Objectives: To investigate the effects of adhesion and proliferation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the surface of lactic acid/glycolic acid/asparagic acid-co-polyethylene glycol PLGA-[ASP-PEG] tri-block polymer scaffolds, try to find a new biomaterial to induce seed cells in vitro for bone tissue engineering. Methods: Modified PLGA with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and asparagic acid (ASP) that has many ligands, and synthesis PLGA-[ASP-PEG] polymer material. BMSCs were cultured in PLGA-[ASP-PEG] polymer material and PLGA used as control group. Through precipitation method, MTT assay and total cellular protein detection to test the adhersion and proliferation of BMSCs. Scanning electron microscope is used to observe cells appearance. Results: BMSCs on the surface of PLGA-[ASP-PEG] polymer scaffolds are adherention to the culture flask, the number of cells is much higher than PLGA’s. The precipitation method suggest that adhesion and proliferation of BMSCs on the surface of PLGA-[ASP-PEG] is much higher than the control group(P

Objective To study the variation of the pancreatic head arteries and its value in pan- creas transplantation.Methods The DSA data of 300 cases were studied retrospectively:192 cases of celiac trunk angiography,102 cases of superior mesenteric artery angiography,and 6 cases of the com- bined.The distribution and variation of the arteries on the pancreatic head were observed.Results In the celiac angiography cases,typical gastroduodenal artery,superior pancreaticoduodenal artery and its branches were visualized in 73 cases(38%).The posterior superior panereaticoduodenal artery was not anastomosed with the posterior inferior pancraticoduodenal artery in 3 cases.The posterior pancre- aticoduodenal arcade was discontinued in 1 case.The anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery, posterior superior pancreaticodoodenal artery,and dorsal pancreatic artery were only distributed across the upper head of the pancreas separately but were not anastomosed each other in 1 case.The variation rate of pancreaticoduodenal arterial arcades was 6.8%(5/73).In 102 cases of the superior mesenteric artery angiography,the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery was visualized in 42 cases(41%)while its branches were not visualized.In 6 cases of the combined angiography,superior panereaticoduodenal artery was visualized in all of the cases,of which anterior and posterior arcades were visualized in 4 cases(66.7%).The gastroduodenal artery reconstruction was performed in 3 cases of clinical pancre- as transplantation,all of the receivers maintained a normal blood glucose level after transplantation and no surgical complications were found.Conclusions The superior pancreaticoduodenal artery might of- fer more blood supply than inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery in the pancreatic head.The arterial re- construction of the transplanted pancreas should include the gastroduodenal artery because of the pos- sibility of arterial variation on the pancreatic head.

The study is aimed to explore a rapid method to extract DNA from fried Chinese medicinal products. The alkaline lysis buffer was made of sodium hydroxide, 1% PVP and 1% TritonX-100 and Tris-HCl solution was neutralized, through heat cracking and neutralization two step to extract DNA from processed and prepared products of traditional Chinese medicine. Then universal primes were used to amplify PCR products for fired Chinese medicinal materials. The results indicated the optimized alkaline lysis method for extracting DNA is quick and easy. Extracting of the different processed Sophora japonica of DNA concentration was (420.61 ± 123.91) g x L(-1). Using 5% Chelex-100 resin purification can improve the DNA concentration. Our results showed that the optimized alkaline lysis method is suitable for Chinese medicinal materials for quickly DNA extraction.
Alkalies ; chemistry ; Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hydrolysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sophora ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics

AIM: To investigate the biocolonization of poly 2-hydroxyethy methacrylate (PHEMA) sponge with cornea tissue and evaluate the therapeutic effects of modified porous poly 2-hydroxyethy methacrylate-Polymethyl met-hacrylate (PHEMA-PMMA) Keratoprostheses (KPro) on rabbit and monkey corneas. METHODS:The KPro were made using two-stage polymerization combined with mechanical cutting. The experiment was divided into two groups. In the control group, ten normal rabbit eyes received lamellar implanta-tion of PHEMA sponges. The sponges were obtained 2 weeks, 1,2,3 and 4 months after operation. The cell proliferation and neovascularization inside the sponges were observed using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemistry. In the experimental group, the porous PHEMA-PMMA KPros were inserted into the lamellar pockets of eight rabbit corneas and two monkey corneas (stage I operation). The healing process was investigated by slit-lamp microscopy. The anterior lamellar cornea tissues were removed 3 months after surgery, exposing the under-neath transparent core (stage II operation). The operated eyes were then followed up for 3-6 months.light microscope, fibroblasts started to grow into the cornea 2 weeks after operation; lots of cells, accompanied with new blood vessels, invaded into the cornea 2-3 months after surgery. Invading cells of sponge, as well as keratocytes, were positive for vimentin. Under the electron microscope, the invading cells looked healthy and were surrounded by extracellular matrix and collagen. In 8 rabbit eyes which received KPro implantation, anterior lamellar cornea melting happened in two eyes after the stage II operation. The remaining 6 corneas retained their central cores during observation after the stage II operation.Two monkey operated eyes were found no complication thoughout the whole follow-up.cornea. The modified PHEMA-PMMA KPros have obtained a relatively stable results after implantation into animal corneas.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells.

METHODSRWPE-1 cells cultured in vitro were treated with simvastatin at 0, 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by determination of their proliferation by MTT assay, and their apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Cx43 were detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSAfter 72 hours of treatment with simvastatin at 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L, the inhibition rates of the RWPE-1 cells were (21.07 ± 6.41)%, (34.87 ± 9.65)%, and (47.18 ± 10.88)%, respectively, significantly higher than (1.21 ± 0.54)% in the control group (P < 0.05) and in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the cell apoptosis rates were (0.066 ± 0.016)%, (0.126 ± 0.023)%, and (0.192 ± 0.025)%, respectively, remarkably higher than (0.015 ± 0.005)% in the control (P < 0.05) and also in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were decreasing while those of Bax and Cx43 increasing with the increased concentration of simvastatin (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 was correlated negatively with that of Bcl-2 but positively with that of Bax.

CONCLUSIONSimvastatin inhibits the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and induce their apoptosis by acting on the gap junctional intercellular communication.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

This research was a part of the investigation of traditional Chinese medicine resources survey in Markam. The medicinal plants in natural reserve were studied for the first in this paper. There were 300 species in 202 genera of 54 families, among them there were 7 species of ferns in 5 genera of 5 families, 6 species of gymnosperms in 4 genera of 3 families, and 287 species of angiosperms in 194 genera of 61 families. There were 166 species Tibetan medicinal plants in 102 genera of 47 families. Quantitative analysis was carried out in 6 aspects of family and genus composition, medicinal parts, drug properties, flavour of a drug, Tibetan medicine, toxicity and new plants. The concrete suggestions of protection and exploitation were put forward, which provided scientific basis for the sustainable utilization of medicinal plants in this area.
Biodiversity ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; Tibet

OBJECTIVETo determine whether oral statins can delay the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 50-69-year-old males who came for physical examination in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2008. We designed the inclusion criteria, followed them up for 5 years, and investigated the relationship of oral statins with the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

RESULTSTotally, 653 men met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study, of whom 283 were treated with oral statins (group 1) while the other 370 with none (group 2). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age and baseline IPSS, Qmax, and prostate volume (PV) (P > 0.05). During the follow-up, 24 cases in group 1 and 35 cases in group 2 were excluded for obvious dys-uria. A gradual increase was observed in IPSS in both groups 1 and 2 year by year from the baseline to the 5th year of follow-up, but significantly lower in the former group (4.27 +/- 1.16, 4.63 +/- 1.05, 5.27 +/- 0.96, 6.41 +/- 1.04, 7.21 +/- 1.21, and 7.93 +/-1.50) than in the latter (4.24 +/- 1.35, 5.26 +/- 1.23, 6.84 +/- 1.20, 8.75 +/- 1.84, 10.82 +/- 3.01, and 12.98 +/- 4.21) (P < 0.01); a gradual decrease was seen in Qmax, though markedly higher in group 1 ([26.56 +/- 2.09], [24.06 +/- 1.94], [21.33 +/- 1.66], [19.24 +/- 1.54], [17.44 +/- 1.53], and [16.27 +/- 1.37] ml/s) than in group 2 ([26.74 +/- 2.40], [23.62 +/- 2.01], [20.63 +/- 1.69], [17.72 +/- 1.48], [14.82 +/- 1.11], and [11.86 +/- 1.24] ml/s) (P < 0.01); and a gradual increase was found in PV, but remarkably smaller in the former group ([19.82 +/- 4.94], [22.60 +/- 4.99], [25.80 +/- 5.20], [27.92 +/- 5.05], [29.11 +/- 5.24], and [29.97 +/- 5.26] ml) than in the latter ([20.21 +/- 4.78], [24.30 +/- 4.98], [28.50 +/- 5.14], [32.84 +/- 4.77], [36.99 +/- 4.78], and [40.90 +/- 4.78] ml) (P < 0.01). Longer medication of statins was associated with better efficacy.

CONCLUSIONOral statins can significantly delay the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

Aged ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Longitudinal Studies ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To explore the gene expression of interleukin-13 receptor (IL-13R)?2 and its relationship to proliferation activity of human gliomas.Methods The gene expression of IL-13R?in 50 hu- man gliomas,2 malignant human glioma cell lines and 6 normal brain tissues were studied by RT-PCR.Ki-67 labeling index (Ki267 LI) of all sample were detecteded by immunohistochemical staining.Results Only one normal brain tissues expressed very low IL-13R?2 mRNA,whereas 35 (70%) of 50 human brain tumors expressed 1L-13R?2 mRNA.The positive rate and expression level of IL-13R?2 mRNA were increased with the ascending of WHO tumor grade.(former:rs=0.87;letter:rs=0.69,P＜0.01).The difference of posi- tive rate and expression level of IL-13R 2?mRNA between the low grade and high grade tumors was statistical- ly significant,the proliferation activity of gliomas evaluated by Ki-67LI (Ki-67 Labeling Index,Ki-67LI) was positively correlated with IL-13R?2 gene expression and the tumor grade.Conclusion In human cerebral gliomas,IL-13R?2 genes may play an role in the malignant progression.The expression level of malignancy in molecular level and selecting the target of gene therapy.

Objective To explore the relationship between wild rodent plague and human in wild rodent plague foci of the northwestern area in Yunnan to probe the possible transmission mechanism of wild rodent plague to human. Methods Data of component ratio of rodents and fleas was collected in different areas from 1985 - 1995. Activities and habits of residents regarding the way they keep cats and dogs and parasitic fleas and free fleas indoor were investigated, the dog serum was collected for detecting F1 antibody. Results Eothenomys miletus were main rodents in farmland and shrub, accounting for 48.00% (4753/9902) and 54.50% (4282/7857), Apodemus chevrieri were main rodents in garden, being 50.47% (1332/2639). The component ratio of Neopsylla specialis specialis was 13.31%(229/1720), 12.31%(1678/13 739) and 10.87%(957/8802) respectively in garden, farmland and shrub, higher than in indoor. The component ratio of Frantcpsylla spodix was 39.88% (686/1720), the highest in garden. Thirty-two per cent (32/100) of residents kept cats,in which 63% (20/32) with cat fleas, 68% (68/100) of villages kept dogs, in which 76%(52/68) with fleas. Eighteen parasitic fleas were caught from 43 dogs with a flea index of 0.119 and a rate for fleas of 11.63%, 7 pulex were collected from 17 indoor. Forty-three blood serum samples were obtained from dogs, among which 3 were positive blood serum. Conclusions Residents touch affected animals or media in different situations. The possibility of transmission for wild rodent plague to human exists in loci in a chain of wild rodent plague → fleas or predation → homebred animal plague (cats or dogs) →touching or respiratory → human.