Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; therapy ; Aorta ; Catheterization ; methods ; Humans ; Male

Coronary Restenosis ; pathology ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosis

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of substrate stiffness on proliferation, migration of fibroblast and integrin β(1) expression in fibroblast.

METHODSFibroblasts were inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (16.2 ± 0.5), (19.8 ± 1.1), and (200.1 ± 2.6) kPa. After being cultured for 5 days or 6 days, cells were counted and cell proliferative activities (recorded as absorbance value) were assessed with methyl thiazolyl blue (MTT). After being cultured for 3 days, cell cycle was detected and proliferation index (PI) was calculated. The cell scratch test was used for determination of cell migration rate on post scratch day (PSD) 0 (the day of scratch), 1, 2, and 3. After being cultured for 2 days, the expression of integrin β(1) was determined by flow cytometry with fluorescence. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS(1) The proliferative speed and proliferative activity of fibroblasts were all increased along with the increase in substrate stiffness. PI of fibroblasts inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (16.2 ± 0.5), (19.8 ± 1.1), and (200.1 ± 2.6) kPa was respectively 24.8%, 27.4%, 32.4%. On PSD 2, migration rate of fibroblasts inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (19.8 ± 1.1) and (200.1 ± 2.6) kPa was respectively (91.4 ± 5.1)%, (100.0 ± 1.3)%, which were higher than that of fibroblasts inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (16.2 ± 0.5) kPa [(55.8 ± 6.8)%, with F value respectively 3.5, 4.0, P values all below 0.01]. (3) The expression rate of integrin β(1) in fibroblasts inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (16.2 ± 0.5) kPa was the lowest (43.22%), and that in fibroblast inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (200.1 ± 2.6) kPa was the highest (81.26%).

CONCLUSIONSSubstrate stiffness may have a great effect on proliferation and migration of fibroblast during the process of wound healing and scar formation, which can be related to regulation of integrin β(1) expression.

Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Integrin beta1 ; metabolism ; Mechanical Phenomena ; Silicon

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of American Ginseng Capsule (AGC) on the liver oxidative injury and the Nrf2 protein expression in the liver tissue of rats exposed by 900 MHz cell phone electromagnetic radiation.

METHODSTotally 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Shuifei Jibin Capsule (SJC) group, and the AGC group,10 in each group. Rats in the normal control group were not irradiated. Rats in the rest three groups were exposed by imitated 900 MHz cellular phone for 4 h in 12 consecutive days. Meanwhile, rats in the SJC group and the AGC group were intragastrically administrated with suspension of SJC and AGC (1 mL/200 g body weight) respectively. Normal saline was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. The histolomorphological changes of the liver tissue were observed by HE staining. Contents of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX)were detected by colorimetry. The Nrf2 protein expression of hepatocytes was detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, hepatocyte nucleus was atrophied or partially disappeared, the contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein obviously increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); contents of liver SOD and GSH decreased (P <0. 05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, karyopyknosis was obviously attenuated and approached to the normal level in the SJC group and the AGC group. The contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P <0. 05), and the contents of liver SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX obviously increased (P < 0.05) in the SJC group. The contents of liver MDA and the Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P < 0.05), and contents of SOD and GSH obviously increased in the AGC group (P <0.01, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe electromagnetic radiation induced by 900 MHz cell phone could affect the expression of Nrf2 protein, induce oxidative injury, and induce abnormal morphology of liver cells. SJC and AGC could promote the morphological recovery of the liver cells. Its mechanism might be related to affecting the expression of Nrf2 protein and attenuating oxidative damage of liver cells.

Animals ; Cell Phone ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Liver ; Male ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Panax ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate GNE gene mutations in 5 Chinese patients with distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV).

METHODSFive patients with typical clinical and pathological features of DMRV were studied. All the 11 coding exons and the flanking intron sequences of GNE gene were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Four family members of case 5 were also examined for GNE gene mutations.

RESULTSAll the patients were identified to have different GNE gene mutations: Cases 1-4 had complex heterozygous mutations and case 5 had homozygous mutation. Six reported mutations had been identified, including 1 nonsense mutation (p.R8X) and 5 missense mutations (p.D176V, p.I298T, p.A591T, P.A631V, and p.V696M). A novel mutation (c.317T>C, p.I106T) was identified in case 2.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report of p.R8X, p.I298T, p.A591T and p.V696M mutations in GNE gene in Chinese population, and a novel mutation p.I106T was identified. These findings further expand the clinical and genetic spectrum of DMRV in China.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Distal Myopathies ; enzymology ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multienzyme Complexes ; genetics ; Mutation ; genetics ; Mutation, Missense ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of Xinmaitong capsule (XMT) on serum matrix metalloproteinases-9, high sensitive C-reactive protein levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

METHOD63 cases were divided by randomized, contrastive assigned to XMT group (n = 31) and control group (n = 32). The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP before and after treatment in 12 weeks were detected.

RESULTAfter treatment, the serum levels of MMP-9 in control group had no changed and the levels of hs-CRP reduced. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP in XMT group had significantly decreased. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP had positive correlation, but had no correlation to levels of serum lipids.

CONCLUSIONXMT decreased breakdown of matrix collagen, and inflammatory reaction in the patients of ACS, which may have effect on plaque stabilization.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; blood

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo screen and verify differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer.

METHODSUsing DNA microarray, we screened differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer tissue and its adjacent tissue followed by verification by PCR.

RESULTSA total of 1 444 genes were found to be differentially expressed (differentiation ≥ 1.5-fold; P≤ 0.05) in the prostate cancer tissue, of which 769 (53%) were up-regulated and 675 (47%) down-regulated. Fifty percent of the differentially expressed genes showed a 1.5- to 2-fold differentiation, including 396 up-regulated and 182 down-regulated ones. Additionally, 308 up-regulated and 334 down-regulated genes exhibited a >2- to 5-fold, 46 up-regulated and 78 down-regulated genes a > 5- to 10-fold, and 19 up-regulated and 81 down-regulated genes a > 10-fold differentiation. Verification by subjecting 15 most significantly up-regulated and another 15 most markedly down-regulated genes to quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that most of the genes had a transcriptional profile similar to that in the microarray data, with a Pearson correction coefficient of 0.83 between the microarray data and qRT-PCR results. Totally, 10 significantly differentially expressed genes were identified.

CONCLUSIONDNA microarray analysis provides reliable information on differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer and benign tissues. The 10 significantly differentially expressed genes verified by qRT-PCR could possibly become new bio-markers and specific molecules for tumor identification.

Cell Differentiation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of a 6-week cluster schedule of specific immunotherapy with that of a 14-week conventional schedule for the treatment of subjects with persistent allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODSThe trial was a prospective and randomized study involving 80 patients with persistent AR, who were allergic to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. While 40 patients were randomly assigned to the cluster schedule reaching the maintenance dose within 6 weeks, the other 40 patients were randomly assigned to the conventional schedule reaching the maintenance dose within 14 weeks. Symptom scores and medication scores were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Serum specific IgG4 level was examined to mark immunologic change, adverse reactions were recorded during the treatment.

RESULTSCluster group achieved clinical efficacy (reducing symptom scores and medication score) and increasing serum specific IgG4 sooner (after 6 weeks treatment). During the incremental dose phase, there were 6 systemic adverse reactions (1.12% of all injection) in 3 patients in cluster group and there were 5 systemic adverse reactions (0.85% of all injection) in 3 patients in conventional group. No severe systemic reactions occurred in both group. There was no difference between the 2 groups in frequency or type of systemic reaction (χ(2) = 0.333, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cluster schedule is a safe alternative to the conventional schedule with the advantage of achieving clinical efficacy sooner.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Allergens ; immunology ; Animals ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; immunology ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) amalgamated to double UV waves method for simultaneous determination of loganin and paeonol in Liuwei Dihuang pills.

METHODA HPLC method was developed. The separation was carried out on a Agilent Zorbax SB C18 column (5 microm, 4.6 mm x 250 mm). The mobile phase consisted of water (A) and acetonitrile (B) with linear linear gradient elution [0-8 min, (B) from 1% to 12%; 8-21 min, B keep 12%; 21-40 min, (B) from 12% to 90%; 40-50 min, B keep 90% for 10 min]. The detection was Photodiode Array with the detection wavelengths were at 236 nm and 274 nm. The column temperature being 30 degrees C and the flow rate was 1.0 mL min(-1). Extracting the chromatergraph from 274 nm and 236 nm, we amalgamated the two chromatographs by matlab programmed.

RESULTThe calibration curves of loganin and paeonol were linear in the ranges of 0.0362-1.09 microg (r =0. 9998) and 0.0450-1.35 microg (r =0.9998), respectively. The average recoveries of loganin and paeonol were 97.3% (RSD 1.4 %) and 103.0% (RSD 1.9%), respectively. Three different batches of Liuwei Dihuang pills were determined with this method.

CONCLUSIONThis is a more convenient, reasonable and credible quality control method for the traditional Chinese medicine.

Acetophenones ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet