The zebra fish model, as an integral animal model, features small volume, high throughput, low cost, short cycle and reliable experimental results, thus has been widely used in medical studies. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) constitute a complex system, their active ingredients and action mechanisms are among study hotspots in during the development of modern TCMs. Along with the constant improvement of advanced technologies and methods, zebra fishes have been increasingly applied in studies on TCMs and shown advantages in active screening, and toxicity and metabolism studies. In this paper, TCM studies by using zebra fishes in recent years are summarized to provide new ideas and methods for basic studies on TCMs.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Animal ; Zebrafish ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism

Objective To screen the valid plasmid targeted toGCN5 among the constructed recombinant plasmids;and to explore the effects of histone acetylizad modification in regulating MSCs differentiation.Methods Exstract the constructed plasmids and transfect them into MSCs induced by 5-aza.For 24 h,observe MSCs;detect the transfect efficiency by flow cytometry;detect expression of protein GCN5 by Western-blot;detect the HAT activity by ELISA.Results Transfect efficiency was more than 20%;Expression of protein GCN5 and HAT activity had no difference in group ZJ1 and ZJ2,but had a significant difference to that in group ZJ3.HAT activity of experiment group was significantly lower than that of control groups.Conclusion The inhibition state of histone acetylation results in plasmid ZJ3,it can inhibit the differentiation process of MSCs.The results provide data for the clinical application of MSCs transplantation.

Objective To study the expression of E-cadherin( E-cad), p-catenin(β-cat) in labial salivary glands of patients with primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome (pSS) in order to explore their role in pathogenesis. Methods Biopsies of labial salivary glands were obtained from 52 patients with pSS and 30 healthy controls. The immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of E-cad and β-cat. Anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies were measured. Semi-quantitative analysis was performed by image analysis software. Ultra-structural changes was used by electron-microscopic techniques. Results ① The area of expression, optical intensity and the accumulated optical intensity of the E-cad group [(2513±1086) μm2, 0.212±0.041, 566 ±297 ] were lower than normal controls. The expression level was reduced as the increase of lymphocyte infiltration focus. ② The area of expression, the optical density and the accumulated optical density of the β- cat group [(12 324±7883) μm2, 0.113±0.031, 566±297] was lower than those of the control group. The expression level was reduced as the increase of the lymphocyte infiltration focus. ③ The E-cad expression and the p-cat expression was positively correlated in the labial gland of patients with pSS. ④ Howev-er, there was difference in the expression of E -cad and β -cat between patients with positive SSA and negative SSA antibodies. Conclusion In salivary samples, the expression of both E-cad and p-cat in patients with pSS is lower than those of the controls. Anti-SSA/SSB antibodies are important parameters of pSS and they may be involved in the pathogenesis of pSS.

This research uses six Agrobacterium rhizogenes R1601, R15384, R1000, A4, R1025 and R1 to infect silymarin explants to induce hairy roots and silibin. All of the six A. rhizogenes can induce Silybum marianum to generate hairy roots and the A. rhizogene A4 shows comparatively high infection on the plant. This research determines the condition to induce silymarin hairy roots by the factors of infection time, pre-culturing, co-culturing and pH value. The fact that MS liquid medium fits the proliferation of silymarin hairy roots is determined. Through PCR molecular identification, it can be seen that the DNA plasmids in the A. rhizogenes are successfully integrated into the genome of transformed roots. Using liquid chromatography, it is determined that the silibin content in silymarin hairy roots is 2.5 times that in the plant In this research, the silymarin hairy roots culturing system is established, which lays a foundation for the study of culturing silymarin hairy roots and producing silibin.
Agrobacterium ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Milk Thistle ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Silymarin ; analysis ; Transformation, Genetic

To compare the performances of community family physicians in different patterns of chronic disease management.From June 2011 to April 2012,3 different models (A,B,C) of chronic disease management were employed for a total of 4972 patients.Statistics analyses were performed.The number of participants,session and average effective working time were different.In terms of standard management of hypertension,diabetic management rate and non on-site management rate,model C was superior to models A and B (P ＜ 0.01).And model A had the lowest rate of non on-site management (P ＜0.05).Though with each own advantage,three models are complementary.But model C reflects the residents' self-management concept of chronic disease.

Objective To assess the function of motor nerve fiber in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) by single-fiber conduction studies.Methods According to the diagnostic standard of DPN issued in Toronto meeting in 2009,on the basis of the result of peroneal nerve conventional conduction study,a total of 65 patients with DPN in the Department of Endocrinology and the Department of Neurology of Tianjin Third Central Hospital from October 2012 to October 2013 were enrolled into the study,from whom 33 had abnormal sensory conduction (sensory-diabetic peripheral neuropathy group,S-DPN group),32 had abnormal sensory motor conduction (sensory motor-diabetic peripheral neuropathy group,SM-DPN group).Single-fiber conduction velocity (SF-CV) and single-fiber distal motor latency (SF-DML)were detected in all subjects.The obtained results were compared with the data from 34 healthy volunteers (control group).The relationship of SF-CV,SF-DML and the duration of diabetes mellitus,fasting glucose,HbA1 c was also studied in DPN patients.Results The SF-CV ((43.1 ± 3.6) m/s) was decreased in S-DPN group compared with control group ((47.5 ± 3.3) m/s,t =5.077,P ＜ 0.01).There were no significant differences in SF-DML ((3.6 ± 0.7) ms),motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV (49.5 ± 2.6)m/s) and DML ((3.4 ± 0.6) ms) in S-DPN group compared with that of control group ((3.4 ± 0.5) ms,(50.9 ± 3.5) m/s,(3.2 ± 0.5) ms,respectively).SM-DPN group had lower SF-CV ((35.2 ± 3.6)m/s,t =9.119,14.219),MCV ((40.9 ± 3.2) m/s,t =11.131,13.025) and increased SF-DML ((4.5±0.7) ms,t=5.692,7.231),DML ((4.2 ±0.7) ms,t=5.561,6.975) compared with the other two groups (P ＜0.01).SF-CV in DPN patients was negatively related to the diabetic duration (r =-0.340,P =0.006),while SF-DML had no correlation with duration of DM,fasting blood glucose and HbAlc.Conclusions Detection of SF-CV is easy to find early motor nerve dysfunction in DPN patients.SF-CV is decreased with the increasing duration of diabetes.

Objective To observe the estrogenic activity of octylphenol(OP) in vitro and to conduct a preliminary study of its mechanism. Methods The estrogenic activity of OP was detected by cell proliferation test of MCF 7 cells in vitro and the mechanism was preliminarily studied by growth curve analysis, cell cycle analysis, tamoxifen(Tam) antagonistic test and apoptosis detection. Results OP was found to have estrogenic activity to stimulate the proliferation of MCF 7 cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the cell proliferation indexes of OP and 17? estradiol(E 2) were higher than those of alcohol. The estrogenic activities of OP and E 2 to stimulate the proliferation of MCR 7 could be antagonized by Tam. Both OP and E 2 could inhibit the cell apoptosis of MCF 7 cells. Conclusion OP possesses estrogenic activity to stimulate the proliferation of MCF 7 cells. The mechanism may be due to binding to the estrogen receptor, which may have effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Objective: To compare two methods (microbial assay and radioimmunoassay) for measuring plasma folate concentrations, and to examine the relationship between plasma folate levels, and alcohol consumption, tobacco use and body mass index, and the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia in China. Methods: We used a microtiter plate microbial assay and a radioimmunoassay to measure the folate concentration in 88 plasma samples. After comparing the results of these two methods and fitting a regression line, we examined the geographical, seasonal, and gender differences in folate concentration of plasma collected from 2 422 adults in south and north areas in China, and evaluated the association of plasma folate concentration, with alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and body mass index, and with the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia, using the data from the two assays. Results: The data from the two assays had a linear relationship ( r =0.879, P =0.000); the regression was Y =0.683 X +0.308 (where X and Y were nature logarithmic transformations of plasma folate by microbial assay and radioimmunoassay, respectively); however, the mean plasma folate levels by microbial assay were much higher than those obtained by radioimmunoassay. Both data sets showed similar plasma folate distributions among Chinese adults, associations with other risk factors, and the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia. We estimated that 19.9% of the Southerners and 67.1% of the Northerners had plasma folate concentrations by radioimmunoassay lower than the 6.8 nmol/L used to define plasma folate deficiency. Conclusion: There is a linear relationship between plasma folate levels determined by microbial assay and radioimmunoassay, but because of the different levels obtained in the two assays, it is difficult to use the microbial assay results to evaluate folate status at this time. The use of 10.5 nmol/L as a cut off for plasma folate deficiency by microbial assay needs further study.

Objective To observe the response of the guiding vane to axial flow pump by testing two types of miniature axial flow pump,which have been developed by our group in recent years.Methods Two types of axial flow pump were tested in a mock circulation apparatus.Results The outputs of the two types of miniature axial flow pump all attain 5L/min against the pressure of 13.332kPa,which is enough for left ventricular assistance.The outputs are similarly related to their pre-load and after-load pressure.In this study,the guiding vane does not produce a significant affection on the hydrodynamic characteristic of the axial follow pump.Conclusion The guiding vane may be neglected in the design to improve the blood compatibility of a axial flow pump heart assist device.

Objective: To study influence of acute hypoxia on the current of voltage-gated potassium channel (IK) in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) of rats. Methods: A total of 20 male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into normoxic control group and acute hypoxia group. The rats in acute hypoxia group were kept in hypoxic chamber for 8 h before experiment. Whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to record IK in PASMC. Results: Acute hypoxia significantly decreased the IK density in PASMC of rats. During -60mV to -10mV of resting membrane potential（RMP）, acute hypoxia did not significantly decrease peak IK density in PASMC of rats, P>0.05; At 0 mV, acute hypoxia significantly decreased the peak IK density in PASMC [from（38.1 ± 5.2） pA / pF decreased to（9.82 ± 2.1） pA / pF ,P<0.05], then along with RMP increase in PASMC, the decreasing amplitude of peak IK density in PASMC gradually increased（P<0.05）; From + 30 mV to+ 60 mV, the decreasing amplitude of peak IK density in PASMC further significantly increased（P<0.01）; At + 60 mV the peak IK density decreased from（38.1 ± 5.2） pA / pF to（9.82 ± 2.1） pA / pF , and the decreasing amplitude reached (46.8±3.3)%. Conclusion: Acute hypoxia can decrease Kv current in PASMC of rats, leading to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.