Objective To study the effect of heart function and histopathology after coronary vein bypass grafting.Methods 16 pigs were divided into experimental group and control group.Following 16 pig models of chronic myocardial isehemia of left ventri- cle were established,the left internal mammary artery (LIMA)-great cardiac vein (GCV) anastomasis in 8 pigs were completed 4 week later.After GCV occlusion at proximal,retrograde coronary venous perfusion was afforded.At 8 week,coronary angiography,echo- cardiography and myocardial radioisotope scanning were performed.After harvesting these hearts,histopathologic examination and electron microscope were undertaken.Results All anastomotic vessels of experimental pigs were smooth.LVEF in experimental group was significant higher than that in control group (P

Objective To study the effect of dynamic stress stimulation on the expression of Sox9 mRNA and protein in metaphyseal chondrocytes in vitro, and to explore the specific mechanism of mechanical signal transduction. Methods The rat metaphyseal chondrocytes separated and cultured for the 3rd generation in vitro were randomly divided into four groups:control group (all interventions were not applied), simple dynamic pressure group (a dynamic pressure stimulus with a size of 90 mmHg and a frequency of 0.1 Hz was applied using an open pressure control culture system), simple calcium antagonist group (the concentration of 10μmol/L nifedipine was given) and dynamic pressure+calcium antagonist group (a dynamic pressure stimulus with a size of 90 mmHg, frequency of 0.1 Hz and concentration of 10 μmol/L nifedipine were given at the same time). The expression of Sox9 mRNA was detected after 24 h intervention by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in four groups. The expression of Sox9 protein was detected by Western blot assay. The intracellular free Ca2+ in metaphyseal chondrocytes was labeled with Fluo-3/AM, and the average fluorescence intensity detected by laser scanning confocal scanning microscopy was compared between four groups. Results The expression of Sox9 mRNA was 3.81 times higher in dynamic stress group than that in the control group, and the protein expression level was 2.33 times higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the expression of Sox9 mRNA and protein between the calcium antagonist group and the control group. The expressions of Sox9 mRNA and protein were lower in dynamic pressure+calcium antagonist group than those in the dynamic stress group, but which were higher than those of control group(P<0.05). The results of average fluorescence intensity showed that there was no significant difference in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration between four groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Dynamic stress stimulation can increase the expression of Sox9 mRNA and protein in rat metaphyseal chondrocytes. There is calcium channel involvement in the mechanical signal transduction.

To efficiently use both cellulose and hemicellulose for lipid production, rice straw was hydrolyzed by a two-step process including dilute acid pretreatment and then enzymatic hydrolysis, and the hydrolysate was used as carbon source for lipid fermentation by Trichosporon fermentans HWZ004. After a simple overliming, the concentrations of acetic acid, furfural and 5-hydroxymethyl-furfural were 0.4 g/L, 0.1 g/L and 0.05 g/L, respectively. The hydrolysate could be used for lipid fermentation with T. fermentans HWZ004 without adding other nutrients except for a small amount of nitrogen source and trace CuSO4.5H2O. The optimum inoculum size, initial pH and temperature were 5.0%, 7.0 and 25 degrees C, respectively. A total biomass of 26.4 g/L with a lipid content of 52.2% (corresponding to a lipid yield of 13.8 g/L) was achieved after cultivation of T. fermentans HWZ004 under the above-mentioned conditions for 7 days. The lipid coefficient (lipid yield on substrate consumed) is 17.0, which is much higher than the corresponding one (11.9) obtained on detoxified rice straw hemicullulose hydrolysate by original yeast T. fermentans CICC 1368. The fatty acid composition of the lipid was found to be similar to that of vegetable oil and its unsaturated fatty acid content was over 70%, thus the lipid is a promising material for biodiesel production.
Fermentation ; Lignin ; metabolism ; Oils ; metabolism ; Oryza ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Trichosporon ; metabolism

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

To look for the toxicity fraction of Euphorbia pekinensis and discuss the vinegar processing mechanism. The level of intestinal edema, water content of intestine and stool, IC50 values of IEC-6 were applied to evaluate the toxicity of different fractions. RT-PCR was employed for detecting AQP1, AQP3 mRNA expression. The petroleum ether (PE) fraction and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction could significant cause intestinal edema in mice, increase the water content of duodenum, colon and stool, inhibited the mRNA expression of AQP1 and increased the mRNA level of AQP3 in colon, and the petroleum ether (PE) fraction was more poisonous. After the petroleum ether (PE) fraction was processed with vinegar, the level of intestinal edema, water content of duodenum, colon, stool and inhibition ratio of cells line were reduced. And we compared the composition change after vinegar processing, finding that the conpekinensis.
Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Molecular Structure

AIM To identify the active anti-chronic nephrotic substance of Rostellularia procunbens (L.) Nees,and to study its mechanism.METHODS Rat glomerular mesangial cells (HBZY-1) were developed into nephrotic cell models by LPS.The activities of extract of petroleum ether,ethyl acetate,n-butanol and water were screened by MTT and ELISA kit,after which isolation and purification of the various compounds were achieved,and their effects on the expression of TLR4/NF-κB pathway were determined by Western blot.RESULTS Both extracts of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate exhibited anti-nephrotic activity,and Justicidin A was determined to be the active compound inhibiting both the proliferation of mesangial cells and the release of cytokines to some extent.CONCLUSION Rostellularia procunbens (L.) Nees may inhibit the expression of inflammatory proteins through TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway to prevent chronic nephritis.

