Emodin prevents intima thickness via Wnt4/Dvl-1/beta-catenin signaling pathway mediated by miR-126 in balloon-injured carotid artery rats

Neointimal proliferation after vascular injury is a key mechanism of restenosis, a major cause of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty failure and artery bypass occlusion. Emodin, an anthraquinone with multiple physiological activities, has been reported to inhibit proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that might cause intimal arterial thickening. Thus, in this study, we established a rat model of balloon-injured carotid artery and investigated the therapeutic effect of emodin and its underlying mechanism. Intimal thickness was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Expression of Wnt4, dvl-1, beta-catenin and collagen was determined by immunohistochemistry and/or western blotting. The proliferation of VSMC was evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and electron microscopy. MicroRNA levels were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. Emodin relieved injury-induced artery intimal thickness. Results of western blots and immunohistochemistry showed that emodin suppressed expression of signaling molecules Wnt4/Dvl-1/beta-catenin as well as collagen protein in the injured artery. In addition, emodin enhanced expression of an artery injury-related microRNA, miR-126. In vitro, MTT assay showed that emodin suppressed angiotensin II (AngII)-induced proliferation of VSMCs. Emodin reversed AngII-induced activation of Wnt4/Dvl-1/beta-catenin signaling by increasing expression of miR-126 that was strongly supported by transfection of mimic or inhibitor for miR-126. Emodin prevents intimal thickening via Wnt4/Dvl-1/beta-catenin signaling pathway mediated by miR-126 in balloon-injured carotid artery of rats.

Precise minimally invasive surgery of lower lumbar spine / 浙江大学学报·医学版

The fast development of minimally invasive spine surgery in recent years is based on the advance of endoscopic microsurgery techniques, computer science and medical imaging, as well as the growing concerning of medical humanities. The concept of minimally invasive and precise targeting therapy has been penetrating into various areas of surgery, and minimal tissue damage and fewer complications are the new directions of minimally invasive spine surgery. In this article we review some advances in precise spinal surgery including percutaneous lumbar discectomy, microendoscopic discectomy, computer-assisted orthopedic surgery and robot surgery.

Construction of recombinant baculovirus carriers of Ac-EGFP srnd Ac-HGF regulated by doxycycline / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To construct novel recombinant baculoviruses with Tet-On system and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or hepatic growth factor (HGF) which could be regulated by different concentrations of doxycycline (DOX). Methods The recombinant plasmids pFast-Tet, pTRE-EGFP and pTRE-HGF were digested. The target fragments were collected and connected to pFast-Tet, the resultants wereused to transform DH10Bac competent cells containing AcMNPV Bacmid and helper plasmid, and the Bacmid DNA were identified (named Ac-EGFP and Ac-HGF) after selection and extraction. Ac-EGFP and Ac HGF were then transfected into bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and the expression of EGFP and HGF were regulated by different concentrations of DOX (EGFP:0, 200, 500, and 1 000 ng/mL; HGF; 0, 10, 100, 500, 1 000, and 1 200 ng/mL); EGFP expression was observed under fluorescence microscope and the level of HGF expression was detected by ELISA. Results It was verified that Tet-On system was successfully constructed in a baculovirus vector with EGFP or HGF, and they were highly transfected into BMSCs. EGFP and HGF were highly expressed when exposed to high concentrations of DOX. And the expression of EGFP and HGF were gradually decreased at low concentration or absence of DOX. Conclusion Tet-On system can be used to construct a new recombinant baculovirus vector containing EGFP or HGF and it can stably and highly transfect BMSCs; different concentrations of DOX can lead to different expression of EGFP and HGF, and they are in low background expression without DOX.