To study the effect of Tripterygium wilfordii glycosides and gestrinone on endometriosis and serum cytokine expression, 135 cases of endometriosis patients were divided into treatment group(n=69) and control group(n=68). The observation group was orally given with T. wilfordii glycosides, 20 mg, tid, for 4 weeks. Then, the dose decreased to 10 mg/time, tid. T. wilfordii glycosides combined with gestrinone capsule(2.5 mg) were given in the 1st and 4th day of a menstrual cycle. Later, the administration was fixed at two times every week. The course of treatment lasted for 3 months. The control group was treated with gestrinone capsule(according to the same intake method). The serum-related cytokine levels before and after treatment were determined, and the clinical efficacy was observed. The results showed the total effective rate of the observation group was 89.71%, which was obviously higher than that of the control group(74.63%), with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). After treatment, TDS showed varying degrees of decreases, with a better effect in the observation group (P<0.01). Before treatment, serum TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-4 level had no significant difference. After treatment, all of these cytokines decreased, particularly for the observation decreased(P<0.01). Before and after treatment, serum IL-17 had no obvious difference between the two groups. This study suggested that the integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine has an obvious clinical efficiency in endometriosis. Its mechanism may be related to the effective regulation of cytokines.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of prostaglandin D2 receptor antagonists on the airway inflammation in rats with asthma.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group A (normal control), Group B (asthma group), Group C (CRTH2 antagonist BAYu3405 treatment group), Group D (DP1 antagonist BWA868C treatment group). Asthma was induced by ovalbumin (OVA) challenge. The rats in each group were sacrificed 24 h after the last challenge of OVA.DP1/CRTH2 receptors on eosinophils (EOS) were measured by radiological binding assay (RBA). The left lungs were used for histological examinations and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected from the right lungs. The total cell numbers, EOS absolute count and differential cell counts in BALF were performed. Serum concentrations of IL-4, 5 and IFN-gamma were measured by ELISA.

RESULTSRats in BAYu3405 treatment group showed profoundly decreased infiltrates of EOS and lymphocytes in the wall of bronchus when compared with those of asthma group and BWA868C treatment group. Serum concentrations of IFN-gamma in rats of BAYu3405 treatment group increased, but IL-4 and IL-5 decreased significantly when compared with those in rats of asthma group and BWA868C treatment group (P<0.01), and BALF EOS count was decreased significantly (P<0.01). Peripheral blood EOS count was higher than that in rats of normal control group, but was not significantly different from that in rats of asthma group and BWA868C treatment group. The combining capacity of CRTH2 and DP total combining capacity on EOS in asthma group, BAYu3405 treatment group and BWA868C treatment group were significantly higher than those in Group A (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in DP1 among all the groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONCRTH2, but not DP1 antagonist can effectively ameliorate airway inflammation in rats with asthma.

Animals ; Asthma ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Bronchi ; immunology ; pathology ; Carbazoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Male ; Ovalbumin ; Prostaglandin D2 ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Immunologic ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Receptors, Prostaglandin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

To investigate the Fe2+ effects on root tips in rice plant, experiments were carried out using border cells in vitro. The border cells were pre-planted in aeroponic culture and detached from root tips. Most border cells have a long elliptical shape. The number and the viability of border cells in situ reached the maxima of 1600 and 97.5%, respectively, at 20-25 mm root length. This mortality was more pronounced at the first 1-12 h exposure to 250 mg/L Fe2+ than at the last 12-36 h. After 36 h, the cell viability exposed to 250 mg/L Fe2+ decreased to nought, whereas it was 46.5% at 0 mg/L Fe2+. Increased Fe2+ dosage stimulated the death of detached border cells from rice cultivars. After 4 h Fe2+ treatment, the cell viabilities were > or =80% at 0 and 50 mg/L Fe2+ treatment and were <62% at 150, 250 and 350 mg/L Fe2+ treatment; The viability of border cells decreased by 10% when the Fe2+ concentration increased by 100 mg/L. After 24 h Fe2+ treatment, the viabilities of border cells at all the Fe2+ levels were <65%; The viability of border cells decreased by 20% when the Fe2+ concentration increased by 100 mg/L. The decreased viabilities of border cells indicated that Fe2+ dosage and treatment time would cause deadly effect on the border cells. The increased cell death could protect the root tips from toxic harm. Therefore, it may protect root from the damage caused by harmful iron toxicity.
Iron ; toxicity ; Oryza ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo analysis the genetic mode of Rh DEL phenotype and RHD 1227A allele in Zhejiang Han population through family investigations.

METHODSRh DEL phenotypes were identified by a serologic adsorption-elution method. Two polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific prime (PCR-SSP) methods which detectED RHD 1227A allele and Rhesus hybrid box, respectively, and a nucleotide sequencing method focused on the exon 9 of RHD 1227A allele were employed to determine the zygosity of RHD allele.

RESULTSAll five probands with Rh DEL phenotype harbored a RHD 1227A allele and had a RHD allele deletion, and they were RHD 1227A/RHd heterozygote. One of the parent members was found to contain a RHD 1227A allele and a normal RHD allele in pedigree 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Thus, they were RHD 1227A/RHD heterozygotes and presented normal D positive phenotype. The son of proband No 1. inherited the RHD 1227A allele and presented a normal D positive phenotype due to a RHD 1227A/RHD heterozygote; The offsprings of proband No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 did not inherit RHD 1227A allele and presented a normal D positive phenotype.

CONCLUSIONRHD 1227A allele is an important genetic marker of Rh DEL phenotype; RHD 1227A is recessive to normal RHD allele and dominant to RHd allele; RHD 1227A allele is an ancestral, but not a spontaneously mutated allele.

Alleles ; China ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct vitiligo-specific HLA-A*0201-peptide tetramers and to apply the constructed tetramers in detection of vitiligo-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL).

METHODSProteins HLA-A0201*-BSP and β2M were obtained by effective prokaryotic expression. The purified proteins were refolded with vitiligo antigen peptides MelanA 26-35, gp100 209-217, and tyrosinase 1-9, respectively to form HLA-A*0201-peptide complex. The complex was biotinylated by BirA enzyme and purified by gel-filtration chromatography. The tetramers were generated by mixing the complex with phycoerythrin (PE)-streptavidin at a ratio of 4∶1 and identified by Dot-blot assay. The capacity of tetramer to detect vitiligo-specific CTL was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe biotinylation of vitiligo-specific HLA-A*0201-peptide tetramers were successfully performed by Dot-blot. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that the tetramer effectively bound to specific CTL from peripheral blood of patients with vitiligo.

CONCLUSIONThree kinds of biotinylated vitiligo-specific HLA-A*0201-peptide tetramers have been constructed successfully. The tetramer can detect antigen specific CTL from patients with vitiligo.

Biotinylation ; Flow Cytometry ; HLA-A2 Antigen ; Humans ; Peptides ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology ; Vitiligo ; diagnosis ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of puerarin on fatty superoxide of aged mice induced by D-galactose.

METHODThe aged mice were induced by s.c. 0.12 g.kg-1 D-galactose for 6 weeks. Meanwhile, they were treated with three doses of puerarin once a day for 6 weeks. Then the spontaneous behavior was tested in the aged mice using open field at the next day after the last treatment. And the activity of SOD, the contents of MDA and lipofuscin in brain, liver, and serum were measured with Ultravioletray spectrometer and Fluorospectrophometer analysis system.

RESULTCompared with the D-galactose control group, puerarin of 50 mg.kg-1 and 100 mg.kg-1 puerarin significantly increased the spontaneous behavior, remarkably promoted the activity of SOD of brain, liver, and serum in the aged mice, and significantly decreased the contents of MDA and lipofuscin.

CONCLUSIONPuerarin can improve the activity of antioxidase of the modelling aged-mice induced by D-galactose.

Aging ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Female ; Galactose ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study and compare the operative results of the early and late treatment of orbital blow-out fracture.

METHODSOrbital blow-out fractures were reconstructed and repositioned. Three dimensional measurements, CT scanning, diplopia analysis, Medpor filling of the orbit were used for the operation and the study. The operative results were compared between 15 cases of early and 16 cases of late reconstruction of blow-out fracture.

RESULTSIn the early treatment group, there were 8 cases of diplopia, 15 cases of orbital invagination and 10 cases of disesthesia of the infraorbital nerve. After surgery, diplopia was corrected in 7 cases; invagination was corrected in all the 15 cases; disesthesia of the infraorbital nerve was corrected in 8 cases. In the late treatment group, there were 10 cases of diplopia, 16 cases of orbital invagination and 9 cases of disesthesia of the infraorbital nerve. After surgery, diplopia was corrected in 3 cases, unimproved in 4 cases, aggravated in 2 cases. 5 of them received reoperation of extraocular muscle for diplopia. Orbital invagination was uncorrected in 3 cases. 2 of them were re-operated on. Disesthesia of the infraorbital nerve was unimproved in 2 cases. By comparing the operation results, of the two groups using FISHER accuracy inspection, the significant difference was only in the correction of the double visions (chi 2 = 4.865, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEarly operation for orbital blow-out fracture is easier, with better results, fewer complications and reoperations than the late operation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orbital Fractures ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Time Factors

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of breviscapine on cultured rat hippocampal neuronal toxicity induced by glutamate. Primary hippocampal neurons were prepared from 2 day-old SD rats. After 8 days cultured in vitro, the cultures subjected to 30 min treatment of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mmol x L(-1) L-glutamate, separately. Breviscapine (10, 20 and 40 micromol x L(-1)) was added into the cultures during 30 min treatment of L-glutamate and for the following 24 h respectively. After 24 h of L-glutamate treatment, flow cytometric analysis of Annexin V (marks apoptosis) and PI (propidium iodide, marks necrosis) labeling cells showed that L-glutamate dose-dependently induced hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and necrosis. In agreement with these results, RT-PCR experiments indicated a biphasic regulation of X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) mRNA after L-glutamate treatment, i. e up-regulation by 0.1 mmol x L(-1) L-glutamate and down-regulation by 0.5 and 1.0 mmol x L(-1) L-glutamate. However, breviscapine markedly reduced apoptosis and necrosis due to toxicity of 0.5 mmol L(-1) L-glutamate. Compared with the vehicle-treated L-glutamate group, the apoptosis was reduced by 30.4% and 40.1%, and necrosis was reduced by 32.5% and 38.8%, after treatment by breviscapine of 20 and 40 micromol x L(-1). Meanwhile, breviscapine obviously reversed the down-regulation of XIAP expression induced by L-glutamate (up-regulation by 45.1% and 54.9% when compared with that of the vehicle-treated glutamate group). The results from the detection of confocal laser scanning microscopy with Fluo-3, a Ca2+ probe showed an obvious increase in intracellular Ca2+ during L-glutamate treatment; and breviscapine of 20 or 40 micromol x L(-1) significantly slowed down glutamate-induced Ca2+ influx and lowered the intracellular Ca2+ peak in hippocampal neurons (P < 0.01). These results suggest that neuroprotective effect of breviscapine against glutamate excitotoxicity was associated with inhibition of the accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ and up-regulation of XIAP expression in hippocampal neurons.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glutamic Acid ; toxicity ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the content variation of furmarid acid and isofraxidin in Sarcandra glabra from 21 different provenances and provide the basis for resource utilization and quality optimization of S. glabra.

METHODHPLC method was developed to determine the contents of furmarid acid and isofraxidin in 330 samples of S. glabra which were collected respectively from 21 different provenances.

RESULTThere were significant differences in the contents of isofraxidin and furmarid acid in S. glabra from different provenances. The contents of isofraxidin and furmarid acid dropped off from low altitude to high altitude, which were also close with longitude and latitude. The content of isofraxidin in S. glabra at central area of natural distribution was the highest. The different parts of the plant had different results, the influence on the contents of the acitive components in stem were more obvious than the leaf.

CONCLUSIONThis simple, accurate and reproducible method could be use to determine the contents of furmarid acid and isofraxidin in S. glabra. The results represented the status of medicines quality and difference of Chinese S. glabra. These agreed with the traditional views that the medicines quality of Sarcandra glabra in Jiangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang was better. These provenances were considered as important areas of medicines breeding and bases building on S. glabra in future.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumarates ; chemistry ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the protective effects of puerarine (Pur) against cerebral ischemia is associated with depressing the extracellular levels of amino acid transmitters in brain of rats.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 60 min followed by 24 h reperfusion. Pur (50, 100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered at the onset of MCAO. The infarct rate and edema rate were detected on TTC (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride)-stained coronal sections. The extracellular levels of amino acid transmitters were monitored in striatum of rats with ischemic/reperfusion injury using in vivo microdialysis technique. Furthermore, the protective effects of Pur against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity were detected. Glutamate-induced apoptotic and necrotic cells in hippocampus were estimated by flow cytometric analysis of Annexin-V and PI labeling cells.

RESULTSPur (100 mg/kg) significantly decreased infarct size by 31.6% (P<0.05), reduced edema volume (P<0.05), and improved neurological functions (P<0.05) following MCAO. In these rats, the ischemia-induced extracellular levels of aspartate (Asp), glutamate (Glu), y-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and taurine (Tau) were significantly reduced in striatum of vehicle-treated animals by 54.7%, 56.7%, 75.8%, and 68.1% (P<0.01 and P<0.05). Pur reduced the peak values of Glu and Asp more obviously than those of GABA and Tau, and the rate of Glu/GABA during MCAO markedly decreased in Pur-treated MCAO rats, compared with the vehicle-treated MCAO rats. Meanwhile, apoptosis and necrosis induced by Glu in cultured hippocampal neurons were significantly reduced after Pur treatment.

CONCLUSIONAcute treatment with Pur at the onset of occlusion significantly depresses ischemia-induced efflux of amino acids, especially, excitotoxicity in the striatum, a mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect on cellular survival.

Animals ; Biological Transport ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Excitatory Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Microdialysis ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley