[Efficacy of Yishen Huoxue Tongluo() medicated serum on apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells of human intervertebral disc under overload static pressure].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of Yishen Huoxue Tongluo() decoction containing serum on the apoptosis of human disc nucleus pulposus cells under the overload static pressure stress and its related mechanism. METHODS: Human nucleus pulposus cells were divided into three groups. The blank group had no intervention. The model group and traditional Chinese medicine serum intervention group were treated with 3 MPa compressive stress in vitro for 2, 4 and 6 hours. The changes and differences of morphology, growth status and ultrastructure of intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells were observed. The apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells and nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (NF-κB p65), SRY-related high mobility group box 9 (SOX9), C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), matrix metalloprotein-13 (MMP-13) and corresponding gene expression were detected. RESULTS: At the same time, compared with the blank group, the nucleus pulposus cells in the model group were smaller in volume, less in cytoplasm and worse in growth; the nucleus pulposus cells in the traditional Chinese medicine serum intervention group were slightly larger in volume, more complete in morphology, richer in cytoplasm and better in growth. Under the same action time, the ultrastructure of nucleus pulposus cells in blank group was complete, and the structures of primary and secondary processes were not broken;and the ultrastructure of model group and traditional Chinese medicine serum intervention group were damaged, the main and secondary processes were broken to varying degrees, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. At the same time, the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells in model group was higher than that in blank group, while the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells in the traditional Chinese medicine serum intervention group was lower than that inmodel group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); with the increase of action time, there was no significant difference in the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells between blank group and traditional Chinese medicine serum intervention group, and the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells in model group was increased. Compared with model group, the expression of NF-κB p65, CHOP, MMP-13 were decreased and SOX9 was increased in traditional Chinese medicine serum intervention group at the same time (P<0.05);with the increase of action time, the expression of NF-κB p65, CHOP and MMP-13 were increased, and the expression of SOX9 was decreased in blank group and model group(P<0.05), and the expression level of model group was higher than that of blank group(P<0.05). Overall observation by gene expression, under the same action time, the relative quantifications of NF-κB p65, CHOP and MMP-13 in traditional Chinese medicine serum intervention group were lower than that in model group, while SOX9 was increased (P<0.05);compared with model group, the relative quantifications of NF-κB p65, CHOP and MMP-13 in blank group were decreased(P<0.05), and the relative quantification of SOX9 was increased(P<0.05);with the increase of action time, the relative quantifications of NF-κB p65, CHOP and MMP-13 of nucleus pulposus cells in blank group and model group were increased and SOX9 was decreased(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Yishen Huoxue Tongluo() decoction can reduce the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells under overload and static pressure, and has the effect of delaying the degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells. Its mechanism may be related to the decrease of CHOP, MMP-13 expression and the increase of SOX9 expression by inhibiting NF-κB p65 signal pathway of nucleus pulposus cells.

Effects of Vitrification with Self-made Carriers and Slow Programmed Freezing on Ovarian Tissue of Sheep / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the effects of self-made carriers on the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue of sheep. Methods Thirty-two ovaries were randomly assigned to fresh group,programmed freezing group,self-made carrier I vitrification group,and self-made carrier Ⅱ vitrification group.The morphology,proliferation,apoptosis,and estrogen level of the ovarian tissue in each group were observed. Results After cryopreservation,the morphology normal rate of the primordial follicles in programmed freezing group,self-made carrier I vitrification group,and self-made carrier Ⅱ vitrification group were 74.2%,72.8%,and 72.3%,respectively,lower than that(83.7%)in the fresh group(χ

Gynecological malignant tumor and assisted reproductive technology / 中国实用妇科与产科杂志

The age of onset of gynecological malignant tumors tends to be younger,more and more patients have fertility requirements when they are diagnosed with cancer.Different cancer treatments have a certain impact on the fertility of patients, application of assisted reproductive technology(ART)can help part of the patients fulfill their fertility wish. In this paper, the methods and safety of ART for three gynecological malignant tumors are discussed.

