Objective:To observe the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) at different intensities on the expression of adiponectin and its receptors in C2C12 myoblasts, and to explore the potential mechanism by which LIPUS promotes the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts.Methods:C2C12 myoblasts cultured in vitro were randomly divided into a control group and U 0.1, U 0.3 and U 0.5 groups. The control group received sham LIPUS exposure, while the U 0.1, U 0.3 and U 0.5 groups were exposed to LIPUS at intensities of 0.1W/cm 2, 0.3W/cm 2 or 0.5W/cm 2 respectively, and 1MHz for 5 min daily for 5 days. Cell viability was measured using CCK-8 assays. Fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions were used to detect the mRNA expression of adiponectin, adiponectin receptor 1 (adipoR1) and T-cadherin in the cells. Western blotting was employed to assess the protein expression of adiponectin, adipoR1, T-cadherin, adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), activated phosphorylated adenylate-activated protein kinase (P-AMPK), embryonic myosin heavy chain (eMHC) and myogenin (MYOG). The differentiation ability of the 4 groups was measured using cell immunofluorescence chemistry. Results:After the intervention the cell viability in the U 0.1, U 0.3 and U 0.5 groups was significantly higher than in the control group. Compared with the control group, the average mRNA expression of adiponectin and the receptors of adipoR1 and T-cadherin were up-regulated significantly in the U 0.3 and U 0.5 groups. The average adiponectin, adipoR1 and T-cadherin protein expressions, and the AMPK phosphorylation level in the U 0.3 and U 0.5 groups had increased significantly compared with the control group, but all were significantly lower than in the U 0.3 group. The average protein expression of eMHC and MYOG, and the C2C12 myoblast fusion indices of the U 0.3 and U 0.5 groups were significantly higher the control group′s averages. Conclusions:LIPUS can promote the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. It is most effective at 0.3W/cm 2, administered for 5min/d at 1MHz with a 20% duty cycle. Its regulatory mechanism may be related to up-regulation of the expression of adiponectin, the adipoR1 and T-cadherin receptors, and the activation of AMPK phosphorylation in C2C12 myoblasts.

Exercise Test ; Female ; Heart Sounds ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Phonocardiography ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology ; Young Adult

In order to find new cephalosporin with more and more potent antibacterial activity, nine new fourth-generation cephalosporins (N1-N9) were synthesized from ethyl 2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-(Z)-2-methoxyiminoacetate (1) via acylation, substitution, hydrolysis, active esterification, condensation and salt formation. The structures of compounds (N1-N9) were confirmed by IR, MS, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. The target compounds possess different antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The preliminary results of antibacterial activities revealed that they showed better antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria than cefpirome sulfate. In particular, their activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus albus are better.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cephalosporins ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; drug effects ; Molecular Structure ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Streptomyces ; drug effects

It is of great clinical significance to investigate noninvasive glucose detection. As one of the most potential methods, the noninvasive glucose detection based on near-infrared has become a hot research area recently. In this paper the principles and research methods of noninvasive glucose detection based on near-infrared spectrum are introduced. With the comparison between the research status at home and abroad in recent years, we summarize and discuss crucial issues in near-infrared noninvasive glucose detection, such as the selection of measurement method, selection of measurement position and choice of wavelength, and, furthermore, setting up models.
Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; blood ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; instrumentation ; methods

Chloroplast-based expression system is promising for the hyper-expression of plant-derived recombinant therapeutic proteins and vaccines. To verify the feasibility of obtaining high-level expression of the SARS subunit vaccine and to provide a suitable plant-derived vaccine production platform against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a 193-amino acid fragment of SARS CoV spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD), fused with the peptide vector cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), was expressed in tobacco chloroplasts. Codon-optimized CTB-RBD sequence was integrated into the chloroplast genome and homoplasmy was obtained, as confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Western blot showed expression of the recombinant fusion protein mostly in soluble monomeric form. Quantification of the recombinant fusion protein CTB-RBD was conducted by ELISA analysis from the transplastomic leaves at different developmental stages, attachment positions and time points in a day and the different expression levels of the CTB-RBD were observed with the highest expression of 10.2% total soluble protein obtained from mature transplastomic leaves. Taken together, our results demonstrate the feasibility of highly expressing SARS subunit vaccine RBD, indicating its potential in subsequent development of a plant-derived recombinant subunit vaccine and reagents production for antibody detection in SARS serological tests.
Chloroplasts ; metabolism ; Cholera Toxin ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; SARS Virus ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus ; biosynthesis ; Tobacco ; metabolism ; Vaccines, Subunit ; biosynthesis

Odor and taste are characteristic properties of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). They are closely related to the chemical compositions in TCM. They are also the outer reflection of TCM quality and an important part of the character identification. This article reviewed the current research on odor and taste identification of TCM, which indicated that odor and taste identification had not been paid enough attention to and its research lagged behind modern social development. Based on current analytical techniques and methods, this article proposed a new idea for odor and taste identification of TCM. The idea emphasized the objectification of odor and taste and TCM identification research should be combined with chemical components analysis.

To further explore the clinical effect of massage therapy on navel,the related ancient literatures were arranged and analyzed,and several methods in ancient clinical were introduced, including stroking navel, rubbing navel, pushing navel, tapping navel and puffing navel. In addition, the theoretical basis of massage therapy on navel were discussed. The results revealed ancient literatures offered abundant theoretical basis to modern clinical practice, and there were evidences of treating gastroenteric and gynecological diseases with this therapy. Comprehensively, through the study of ancient literatures and modern research, therapy of massage on navel is believed to be promising and will gain popularity in the future.
China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Massage ; history ; Medicine in Literature ; Umbilicus ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE Recent studies have demonstrated that the Nlrp3 inflammasome serve as a central role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and endothelial dysfunction occurs in association with several cardiovascular risk factors. Given the demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects of aspirin, the present study was designed to test whether aspirin diminish NLRP3 inflammasome activation and prevent endothelium injury and associated coronary artery damage during LPS. METHODS Mouse carotid arterial endothelial cells (CAECs) were cultured and treated with 0.1-3 mmol·L-1 of aspirin in response to LPS (2 μg·mL-1) stimuli. After 24 h, the Nlrp3 inflammasome complexes consist of varied proteins were analyzed by WB. NO and T-AOC in the supernatant was detected by ELISA. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation for 24 h was observed by DCF fluorescence. The mice were treated with aspirin (12.5 mg·kg-1 per day, 62.5 mg·kg-1 per day, 125 mg·kg-1 per day) and dexametha?sone (0.0182 mg · kg- 1 per day) for 7 d. The level of IL- 1β,IL- 18 protein was detected by ELISA. RESULTS Immunofluorescence results showed the colocalization of Nlrp3 with ASC or caspase 1 decrease in a concentration- dependent manner. Meanwhile, the expression of Nlrp3 and caspase 1 protein was decreased with the concentration of aspirin, but no changes the expression of ASC protein. Nlrp3 protein levels in CAECs were 0.33- 0.8- fold and cle- caspase 1 protein levels in CAECs were 0.48-1-fold compared to those in LPS stimulation when treated with 0.1-3 mmol·L-1 aspirin for 24 h (P<0.01). Aspirin significantly antagonized the effect of LPS on NO (1.22-1.91-fold that of LPS stimulation, P<0.01) and T-AOC expression (1.02-1.90-fold that of LPS stimulation, P<0.01). As the different concentration of aspirin treated, the generation of ROS was 0.51-1.10-fold that of LPS stimulation (P<0.01). In vivo data shown the level of IL-1β, IL-18 protein from serum are in concordance with the level of Nlrp3 inflammasome activation. CONCLUSION We conclude that aspirin has anti- inflammatory properties, protecting CAECs from LPS-induced injury by inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation through ROS pathway.

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of ureteral cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis of 24 cases of primary ureteral cancer treated from January 1990 to March 2005 was performed.The diagnostic value of ultrasound,IVU,CT,MRU and the patients' outcomes were reviewed. There were 19 males and 5 females aged 38-72 years(mean,59 years).The tumors were on the left side in 16 cases and on the right in 8.Of the 24 cases,17(71%)had gross hematuria and 7(29%)had micro- scopic hematuria.Urine cytology was performed in 16 cases with a positive rate of 6.3%.B-ultrasonic exami- nation showed hydronephrosis in 19 cases(79%)and low-echo space-occupying disease of middle-inferior ureter in 3(12%).IVU demonstrated hydronephrosis in 20 cases(83%)and filling defect of the diseased ureter in 3(12%).Retrograde pyelography showed filling defect of the diseased ureter in 16(76%)of 21 cases(5 cases had failure of intubation).CT scan was performed in 20 cases,indicating thickening of the ureteral wall and infiltration of the cancer in 14(70%).In 3 cases who had undergone spiral CT thin layer scan and 1 of 3 cases who had undergone MRU,the definite diagnosis was made.Results All the 24 pa- tients underwent surgical treatment.Among them,nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff or partial resection were performed in 18 cases,and nephrectomy and partial ureterectomy in 6 cases.Postoperative pathology showed transitional cell carcinoma in 23 cases,and adenoma in 1.Of the 14 cases during 1990-1999 peri- od,1,5,3,2,2 and 1 cases had survival time of 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 years,respectively.Of the 10 cases during 2000-2005 period,3 were lost to follow-up;2 survived for 3 years and 2,for 1 year;the other 3 who have survived near 5 years have been followed till now.Conclusions IVU and retrograde urography are the most common diagnostic measures for primary ureteral cancer.They can be used in combination with other imaging study to reduce missed diagnosis rate.The 5-year survival rate was lower because of late pathologic stage of the tumors in the patients of this series.

BACKGROUND:Dexamethasone can improve the cellapoptosis and decrease the number of osteoblasts and bone cells through increasing the time of cellcycle. Protein kinase C is a kind of intraecellular singnal transduction pathways, and there are related reports on the relationship between protein kinase C and cellapoptosis. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism of dexamethasone-induced osteoblast apoptosis via protein kinase C intracellular signal transduction pathway. METHODS:Fetal rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were col ected for osteogenic induction, and the cells were divided into dexamethasone group, phorbol group and star cytochalasin group. The cells in the dexamethasone group were added with 1×10-6 mol/L dexamethasone, the cells in the phorbol group were added with 1×10-6 mol/L dexamethasone and 1×10-7 mol/L phorbol, while the cells in the star cytochalasin group were added with 1×10-6 mol/L dexamethasone and 1×10-7 RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Dexamethasone could induce apoptosis significantly, and after added with mol/L star cytochalasin. The proliferation and inhibition of the cells in different intervention groups were observed, and the content of protein kinase C in the cellmembrane and cytoplasm was measured. phorbol, the apoptosis was increased significantly;while after added with star cytochalasin, the apoptosis was decreased significantly. After added with dexamethasone, the content of protein kinase C in the cytoplasm was significantly decreased, while increased in the cellmembrane. At different time points after added with dexamethasone, the change of the content of protein kinase C in the cytoplasm and cellmembrane was most significant at 30 minutes. The results indicated that mechanism of dexamethasone-induced osteoblast apoptosis was correlated with protein kinase C, and dexamethasone was the agonist of protein kinase C. After the cells were stimulated, the protein kinase C in the cytoplasm wil moved to the cellmembrane, and then the content of protein kinase C in the cytoplasm was decreased, while increased in the cellmembrane.