ObjectiveTo establish the human periodontal ligament fibroblasts(HPDLFs)that express BMP2 and observe their biologicl characterization. MethodsA phagemid expression vector for BMP2 (pBK-B2) was transfected into HPDLFs by using LipofectAMINE. The BMP2 expression was determined by the immunohistochemical ABC method. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin (OC) production and capacity of mineralization were measured in the transfected cells. ResultsBMP2 protein was expressed in HPDLFs after gene transfection. The BMP2 gene transfected cells showed prominently elevated ALP activity, OC production and increase in mineralized nodules. ConclusionThe results indicate that BMP2 is expressed in HPDLFs and is involved in inducing differ- entiation of HPDLFs into osteoblast-like cells.

S100A4, a member of S100 superfamily of Ca~(2+)-binding proteins, is a polypeptide containing 101 amino acids. S100A4, which is overexpressed in most tumor cells, plays pivotal roles in growth, invasion and migration of tumor by regulating cell cycle progression, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis of cells. This article reviews S100A4′s structure, function and potential application as the new target in the therapy of tumors.

Child ; Fructose ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Status Epilepticus ; drug therapy

Objective To unveil the current situation and bends of Keshan disease in Pingliang city of Gansu province, to evaluate the outcome of related prevention and control measures, and to provide scientific basis for further prevention and treatment of the disease. Methods According to the "the central allowance local public health special funds endemic disease prevention programs grams mountain monitoring programme" and "the diagnostic criteria for Keshan disease" (GB 17021-1997), between 2007 and 2009, local residents from nine monitoring points in Pingliang city of Gansu province were clinically examined, and electrocardiography(ECG) tracings and Xray were taken of suspected cases. Corn, wheat samples and hair samples of children, adults and women were collected, and selenium content of these samples was determined by 2.3-2-amino-naphthalene fluorescence method. Results A total of 5846 residents were surveyed in 3 years, 247 cases of Keshan patients were detected, with a detection rate of 4.23%(247/5846), of which potential cases of Keshan disease 214, the detection rate was 3.66% (214/5846); chronic Keshan disease 33 cases, the detection rate was 0.56% (33/5846); no acute type and subacute Keshan disease detected. A total of 764 abnormal ECG cases were detected, and abnormal detection rate was 13.07%(764/5846). Two hundred and seven cases of suspected patients were examined by chest X-ray, 80 cardiac enlargement cases were detected, the detection rate was 38.6% (80/207). The 262 hair samples of children, adults and women were analyzed, hair selenium was (0.279 ± 0.098)mg/kg. Of the 9 corn and 31 wheat samples collected, corn selenium was (0.0079 ± 0.0029)mg/kg; wheat selenium was (0.0104 ± 0.0078)mg/kg. Conclusions Overall Keshan disease is in a stable and subsided trend in Pingliang city of Gansu province, but there are still a number of potential chronic types, sporadic new cases, suggesting that the disease monitoring, comprehensive prevention and treatment of the patients are the focus.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Liuweidihuang Pills in relieving cellphone electromagnetic radiation-induced histomorphological abnormality, oxidative injury, and cell apoptosis in the rat testis.

METHODSThirty adult male SD rats were equally randomized into a normal, a radiated, and a Liuweidihuang group, the animals in the latter two groups exposed to electromagnetic radiation of 900 MHz cellphone frequency 4 hours a day for 18 days. Meanwhile, the rats in the Liuweidihuang group were treated with the suspension of Liuweidihuang Pills at 1 ml/100 g body weight and the other rats intragastrically with the equal volume of purified water. Then all the rats were killed for observation of testicular histomorphology by routine HE staining, measurement of testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels by colorimetry, and determination of the expressions of bax and bcl-2 proteins in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the normal controls, the radiated rats showed obviously loose structure, reduced layers of spermatocytes, and cavitation in the seminiferous tubules. Significant increases were observed in the MDA level (P < 0.01) and bax expression (P < 0.01) but decreases in the GSH level (P < 0.01) and bcl-2 expression (P < 0.01) in the testis issue of the radiated rats. In comparison with the radiated rats, those of the Liuweidihuang group exhibited nearly normal testicular structure, significantly lower MDA level (P < 0.05), bax expression (P < 0.01), and bcl-2 expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLiuweidihuang Pills can improve cellphone electromagnetic radiation-induced histomorphological abnormality of the testis tissue and reduce its oxidative damage and cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cell Phone ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Spermatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Staining and Labeling ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects

Objective:To investigate the effect of metformin and arsenic trioxide on KG1a cells proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia and its possible mechanism.Methods:CCK-8 method was used to detect the killing effect of metformin,arsenic trioxide and combined application on KG1a cells.Annexin V-FITC/P1 Dual Stain Flow Cytometry was used to detect the effect of combined application on apoptosis of KG1 a cells.Western blot was used to detect the expression of intracellular apoptosis-,autophagy-related protein.Results:Metformin and arsenic trioxide alone or in combination could inhibit the proliferation of KG1 a cells and induce apoptosis of KG1 a cells,and the proliferation inhibition rate and apoptosis rate in the combined drug group were higher than those in the drug group alone(P＜0.05).The combination of drugs induced upregulation of Caspase 8 protein and P62 protein expression and was higher than that in the drug group alone(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Metformin can synergize with arsenic trioxide to kill KG1a cells,and its mechanism of action may be related to inducing apoptosis and enhancing autophagy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of chronic hypoxia on left and right ventricular function and the expression of cardiac transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels in rats.

METHODSForty eight SD male rats were randomly divided into control group (CON) and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension model group (CH) (n = 24). In CH group, rats were exposed in chronic hypoxia environment (10% +/- 0.2% O2) to induce myocardial hypertrophy. After 3 weeks, mean systemic arterial pressure (mSAP), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left or right ventricular pressure maximum rate of rise (LV/RV + dp/dt(max)), left or right ventricular pressure maximum rate of descent (LV/RV-dp/dt(max)), right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVMI) and left ventricular hypertrophy index (LVMI) were measured. Left and right ventricular myocardium tissue sections were stained by HE and observed under light microscope. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time-PCR) and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of TRPC subfamily.

RESULTSRVSP, RVMI, RV + dp/dt(max) and RV-dp/dt(max) were markedly elevated in CH group (P < 0.01) in comparison to CON group. LVMI was markedly reduced in CH group in comparison to CON group (P < 0.01). LVSP, LV + dp/dt(max) and LV- dp/dt(max) had no significant changes in CH group in comparison to CON group. Right ventricular myocardial cells of CH group became thick, the nuclei stained deeply, the shape of nuclei became not regularity. Left ventricular myocardial fibers did not change significantly. There was significant difference in the levels of mRNA and protein of TRPC1 between CON and CH groups.

CONCLUSIONFor three weeks exposed to chronic hypoxia induced right ventricular hypertrophy specifically, raised the mRNA and protein expression of TRPC1 on right ventricular myocardial cells . TRPC1 might be involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transient Receptor Potential Channels ; metabolism ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology ; Ventricular Function, Right ; physiology

BackgroundThe research of corneal thickness after pars plana vitrectomy in DM patient plays an important role not only theoretically but clinically.Objective Present study was to evaluate the change in corneal thickness after pars plana vitrectomy.Methods A prospective coherent study was designed.Seventy-five eyes of 70 consecutive diabetic retinopathy(DR) patients were collected in Tianjin Medical University Eye Center.Pentacam was used to assess the central and periphery corneal thickness by the same investigator preoperatively and 7 days,1 and 3 months postoperatively,respectively.The thickness values from five corneal zone were obtained,including cornea vertex,the thinnest point of the cornea,periphery cornea near the scleral incision of 4 mm away to vertex of cornea on vertical and 240°,120°,60° meridian ( right eye) or 300°,120°,60° meidian ( left eye ).These results were compared and analyzed with ANOVA of repeated measurement data.Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of different corneal positions,the use of conventional 20g or 23g transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy(TSV) groups,surgery duration,gas or fluid endotamponde on corneal thickness.This study was approved by Ethic Committee of this hospital.Written informed consent was obtained from the subjects before any relative medical procedure.Results The mean corneal thickness was ( 639.9 ± 103.1 ),( 689.5 ± 119.3 ),( 666.5 ±113.7),( 650.8 ± 108.6 ) μm before operation,postperative 7 days,1 and 3 months respectively.As covariates appearing in the model,the corneal thickness change rates were revised as the parameters as following: diabeitc duration =13.0 and age =57.2.The revised corneal thickness was significant different among various time points( F=210.928,P=0.000) and different corneal zones(F=24.843,P=0.000) with the size order in turn P4＞P3＞P1＞P2＞P5.The corneal thickness change rates were less in 23g TSV group compared with conventional 20-g group (F =53.843,P =0.000) and BSS tamponade group compared with gas tamponade group ( F =5.288,P =0.022).But no significant difference was found in the revised corneal thickness among surgery duration ＜ 1 hour group,1-2 hour group and ＞2 hour group( F=1.233,P =0.293).ConclusionsVitrectomy is a safe procedure on the ground of cornea,but TSV and fluid endotamponade appear to be more beneficial to the protection of cornea.Pentacam could offer the reliable data in not only central cornea but also periphery cornea.

