ABSTRACT
AIM: To detect the expression of microRNA (miRNA)-29a in pulmonary arteries of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats, and to investigate the effects of miRNA-29a on pulmonary hypertension.METHODS: MCT-induced pulmonary hypertensive model was established in Wistar rats.The expression of miRNA-29a in the lung tissue was determined by qPCR.miRNA-29a was overexpressed in the pulmonary hypertension rats by tail vein injection of miRNA-29a-mimic.Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and systemic arterial pressure (SAP) were measured.The morphological changes of the pulmonary arteries were observed by HE staining.The protein levels of p-Akt and p-eNOS were detected by Western blot.RESULTS: The mRNA expression of miRNA-29a was significantly decreased in the pulmonary arteries of MCT-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats.Furthermore, after overexpression of miRNA-29a, PAP was remarkably reduced, while SAP remained unchanged.In addition, the increased thickness of tunica media, the remodeling of pulmonary arteries and the decreased protein levels of p-Akt and p-eNOS in the pulmonary hypertensive rats were dramati-cally changed after miRNA-29a overexpression.CONCLUSION: Overexpression of miRNA-29a ameliorates pulmonary hypertension in rats.These effects may be associated with the activation of PI3K/Akt-eNOS signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
[ ABSTRACT] AIM:In order to observe the myocardial differentiation capacity of the dedifferentiated fat ( DFAT) cells treated with vitamin C in vitro.METHODS: DFAT cells were dedifferentiated from the mature rat adipocytes with ceiling adherent culture.The DFAT cells of passage 3 were used in the study.Vitamin C and/or neonatal rat heart tissue lysate were added into the culture medium to induce myocardial differentiation for 3 weeks.The cell morphology was ob-served under microscope.The myocardial-specific markers, such as cTnT, GATA-4 and NKx2.5, were examined by the methods of immunofluorescence, PCR and Western blot.RESULTS:Mature rat adipocytes dedifferentiated into fibroblast-like DFAT cells after ceiling adherent culture.The DFAT cells spontaneously differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells under normal culture condition with a low incidence.After treated with neonatal rat heart cell lysate, the DFAT cells be-came cardiomyocyte-like cells that had bigger size, longer shape and myotubule-structure.The expression of cTnT, GATA-4 and NKx2.5 was remarkably increased at both mRNA and protein levels as compared with the normal cultured DFAT cells.The expression of cTnT, GATA-4 and NKx2.5 was further increased in DFAT cells after treating with vitamin C.No spontaneous beating cell was observed.CONCLUSION:Vitamin C enhances the differentiation of DFAT cells into cardio-myocyte-like cells.
ABSTRACT
Objective:The feasibility of a minimally invasive cosmetic transbilical laparotomy was studied in fifty-seven pediatric patients.The advantages of this technique will be discussed.Methods:The circumferential incision was made following the ring fold of the right umblilicus,which was less than 2700.The peritoneum was opened in the midline via rectus abdominis.Intra-peritoneal lesions were detected and explored.The surgical procedures were able to be carried out either inside or outside of the peritoneum.After closure of peritoneum,the umbilical incision was closed subcutaneously with an absorbable suture.Results:From January 2001 to January 2005,58 procedures via transumbilical route have been done in 57 pediatric patients.None of those cases required conversion to a traditional abdominal incision.The duration of surgery was from 20 to 170 minutes.All patients were discharged five days postoperatively and follow-up was conducted from 3 months to 4 years.No complications were observed in all but one patient.This patient had a leaking anastamosis.No visible scars were present and the cosmetic results were excellent.All patients had shorter hospital stay and lower operating cost.Conclusion:Transumbilical approach is a feasible,safe,economical,minimally invasive procedure with excellent cosmetic results which appears to be superior to traditional procedures.It suggests that the transumbilical route should be widely used clinically and might be applicable for elder children and possibly would be of benefit in the treatment of other conditions.
ABSTRACT
In the several years,clinical practice,Professor LU Zhi-zheng has accumulated abundant experiences in the treatment of splenic-gastric diseases,and developed a unique treatment system of splenic-gastric diseases. Through the analysis of the recent cases dealt with by Professor LU Zhi-zheng,fi ve features of treatment are preliminarily summarized,i.e. combination of dryness and moisture,independence of increase and decrease upon each other,co-utilization of coldness and warmth,simultaneous application of reducing and nourishing therapies and co-treatment of splenic and gastric diseases,which fully embody the dialectical treating philosophy of Yuan-ji-huo-fa of Professor LU Zhi-zheng,and such treating method is of considerable guiding signifi cance for us to cure the splenic-gastric diseases and other diffi cult and complicated diseases by treating the splenic-gastric diseases.