Aim To investigate the anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of the novel compoundpivanampeta in the early and later stages of atherosclerosis evolution. Methods Rats or rabbits wererandomly assigned to the control, the mod...Aim To investigate the anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of the novel compoundpivanampeta in the early and later stages of atherosclerosis evolution. Methods Rats or rabbits wererandomly assigned to the control, the model and the pivanampeta-treated groups. The rats or rabbitsin the model group and the pivanampeta-treated group were fed with hypercholesterol diet. Thecarotids of rabbits were cut into pieces and stained with HE. The rat or rabbit serum levels of TC,LDL-CHO, HDL-CHO, IL-8, ET-1, PGI_2, TXA_2, and NO were assayed. The expressions of MCP-1 and IL-8mRNA on rabbit carotid were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results Pivanampeta exerted aninhibitory effect on TXA_2 formation without PGI_2 production in the early and later stages ofatherosclerosis. The significantly increased release of NO and the decreased release of IL-8 in theanimals in pivanampeta-treated group were both detected in the rat atherosclerosis model. In therabbit atherosclerosis model the expressions of IL-8 and MCP-1 mRNA in pivanampeta-treated groupwere decreased significantly. However, the treatment with pivanampeta had no effect on the levels ofplasma cholesterol, MDA and SOD. Conclusion The increase of serum NO contents and the decrease ofplasma TXA_2 level, as well as its inhibition of expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 are probably involvedin the mechanisms underlying the anti-atherosclerotic effects of pivanampeta.展开更多
AIM： The GFAP was traditionally considered to be a biomarker for neural gila （mainly astrocytes and nonmyelinating Schwann cells）. Genetically, a 2.2-kb human GFAP promoter has been successfully used to target astr...AIM： The GFAP was traditionally considered to be a biomarker for neural gila （mainly astrocytes and nonmyelinating Schwann cells）. Genetically, a 2.2-kb human GFAP promoter has been successfully used to target astrocytes in vitro and in vivo. More recently, GFAP was also established as one of the several makers for identifying hepatic stellate cells （HSC）. In this project, possible application of the same 2.2-kb human GFAP promoter for targeting HSC was investigated. METHODS： The GFAP-lacZ transgene was transfected into various cell lines （HSC, hepatocyte, and other nonHSC cell types）. The transgene expression specificity was determined by X-gal staining of the β-galactosidase activity. And the responsiveness of the transgene was tested with a typical pro-fibrotic cytokine TGF-β1. The expression of endogenous GFAP gene was assessed by real-time RT-PCR, providing a reference for the transgene expression. RESULTS： The results demonstrated for the first time that the 2.2 kb hGFAP promoter was not only capable of directing HSC-specific expression, but also responding to a known pro-fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β1 by upregulation in a doseand time-dependent manner, similar to the endogenous GFAP. CONCLUSION： In conclusion, these findings suggested novel utilities for using the GFAP promoter to specifically manipulate HSC for therapeutic purpose.展开更多
The expression of BAX in carotid atherosclerosis and its regulation is far from defined. Objectives To investigate BAX expression in stable/fibrous and instable/vulnerable carotid plaque and its clinical significance....The expression of BAX in carotid atherosclerosis and its regulation is far from defined. Objectives To investigate BAX expression in stable/fibrous and instable/vulnerable carotid plaque and its clinical significance. Methods 25 cases of carotid plaque specimens obtained from endarterectomy were divided into two groups, stable/fibrous 14 cases, vulnerable/instable 11 cases; aortic artery and its branches from hepatic transplantation donors 6 case as control The expression of proapoptotic BAX was detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）, in situ hybridization （ISH） and in situ TdT dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL）. Results 5 cases of BAX （ ＋ ） were detected by ICH and ISH, 4 case of TUNEL （ ＋ ） were detected by TUNEL in stable/fibrous carotid plaque , while 10 cases were BAX （ ＋ ）by IHC（P 〈 0.05 ） , 11 case by ISH and 9 case by TUNEL were detected in instable/vulnerable carotid plaque （P 〈0.01 ）, respectively. The intensity of BAX （ ＋ ） cells by IHC and ISH was 8.63±2.62 and 10.32 ± 3.12 in fibrous plaques,whereas 122 ±21.64 and 152 ± 23.35 in vulnerable plaques, respectively. No expression of BAX was found in controlled group. Conclusion The higher expression of Bax in vulnerable carotid plaque may be one mechanisms in molecular pathogenesis of carotid atherosclerosis which affect plaque stability and be the cause of higher incidence of stroke than fibrous carotid plaques, the regulation of BAX expression in different stage of atherosclerosis may provide targets in gene therapy for carotid atherosclerosis.展开更多
With the development of society and economy, English gradually becomes a worldwide language. However, due to various kinds of reasons and restrictions, many problems still exist in present English language teaching in...With the development of society and economy, English gradually becomes a worldwide language. However, due to various kinds of reasons and restrictions, many problems still exist in present English language teaching in public English classes. This paper focuses on the application and effect of some useful motivational strategies in English classroom, such as making use of affective factors, developing good classroom atmosphere, and becoming an efficient manager. The researcher hopes that this contribution can offer some valuable guidelines to English teachers. Therefore, the existing problems can be solved gradually.展开更多
The controversy between the IPCC and Non-governmental IPCC(NIPCC) on the attribution of global warming are reviewed.IPCC holds that today's global warming is mainly due to anthropogenic activities rather than natu...The controversy between the IPCC and Non-governmental IPCC(NIPCC) on the attribution of global warming are reviewed.IPCC holds that today's global warming is mainly due to anthropogenic activities rather than natural variability,which is emphasized by NIPCC.The surface temperature observations since the mid-20th century support the hypothesis of anthropogenic impact,but for the last one hundred years or so,natural forcings such as solar activity, volcanic eruptions and thermohaline circulation variations also have had great influences on the Earth's climate,especially on inter-decadal timescales.In addition,evidence suggests that the Medieval Warm Period(MWP) and Little Ice Age (LIA) are closely associated with the solar activity over the past 1 thousand years.Over the past 10 thousand years, the North Atlantic cold events and solar activity are closely correlated.Nevertheless,the physical mechanisms of the solar-climate variability and interrelation are not well understood,yet.Notably,a prevailing view recently indicates that galactic cosmic rays may result in climatic cooling through modulating global low cloud cover.However,its process and mechanism need to be further investigated.展开更多
The aim of this work is to investigate the general functional properties of the intracellular governing gene/epigene networks. A body of mathematics used in automata and graphs theories is adequate for revealing the g...The aim of this work is to investigate the general functional properties of the intracellular governing gene/epigene networks. A body of mathematics used in automata and graphs theories is adequate for revealing the general dynamic properties of governing gene and epigene networks and provides a methodic basis for efficient analytical algorithms. The obtained results permit to reveal the properties of the characteristic function （transitions and outputs） of the cellular automata as models for the intracellular governing gene/epigene networks.展开更多
文摘Aim To investigate the anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of the novel compoundpivanampeta in the early and later stages of atherosclerosis evolution. Methods Rats or rabbits wererandomly assigned to the control, the model and the pivanampeta-treated groups. The rats or rabbitsin the model group and the pivanampeta-treated group were fed with hypercholesterol diet. Thecarotids of rabbits were cut into pieces and stained with HE. The rat or rabbit serum levels of TC,LDL-CHO, HDL-CHO, IL-8, ET-1, PGI_2, TXA_2, and NO were assayed. The expressions of MCP-1 and IL-8mRNA on rabbit carotid were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results Pivanampeta exerted aninhibitory effect on TXA_2 formation without PGI_2 production in the early and later stages ofatherosclerosis. The significantly increased release of NO and the decreased release of IL-8 in theanimals in pivanampeta-treated group were both detected in the rat atherosclerosis model. In therabbit atherosclerosis model the expressions of IL-8 and MCP-1 mRNA in pivanampeta-treated groupwere decreased significantly. However, the treatment with pivanampeta had no effect on the levels ofplasma cholesterol, MDA and SOD. Conclusion The increase of serum NO contents and the decrease ofplasma TXA_2 level, as well as its inhibition of expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 are probably involvedin the mechanisms underlying the anti-atherosclerotic effects of pivanampeta.
基金Supported by the Biomedical Research Councilthe Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology,the Republic of Singapore
文摘AIM： The GFAP was traditionally considered to be a biomarker for neural gila （mainly astrocytes and nonmyelinating Schwann cells）. Genetically, a 2.2-kb human GFAP promoter has been successfully used to target astrocytes in vitro and in vivo. More recently, GFAP was also established as one of the several makers for identifying hepatic stellate cells （HSC）. In this project, possible application of the same 2.2-kb human GFAP promoter for targeting HSC was investigated. METHODS： The GFAP-lacZ transgene was transfected into various cell lines （HSC, hepatocyte, and other nonHSC cell types）. The transgene expression specificity was determined by X-gal staining of the β-galactosidase activity. And the responsiveness of the transgene was tested with a typical pro-fibrotic cytokine TGF-β1. The expression of endogenous GFAP gene was assessed by real-time RT-PCR, providing a reference for the transgene expression. RESULTS： The results demonstrated for the first time that the 2.2 kb hGFAP promoter was not only capable of directing HSC-specific expression, but also responding to a known pro-fibrogenic cytokine TGF-β1 by upregulation in a doseand time-dependent manner, similar to the endogenous GFAP. CONCLUSION： In conclusion, these findings suggested novel utilities for using the GFAP promoter to specifically manipulate HSC for therapeutic purpose.
文摘The expression of BAX in carotid atherosclerosis and its regulation is far from defined. Objectives To investigate BAX expression in stable/fibrous and instable/vulnerable carotid plaque and its clinical significance. Methods 25 cases of carotid plaque specimens obtained from endarterectomy were divided into two groups, stable/fibrous 14 cases, vulnerable/instable 11 cases; aortic artery and its branches from hepatic transplantation donors 6 case as control The expression of proapoptotic BAX was detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）, in situ hybridization （ISH） and in situ TdT dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL）. Results 5 cases of BAX （ ＋ ） were detected by ICH and ISH, 4 case of TUNEL （ ＋ ） were detected by TUNEL in stable/fibrous carotid plaque , while 10 cases were BAX （ ＋ ）by IHC（P 〈 0.05 ） , 11 case by ISH and 9 case by TUNEL were detected in instable/vulnerable carotid plaque （P 〈0.01 ）, respectively. The intensity of BAX （ ＋ ） cells by IHC and ISH was 8.63±2.62 and 10.32 ± 3.12 in fibrous plaques,whereas 122 ±21.64 and 152 ± 23.35 in vulnerable plaques, respectively. No expression of BAX was found in controlled group. Conclusion The higher expression of Bax in vulnerable carotid plaque may be one mechanisms in molecular pathogenesis of carotid atherosclerosis which affect plaque stability and be the cause of higher incidence of stroke than fibrous carotid plaques, the regulation of BAX expression in different stage of atherosclerosis may provide targets in gene therapy for carotid atherosclerosis.
文摘With the development of society and economy, English gradually becomes a worldwide language. However, due to various kinds of reasons and restrictions, many problems still exist in present English language teaching in public English classes. This paper focuses on the application and effect of some useful motivational strategies in English classroom, such as making use of affective factors, developing good classroom atmosphere, and becoming an efficient manager. The researcher hopes that this contribution can offer some valuable guidelines to English teachers. Therefore, the existing problems can be solved gradually.
基金supported by National Basic Research Program of China(No.2010CB950104)
文摘The controversy between the IPCC and Non-governmental IPCC(NIPCC) on the attribution of global warming are reviewed.IPCC holds that today's global warming is mainly due to anthropogenic activities rather than natural variability,which is emphasized by NIPCC.The surface temperature observations since the mid-20th century support the hypothesis of anthropogenic impact,but for the last one hundred years or so,natural forcings such as solar activity, volcanic eruptions and thermohaline circulation variations also have had great influences on the Earth's climate,especially on inter-decadal timescales.In addition,evidence suggests that the Medieval Warm Period(MWP) and Little Ice Age (LIA) are closely associated with the solar activity over the past 1 thousand years.Over the past 10 thousand years, the North Atlantic cold events and solar activity are closely correlated.Nevertheless,the physical mechanisms of the solar-climate variability and interrelation are not well understood,yet.Notably,a prevailing view recently indicates that galactic cosmic rays may result in climatic cooling through modulating global low cloud cover.However,its process and mechanism need to be further investigated.
文摘The aim of this work is to investigate the general functional properties of the intracellular governing gene/epigene networks. A body of mathematics used in automata and graphs theories is adequate for revealing the general dynamic properties of governing gene and epigene networks and provides a methodic basis for efficient analytical algorithms. The obtained results permit to reveal the properties of the characteristic function （transitions and outputs） of the cellular automata as models for the intracellular governing gene/epigene networks.