Background Traction of epiretinal membrane results in macular morphologic change and visual functional impairment in eye with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IERM),therefore figuring out their relationship is helpful for evaluation of disease prognosis.Objective This study was to observe the morphological change of macula and microstructure,and analyze the relationship between retina thickness,integrity of cone outer segment tips (COST) line in fovea and visual acuity.Methods This was a retrospective case-observational study.Fifty-six consecutive cases diagnosed as IERM in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from March 2011 to December 2011 were enrolled in this study,and all the patients showed unilateral IERM with the normal fellow eyes.Sixteen patients were males and 40 were females,with a mean age of (61.05 ± 6.58) years old.Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) examination was performed on the eyes,and Macular Cube (512×128) and HD 5 Line program were selected.Mean retinal thickness of central area (＜1 mm diameter),inner ring area (1-3 mm diameter) and outer ring area (＞3-6 mm diameter) of macula and the status of COST line (intact or fractured) was recorded.Mean thickness of whole macular areas and the difference of foveal microstructure were compared,and the correlation between retinal thickness and visual acuity was analyzed using Pearson linear correlation analysis.Related parameters including age,visual acuity,retinal thickness were also compared between the continuous COST lines group and the fractured COST lines group by independent sample t test.Results The flatted or disappeared fovea was seen in IERM eyes on the SD-OCT image.Retinal thicknesses were (446±89)μm,(418±64)μm and (328±34)ttm in the central area,inner ring area and outer ring area of macula in the IERM eyes,exhibiting significant increasing in comparison with (250±22) μm,(319±17) μm and (279±17) μm in the normal fellow eyes (t=13.370,9.523,7.769,all P =0.000).Significantly negative correlations were found between the visual acuity and the central macular thickness,inner ring thickness or outer ring thickness (r=-0.686,-0.653,-0.417,P＜0.05).In the IERM eyes,COST band was intact in 20 eyes and lack in 36 eyes.Compared with COST band intact group,aging,worse vision and increased retinal thickness were seen in the COST band absent group (t =2.109,P =0.039 ; t =-4.093,P =0.000 ; t =6.669,P=0.000;t=5.376,P=0.000;t=4.247,P=0.000).COST band was clear in all the normal fellow eyes on the SD-OCT image.Conclusions Increase of macular thickness and disruption of COST band reflect the visual function damage in IERM eye.Deficiency of COST band on OCT image seems to be an early indication of photoreceptor damage.Incomplete fovea COST band is often seen in older patients.

Background Lowing intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only effective treating method in glaucoma.Making sure the change of optic disc parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients after IOP reduced can provide objective evidence for evaluating the effect of lowing-IOP on the function of optic nerve.Objective The present study was to evaluate the change of optic disc parameters and RNFLT in POAG patients after trabeculectomy,and analyze the affecting factors of image parameters.Methods A serial case-observational study was adapted.Forty eyes of 39 patients with POAG underwent trabeculectomy were recruited in the study.IOP was examined and perimetry was performed before operation and 2 weeks,1 month,3 months,6 months and 1 year after surgery.Optical parameters and RNFLT were measured using Heidelberg retina tomography (HRT) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in above-mentioned time points.The correlations between lowing-IOP range or disease severity and optical disc parameters or mean RNFLT (mRNFLT) were analyzed by Pearson linear correlation.Results Mean IOP of the 40 eyes was (32.77±8.64) mmHg before operation and (12.45 ±3.65) mmHg,(13.05±3.90) mmHg,(13.42± 3.33) mmHg,(14.22± 2.60) mmHg and (14.74±2.46)mmHg 2 weeks,1 month,3 months,6 months and 1 year after operation,with a significant difference among various time points (F=13.73,P =0.00).However,no significant difference was seen in the mean defect of perimetry among the different time points (F=1.02,P=0.41).The cup area (CA),cup/disc area ratio (C/DAR),cup volume (CV),mean cup depth (MCD),cup shape measurement (CSM),horizontal C/D,vertical C/D,rim area (RA),rim/disc area ratio (R/DAR),height variation contour (HVC),rim volume (RV),mRNFLT,RNFL cross sectional area (RNFLA) were gradually improved after operation in comparison with before operation.One year after operation,RV,CSM,mRNFLT,RNFLA were still increased,but vertical C/D was reduced after operation than that of before (P＜0.05).No significant differences were found in the whole mRNFLT and superior quadrant mRNFLT,inferior quadrant mRNFLT,nasal quadrant mRNFLT and temporal quadrant mRNFLT among before and after operation (F=1.63,P=0.16; F=0.51,P=0.77; F=1.44,P=0.20;F=1.02,P=0.32; F=1.31,P=0.30).Positive correlations were found between lowing-IOP range and the improvement of RV,CSM,vertical C/D (r =0.45,P =0.02; r=0.41,P=0.04; r=0.58,P=0.00),and negative correlations were seen between absolute value of MD and the improvement of RV,CSM 1 year after operation (r=-0.43,P=0.03; r=-0.62,P=0.00).Conclusions Reduction of IOP after trabeculectomy results in the reversal of optic disc parameters.The improvement of the optic disc parameters may be a protective factor for progression of glaucomatous optical nerve damage.