Role of ultrasound and microbubble-mediated heat shock protein 72 siRNA on ischemia-reperfusion liver injury in rat.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the ultrasound-guided gene transfection as well as the role of heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) siRNA combined with ultrasound micro-bubble contrast agents on rat hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: 72 SD rats were divided into non-surgery group (group N), sham-operation group (group P) and liver ischemia-reperfusion groups (I/R). In each group, rats were further divided into 4 subgroups according to the different intravenous treatment: 220 ul saline solution (group A); 20 ul HSP72 siRNA plasmid vector + 200 ul saline solution (group B); 20 ul HSP72 siRNA plasmid vector + 200 ul ultrasound microbubble contrast agent (group C); 20 ul HSP72 siRNA plasmid vector + 200 ul ultrasound microbubble contrast agent + ultrasonic irradiation target region with MI1.0 (group D). RESULTS: Certain degree hepatic tissue injury was observed in rats of group I/R A, B and C. The expressions of liver tissue HSP72 mRNA and HSP72 protein and the concentrations of peripheral blood HSP72, ALT and TNF-α were significantly increased at each I/R subgroup (vs group N and group P, P < 0.01). Among them, the plasma concentrations of ALT, HSP72, and TNF-α and the liver tissue expressions of HSP72 mRNA and HSP72 protein at group A were significantly higher than groups B, C and D (P < 0.01). And group D was significantly lower than that of group A, B and C (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The liver tissue expressions of HSP72 mRNA and HSP72 protein and the liver injury degree of ischemia-perfusion were significantly reduced after the HSP72 siRNA was combined with micro-bubble and radiated directionally by ultrasound.

[Gastric expressions of neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin in human fetuses of 2 to 4 gestational months].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution patterns of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin (SYN) during the development of human fetal stomach. METHODS: Sixteen specimens of human fetal (gestational age 2 to 4 months) gastric tissues were examined with immunohistochemistry for detecting the distribution of NSE and SYN expressions in the gastric walls. RESULTS: During the second to fourth gestational months, NSE was strongly expressed in the nerve cells and nerve fibers of the myenteric nerve plexus of human fetal stomach. As the gestational age increased, the numbers of NSE positive cells and fibers increased gradually in the gastric submucosa, but NSE was negative in the gastric mucosa. At the second gestational month, SYN expression was negative in the mucosa but positive in the myenteric nerve plexus; during the third to fourth months, positive SYN expression was found in the mucosa, submucosa and myenteric nerve plexus of the embryonic gastric walls and its expression intensity increased with the gestational age. CONCLUSION: SYN and NSE are both involved in the regulation of the nervous system in the gastric wall but their expressions and distributions follow different patterns during the development of human fetal stomach.

Novel oxysterols activate the Hedgehog pathway and induce osteogenesis.

Localized induction of bone formation is essential during orthopedic procedures that involve skeletal repair, such as surgical treatment of non-union bone fractures and degenerative disk disease. Herein we disclose the synthesis and biological evaluation of novel oxysterol derivatives designed as anabolic bone growth agents. Structure-activity relationship studies of oxysterol 4 have identified analogues such as 18, 21 and 30. These new analogues are characterized by higher potency in an osteoblast differentiation assay and/or by increased metabolic stability in human liver microsomes. Oxysterols 4, 18 and 21 were evaluated in vivo in a rat spinal fusion model.