The role of Hedgehog signaling pathway in the simvastatin-induced osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells / 国际药学研究杂志

Objective: To investigate the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC)induced by simvastatin(SIM)in vitro and then further investigate whether the Hedgehog signaling pathway is involved in the SIM-induced osteogenic differentiation of BMSC using the Hedgehog signaling pathway blocking agent cyclopamine(Cpn). Methods: The rat BMSC was extracted by the whole-bone marrow adherent culture method and cul- tured in the induction medium(control medium,CM)and the induction medium containing SIM or SIM+Cpn. The expression of alkaline phosphatase(ALP)in induced cells was detected by the ALP staining. Immunofluorescence stain- ing was performed to detect the espressions of Gli1 and osteocalcin(OCN)in the induced cells. The Gli1,ALP,colla- gen type(COL)and OCN mRNA expression was detected by real-time quantitative PCR(RT-PCR). Western blot (WB)was used for assessing the expression level of Gli1,Runx2,COLand OCN proteins. The cell calcium nodule for- mation and matrix mineralization ability were detected by alizarin red staining. Results: The ALP expression was signifi- cantly higher in SIM group than in CM group(P<0.05),while the ALP expression was lower in SIM+Cpn group than in the SIM group(P<0.05)but higher than in the CM group. Immunofluorescence assay showed that SIM could promote the expression of Gli1 and OCN in the conditions with or without Cpn. On the 10th and 18th day of intervention,the mRNA expression level of Gli1,ALP,OCN and COLwas significantly higher in the SIM group than in the CM group(P<0.05), and the higher mRNA expression in the SIM group could be completely blocked by Cpn. Further,on the 10th and 18th day of intervention,the expressed Gli1,Runx2,COLand OCN protein level was significantly higher in the SIM group in the CM group(P<0.05),while the level of these expressed proteins in the SIM+Cpn group was significantly lower than in the SIM group(P<0.05). The alizarin red staining showed that SIM group had stronger matrix mineralization ability than the other groups(P<0.05). Conclusion: SIM could up-regulate the expression of Gli1 and the osteogenesis markers ALP,Runx2,COLand OCN to induce osteogenic differentiation of BMSC,and Cpn could not completely block the SIM-induced differentiation. Further study is needed to uncover the underlying mechanism.

Expression and function of miR-194 in thymic epithelial cell with aging / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To study the expression and interaction between miR-194 and PTPN12 in the process of age-related atrophy of thymus for clarifying the regulatory mechanism in the process of this disease.Methods:C57BL/6 mouse were divided into 4 groups as 1 month,6 months,10 months and 19 months old and each group has 6 cases.Thymus tissue was removed and thymic stromal cells were isolated.And thymus epithelial cells were washed out by CD45 antibody and LS column after anesthesia.Fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the changes of miR-194 and PTPN12 gene expression in thymus epithelial cells with aging.miR-194 and PTPN12 luciferase reporter vectors were transfected into HEK293 cells,and the auto fluorescence values were detected at 24 h and 48 h,respectively in vitro.Results:The expression level of miR-194 decreased (P<0.05),while the expression level of PTPN12 mRNA increased (P<0.05) as the age increased.And the correlation between miR-194 and PTPN12 mRNA expression was found to be negative(P<0.05).In vitro,luciferase reporter gene results show that miR-194 has a direct effect on the 3'UTR region of PTPN12 gene and had the highest binding efficiency in 48 h.Conclusion:PTPN12 is one of the target genes of miR-194,which is involved in the aging process of thymus and is an important factor regulating the function of thymic ep-ithelial cells.

Characteristics of infrasound and its influence on workers in working environment of certain thermoelectricity works and department / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the characteristics of infrasound and its effects on the workers at power plants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The audible noise and infrasound in three thermoelectricity plants were measured and by using Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), the subjective sensation, and the physiological indices were compared between exposed workers and controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The infrasound levels were different at different measure sites of the three thermoelectricity works ranging from 40 to 98 dB. There was still 40 approximately 80 dB infrasound even when the soot blower stopped running. Different apparatus produced different infrasound levels with the highest ranging from 62 to 115 dB. A single frequency (16 Hz) infrasound was produced in certain department during working hour with sound pressure levels of 110 to 120 dB, but the audible noise sound pressure level was less than 70 dB. There was no significant difference in the indices representing vision fatigue and neurobehaviour function between exposed workers and controls. Workers at certain department experienced evident subjective sensation of neurobehavioral dysfunction, and the scores of somatization, depression, hostility, phobic anxiety, and psychotism in the SCL-90 were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control and the norm in China (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Infrasound is ubiquitous in the working environment, but usually, the noise levels are less than 120 dB. In some special production department, there is persistent infrasound above 110 to 120 dB. No obvious health effects are found among those who are exposed to infrasound below 100 dB. However, the workers who are chronically exposed to infrasound above 110 to 120 dB present notable subjective sensation of autonomic neurobehavioral dysfunction, and their psychological health status is not as good as those in the control and those in the domestic normal pattern.</p>

Therapeutic efficacy of oxymatrine on arrhythmia and heart rate variability in patients with coronary heart disease / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of oxymatrine (Oxy) on arrhythmia and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) by Holter electrocardiogram and HRV indexes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and ten patients with CHD and frequent arrhythmia were randomly divided into the Oxy group and the propafenone group, 55 cases in each group. Changes of general conditions, 48 hrs Holter electrocardiogram, frequency of premature beats, P-R interval, R-R interval and 24 hrs HRV index in patients before and after treatment were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The amount of both atrial and ventricular premature beats decreased markedly in both groups (P < 0.01). Propafenone showed better effect in reducing atrial premature beats than that of Oxy (P < 0.05), while the two had similar effect on ventricular premature beats (P > 0.05). HRV was elevated in both groups after treatment (P < 0.01), but the effect of Oxy was superior to that of propafenone after treatment (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Oxymatrine could significantly improve HRV, and shows obvious effects on atrial and ventricular arrhythmia in patients with CHD.</p>

Progress of cardiovascular pharmacologic study on berbamine / 中国中西医结合杂志

Berbamine (molecular formular C37H40N2O6) is a bi-benzle-isoquinolyl alkaloid extracted from Berberis poiretil Schneid (genus of Berberis, family of Beridaceae), a kind of Chinese plants. In aspect of cardiovascular pharmacology, berbamine shows actions of anti-arrhythmia, anti-myocardial ischemia, vasodilatating to lower blood pressure, and antithrombosis, it could lower heart function and heart rate. Study on its anti-arrhythmia was the deepest one. The significant anti-arrhythmia action can be achieved by inhibiting ionic channels of sodium, potassium, calcium, etc., negative frequency and negative transduction, improving the diastolic excitation threshold of myocardium, prolonging effective refractory period of myocardium. As a direction of researches on new type of antiarrhythmic herbs and herbal drugs, the study on berbamine is worthy of further research and development.