Gut functions, such as gastrointestinal motility, gastric secretion and pancreatic secretion, were reduced with age. Glucose tolerance is impaired, and the release of insulin and beta-cell's sensitivity on glucose are reduced with age. However, a lot of controversial data have been reported as insulin concentrations after glucose ingestion are either higher or no different in elderly and young subjects. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate whether aging could affect pancreatic exocrine secretion and its action mechanisms. An isolated perfused rat pancreatic model was used to exclude the effects of external nerves or hormones. Pancreatic secretion was increased by CCK under 5.6 mM glucose background in the isolated perfused pancreas of young (3 months), 12 months and 18 months aged rats. There was no significant difference between young and aged rats. In 3 months old rats, CCK-stimulated pancreatic secretion was potentiated under 18 mM glucose background. However, the potentiation effects of endogenous insulin and CCK were not observed in 12 and 18 months old rats. Exogenous insulin also potentiated CCK-stimulated pancreatic secretion in 3 months old rats. Similarly, exogenous insulin failed to potentiate CCK-stimulated pancreatic secretion as that of 3 months old rats. Wet weight of pancreas and amylase content in pancreatic tissue were not changed with age. These results indicate that pancreatic exocrine secretion is reduced with age and endogenous insulin secretion and/or action is involved in this phenomenon.
Aged ; Aging ; Amylases ; Animals ; Cholecystokinin ; Eating ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Glucose ; Humans ; Insulin ; Pancreas ; Rats

The study was purposed to investigate the differentiation ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into myocardial cells in vitro. Rat bone marrow-derived MSCs were labeled and co-cultured with neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (CM) for 5 - 7 days. The expression of cell surface antigens was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of muscle-specific marker myosin and troponin T in labeled cells was detected by immunofluorescence. The results showed that in vitro cultured MSCs expressed CD90, CD44, CD105, CD54, not expressed CD34, CD45, CD31. After co-cultured with neonatal rat CM, labeled MSCs differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells expressing myosin and troponin T. It is concluded that MSCs can differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells when co-cultured with neonatal myocardial cells in vitro. In co-culture of two kind of cells in ratio of four to one showed obvious efficacy differentiating MSCs into CMs.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore the location of the anterior border of facets and the posterior border of vertebral bodies in lower cervical spine,and to provide a quantitative data to evaluate the correct length of transarticual screws in lower cervical spine during procedure.

METHODSOne hundred standard lateral X-ray films and fifty CT films on cervical spine were used to measure the distance of the anterior border of facets and the posterior border of vertebral bodies in lower cervical spine. HS, HM and HI were defined as parameters, which means the distance between the anterior border of the superior (HS), median (HM) and inferior (HI) part of facets and the posterior border of corresponding vertebral bodies. The value will be negative if the anterior border of the facet located before the vertebral body.

RESULTS'HS > HM > HI' was found in all facets in lower cervical spine. The anterior border of the facet in C(3,4) located before the posterior border of the vertebral body of C3. The anterior border of C(4,5) and C(5,6) was inclined to posterior. The anterior border of C(6,7) located after the posterior border of the vertebral body of C6. The pattern of HS increased from C(3,4) to C(6,7), the minimal (0 +/- 0.25) mm and the maximal (2.91 +/- 1.05) mm. The tendency of HM raised from C(3,4) to C(6,7), the minimal (-1.57 +/- 0.53) mm and the maximal (1.54 +/- 0.39) mm. The pattern HI added from C(3,4) to C(6,7), the minimal (-2.03 +/- 0.40) mm and the maximal (1.08 +/- 0.70) mm.

CONCLUSIONDuring the implantation of the transarticular screws, the tip of the screws should be 0-2 mm before the posterior border of the vertebral body of C3 at C(3,4), 0-2 mm after that of C4 at C(4,5), 0.5-2.5 mm at C(5,6) and 1-3 mm at C(6,7). The quantitative location between the anterior border of facets and the posterior border of the corresponding vertebral bodies can offer an indirect method to evaluate the correct length of transarticual screws in lower cervical spine during procedure.

Cervical Vertebrae ; chemistry ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Zygapophyseal Joint ; chemistry ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the method for expanding Valpha24 natural killer T (NKT) cells with alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) ex vivo.

METHODSMononuclear cells (MNCs) isolated from adult peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood (UCB) were divided into three groups. In Group A1 (n = 5), CD34+ progenitorderived dendritic cells were differentiated in a cytokine-supplemented culture system from cord blood and acted as antigen presenting cells (APC) to induce the expansion of cord blood Valpha24 NKT cells in presence of alpha-GalCer; in Group A2 (n = 5), adult peripheral monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DC) were used as APC to induce the expansion of adult peripheral NKT cells in presence of alpha-GalCer; whereas in Group B (n = 16), alpha-GalCer was added into adult peripheral MNCs culture system without additional DCs. Cytokine-produce were measured by ELISA, and NKT cells' proliferation ability, cytotoxicity, and suppressive effect on mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) were examined by MTT assays.

