Cholecystokinin octapeptide improves cardiac function by activating cholecystokinin octapeptide receptor in endotoxic shock rats.

Aim: To explore the effect of sulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (sCCK-8) on cardiac functions and its receptor mechanism in endotoxic shock (ES) rats.

Methods: The changes of the mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), the left ventricular pressure (LVP) and the maximal/minimum rate of LVP (+/-LVdp/dt(max))) were measured by using physiological record instrument in eight groups of rats. The expression of cholecystokinin-A receptor (CCK-AR) and cholecystokinin-B receptor (CCK-BR) mRNA of myocardium in ES rats was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Sp1-like transcription factors are regulators of embryonic development in vertebrates.

Sp1-like family is an expanding transcription factor family. Members of this family bind to the GC-box or GT-box elements in the promoter/enhancers and regulate the expression of the target genes. Currently, this family consists of at least nine members, which may act as a transactivator or a repressor on target promoters.

Characterization and expression pattern of two zebrafish atf7 genes.

Members of the ATF/CREB (activating transcription factor/cAMP-responsive element binding protein) transcription factor family play diverse roles in controlling cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oncogenesis, as well as in embryonic development of vertebrates. We identified two zebrafish orthologs of human ATF7 gene: atf7a and atf7b. Whole-mount in situ hybridization shows that zebrafish atf7a is first expressed in the notochord precursors at 80% epiboly stage and then in the developing notochord during segmentation.

[Effects of lingfasu on embryoid and plantlet formation of Panax notoginseng in vitro].

On the medium MS added the right amount of 2,4-D and LFS (Angustmycin) and cultured under dark condition, the callus from stem segments of Panax notoginseng could induce a lot of embryoids. In 2-3 months, the ratio of embryoid formation reached about 90%. Then transplanted on MS + 2,4-D 1.

Negative regulation of TGF-beta signaling in development.

The TGF-beta superfamily members have important roles in controlling patterning and tissue formation in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Two types of signal transducers, receptors and Smads, mediate the signaling to regulate expression of their target genes. Despite of the relatively simple signal transduction pathway, many modulators have been found to contribute to a tight regulation of this pathway in a variety of mechanisms.

[The shh promoter of zebrafish directs the expression of GFP in notochord].

In vitro experiment showed that HNF3beta was the direct regulator of sonic hedgehog (shh) promoter. To investigate the activity of zebrafish shh promoter in vivo, we constructed the expression vector pShh-EGFP with ligating a 538 bp zebrafish shh promoter,which contained two HNF3beta binding sites, to EGFP. The pShh-EGFP DNA was microinjected into one-cell stage embryos of the zebrafish and the embryos were observed for GFP expression with fluorescent microscopy.

Pur alpha and Sp8 as opposing regulators of neural gata2 expression.

Gata2 is an essential hematopoietic transcriptional factor that is also expressed prominently in the nervous system. The early lethality of knockout mice due to severe anemia has largely precluded studies of gata2 neural regulation and function. In this report, we describe the identification of zebrafish Pur alpha and Sp8 orthologs as two factors that function to regulate neuronal expression of gata2.

Zebrafish Dpr2 inhibits mesoderm induction by promoting degradation of nodal receptors.

Nodal proteins, members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) superfamily, have been identified as key endogenous mesoderm inducers in vertebrates. Precise control of Nodal signaling is essential for normal development of embryos. Here, we report that zebrafish dapper2 (dpr2) is expressed in mesoderm precursors during early embryogenesis and is positively regulated by Nodal signals.

Down-regulation of Rad51 and decreased homologous recombination in hypoxic cancer cells.

There is an emerging concept that acquired genetic instability in cancer cells can arise from the dysregulation of critical DNA repair pathways due to cell stresses such as inflammation and hypoxia. Here we report that hypoxia specifically down-regulates the expression of RAD51, a key mediator of homologous recombination in mammalian cells. Decreased levels of Rad51 were observed in multiple cancer cell types during hypoxic exposure and were not associated with the cell cycle profile or with expression of hypoxia-inducible factor.

Inhibition of phosphatidylinostol 3-kinase uncouples H2O2-induced senescent phenotype and cell cycle arrest in normal human diploid fibroblasts.

Exposure of WI38 human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced premature senescence. The senescent HDFs were permanently arrested and exhibited a senescent phenotype including enlarged and flattened cell morphology and increased senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) activity. The induction of HDF senescence was associated with an activation of p53, increased expression of p21Cip1/WAF1, and hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb), while no changes in the expression of p16Ink4a, p27Kip1, and p14Arf were observed.

Inhibition of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus replication by small interfering RNAs in mammalian cells.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an acute respiratory infectious disease that spread worldwide in early 2003. The cause was determined as a novel coronavirus (CoV), SARS-associated CoV (SARS-CoV), with a single-stranded, plus-sense RNA. To date, no effective specific treatment has been identified.

fgf17b, a novel member of Fgf family, helps patterning zebrafish embryos.

Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) play important roles in the pattern formation of early vertebrate embryos. We have identified a zebrafish ortholog of human FGF17, named fgf17b. The first phase of fgf17b expression occurs in the blastodermal margin of late blastulae and in the embryonic shield of early gastrulae.

[Effects of angustmycin on callus occurrence and proliferation of Panax notogingseng in vitro].

In order to explore quick, efficient inducement and proliferation of Panax notogingseng callus, the stem sections were taken as explants in the following 5 groups of medium: 1. MS + 2,4-D 2 mg/L (CK), 2. MS + 2,4-D 2 mg/L + N6-BA 2 mg/L, 3.

Cloning and expression analysis of zebrafish tob1 gene.

Many members of the Btg/Tob family, which possess anti-proliferation activity, have been identified in mammals but their physiological functions are poorly understood. We have identified a zebrafish tob1 gene, which encodes a peptide of 322 amino acids. The expression pattern of zebrafish tob1 during early embryogenesis is examined by RT-PCR and whole-mount in situ hybridization.

Symptom perception and respiratory sensation: clinical applications.

This article has described symptom perception and its relation to asthma management. Underestimation of airway obstruction in persons with asthma is a common and serious problem that is linked to fatalities in persons with asthma. Strategies to identify and manage the poor perceiver have been suggested.

Asthma education: special applications for the school-age child.

School-age children have learning needs unique to their psychosocial and cognitive developmental stage. Teaching that requires the learner to master abstract concepts is particularly challenging. This article describes how the idea for an interactive doll/model evolved among a group of health care professionals at a day camp for children with asthma.

Pulmonary function testing in asthma: nursing applications.

Spirometry has become the most widely used assessment of pulmonary function for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. This article reviews the indications for spirometry in persons who have asthma, the parameters measured, acceptable testing techniques, acceptability, quality assurance criteria, and basic interpretation of results in evaluating the person who has asthma. Understanding basic spirometry is an invaluable aid to the nurse and nurse practitioner who provide care to children and adults who have asthma.

Cellular origin of ionizing radiation-induced NF-kappaB activation in vivo and role of NF-kappaB in ionizing radiation-induced lymphocyte apoptosis.

Purpose: To investigate the cellular origin of ionizing radiation (IR)-induced NF-kappaB activation in vivo and the role of NF-kappaB in IR-induced lymphocyte apoptosis.

Materials And Methods: NF-kappaB activities were analysed by gel shift/supershift assay in isolated murine T- and B-cells, macrophages (MPhi) and tissues from normal and T- and B-cell-deficient Rag1 mice with or without exposure to IR. IR-induced lymphocyte apoptosis was determined by analysis of 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC(6)) uptake, annexin-V staining and the sub-G0/1 population, or by TUNEL assay.

Sphingomyelin synthase as a potential target for D609-induced apoptosis in U937 human monocytic leukemia cells.

Tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609) is a selective tumor cytotoxic agent. However, the mechanisms of action of D609 against tumor cells have not been well established. Using U937 human monocytic leukemia cells, we examined the ability of D609 to inhibit sphingomyelin synthase (SMS), since inhibition of SMS may contribute to D609-induced tumor cell cytotoxicity via modulating the cellular levels of ceramide and diacylglycerol (DAG).

[Study on making pneumoconiosis model and method of lung lavage in rabbit].

Objective: To provide an intact rabbit pneumoconiosis model and a method of lung lavage for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of pneumoconiosis.

Methods: The dust particles(< or = 5 microns diameter) were poured into the trachea of rabbit by trachea spile. The lung lavage of rabbit was carried out by the improved trachea catheter method.

Ionizing radiation and busulfan inhibit murine bone marrow cell hematopoietic function via apoptosis-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Objective: Ionizing radiation (IR) and busulfan (BU) are commonly used as preconditioning regimens for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We examined whether induction of apoptosis in murine bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic cells contributes to IR- and BU-induced suppression of their hematopoietic function.

Methods: The hematopoietic functions of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors were analyzed by the cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) assay.

An SP1-like transcription factor Spr2 acts downstream of Fgf signaling to mediate mesoderm induction.

Fgf signaling, mediated in part by the transcription factor Brachyury/Xbra/Ntl, plays important roles in mesoderm formation during the early development of vertebrate embryos. We have identified a zebrafish gene, spr2, which encodes a member of the Sp1-like transcription factor family. spr2 is expressed in both hypoblast and epiblast cells during late blastulation/early gastrulation, and in some mesodermal and neural tissues at later stages.

Expression of zebrafish Lc3 synthase gene in embryonic lens requires hedgehog signaling.

Glycosyltransferases are involved in synthesis of various glycolipids and glycoproteins that play important roles in many biological processes. We have identified a zebrafish gene encoding a member of beta1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase family, the Lc3 synthase/bGn-T5. Whole-mount in situ hybridization reveals that the Lc3 synthase gene is expressed in two distinct phases during the zebrafish embryogenesis.

[Study on cyto-compatibility of PGLA film for periodontal guided tissue regeneration].

This study was aimed to evaluate the cyto-compatibility of PGLA film for periodontal guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and their degradable products. Different extraction temperature, time and ratio were used to assess the cell relative growth rate (RGR) for PGLA. The degradable solution were brought into contact with cultured cells in vitro to observe the effects of cytotoxicity at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks.