The role of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was investigated. A mouse model of experimental autoimmune hepatitis was established, and the syngeneic S-100 antigen emulsified in complete Freud's adjuvant was injected intraperitoneally into adult male C57BL/6 mice. The IL-17 expression in serum and the livers of the mice models was detected by using ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively. IL-17 neutralizing antibody was used to study the biological effect of IL-17 in the experimental AIH. IL-17 neutralizing antibody in vivo administration alleviated the hepatic inflammation and ALT level in the AIH model. IL-17 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of AIH patients was measured by using real-time PCR method. The results showed that IL-17 level was significantly up-regulated in AIH patients and mice models. It was concluded that IL-17 contributed to the development of AIH and might be a potential therapeutic target of AIH.

Objective To study expressions of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA and protein in rat hippocampus after hypoxic-ischemia brain damage(HIBD) as well as the relationship with apoptosis in brain.Methods Seven-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into hypoxic-ischemia brain damage group and sham control group.Expressions of HO-1 protein and mRNA as welll as the relationship with apoptosis after HIBD in neonatal rat were determined by immunohisochemistry and in situs hybridizaion as well as terminal deoxynucleotidy transferase mediated UTP-biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL).Results 1.In the right hippocampus,expression of HO-1 gene increased sharply at 4 h (P

Objective To study changes of phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate(c-AMP) response element binding protein in hippocampus(CA1) of neonatal rats after cerebral hypoxic-ischemia(HI)and effects of gangliosides (GM1)on the p-CREB.Methods An animal model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemia brain damage was established. Changes of p-CREB in hippocampal CA1 was detected with immunohistochemical methods.Results The p-CREB levels in the CA1 of HI and GM1 groups increased transiently and then decreased quickly, but there was no significant difference between HI and GM1 group.Conclusion The p-CREB levels in the CA1 of HI group increase transiently and then decrease quickly after HI ;GM1 has little effect on p-CREB in the CA1 after HI.

Tissue samples of Fabricius' bursa collected from Nanning, Yulin, Beihai and Wuzhou in the provinces of Guangxi in China during the years of 2000-2007, were detected by a established reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique for IBDV. Viral isolation was performed on the positive samples by chicken embryo inoculation via chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM). Results showed that 27 isolates of IBDV were obtained. A set of primers were designed to amplify the vVP2 of 27 isolates by RT-PCR and the PCR products were sequenced. The sequences of all the isolates and reference viruses were analyzed and compared, and their phylogenetic trees were constructed based on the nucleotide sequences. The results indicated that isolate BH11, TZ(3), 050222, YL051, NN0603, NN0611and QX0602 etc, altogether 17 isolates, which accounted for 62.96 percent of total isolates, were identified to be very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) and have the highest homology to vvIBDV reference strains. In the phylogenetic analysis, they are divided into 3 groups and have a long distance to commonly used vaccine stains. Isolate NN040124 and YL052 were identified as intermediate-plus virulent strains and showed a highest homology to classical strains of 52-70 and STC. 8 isolates of YLZF2, 040131 etc were identified as attenuated vaccine strains and showed a highest homology to classical strain of CU1. The results from the study demonstrated that the viruses prevailing in chickens in these 4 regions in Guangxi province in the recently 7 years were vvIBDV and their origins were complex. The antigenicity of some isolates may have been drifted.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Birnaviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; veterinary ; virology ; Chickens ; China ; epidemiology ; Infectious bursal disease virus ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Poultry Diseases ; epidemiology ; virology ; Sequence Alignment ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy on primary osteoporosis treated with spreading moxibustion for warming yang and activating blood circulation so as to provide the effective clinical therapeutic methods for osteoporosis.

METHODSSixty cases of primary osteoporosis were randomized into a spreading moxibustion group (30 cases) and a calcium tablet group (30 cases). In the calcium tablet group, caltrate was prescribed for oral administration, 600 mg per day. In the spreading moxibustion group, on the basis of the treatment as the calcium tablet group, the spreading moxibustion was applied at Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2) for warming yang and activating blood circulation. The duration of treatment was 12 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, TCM clinical symptom score and bone mineral density (BMD) were observed and compared before and after treatment in the patients between the two groups.

RESULTSVAS scores were reduced apparently after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.01) and the results in the spreading moxibustion group were obviously superior to that in the calcium tablet group (2.36 +/- 0.43 vs 4.52 +/- 0.35, P < 0.01). BMD were all increased in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and the results in the spreading moxibustion group were superior to those in the calcium tablet group (both P < 0.05). The total clinical effective rate was 86.67% (26/30) in the spreading moxibustion group, apparently better than 63.33% (19/30) in the calcium tablet group (P < 0.05). TCM clinical symptom scores after treatment were all reduced apparently in the two groups (both P < 0.01), and the result in the spreading moxibustion group was obviously superior to that in the calcium tablet group (4.72 +/- 1.90 vs 6.82 +/- 2.30, P < 0.01). The total effective rate of TCM symptoms was 93.33% (28/30) in the spreading moxibustion group, apparently better than 70.00% (21/30) in the calcium tablet group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of spreading moxibustion for warming yang and activating blood circulation and the oral administration of caltrate apparently relieves pain and TCM clinical symptoms, improves BMD in the patients of osteoporosis and achieves definite clinical efficacy in the patients of osteoporosis.

