To investigate the components in Plastrum Testudinis which have effects on the proliferation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells( bMMSCs), the active parts of plastrum testudinis which can promote proliferation of rat mesenchymal stem cells were extracted by petroleum aether. The activities of inducing the proliferation of bMMSCs were studied by MTT assay and flow cytometry. The chemical components of extraction were analyzed by GC-MS. The results showed that the petroleum aether extraction can obviously promote the proliferation of the stem cells. The main components are long-chain fatty acids, cholesterols and cholest-4-en-3-one, and palmitic acid, stearic acid and cholest-4-en-3-one have effects on proliferation of bMMSCs. In plastrum testudinis, fatty acids can promote the proliferation of bMMSCs but not increase overly. This provide the experiment basis, and offer important reference for Traditional Chinese Medicine that researches stem cells.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fatty Acids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Turtles

Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-5 ; metabolism ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mastectomy, Radical ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IP) on the expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in hippocampus in a gerbil model of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and the role of ERK and JNK in the mechanism of ischemic cerebral preconditioning. Methods Gerbils of both sexes weighing 50-70kg were randomly divided into 4 groups : ( Ⅰ ) sham operation group; ( Ⅱ ) IP group; (Ⅲ) I/R group and ( Ⅳ ) IP + I/R group. Cerebral ischemia was produced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries and confirmed by isoelectricity on EEG. In sham operation group bilateral common carotid arteries were exposed but not occluded. In IP and I/R groups the animals were subjected to 3 min (IP group) or 5 min (I/R group) cerebral ischemia respectively. In IP + I/R group the animals first underwent 3 min cerebral ischemia followed by 24h reperfusion and then were again subjected to 5 min cerebral ischemia. Open field test was performed to evaluate the behavioral deficit 1,3,5 and 7 days after ischemia. The animals were sacrificed at 15 min, 2, 4, 6h and 1, 3, 5, 7 days after ischemia. The brains were immediately removed for detection of apoptosis (TUNEL) and expression of p-ERK and JNK (immuno-histochemistry) in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions and microscopic examination. Results Compared with I/R group the behavioral deficit was significantly decreased and the number of living pyramidal neurons was significantly increased and apoptotic neurons significantly decreased in IP + I/R group. No p-ERK expression was detected in CA1 region in all of the 4 groups but in CA3 region the p-ERK expression was significantly higher in group IP + I/R than in group I/R. The p-JNK expression increased gradually during reperfusion in both CA1 and CA3 regions and was still detectable 7 days after ischemia and was significantly lower in CA1 region in group IP + I/R than in group I/R.Conclusion IP protects hippocampal neurons from I/R injury by inhibiting the expression of p-JNK in CA1 region and enhancing the activity of p-ERK in CA3 region

Department of General Internal Medicine (DGIM) in the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital is the first academic general internal medicine division in teaching hospitals in China. We attempted to construct DGIM teaching base in 2005, and the teaching reform was conducted in a part of the students. Primary assessment was based on examinations and questionnaires. The results show that the students could not only master the basic medical knowledge, but also improve overall capability. We conclude that DGIM in teaching hospital would become an important teaching base in China.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of cake-separated moxibustion in treatment of hyperlipemia.

METHODSSixty rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, a blank group,a model group, a direct moxibustion group and a cake-separated moxibustion group. Hyperlipemia model was developed by high fat diet of cholesterol. Changes of ultrastructures of endothelial cells of the aorta of the rabbit were observed with electron microscope.

RESULTSThe endothelial cells in the cake-separated moxibustion group were more intact, most of them were normal in forms, internal elastic membrane was continuous, their thickness was even, the cells of smooth muscles in the medial membrane were relatively normal, which are similar to those in the blank control group. But the structure of endothelial cells of the aorta in the model group disappeared, in cytoplasm the sedimentation of a great number of lipids can be seen, internal elastic membrane was interrupted, the thickness was uneven, with focal dissolution, the cells of smooth muscle in the medial membrane had sedimentation of lipids, with frothy change.

CONCLUSIONCake-separated moxibustion has a certain protective action on endothelial cells of the aorta in the rabbit of hyperlipemia.

Animals ; Aorta ; Endothelial Cells ; Hyperlipidemias ; Lipids ; Moxibustion ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of an azoospermia patient with ring 22 chromosome syndrome.

METHODSWe analyzed the clinical data of an azoospermia patient with ring 22 chromosome syndrome and reviewed relevant literature.

RESULTSThe patient was a short 29-year-old male, with bilateral testes small in size and soft in texture. Seminal examination indicated azoospermia. Chromosome analysis showed the karyotype of the patient to be 46, XY, r (22) (p11, q25). The level of testosterone was low, and the testicular tissue was brittle and easy to break. Pathological microscopy revealed reduced number of Sertoli cells and germ cells in the seminiferous tubules and thinner layers of cells. All the germ cells were spermatogonia. Neither spermatocytes nor sperm cells were found, which suggested complete spermatogenic failure. Mild interstitial fibrosis was visible in part of the seminiferous tubule walls.

CONCLUSIONPatients with ring 22 chromosome syndrome usually represent normal clinical phenotypes. However, this kind of genetic abnormality often induces severe testicular damage and spermatogenic arrest, which may result in azoospermia.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; etiology ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Ring Chromosomes ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatogonia ; Syndrome

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male

Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spine ; surgery

BACKGROUNDTo construct human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18 E6E7) adeno-associated virus (AAV) for studying the role of HPV E6E7 in the development of human cancer.

METHODSHPV18 E6E7 genes were inserted into adeno-associated virus expression vector and then infected 293 cell line. The expression of HPV18 E6E7 genes were confirmed by using RT-PCR/Southern blot assay.

RESULTSThere was HPV18 E6E7 genes in the malignantly transformed cell line. The 293TL cells compared with the parent cells transformed cells grew more rapidly, lost their contact inhibition and formed more and large colonies in soft agar.

CONCLUSIONSHPV18 E6E7 AAV was successfully constructed and could induce malignant transformation. HPV18 E6E7 AAV can be use for studying the immortalization and malignant transformation of human normal epithelial cells.

Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cell Transformation, Viral ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; virology ; Fetus ; Humans ; Kidney ; cytology ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction