With the capacities of multiple differentiation, immunoregulatory activities and easy handling for isolation and culture expansion, human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been utilized in clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, repair of bone and cartilage defects and treatment of cardiac infarction and liver injury. However, increasingly experimental data indicate that a great deal of issues, such as intra-neutralization of calf serum proteins into cultured MSCs, survival of engrafted cells and subsequent cell differentiation tendency, should be in stringent consideration before clinical trials are designed. In this paper, these issues that should be raised and solved in clinical trials with MSCs were reviewed.
Bone Marrow Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Research Design

Objective To investigate surgical technique and clinical efficacy of Sky bone ex- pander kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures.Methods Eighteen cases with osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures were treated with Sky bone expander kyphoplasty from August 2004 to November 2005.Under the local anesthesia,3.5-5ml of bone cements were injected into each pathologic vertebral body through unipedicle approach after reduction procedure was done with Sky bone expander.Results The postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 to 11 months, with an average of 4.5 months.Back pain was effectively relieved after the operation in all cases.No complications occurred.Conclusion The Sky bone expander kyphoplasty has the advantages of safe- ty,easy operation,minimal invasion,effective restoration of the vertebral body height and fast relief of pain.

The volatile components of roots and stems of Zanthoxylum nitidum were investigated by supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SFE-CO2) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). Thirty-one and fifty-one compounds were identified in the supercritical extracts from roots and stems of Z. nitidum, respectively, and total twenty-seven compounds were the common constituents. Among them, the major constituents in root and stem supercritical extracts were spathulenol (18.49 and 26.18%), n-hexadecanoic acid (14.24% and 12.79%), ar-tumerone (6.95% and 8.88%), oleic acid (8.39% and 5.71%) and hexanoic acid (4.39% and 7.78%). The in-vitro MTT assay showed that the volatile components of roots and stems of Z. nitidum did not exhibited any cytotoxic activity against human cancer Huh-7 and normal IEC-6 cells. These results indicated the same nature of the volatile constituents in the root and stem of Z. nitidum. This investigation may provide further evidence for expansion of medicinal parts of Z. nitidum.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Humans ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) belong to pattern recognition receptors, which perform significant roles in antiviral responses. RLRs can initiate a cascade of signaling transduction that induces the production of type I interferon and activates the interferon signaling pathway, ultimately resulting in antiviral responses. In the course of evolution, viruses have been constantly counteracting host immune systems to facilitate their own survival and replication, and have developed a set of antagonistic strategies. These mainly comprise elusion, disguise and attack strategies to eliminate the activation of RLRs. In virus-infected cells, RLRs recognize viral RNA and then induce antiviral responses. A better understanding of viral antagonistic strategies against RLRs will provide insights into the development of new antiviral medicines. This mini-review concludes that there are three main antagonistic strategies by which RNA viruses can counteract the activation of the RLRs pathway. It aims to provide references and insights for similar studies on viral antagonism in an array of RNA viruses.
DEAD Box Protein 58 ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases ; genetics ; immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; RNA Viruses ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; genetics ; immunology ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; Virus Diseases ; genetics ; immunology ; virology

Objective To synthesize 99Tcm- (hydrazinonictinamide- [Lys3] -bombesin) (tricine)(trisodium triphenylphosphine-3,3',3"-trisulfonate) ((HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS) (tricine) (TPPTS)) and evaluate its biodistribution and binding capability with tumor tissue in Balb/c nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer xenografts. Methods HYNIC was conjugated to the [Lys3] -BBS at pH = 9.0 with SnCl2 as reducing agent and both tricine and TPPTS as coligands for 99Tcm-labeling. 99Tcm-HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS)(tricine) (TPPTS) was purified by Sep-Pak C18 cartridge and was analysed by HPLC. The radiochemical purity and radiolabeling yield were measured. The stability of 99Tcm-(HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS) (tricine)(TPPTS) in serum, biodistribution (% ID/g) in the normal mice and imaging of the Balb/c nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer xenografts in vivo were studied. Results The radiolabeling yield was (90 ±2)% and the radiochemical purity was over 95%. The radiochemical purity after 4 h in serum was over 85%. The distribution in normal mice showed rapid clearance from blood (the uptake was (0.07 ±0.01) %ID/g at 2 h postinjection). 99Tcm-(HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS) (tricine) (TPPTS) was excreted mainly via the kidney with little radioactivity accumulation in the liver and gastrointestinal tract (the uptake of liver, stomach, intestine was (0.27 ±0.03), (0.06 ±0.03), (0.04 ±0.00) %ID/g at 2 h postinjection). Marked uptake of radioactivity was found in tumor tissue of the Balb/c nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer with maximum T/NT ratio of 3.71 ± 0.57 at 2 h postinjection. Conclusions 99Tcm-(HYNIC-[Lys3]-BBS)(tricine) (TPPTS) can be easily prepared with high radiolabeling yield and radiochemical purity. The stability in serum and good biodistribution charateristics make it useful for the diagnosis of human pancreatic cancer with over-expression of the gastric-releasing peptide(GRP) receptor.

