Anti-Inflammatory Ergosteroid Derivatives from the Coral-Associated Fungi HL-44.

To obtain the optimal fermentation condition for more abundant secondary metabolites, Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium was chosen for the scale-up fermentation of the fungus HL-44 associated with the soft coral . The EtOAc extract of the fungi HL-44 was subjected to repeated column chromatography (CC) on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 and semipreparative RP-HPLC to afford a new ergostane-type sterol ester () together with fifteen derivatives (-). Their structures were determined with spectroscopic analyses and comparisons with reported data.

mixture attenuates renal damage in rats with diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

mixture (DMix) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine widely used for preventing and treating diabetic nephropathy (DN). Autophagy contributes to DN development and progression. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying the protective effects of DMix on the kidneys of rats with DN and to determine whether this involves autophagy.

A novel tri-culture model for neuroinflammation.

Neuroinflammation is believed to play a primary role in the pathogenesis of most neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Currently, suitable in vitro neuroinflammation models for studying cellular interactions and inflammatory mechanisms at the neurovascular unit are still scarce. In this study, we established an experimentally flexible tri-culture neuroinflammation model combining murine microglial cells (N11), mouse neuroblastoma Nuro2A cell lines and brain microvascular endothelial MVEC(B3) cells in a transwell co-culture system stimulated with lipopolysaccharides.

Oxytocin decreases colonic motility of cold water stressed rats via oxytocin receptors.

Aim: To investigate whether cold water intake into the stomach affects colonic motility and the involvement of the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor pathway in rats.

Methods: Female Sprague Dawley rats were used and some of them were ovariectomized. The rats were subjected to gastric instillation with cold (0-4 °C, cold group) or room temperature (20-25 °C, control group) saline for 14 consecutive days.

[Peripheral blood monocyte hepcidin in patients with multiple myeloma is associated with anemia of chronic disease].

Disorders of iron utilization caused by abnormal elevation of hepcidin levels are the main mechanism of anemia of chronic disease. Hepcidin is mainly produced by the liver. Recently it has been found that monocytes are another source of hepcidin.

[The effects and mechanisms of erythropoietin on hepcidin of human monocytes].

Objective: To investigate the in vitro effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on hepcidin of monocytes and its molecular mechanisms.

Methods: Hepcidin and signaling molecules including C/EBPalpha, Smad1/5/8, p-Smad1/5/8 and p-STAT3 were detected by real time PCR and Western blot. THP-1 monocytes were stimulated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Exogenous oxytocin reverses the decrease of colonic smooth muscle contraction in antenatal maternal hypoxia mice via ganglia.

Oxytocin (OT) has been reported to have a potential protective effect on stress-induced functional gastrointestinal disorders. This study determined whether colonic contraction in adults was affected by antenatal maternal hypoxia, and whether OT is involved in antenatal maternal hypoxia induced colonic contraction disorder. Isometric spontaneous contractions were recorded in colonic longitudinal muscle strips in order to investigate colonic contractions and the effects of exogenous OT on the contraction in antenatal maternal hypoxia and control mice.

[Effect of erythropoietin on proinflammatory factors of human monocytes and its mechanisms].

Erythropoietin (EPO) is the major means of treating anemia of chronic disease (ACD) through stimulating hematopoiesis, inhibiting hepcidin and decreasing proinflammatory factors. Recently, it has been found that monocytes are another source of hepcidin. EPO can reduce the hepcidin stimulated by IL-6 in monocytes, it is assumed that EPO can reduce hepcidin indirectly by reducing IL-6.

[Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on hepcidin mRNA expression in patients with multiple myeloma].

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of multiple myeloma patients' sera on hepcidin mRNA expression of Hep-3b hepatoma cell line and effect of human interleukin-6 (IL-6) antibody or recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on hepcidin mRNA expression. The clinical information and serum of multiple myeloma patients were collected. Their sera of a final concentration of 10% were added into Hep-3b cell medium.

No spatial memory deficit exists in Kunming mice that recently recovered from motor defects following 3-nitropropionic acid intoxication.

Objective: Numerous studies have described both motor defects and cognitive impairments in several strains of rodents following 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) intoxication. In the present study, we investigated spatial recognition memory in Kunming mice that just recovered from motor defects induced by 3-NP.

Methods: Mouse model was made by systemic subacute 3-NP treatment, and spatial recognition memory was measured through the Y-maze Test, a simple two-trial recognition test.

[Ex vivo expansion of CD34(+)CD59(+) cells from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and their hematopoietic reconstitution capability in irradiated nude mice].

This study was purposed to investigate the expansion and hematopoietic reconstitution capability of CD34(+)CD59(+) cells from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) by using BALB/c nude mice so as to provide experimental basis for clinical anto-BMT or auto-PBHSCT in patients with PNH. CD34(+)CD59(+) cells were selected from the bone marrow mononuclear cells in normal persons and PNH patients by immunomagnetic positive double sorting and were engrafted sublethally irradiated BALB/c nude mice. The human CD45(+) cells in bone marrow, spleen and peripheral blood of recipient mice were detected by flow cytometry and DNA assay.

Effects of ovariectomy and 17beta-estradiol treatment on the renin-angiotensin system, blood pressure, and endothelial ultrastructure.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), nitric oxide (NO), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), blood pressure (BP), ultrastructural characteristics, and endothelium-dependent relaxation of thoracic aorta were modulated by the estrogen level. Rats were divided into 3 groups: ovariectomized (OVX); not ovariectomized (sham); and ovariectomized and treated with subcutaneous 17beta-estradiol (15 microg/kg/day, OVX+E(2)) (n=15-17 per group). For 13 weeks after surgery, blood pressure, serum estrogen, NO, plasma angiotensin II (Ang II), ANP, and renin activity levels were monitored.

[A prospective and randomized study of two conditioning regimens in treatment of severe systemic autoimmune diseases with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the differences in immune reconstitution, hematopoietic reconstitution, efficacy, and complication between the two conditioning regimens with or without total body irradiation (TBI) in patients with refractory and severe autoimmune diseases (AID) who receiving autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT).

Methods: Thirty-two AID patients, 5 males and 27 females, aged 29 (15 - 49), underwent APBSCT. The CD34(+) cells were mobilized with cytoxan (CTX) + granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and selected by clinical magnetic activated cell sorting (CliniMACS).

Peripheral blood CD34+ cell mobilization in 42 patients with severe autoimmune disease.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of peripheral CD34+ cell mobilization in patients with severe autoimmune disease.

Methods: Forty-two patients underwent a total of 46 mobilizations by the regimen of cyclophosphamide 2-3 g/m2+ recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) 5 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1). The positive selection of CD34+ cell was performed through the CliniMACS.

17Beta-oestradiol regulates the expression of Na+/K+-ATPase beta1-subunit, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase iv in H9C2 cells.

1. It is necessary to improve our understanding of the effect of 17beta-oestradiol (E2) on the heart at a molecular and cellular level. In the present study, the effects of E2 on Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) and carbonic anhydrase IV (CAIV) in H9C2 cells were investigated.

[Growth, immunophenotype and interleukin-6 level of bone marrow stromal cells in patients with multiple myeloma and acute leukemia].

The aim of this study was to investigate the growth, immunophenotype and interleukin-6 (IL-6) level of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) in patients with acute leukemia (AL) and multiple myeloma (MM). BMSC was cultured by wall-adhesion method and the growth of BMSC was observed. The immunophenotype and cell cycle of BMSC were detected by flow cytometry.

[Nude mice intraperitoneally transfused with ex vivo expanded bone marrow CD34+ CD59+ cells from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria].

Ex vivo expanded human bone marrow CD34(+)CD59(+) cells from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) were transplanted into BALB/c mice in order to investigate their proliferation ability and reconstruction of hemopoiesis, and to lay the groundwork for clinical ABMT/APBSCT in PNH patients. CD34(+)CD59(+) cells were selected from the bone marrow mononuclear cells in PNH patients by using immunomagnetic positive double sorting. Sublethally irradiated BALB/c mice were transplanted with CD34(+)CD59(+) cells enriched from bone narrow of PNH patients.

[Treatment of severe systemic autoimmune diseases with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of high dose immunosuppressive therapy (HDIT) and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) with CD(34)(+) cell selection in patients with refractory and severe autoimmune diseases.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with SLE, RA, pSS, SSc or MCTD were enrolled in the study from 1999. Autologous haemopoietic stem cells were mobilized with CTX 3 approximately 4 g/m(2) and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF).

[A preliminary study on the treatment of severe autoimmune disease by autologous peripheral CD(34)(+) cell transplantation].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of autologous peripheral CD(34)(+) cell transplantation for the treatment of severe autoimmune disease.

Methods: Ten patients received mobilized and purified CD(34)(+) cells transplantation. The mobilization regimen was CTX plus rhG-CSF and the CD(34)(+) cells were selected by CliniMACS.

Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer: evidence from a retrospective cohort study and nested case-control study in China.

Aim: To explore the association between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and risk of gastric cancer in China.

Methods: Utilizing gastroendoscopic biospsy tissue banks accumulated from 1980 to 1988 in Shandong, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu, where stomach cancer incidence was high, during stomach cancer screening conducted by Health Science Center of Peking University, School of Medicine of Zhejiang University, and Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University. Warthin Starry silver staining method was applied to determine H.