Volume 118  ·   Issue 23  ·  2005

Abstract：Background Enamel demineralization occurs frequently during orthodontic treatment. In this study, we evaluated the changes of the density of mutans streptococcus (MS) in plaque after bracket bonding and using fluoride adhesive on maxillary incisors by real time fluorescence-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-FQ PCR).Methods The study was designed as a self-paired test. Brackets were bonded with fluoride adhesive on the left side, while non-fluoride adhesive on the right side for each patient. Plaque samples were taken from the surfaces around the brackets of four maxillary incisors before brackets bonding and after the bonding 4 weeks later. The amount of MS was measured by RT-FQ PCR. The data obtained were analyzed statistically using the SPSS 11.5 version and the alpha level was set at 0.05 (2-tailed).Results The amount of MS in plaque increased significantly after bracket bonding (P<0.01), whereas no significant differences were observed among four maxillary incisors both before and after brackets bonding (P>0.05), and among the incisors using and not using fluoride adhesive (P>0.05).Conclusions The increase of the density of MS in plaque after bracket bonding is one of the etiological factors for enamel demineralization in orthodontic patients. The result of this study did not support what we observed clinically that the incidence of enamel demineralization for lateral incisors was higher than that for central incisors. Using fluoride adhesive for bonding did not affect the amount of MS in plaque in our study. Further study is needed。

Abstract：Background Anterior chamber associated immune deviation (ACAID) is characterized by a Th2 cell response. GATA-3 has been shown to be necessary for the activation of Th2 cells. This study was designed to examine the expression of GATA-3 in the development of ACAID. Methods ACAID was induced by injection of 50 μg interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP) into the anterior chamber (AC) of Wistar rats. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was evaluated on day 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 after IRBP inoculation. GATA-3 expression was detected using immunohistochemical staining. The expression of GATA-3 mRNA at different time points after AC injection of IRBP was assayed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results A significant DTH reaction was observed in Wistar rats on day 3 and 5 after IRBP inoculation. The DTH reaction was decreased 7 days after IRBP inoculation. GATA-3 expression was weak at both mRNA and protein levels in the normal spleen, but was significantly increased on day 5, 7, 14, and 21 after AC injection of IRBP. Conclusion The expression of GATA-3 is increased during ACAID, suggesting that GATA-3 may be involved in the development of ACAID。

Abstract：Background The two most basic properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the capacities to self-renew indefinitely and differentiate into multiple cells and tissue types. The cells from human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly have properties of MSCs and represent a rich source of primitive cells. This study was conducted to explore the possibility of inducing human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly-derived MSCs to differentiate into nerve-like cells.Methods MSCs were cultured from the Wharton's Jelly taken from human umbilical cord of babies delivered after full-term normal labor. Salvia miltiorrhiza and β-mercaptoethanol were used to induce the human umbilical cord-derived MSCs to differentiate. The expression of neural protein markers was shown by immunocytochemistry. The induction process was monitored by phase contrast microscopy, electron microscopy (EM), and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) .The pleiotrophin and nestin genes were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results MSCs in the Wharton's Jelly were easily attainable and could be maintained and expanded in culture. They were positive for markers of MSCs, but negative for markers of hematopoietic cells and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-related cells. Treatment with Salvia miltiorrhiza caused Wharton's Jelly cells to undergo profound morphological changes. The induced MSCs developed rounded cell bodies with multiple neurite-like extensions. Eventually they developed processes that formed networks reminiscent of primary cultures of neurons. Salvia miltiorrhiza and β-mercaptoethanol also induced MSCs to express nestin, β-tubulinⅢ, neurofilament (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). It was confirmed by RT-PCR that MSCs could express pleiotrophin both before and after induction by Salvia miltiorrhiza. The expression was markedly enhanced after induction and the nestin gene was also expressed.Conclusions MSCs could be isolated from human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly. They were capable of differentiating into nerve-like cells using Salvia miltiorrhiza or β-mercaptoethanol. The induced MSCs not only underwent morphologic changes, but also expressed the neuron-related genes and neuronal cell markers. They may represent an alternative source of stem cells for central nervous system cell transplantation.