To observe the clinical effect of Yisui decoction plus western medicine in treating multiple system atrophy patients, totally 65 patients from China-Japan Friendship hospital during 2008-2012 with complete clinical data and received consecutive traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine treatment for more than 3 months were observed changes of traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, part 1 of unified multiple system atrophy rating scale, orthostatic hypotension before treatment and after 3 months treatment. After 3 months treatment, total effective rate of traditional Chinese medicine symptom was 70.8%. Compared with before treatment, score of part 1 of unified multiple system atrophy rating scale was obviously reduced after 3 month treatment (P < 0.001). Ex- cept swallow function without significant improvement, the remaining projects of unified multiple system atrophy rating scale were im- proved obviously (P < 0.05), of which the most obvious differences were orthostatic symptoms, falls and intestinal function (P < 0.001). Orthostatic hypotension after 1 month treatment and 3 month treatment was obviously better than before treatment (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in orthostatic hypotension between 1 month treatment and 3 month treatment. The research results show that Yisui decoction plus western medicine has a certain effect on improving clinical symptoms of multiple system atrophy patients, especially has a significant effect on orthostatic hypotension, and can maintain a stable clinical effect in a certain period of time.
Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Multiple System Atrophy ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

To make a preliminary study on the mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma(CR) and Rehmanniae Radix(RR) before and after the combined administration in treating type II diabetes mellitus. The type I diabetes animal model in rats was established by fat emulsion and intraperitoneal injection with streptozotocin, in order to compare the hpyerglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of CR, RR and their combined administration of different ratio. The urinary metabolic profiling in rats of Coptidis Rhizoma and Rehmanniae Radix before and after the combined administration was analyzed by using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The differences among groups in metabolome were analyzed by the principal component analysis (PCA). The biochemical index results indicated that both CR and RR before and after the combined administration could lower high blood glucose, hypertriglyceride and high cholesterol. According to the analytical results of PCA of the rats' urine samples, the CR group was the most close to the normal group, with no significant difference in CR and RR group of different combination ratios. Twelve differentiated metabolites were identified to be related to type II diabetes. Compared with the normal group, the CR-treated group showed significant increase in seven differentiated metabolites. Among CR and RR drugs with different combination ratios, CR played a major role and thus acted as the monarch drug. Whereas RR served as the ministerial drug and assisted CR to show the efficacy. This study laid a foundation for the explanation of the combination mechanism of traditional Chinese medicines.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; urine ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rehmannia ; chemistry

Objective The factors influencing the dose distribution of intracavitary brachytherapy for moderately advanced and advanced uterine cervical cancer was studied.Methods Ninty-five patients with cervical cancerⅡ～Ⅲb who received radical radiation therapy in our department from Aug,2004 to Nov,2005,were treated with after-loading brachytherapy using,first,the self-designed“Mutipurpose Hori- zontal Transit Table”(MPHTT) for locating and treatment before the intracavitaray brachytherapy proper. The deviation of isodose curve based on A-B reference system,and the dose of deviation was defined by measuring in a practical standard phantom.Results There were significant influence on the deviation of i- sodose curve in pathology and para-metrial infiltration of cervical cancer and operating skill,but negative to clinical stage.The degree of deviation of isodose curve could not be lowered with the increase in sessions of intracavitary brachytherapy.Conclusions It is necessary to perform the locating,by use of mphtt,before the proper brachytherapy for patients with cervical cancer,not only for the identification of the deviation of i- sodose curve,but also to provide the evidence for revising the plan for dose adjustment of conformal radiation therapy in the pelvic cavity.

Current study was carried out to optimize the priming condition of Oldenlandia diffusa seeds, and improve germination rate and seed vigor of 0. diffusa seeds under drought conditions. Uniform design was used to optimize the concentration and priming time of three priming materials (PEG, KNO3, GA3). Different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to simulate drought stress. The seedling was cultured in 1/4 Hoagland medium for 30 d. The results showed that seed priming treatment with 366 mg x kg(-1) GA3 for 1h resulted in significant increase in germination rate, germination index, vigor, root length, plant height and biomass of O. diffusa seeds under drought stress (15% PEG), while seed priming with 3.0% KNO3 for 1 h showed little effect on germination and growth of O. diffusa seeds under drought stress. Seed priming treatment with appropriate GA3 concentration and priming time could enhance seed germination and drought resistance of O. diffusa in seedling stage.
Droughts ; Germination ; Oldenlandia ; growth & development ; physiology ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; physiology ; Seeds ; growth & development ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulation pattern of the two compound prescriptions for Kidney tonifying, Yougui Yin and Bushen Yishou capsule, in down-regulating T-cell apoptosis gene expression in aged rats.

METHODSExpressions of T-cell apoptosis promoting and inhibiting genes, including Fas, FasL, Bcl-2, Bax, TNFR1 and TNFR2, as well as activity of cysteine proteinase in cascade connection, such as Caspase 8 and Caspase 3 were determined by TUNEL labeled flow cytometry and fluorescence real-time quantitative RT-PCR technique. The difference between old and young rats was compared, and the different regulation patterns of the two compound prescriptions for Kidney tonifying and their effects on Caspase activity were compared with those of compound prescription for blood circulation activating.

RESULTSThe two compound prescriptions for Kidney tonifying could effectively lower T-cell over-apoptosis in old rats, down-regulate FasL and TNFR1 gene transcription, and decrease the activity of Caspase 8 and Caspase 3, while the compound prescription for blood circulation activating showed insignificant effect on T-cell over-apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONKidney-deficiency is closely related to the T-cell over-apoptosis. The T-cell over-apoptosis in old rats could be effectively improved by the two compound prescription for Kidney tonifying through down-regulating the apoptosis promoting genes FasL and TN-FR1 transcription. That is the unique regulation pattern of Kidney tonifying principle to T-cell apoptosis related gene in old rats.

Aging ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blood Circulation ; physiology ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Female ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Yang Deficiency ; immunology ; fas Receptor ; biosynthesis ; genetics