Corneocyte Counts for Evaluation of Antiseborrheic Shampoos in Dogs

Abstract— An objective method for measuring corneocyte numbers before and after antiseborrheic shampoo therapy was assessed in dogs. Corneocytes were collected from six skin regions on the dorsal trunk of nine colony-raised beagles with clinically normal skin. Forty-eight collection sites were randomly assigned a treatment with one of seven medicated shampoos or water alone; six additional sites served as non-treated controls. Corneocytes were collected immediately before the first treatment, and 14 and 28 days after initiation of therapy with a 0.1% Tween 80 surfactant and a quantitative cup-scrub technique. Pretreatment corneocyte counts were not significantly different among the nine dogs nor among the randomly assigned treatment and control sites (3.55 · 10⁴ cells.cm^-2, SEM 0.17). Corneocyte counts increased in all treatment and control sites from days 0 to 14. Corneocyte counts were similar in the non-treated and water-treated sites from days 14 to 28. Corneocyte counts were not significantly different when the same treatments were compared on days 0, 14 and 28, or when different treatments were compared on the same day. The corneocyte collection technique used in this study proved to be a reliable method for assessing the rate of cell desquamation and cell surface cohesion in dogs.     

Selection and amplification of the liver stem cell subset from rat bone marrow cells with a medium containing cholestatic serum in vitro

AIM: To explore the feasibility of direct separat and selective enlargement of the bone marrow-derived liver stem cells (BDLSC) from bone marrow cells with a culture system containing cholestatic serum in vitro. METHODS: Bone marrow cells of rats were cultured with selective media containing 2%, 5%, 7% and 10% cholestatic rat serum, respectively. The BDLSC were then induced to proliferate with the addition of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the firth day. BDLSC were characterized using immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR for lineage markers, glycogen staining and urea synthetic assay for functions 2 weeks later. RESULTS: Bone marrow cells were unble to form colony in the presence of 2% cholestatic serum and apopotosis appeared gradually in 7% or 10% cholestatic serum. The BDLSC survived in the medium containing 5% cholestatic serum while the other types of cells did not. The survival cells proliferated with a high speed during the second week and then formed hepatocyte-like colony-forming units (H-CFU). Cells in the H-CFU expressed the characteristic proteins of fetal hepatocytes. Furthermore, they had glycogen storage and urea synthesis functions, two of the critical features of hepatocytes. CONCLUSION: The selective micro-environment effectively selected BDLSC from the bone marrow cell, and will be a new way to provide an abundant source of donor hepatocytes for clinical cell therapy.     

Serum contents of E-selectin,sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 in patients with acute coronary syndrome

AIM:To explore the serum levels of certain adhesion molecules and its significance in acute coronary syndrome(ACS). METHODS:The subjects included 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and 40 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Among the 80 patients, 60 patients accepted a follow-up 4 months. At the same time we selected 40 controls from people who attended a routine health check in the university. Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were measured by ELISA.RESULTS:Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were significantly higher in the ACS group(AMI or UAP) than in the control group. Four months later, the levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1 became significantly lower in the follow-up group than in the ACS group, while sVCAM-1 showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION:Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1 may have certain diagnostic value for ACS, and can be a useful marker reflecting the stability of the disease.     

In vitro growth inhibition effects of rhHGF/cHGF on SMMC-7721 human HCC cell line

AIM:To examine the effects of recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor(rhHGF) and native calf HGF(cHGF) on SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cell line. METHODS:Human HCC cell line culture, photometric assay, and flow cytometric assay were used in this study .RESULTS:A similar type of dose-dependent cell growth inhibition effect on SMMC-7721 human HCC cells by rhHGF(5-20 μg/L) as well as by cHGF(25-100 mg/L) had been found, with the maximal effect at the highest concentration used. Approximately over 50% of the cells treated with rhHGF(5 μg/L, 10 μg/L, 20 μg/L) accumulated in the quiescent G₀/G₁ phase of the cell cycle over incubation periods for 3 d. CONCLUSION:The growth of SMMC-7721 human HCC cells was strongly inhibited by both rhHGF and cHGF. This might be because the cells exposed to HGF became arrested in the G₀/G₁ phase.     

钙及其拮抗剂对苹果果肉质膜透性的调节作用

采用培养果肉圆片的方法,研究了Ca2+及其拮抗剂对苹果果肉质膜透性的调节作用。结果表明,CaCl2(1、10mmol/L)降低果肉膜透性和溶质外渗速率(Js);细胞膜Ca2+通道阻塞剂Verapamil(100μmol/L)的影响不显著;细胞外Ca2+螯合剂EGTA(5mmol/L)、CaM的拮抗剂CPZ、TFP(100μmol/L)明显提高果肉膜透性和细胞溶质外渗速率。培养24h时,CaCl2能明显维持较高的SOD活性和ACC向乙烯的转化能力,EGTA、Verapamail、CPZ和TFP的作用相反。这些说明Ca2+对果肉细胞膜具有保护作用,而减少细胞外Ca2+和抑制细胞内Ca2+-CaM功能对果肉细胞膜具有伤害作用。     

Model establishment and biological behaviour observation of mouse blastocyst co-cultured with hepatocarcinoma cell lines with differently invasive and metastatic potential in vitro

AIM: To explore interaction and biological behaviour changes of two kinds of cells-blastocysts and hepatocarcinoma cells in the same microenvironment. METHODS:The models of mouse blastocysts co-cultured with human hepatocarcinoma cell lines were established, then biological behaviours and mutual effects of the two kinds of cells in co-culture system were observed. RESULTS: Compared with control group, hepatocarcinoma cells with differently invasive and metastatic potential significantly enhanced the rates of blastocyst hatchment , attachment and outgrowth(P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in those among hepatocarcinoma cells co-cultured groups (P＞0.05). The blastocyst hatched and attached to hepatocarcinoma cells with differently invasive and metastatic potential. Then, differential trophoblasts invaded hepatocarcinoma cells. The clear-cut interfaces were gradually formed between both sides. Hepatocarcinoma cells on interface showed changes of growth direction and cell shapes and did not invade blastocysts. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocarcinoma cells promoted blastocyst development. Blastocysts implanted and invaded hepatocarcinoma cells with differently invasive and metastatic potential in vitro, which indicate that blastocyst implantation in vitro does not relate with the kinds and differential level of interactional cells and the low selectivity maybe relate with high adaptability of early life.     