RESULTSValpha24 NKT cells in Group A1, A2, and B were expanded up to 128 (95-207), 250.5 (179.6-790.6), and 326 (101-2 136) -fold by day 12, respectively. Adult NKT cells expanded in Group B were markedly better than those in Group A1 (P = 0.038). When stimulating by PMA, the NKT cells had a 3-day stimulate index of 1.80 +/- 0.41; and the secretion ratio of IL-4 to IFN-gamma of UCB or adult peripheral blood NKT cells were 0.30 +/- 0.13 and 0.28 +/- 0.18; and the ex vivo antitumor effect of expanded NKT cells were found in cell line HL60, KG1a, and Raji except for K562; and the suppressive effect of expanded NKT cells or the culture supernatant on MLR were confirmed.

CONCLUSIONSAlpha-GalCer can facilitate the rapid shorttime expansion of Valpha24 NKT cells in presence of IL-2 and IL-15. These expanded NKT cells, kill tumor cell lines, and inhibit can massively excret IL-4 and IFN-gamma allogeneic T-cell response.

Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; immunology ; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Galactosylceramides ; immunology ; HL-60 Cells ; pathology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; pathology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism

To explore the difference of biological characteristics between two subpopulations of adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), this study was designed to observe the morphological feature and immunophenotype of the adult MSC in the ex vivo culture, the mononuclear cells isolated from normal adult bone marrow were cultured in DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum. Cell morphology, immunophenotype and cell cycle of two different subgroups were investigated. Cells from 80% confluence were passed through a 10 microm filter, then the fillered cells were cultured in the semisolid methylcellulose medium. The results showed that (1) two different subpopulations were observed in the ex vivo culture. The fibro-like cell was called mature MSC (mMSC) and the smaller round cell was defined rapidly as MSC self-renewing cells (RS cells); (2) the average proportion of cells in G(0)/G(1) of RS cells was approximately 99%, but that of mMSCs was 90%; (3) both of the two populations were negative on the lineage-committed antigen (such as CD34, CD45, CD3, CD19, CD33, HLA-DR, CD38), while positive on the expression of CD90, CD105, C166, CD29, CD44, CD49e, CD54, CD13. However, the expression of these antigens on RS cells was weaker than that on mMSC, but CD117 and KDR were higher expressed when compared with the mMSC; (4) after 4 to 5 week semisolid culture, no hematopoietic progenitor cell colonies were observed. It is concluded that adult MSCs are heterogeneous in that distinct morphological populations exist. The RS cells appear to be the more primitive with greater potential for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation.
Adult ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; immunology ; Cell Lineage ; immunology ; Cell Size ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; immunology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology

It has been rereported that axons which display 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) immunoreactivity are abundant in the pancreas and the majority of serotonergic axons terminate within intrapancreatic ganglia, islet and acini. This histological result strongly suggests that intrapancreatic serotonergic nerves could affect to the pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate whether intrapancreatic serotonergic nerves could affect pancreatic exocrine secretion and an action mechanism of the intrapancreatic serotonergic nerves. The rats were anesthetized with a single injection of urethane. The median line and the abdominal aorta was carefully dissected and cannulated with PE-50 tubing just above the celiac artery, and then tightly ligated just below the superior mesenteric artery. The pancreatic duct was also cannulated with Tygon microbore tubing. With the addition of serotonin, pancreatic volume flow and amylase output were significantly inhibited electrical field stimulation (EFS). On the other hand, pancreatic volume flow and amylase output were significantly elevated in EFS with the addition of spiperone. EFS application, however, pancreatic volume flow and amylase output had no significant change in cholecystokinin (CCK) alone when serotonin was applied under a 5.6 mM glucose background. Pancreatic volume flow and amylase output under 18 mM glucose background were significantly elevated in CCK plus serotonin than in CCK alone. These data suggest that intrapancreatic serotonergic nerves play an inhibitory role in pancreatic exocrine secretion and an important role in the insulin action or release.
Amylases ; Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Axons ; Celiac Artery ; Cholecystokinin ; Electric Stimulation ; Ganglia ; Glucose ; Hand ; Insulin ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Rats ; Serotonin ; Spiperone ; Urethane

