Dengue (DEN) virus is a member of the family flaviviridae which consists of a group of enveloped viruses with a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome. DEN virus infection is initiated by the binding of envelope protein E to cellular receptor,followed by replication in cytoplasm which associated with a range of induced membrane structures. Further characterization of the DEN replication complex (RC) showed the involvement of NS1, NS2A, NS3, NS4A, and NS5 proteins as the viral replicase. The DEN virion maturation is associated with the cleavage of precursor of protein C by NS2B/NS3 protease and the glucosylase-mediated N-linked oligosaccharide trimming of prM, E protein. This review summarizes recent advance in research on DEN virus life cycle, emphasizing cellular receptor, RNA replication and virion assembly.

p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), an important member of AGC family, is a kind of multifunctional Ser/Thr kinases, which plays an important role in mTOR signaling cascade. The p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase is closely associated with diverse cellular processes such as protein synthesis, mRNA processing, glucose homeostasis, cell growth and apoptosis. Recent studies have highlighted the important role of S6K in cancer, which arose interests of scientific researchers for the design and discovery of anti-cancer agents. Herein, the mechanisms of S6K and available inhibitors are reviewed.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Humans ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; chemistry ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Objective To study the effect of bromocriptine(BRC) on the activation of T lymphocyte stimulated by phytohemagglutinin(PHA).Methods After CD4+ T cell line Jurkat E6-1 cells were stimulated by PHA,prolactin(PRL) and BRC,respectively,the expression of linker for activation of T cells(LAT) and zeta-chain T cell receptor associated protein kinase 70 000(ZAP-70) mRNA of T lymphocytes were checked by RT-PCR.The expression of PRL mRNA of T lymphocytes was detected by Real time PCR.The expression of CD25(cluster of differentiation) as a marker of early activation on the surface of T lymphocytes was detected by flow cytometry,and the activation of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) was detected by luciferase reporter system.Results 1.BRC inhibited the expression of ZAP-70 as the common signal molecules both in the T lymphocyte activation pathway and PRL-prolactin-prolactin receptor(PRLR) signal transduction pathway,and decreased the expression of PRL mRNA produced by activation T lymphocytes.2.BRC enhanced the expression of LAT mRNA as another important signal molecular on the T lymphocytes and CD25 on the surface of the T lymphocytes.3.The activation of NF-?B of T lymphocytes was decreased.Conclusions BRC might inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes by inhibiting the expression of ZAP-70,the common signal molecules between T lymphocytes activation and PRL-PRL pathway,and PRL mRNA,the like-T lymphocyte growth factor.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 6-gingerol, the main active component of ginger, on hair shaft elongation in vitro and hair growth in vivo.

METHODSFirstly, Hair follicles were co-cultured with 3 different concentration of 6-gingerol for 5 days and hair elongation in three groups was measured. Secondly, The proliferative effect of 6-gingerol on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. Thirdly, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in DPCs were measured using Western blotting. In vivo study, the influence of 6-gingerol on hair growth in C57BL/6 rats was measured through topical application of 6-gingerol on the dorsal skin of each animal.

RESULTSThe length of hair shaft in 20 microg/ml 6-Gingerol group (0.50 +/- 0.08 mm) is less than 0 microg/ml (0.66 +/- 0.19) mm and 10 microg/ml (0.64 +/- 0.03) mm 6-Gingerol group (P < 0.05). In cell culture, compared to 0 microg/ml and 5 microg/ml 6-Gingerol, 10 microg/ml 6-Gingerol can significantly inhibited the proliferation of DPCs (P < 0.05). Along with the growth inhibition of DPCs by 6-gingerol, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased obviously. In vivo study, the hair length and density decreased a lot after using 1 mg/ml 6-gingerol.

CONCLUSIONS6-Gingerol can suppress human hair shaft elongation because it has pro-apoptotic effects on DPCs via increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. It might inhibit hair growth by prolonging the telogen stage in vivo.

Animals ; Catechols ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Fatty Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Hair ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of melatonin on residual hair follicle cells of scald rats at early stage.

METHODSEighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into scald group, treatment group, sham group , with 6 rats in each group. The rats in scald group and treatment group were subjected to 30% TBSA partial thickness scald on the back, and were resuscitated with balanced solution after 1 hour, while those in sham group were immersed in water at 37 degrees C for 25 s to simulate scald, and did not receive fluid replacement. Rats in treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg/kg melatonin solution at 1 minute, 8 hours and 12 hours after scald, while those in sham group and scald group were given equal volume of 1% alcohol sodium-isotonic saline instead. Tissue samples were harvested at 6, 12 and 24 post scald hours (PSH) for determination of MDA and GSH levels. Apoptosis of residul hair follicle was detected by TUNEL method and immunohistochemistry of caspase-3.

