Objective To study the effect of cadmium on the spatiotemporal sequence of Zic_2 expression in the development of the nervous system.Methods Wistar rats were used in the initial portion of the study.Male and female animals were housed together overnight;the presence of sperms by vaginal smearing methods the following morning indicated that copulation had occurred,and that day was designated embryonic day 0.5(E0.5).Forty dams were divided randomly into the control group and the cadmium exposure group.The dams in the cadmium exposure group were treated with cadmium at a dose of 4 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection.The dams of control and cadmium exposure groups were divided 4 subgroups respectively,sacrificed at various times on embryonic days 9.0,9.5,10.5,and 11.5,laparotomized and the one half pregnant uterus were taken out.The embryos were taken out under stereomicroscope and the morphological score of the nervous system were calculated.The other pregnant uterus were fixed fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde routinely embedded in paraffin and coronally sliced into slice 5 ?m of thickness for immunohistochemical staining.Results Cadmium could lead to dysplasia of nervous system in embryos of rats.The main manifestations were growth retardation,delay closure or unclosures pre- and post- neuropores,and so on.Developmental scores of the forebrain,midbrain and hindbrain of rat embryos in the cadmium exposure groups were lower than the corresponding control groups,and in cadmium exposure groups had significant difference compared with those in control group(P0.05).According to developmental overall scores of nervous system,the scores of the cadmium exposure groups were lower than that of the control groups with significant difference on E9.5,E10.0,E10.5 and E11.5(t=2.71,4.72,3.78,and 5.61 respectively,all P

Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Proctectomy ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Rectum/surgery* ; Transanal Endoscopic Surgery

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for the determination of gossypol in cotton root bark.

METHODSamples were extracted with acetone, and determined on a C18 column with the mobile phase (Acetonitrile-0.2% phosphoric acid, 85:15) and UV-235 nm detector.

RESULTThe recovery rate was 97.6%, RSD 1.59% (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONThis method can be used for the determination of gossypol in cotton root bark and the content of gossypol in three different species has been determined.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Gossypium ; chemistry ; Gossypol ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

AIM:To determine the pathological changes in ocular surfaces dry eye excessive evaporation non-obese diabetic(NOD)mice model and to preliminarily explore the feasibility of diabetic dry eye model.

METHODS: In this study, 40 females NOD mice were selected. The experimental group consisted of NOD mice that were diagnosed with diabetes while the normal control group consisted of those NOD mice without spontaneous diabetes. Hypodermic injection of Scopolamine hydrobromide(0.5mg/0.2mL)was administered under 40% humidity to the experimental group and placed in a controlled drying box for 12h a day. This was to achieve a dry eye model. Testing indicators on the 1, 7, 10 and 14d after modeling, phenol red thread test was used to measure tear secretion and the eye sections were stained with periodic acid-Schiff(PAS)to examine the morphology and number of conjunctival goblet cells. On the 10d after modeling, the changes in the corneal epithelium were visualized after staining with hematoxylin.

RESULTS:For the NOD mice of the experimental group, the tear secretion was gradually decreased with timing, while there were no obvious changes in the normal control group. The volume of the conjunctival goblet cells of the experimental group became larger, and on the 1d after the molding, the experimental group had decreased density of the goblet cells when compared with the normal control group(P=0.008). From the 7d after the molding, as the time was prolonged, the density of the goblet cells was gradually decreased and the differences between the two group at same time point were significant(all P<0.001). Besides, it was required to observe the corneal epithelium of the two groups on the 10d. The result shows that the corneal epithelium became thinned, some epithelial cells were denatured, and stromal cells became edema.

CONCLUSION: Dry eye model of NOD mice was preliminary established, and the changes of ocular surface were similar to those of dry eye in the clinic.