Aged ; Blood Circulation ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Yang Deficiency ; physiopathology ; therapy

BackgroundChoriodal neovascularization is an important ocular manifestation of angiogenesis in eyes,which derives from the choroid capillaries.Recent studies have found that complement activation is playing a key role in the laser-induced CNV.Because of the key position of CFB in the alternative pathway,bytargeting CFB and blocking the alternative pathway may provide an approach to observe the role of this alternative pathway in the generation of CNV.Objective This study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of reconstructed complement factor B (CFB)-small interfering ribonucleicacid(siRNA)on choroidal neovascularization (CNV)and its mechanism. Methods Experimental CNV was induced by laser photocoagulation in 96 eyes of 48 clean Brown Norway rats.The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups.25,50 and 75 μg B factor siRNA were injected via caudal vein on 1 day,3,5 days after photocoagulation in different dose groups,and normal saline solution was injected at the same way in experimental control group.Other 12 normal rats were used as blank control group.Fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA) was performed on 3,7,14,21,28 days after injection of CFB-siRNA and CNV was scored.The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and factor Ⅷ in choroid were detected by immunochemistry.The expressions of CFB-siRNA,VEGF,transforming growth factor β2( TGF-β2 )proteins in choroid were determined using immunochemistry in 7,14,21,28 days,and the expressions of mRNA of CFB-siRNA,VEGF,TGF-β2 were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). ResultsFFA revealed that the CNV rates in various doses of CFB-siRNA groups were significant lower than those of experimental control group in various time points(P＜0.05),and those in 75 μg B factor siRNA were decreased in comparison with 25 μg B factor siRNA (P＜0.05).Immunochemistry showed that the intensities of the VEGF and factor Ⅶ expression in various doses of CFB-siRNA groups were weaker than the blank control group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Compared with the control group,the expression of CFB reduced in 7 days,and then approached to the level near the control group.Fourteen to twenty-one days after injection of CFB-siRNA,VEGF and TGF-β2 depressions in different doses of CFB-siRNA groups were lower than blank control group( P＜0.05 ).CFB expression in choroid showed the lower levels in CFB-siRNA injection group compared with blank control group in from 7 through 21 days (P＜0.05).RT-PCR displayed the gradual increase of CFB mRNA and curve-like changes of VEGF and TGF-β2 with time prolong. Conclusions Recombinated CFB-siRNA can effectively inhibit laser-induced CNV by down-regulating the expression of VEGF and factor Ⅷ.Alternative pathway of complement plays an important role in the production of CNV.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of oxymatrine on chronic heart failure induced by isoproterenol (ISO) and to observe its effects on ADMA metabolism pathway in ISO-induced chronic heart failure in rats.

METHODMale Sprague-Dawley rats were given oxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) orally for 14 days. Heart failure was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (5 mg kg-1 d-1 ) at the 8th day for 1 week. Serum parameters, haemodynamic parameters, Heart weight, and histopathological variables were analysed. Expression of protein levels were measured by Western blot.

RESULTOxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) significantly attenuated serum content of cTn I, improved left ventricle systolic and diastolic function and left ventricular remodeling, reduced the ISO-induced myocardial pathological changes compared with ISO group. In addition, oxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) significantly reduced serum level of ADMA (P <0. 01), normalize the reduced dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDAH2) expression (P <0. 01) , but had no effect on the isoproterenol-induced upregulated protein arginine methyltransferases 1 expression.

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine could ameliorate the experimental ventricular remodeling in ISO-induced chronic heart failure in rats and the mechanism involved in reducing serum content of ADMA and increased DDAH2 expression.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Amidohydrolases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Isoproterenol ; adverse effects ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture under continuous traction in prone position for treatment of lumbar disc herniation, to search a better clinical treatment for lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSThe patients were randomly divided into group A (42 cases), group B (39 cases) and group C (38 cases). The acupuncture methods of three groups were the same, Jiaji (EX B 2), Weizhong (BL 40) and Chengshan (BL 57) etc. were selected, and the electroacupuncture was applied as a basic treatment. Continuous traction in prone position and electroacupuncture treatment were used at the same time in group A, group B was treated with supine position traction first and then electroacupuncture treatment, while group C was treated with electroacupuncture only, the therapeutic effects were observed and compared.

RESULTSThe effective rate of 95.2% in group A was superior to that of 79.5% in group B and 65.8% in group C (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture under continuous traction in prone position is a better treatment for lumbar disc herniation.

Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Traction ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; Middle Aged ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo construct the recombinant adenovirus vector expressing human endostatin.

METHODSHuman endostatin gene extracted from pGEM-T Easy vector containing the target gene fragment was successfully amplified using PCR and cloned into pShuttle2 vector. The target gene was subcloned into an adenovirus vector and the resulted recombinant adenovirus (Ad-hEndo) was linearized before transfected into HEK 293 packaging cells. The Ad-hEndo recombinant adenovirus was efficiently amplified in 293T cells and purified by CsCl density centrifugation, and the titer of the virus was determined.

RESULTSThe amplified hEndostatin cDNA was verified by PCR and sequencing, and the resulted virus titer reached 5.2 x 10(9) pfu/ml.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant adenovirus containing human endostatin gene has been successfully constructed, which may provide important basis for gene therapy research for angiogenesis-dependent diseases.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Recombinant ; genetics ; Endostatins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection