Objective To investigate the expression of engulfment and cell motility protein 1 (ELMO1) in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and its effects on cell migration.Methods The expression of ELMO1 in HCC cell lines and HCC tissues was assessed by Western blot.We used transient transfection with an ELMO1 expressing vector to over-express ELMO1 protein in SK-HEP-1 cells.Over-expression of ELMO1 was confirmed by Western blot.siRNAs specific to ELMO1 (ELMO1 siRNA) were used to knockdown ELMO1 expression.Rho Family Small GTPase Activation Assay, Western blots, transwell assay were used to determine the migration potential of cells.Student's test was employed for statistical analysis.Results The expression of ELMO1 protein was obviously up-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines (P<0.05).Over-expression of ELMO1 promoted cell migration in SK-HEP-1 cells, while knock-down of ELMO1 showed the opposite effect.Conclusion ELMO1 up-regulation significantly correlates with cell migration in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective To assess the feasibility of heterogeneous acellular dermal matrix(ADM)seeded with adipose derived stem cells(ADSC)for urethroplasty in a rabbit model.Methods ADSC were isolated from a rabbit and expanded in vitro,then identified by flow cytometry.We seeded ADSC onto the ADM and made it into tissue-engineered urethra.12 male rabbits were removed 1 cm urethra and divided into experiment group and control group.There were 6 rabbits in each group.Reconstructed urethra with tissueengineered urethra was used in experiment group,while unseeded ADM were used in control group.Urethrography was performed at 6 months after surgery.The animals were scarified at 3 and 6 months after surgery and the repaired urethra were harvested.H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining were performed with cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and smooth muscle desmin makers.Results The morphology of isolated ADSC was with long spindle cross-links,and had multicentral growth.Flow cytometry showed that the ADSC expressed CD166,CD105,CD90 and CD44,but not expressed CD45 and CD13.The cells could growth well on the ADM and showed good biocompatibility with it.All animals could void normally,urethrography showed there was no significant stenosis.3 months after surgery,the experiment group appeared regenerated smooth muscle but not in the control group,both groups did not regenerate urothelium.At 6 months urothelium and smooth muscle cells could be observed in the experiment group,but only the smooth muscle was evident in the control group.Conclusions By applying tissue engineering methods,we can seed the ADSC onto the heterogeneous ADM and make it into tissue-engineered urethra,which can help improve the reconstructive effect of urethra.

Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal ; blood ; therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between C825T polymorphism of G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) gene and different Hilit types of essential hypertension (EH) in the Uygur nationality of Xinjiang.

METHODSAccording to Uygur medical theories, EH patients (as the EH group) and non-EH patients (as the control group) were assigned to four Hilit groups. The C825T polymorphism of GNB3 was detected in 161 EH patients and 379 non-EH subjects of different Hilit types by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to explore the difference of the genotypes and allelic frequencies and hypertension.

RESULTS(1) In Xinjiang Uygur population, the distribution frequencies of GNB3 C825T polymorphism were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg (chi2 = 0.871, P = 0.647). (2) There was no statistical difference in the distribution frequencies of three genotypes and two alleles of GNB3 between the EH group and the control group (P > 0.05). (3) There was statistical difference in distribution frequencies of three genotypes between the abnormal Sapra and non-abnormal Sapra group (the sum of abnormal Sewda, abnormal Kan, and abnormal Balhem) (chi2 = 6.905, P = 0.032), especially between the abnormal Sapra and abnormal Balhem groups (chi2 = 10.404, P = 0.006), but there was no statistical difference in distribution frequencies of alleles between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) In 161 EH patients, there was statistical difference in the distribution frequencies of three genotypes and two alleles between the abnormal Sapra and non-abnormal Sapra group (chi2 = 9.034, P = 0.011; chi2 = 4.701, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONSBoth TT genotype and T allele of GNB3 C825T polymorphism might not be associated with EH patients in Xinjiang Uygur populations. However, they were correlated with hypertension patients of non-abnormal Sapra, indicating the pathogeneses of EH with different Hilit types might be different.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; classification ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Minority Groups ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Exosome is a self-secreted phospholipid bilayer nanovesicles, and has shown great potential in drug delivery field due to the important advantages of low immunogenicity and homologous targeting. Phototherapy, mainly includes photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), utilize light to activate photoactive drug for tumor cell killing. The advanced therapeutic strategy shows low toxic side-effect and non-invasion precise advantages, and thus has made great progress in tumor treatment over the past few years. Therefore, using exosomes as a drug delivery system to deliver phototherapeutic agents can improve therapeutic performances with a reduced side-effect, and further enhance their application potential for clinical tumor therapy. This review focus on the rising cross-subjects field involving exosomes and phototherapy, and mainly introduce the research progress and relative case of exosomes-based delivery system for cancer phototherapy. Additionally, the advantages and challenges of exosome-based phototherapy are also discussed and proposed.

