Up-regulation of IRAK-M is essential for endotoxin tolerance induced by a low dose of lipopolysaccharide in Kupffer cells.

Background: Endotoxin tolerance (ET) is an important mechanism to maintain the homeostasis of Kupffer cells (KCs), because KCs are continually exposed to various pathogen-associated molecular patterns including lipopolysaccharide (LPS). ET involves multiple changes in cell signal transduction pathways; however, not all signaling pathways are down-regulated and some proteins are up-regulated. The latter proteins may be counter regulatory, including interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase M (IRAK-M) expression.

[Effects of farnesoid X receptor ligand on the metabolism of bile acids in rats with estrogen-induced intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy].

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanism of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and its ligands on the metabolism of bile acids in rats with estrogen-induced intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

Methods: An ICP rat model was established with estradiol benzoate (EB) injections. Then FXR ligand chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) was administrated (100 mg/kg daily) to ICP rats for 5 days.

[Effects of paclitaxel loaded ultrasound contrast agents on cell cycles and ultrastructural features of HepG2 cells].

Objectives: To investigate the effects of paclitaxel loaded ultrasound contrast agents on cell cycles and ultrastructural features of HepG2 cells.

Methods: HepG2 cells were cultured, and divided into a blank control group, a paclitaxel group, an ultrasound contrast agents group, and a paclitaxel loaded ultrasound contrast agents group. Cell cycles of the four groups were detected by flow cytometry, and the ultrastructural changes of the cells were observed under a transmission electron microscope.

Role of Kupffer cells in the induction of tolerance of orthotopic liver transplantation in rats.

Because the role of Kupffer cells (KCs) in liver transplantation (LT) tolerance is not well understood, we investigated their role in liver allograft acceptance in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either an LT group or a transplantation group pretreated with GdCl(3) (Gd group). The rats were postoperatively sacrificed at indicated times for histology and assessment of KC function, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity, and cytokine production.

[Characteristics of poloxamer thermosensitive in situ gel of dexamethasone sodium phosphate].

Thermosensitive in situ gel is a novel drug delivery system which can form gel in situ after injection of the polymer solution into the body and releases the drug in a controlled manner, thus provides a promising strategy for localized drug delivery. The aim of the present work is to investigate the characteristics including gelation temperature, sol-gel transition temperature (T(s-g)), gel strength, stable viscosity, erosion and drug release behavior of the thermosensitive in situ gel which are composed of different concentrations of poloxamer Pluronic F127 and F68. The gelation temperature was determined by tube-reverse method.

[Spirit, pivot and the way for holding pivot in acupuncture].

To probe into the relation between spirit, pivot and the way for holding pivot. Find out the discussion about spirit, pivot and holding pivot in acupuncture from ancient books, including literature, history and philosophy, and analyze, check and compare with the theory of controlling spirit in acupuncture, and find out the internal relations. Controlling spirit is applied to hold pivot, the way for holding pivot includes finding fine evidence of diseases, holding chance for needling, seizing opportunity, using circumstances and considering the coming-and-going of evil, constitution of patients and reinforcing-reducing methods of acupuncture.

Effects of nonylphenol on brain gene expression profiles in F1 generation rats.

Objective: To explore the effects of nonylphenol on brain gene expression profiles in F1 generation rats by microarray technique.

Methods: mRNA was extracted from the brain of 2-day old F1 generation male rats whose F0 female generation was either exposed to nonylphenol or free from nonylphenol exposure, and then it was reversely transcribed to cDNA labeled with cy5 and cy3 fluorescence. Subsequently, cDNA probes were hybridized to two BiostarR-40S cDNA gene chips and fluorescent signals of cy5 and cy3 were scanned and analyzed.

[Planting and biological character of rabbit corneal epithelial cells on amniotic membrane].

This study was aimed at investigating the cultivation and biological character of corneal epithelial cells (ECs) planted on intact and denued amniotic membrane (AM) as a substrate and trying to find out satisfactory methods for the reconstruction of corneal epithelium using tissue engineering. Rabbit corneal epithelial cells were planted on denuded AM and intact AM respectively. The cultivated corneal epithelial sheet was examined by use of inverted microscope, HE staining pathologyical section and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and was also detected immunohistochemically.

[The application of 3D liver acquisition volume acceleration integrated with array spatial sensitivity encoding technique in liver dynamic-enhancement scanning].

Objective: To evaluate the application of 3D liver acquisition volume acceleration (3D-LAVA) integrated with array spatial sensitivity encoding technique (ASSET) in liver dynamic-enhancement scanning.

Methods: One hundred forty-seven patients underwent conventional plain and contrast enhancement liver MR imaging. 3D-LAVA and 2D fast spoiled gradient recalled echo were used for contrast enhancement liver MR scanning in 90 and 57 patients respectively.

[Living-related liver transplantation for cavernous transformation of portal vein: a clinical study of 3 cases].

Objective: To review the outcomes of living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) in treating 3 cases of cavernous transformation of portal vein (CTPV) with severe portal hypertension.

Methods: Three children (two boys and one girl) were presented to our hospital with recurring esophageal variceal bleeding, decompensating ascites, splenomegaly and refractory anemia. CTPV was confirmed by intravenous computed tomographic portography using a helical computed tomography scanner and 3-dimensional image reconstruction.

Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae genes specifically induced in mouse lung tissues.

To identify Streptococcus pneumoniae genes expressed specifically during infections, a selection system based on the in vivo expression technology (IVET) was established. galU, which is critical for capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis, and lacZY encoding beta-galactosidase were employed as dual reporter genes to screen in-vivo-induced (ivi) genes of S. pneumoniae.

[Therapeutic angiogenesis induced by hepatocyte growth factor directed by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of therapeutic angiogenesis in myocardial infarction induced by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mediated by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction.

Methods: Forty Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups after the models of myocardial infarction were established: HGF + ultrasound + microbubble (HGF + US/MB) groups, HGF and ultrasound (HGF + US) group, HGF and microbubble (HGF + MB) group, and surgery alone (SA) group. Ultrasound-targeted destruction microbubble loaded with HGF gene with ECG trigger was performed in HGF + US group.

[Construction of a fusion gene expression vector containing mouse Ipr1 and EGFP and its expression in murine macrophage].

Aim: To construct an eukaryotic expression vector containing the fusion gene of mouse Ipr1 and EGFP and to study its expression in murine macrophage RAW264.7.

Methods: The coding sequence of Ipr1 gene was amplified from the total RNA of C57BL/6J mouse thymus by RT-PCR.

Experimental research on therapeutic angiogenesis induced by hepatocyte growth factor directed by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction in rats.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of therapeutic angiogenesis in myocardial infarction induced by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mediated by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction.

Methods: Forty Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups after the models of myocardial infarction were prepared: (1) HGF, ultrasound, and microbubbles (HGF+US/MB), (2) HGF and ultrasound, (3) HGF and microbubbles, and (4) surgery alone. Destruction of ultrasound-targeted microbubbles loaded with the HGF gene with an electrocardiographic trigger mode was performed in the HGF+US/MB group.

[A quantitative analysis of mitochondrial protein differential expressions in hydroxycamptothecin-treated hepatoma cells].

Objectives: To investigate the differentially expressed mitochondrial proteins in hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)-treated SMMC-7721 cells by using quantitative proteome.

Methods: SMMC-7721 cell apoptosis was induced by HCPT and the mitochondria were isolated with a mitochondria isolation kit. Mitochondrial proteins labeled with a cleavable isotope-coded affinity tag were identified and quantified using two-dimensional liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

[Genotyping 238 HBV strains using type-specific primer PCR combined with type-specific nucleotide analysis].

Objective: To establish a set of suitable and reliable methods for HBV genotyping and to study the distribution of HBV genotypes.

Methods: Type-specific nucleotides were searched through alignment of S genes (more than 1000 sequences) listed in GenBank. Then, type-specific primers were designed and type-specific primer PCR was used to genotype the 238 HBV strains.

Proteomic analysis of cervical cancer cells treated with adenovirus-mediated MDA-7.

Ad.mda-7 inhibited growth and decreased survival in a broad array of human tumor cells, without eliciting detrimental effects in normal cells. This study demonstrates that Ad.

Knockdown of damage-specific DNA binding protein 1 (DDB1) enhances the HBx-siRNA-mediated inhibition of HBV replication.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the effect of inhibition of HBV replication can be achieved by RNA interference (RNAi) at both the cellular and organismal levels. However, HBV replication cannot be completely inhibited by this method. To completely inhibit HBV replication, new strategies for improving the inhibition efficacy of HBV-specific siRNAs are needed.

[Oxidative stress induced the expression of Bax and p53 during the apoptosis of alveolar type II epithelial cell].

Objective: To investigate the effects of oxidative stress on the survival and apoptosis of alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells, as well as the mechanisms of apoptosis.

Methods: 500 mumol/L H(2)O(2) was added into primary ATII cells at different times and cell viability, apoptotic ratio and the expression of Bax and p53 were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry (FCM) and Western blotting analysis, respectively. The change in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by fluorescence microscopy and FCM.

Effects of rapamycin in liver transplantation.

Background: Rapamycin is a potent new immunosuppressant with a mechanism of action that is distinct from that of calcineurin inhibitors, but few clinical data on rapamycin in liver transplantation are available. Hence it is necessary to evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of rapamycin-based immunosuppression in liver transplant patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 39 liver transplantation patients who took rapamycin as an immunosuppressant.

[Development and clinical trial of fluorescence real time PCR to detect rubella virus].

To establish a novel rapid, convenient, sensitive and specific method applicable to quantitative analysis of the rubella virus extensively, RV total RNA was extracted with Trizol. The envelope glycoprotein E1 gene was amplified from rubella virus by PCR, and the PCR products were cloned into the pMD18-T cloning vector and transfected into DH5alpha. After Amp selection and analysis of restriction enzyme, the clones carrying the E1 gene were identified.

[Inhibition of NF-kappa B activity enhanced apoptosis induced by matrine in hepatocellular carcinoma cells].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between activation of nuclear factor-kappa gene binding (NF-kappaB) and apoptosis induced by matrine in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.

Methods: HepG2 cells were stimulated by different concentrations of matrine (0.8, 1.

[Regulation of the hepatitis B virus X promoter activity by a novel negative regulatory element].

Objective: To learn the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) sequence nt250-453 on the HBV X promoter.

Methods: A plasmid pNRE-XP which contains the NRE and the HBV X promoter was constructed to co-transfect HepG2 cell line with plasmid RL-TK. The firefly luciferase activity and mRNA expression of the firefly luciferase gene were both detected.