Effect of insulin on the secretion of VEGF and its receptor in serum-free cultured bovine thoracic aortic endothelial cells

AIM: This study was designed to investigate the secretion of VEGF and its receptor (flt-1 or flk-1/KDR) protein by cultured bovine thoracic aortic endothelial cells treated with various insulin concentrations. METHODS: Endothelial cells was isolated from bovine thoracic aorta, and cultured in serum-free medium, then incubated with different insulin concentrations (30 mU/L, 300 mU/L, 3 000 mU/L). The level of VEGF and its receptor (flt-1 or flk-1/KDR) protein were detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: As compared with no insulin group, the expression of VEGF protein in low insulin concentration (30 mU/L and 300 mU/L) groups were significantly increased (P＜0.01). The expression of VEGF protein in high insulin concentration (3 000 mU/L) group was significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Howerer, no difference of the expression of VEGF receptor (flt-1 or flk-1/KDR) protein among all groups (P＞0.05) was observed. CONCLUSION: Low concentration insulin up-regulates the VEGF protein expression while high concentration insulin down-regulates the VEGF protein expression in bovine thoracic aortic endothelial cells, but insulin had no directly effect on the VEGF receptor (flt-1 or flk-1/KDR) protein expression in bovine thoracic aortic endothelial cells.     

Osmolarity,cell volume and proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the relationship between osmolarity, cell volume and cell proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. METHODS: MTT method was applied to detect the proliferation ability of the poorly-differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell (CNE-2Z) under various osmolarity conditions. The flow cytometry was used to analyse cell cycle distribution. Cell volume was obtained by the image analysis of living cells and cell viability was determined by the trypan blue assay. RESULTS: Cultivation of cells under the hypertonic conditions of 370 and 440 mOsmol/L increased cell volume by 8.7% and 27.8% and facilitated cell proliferation by 22.2% and 33.9%, respectively. However, hypotonic incubation of cells with osmolarity of 160 and 230 mOsmol/L decreased cell volume by 12.8% and 4.1% and inhibited cell proliferation by 34.0% and 15.6%, respectively. Cell volume was positively correlated with cell proliferation rate. Long-term cultivation of cells under anisotonic conditions did not significantly alter cell cycle distribution, but hypotonic cultivation decreased cell viability. CONCLUSION: Proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells was closely correlated with the osmolarity of culture medium and cell volume. Hypotonic cultivation may inhibit cell proliferation by decreasing cell volume to facilitate cell death mechanisms.     

Effects of component of some Chinese herbs on proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro

AIM: To observe the effects of some component of Chinese herbs for external use on proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and investigate the mechanism of promoting tissue repair. METHODS: The method of MTT was used to examine the effects of Rg1, Rh1, perlolyrine, cinnamyl aldehyde, muscone, astragaluspolysaccharin (APS), velver antler polypeptide (VAP) and soluble extract of boswellia carterii birdw (BCB) on proliferation of HUVEC. RESULTS: APS did not promote proliferation of HUVEC at 9.75 mg/L-2.5 g/L; Rh1 promoted proliferation of HUVEC at 1.94 mg/L-0.5 g/L (P<0.05 or P＜0.01), and Rg1 inhibited proliferation of HUVEC at 31 mg/L (P<0.05); VAP promoted proliferation of HUVEC at 1 mg/L-0.5 g/L with optimal dose of 10 mg/L (P<0.01), Cinnamyl aldehyde promoted proliferation of HUVEC at 2 g/L(P＜0. 05); Muscone and soluble extract of BCB inhibited proliferation of HUVEC at 1 g/L, 0.5-2.5 kg/L(P＜0. 01), respectively; Perlolyrine inhibited proliferation of HUVEC at 0.125 g/L-0.5 g/L(P＜0. 01). CONCLUSION: The external herbs for supplementing Qi and warming Yang can promote HUVEC proliferation and improve angiogenesis during tissue repair. The external herbs for promoting blood circulation and accelerating capillary movement may have influence upon other stages of tissue repair.     

Effect of propolis on the expression of CD54 and activation of NF-κB p65 of lung tissue in acute lung injury rats

AIM: To study the effect of propolis on the expression of CD54 and activation of NF-κB p65 in lung tissue of acute lung injury (ALI) rats. METHODS: 40 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control, model control, dectancyl group, water soluble derivative of propolis (WSP) group and ethanol extracted propolis (EEP) group. ALI animal model was performed by oleic acid and LPS twice attack. The pathologic slice was observed with light microscope and the NF-κB p65 activity and CD54 expression were tested by immunohistochemistry (SABC and SP). RESULTS: Both EEP and WSP antagonized the lung edema, decreased the inflammation and inhibited the expression of CD54 and activation of NF-κB p65. CONCLUSION: The increase in the expression of CD54 and the activation of NF-κB p65 in the lung tissues of ALI were involved in the formation of ALI. Propolis ameliorated the lung damage, which maybe related to the inhibition of CD54 expression and NF-κB p65 activation.