Abstract：Background Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) give rise to all blood and immune cells and are used in clinical transplantation protocols to treat a wide variety of refractory diseases, but the amplification of HSCs has been difficult to achieve in vitro. In the present study, the expansive effects of aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region derived stromal cells on HSCs were explored, attempting to improve the efficiency of HSC transplantation in clinical practice.Methods The murine stromal cells were isolated from the AGM region of 12 days postcoitum (dpc) murine embryos and bone marrow(BM)of 6 weeks old mice, respectively. After identification with flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry, the stromal cells were co-cultured with ESCs-derived, cytokines-induced HSCs. The maintenance and expansion of ESCs-derived HSCs were evaluated by detecting the population of CD34+ and CD34+Sca-1+cells with flow cytometry and the blast colony-forming cells (BL-CFCs), high proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFCs) by using semi-solid medium colonial culture. Finally, the homing and hematopoietic reconstruction abilities of HSCs were evaluated using a murine model of HSC transplantation in vivo.Results AGM and BM-derived stromal cells were morphologically and phenotypically similar, and had the features of stromal cells. When co-cultured with AGM or BM stromal cells, more primitive progenitor cells (HPP-CFCs ) could be detected in ESCs derived hematopoietic precursor cells, but BL-CFC's expansion could be detected only when co-cultured with AGM-derived stromal cells. The population of CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were expanded 3 times,but no significant expansion in the population of CD34+Sca-1+ cells was noted when co-cultured with BM stromal cells. While both CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and CD34+Sca-1+ cells were expanded 4 to 5 times respectively when co-cultured with AGM stromal cells. AGM region-derived stromal cells, like BM-derived stromal cells, could promote hematopoietic reconstruction and HSCs' homing to BM in vivo. Conclusions AGM-derived stromal cells in comparison with the BM-derived stromal cells could not only support the expansion of HSCs but also maintain the self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation more effectively. They are promising in HSC transplantation.

Abstract：Background Studies have shown that oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) promotes the pathogenesis and development of atherosclerosis (AS), and that the proliferation, migration and phenotype alteration of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) into foam cells are critical changes in AS. It is proposed that ox-LDL might play a novel role in the pathologic process of vSMCs. The present study was performed ex vivo to investigate the effects of ox-LDL on the growth of cultured human vSMCs.Methods Using NaBr density gradient centrifugation, LDL from human plasma was isolated and purified. ox-LDL was produced from LDL after being incubated with CuSO4. ox-LDL was then added to the culture medium at different concentrations (25 μg/ml, 50 μg/ml, 75 μg/ml, 100 μg/ml, 125 μg/ml, and 150 μg/ml) for 7 days. The influence of ox-LDL on vSMC growth was observed from several aspects as growth curve, mitosis index, lipid staining, and in situ determination of apoptosis. The digital results were analyzed with SPSS 10.0.Results The ox-LDL produced ex vivo had a good purity and optimal oxidative degree, which was similar to the intrinsic ox-LDL in atherosclerotic plaque. ox-LDL at a concentration of 25 μg/ml demonstrated the strongest proliferation. At the concentration of 125 μg/ml, ox-LDL suppressed the growth of vSMCs. At concentrations of 25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml, ox-LDL presented powerful mitotic trigger. When the concentration of ox-LDL increased, the mitotic index of vSMCs decreased gradually. ox-LDL induced more foam cells from vSMCs with rich intracellular lipid accumulation at concentrations of 25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml. ox-LDL at higher concentrations induced more apoptotic vSMCs.Conclusions ox-LDL at lower concentrations may trigger proliferation and phenotype alteration into foam cells of vSMCs, and at higher concentrations it may induce apoptosis in vSMCs. ox-LDL plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of atherosclerosis by its effect on vSMCs proliferation, phenotype alteration and apoptosis。

Abstract：Background Bladder cancer is a relatively common tumor in the urinary system, in which mitomycin C (MMC)-based chemotherapy or combination chemotherapy has been mainly used to treat patients with advanced bladder cancer. The prognosis of patients with advanced bladder cancer is still extremely poor in spite of recent therapeutic advances. To improve the prognosis, the sensitivity of tumor cells to mitomycin C by the induction of apoptosis with the abating heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression in human bladder cancer cell lines of BIU-87 was investigated. Methods HSP70 expression was abated in BIU-87 cells by HSP mRNA antisense oligomers. MTT assay and the clone-forming test were used for evaluating the sensitivity of cells to MMC. Apoptosis was assessed using both fluorescent microscopy after staining the cells with Hoechst 33258 and DNA fragment ladder agarose electrophoresis. Thirty-two male six-week-old BALB/c nude mice, at the beginning of the experiment, were used to evaluate the effect of antisense oligomers (ASO) on the tumor formation in vivo. Results HSP70 expression in BIU-87 was effectively abated by HSP70 mRNA antisense oligomers. The percentage of apoptotic cells in ASO group was greater than in sense oligomers (SO) [P<0.05, (18.31±2.89)% vs (1.89±0.74)%], nonsense oligomers (NO) [P<0.05, (18.31±2.89)% vs (1.78±0.92)%] and blank groups [P<0.05, (18.31±2.89)% vs (1.87±0.84)%], while the sensitivity of tumor cells to mitomycin C was enhanced. The in vivo tumor inhibition rate of ASO plus MMC (>50%) was more than that of ASO or MMC group alone (all P<0.05). Conclusions The abating level of HSP70 expression can strengthen the sensitivity of BIU-87 to MMC. One of this effect might be related to the induction of apoptosis by abating HSP70 expression.

Abstract：Background Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is one of the most important characteristics of asthma. This study investigated the parameters, by which assess the airway responsiveness under tidal ventilation.Methods Female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) (group A), and part of them were treated with budesonide aerosol (group B). All the mice were anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated. The values of tidal volume (Vt), airway pressure (PA), airway flow (F), expiratory lung resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance of the thorax and lung (CT-L) were recorded by the AniRes2003 animal lung function system. In addition, the expiratory volume in the first 0.1 second after the start of expiration (EV0.1) was obtained according to the flow-volume (F-V) curve. The maximal or minimal values of EV0.1, RL and CT-L were documented after each dose of methacholine (MCH) and compared with values from negative control group (group C).Results (1) When the dose of MCH reached 100 ng/g or 200 ng/g, the decrease of Vt in group A was much more significant than group C (P=0.001, <0.001 respectively), but not so between groups B and group C (P=0.974, 0.362 respectively). (2) With the dose of 25, 50, 100 or 200 ng/g MCH, the decrease in percentage of EV0.1 in group A was much higher than group C (P=0.012, 0.025, 0.001, 0.003 respectively), while that in group B showed no significant difference as compared with group C (P=0.507,0.896,0.972,0.785). (3) RL and CT-L: with the dose of 200 ng/g MCH, there was a statistically significant increase of RL in group A compared to group B or group C (P<0.001, < 0.001 respectively), but no significant difference between groups B and C (P=0.266). With doses of 100 ng/g and 200 ng/g MCH, there was a statistically significant decrease of CT-L in group A compared to group B (P=0.001,= 0.001) and group C (P<0.001,< 0.001 respectively), but no significant difference between groups B and C (P=0.775, 0.310). (4) Histopathology: there were eosinophilic predominant peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory influx in murine lungs after OVA sensitizing and challenging, which could be counteracted by inhalation of budesonide in group B.Conclusions The decline in EV0.1 in response to MCH challenge correlated with simultaneous changes in Vt, RL and CT-L, but more sensitively than all the other parameters. The decline in EV0.1 and inflammation in murine lung could be significantly alleviated by inhalation of nebulized budesonide solution, which indicated that EV0.1 to MCH is a valid measure of AHR in mice.

Abstract：Background The hyperdynamic circulatory state in end-stage liver disease is similar to the hemodynamic state in endotoxic shock. Recent research indicated that proper use of norepinephrine (NE) in patients with endotoxic shock could improve the perfusion of visceral organs and raise the survival rate. In this study, dopamine (DA) or NE combined with DA was infused during the orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) to observe and compare their effects on hemodynamics, oxygenation, and renal function during different stages of the operation. Methods Thirty American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) Ⅲ-Ⅳ patients undergoing OLT were randomly divided into group DA and group NE with 15 patients in each group. Vasopressors were infused after induction of anesthesia. DA was infused in group DA; DA and NE in group NE. Data of hemodynamics, oxygenation and renal function were collected after induction, 1 hour in preanhepatic, anhepatic, neohepatic phase and at the end of operation.Results Heart rate(HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the two groups were stable. In anhepatic phase, central venous pressure(CVP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure(MPAP), pulmonary arterial wedge pressure(PAWP), cardiac output (CO), and cardiac index (CI) decreased, whereas systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) increased significantly (P<0.05). The hemodynamic variables of group NE were more stable than that of group DA. Pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR), pulmonary vascular resistance index(PVRI), power of hydrogen(pH), and mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) had no significant changes. Oxygen delivery (DO2) and oxygen consumption(VO2) decreased during anhepatic phase (P<0.05), but lactic acid (LAC)increased since anhepatic phase. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) maintained relatively stable during different phases. Group NE had more urine output (F=4.733, P=0.039). Conclusions During OLT, both DA and NE combined with DA can maintain hemodynamics stable, whereas the latter may create better condition. NE has positive effects on maintenance of renal function。

Abstract：Background Little information is available regarding the effect of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) on the bumetanide-sensitive sodium-potassium-2 chloride cotransporter (NKCC2), the thiazide-sensitive sodium-chloride cotransporter (NCC), and the Cl- channel (CLC)-K2 at both mRNA and protein expression level in Ang Ⅱ-induced hypertensive rats. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of Ang Ⅱ with chronic subpressor infusion on nephron-specific gene expression of NKCC2, NCC and CLC-K2. Results Ang Ⅱ significantly increased blood pressure and up-regulated NKCC2 mRNA and protein expression in the kidney. Expression of CLC-K2 mRNA in the kidney increased 1.6 fold (P<0.05).There were no changes in NCC mRNA or protein expression in AngII-treated rats versus control. Conclusions Chronic subpressor Ang Ⅱ infusion can significantly alter NKCC2 and CLC-K2 mRNA expression in the kidney, and protein abundance of NKCC2 in kidney is positively regulated by Ang Ⅱ. These effects may contribute to enhanced renal Na+ and Cl- reabsorption in response to Ang Ⅱ。

Abstract：Background Hypertension is a complex biological trait that influenced by multiple factors. The encouraging results for hypertension research showed that the linkage analysis can be used to replicate other studies and discover new genetic risk factors. Previous studies linked human chromosome 14 to essential hypertension or blood pressure traits. With a Chinese population, we tried to replicate these findings. Methods A linkage scan was performed on chromosome 14 with 14-microsatellite markers with a density of about 10 centi Morgen (cM) in 147 Chinese hypertensive nuclear families. Multipoint non-parametric linkage analysis and exclusion mapping were performed with the GENEHUNTER software, whereas quantitative analysis was performed with the variance component method integrated in the SOLAR package. Results In the qualitative analysis, the highest non-parametric linkage score is 1.0 (P=0.14) at D14S261 in the single point analysis, and no loci achieved non-parametric linkage score more than 1.0 in the multipoint analysis. Maximum-likelihood mapping showed no significant results, either. Subsequently the traditional exclusion criteria of the log-of-the-odds score-2 were adopted, and the chromosome 14 with λs≥2.4 was excluded. In the quantitative analysis of blood pressure with the SOLAR software, two-point analysis and multipoint analysis suggested no evidence for linkage occurred on chromosome 14 for systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion There was no substantial evidence to support the linkage of chromosome 14 and essential hypertension or blood pressure trait in Chinese hypertensive subjects in this study。

Abstract：Background The production of neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from embryonic stem (ES) cells was usually very low according to previous studies, which was a major obstacle for meeting the needs of clinical application. This study aimed at investigating whether astrocytes could promote production of NSCs derived from ES cells in vitro.Methods Mouse ES cells line-D3 was used to differentiate into NSCs with astrocytes as inducing stromal cells by means of three-stage differentiation procedure. Another group without astrocytes served as control. The totipotency of ES cells was identified by observation of cells' morphology and formation of teratoma in severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) mice. The quantity and purity of NSCs derived from ES cells were analyzed using clonogenic assay, immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry assay. The plasticity of NSCs was detected by differentiating test. Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4) and nestin, the specific marker genes of ES cells and NSCs respectively, were detected continuously using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to monitor the process of cell differentiation. Results The ES cells of D3 line could maintain the ability of differentiating into cellular derivations of all three primary germ layers after continuous passage culture. At the end of two-stage of inducing process, 23.2±3.5 neurospheres per plate formed in astrocyte-induced group and only 0.8±0.3 per plate in the control group (clonogenic assay, P<0.01), and the ratio of nestin positive cells was (50.2±2.8)% in astrocyte-induced group and only (1.4±0.5)% in the control group (flow cytometry, P<0.01). With the induction undergoing, the expression of Oct-4 gradually decreased and then disappeared, while the expression of nestin was increased step by step, and the ratio of nestin positive cells was up to 91.4% by the three-stage differentiation. The nestin positive cells could be further induced into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in differentiating medium supplemented with fetal calf serum. The results of differentiating test showed that the ratio of NF-200 and NSE positive cells was (42.7±2.6)% in astrocyte-induced group and only (11.2±1.8)% in the control group (P<0.01).Conclusions Astrocytes can not only increase the production of NSCs derived from ES cells but also promote the differentiation of NSCs toward neuronal lineage。

Platelet activation plays an important role in thrombosis. Platelet glycoprotein Ⅱb/Ⅲa (GP Ⅱb/Ⅲa) is the receptor of fibrinogen. Platelet cross-linking with fibrinogen through GPⅡb/Ⅲa is the process of thrombosis. Ca2+ is an important intracellular second messenger in platelet activation. It has been reported that GPⅡb/Ⅲa receptors were involved in the calcium influx of activated platelet, and GPⅡb/Ⅲa receptor had characteristics of calcium channel or an adjacent calcium channel。

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of common sustained tachyarrhythmias and is one of the major causes of stroke. Recent clinical studies have shown that ectopic activities in pulmonary vein muscle sleeves (PVMSs) are important not only for the initiation of AF but also for its maintenance.1 Four-phase spontaneous depolarization could be observed in PVMS after the tissue was pre-treated with ryanodine or when atrial pressure was elevated.2,3 These data showed the distinct electrophysiology characteristics of PVMS.

Elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin observed in patients with cancers of epithelial origin, including carcinomas of breast, colon, and liver1,2 have been interpreted as humoral responses of host to cancer growth.3 Recently, Qiu et al4 described in detail that human cancers of epithelial origin, including carcinomas of breast, colon, liver, lung, established epithelial cancer lines, produce immunoglobulin G (IgG) in their cytoplasm. Under normal conditions, heat shock proteins (HSPs) have multiple cellular functions, such as folding and translocating newly synthesized proteins. When a cell is injured or under stress, HSPs refold damaged protein or facilitate degradation of proteins. In most cancers, heat shock proteins can capture tumour specific peptide to inhibit the growth of cancer. This study demonstrated that human IgG and HSPs are co-localized in hepatocellular carcinoma.