation in capillary endothelia and obvious thickening in basement membrane.After administration of phlorizin,the vascular lesion of central regions was remarkably improved.The expression level of phospho-GSK-3β protein was lower in DM group than in control group(76.2±15.8 vs.255.4 ± 10.7,t =16.30,P＜0.01)and was higher in Phlorizin-treated DM group(188.5±18.4)than in DM group(76.2± 15.8,t=8.05,P＜0.01).Conclusions Phlorizin decreases phospho-GSK-3β3expression in retina in db/db diabetic mice and suppresses the GSK-3βactivity,which leads to the protection of DR.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm, Residual ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Racemases and Epimerases ; metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To observe the effects of phlorizin on aorta of diabetes db/db mice and to explore its mechanism.Methods Sixteen diabetes db/db mice were randomized into two groups:untreated diabetic group (DM group) and diabetic group treated by phlorizin(DMT group) with eight db/m mice as normal control group(CC group).Phlorizin (20 mg/kg) was given in normal saline solution intragastrically to the mice of the DMT group for 10 weeks.Mice of the other two groups were given the same amount of saline solution intragastrically for 10 weeks.Animals were weighed weekly.At 10th weekend,all mice were fasted overnight and then sacrificed.Fasting blood was collected,and aortas were dissected.The blood samples were analyzed for fasting blood glucose (FBG),triglycerides (TG),total cholesterol (TC),Serum advanced glycation end products(AGEs)and malondialdehyde (MDA).Aortic tissue were examined microscopically.Results At 10th weekend,the weight (57.53±3.40)g and serum concentration of FBG(31.21±2.16) mmol/L,TG (0.39±0.12) mmol/L,TC(3.15±0.30)mmol/L,AGEs (0.28±0.04) AU/mg and MDA (15.18± 1.60)mol/L in DM group were increased than those in CC group (P＜0.01),and the weight(54.24± 1.28)g,FBG(29.17±1.41) mmol/L,TG(0.26±0.06) mmol/L,TC(2.71±0.26) mmol/L,AGEs (0.24±0.03) AU/mg and MDA(13.46±1.28)mol/L were lowered significantly in DMT group than those in DM group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The severity of aorta damage in DMT group was less than that in DM group.Conclusions Phlorizin can protect the db/db mice from diabetic macrovascular complications,which may be attributed to its decreasing of blood glucose,TG,TC,and AGEs levels,and its antioxidant potential.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) can result in intestinal mucosal barrier (IMB) dysfunction. This study was undertaken to demonstrate the effect of IGF-I on the intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with SAP and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: Seventy-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a sham operation (SO group,n=24), a SAP group not treated with IGF-I (SAP group,n=24), and a SAP group treated with IGF-I (IGF-I group,n=24). SAP was induced in the rats by injecting 5.0％ sodium taurocholate into the biliary-pancreatic duct. The SO rats were given an infusion of normal saline instead. The rats in the IGF-I group underwent the SAP procedure and were given a subcutaneous injection of IGF-I at 30 minutes before the operation and at 3 hours after the operation. Eight rats in each group were sacrificed at 6, 12 and 24 hours after operation. Apoptosis of mucosal cells in the small intestine was determined by TUNEL. The levels of endotoxin and DAO and serum amylase were also measured. Pathologic changes in the small intestine were monitored. Changes of bax and bcl-2 mRNA expression in the small intestine were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The levels of serum amylase were lower in the IGF-I group than in the SAP group at all three time points (P<0.05). The levels of endotoxin in the IGF-I group were higher than those in the SAP group at 6 hours, but lower in the IGF-I group than in the SAP group at 12 and 24 hours (P<0.05). The levels of diamine oxidase were higher in the IGF-I group at 6 hours but lower than those in the SAP group at 12 and 24 hours. The pathological score of the small intestine was lower in the IGF-I group than in the SAP group, and the difference was statistically significant at 12 and 24 hours. The pathologic changes observed under electron microscopy were better in the IGF-I group than those in the SAP group. The apoptosis index of intestinal epithelial cells was significantly decreased in the IGF-I group compared with the SAP group. Compared with the SO group, the mRNA expression levels of bax were increased at each time point in the SAP group, and were significantly decreased in the IGF-I group as compared with the SAP group at each time point (P<0.05). The expression levels of bcl-2 were weak and not different between the SO group and the SAP group (P>0.05). They were significantly increased in the IGF-I group versus the SO and SAP groups (P<0.05). The ratio of bax and bcl-2 mRNA expression levels at each time point in the SAP group were significantly higher than those in the SO group, but they were obviously decreased in the IGF-I group. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous IGF-I seems to protect mucosal cells in the small intestine against SAP-induced apoptosis and could alleviate SAP-induced injury of the intestinal mucosa. The underlying mechanisms include enhanced mRNA expression of bcl-2 and inhibition of bax mRNA expression.