BACKGROUNDPachymic acid (PA), a natural triterpenoid, is known to significantly reduce cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in vitro through initiation of mitochondria dysfunction. However, its effect on immune cells and anti-rejection following organ transplantation remains unknown.

METHODSIn this study, we investigated PA as a treatment to control acute rejection occurred in rats which had accepted cardiac transplantation. We measured apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBLs), and CD4(+) lymphocyte, as well as the number of CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes and the effect of PA on acute rejection in rats 7 days after cardiac transplantation.

RESULTSPA treatment might decrease allograft rejection, protect PBLs from apoptosis, and reduce the percentage of CD8(+) lymphocyte. PA neither regulated the number nor the apoptosis rate of CD4(+) lymphocyte.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings indicated that PA has an anti-apoptotic effect acting on PBLs through a novel mechanism involving stabilization of the PBLs mitochondrial transmembrane potential, an anti-rejection effect in rats after cardiac transplantation and an inhibiting effect to CD8(+) lymphocyte.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Graft Rejection ; drug therapy ; Heart Transplantation ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Triterpenes ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study whether intraspinally transplanted human cord blood CD34+ cells can survive, differentiate, and improve neurological functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into two groups. One group of rats was subjected to spinal cord left-hemisection and transplanted with human cord blood CD34+ cells labeled by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU); The other group was carried by left-hemisection with injection of PBS (control group). The neurological function was determined before and 24 h, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after spinal cord injury and cell transplantation using the modified Tarlov score. The distribution and differentiation of transplanted human cord blood cells in vivo in rat spinal cord were evaluated by histological and immnuhistochemical analysis.

RESULTSFunctional recovery determined by modified Tarlov score was significantly improved in the group receiving human cord blood CD34+ cells compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, human cord blood CD34+ cells were found to survive in rat spinal cord microenvironment, with the expression of the neural nuclear specific protein (NeuN) in 2% BrdU-reactive human cells and of the astrocytic specific protein glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in 7% BrdU-reactive human cells.

CONCLUSIONSIntraspinally administered human cord blood CD34+ cells can survive, differentiate, and improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats. Transplantation of human cord blood cells may provide a novel strategy for the treatment of neural injury.

4-Hydroxycoumarins ; Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; surgery ; Stem Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUNDCelecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used as an adjuvant to sensitize cancer cells to apoptosis. However, in rats suffering from acute rejection, celecoxib reduced apoptosis of myocardial cells. We hypothesize that celecoxib reduces myocardial apoptosis either by inducing apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) or by altering the percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes.

METHODSAfter cardiac transplantation, rats were administered intragastrically with celecoxib (50 mg/kg per day) for 3, 5 or 7 days, at which time the graft was excised and evaluated for organ rejection. In addition, PBLs were isolated from the blood to determine PBLs apoptosis, and the percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes.

RESULTSCelecoxib induced PBLs apoptosis in 3 days, but protected the cells from apoptosis at 5 and 7 days. Also, the percentage of CD4(+) lymphocytes decreased only at 3 days, but a reduction in the percentage of CD8(+) lymphocytes was not seen until 7 days after the transplant surgery. Celecoxib only decreased acute rejection at 5 days, with no discernible difference in rejection after 3 and 7 days.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggested that celecoxib displayed a multiple physiological function in a time-dependent manner.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Celecoxib ; Cells, Cultured ; Graft Rejection ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Heart Transplantation ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Transplantation, Homologous ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on angiogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODSFocal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 120 min in adult SD rats with intracerebroventricular VIP administration at the beginning of reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assay BrdU immunoreactive endothelial cells, expressions of VEGF, flt-1 and flk-1 in the ischemic zone, and the protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the brain was measured using Western blotting.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical staining revealed significantly increased BrdU immunoreactive endothelial cells on the margins of the ischemic lesion in rats treated with VIP as compared with that in the control rats (P<0.05). VIP significantly increased the number of VEGF immunoreactive cells and flt-1- and flk-1-positive endothelial cells in comparison with the control group (P<0.01). Western blotting showed that VIP treatment resulted in significantly increased VEGF protein level in the ipsilateral hemisphere (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSVIP enhances angiogenesis in the ischemic brain by increasing the expressions of VEGF in the brain tissue and its receptors flt-1 and flk-1 in the endothelial cells.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; pharmacology