Objective To analyze the stability of chromosome variant ratio of three available transformed corneal cell lines. Methods Chromosome specimens of transformed cells including human corneal epithelial cells(HCE),bovine corneal endothelial cells(BCE) and rabbit corneal epithelial cells(RCE) were prepared by a direct method using regular Giemsa staining. Chromosomes of cells in metaphase were counted under the microscope. Then, the variant ratio of chromosomes and their nuclear types were analyzed. Results The chromosome numbers were 56 to 65, 27 to 34 and 74 to 88 for HCE, BCE and RCE, respectively. Chromosome numbers in the three commonly used and transformed corneal cell lines were changed in comparison to their parent tissues. Conclusion Genotyping study may provide important information for using HCE、BCE、RCE in functional studies.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; Humans

Objective To investigate the clinicopathologic features,diagnosis,differential diagnosis and treatment of sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation(SANT). Methods The clinical data,pathologic characteristics,immunophenotype and postoperative follow-up of SANT were analysed. Results There were no specific findings in the clinical manifestations of the 4 cases of SANT.Grossly,the cut surface of the masses was gray-white and vague nodularity was observed.Microscopically,it was characterized by the multinodular angiomatoid appearance in a fibrosclerotic stroma.The nodules were composed of slit-like,sinusoid-like vascular spaces and were interspersed with a population of spindly or ovoid cells.It was revealed by immunohistochemistry that the expression of CD34 in some vessels' endothelial cells was positive,and CD8 was negative.While in another vessels' endothelial cells,CD8 was positive and CD34 was negative.The expression of SMA,Actin,Vimentin,Collage IV and CD68 was positive in all of the 4 cases,while that of CD21,Desmin and NSE was negative.No relapse or metastasis was found during the follow-up.Conclusion SANT is a rarely encountered benign lesion of the spleen,which should be distinguished from the malignant tumor of the spleen.The diagnosis counts on the pathologic and immunohistochemical findings.It could be cured by splenectomy with a favourable prognosis.

AIM: To observe the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (SMB) on left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH)in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and the expression of c-fos. METHODS: 18 SHRs in 8 weeks old were divided into three groups at random. SMB or distilled water(1 g?kg -1?d -1)was injected intraperitoneally to two groups for 10 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and left ventricular mass index(LVMI)were measured. HE,VG and immunohistochemical staining combined with computed morphometry were used to evaluated the cardiomyocyte size and diameter, the collagen volume fraction(CVF), perivascular circumferential area (PVCA) and c-fos expression in the left ventricular tissue. RESULTS: Compared with 8-week-old rats, the SBP, LVMI, cardiomyocyte size and diameter, CVF, PCVA, c-fos expression increased markedly in the 18th week of SHRs. The LVH stopped and c-fos expression decreased whereas SBP changed slightly in animals treated with SMB. CONCLUSION: Chronic treatment with SMB can inhibit the development of LVH in SHR, which is probably related to the decease of cardiac c-fos.

Objective To investigate the regulatory effects of tuberculin on growth and apoptosis of liver cancer and lung cancer cell lines. Methods HePG2(liver cancer) and A549(lung cancer) cell lines were treated with TB supernatant(TB-SN) with different concentrations. Cell viability was detected by using LIVE/DEAD Viability/Cytotoxicity cell kits including specific fluorescence primer,and cell apoptosis was detected by Vybrant apoptosis assay. Results After treatment with 5% TB-SN for 5 d,cell apoptosis was significantly increased in HePG2 and A549 cell lines.Cell growth of HePG2 and A549 cell lines was inhibited after treatment with TB-SN. Conclusion Tuberculin can induce cell apoptosis and inhibit cell growth of liver cancer and lung cancer cell lines.

Studies on coupled transfer of soil moisture and heat have been widely carried out for decades. However, little work has been done on red soils, widespread in southern China. The simultaneous transfer of soil moisture and heat depends on soil physical properties and the climate conditions. Red soil is heavy clay and high content of free iron and aluminum oxide. The climate conditions are characterized by the clear four seasons and the serious seasonal drought. The great annual and diurnal air temperature differences result in significant fluctuation in soil temperature in top layer. The closed and evaporating columns experiments with red soil were conducted to simulate the coupled transfer of soil water and heat under the overlaying and opening fields' conditions, and to analyze the effects of soil temperature gradient on the water transfer and the effects of initial soil water contents on the transfer of soil water and heat. The closed and evaporating columns were designed similarly with about 18 ℃ temperatures differences between the top and bottom boundary, except of the upper end closed or exposed to the air, respectively.Results showed that in the closed column, water moved towards the cold end driven by temperature gradient, while the transported water decreased with the increasing initial soil water content until the initial soil water content reached to field capacity equivalent,when almost no changes for the soil moisture profile. In the evaporating column, the net transport of soil water was simultaneously driven by evaporation and temperature gradients, and the drier soil was more influenced by temperature gradient than by evaporation. In drier soil, it took a longer time for the temperature to reach equilibrium, because of more net amount of transported water.

