[Endovascular embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformation].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of endovascular embolization with alpha-NBCA on cerebral arteriovenous malformation with NBCA and emphasize the mainpoint of the embolizing technique.

Methods: 469 patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformation underwent endovascular embolization with alpha-NBCA by using microcatheter under digital subtraction angiography.

Results: 469 patients were treated successfully, 467 cases recovered clinically, 2 patients died.

[Culture and pluripotentiality of human marrow mesenchymal stem cells].

Objective: To cultivate human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from fetal bone marrow and examine their pluripotentiality.

Methods: Bone marrow mononuclear cells from human fetal femur were collected by Percoll gradient centrifugation. The low density cells including MSCs were cultivated and expanded in MSCGM media.

[The effects of exercise training on plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha, blood leucocyte and its components in congestive heart failure patients].

Objective: To evaluate six-minute walking test (6-MWT) in treatment of CHF and to investigate the effect of exercise training on blood leucocyte and its components and plasma TNF alpha in CHF patients.

Methods: 60 cases with NYHA II-III CHF patients underwent 6-MWT within 24 hours after hospitalization. The walking distance, heartbeat, plasma TNF alpha, and blood leucocyte and its components were investigated before and after walking test.

Long-term effect of TCM decoctions in treatment of nephrotic syndrome.

Fifty-seven cases of nephrotic syndrome were treated with TCM decoctions as accessory treatment for prednisone and cyclophosphamide, and the effects were observed in a follow-up period of 5-15 years. The long-term complete remission rate of 68.4% and recurrence rate of 26.

DNA Microarray Chips Made on Surface of Ceramic Slides.

As a novel technology, DNA microarray chips are being used in gene detections. To make DNA chips capable of multiple probing, ceramic slides, instead of silicon wafer or glass slides, were used as the substrate upon which DNA microarray are deposited. Our study indicates that the ceramic DNA microarray chips can be applied to multiple hybridization and detection procedures, showing high specificity.

Signal Transduction in TNF-alpha-induced c-jun Gene Expression.

Our previous studies demonstrated that p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase regulated the c-jun protein expression through phosphorylation of transcription factors of myocyte enhancer factors 2 (MEF2) family. There was a MEF2 binding site in the promoter of c-jun gene. Members of the MEF2 family of trans-cription factors bound as homo- and heterodimers to this MEF2 binding site.

Ligand Binding Domains of human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor.

Four cDNA clones, encoding truncated Flt-1 mutants consisting of loop 2, 1-2, 2-3 and 1-3, were amplified by PCR from human placenta cDNA library and the corresponding gene fragments were named Flt-1(2) Flt-1(1-2) Flt-1(2-3) and Flt-1(1-3). In order to detect which part of the extracellular domain was involved in ligand binding, the interaction between Flt-1 mutants and hVEGF(165) was studied with yeast two-hybrid system. The data presented here suggest that both Flt-1(2-3) and Flt-1(1-3) were able to bind hVEGF(165).

Glutathione S-transferase pi Protects Serum Depletion-induced Cell Death by Inhibiting ASK1-MKK7-JNK Pathway in the 293 Cells.

Glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTpi) protects cells from death by altering intracellular oxidative stress. In order to understand the mechanism of GSTpi protection, a cell death model induced by serum depletion as the stress was established. Cotransfection of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and GSTpi cDNA was performed to elucidate the impact of GSTpi on ASK1 activity, as well as on its downstream signals, MKK7 and JNK, and to elucidate the potential protection of GSTpi on 293 cell death induced by serum depletion.

Expression, Purification and Biological Activity Analysis of Human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF(165)) in Pichia pastoris.

The human VEGF(165) cDNA was amplified by PCR, and was inserted, after confirming by DNA sequence analysis, into the Pichia pastoris expression vector pPIC9K containing AOX1 promoter and lead sequence of alpha factor gene to form a recombinant expression plasmids pPIC9K/hVEGF(165). This recombinant plasmid was transformed into KM71. Transformants were screened, cultured inflasks and induced by the addition of 1% methanol.

Effects of long-term enalapril and losartan therapy of heart failure on cardiovascular aldosterone.