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is a serious clinical problem for patients receiving cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential efficacy of pregabalin in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in rats. A total of 35 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: group 1, naive control; group 2, treated with pregabalin (30 mg/kg p.o., for 8 days); group 3, docetaxel was given by single intravenous infusion at 10 mg/kg; groups 4 and 5, pregabalin at 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg respectively was orally administered for 8 days after the docetaxel treatment. On day 8, behavioral test was performed, and substance P and CGRP release in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and sciatic nerve were analyzed by electron microscope. Our results showed that docetaxel induced mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, heat hypoalgesia, cold allodynia, and sciatic nerve impairment and substance P and CGRP release in DRG. However, oral administration of pregabalin (10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) for 8 consecutive days significantly attenuated docetaxel-induced neuropathy by ameliorating heat hypoalgesia, cold allodynia, impairment of sciatic nerve and reducing the release of substance P and CGRP. The findings in the present study reveal that pregabalin may be a potential treatment agent against chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or man-made agents that interfere in some way with human or animal normal endocrine function, and even influence the endocrine function of their offspring. There are many kinds of EDCs, which are widely present in soil, water, and even food. This review elaborates the impact of EDCs on human and animal semen quality from the viewpoint of epidemiology and biology by focusing on pesticides, plasticizers and detergents.
Detergents ; adverse effects ; Endocrine Disruptors ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Pesticides ; adverse effects ; Plasticizers ; adverse effects ; Semen ; drug effects ; Semen Analysis

Spinal biomechanics, especially the range of spine motion,has close connection with spinal surgery. The change of the range of motion (ROM) is an important indicator of diseases and injuries of spine, and the essential evaluating standards of effect of surgeries and therapies to spine. The analysis of ROM can be dated to the time of the invention of X-ray and even that before it. With the development of science and technology as well as the optimization of various types of calculation methods, diverse measuring methods have emerged, from imaging methods to non-imaging methods, from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, from measuring directly on the X-ray films to calculating automatically by computer. Analysis of ROM has made great progress, but there are some older methods cannot meet the needs of the times and disappear, some classical methods such as X-ray still have vitality. Combining different methods, three dimensions and more vivo spine research are the trend of analysis of ROM. And more and more researchers began to focus on vivo spine research. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of the methods utilized recently are presented through viewing recent literatures, providing reference and help for the movement analysis of spine.
Animals ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends ; Radiography ; Spine ; diagnostic imaging

Objective To investigate the mouse liver blood vessel images using phase contrast X-ray imaging with synchrotron radiation. Methods 6 female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups, 3 mice in each group. In one group, livers excised after hgated arteries, veins and common bile duct. In another group, iodine infused via the portal vein and drained from inferior vena cave until all the blood in the portal veins and hepatic veins was displaced. After infusion, arteries, veins and common bile duct were ligated and livers were excised. Results Blood vessel images were clearly produced by diffraction enhanced imaging. This method can discriminate vessels down to about 40 μm in diameter without contrast agent. Using a contrasting agent more details could be produced. In one liver lobe, the entire branch of the portal vein could be clearly produced by one by one phase contrast image from the main axial blood vessels of liver lobe to the nine generation of branching. Conclusions Phase contrast imaging has the advantage of good contrast and high spatial resolution. [Key wnrds] Synchrotron radiation; Phase contrast imaging; Diffraction enhanced imaging; Blood vessel; X-rays

Ergosterol is the important component of the fungal membrane, and having stable structure. This makes it a suitable indicator for growth of fungi. In the paper, isolation and determination techniques of ergosterol as the indicator of the fungal biomass were reviewed. The methods of extracting ergosterol include traditional saponification and refluxing, rapid physical disruption, rapid ultrasonication, supercritical fluid extraction and so on. The ergosterol determination methods are high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and thin-layer chromatography, et al. The application of these techniques was also introduced. Finally, the paper prospected the feasibility of applying the ergosterol as the indicator of fungal biomass in composting.