The research aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Opuntia dillenii Haw polysaccharide (OPS) on atherosclerosis of rats. First atherosclerotic rat models were established by high-fat and high-calcium diet. Thirty days later, the rats were treated with low dosage of OPS (0.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) or high dosage of OPS (0.4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) by intraperitoneal injection for 60 days continuously. At the end of treatment, thoracic aorta rings were prepared and vasorelaxation of rat thoracic aorta in different experiment groups were determined by using 620M multi wire myograph system in vitro. Blood and livers of rats were collected. Then plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of rats were separately determined using whole automatic biochemical analyzer; protein level of hepatic apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and that of hepatic diglyceride acyltransferase (Dgat1) were measured by Western Blot technique. Results showed that the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax decreased markedly in the model group compared with that in the normal group, and significant differences existed in vasorelaxation ratios induced by different concentrations of carbamylcholine chloride (Carb) between these two groups (P < 0.01). After OPS treatment, the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax improved markedly, the vasorelaxation ratios induced by Carb at 5 and 10 μmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.34 ± 0.08 and 0.62 ± 0.15 in the group treated with low dosage of OPS, while the ratios induced by Carb at 1 and 5 μmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.54 ± 0.08 and 0.98 ± 0.02 in the group treated with high dosage of OPS, which were all significantly different with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Plasma contents of TC, TG and LDL reduced significantly by the treatments both with low and high dosages of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Protein level of hepatic ApoB and that of hepatic Dgat1 decreased significantly after the treatment with high dosage of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). These results indicate that OPS can markedly improve the vasorelaxation of thoracic aorta of atherosclerotic rats and has significant anti-atherosclerotic effect; inhibiting the expression of ApoB and Dgat1 and thus decreasing the amounts of TC, LDL and TG serving as one of the molecular mechanisms of its antiatherosclerosis effect.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Opuntia ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective Previous studies indicated that activation of Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) was involved in the progression and instability of atherosclerotic plaque.Anti-inflammatory effects were shown in statins. However,the mechanisms underlying these effects have not been well explored.We test the hypothesis that a por- tion of these anti-inflammatory effects are mediated by regulation of TLR4 expression.Methods One hundred twenty-one subjects (22 normal persons,17 patients with stable angina and 82 patients with ACS) were recruited. 41 patients with ACS were randomized to atorvastatin 10 mg/d or atorvastatin 40 mg/d on top of routine anti-anginal treatment.Serum level of hsCRP,blood lipids,TLR4 expression on CD_(14)~+ monocytes were measuered before and after one month treatment.TLR4 expression on CD_(14)~+ monocytes were quantified via flow-cytometry.Results hsCRP and TLR4 expression on CD_(14)~+ monocytes in patients with ACS were higher than patients with stable angina and normal persons(hsCRP,ACS:11.1?14.3 vs stable angina:2.5?2.7 mg/L vs normal:2.3?4.2 mg/L,P

Objective To investigate the clinical cross infections of myeoplasma pneumoniae(MP)and other viruses in children,providing a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease.Methods Serum specimens of the children hospitalized with fever,respiratory symptom besides positive results of MP-Ab IgM detection were collected.And several common viruses popular in children were investigated within the specimens collected by ELISA kits or indirect immunofluorescence.Results (1)The PCT levels of 385 cases(81.7%)appear to be under 0.5 ng/ml.(2)In the 514 cases detected for Cox-IgG and Cox-IgM,the positive rates are respectively 40.3% and 35.6%.(3)2 cases(0.8%)appear to be irdluenza B virus positive.And the positive rates of parainfluenza virusl,2 and 3 are 0.8%,0,and 9%.4,84 cases(11.8%)are positive for EB-IgM and 451 cages(63.6%)positive for EB-IgG.Conclusion Cross infections rarely occur between MP and common respiratory viruses in Children.The cross-infection rate between Cox-virus and MP iS up to 35.6%.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in colorectal cancer.

METHODSS-P immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of RECK, MMP-9 and VEGF-C in colorectal cancer specimen. Colorectal mucosal tissue at least 10 cm away from the tumor was used as control.

RESULTSThe positive expression of RECK in colorectal cancer was significantly lower than that in the controls(53.3% vs. 100%, P<0.05). Both MMP-9 and VEGF-C were over expressed compared with the controls(86.7% vs. 23.3% and 71.7% vs. 13.3% respectively, P<0.01). The expression of RECK was negatively correlated with that of MMP-9 and VEGF-C, and the expression of MMP-9 was positively correlated with that of VEGF-C. There were significant associations between the expression of these proteins and lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM staging (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRECK expression is low in colorectal cancer, while MMP-9 and VEGF-C expressions are high. Combined testing of these 3 markers is important in the evaluation of tumor metastasis and invasion, and is helpful in the prediction of the prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism

Specificity of acupoints is one of the basic theories of the acupuncture and moxibustion sciences and is a very important basis to guide the clinical treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion. However, the scientific foundation of specificity of acupoints is still unclear, which has greatly restricted to the clinical effect improvement of acupuncture and moxibustion and has influenced to academic status of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences both in China and abroad. In this paper, the recent related researches are reviewed and then the key effects and mechanism that the tissue structure of acupoints can decide and affect specificity of acupoints-organs effects are analyzed and explored. It is held that acupuncture at the different tissue structure of the different depth in the different or the same acupoints will cause changes of varying qualities or degrees of visceral function because of stimulation of the different receptors in the different tissues followed by excitation of varying afferent nerve fibers.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

A laccase gene (lacD) from the basidiomycete Trametes sp. 420 was heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris in two ways, resulting in two recombinant enzymes of rLacDx with native N-terminus and rLacDe with eight additional amino acid residues at N-terminus. The yields of rLacDx and rLacDe in shaken-flask cultures after an 18-day growth were 1.21 x 10(5) u/L and 7.38 x 10(4) u/L, respectively, as determined with 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothia-zoline- 6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as substrate. The yield of rLacDx was further increased to 2.39 x 10(5) u/L under high-density fermentation while the production process was decreased to 7.5 days. In addition, rLacDx and rLacDe exhibited similar enzymatic characters in oxidizing substrate guaiacol, and were stable at 50 degrees C and at a pH range from 3 to 10. However, the specific activity of rLacDx (1761 u/mg) for ABTS was higher than that of rLacDe (1122 u/mg), and the apparent Km value of rLacDx (427 microM) was less than that of rLacDe (604 microM).
Cloning, Molecular ; Fermentation ; Isoenzymes ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Laccase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Trametes ; enzymology ; genetics