OBJECTIVE: To study the immunomodulatory effects of the polysaccharide Cistanche Deserticola Y C Ma (CDPS) and its mechanism. METHODS: The immunomodulatory function of CDPS was studied in vitro by observing the proliferation of murine thymus lymphocytes, which was measured with MTT method. The effects of CDPS on cell cycle and thymus intracellular calcium delivering were studied with FACScan flow cytometer. RESULTS: The inhibition function of ISO and DEX and high concentration of TNFgamma on lymphocyte proliferation was decreased with CDPS at higher concentration. It could stimulate the division of thymus lymphocyte and promote thymus intracellular calcium delivering. CONCLUSION: The enhancing effect of CDPS on murine thymus lymphocyte proliferation is related to its promotion on thymus intracellular calcium delivering.

Objective To study the expression and the relation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)and matrix metal proteinase-2(MMP-2)in rectal cancer and evaluate their roles in rectal carcinogen- esis and development.Methods The expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in 52 cases of rectal cancer was de- tected by immunohistochemical SP technique.12 cases normal rectal tissue served as the control group.Re- suits The expression of VEGF in rectal carcinoma(67.3 %)was much higher than that in control group(P

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of P57(kip2) and Maspin in the pathological scar and their possible role in the pathogenesis of abnormal scars.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry integrated image analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-RCR) were performed to detect the expression of P57(kip2) and Maspin in hypertrophic scar, keloid, mature scar and normal skin. Statistics was used to analyze the datas.

RESULTSThe expression of P57(kip2) protein was fixed to fibroblast intranuclear in abnormal scar, and the expression of P57(kip2) protein and P57(kip2) mRNA decreased (P < 0.05). The expression of Maspin protein was fixed to fibroblast cytoplasm and intranuclear in abnormal scar, and the expression of Maspin protein and Maspin mRNA decrease, compared with that in normal group (P < 0.05). There was positive correlation between P57(kip2) protein and Maspin protein expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe decreased expression of P57(kip2) and Maspin in abnormal scar shows that they are cicatrix-related genes. There is a positive relationship between the two genes. It may be one of the mechanisms of pathogenesis of abnormal scar. It makes effect through fibroblasts.

Cicatrix ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Humans ; Serpins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ultrastructural variation of the facial nerve of rabbit with different dosage of (125)I seed brachytherapy.

METHODSFifty-four big ear rabbits were divided into 3 groups randomly and given 40 Gy, 80 Gy, 120 Gy respectively. Radioactive seeds were implanted in one side of parotid gland, the other side was implanted with vacant shell as a control group. The facial nerves were obtained 2, 4, 6 months respectively after operation and the histological ultrastructural changes observed by electromicroscope.

RESULTSIn the control group, epineurium was continuous, there was slight pitting edema under the epineurium, and axonal myelin was loose. In the test groups, there was slight pitting edema under the epineurium, and axonal myelin sheath was loose at 4th month. Macrophage and regenerated fibers were found in the 80 Gy group and myelin sheath lamellar separation, regeneration of nerve in the 120 Gy dosage. The myelin sheath lamellar was separated and axonal myelin loose in the test group at 6th month. Myelin sheath amellar separation and edema under the epineurium were found in the group of 80 Gy and 120 Gy.

CONCLUSIONSThe ultrastructure of the facial nerve is damaged by the dosage of 40 Gy, 80 Gy brachytherapy with (125)I seeds. The higher dosage the nerve receives, the more serious the damage will be. Both of the epineurium and axonal myelin sheath are integral and continuous 6 months after operation with dosage of 120 Gy.

Animals ; Brachytherapy ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Facial Nerve ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; administration & dosage ; radiation effects ; Male ; Rabbits ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; pathology ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo screen microRNAs with specific expression of in hippocampus of rats with chronic stress induced depression model, and observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine Chaihu Shugan San on the expression of microRNA in hippocampus.

METHODSD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the normal control group, the model control group and the Chaihu Shugan San group. The depression model was replicated by unpredictable chronic mild stress combined with separation. Behavioral changes of the rats were observed by Open-field test and sucrose solution consumption test, and the expression of microRNAs in hippocampus was assayed by microRNA micro-array.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, there were 13 specific miRNAs in hippocampus in the model control group with the expression difference of more than 2 times. Among them, down-regulating miRNAs included miR298, miR-130b, miR-135a, miR-323, miR-503, miR-15b, miR-532, and miR-125a, and the up-regulation miRNAs included miR7a, miR-212, miR-124, miR-139, and miR-182. Among the 13 specific miRNAs, miR-125a and miR-182 recovered to normal after intervention with Chaihu Shugan San in the Chaihu Shugan San group.

CONCLUSIONThis study preliminarily found that 13 specific miRNAs in hippocampus are related to depression. Among them, miR-125a and miR-182 recover to normal after intervention with Chaihu Shugan San, which may be the target points of the antidepressant effect of Chaihu Shugan San. We shall further analyze the target genes and their mechanisms.

Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Depression ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; psychology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adult ; Cartilage Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; surgery ; Menisci, Tibial ; surgery

BACKGROUNDThe one-stage pull-through procedures for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) have become popular because it is well accepted by surgeons and mothers with no visible scar and a short hospital stay. It represents the latest development in the concept of a minimally invasive surgery for HD. We introduce a new method of transanal one-stage pull-through for Hirschsprung's disease, different from the transanal Soave procedure.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-four patients aged 9 days to 5 years underwent a transanal one-stage pull-through procedure. The diagnosis was definite by barium enema or rectal biopsies preoperatively. The patients were anesthetized and placed in the lithotomy position. A urinary catheter was optional. Giving anorectal dilatations for half a minute, a pull-through of the rectum above the peritoneal reflection and into the intussusception was performed. Fine silk suturing was performed circumferentially at the level of that point which was used for traction for the distal end. Another circumferential suture was performed parallel 0.5 cm distance above the original one and used for traction for the proximal intestines. The full-thickness rectal wall was truncated between the above two circumferential sutures with cautery. The proximal intestines were pulled down and the mesenteric vessels were dissected with ligation until normal intestines were accessed; the presence of ganglion cells was determined by intraoperative rapid frozen section. The distal end was dissected anteriorly 2.5- 3.5 cm above the dentate line. The posterior rectal wall was split longitudinally and dissected to a point 0.5- 1.0 cm above the dentate line. The segment of the lesion was resected. The length of bowel resected ranged from 12 to 50 cm (median 16.5 cm). An oblique anastomosis was made.

RESULTSThe mean operating time was 70 minutes. Postoperative rectal dilation was not required. The patient tolerated feeding on the first postoperative day. Eighty-eight patients were followed-up. All these patients had 2- 3 bowel movements per day at postoperative month 1. They were discharged within 4.5 days after the operation. Six patients presented with complications. All recovered by reoperation or conservative treatments.

CONCLUSIONThe modification of the transanal Swenson pull-through procedure for Hirschsprung's Disease is an easy adaptation to a well-established technique and has a reasonable result.

Anal Canal ; surgery ; Child, Preschool ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Female ; Hirschsprung Disease ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of Dendrobium chrysotoxum.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by various column chromatographic methods and structurally elucidated by spectral evidences.

RESULTTen compounds were obtained and identified as (+)-syringare sinol (1), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxy-24( R)-methycholesta-6, 22-dien-3beta-ol (2), trans-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-acrylic acid octacosyl ester (3), defusin (4), 3, 4-dihydroxy benzoic acid (5), 3, 4-dimethoxy-benzoic acid (6), vanillic acid (7), 3, 4-dimethoxy-benzoic acid methyl ester (8), 3, 5-dibromo-2-aminobenzaldehyde (9), heptadecanoic acid 2, 3-dihydroxy-propyl ester (10).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1, 2 and 6-10 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Vanillic Acid ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of morphology and erectile function of the cavernous tissues in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

METHODSSpontaneously hypertensive male rats (SHR) (n = 15) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) (n = 15) were studied for 20 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly by the tail/cuff method. Erectile function was tested by injecting apomorphine (APO). The expression alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and collagen III was examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSSHR showed a higher systolic blood pressure (205.7 +/- 11.9 vs 114.3 +/- 10.2 mm Hg) and a lower erection frequency (0.6 +/- 0.5 vs 2.4 +/- 0.6). The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and collagen III in the cavernous tissues in the SHR was significantly higher than in the WKY.

CONCLUSIONThe erectile function of the penis is markedly affected by hypertension, and the pathological changes may be one of the most important mechanisms of decreased erectile function in SHR.

Actins ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Apomorphine ; administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Collagen Type III ; biosynthesis ; Hypertension ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Penis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY

To investigate the resources of medicinal plant, such as wild Apocynum, supervised classification based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and texture feature were used to monitor wild medicinal plants from image captured by ZY-3 and World-view-2 and compare which satellite Image are more appropriate to monitor the wild medicinal plants. The research results shows that: for more complex growth conditions wild medicinal plants Apocynum, high-resolution images Worldview-2 is more suitable for its remote identification, the low-resolution satellite ZY-3 can only recognizes the wild medicinal plants which distributed intensively. If the study target distribution is more intensive and larger scale, and cultivated type medicinal plants, the use of satellite ZY-3 in low resolution remote sensing data to identify the target can be a good choice, it is not necessary to buy high-resolution data, in order to avoid waste of expenditure, for the scattered distribution, the high-resolution satellite imagery data may be indispensable to identify targets.
Apocynum ; chemistry ; growth & development ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Geographic Information Systems ; Plant Dispersal ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Remote Sensing Technology ; methods