Objective To explore the the cellular damage of hippocampus neuron in a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Methods Rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion was established by permanent bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (2VO). Eight weeks after the operation,the brains were removed and examined with histological stains, electron microscope, flow cytometer and Western Blotting. Results Compared with the control group,the arrangement of hippocampus neurons in 2VO rats appeared to be more irregular, and the number of the neurons decreased partly ( CA2: ( 34.75 ± 3.40) vs (49.25 ± 9.67 ), P ＜ 0. 05; DG: ( 73.50 ± 9.26)vs ( 90.75 ± 4.35 ), P ＜ 0. 05 ). By electron microscopic study of hippocampus neurons in 2VO rats, the nuclei became smaller and the heterochromatin assembled in the border of the nuclei in some neurons, while cytoplasm swelled,especially in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. The rate of apoptosis of hippocampus neurons in 2VO rats( (9. 117 ±2. 540)% ) ,detected by the flow cytometer,was higher than that of sham group( (4. 750 ±3.481 ) % ) (P ＜ 0. 05 ). The expression of pro-caspase-3 in hippocampus of 2 VO rats was not altered significantly compared with the control group(P ＞ 0. 05 ). Conclusion The cellular damage of hippocampus neuron in 2VO rats was mainly caused by apoptosis.

To investigate the effects of Tongxinluo capsule on sciatic nerve apoptosis in spontaneous type II diabetic KK/Upj-Ay mice, in order to explore its mechanism for improving diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). KK/Upj-Ay mice were selected as the DPN animal model and randomly divided into the model, Tongxinluo low, middle and high group (1, 2, 4 g x kg(-1)). C57BL/6 mice were selected as the control group. Mice were given intragastrically for 12 weeks. Paw withdrawal latency, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) were detected. Apoptotic rate were detected by FCM. Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression in sciatic nerve were examined by Real-time PCR and Western blot. p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK expression were examined by Western blot. In this study,the authors found that Tongxinluo capsule could increase paw withdrawal latency, MNCV and SNCV. Apoptotic rate of sciatic, the expression of Bax and caspase-3 were lower, while Bcl-2 expression was higher in Tongxinluo group than those in model mice. The expression of p-p38MAPK significantly decreased in Tongxinluo group. The results showed that Tongxinluo capsule has protective effects on diabetic peripheral neuropathy of mice via inhibiting cell apoptosis and suppressing the expression of p-p38MAPK.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Capsules ; administration & dosage ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Sciatic Nerve ; cytology ; drug effects

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Herbicides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnostic imaging ; virology ; Radiography

Molecular systematic techniques were applied to reveal the genetic diversity of medicinal plants and their related species in Salvia. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) as well as 5.8S rDNA sequences of 27 samples of Salvia were amplified using PCR method and sequenced. Mega 3.1 was used to analyze the genetic diversity within genus. The complete sequences of ITS plus 5.8S rDNA are about 612-617 bp. A phylogenetic tree generated by Neighbor-Joining method partly supported the morphological classification within Salvia, but incompatible results were also obtained in the treatment of phylogenetic positions of some species such as Salvia trijuga, Salvia flava var. flava and Salvia flava var. megalentha. The ITS regions of present Salria species showed considerable variation between subgenera in contrast with the conservative 5.8S rDNA sequences. The native Salvia species might have a different origin from the foreign species. The phylogenetic positions of subgenera and sections inferred by ITS analysis were comparable with that of traditional classification, while the phylogeny within sections is still doubtful due to limited information in ITS sequence and need to be further proved by other evidence. ITS analysis in this study supports the rationality of using species from Drymosphace section as substitute drug resources of Dan shen, but also reveals significant genetic differences between high mountain Dan shen species such as Salvia przewalskii with traditional Dan shen origins.
Base Sequence ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S ; genetics ; Salvia ; classification ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Lactoferrin (Lf) is one of the food protein belonged to the innate immune system. Apart from its main biological function of binding and transport of iron ions, lactoferrin also has many other functions and properties such as antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, catalytic, anti-cancer, anti-allergic and radioprotecting. Lf is usually used as additives of food and cosmetics. The research of lactoferrin has been increasingly reported, and the application of lactoferrin as a drug carrier has drawn extensive attention over the recent year. In this paper, researches of lactoferrin as drug carriers are classified and summarized in brain targeting, liver tumor targeting, lung tumor targeting and oral delivery systems according to their different characteristics.
Administration, Oral ; Brain ; Drug Carriers ; Humans ; Lactoferrin ; chemistry ; Neoplasms

Antigens, Neoplasm ; analysis ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Buffers ; Female ; Fixatives ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microwaves ; Paraffin Embedding ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVETo explore the dynamic changes of transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) of liver cirrhosis induced by multiple pathogenic factors in rats.

METHODSAnimals in the cirrhosis group were fed a mixture of maize flour, lard, cholesterol and alcohol plus subcutaneously injection with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), the CCl₄(0.5 ml/100 g · w) was injected at the first day of experiment and the 40% CCl₄oil solution (0.3 ml /100 g · w) was injected at an interval of three days. The thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into liver cirrhosis group of the 4th, 6th and 8 th week, and normal control group of the 4th, 6th and 8th week. The contents of alanine transferase (ALT), endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and homocysteine (Hcy) in plasma were evaluated. Histopathological changes of the liver were observed under microscope with the staining of HE. The expressions of TGF-α and TGF-β1 were analyzed by the method of immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the corresponding normal control group, the levels of ALT, endotoxin, TNF-α and Hcy in plasma were gradually significantly increased in liver cirrhosis group of the 4th, 6th and 8th week (P < 0.05); the expression of TGF-α in the liver tissues was significantly increased at the 4th week (P < 0.05); the expression of TGF-β1 in the liver tissues was gradually significantly increased in every model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the formation process of cirrhosis, the expression of TGF-α was increased in liver of cirrhosis group at the 4th week, and later it was suppressed; the expression of TGF-β1 was continuously increased. The characteristic dynamic changes of TGF-α and TGF-β1 might be related to sustained endotoxemia, the high level of TNF-α and hyperhomocysteinemia.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the mortality attributable to smoking in different work environments among male citizens in Tianjin, China, and to provide scientific evidence for banning smoking in workplaces and public places.

METHODSThe data of 38 312 male deaths 18-69 years of age in Tianjin from 2010 to 2012 were collected. The risk of death due to lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases attributed to smoking in different work environments was analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the male deaths 18-69 years of age in Tianjin, 22.57% were caused by smoking, and the life scan of smokers was shortened by 5 years on average. The smokers who started smoking at an early age and had high dialy cigarette consumption were at high risk of death.The risk of death due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases among workers in indoor workshop(OR=1.82,95%CI: 1.55 2.15), indoor office personnel (OR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.39-1.81) Indoor public places (OR=1 .55, 95%U: 1.19 2.01) were higher than outdoor workers (OR=1.23,95%CI: 1.12-1.35). The risk of death due to lung cancer among workers in indoor workshop (OR =3.80,95% CI: 3.03-4.76), indoor office personnel (OR =3.04,95% CI: 2.48-3.73) Indoor public places (OR =4.63,95% CI:3.08-6.96)were higher than outdoor workers (OR 2.57,95% CI:2.22-2.97). The risk of death due to lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases among indoor workers was higher than that among outdoor workers. The risk of death due to lung cancer among indoor workers in public places who started smoking when they were younger than 18 years of age was higher than those among outdoor workers and other indoor workers.

CONCLUSIONSmoking is a major risk factor for mortality among male citizens in Tianjin, and also a key factor for the loss of labor productivity. Indoor workers have a higher risk of mortality than outdoor workers. In order to reduce the mortality attributable to smoking, effective actions should be taken as soon as possible to ban smoking in indoor workplaces.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; mortality ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; mortality ; Workplace ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the value of contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the treatment of small hepatic malignancies with radiofrequency ablation(RFA). Methods Seventy patients with 104 pathologically proved malignant liver lesions treated by RFA (size 0.7 -2.7 cm) were divided into 2 groups including CEUS group and control group. In CEUS group,39 patients(54 lesions) were treated with RFA guided by CEUS, while in control group 31 patients (50 lesions) were guided by conventional ultrasonography. There was no significant difference between clinical data of the two groups. Results Seventeen tumors(among them,12 lesions were less than 1.5 cm in diameter) in 13 patients showed more clearly on CEUS image than on conventional ultrasonography image (31.5% ) in CEUS group. The tumor necrosis rate at one month after RFA was 100% in CEUS group,and 92% in control group ( P = 0. 034).The number of RFA sessions per tumor was 1.00± 0.00 in CEUS group,and 1.08 ± 0.27 in control group (P = 0.000). Local tumor progression rate was 0 in CEUS group and 4% in control group ( P = 0. 138)during the period of 8 - 52 months follow-up (average 21 months). Conclusions CEUS can not only improve the display of small hepatic malignancies but also provide precise guidance in contrast with conventional ultrasonography. Compared with control group, RFA of small hepatic malignancies guided by CEUS lower the number of RFA sessions, enhance the tumor necrosis rate, decrease post-RFA local progression and therefore it has extensive clinical value.