RESULTSThe level of MDA in scald group at each time point was much higher than that in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05), and it peaked at 12 PSH. The changes in GSH were just opposite to that of MDA. Under fluorescence microscope, the residual hair follicle cells were blue, and the apoptotic cells appeared green. The apoptosis rate in scald group at 6, 12, 24 PSH was obviously higher than that in sham (P < 0.01) and treatment groups (P < 0.05), which was (20.2 +/- 3.4)% vs (4.3 +/- 2.3)% vs (10.9 +/- 3.2)%, (31.2 +/- 3.6)% vs (5.1 +/- 2.5)% vs (19.1 +/- 3.7)%, (22.4 +/- 2.7)% vs (4.1 +/- 2.4)% vs (13.1 +/- 3.4)%, respectively. The score of caspase-3 positive cell in scald group was higher than those in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is obvious correlation between oxidative stress and apoptosis rate of hair follicle cells in rats with partial thickness scald. Early administration of melatonin may have anti-apoptosis ability for residual hair follicle cells by attenuation of oxidative stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Melatonin ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence

‘Program of teaching quality and teaching reform in institutions of higher education' (‘quality project' for short)is a significant measure to deepen the teaching reform of university and to improve the teaching quality of universities in a new age.The present situation of‘ quality project' system construction was analyzed and the experiences were summed up.Meanwhile the problems of emphasizing project declaring and ignoring educating,emphasizing quantity and despising feature were pointed out and the measures to promote all-round development,distinctive cultivation and coordinated management based on the needs of teachers and students were proposed.All these will future promote the development of ‘quality project' system.

BACKGROUND: Bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) is one of the most important cytokines that induce and promote seed cells to be transformed into osteocytes. Insoluble natural BMP can hardly affect the life of cultured seed cells. The expensive soluble recombinant BMP is also hard to work on the seed cells at the appropriate time and dose. Therefore, gene therapy technique provides us with a brand new idea of using gene-modified seed cells.OBJECTIVE: To transfect exogenous BMP-3 gene into the fibroblasts and screen the positive fibroblast clones that can express BMP-3 stably.DESIGN: Simple sample study.SETTING: Orthopaedic Research Institute, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The fibroblasts(NIH3T3) were kindly presented by Professor Situ Zhen-qiang of the Stomatological College of Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.METHODS: This experiment was conducted in the Key Laboratory of Chinese PLA, which belongs to the Orthopaedic Research Institute of Fourth Military Medical University. BMP-3 gene was transfected into the fibroblasts through lipofectamin. The transfected cells were screened by G418. The separated cloned cells were identified through immunohistochemistry. The positively stained cells were the clones of BMP-3 expressing fibroblasts.MAIT OUTCOME MEASURES: The screening concentration of NIH3T3 cells, screening of positive transfected cells, and expression of BMP-3 in screened cells.RESULTS: BMP-3 gene was successfully transfected into the fibroblasts. BMP-3 expressing fibroblast clones were creened and identified through immunohistochemistry. Fibroblast strains with stable BMP-3 expression were obtained.CONCLUSION: The transfection of BMP-3 gene eukaryonic expression vector into the fibroblasts and obtaining of fibroblast strains with BMP-3 expression have laid foundation for the usage of gene-modified seed cells in future research of bone tissue engineering.

This article mainly summarise the results of the chemical compositions and their pharmacological activities of Arnebiae Radix since 1966. The chemistry components isolated from Arnebiae Radix are mainly naphthoquinone, monoterpene phenol and quinone, phenolic acids and their salts, alkaloids, aliphatic and esters. Pharmacological results showed that the chemical compositions and the extracts of Arnebiae Radix have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, hepatoprotection, antioxidant, anti-tumor and immune function and other activities. This article hopefully to provide a reference for further research, development and utilization of Arnebiae Radix.
Animals ; Boraginaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe and evaluate objectively the clinical effect of Guilong Tongluo Capsule (GTC) in treating chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

METHODSSixty CIDP patients were equally randomized into two groups. The treated group was administered with GTC and prednisone, while the control group with prednisone alone. Changes before and after 3-month treatment in terms of muscle force, functional and sensory disturbance of extremities, as well as scoring by Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) and electromyogram (EMG) for nerve conduction velocity were observed and compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate gained in the treated group and the control group was 90.0% (27/30) and 70.0% (21/30) respectively, showing significant difference between them (chi2 = 14.82, P < 0.01). The improvement in the treated group was superior to the control group in muscle force of lower limb, motive and sensory function of extremities, ADL scores and motive function of ulnar nerve (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe curative effect of GTC combined with prednisone in treating CIDP was better than that of prednisone alone.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating ; drug therapy ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult