Changes in Texture and Collagen Properties of Pork Skin during Salt-Enzyme-Alkali Tenderization Treatment.

The effects of salt-enzyme-alkali progressive tenderization treatments on porcine cortical conformation and collagen properties were investigated, and their effectiveness and mechanisms were analyzed. The tenderization treatment comprised three treatment stages: CaCl (25 °C/0-30 min), papain (35 °C/30-78 min), and NaCO (25 °C/78-120 min). The textural, microscopic, and collagenous properties (content, solubility, and structure) of pork skin were determined at the 0th, 30th, 60th, 90th, and 120th min of the treatment process.

Halofuginone attenuates intervertebral discs degeneration by suppressing collagen I production and inactivating TGFβ and NF-кB pathway.

Most low back pain is caused by intervertebral discs (IVD) degeneration, a disease that prevalence is increasing with age. Halofuginone, an analog of ferbrifugine isolated from plant Dichroa febrifuga, has drawn much attention in recent years for the wide range of bioactivities in malaria, cancer, fibrotic and autoimmune diseases. In this study, we evaluated the benefit effects of halofuginone in IVD degeneration treatment in a validated rabbit puncture model.

Gene expression of NMDA and AMPA receptors in different facial motor neurons.

Objectives/hypothesis: Facial motor neurons (FMNs) are involved in the remodeling of the facial nucleus in response to peripheral injury. This study aimed to examine the gene expression of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) and N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor (NMDAR) in reinnervating dormant FMNs after facial nerve axotomy.

Study Design: Animal study.

[Growth inhibition effection of perlecan anti-sense cDNA on human laryngeal carcinoma xnograft in nude mice].

Objective: To observe growth inhibition effect of perlecan anti-sense cDNA (pAP) on human laryngeal carcinoma xnografted in nude mice. To vertify its antitumor effect and mechanism in vivo, and it may be useful as a biomarker in carcinoma of larynx cancer.

Method: Created the model of human laryngeal carcinoma xnograft in nude mice.

miR-17 inhibitor suppressed osteosarcoma tumor growth and metastasis via increasing PTEN expression.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in cancer development and progression. Here, we investigated the role of miR-17 in the progression and metastasis of osteosarcoma (OS). miR-17 was frequently increased in OS tissues and cell lines.

[Comparison of lentivirus and adenovirus vector mediated gene transfer into cultured spiral ganglion cells].

Objective: We aimed to compare the characteristics between lentivirus and adenovirus vector mediated gene transfer into cultured spiral ganglion cells (SGCs).

Method: SGCs from newborn rats were cultured and exposed to lentivirus-GFP and adenovirus-GFP vectors. GFP expression and the cell morphology were evaluated under epi-fluorescence microscope at 3 days and 7 days after exposure.

[Adenovirus-mediated delivery of bcl-2 gene attenuates cisplatin-induced degeneration of cultured spiral ganglion cells.].

Objective: To assess the protection against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity by adenovirus-mediated overexpression of the bcl-2 gene in cultured spiral ganglion cells (SGC).

Methods: SGC from P3 rats were cultured in vitro and exposed to adenovirus vector carrying green fluorescent protein gene (Ad-GFP), followed by immunocytochemical analysis for expression of the neuron-specific marker Neurofilament 200 (NF200) and detection under laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope. Then, SGC were transduced by Ad-bcl-2 and the expression of human bcl-2 protein was evaluated by Western Blot.

Isolating RNAs from rat facial motor neurons with laser capture microdissection after facial-facial anastomosis.

Both reinnervated and dormant neurons can be observed in facial nucleus following facial-facial anastomosis. Although they may play different roles in the remodeling mechanism of facial nucleus during facial nerve injury and regeneration, comprehensive gene profiling analysis of these two neuron types has never been performed due to the difficulty in isolating specific neuron populations and extracting sufficient amount of RNAs from the heterogeneous facial nucleus. In this study, we developed a method to isolate the Fluoro-Ruby (FR) retrogradely labeled reinnervated facial motor neurons and the Nissl stained dormant neurons in two steps with laser capture microdissection (LCM) technology.

[A study of spiral ganglion cells death pathway induced by hydrogen peroxide].

Objective: To make clear the molecular pathways involved in hydrogen peroxide-induced spiral ganglion cells death.

Method: The spiral ganglion cells of the newly born rats were primary cultured. Then the SGCs were exposed to hydrogen peroxide for different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 500 micromol/L) and for different hours (2, 4, 6 h).

Plastic changes of synapses and excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in facial nucleus following facial-facial anastomosis.

The remodeling process of synapses and neurotransmitter receptors of facial nucleus were observed. Models were set up by facial-facial anastomosis in rat. At post-surgery day (PSD) 0, 7, 21 and 60, synaptophysin (p38), NMDA receptor subunit 2A and AMPA receptor subunit 2 (GluR2) were observed by immunohistochemical method and semi-quantitative RT-PCR, respectively.

[Suppression of proliferation of Hep-2 cells by stable expression of anti-sense perlecan cDNA].

Objective: To study the suppression of proliferation of Hep-2 cells by stable expression of anti-sense perlecan cDNA.

Method: In this study, the plasmids of recombination eukaryotic expression vector perlecan anti-sense cDNA (pAP) were transfected into Hep-2 cells by using cationic liposome (lipofectamine 2000) and divided into three groups: non-transfected group, WT group; transfection with no load carrier, neo group; and transfection with the pAP plasmid, pAP group. Semi quantify RT-PCR, western blot assay and MTT assay were used to detected the expression of perlecan mRNA and protein in the three groups; the level of cell proliferation; and the responsivity of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).

[Excitotoxic effects of glutamate on the in vitro spiral ganglion cells].

Objective: To explore the excitotoxic effects of glutamate on the in vitro primarily cultured spiral ganglion cell (SGC) of rat.

Method: Spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) were cultured in vitro for 4 days, and exposed to 1 mmol/L glutamate for 24 hours. Damaged cells double-labeling with Hoechest33258 and PI were observed by fluorescence microscope.

[Application of rat tail collagen in the primary culture of rats marginal cells of stria vascularis].

Objective: To study the feasibility of application of rat-tail collagen in the primary culture of rats marginal cells of stria vascularis.

Method: The effect of self-made rat-tail collagen on the primary culture of rats marginal cells of stria vascularis was observed and estimated.

Result: When cochlear stria vascularis fragment was isolated and cultured for 24 h, a few culture cells appeared around the fragments.

[Experimental study of primary culture methods for spiral ganglion cells of newborn rats].

Objective: To optimize culture condition of spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) in vitro and to obtain highly purified SGCs.

Method: The spiral ganglions from newborn rats were digested in 0.25% trypsin and 0.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and cyclooxygenase-2 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and its significance.

In order to study the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and its significance, the expression of VEGF mRNA and COX-2 mRNA in 62 cases of LSCC and 54 adjacent noncancerous laryngeal tissues and 9 normal human laryngeal mucous tissues was detected by using techniques of semi-quantitative RT-PCR. It was found that the expression level of VEGF and COX-2 mRNA was significantly increased in LSCC as compared with that in the normal human laryngeal mucous tissues (both P < 0.01), and the expression level of VEGF and COX-2 mRNA were significantly increased in stage Ill + IV tissues of LSCC as compared with the stage I + II tissues of LSCC (P < 0.

[Expression of perlecan in laryngeal carcinoma cell and its significance].

Objective: To study the expression of perlecan in human laryngeal carcinoma cells and its significance.

Method: The expression of perlecan mRNA in human laryngeal carcinoma cells, Hep-2 cells were investigated by using the techniques of semi-quantify RT-PCR. The expression of perlecan in the Hep-2 cells was investigated by using the techniques of immunohistochemistry.

[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in laryngeal carcinoma cell and its significance].

Objective: To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and both the Flt-1 and KDR high affinity VEGF receptors in human laryngeal carcinoma cells and its significance.

Method: In this study, we investigated the expression of VEGF mRNA and both the Fit-1 mRNA and KDR mRNA high affinity VEGF receptors in human laryngeal carcinoma cells using techniques of semi-quantify RT-PCR.

Result: It was showed that the expression level of VEGF mRNA was significantly increased in human laryngeal carcinoma cells as compared with the normal cells, Hacat cells (P <0.

[Construction of recombinant adenovirus containing human Bcl-2 and its expression in the spiral ganglion cells].

Objective: To construct the adenoviral vector containing human Bcl-2 gene and to study the expression of the gene in the spiral ganglion cells (SGC) in vitro.

Methods: Human Bcl-2 cDNA obtained from the plasmid pUC-CAGGS/Bcl-2 was cloned into the plasmid pAdTrack-CMV. Then, pAdTrack/Bcl-2 was cotransferred with adenoviral backbone vector into E.

[Alteration of the auditory function and auditory nerve pathology in Guinea pigs with peripheral nerve demyelination].

Objective: To study the auditory function and auditory nerve pathological changes of the experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) animal model in Guinea pigs.

Method: To establish the animal model of EAN, heterologous myelin basic protein (MBP) of peripheral nerve was used to the immunize Guinea pigs. Serum anti-MBP-IgG levels, sciatic nerve conduction velocity (NCV), hearing thresholds and wave latencies, and pathological changes in auditory nerve, sciatic nerve and cochlea were observed.

A retrospective study on cholesteatoma otitis media coexisting with cholesterol granuloma.

To investigate the etiology and pathogenesis of cholesteatoma otitis media accompanied by cholesterol granuloma and the relationship between cholesteatoma and cholesterol granuloma, 63 cases of middle ear cholesterol granuloma treated in our hospital during the period from March 1988 to May 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. All cases were surgically and pathologically verified. 15 cases of cholesteatoma coexisting with cholesterol granuloma were found among the 63 patients.