Inflammatory diseases are common medical conditions seen in disorders of human immune system. There is a great demand for anti-inflammatory drugs. There are major inflammatory mediators in arachidonic acid metabolic network. Several enzymes in this network have been used as key targets for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs. However, specific single-target inhibitors can not sufficiently control the network balance and may cause side effects at the same time. Most inflammation induced diseases come from the complicated coupling of inflammatory cascades involving multiple targets. In order to treat these complicated diseases, drugs that can intervene multi-targets at the same time attracted much attention. The goal of this review is mainly focused on the key enzymes in arachidonic acid metabolic network, such as phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase and eukotriene A4 hydrolase. Advance in single target and multi-targe inhibitors is summarized.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Arachidonic Acid ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Epoxide Hydrolases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; drug effects ; Phospholipase A2 Inhibitors ; Phospholipases A2 ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of alloreactive natural killer (NK) cells used in conditioning regimen on elimination of recipient-type T cell and granulocyte, reconstitution of hematopoiesis, engraftment and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

METHODSThe murine model of MHC haploidentical BMT was established by using (C57BL/6 x BALB/c) BCF(1) (H-2(d/b)) mouse as the donor, and BALB/c (H-2(d)) mouse as the recipient. Recipient mice were divided into 8.5 Gy control group and 7, 6 and 5 Gy experimental groups according to different irradiation dose and different kinds of NK cell treatment. The control group was further subdivided into untreated and BMT groups, while each experimental group was subdivided respectively into untreated group, BMT group, non-allo-reactive NK cells (non-allo NK) group and alloreactive NK cells (allo NK) group. The effect of adding alloreactive NK cell to conditioning regimen was assessed by peripheral white blood cell and platelet counts, recipient type H-2(d+) T cells and granulocytes counts, expression of H-2(d/b+) cells and pathohistological examination.

RESULTSSurvival time was (6.00 +/- 0.82) days for 8.5 Gy untreated group, and beyond 60 days for all the other groups. No clinical and histopathological evidence of GVHD was observed in all the groups. The reconstitution of hematopoiesis was faster in allo NK groups than in other groups (P < 0.05). On day 1 after BMT, in allo NK groups with different irradiation dose, bone marrow and spleen recipient type H-2(d+) granulocytes and T cells were significantly decreased compared with identical BMT groups and non-allo NK groups (P < 0.05). The engraftment rates of H-2(d/b+) cells were significantly higher in 7, 6 and 5 Gy allo NK groups than in identical BMT groups and non-allo NK groups (P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSIn mouse MHC haploidentical BMT, alloreactive NK cell can eliminate recipient-type T cell and granulocyte, promote reconstitution of hematopoiesis, enhance engraftment while not induce GVHD.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; immunology ; methods ; Graft vs Host Disease ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Depletion ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous ; immunology ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the role of T-bet [a T helper 1 (Th1) lymphocyte transcription factor] gene expression in predicting acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and evaluate the correlation between T-bet gene and aGVHD.

METHODSTwenty patients who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo. HSCT) entered this study. The expression of T-bet gene was examined with reverse transcription (RT)-PCR in bone marrow samples collected from patients on the day before conditioning, and day 0, day 14, day 28, and day 42 after HSCT.

RESULTSThe expression level of T-bet in patients developed aGVHD was increased compared with that before conditioning (P = 0.043). The incidence of aGVHD was 91.7% in patients whose T-bet expression level was increased on day 14 after transplant while was 12.5% in those whose T-bet gene expression level was not increased on that day (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONPatients with increased expression levels of T-bet after allo-HSCT may have an increased possibility to develop aGVHD. T-bet expression level may serve as an advisable guide to the clinician in predicting aGVHD and monitoring treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for treatment of leukemia relapsed after first allo-HSCT.

METHODSNine patients with relapsed acute leukemia (5 AML, 4 ALL) and one with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who showed cytogenetic relapse after first allo-HSCT received second allo-HSCT. The median relapse time from the first allo-HSCT was 141 days. Conditioning regimens for second allo-HSCT were combination chemotherapy based on moderate-dose Ara-C (n = 5), Bu (n = 3), conventional-dose Ara-C (n = 1) and Flud/Mel (n = 1). Prophylaxis for acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) were CsA alone (n = 2), CsA/MTX (n = 1), FK506 (n = 1), and no prophylaxis in 6. The median number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells transfused was 6.1 x 10(8)/kg.

RESULTSEight cases were evaluable. All of them were engrafted and 7 developed aGVHD (grade I 4, grade II 3). The median time for absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 0.5 x 10(9)/L and platelets > 20 x 10(9)/L were 11 and 12 days, respectively. Five cases developed localized chronic GVHD. Of all the 10 cases received second allo-HSCT, 8 died from interstitial pneumonia (n = 2), multiple-organ failure (n = 1), sepsis (n = 1), fungous pneumonia (n = 1), and leukemia relapse (n = 3), and 2 survived without leukemia for +986 and +1913 days, respectively. The leukemia free survival, transplantation related mortality and relapse rate at 2 year were 20%, 50% and 30%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSecond allo-HSCT is a therapeutic alternative for selected patients with relapsed leukemia after first allo-HSCT.

Adult ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome