AIM:to investigate the effects of extract of ginkgo biloba (EGB) on human tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by transforming growth factor-?1.METHODS: HK2 cells were induced to epithelial-mesenchymal transition by transforming growth factor-?1 (TGF-?1, 10 ?g/L). EGB was added into the medium of HK2 cells 2 h before TGF-?1 was added. The expressions of E-cadherin, ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA), NADPH oxidase p67phox and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by Western blotting. Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the mediums of HK2 cells was detected. RESULTS: EGB significantly attenuated the downregulation of E-cadherin, the upregulation of ?-SMA and p67phox, the downregulation of SOD and the upregulation of MDA in HK2 cells induced by TGF-?1.CONCLUSION: EGB significantly attenuates human tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by TGF-?1, and its underlying mechanism is that EGB attenuates the upregulation of p67phox and the downregulation of SOD induced by TGF-?1.

Education reform and innovative education are the strong requirements of the times and social development.We developed immunological paper free examination system based on the optimized question bank,characteristics of immunological examination and information technology.This system can randomly develop electronic examination paper and can integrate the processes of exam registration,examination paper development,online examination,paper inspection,scores generation and printing into one system,which can save human resources,enhance the accuracy and fairness of the examination,making it conform to international standards.

Objective To investigate the association between the genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and ulcerative colitis (UC) of Han ethnic population in Zhejiang, China. Methods Two hundred and seventy-four consecutive patients with UC and 726 healthy controls (HC) were studied. The genetic polymorphisms of MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) were genotyped using PCR-RELP methods. Results The frequencies of variant allele and genotype in MTHFR A1298Cgene were higher in UC patients than in the HC (35.77% vs 29. 96%, P =0. 013; 52. 19% vs 44. 90%,P=0.039; respectively). However, there were no significant discrepancies of the allele and genotype frequencies in the MTHFR C677T gene between the UC patients and the HC (P ＞ 0. 05 ). In addition, the MTHFR 677Tr homozygote, T allele and 677CT/1298AC compound genotype were more prevalent in patients with extensive colitis than in those with distal colitis (37. 66% vs 14. 72% ,P = 0. 0002; 49. 35% vs 32.99% ,P =0. 0004; 29. 87% vs 15.23% ,P =0. 006; respectively). Furthermore,the variant allele in the MTHFR A1298C gene (C) in severe UC patients was significantly lower than in mild and moderate UC patients (18.97% vs 33. 88% ,P =0. 022). Conclusion The genetic polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T and A1298C are obviously associated with Han ethnic population with UC in Zhejiang province.

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for quality evaluation of Ejiao. METHODS:The contents of 17 amino acids in 18 batches of Ejiao from 18 manufacturers were analyzed by automatic amino acid analyzer;the content data was processed by prin-cipal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA),in order to understand the relationship among these amino acids and categorize the Ejiao products. RESULTS:Except for a batch of Ejiao,the other 17 batches contained 17 various amino acids,including 7 necessary amino acids(Thr,Val,Met,Ile,Leu,Phe and Lys)for human being,especially the contents of Gly and Pro were higher. The total content of amino acids was arranged from 66.1% to 82.0%,showing great difference. Four main components were extracted by PCA,the cumulative contribution of which was 89.578%,and accordingly it may be consid-ered that Pro,Ala,Glu,Asp,Leu,Ile and Thr were characteristic amino acids of Ejiao products. In hierarchical clustering analy-sis,3 tree figures of commercial Ejiao product were achieved and Euclidean distance was varied among 0-25. CONCLUSIONS:There is great difference in total control of amino acid in commercial Ejiao product;Ejiao products from various manufacturers dif-fer in their amino acid contents. Ejiao is rich in collagen,and therefore,using amino acid determination would be helpful to moni-tor its quality.

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is a common pathological feature of end-stage kidney disease. Previous studies showed that upregulation of TGFbeta1 notably contributed to the chronic renal injury and irbesartan halted the development of TIF in rats with 5/6 renal mass reduction. This study was to investigate the effects of irbesartan on chronic TIF and the mechanism involved TGFbeta1 in the rodent model of chronic renal failure involving 5/6 nephrectomy. The results showed that irbesartan significantly attenuated the rise in blood pressure and tubulointerstitial injury observed in this model. Masson staining of the renal tissue revealed that there appeared severe renal tubule atrophy and fibrosis in operation group, but the lesion was attenuated mostly in irbesartan-treated group. Immunohistochemistry showed that irbesartan treatment apparently decreased the protein expression of TGFbeta1 which was up-regulated in operation groups. Western blot showed that irbesartan treatment down-regulated the expression of TGFbeta1, phosphorylated smad2 (p-smad2), AT1R and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) MAPK, but significantly up-regulated the protein expression of smad6 as compared with operation group. These findings suggest that irbesartan attenuates hypertension and reduces the development of TIF in rats with 5/6 renal mass reduction via changes in the expression of these proteins at least including smad6, TGF-beta1, p-smad2, AT1 and p-p38 MAPK.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have found that electroacupuncture can delay articular cartilage degeneration mediated by JAK-STAT signaling pathway through upregulating the expression level of transforming growth factor β1 as well as mRNA expression levels of STAT3, Smad3 and LepR. In the meanwhile, electroacupuncture can inhibit the mRNA expression of p38 and Fas mRNA mediated by MAPK signaling pathways, further inhibiting the apoptosis of chondrocytes. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture on the degeneration of articular cartilage in rats with knee osteoarthritis based on Ras-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. METHODS:120 male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats aged 2 months olds were selected and randomly divided into normal, model, 15-minite electroacupuncture and 30-minute electroacupuncture groups (n=30 per group). The rats in the latter three groups received the intra-articular injection of 4% papain bilaterally, and the remaining rats received no intervention. At 2 weeks after modeling, the latter two groups were respectively given 15- and 30-minute electroacupuncture, five times weekly for consecutive 12 weeks. The morphology of the cartilage was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, the expression level of interleukin-1β in the synovium was detected by ELISA assay, and the protein expression levels of Ras, Raf, MEK1/2, ERK1/2, C-MYC, C-FOS, and C-JUN were detected by western blot analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that: in the model group, the cartilage surface was rough, the cartilage layer became thinner, and the cartilage structure was damaged with incomplete tidal line; in the 15- and 30-minute electroacupuncture groups, the cartilage structure was complete with clear layers and complete tidal line. ELISA showed that the expression level of interleukin-1β in the model group was significantly higher than that in the normal group (P< 0.01), and the level in the 15- and 30-minute electroacupuncture groups was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05). Western blot assay found that compared with the normal group, the protein expression levels of Ras, Raf, MEK1/2, ERK1/2, C-MYC, C-FOS, and C-JUN were increased in the model group. However, all above protein levels except ERK1/2 in the 15- and 30-minute electroacupuncture groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (P < 0.01,P < 0.05). To conclude, electroacupuncture inhibits the degeneration of articular cartilage in osteoarthritisvia Ras-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway and downregulating the expression level of interleukin-1β.

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis(TIF)is a common pathological feature of end-stage kidney disease.Previous studies showed that upregulation of TGFβ1 notably contributed to the chronic renal injury and irbesartan halted the development of TIF in rats with 5/6 renal mass reduction.This study was to investigate the effects of irbesartan on chronic TIF and the mechanism involved TGFβ1 in the rodent model of chronic renal failure involving 5/6 nephrectomy.The results showed that irbesartan significantly attenuated the rise in blood pressure and tubulointerstitial injury observed in this model.Masson staining of the renal tissue revealed that there appeared severe renal tubule atrophy and fibrosis in operation group,but the lesion was attenuated mostly in irbesartan-treated group.Immunohistochemistry showed that irbesartan treatment apparently decreased the protein expression of TGFβ1 which was up-regulated in operation groups.Western blot showed that irbesartan treatment down-regulated the expression of TGFβ1,phosphorylated smad2(p-smad2),AT1R and phosphorylated p38(p-p38)MAPK,but significantly up-regulated the protein expression of smad6 as compared with operation group.These findings suggest that irbesartan attenuates hypertension and reduces the development of TIF in rats with 5/6 renal mass reduction via changes in the expression of these proteins at least including smad6,TGF-β1,p-smad2,AT1 and p-p38 MAPK.