Expression of gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality-19 in preimplantation embryo of mice / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality-19(GRIM-19) in preimplantation embryo of mice and explore its role in embryonic development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The protein and mRNA expressions of GRIM-19 in 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst phases of mice preimplantation embryo were detected by Western blot analysis and Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>GRIM-19 was continuously expressed in every stage of preimplantation embryo of mice. Western blot analysis and Real-time PCR demonstrated a gradual increase of GRIM-19 expression from 2-cell, which reached a peak in 8-cell phase and then decreased progressively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The expression of GRIM-19 in mouse preimplantation embryos changes as at different developmental phases. GRIM-19 may play an important role during embryonic development.</p>

The impact of sodium aescinate on acute lung injury induced by oleic acid in rats.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Currently, several surfactant or anti-inflammatory drugs are under test as treatments for ALI. Sodium aescinate (SA) has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and antiedematous effects. In the present work, the authors explored the effects of SA and the possible mechanisms of SA action in rats with ALI induced by oleic acid (OA) administration. Eight groups of rats received infusions of normal saline (NS) or OA. Rats exposed to OA were pretreated with 1 mg/kg of SA, or posttreated with SA at low (1 mg/kg), medium (2 mg/kg), or high (6 mg/kg) dose; a positive-control group received methylprednisolone. The pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (P(O(2))) levels, the pulmonary wet/dry weight (W/D) ratios, and indices of quantitative assessment (IQA) of histological lung injury were obtained 2 or 6 hours after OA injection (0.1 mL/kg, intravenously). The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), matrix metalloproteinase gelatinase B (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in both plasma and lung tissue were also determined. Both pre- and posttreatment with SA improved OA-induced pulmonary injury, increased P(O(2)) and SOD values, lowered IQA scores, and decreased the lung W/D ratio and MDA and MMP-9 levels in plasma and lung tissue. SA appeared to abrogate OA-induced ALI by modulating the levels of SOD, MDA, and MMP-9 in plasma and lung tissue.

Therapeutic effects of bone marrow transplantation on ovarian injury in mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) on ovarian injury induced by chemotherapy in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight mice were randomized equally into normal control group (A), cyclophosphamide and BMT group (B), and cyclophosphamide group (C). The mice in groups B and C were treated with intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days, and allogeneic bone marrow cell transplantation was performed in group B. The ovary coefficient and the amount of follicles were compared to evaluate the function of ovaries. For cell tracking, the bone marrow cells were labeled with Hoechst 33342 and detected through fluorescence microscope after transplantation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On days 21 and 50 after cyclophosphamide treatment, the ovary coefficient and the amount of follicles were significantly lowered in groups B and C (P<0.05), but the reduction was obviously ameliorated in group B (P<0.05). Cell tracking showed the presence of the donor bone marrow cells in the ovaries of the recipients mice after BMT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BMT can improve the ovarian function impaired by chemotherapy in mice.</p>

Tissue culture before transplantation of frozen-thawed human fetal ovarian tissue into immunodeficient mice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of tissue culture on the viability and development of follicles in frozen-thawed human fetal ovarian tissue before transplantation into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice and to determine the optimal duration of pretransplant tissue culture. DESIGN: Experimental prospective study. SETTING: Animal center and reproductive laboratories in university hospitals. INTERVENTION(S): Frozen-thawed human fetal ovarian tissue samples from 20-week-old abortuses were randomly divided into four groups and cultured in vitro for 0, 3, 6, or 9 days before being xenografted into kidney capsules of bilaterally oophorectomized severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Grafts were removed 16 weeks after transplantation. Histological analysis and assessment of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression levels were used to evaluate the survival and development of follicles. RESULT(S): The proportion of growing follicles was significantly increased in groups cultured before transplantation as compared with the noncultured group. Sixteen weeks after transplantation, the number of follicles in the cultured grafts was higher than that in the noncultured grafts. Grafts cultured for 6 or 9 days showed higher proportions of preantral and antral follicles than grafts cultured for 0 or 3 days. PCNA immunohistochemical analysis indicated that follicle cells were in a proliferative state after culture and transplantation. CONCLUSION(S): The viability and development of human fetal follicles may be improved by pretransplant tissue culture. The optimal culture duration before transplantation of fetal ovarian tissue is 6 days.

Dissection of mechanism for the adefovir dipivoxil resistance in chronic hepatitis B patients / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism for adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) resistance occurred in chronic hepatitis B patients of a series of phase III clinical trails.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>30 resistant HBV strains were selected out from 177 cases of ADV treated chronic hepatitis B patients. HBV polymerase RT region were amplified by nested PCR and analyzed with the standard nucleotide sequence of HBV strains deposited in GeneBank.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>21 out of 30 HBV strains were primary resistant strains, among them 5 HBV strains (23.8%, 5/21) had the polymorphism site of rtN118H. While the other 9 HBV strains showed secondary resistance, variations in conservative region C (rtM207V) and other non-conservative regions were found. The classic mutation sites such as rtN236T and rtA181V/T were not found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Polymorphism site of rtN118H might be responsible for HBV primary resistance to ADV therapy. rtM207V variation in HBV RT C domain and other variation sites might play a role in HBV secondary resistance to ADV treatment, and natural resistant quasispecies may be the basis for the ADV quick resistance. These conclusions await further confirmation by phenotype test.</p>

Survey of studies on the electromagnetic characteristics of acupoints and meridians / 中国针灸

The present paper reviewes the literatures on the electromagnetic characteristic of meridians at home and abroad in the last twenty years. It generally summarize the studies on the electromagnetic characteristic of meridians from the aspects of the imaging of meridians, the electromagnetic model of meridians, and the physiological and pathological observations on the electro changes at acupoints. The results indicate that acupoints apparently have electro characteristics which are associated with the change of the health condition, time, environment, etc. By means of electromagnetic characteristic, the image of meridians can be made and the phenomena of meridians can be clarified, the essence of meridians can be explained in a certain degree. It still demands further research on this characteristic of meridians.

Capability of oocyte maturation in human cryopreserved ovarian tissue following xenografting / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the development and maturation competence of oocytes retrieved from cryopreserved and transplanted human fetal ovarian tissue by techniques of tissue culture, inducing ovary, oocyte retrieval, and in vitro maturation (IVM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fetal ovaries of 20 weeks were frozen-thawed and cultured for 6 days in vitro, then xenografted into kidney capsules of immunodeficient mice. All mice were stimulated with follicle stimulating hormone every second day for 23 weeks, starting 1 week after grafting. Then oocytes were retrieved from antral follicles 13 hours after human chorionic gonadotrophin injection. IVM was performed to evaluate the maturation competence of the oocytes from ovarian grafts. Human fetal ovarian tissues were examined with histological and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) evaluation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no difference between fresh ovarian tissues and frozen-thawed ovarian tissues in the percentage of follicles at different growth stages (P > 0.05). The proportion of the primary follicles and preantral follicles in the cultured ovarian tissues was significantly larger than that of fresh ovarian tissues and frozen-thawed ovarian tissues (P < 0.05). The proportion of the primary follicles, preantral follicles, and antral follicles in the transplanted ovarian tissues was significantly higher than that of cultured ovarian tissues, fresh ovarian tissues, and frozen-thawed ovarian tissues (P < 0.05). No significant signals of PCNA in the primordial follicles in all ovarian tissues were observed. PCNA immunoreactivity first appeared in primary follicles. However, the obviously positive signals of PCNA were seen in the oocytes and/or the granular cells of cultured ovarian tissues and transplanted ovarian tissues. Oocytes from antral follicles were collected and matured in vitro, and 21.43% of the oocytes reached to MII within 48 hours IVM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Human ovarian follicles can survive and develop well after cryopreservation, tissue culture, and xenotransplantation. Furthermore, oocytes recovered from grafts have normal maturation competence.</p>

Development of measurement and control technologies for hyperthermia treatments of tumors with AC magnetic field / 中国医疗器械杂志

Hyperthermia therapy with AC magnetic field heating magnetic nanoparticles is a new kind of treatment method. The paper reviews the research progresses about AC magnetic heating setups for hyperthermia therapy measurements of magnetic field temperature control, and so on.