ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of fluid percussion injury(FPI) on survival and differentiation of transplanted human embryonic neural stem cells (HNSCs) in rats. MethodsThe HNSCs were separated from the cerebral cortex of the 8-week-old fetal and were cultured in DMEM/F12 combinated with EGF, bFGF and LIF. The rat models of FPI were made with fluid percussion system. The HNSCs labeled with BrdU were transplanted into the injured zone 24 hours after brain injury, then the rats were killed at the 1st and 4th week post-transplanted stages, and the brain slices were stained with immunocytochemistry. The GFAP, MAP-2, and BrdU positive cells were investigated.ResultsThe transplanted HNSCs migrated to the whole brain, and differentiated into GFAP and MAP-2 positive cells. MAP-2 positive cells were observed at 1 week post-transplanted stage, on the contrary, more GFAP positive cells were discovered 4 weeks after transplantation. Part of the HNSCs migrated to the choroids plexus of the lateral ventricle and microvessels. ConclusionThe transplanted HNSCs survive in the injured zone, and differentiate into astrocytes gradually during the recovery. The host devours part of the HNSCs.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rat Schwann cell secretion on the proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs).

METHODSThe samples were divided into three groups. In Group One, NSCs were cultured in DMED/F12 in which Schwann cells had grown for one day. In Group Two, NSCs and Schwann cells were co-cultured. In Group Three, NSCs were cultured in DMEM/F12. The morphology of NSCs was checked and beta-tubulin, GalC, hoechst 33342 and GFAP labellings were detected.

RESULTSIn Group One, all neural spheres were attached to the bottom and differentiated. The majority of them were beta-tubulin positive while a few of cells were GFAP or GalC positive. In Group Two, neural spheres remained undifferentiated and their proliferation was inhibited in places where Schwann cells were robust. In places where there were few Schwann cells, NSCs performed in a similar manner as in Group One. In Group Three, the cell growth state deteriorated day after day. On the 7th day, most NSCs died.

CONCLUSIONThe secretion of rat Schwann cells has a growth supportive and differentiation-inducing effect on human NSCs.

Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; embryology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; secretion ; Sciatic Nerve ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention of liuwei dihuang pill (LDP) on therapeutic effectiveness and adverse reaction of hormonotherapy in treating nephrotic syndrome.

METHODSPatients allocated in two groups were medicated with initial dose of prednisone 1 mg/kg once a day at 8 am in the morning. After being medicated for 8 to 12 weeks, the dose of prednisone was decreased by 5.0 mg every 2 weeks till 0.5 mg/kg per day. Then the medication was changed to that two days' dosage orally take once a day with the daily dose reduced by 5.0 mg/kg every 2 to 3 weeks, and maintained at 0.4 mg/kg once every two days. At same time, necessary symptomatic treatment was given. To the treated group oral administration of LDP 8 capsules was given additionally, 3 times per day until prednisone decreased to maintenance dose.

RESULTSTherapeutic effect in the treated group was significant better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Urinary protein, plasma albumin, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in both groups were obviously improved (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, as compared with the control group, the improvement was better, and the recurrent rate was lower (P < 0.05) in the treated group. Scores of Yin-deficiency caused excessive Fire syndrome and incidence rate of adverse reaction in the treated group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLDP can markedly improve the therapeutic effectiveness and counteract the adverse reaction of hormonotherapy in treating nephrotic syndrome, and reduce the recurrence of the disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Obesity ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Phytotherapy ; Prednisone ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Yin Deficiency ; chemically induced ; prevention & control

The purpose of this study was to investigate the vasorelaxing effect of vasonatrin peptide (VNP) on human intramammary artery (HIMA).The vasorelaxing effect of VNP on HIMA was measured by means of perfusion in vitro. The effects of HS-142-1, TEA, 8-Br-cGMP and methylene blue (MB) were also observed. It was found that VNP caused a concentration-dependent relaxation in HIMA which was independent of the endothelium. 8-Br-cGMP (0.1-1000 micromol/L) also caused a concentration-dependent relaxation in HIMA. The vasorelaxing effect of VNP disappeared in the presence of HS-142-1 (20 micromol/L), an antagonist of the natriuretic peptide guanylate cyclase (GC) receptor. MB (10 micromol/L), an inhibitor of GC, not only blocked completely the relaxation of HIMA, but also enhanced the vascular contraction induced by norepinephrine. TEA (1 mmol/L), an antagonist of calcium activated potassium channels (K(Ca)), reduced but not completely blocked the vasorelaxing effect of VNP. These findings suggest that VNP can relax HIMA, which is independent of the endothelium. This effect is possibly achieved by the binding of VNP with the natriuretic peptide GC receptors in the smooth muscle cells (SMCs), leading to an increase in intracellular cGMP level. Moreover, the vasorelaxing effect of VNP is associated with K(Ca).
Aged ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mammary Arteries ; drug effects ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; metabolism ; Receptors, Guanylate Cyclase-Coupled ; metabolism ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and hair follicle regeneration.

METHODSPRP was prepared using the double-spin method and applied to DPCs. The proliferative effect of activated PRP on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. To understand the influence of activated PRP on the hair-inductive capacity of DPCs, freshly isolated epidermal cells and DPCs of passage 4 were resuspended, mixed with various concentrations of a PRP (0%, 5% or 10%) and were then transferred to a grafting chamber, which was implanted onto the dorsal skin of nude mice. The chambers were removed 1 week after grafting and HF formation was monitored for 4 weeks; the graft site was harvested and processed for histological examination.

RESULTSActivated PRP increased the proliferation benefited the aggregative growth of DPCs. There are significant difference in the yield of hair follicles compared with 10% PRP (344 +/- 27) with 0% PRP (288 +/- 35) in the area of reconstituted skin (P < 0.05). The areas treated with PRP demonstrated an increase in hair follicles density of 19.4%. Ten percent PRP (18 +/- 1) d also can significantly shorten the time of hair formation, compared with 0% PRP (20 +/- 1) d (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is a considerable effect of PRP on the time of hair formation and the yield of hair follicles reconstitution.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; growth & development ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Regeneration ; Skin ; cytology ; Skin, Artificial

The immunological parameters were analyzed during pregnancy of Lewis rats by the methods of flow cytometry, thymidine incorporation and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT). MHC II of spleen mononuclear cells (MNCs) and CD11c of periphery blood MNCs was apparently downregulated in late pregnancy, while the costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 showed no difference. Increased expression of Th2 cytokines (IL-10, IL-4) and TGFbeta was detected in the spleen and peripheral blood MNCs in the third trimester by flow cytometry. No suppression of Th1 cytokine represented by IFNgamma was found. Furthermore, antigen specific proliferation of spleen and peripheral blood MNCs was unchanged, but higher proliferation of MNCs from mesenteric lymph nodes was shown in late pregnancy. There was an inhibition of antigen specific antibody production in pregnancy examined by ELISPOT. These data indicate the immunomodulatory effects of sex-hormones in pregnancy, which may be related to the remission of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases during pregnancy.
Animals ; B7-1 Antigen ; immunology ; CD11c Antigen ; immunology ; Female ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; immunology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Animal ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThe incidence of no reflow phenomenon limits the clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This randomized controlled study was designed to evaluate the immediate protective effects of intensive statin pretreatment on myocardial perfusion and myocardial ischemic injury during PCI.

METHODSAltogether 228 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were randomly assigned to standard statin group (SS group, n = 115) and intensive statin group (IS group, n = 113). Patients in the SS group received 20 mg simvastatin and patients in the IS group received 80 mg simvastatin for 7 days before PCI. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade (TFG), corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) of the intervened vessel were recorded before and after stent deployment. Creatine kinase (CK) isoenzyme MB, troponin I and plasma level of high sensitive-C reactive protein (hs-CRP), P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) were measured before and 24 hours after the procedure.

RESULTSThe TFG after stent deployment was significantly improved with less TIMI 0-1 and more TIMI 3 blood flow in the IS group than in the SS group (all P < 0.05). Patients with no reflow phenomenon were less in the IS group (P < 0.001). The CTFC was lower in the IS group than in the SS group (P < 0.001). TMPG was also improved in the IS group than in the SS group (P = 0.001). Although PCI caused a significant increase in CK-MB 24 hours after the procedure, the elevated CK-MB value was lower in the IS group than in the SS group (18.74 +/- 8.41 vs 21.78 +/- 10.64, P = 0.018). Similar changes were also found in troponin I (0.99 +/- 1.07 in the IS group vs 1.47 +/- 1.54 in the SS group, P = 0.006). CK-MB elevation occurred in 27.8% (32/115) of the patients in the SS group vs 15.9% (18/113) in the IS group (P = 0.030). Myocardial necrosis was detected in 4.4% (5/115) of the patients in the SS group, whereas 0.9% (1/113) in the IS group (P = 0.341). But no myocardial infarction was found. Similarly, the patients with increased level of troponin I were much more in the SS group (36.5%, 42/115) than in the IS group (19.5%, 22/113) (P = 0.04). Among them, myocardial necrosis was detected in 13.0% (15/115) of the patients in the SS group, while 4.4% (5/113) in the IS group (P = 0.021). Myocardial infarction was found in 4.4% (5/115) of the patients in the SS group and 0.9% (1/113) in the IS group (P = 0.213).

CONCLUSIONSIntensive statin pretreatment for 7 days before PCI can further improve myocardial blood perfusion, protect the myocardium from ischemic injury. These effects are associated with the lowered levels of hs-CRP, P-selectin and ICAM.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; pathology ; therapy ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Simvastatin ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the damage on organs from salt sensitivity hypertension or non-salt-sensitive hypertension and the selection of drug combination.Methods 120 hypertensive patiems including 60 cases salt-sensitive (SS) and 60 non-salt-sensitive (NSS) groups were selected in our hospital and their salt load tested.These two groups were randomly divided into two groups,each group with 30 patients,one was given felodipine and perindopril and the others were given indapamide sustained release tablets and peridopril to facilitate the 12-week treatment.Before and after the treatment,patients were tested for physiological indicators,such as sitting blood pressure,24-hour ambulatory blood pressure,insulin resistance index,comparing changes of various sub-index etc.Results Significantly different were seen in indices as fasting blood glucose and serum creatinine (P＜ 0.01),fasting insulin,left ventricular mass index,urinary albumin,body mass index,insulin resistance indices,while between the SS group and the NSS group(P＜0.05).In the SS group,when patients with various sub-indicators were using perindopril combined with indapamide treatment,the related detected indicators tended to be normal and with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05).In the NSS group,those related indexes also tended to be more normal when using felodipine combined with perindopril.However,there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion On SS hypertensive patients with target organ damages,perindopril and indapamide seemed to be more effective in NSS patients,indicating that the use of perindopril and felodipine combination,seemed to be more suitable.

BACKGROUNDDiabetic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have a higher incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) than nondiabetic patients, and no pharmacological approach has been demonstrated to offer consistent protection. Therefore, identifying individuals who are at increased risk becomes essential. This study was designed to assess the predictive role of the ratio of contrast medium volume to estimated glomerular filtration rate (CMV/eGFR) in diabetic patients undergoing elective PCI who developed CIN.

METHODSWe retrospectively investigated clinical factors associated with the development of CIN in 114 diabetic patients who had undergone elective PCI. The risk factors for CIN included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), hemoglobin (Hb), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), volume of contrast medium, basic levels of serum creatinine (Scr), the number of treated vessels and the number of stents used. We conducted a stepwise regression analysis to evaluate the predictive role of these risk factors in the incidence of CIN.

RESULTSThe incidence of CIN was 18.4% (21/114). There were no significant differences in age, gender, BMI, LVEF, Hb, FPG, HbA1c, and incidence of hypertension and number of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients between the CIN (n = 21) and the non-CIN (n = 93) groups. However, the eGFR was significantly lower ((72.0 ± 12.5) ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2) vs. (82.0 ± 16.5) ml·min(-1)·1.7 m(-2), P = 0.010), and the basic serum creatinine level ((1.07 ± 0.12) mg/dl vs. (0.97 ± 0.19) mg/dl P = 0.014) was significantly higher in the CIN group. In addition, the volume of contrast medium was significantly larger ((253 ± 75) ml vs. (211 ± 71) ml, P = 0.017) and the CMV/eGFR ratio was significantly greater (3.64 ± 1.26 vs. 2.70 ± 1.11, P = 0.001) in the CIN group. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the CMV/eGFR ratio was a significant independent predictor for the development of CIN (P = 0.001). At a cut-off point of > 3.1, the CMV/eGFR ratio exhibited 71% sensitivity and 70% specificity for detecting CIN.

CONCLUSIONThe CMV/eGFR ratio could be a valuable predictor of CIN for diabetic patients after elective PCI. At a cut-off point of > 3.1, the CMV/eGFR ratio was an optimal predictor for the incidence of CIN.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Contrast Media ; adverse effects ; Diabetes Mellitus ; therapy ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; chemically induced ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the establishment of the mimetic aging effect in guinea pigs induced by D-galactose, and to detect the biological indicatrix associated with hearing loss and provide a new tool for molecular pathogenesis of hearing loss.

METHODSTotal of 51 guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups: group A (model aging group, n = 25), which were injected with D-galactose (200 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1)) by intra peritoneum for 6 weeks, group B (model control group, n = 18), which were given the same amount of saline only, and group C (vacant group, n = 15) were not treated. Then, The guinea pigs in group A and B were exposed in noise for 8 days, 8 hours once a day. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to test the hearing threshold of guinea pigs thrice, first before the drug administered, then after 6 weeks the drug used, third after noise exposure. And colorimetry was used to analyze the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malon dialdehyde (MDA) in brain and liver tissue. The DNA of inner ear tissue was harvested and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to detect the differential polymorphic markers.

RESULTSAfter injection, there was no significant difference in elevation of ABR threshold between the group A and group B (t = 1.14, P > 0.05). However, exposure of noise later, elevation in ABR threshold of (22.97 +/- 10.56) dB peSPL was observed in group A, and (14.16 +/- 7.36) dB peSPL in group B. The was significant difference in variation of hearing threshold between group A and group B (t = 2.78, P < 0.05). The activity of SOD in brain and liver tissue in group A was lower than that in group B. the level of MDA was opposite between group A and group B. The difference between group A and group B was significant (P < 0.01). A differential polymorphic marker was observed by AFLP.

CONCLUSIONSThe mimetic aging effect of the guinea pigs can be induced by D-galactose, and this model can not directly induce the hearing loss. The differential polymorphic marker possibly act as a predisposing factor which can greatly enhance the sensitivity of the ear to the noise.

Aging ; Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; Disease Models, Animal ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Female ; Galactose ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Presbycusis ; chemically induced ; physiopathology