Plasma aldosterone escape is found during long-term ACE inhibitor therapy of chronic heart failure. Evidence for aldosterone production in cardiovascular tissues raised the question of whether aldosterone escape occurs or not in these tissues. Rats with infarction-induced chronic heart failure were treated with enalapril (20 mg/kg/d) and losartan (15 mg/kg/d) for 20 weeks.

Up-regulation of Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase Signaling in plcg1 Gene Null Fibroblasts.

Phospholipase C-gamma1(PLC-gamma1) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase(PI-3K) play crucial role in growth factor-induced cell growth and proliferation. To investigate the complementary mechanism of PLC-gamma1 in cell growth and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced mitogenic signaling, PLC-gamma1 deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts(PLC-gamma1(-/-)) and its wild type(PLC-gamma1(+/+)) were exposed to U73122, a phospholipase C-specific inhibitor, or wortmannin, a PI-3K inhibitor then the clonogenicity, viability, EGF-induced DNA synthesis of the two cell lines were determined by cloning formation, MTT method and (3)H -thymidine incorporation assay. Results showed that either U73122 or wortmannin inhibited PLC-gamma1(-/-) and PLC-gamma1(+/+) cells in terms of EGF-induced DNA synthesis, cloning formation and cell viability, but PLC-gamma1(-/-) cells were more dependent on PI-3K and less dependent on PLC compared with wild types.

[Effect of intravascular low level laser irradiation used in avulsion injury].

Objective: To explore the effect of intravascular low level He-Ne laser irradiation on skin flap survival after orthotopic transplantation in avulsion injury.

Methods: Fifty eight cases suffered avulsion injury were treated by debridement and orthotopic transplantation of avulsed flap within 6 hours, 31 of them were received intravascular low level He-Ne laser irradiation and routine treatment, and 27 of them were received routine treatment as control group.

Results: The survival area and quality of avulsed flap in the experimental group were superior to that of control group after 15 days of operation, and the hemorheological items were markedly changed at 5 days after operation.

[Biocompatibility studies on bioactive glass ceramics and polylactic acid combined with cultured bone marrow stromal cells in vitro].

Objective: To study the biocompatibility on bioactive glass ceramics (BGC) and polylactic acid (PLA) combined with cultured bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in bone tissue engineering.

Methods: BMSCs were cultured combined with BGC and PLA in vitro, and the morphological characters, cell proliferation, protein content, and alkaline phosphatase activity were detected.

Results: BMSCs could be attached to and extended on both BGC and PLA, and normally grown, proliferated, had active function.

[The pathogenic mechanism and prevention and treatment of muscle contracture after replantation of severed palm or wrist].

Objective: To explore the pathogenic mechanism of intrinsic muscle contracture after replantation of severed palm or wrist, and put forward the prevention and treatment methods.

Methods: From 1985 to 1997, 48 cases were received replantation of severed palm or wrist, among them, 9 cases with thumb adductor contracture and 6 cases with intrinsic muscle contracture were occurred in different degree. Two cases with mild thumb adductor contracture were received conservative treatment, and 7 cases with moderate thumb adductor contracture and 6 cases with intrinsic muscle contracture were received operative treatment.

Role of p38 MAPK in ICAM-1 expression of vascular endothelial cells induced by lipopolysaccharide.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of endothelial cells induces the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a critical adhesion molecule involved in the adhesive interaction between leukocytes and endothelial cells in shock and inflammation. Although there is little literature about role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in ICAM-1 protein expression of LPS-induced endothelial cells, it is still not defined whether gene transcription is regulated by p38 MAPK in ICAM-1 expression of LPS-induced endothelial cells. In this study, the potential role of p38 MAPK in ICAM-1 expression of LPS-induced endothelial cells was studied in vitro and in vivo.

[The development of JX-300 high quality head stereotactic guided surgical system].

Based on the technology of three dimensions image forming and the arc stereotactic guided operator, this system has the advantages of locating precisely, convenient operation, and good result of curing. It has the imitation checking system of operation to guarantee the safe of patients.

[Expression of HOXA10 gene in human endometrium and its relationship with unexplained infertility].

Objective: To study the expression of HOXA10 gene in the endometrium of normal fertile women and patients with unexplained infertility during different phases of menstrual cycle.

Methods: Endometrium samples were obtained by curettage in 52 normal fertile women and 38 patients with unexplained infertility during different phases of menstrual cycle, HOXA10 mRNA expression were detected by in situ hybridization and reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: (1) HOXA10 mRNA were detected in the glandular and stromal cells of endometrium of fertile women during the menstrual cycle.

[Study of the role of calcitonin during the embryo implantation].

Objective: To observe the role of calcitonin (CT) during the implantation.

Methods: Human endometrial epithelial cells were cultured. After stimulated with various concentrations of CT, intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) in the epithelial and stroma cells and pre-embryos were measured by the laser scanning confocal microscope.

[The application of transcranial Doppler in detecting diabetic cerebral macroangiopathy and microangiopathy].

Objective: To evaluate the application of transcranial Doppler (TCD) in the detection of cerebral hemodynamic changes in diabetic macroangiopathy and microangiopathy.

Methods: 81 of diabetic patients and 62 age-, gender- matched healthy controls were monitored with TCD in this study. The pulsatility index (PI) and mean flow velocities (Vm) between the patients and healthy controls, between the patients with microangiopathic complications and patients without complication, were analyzed respectively.

Phospholipase C-gamma1 is required for cell survival in oxidative stress by protein kinase C.

Phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) activation has been reported to enhance cell survival during the cellular response to oxidative stress. We studied the role of protein kinase C (PKC) pathways in mediating PLC-gamma1 survival signalling in oxidative stress by using mouse embryonic fibroblasts genetically deficient in PLC-gamma1 (Plcg1(-/-)) and its wild type (Plcg1(+/+)). PLC-gamma1 was activated by H(2)O(2) treatment in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

[Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in different organs of the mice with endotoxic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide].

To investigate and compare the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in different organs of the mice with endotoxic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), protein and mRNA of ICAM-1 were measured by Western blotting and RT-PCR respectively in different organs of BALB/c mice administered intraperitoneally with 5 mg/kg LPS. The results showed that the constitutive expression of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA was the greatest in the lungs, followed by the spleen, kidney and intestine. After LPS stimulation, the upregulation of ICAM-1 was still greatest in the lungs, followed by the liver, spleen, heart, kidney and intestine.

Apoptosis: the quiet death silences the immune system.

Apoptosis plays an essential role in maintaining cellular homeostasis during development, differentiation, and pathophysiological processes. In the immune system, recent investigations reveal that during the course of T-cell development in the thymus, negative selection of autoreactive immature T-cells is a typical apoptotic process. In addition, apoptosis is also involved in cytotoxic killing of target cells and the regulation of lymphocyte homeostasis during immune responses.

Transient forebrain ischemia induces persistent hyperactivity of large conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channels via oxidation modulation in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.

The present study examined temporal changes in activity of large conductance, Ca2+-activated potassium (BKCa) channels in postischemic CA1 pyramidal neurons at 2, 6, 24 and 48 h after reperfusion. These changes in activity and possible cellular mechanisms were examined using the inside--out configuration of patch clamp. The unitary conductance of postischemic BKCa channels increased transiently to 119% of the control at 2 h after reperfusion, and recovered to the control level thereafter.

[Autologous bone marrow transplantation for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia after in vitro purging of the graft with bcr/abl antisense oligodeoxynucleotides].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) after in vitro purging of the graft with bcr/abl antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODN).

Methods: Five CML patients, 2 in chronic phase (CP), 1 in accelerated phase (AP) and 2 in blast crisis (BC), all confirmed the presence of b3a2 bcr/abl mRNA by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction). Patients had received 2 courses of intensive chemotherapy for "in vivo purging" before bone marrow harvesting.

[The role of p38 MAPK in LPS induced ICAM-1 expression on endothelial cell].

Objective: To study the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC).

Methods: HUVEC was harvested and cultured before being divided into two groups, i,e. stimulating group (S) and priming group (P).