Simulation models of heat and water transport have not been rigorously tested for the red soils of southern China.Based on the theory of nonisothermal water-heat coupled transfer, a simulation model, programmed in Visual Basic 6.0, was developed to predict the coupled transfer of water and heat in hilly red soil. A series of soil column experiments for soil water and heat transfer, including soil columns with closed and evaporating top ends, were used to test the simulation model. Results showed that in the closed columns, the temporal and spatial distribution of moisture and heat could be very well predicted by the model,while in the evaporating columns, the simulated soil water contents were somewhat different from the observed ones. In the heat flow equation by Taylor and Lary (1964), the effect of soil water evaporation on the heat flow is not involved, which may be the main reason for the differences between simulated and observed results. The predicted temperatures were not in agreement with the observed one with thermal conductivities calculated by de Vries and Wierenga equations, so that it is suggested that Kh, soil heat conductivity, be multiplied by 8.0 for the first 6.5 h and by 1.2 later on. Sensitivity analysis of soil water and heat coefficients showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, and the water diffusivity, D(θ), had great effects on soil water transport; the variation of soil porosity led to the difference of soil thermal properties, and accordingly changed temperature redistribution,which would affect water redistribution.

Simulation models of heat and water transport have not been rigorously tested for the red soils of southern China. Based on the theory of nonisothermal water-heat coupled transfer, a simulation model, programmed in Visual Basic 6.0, was developed to predict the coupled transfer of water and heat in hilly red soil. A series of soil column experiments for soil water and heat transfer, including soil columns with closed and evaporating top end, were used to test the simulation model. Results showed that in the closed columns, the temporal and spatial distribution of moisture and heat could be very well predicted by the model, while in the evaporating columns, the simulated soil water contents were somewhat different from the observed ones. In the heat flow equation from Taylor and Lary (1964), the effects of soil water evaporation on the heat flow is not involved, which may be the main reason for the differences between simulated and observed results. The predicted temperatures were not in agreement with the observed one with thermal conductivities calculated by de Vries and Wierenga equations, so that it is suggested that K(h), soil heat conductivity, be multiplied by 8.0 for the first 6.5 h and by 1.2 later on. Sensitivity analysis of soil water and heat coefficients showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity, K(S), and the water diffusivity, D(theta), had great effects on soil water transport; the variation of soil porosity led to the difference of soil thermal properties, and accordingly changed temperature redistribution, which would affect water redistribution.

Studies on coupled transfer of soil moisture and heat have been widely carried out for decades. However, little work has been done on red soils, widespread in southern China. The simultaneous transfer of soil moisture and heat depended on soil physical properties and the climate conditions. Red soil is heavy clay and high content of free iron and aluminum oxide. The climate conditions are characterized by the clear four seasons and the serious seasonal drought. The great air temperature differences annually and diurnally result in significant fluctuation in soil temperature in top layer. The closed and evaporating columns experiments with red soil were conducted to simulate the coupled transfer of soil water and heat under the overlaying and opening fields' conditions, and to analyze the effects of soil temperature gradient on the water transfer and the effects of initial soil water contents on the transfer of soil water and heat. The closed and evaporating columns were designed similarly with about 18 degrees C temperatures differences between the top and bottom boundary, except of the upper end closed or exposed to the air, respectively. Results showed that in the closed column, water moved towards the cold end driven by temperature gradient, while the transported water decreased with the increasing initial soil water content until the initial soil water content reached to field capacity equivalent, when almost no changes for the soil moisture profile. In the evaporating column, the net transport of soil water was simultaneously driven by evaporation and temperature gradients, and the drier soil was more influenced by temperature gradient than by evaporation. In drier soil, it took a longer time for the temperature to reach equilibrium, because of more net amount of transported water.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of aqueous extracts of Polygonum multiflorum (AEPM) on bile acid synthesis, metabolism and transfer-related molecules in rat liver and the hepatotoxicity-related mechanism of P. multiflorum.

METHODSprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with 30, 60 g x kg(-1) APEM once everyday for consecutively 28 days. At the end of the experiment, mRNA and protein expressions of hepatic MRP3, MRP2, BSEP, FXR and CYP7A1 were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot

RESULTCompared with the normal group, the AEPM high dose group showed significant increases in mRNA expressions of hepatic MRP3 and BSEP of male rats (P < 0.05); AEPM high and low dose groups revealed a notable decrease in mRNA expressions of hepatic FXR (P < 0.05) and remarkable rises in mRNA expressions of hepatic MRP3, MRP2, BSEP, CYP7A1 among female rats (P < 0.05). According to the test results of western blot assay, AEPM high and low dose groups showed consistent changes in protein and mRNA expressions hepatic MRP3, MRP2, BSEP, FXR, CYP7A1.

CONCLUSIONThe 28 oral administration with AEPM in rats showed a certain effect on expressions of bile acid synthesis, metabolism and transfer-related proteins, as well as cholestatic or choleretic effects in the mRNA expression.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; metabolism ; Cholestasis ; chemically induced ; Fallopia multiflora ; Female ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley