Objective To explore the mechanism underlying the rapid shortening of outflow tract and the formation of the right ventricle of the embryonic mouse heart .Methods Serial sections of embryonic mouse hearts from embryonic day 9 (E9) to E12(3 to 5 embryos for each stage)were stained with antibodies against α-sarcomeric actin (SCA), α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), GATA-4, myosin heavy chain (MHC), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) or active caspase-3 (CAS-3).Results At E11, the aortic sac and the distal border of cardiac outflow tract had regressed towards the ventricle into the pericardial cavity , while GATA-4、SCA and SMA staining showed that precursors from the second heart field were differentiating into cardiomyocytes adding to the arterial pole of the heart to lengthen the outflow tract .The length of outflow tract rapidly shortened at E12.Before and during its shortening , no CAS-3 positive cell was detected in the entire outflow tract.During E10-12, the cardiomyocytes in the right ventricle and proximal outflow tract wall proliferated inward to form trabeculae, with some trabeculae extending into the ridges .Proximal extremities of the outflow tract ridges were gradually myocardialized remodeling into the trabeullar right ventricle wall .At E12, scattered SCA and SMA staining cells and SCA and SMA weak positive mesenchymal cell clusters , which were continuous with the outflow tract myocardium were detected in the mesenchymal proximal outflow tract ridges .These results suggested that the proximal outflow tract was remodeled into the right ventricle by trabecularization , during which mesenchymal ridges were trabecularlly myocardialized . Conclusion Ventricularization of the proximal outflow tract contributes to the trabecular right ventricle and resultes in the vapid shortening of outflow tract in the mouse embryonic heart .Cardiomyocyte appoptosis and transdifferentiation are found to play a more limited contribution during this process .

Objective To explore the roles of macrophage inflammatory protein-1?(MIP-1?)in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE)of newborn infarnts.Methods Serum samples were obtained in 24,72 h and 7 d after birth respectively from 34 newborn infants with HIE,and 20 newborn infants without HIE as control group.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method was used to determine the serum concentrations of MIP-1?.Results Levels of MIP-1? in newborn infants with HIE [(12.47?2.51)ng/L]were significantly higher than that of newborn infants without HIE [(8.63?2.63)ng/L](P0.05).Conclusions MIP-1? are involved in HIE of neonates,and the more severe damage,the higher levels in serum,which suggests that,as an inflammatory mediator,the MIP-1? may play an important role in involvement of brain hypoxic-ischemic damage.

Compound Wuzhigan capsules is a compound preparation composed of Wuzhigan, Shidagonglao, Gangmei, Shanzhima. A Randomized, double-blind, multi-center, positive parallel control designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of compound Wuzhigan capsules on anemopyretic cold. One hundred and twenty anemopyretic cold patients were given compound Wuzhigan capsules (test group), 2 capsules one time, three times a day, 119 patients were given compound Wuzhigan tablets (control group) ,4 tablets one time, three times a day; three days of treatment The study showed, the markedly effective rate and total effective rate respectively were 63. 3% and 80% of the test group. For the control group, the markedly effective rate and total effective rate respectively were 72. 5% and 80. 7%. The difference was not statistically significant. Compound Wuzhigan capsules can reduce the dosage, and get better patient compliance.
Adult ; Capsules ; Common Cold ; complications ; drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Safety ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of cake-separated moxibustion in treatment of hyperlipemia.

METHODSSixty rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, a blank group,a model group, a direct moxibustion group and a cake-separated moxibustion group. Hyperlipemia model was developed by high fat diet of cholesterol. Changes of ultrastructures of endothelial cells of the aorta of the rabbit were observed with electron microscope.

RESULTSThe endothelial cells in the cake-separated moxibustion group were more intact, most of them were normal in forms, internal elastic membrane was continuous, their thickness was even, the cells of smooth muscles in the medial membrane were relatively normal, which are similar to those in the blank control group. But the structure of endothelial cells of the aorta in the model group disappeared, in cytoplasm the sedimentation of a great number of lipids can be seen, internal elastic membrane was interrupted, the thickness was uneven, with focal dissolution, the cells of smooth muscle in the medial membrane had sedimentation of lipids, with frothy change.

CONCLUSIONCake-separated moxibustion has a certain protective action on endothelial cells of the aorta in the rabbit of hyperlipemia.

Animals ; Aorta ; Endothelial Cells ; Hyperlipidemias ; Lipids ; Moxibustion ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the levels of antidesmoglein (DSG) 1, 3 antibodies in the sera of patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) and alopecia.

METHODSSera from PNP patients, bullous pemphigoid patients, and normal healthy subjects were collected and 2 tissue samples from 2 healthy scalps were resected. Anti-DSG 1, 3 antibodies in the sera of PNP patients were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Indirect immunofluorescent assay was used to detect whether the antibodies in the sera of PNP patients binds with the follicular epithelium of normal healthy scalp.

RESULTSAnti-DSG3 autoantibody was strongly positive and anti-DSG1 weakly positive in one patient, while both two antibodies were negative in the other patient. Their sera could bind to keratinocytes and follicular epithelium in human scalp. Immunofluorescent signals were found on the intercellular epidermal cell surface and outer root sheath of the follicular epithelium. However, the immunofluorescent signals in the section incubating with serum of bullous pemphigoid were only found on basal membrane zone. No signals were found in the section incubating with normal healthy serum.

CONCLUSIONAlopecia in PNP patients are correlated with the anti-DSG3.

Adult ; Alopecia ; etiology ; immunology ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Desmoglein 1 ; immunology ; Desmoglein 3 ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; complications ; immunology ; Pemphigus ; complications ; immunology

The changes of kernel nutritive components and seed vigor in F1 seeds of sh2 sweet corn during seed development stage were investigated and the relationships between them were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) analysis. The results show that total soluble sugar and reducing sugar contents gradually declined, while starch and soluble protein contents increased throughout the seed development stages. Germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index gradually increased along with seed development and reached the highest levels at 38 d after pollination (DAP). The TSR showed that, during 14 to 42 DAP, total soluble sugar content was independent of the vigor parameters determined in present experiment, while the reducing sugar content had a significant effect on seed vigor. TSR equations between seed reducing sugar and seed vigor were also developed. There were negative correlations between the seed reducing sugar content and the germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index, respectively. It is suggested that the seed germination, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index could be predicted by the content of reducing sugar in sweet corn seeds during seed development stages.
Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Germination ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Zea mays ; chemistry ; growth & development

A new electrochemical method for telomerase activity assay was developed on the basis of hybridization chain reaction ( HCR)-assisted multiple signal amplification, aiming at improving the sensitivity and specificity of telomerase assay. The experiments utilized HeLa cells as original source of the telomerase in the electrochemical studies. The telomerase primer was firstly self-assembled on the surface of gold electrode. The telomerase catalyzed the elongation of the primer, producing the complementary sequences of hairpin probe H1. In this case, HCR was then initiated by interacting with two hairpin probes H1 and H2. Because both H1 and H2 were modified by biotin, horseradish peroxidase could be captured on the electrode surface through the high-affinity interaction between biotin and streptavidin, catalyzing the oxidation of o-phenylenediamine to produce 2,3-diaminophenazine. Therefore, the telomerase assay was realized by tracing the electrochemical signals with differential pulse voltammetry. This electrochemical method was of high efficiency and feasibility for detecting telomerase activity, and could trace the telomerase activity down to 10 cells/mL HeLa cells with a wide linear range. Besides, it could also easily distinguish the target enzyme from the control proteins with high specificity.

OBJECTIVETo observe the biological changes of primary human nasopharyngeal epithelial cells in the early stage of immortalization.

METHODSThe morphological changes of nasopharyngeal epithelial cells were observed by phase contrast microscopy, and the activity profile of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-Gal) was detected by SA-beta-Gal staining. The expression of p16(INK4a) protein was tested by immunochemical assay, and the life span in vitro of nasopharyngeal epithelial cells was calculated as population doublings. In addition, the expression of Epstein-Barr (EB) virus latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) was also detected by immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSMorphologically, cells treated with EB virus and 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) formed multi-layer foci, and their cellular life span in vitro was extended (about 155 days of culture). A low percentage of cells (about 4.8%) expressed SA-beta-Gal activity at late primary culture, and did not always express p16(INK4a) protein in the progression of culture.

CONCLUSIONSNasopharyngeal epithelial cells treated with EB virus in cooperation with TPA can pass through the stage of senescence and enter the early stage of immortalization. Some changes of phenotype occur in these cells. Our results provide data for further studying the mechanism of immortalization and the establishment of a human nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line.

Cell Transformation, Viral ; Cellular Senescence ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; analysis ; Epithelial Cells ; physiology ; virology ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; physiology ; Humans ; Nasopharynx ; cytology ; virology ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of childhood asthma, and to find the distribution characteristics, precipitating factors, diagnosis and treatment status, and to provide scientific data for improving the prevention and management of asthma in children in Kunming City, China.

METHODSChildren were selected by random cluster sampling. A standardized preliminary questionnaire was used for screening out possible patients in the survey. Diagnosis of asthma was confirmed by diagnostic criteria in suspected asthmatic children. Asthmatic children were further asked for past diagnosis and treatment with the questionnaire of asthma in children.

RESULTSThe total asthma incidence rate was 1.40%. The prevalence of asthma in male and female children was 1.89% and 0.88% respectively (P<0.05). Children aged 0-5 years old had a higher prevalence of asthma (1.69%) than that of school-age children (6-14 years old, 1.21%). In all asthmatic children, 51.3% were previously diagnosed with classical asthma or cough variant asthma, 26.0% were suffered attacks from December to February, and 54.0% were suffered attacks at midnight or dawn. Respiratory tract infection (87.3%) was the most common triggers of asthma exacerbation. Antibiotics were used in 80.0%, bronchodilators in 66.0%, inhaled corticosteroid in 64.0%. A peak flow meter for monitoring lung function was used in 17% of asthmatic children over 5 years old.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of asthma is associated with age and gender in children aged 0-14 years old in Kunming City. Acute asthma attack occurs mostly in winter and at midnight or dawn. Respiratory tract infection is the most common trigger of asthma exacerbation. Nearly a half of patients with asthma had not been diagnosed with asthma in the early stage. Most asthmatic children use antibiotics and only two-thirds use bronchodilators or inhaled corticosteroid in the treatment. The treatment and management of asthma in children awaits improvement as well.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seasons