Objective: To investigate the effect of different doses of perindopril on peripheral endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) .
Methods: A total of 84 CAD patients with coronary angiography confirmed diagnosis were divided into 3 groups: Control group, the patients received routine medication, n=27. Low-dose group, the patients received routine medication with perindopril for 4mg, n=29. High-dose group, the patients received routine medication with perindopril for 8mg, n=28. All patients were treated for 12 weeks. The EPCs level was detected by flow cytometry assay, flow-mediated-dilation (FMD) function in brachial artery was measured by ultrasound and plasma levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), angiotensin II (AngII) were examined in all groups.
Results: ① After12 weeks of treatment, the EPCs level and FMD function had certain improvement, hs-CRP level decreased in various degrees in all 3 groups, P<0.05, and AngII level decreased in both perindopril groups, P<0.05.②After treatment, compared with Control group, both perindopril groups had the increased EPCs level and FMD function, while decreased levels of hs-CRP and AngII, P<0.01.③Compared with Low-dose group, High-dose
group showed increased EPCs level and FMD function, decreased levels of hs-CRP and AgnII, P<0.05.
Conclusion: Perindopril may mobilize peripheral EPCs at certain point, and therefore improve endothelial function, the higher dose of perindopril may have better effect.

OBJECTIVETo determine the plasma protein binding rate of arctiin and arctigenin.

METHODThe ultrafiltration combined with HPLC was employed to determine the plasma protein binding rate of arctiin and arctigenin as well as rat plasma and healthy human plasma proteins.

RESULTThe plasma protein binding rate of arctiin with rat plasma at the concentrations of 64. 29, 32.14, 16.07 mg x L(-1) were (71.2 +/- 2.0)%, (73.4 +/- 0.61)%, (78.2 +/- 1.9)%, respectively; while the plasma protein binding rate of arctiin with healthy human plasma at the above concentrations were (64.8 +/- 3.1)%, (64.5 +/- 2.5)%, (77.5 +/- 1.7)%, respectively. The plasma protein binding rate of arctigenin with rat plasma at the concentrations of 77.42, 38.71, 19.36 mg x L(-1) were (96.7 +/- 0.41)%, (96.8 +/- 1.6)%, (97.3 +/- 0.46)%, respectively; while the plasma protein binding rate of arctigenin with normal human plasma at the above concentrations were (94.7 +/- 3.1)%, (96.8 +/- 1.6)%, (97.9 +/- 1.3)%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe binding rate of arctiin with rat plasma protein was moderate, which is slightly higher than the binding rate of arctiin with healthy human plasma protein. The plasma protein binding rates of arctigenin with both rat plasma and healthy human plasma are very high.

Animals ; Binding, Competitive ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Furans ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lignans ; metabolism ; Male ; Protein Binding ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ultrafiltration ; methods

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; therapeutic use ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway on the endothelial differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC).

METHODSHuman PDLSC was cultured in the medium with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) to induce endothelial differentiation. Endothelial inducing cells was incubated with U0126, a specific p-ERK1/2 inhibitor. PDLSC from one person were randomly divided into four groups: control group, endothelial induced group, endothelial induced+DMSO group and endothelial induced+U0126 group. The protein expression of the p-EKR1/2 was analyzed by Western blotting at 0, 1, 3, 6 and 12 hours during endonthelial induction. The mRNA expressions of CD31, VE-cadherin, and VEGF were detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) after a 7-day induction. The proportion of CD31(+) to VE-cadherin(+) cells was identified by flow cytometry, and the ability of capillary-like tubes formation was detected by Matrigel assay after a 14-day induction. The measurement data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSPhosphorylated ERK1/2 protein level in PDLSC was increased to 1.24±0.12 and 1.03±0.24 at 1 h and 3 h respectively, during the endothelial induction (P<0.01). The mRNA expressions of CD31 and VEGF in induced+U0126 group were decreased to 0.09±0.18 and 0.49±0.17, which were both significantly different with those in induced group (P<0.05). The proportion of CD31(+) to VE-cadherin(+) cells of induced+U0126 group were decreased to 5.22±0.85 and 3.56±0.87, which were both significantly different with those in induced group (P<0.05). In Matrigel assay, the branching points, tube number and tube length were decreased to 7.0±2.7, 33.5±6.4, and (15 951.0±758.1) pixels, which were all significantly different with those in induced group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe endothelial differentiation of PDLSC is positively regulated by ERK signaling pathway. Inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation could suppress endothelial differentiation of PDLSC.

Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; Butadienes ; pharmacology ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; physiology ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; pharmacology ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Signal Transduction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Time Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ligustrazine on the expression of stem cell factor mRNA (SCF) in bone marrow tissue and explore the mechanism of hematopoietic reconstitution after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The colony forming unit of spleen (CFU-S) were counted, the survival rate at days 7, 14 and 21 after BMT were measured, as well as the expression level of SCF mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that in ligustrazine group CFU-S counts on day 10 and survival rate, expression level of SCF mRNA on day 7, 14 and 21 after BMT were higher than that in the control group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). In conclusion, ligustrazine promotes the recovery of hematopoietic cells in bone marrow, enhances the repair of bone marrow microvessels, and then improves bone marrow microenvironment and promotes hematopoietic reconstitution.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Hematopoiesis ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stem Cell Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transplantation, Isogeneic

Global market shows gaint needs of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) today. Switzerland is the pioneer and has a wide TCM market. The paper anaylses the local diseases, TCM therapies, the difficulties of MediQi TCM clinic and certificates of TCM clinics in Switzerland, in order to get a general image of TCM situation of Swtierzland today. It coucluds that TCM is well accepted in Switzerland and has marketing needs and the better way to push TCM service trade is to respect local economic regulation and cultural capability.

Objective To investigate the effects of specific RNA interference (RNAi) to Notch ligand Delta1 on proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC).Methods DPSC were infected by lentivirus vectors carrying Delta1-RNAi.DPSC were divided into three groups,DPSC/Delta1-RNAi group,DPSC/wt group and DPSC/vector group as control Cell counting kit-8( CCK-8 ) assayand flow cytometry were used to evaluate the proliferation of DPSC.Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was examined with immunohistochemical staining.All groups were cultured in an odonto-inductive medium and were observed under microscope.The number of mineralization nodules was counted after Alizarin red staining.Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein(DSPP) were detected by ALP activity assay and Western blotting.Results Compared with DPSC/wt or DPSC/vector separately,proliferating rate and S-cycle of DPSC/Delta1-RNAi was significantly lower.The S phase and proliferation index ( PI ) decreased markedly from 22.32 ± 2.35 and 33.68 ±4.19(DPSC/Delta1-RNAi) to 5.44 ± 0.91 and 16.00 ± 6.07 (DPSC/wt).The PCNA staining of DPSC/Delta1-RNAi was evidently weaker.DPSC/Delta1-RNAi group had more calcified cell nodules than the other two control groups,and ALP activity and DSPP expression of DPSC/Delta1-RNAi group increased markedly.Conclusions Deltal-RNAi induced by the lentivirus vectors may inhibit DPSC proliferation and differentiation.Notch-Delta signal pathway plays an important role in self-renewal and differentiation.

Objective:To investigate the anti-tumor effects of cytokine-induced kill cells(CIK)methods combined with chemotherapeuticdrug Gemcitabine against Cholangiocarcinoma cancer cell lines QBC-939.Methods:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) of healthy people were stimulated by different cytokines,and were induced into CIK cells.CIK cells were cultured for 14 days as effector cells.The phenotype of CIK cells were analyzed by flow cytometer.QBC939 cells were cultured with the CIK cells at different effector-target ratio or various concentrations of Gemcitabine for 24 and 48 hours.The antitumor effects were measured by CCK8 methods.The expression of Bax was detected by using Western blot.Results:The CD3+CD4+,CD3+CD8+,CD3+HLA-DR+,CD3+CD56+,CD4+CD25+ double positive cel1 was up to 10.89％,60.27％,71.82％,9.03％ and 4.01％ after 14 days' cultivation.The killing effect of CIK and Gemcitabine increased with the increase of effector-target ratio and drug concentration or the extension of time.The killing effect of combination of CIK and Gemcitabine was obviously higher than that of each single factor.The protein levels detected hints of CIK cells and gemcitabine can up-regulated the expression of Bax,and the joint action of both is more significant.Conclusions:CIK cells have strong anti-tumor effect against QBC939 cells by inducing apoptosis of QBC939 cells,and it can enhance the anti-tumor effects of Gemcitabine against QBC939 cells when CIK and Gemcitabine are combined together.

We investigated the therapeutic effect of Albizia julibrissin total saponins on mice infected with Trichinella spiralis.Thirty-six ICR mice infected with Trichinella spiralis were randomly divided into 6 groups (each mouse infected with 300 T.spiralis),6 mice in each.Group Ⅰ:infected non-treated group (intestinal phase);group Ⅱ..received Albizia julibrissin total saponins group (intestinal phase);group Ⅲ:received albendazole group (intestinal phase);group Ⅳ:infected nontreated group (muscular phase);group Ⅴ:received Albizia julibrissin total saponins group (muscular phase);group Ⅵ:received albendazole group (muscular phase).Mice of Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ group were administered on the second days post-infection(dpi) and continued for 3 days.Mice in these groups were sacrificed 7th dpi and adult worms recovered from the small intestine were counted.Mice of Ⅳ,Ⅴ,Ⅵ group were administered on the 7th dpi and continued for 14 d.The mice were sacrificed on 40th dpi,and the muscle larvae were counted.HE staining counts muscle larvae and the expression of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α and COX-2 in the diaphragm were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results showed that the number of adult worms and larva in groups received Albizia julibrissin total saponins and albendazole were significantly lower than that of infected non-treated group (P＜0.01).The worms reduction rate was 70.34％ and 80.02％ respectively,and the larva were 65.60％ and 90.66％ respectively.Results of HE staining showed the number of encysted larval and the expression of inflammatory cell were significantly reduced.The expression of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α and COX-2 was decreased in drug-treated groups.In conclusion,the total saponins of Albizia julibrissin showed adequate efficacy on Trichinella spiralis adults and encapsulated larva.Although the effect is slightly inferior to albendazole,as traditional Chinese medicine extract,it is less toxic.

To enhance immunogenicity of HIV-1 cross neutralizing epitopes , three HIV-1 cross neutralizing epitopes (ELDKWA, NWFDIT, GPGRAFY) were fused to 3' end of HBV S gene by PCR cloning technology, respectively. Three vaccinia virus (Tiantan strain) recombinants expressing separately the three fusion genes were subsequently constructed, named as RVJ1175S-2F5 (ELDKWA), RVJ1175S-4E10 (NWFDIT) and RVJ1175S-447-52D (GPGRAFY), respectively. From the supernatants of CEF cells infected by these vaccinia recombinants, three subunit vaccines (PS-2F5, PS-4E10 and PS-447-52D) were prepared after purification. Biology and immunology characteristics of these fusion antigens in vaccinia recombinants and subunit vaccines were comparatively studied. It was confirmed by PCR and sequencing that the fusion genes were inserted into the TK locus of vaccinia virus (Tiantan strain) correctly. The Fusion proteins were expressed efficiently and secreted into supernatant of the infected cells, which was demonstrated by HBsAg ELISA test. Two typical HBsAg bands of 23kD and 27kD were detected in all the purified samples by SDS-PAGE. These two bands were reacted well to HBsAb and corresponding HIV-1 monoclonal antibodies 2F5, 4E10 and 447-52D. BALB/c mice were immunized with subunit and vaccinia recombinant vaccines by intraperitoneal injection. High levels of HBsAb and anti-HIV-1 cross neutralizing epitope antibody in peripheral blood of immunized mice were tested by ELISA, and all the antibody titers induced by three subunit vaccines were higher than that induced by correlated vaccinia recombinants in mice. This work provides a basis for future study on neutralizing activity of these immunized sera and enhancing immune effect through the combined immunization with different type of vaccines.
AIDS Vaccines ; immunology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Blotting, Western ; Cross Reactions ; Epitopes ; Female ; HIV-1 ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology