ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of a Chinese medicine Xiao Aiping injection on the pathological changes of liver tissues in rat models, the migration ability of cancer cells in hypoxic tumor microenvironment, and explore their mechanism of action. Methods Sixty SPF 5-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into model group (n=48) and blank control group (n=12). The model group was intraperitoneally injected with diethylnitrosamine to establish hepatocellular carcinoma model, and the blank control group was injected equal amount of normal saline. After 14 weeks, the model group was equally divided into three groups, two of them received the Xiao Aiping injection at a low and high dose, respectively, and the rest of model group and the blank control group were injected with normal saline once per day for five days, lasting for consecutive four weeks. Liver specimens were collected at the nineteenth week, and the rat liver cancer and liver tissues were examined by pathology. In the hypoxic environment induced by CoCl2, the effect of Xiao Aiping injection on the migration ability of hepatocellular cancer SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells was assessed by wound healing experiment, and the expression of IL-6 mRNA was detected by real-time PCR assay. Results Compared with the blank control group, hepatic tissue of the model group showed obvious hepatocellular carcinoma-like-changes indicating the successful establishment of hepatocellular carcinoma model. After treatment, compared with the model group, the pathological alterations of hepatic tissue of Xiao Aiping injection low and high doses groups were reduced, and were more obvious in the high dose group. Under hypoxic condition, Xiao Aiping injection obviously inhibited the migration of HepG2 cells and inhibited IL-6 expression in the liver tissues. With the same concentration, Xiao Aiping injection obviously inhibited the migration of SMMC-7721 cells, and showed an inhibiting trend of IL-6 mRNA expression, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclutions Xiao Aiping injection can reduce the pathological changes of hepatocellular carcinoma in rat models induced by intermittent intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitresamine. In the chemically induced hypoxic environment, the effects of Xiao Aiping injection on the migration of SMMC-7721 and hepG2 cells are different. Downregulating the expression of IL-6 mRNA may be one of the mechanisms of migration inhibiting effects.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the curative effect of acupuncture combined with huanglian wendan decoction on the mild cognitive impairment after stroke.Methods:100 patients with mild cognitive impairment after stroke were enrolled in our hospital from June 2013 to August 2016 and randomly divided into two groups.The control group (n=50) accepted nimodipine,and the study group (n=50)accepted huanglian wendan decoction combined with acupuncture treatment based on the control group.The MMSE and MSSS scores were evaluated and compared,and the improvement of cognitive dysfunction and nervous dysfunction,quality of life were compared and analyzed.Results:After treatment,the MMSE,ADL scores of patients were remarkably decreased compared with those before treatment (P＜0.05),and the decreasing degree of study group was significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).The MSSS,MBI scores of both groups were significantly increased compared with those before treatment (P＜0.05),and the increasing degree of study group was significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).The effective rates of improvement in cognitive dysfunction and nervous dysfunction,quality of life of study group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions:Huanglian wendan decoction combined with acupuncture treatment was effective for the mild cognitive impairment after stroke and could improve the quality of life.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the alterations of connexin 43 (Cx43) expression and its distribution at different stages of myocardial infarction (MI) in rats after transplantation of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).Methods Wistar rats were ligated on the left anterior descending coronary artery to make MI models.They were injected with allogenic MSCs,which were induced by 5-aza and labelled by DAPI,during the second operation after 7 days of MI.In subgroups,MSCs were detected by fluorescence microscope.Cx43 expression and GJ distribu-tion were examined by immunohistochemistry after 4,8 or 12 weeks respectively.Results MSCs differentiated into cardiac muscle cell-like cells which were capable of pulsing spontaneously,expressing cTnT and forming myofilament in vitro.Transplanted MSCs can survive in MI host and upregulate Cx43 expression and normalize Cx43 distribution at ischemic zones after 4,8 and 12w.No change of Cx43 was seen at infarcted zones.Conclusion MSCs have the plasticity of differentiating into cardiac muscle cell-like cells which can continuously upregulate Cx43 expression and normalize Cx43 distribution at ischemic zones after 4,8 and 12w.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Stem cell transplantation in repairing infarct myocardium and in improving cardiac function has been widely accepted. However, whether transplanted cells and host cells formed an effective electricity and mechanical couple, whether a relevant independent electrical system with contractile function formed or whether severe malignant ventricular arrhythmia formed, are still unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate electrophysiological abnormaltiy and left ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial infarction following allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized controlled animal study was performed at the Experimental Center, Guangxi Medical University from December 2005 to October 2008.MATERIALS: A total of 120 healthy Wistar rats were equally randomized into normal control, sham operation, saline control and cell transplantation groups. Healthy Wister rats aged 1 month were selected to harvest bone marrow.METHODS: At the third passage, rat BMSCs were collected and treated with 5-aza, and differentiated into cerdiomyocytes.BMSCs were labeled with DAPI at 2 hours before transplantation. In the saline control and cell transplantation groups, rat models of myocardial infarction were established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. In the sham operation group, the coronary artery was not ligated, but only braid. At 7 days following ligation, BMSCs in the cell transplantation group at 2×10-1/L were infused into the edge and center of myocardial infarct region by multipoint injection. Rats in the other three groups were subjected to an equal volume of saline.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Electrocardiogram and cardiac electrophysiology were performed. Ultrasonic cardiography was used to detect left ventricular function. Infarct size was determined. DAPl-labeled donor cell migration and distribution was observed with a fluorescence microscope.RESULTS: BMSCs could differentiate into cardiacmuscle cell-like cells which were capable of pulsing spontaneously, expressing cardiactoponin T and forming myofilament in vitro. Compared with the saline control group, PR interval, QRS duration and ventdcular effective refractory period shortened, ventricular fibrillation threshold increased at 4, 8 and 12 weeks (P < 0.05); left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole reduced, and left ventricular ejection fraction and shortening traction was significantly increased (P< 0.05). At 8 and 12 weeks, infarct size was significantly smaller (P < 0.05). At 4 weeks, DAPl-labeled BMSCs could be seen under the fluorescence microscope, and still could he detected at 12 weeks. However, the fluorescence became weak with prolonged time.CONCLUSION: BMSCs have the plasticity of differentiating into cardiac muscle cell-like cells, which can modulate theelectrophysiological abnormality and left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction.