Background:Collagen triple helix repeat containing protein-1(Cthrc1)has been reported playing an important role in liver diseases,especially in liver fibrosis,however,its effect on hepatic stellate cells proliferation is not fully clear. Aims:To investigate the effect of Cthrc1 on proliferation of hepatic stellate cells. Methods:Recombinant adenovirus vector of Cthrc1 was constructed. After injecting Ad-Cthrc1 through tail vein,mRNA and protein expressions of Cthrc1 were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively. Liver fibrosis model was established by bile duct ligation and fed with 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine(DDC)in mice,respectively. The liver fibrosis mice were injected with Ad-Cthrc1 or Ad-GFP through tail vein. Immunofluorescence was used to determine number of hepatic stellate cells. Results:Recombinant Cthrc1-adenovirus vector was successfully constructed. Real-time PCR and Western blotting showed that mRNA and protein expressions of Cthrc1 were increased in Ad-Cthrc1 group than in control group. HE and Masson staining demonstrated that mice model of liver fibrosis was successfully established. Immunofluorescence showed that overexpression of Cthrc1 inhibited significantly the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells. Conclusions:Recombinant adenovirus vector of Ad-Cthrc1 constructed can express stably in vivo,and inhibit the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells. Therefore,Cthrc1 may become a potential target for treatment of liver fibrosis.

Objective To explore the effect of osthole on mast cells and expression of STAT5 gene and protein in them. Methods Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis was made in mice to copy eczema model, then the allergic mast cells were separated, and the ovalbumin was used to induce allergy of mast cells. Different concentrations of osthole were used to intervene the sensitized mast cells.Then the sensitized mast cells were divided into blank control group, osthole high-dose group and low-dose group.At the end of the experiment, morphology of the mast cells was detected by immunofluorescence technology.MTT assay was used to detect the influence of drugs on mast cells proliferation. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of STAT5 gene and protein. Results As compared with blank control group, the number of mast cells in the osthole groups was significantly reduced, cells and nuclei obviously shrank, even apoptosis of some cells could be observed; the inhibition rate of mast cells in osthole groups was significantly increased in concentration-dependent manner ( P<0. 01 ) . As compared with blank control group (2.16±0.57), gene expression of STAT5 was significantly decreased in osthole high-dose group (0.59±0.12) and low-dose group (0.82±0.13) (P<0.01).The protein expression of STAT5 was also significantly decreased in osthole high-dose group and low-dose group as compared with blank control group (P<0.01). Conclusion Osthole can inhibit the proliferation of sensitized mast cells, and reduce the expression of STAT5 gene and protein.

Objective To study the efficiacy and safety of transfacet approach decompression to treat thoracic spinal stenosis caused by anterior compression.Methods Thirty-three patients with thoracic spinal stenosis caused by anterior compression were treated in our institution from April 2005 to April 2009.Nineteen patients with more than 12 months follow-up were included in this study.Among of them,10 were male and 9 were female,with the age ranged from 33 to 77 years(mean,55.9 years).The causes of compression for spinal stenosis included ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL)in 5 cases,thoracic disc herniation(TDH)in 11 cases,OPLL with ossification of ligamentum flavum(OLF)in 2 cases and TDH with OLF in 1 case.All patients underwent anterior decompression via a transfacet approach combined with anterior fusion and posterior fixation.The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score system and Nurick Myelopathy grade were used to evaluate the outcomes.Results The operation time ranged from 180 to 480 min,with an average of 299.5 min and the blood loss was varied from 250 to 2200 ml,with an average of 918.5 ml.Among 7 cases with OPLL(including combined with OLF),2 patients developed neurologic deterioration and 1 patient developed cerebrospinal fluid leakage.There were no neurologic deterioration,cerebrospinal fluid leakage and other complications occurred in 12 cases with TDH(including combined with OLF).The follow-up ranged from 12 to 54 months(mean,28.6 months).The preoperative JOA score ranged from 2 to 11(mean,6.3).The JOA score in the last follow-up ranged from 5 to 11(mean,8.6).According to Nurick Myelopathy grade,the preoperative grade was 0 in 2 cases,1 in 2,2 in 4,3 in 5,4 in 2,and 5 in 4.The number of postoperative grade was 6,6,3,3,1 and 0 respectively.Conclusion Satisfactory decompression could be achieved by using transfacet approach for thoracic spinal stenosis caused by anterior compression.The approach is a safe and promising alternative for thoracic spinal anterior decompression.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether pre-administration of Ganoderma lucidum spore (GASP) can reduce incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in pregnant mice. METHODS: Twenty pregnant mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, solvent-treated group, ATRA-induced group, and GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group. GASP solution, which was prepared with solvent (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), was fed to the pregnant mice in the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group twice a day from embryo (E) 0 d to E10.5 d. The same dose of solvent was given to the pregnant mice in the solvent-treated group. At E7.75 d, ATRA (50 mg/kg) was given to the pregnant mice in both ATRA-induced group and GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group for single time. Embryos were sampled from pregnant mice at E10.5 d. Then the incidence rate of NTDs in mouse embryo was calculated and the crown-rump length of mouse embryo was measured. The positive rate of nestin expression and the distribution of cell cycle of embryonic neural tube neuroepithelial cells were detected by histochemical staining technique and flow cytometry respectively. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the gene expressions of cyclin-dependent protein kinase 2 (Cdk2) and Cdk4 mRNAs. RESULTS: The incidence rates of NTDs in mouse embryos in the ATRA-induced group and the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group were 79.41% and 21.67% respectively, while the crown-rump length of mouse embryos in these two groups were (3.62+/-1.27) mm and (5.84+/-0.92) mm respectively. The positive rate of nestin expression in embryonic neural tube neuroepithelial cells of mouse embryo at E10.5 d in the ATRA-induced group was 32.44%, while that in the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group was 77.65%. The cell cycle of embryonic neural tube neuroepithelial cells was obviously arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase in the ATRA-induced group as compared with that in the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group. The Cdk4 mRNA was transcripted at a high level in embryonic neural tube in the GASP-treated plus ATRA-induced group, but the Cdk2 mRNA was not detected in this group. CONCLUSION: Pre-administration of GASP can reduce the incidence of NTDs induced by ATRA in pregnant mice.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Poisoning ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo control the quality of the product, quantitative fingerprint was used to evaluate the composition of the amino acids in the Xingnao Tongluo injection.

METHODThe method of the quantitative fingerprint to the amino acids composition was established through AccQ Tag precolumn derivatization. The quality was evaluated by the quantitative test of the amino acids and the similarity in ten batches.

RESULTThe Xingnao Tongluo injection contained 12 amino acids and the contents of these amino acids were stable. All the ten batches of the samples had similarity of more than 0.90.

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate, feasible and could be a simple and effective way to evaluate the quality of the traditional Chinese medicine.

Polydatin is a monocrystaline compound isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. (Polygonaceae) with biological properties, such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidative and nephroprotective effects. Increasing number of studies have demonstrated the protective effect of polydatin on renal ischemia reperfusion injury. However, the possible mechanisms of this protection are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of polydatin on ischemia-reperfusion induced expression of toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) in rat renal tubular epithelia cells (NRK-52E), and analyze the mechanism of polydatin on TLR4 signal pathway. The cultured NRK-52E cells were incubated in three gas incubators for a period of 6 h at hypoxia and 24h at reoxygenation to simulate the ischemia-reperfusion injury in vitro. TLR4 mRNA level was analyzed by real-time-PCR, and the protein expression of TLR4 and NF-κB by Western blotting, while TNF-α and IL-1β proteins expressions were detected by ELISA. Polydatin downregulated I/R induced mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4, and decreased the protein expression of NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β. The TLR4 blocker partially antagonized the effect of I/R on NF-κB signaling, and such inhibitory effect was markedly enhanced by polydatin. In the present study, polydatin protects NRK-52E cells from I/R injury possibly by relieving the inflammatory response through regulation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To assess the feasibility and clinical results of video-assisted high anterior transcervical approach (Smith-Robinson) in treatment of spinal lesions of the craniovertebral junction. Methods Between April 2007 to October 2009, nineteen consecutive patients with spinal lesions of the craniovertebral junction were included in the study. There were 9 males and 10 females aged from 16 to 62 years old with a mean of 32 years. The primary pathologies included 4 cases with chronic odontiod fracture, 2 cases with purely irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation, 6 cases with os odonteideum, 1 case with Marfan synd rome, 1 case with primary basilar invagination from Kippel-Feil syndrome, 3 case with axis tumor and 1 case with irreducible rheumatoid atlantoaxial dislocation. All of the patients underwent combined video-assisted high anterior transcervical procedure and posterior fixation at one-stage. The anterior procedure included atlantoaxil release and reduction (8 cases), odontoidectomy (8 cases), and intralesional extracapsular excision and reconstruction (3 tumor cases). The posterior technique were C1-C2 pedicle screw fixation (13 cases), C1-C3 pedicle screw fixation (2 cases), and occipitalcervical fusion (4 cases). Results Anatomical reduction was achieved in eight cases with anterior release and reduction. Tumors were completely removed in three cases with axial tumor. The mean follow-up was 14 months (6-36 months). All of them achieved solid bone fusion. In the 14 patients with symptoms of spinal cord dysfunction, the average Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA)score had improved from 9.1±3.3 preoperatively to 14.1±2.9 postperatively. The improvement rate was excellent for 7 cases, good for 5 cases, fair for lcase and poor for 1 case. One patient experienced leakage of cerebrospinal fluid which was resolved by bioprotein gelatin blocking and lumbar subarachnoid continuous drainage within 1 week. Dysphagia which occurred in 3 cases responded well to dexamethason and mannitol.No infection and hardware failure were observed. Conclusion Video-assisted high anterior transcervical procedure is a safe and effective alternative for treating spinal lesions in the craniovertebral junction.

ObjectiveTo investigate the differences of whole blood chemical elements and urinary fluorine between patients with endemic fluomsis and patients without endemic fluorosis,and to find out the elements associated with endemic fluorosis and further lay a theoretical basis for clarify the pathogenesis of the disease.MethodsUsing case-control study,100 children aged 8 - 12 with dental fluorosis in Wushan and Fengjie counties of Chongqing from December 2010 to February 2011,and 30 adults with skeletal fluorosis were enrolled as case group; 100 children aged 8 - 12 without dental fluorosis and 30 adults without skeletal fluorosis were enrolled as internal control group; and 50 children without dental fluorosis and 30 healthy adults were selected as external control group in non-epidemic areas in Yubei district.Whole blood copper,zinc,calcium,magnesium,iron and urinary fluorine of all subjects were determined,and differences of these indexes were compared between groups.ResultsThe levels of copper,zinc,calcium,magnesium,iron and urinary fluorine of children in the case group were (30.08 ± 2.83),(74.04 ± 9.75)μmol/L,(1.65 ± 0.29),(1.37 ± 0.17),(6.79 ± 1.27)mmol/L,and (0.73 ±0.37)mg/L,respectively; the levels of these elements of children in internal control group were (28.65 ± 3.96),(72.83 ± 11.35)μmol/L,(1.62 ± 0.27),(1.36 ± 0.18),(6.73 ± 1.22)mmol/L,and (0.48 ± 0.21)mg/L,respectively; in external control group were (32.03 ± 2.99),(77.78 ± 10.85)μmol/L,(1.41 ± 0.11),(1.43 ± 0.13),(7.66 ±0.55)mmol/L,and (0.49 ± 0.26)mg/L,respectively(all P＜ 0.05),the comparison between any two groups indicated the levels of copper,zinc,magnesium,iron of the case group were lower than that of external control group,urinary fluorine was higher than that of internal and external control groups(all P ＜ 0.05).The levels of copper,zinc,calcium,magnesium,iron and urinary fluorine of adult case were (26.93 ± 4.37),(95.89 ± 12.45)μmol/L,(1.50 ± 1.76),(1.56 ± 1.96),(8.15 ± 1.00)mmol/L,and (2.17 ± 0.99)mg/L; internal control group were (26.26 ±4.96),(94.86 ± 12.18)μmol/L,(1.57 ± 0.12),(1.46 ± 0.16),(7.64 ± 1.00)mmol/L,and (1.44 ± 1.22)mg/L;external control group were (26.20 ± 2.96),(96.52 ± 11.11)μmol/L,(1.48 ± 0.14),(1.45 ± 0.16),(7.81 ±0.91 )mmol/L,and (0.55 ± 0.21 )mg/L,respectively.The levels of magnesium,iron and urinary fluorine of case group were higher than that of internal control group,magnesium and urinary fluorine were higher than that of external control group(all P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionsIn vivo anti-fluorine elements are deficient in the areas with endemic fluorosis.Other chemical elements,the environment and genetic factors may be related to the pathogenesisof the disease,which needs a further comprehensive analysis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and distribution characteristics of dental fluorosis of children aged 8 - 12 in Wushan and Fengjie counties of Chongqing and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of the disease.MethodsTwenty townships(towns) in Fengjie county and 18 in Wushan county were selected as survey points by random cluster sampling in 2010.Dental fluorosis of all the children aged 8 - 12 was examined with Dean index.The detection rate of children's dental fluorosis,defect rate and dental fluorosis index were compared between the two counties.Results Totally 38 209 children aged 8 - 12 were investigated.The total detection rate of dental fluorosis was 43.09％( 16 466/38 209) in the two counties.The detection rates of dental fluorosis in Wushan and Fengjie were 48.98％ (9397/19 186)and 37.16％(7069/19 023),respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(x2 =544.03,P ＜ 0.01 ).Total detection rates of dental fluorosis of the five age groups(8,9,10,11,and 12-year-old age groups) were 32.52％(2157/6632),40.07％(2672/6668),43.67％(3420/7831 ),46.01％ (3861/8391) and 50.14％ (4356/8687),respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =510.50,P ＜ 0.01),Dental fluorosis indexes in Wushan and Fengjie were 0.713 and 0.485,respectively.Defect rates of dental fluorosis in Wushan and Fengjie were 4.05％ (777/19 186) and 1.57％(298/19 023),respectively.Conclusions The total detection rate of dental fluorosis of the two counties is still high,which gradually increases with age.Wushan is still an endemic area of dental fluorosis,and Fengjie is at the edge of the