Objective To investigate the effects of sericin pretreatment on the expression of extracellular matrix(ECM) associated protein in diabetic nephropathy(DN) rats' kidney.Methods Sixty six male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=12):normal control group,DN model group and sericine pretreatment group.DN rats model in model group and sericine pretreatment group were established by intraperitoneally injection of streptozotocin(STZ).Blood glucose≥16.7 mmol/L was taken as the standard of successful modelization.The rats in sericine pretreatment group were lavaged with sericine(2.4 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) for 35 days before injecting STZ.The enzymic method was used to measure the blood glucose.Type Ⅳ collagen(cⅣ)and laminin(LN)content in the serum were detected by ELBA.The expression of transforming growth factor-β_1,(TGF-β_1)and tissue inhibitors of maprix metalloproteinase-1(TMP-1) protein in the kidney was observed by immunohistochemical staining.The expression of Smad 3 protein in the kidney was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with normal control rats,the blood glucose,cⅣ and LN content in the serum,TGF-β_1,TIMP-1 and Smad 3 expression in the kidney of the model group rats increased obviously(P<0.01).The blood glucose,cⅣ and LN content in the serum,TGF-β_1,TMP-1 and Smad3 expression in the kidney of rats in sericine pretreatment group were significantly lower than those of the rats in model group(P<0.01).Conclusion Sericin pretreatment can inhibit the activation of TGF-β/Smad 3 signal pathway in the kidney of DN rats,and prevent the decrease of MMPs activity induced by up-regulation of TIMP-1.So sericin can prevent accumulation of ECM and glomerulosclerosis during DN,and has satisfactory apotropaic effects on the development of DN.

Objective To study the influence of rosemary essential oil inhalation on the memory of mice experiencing sleep deprivation and to delineate the possible mechanisms involved.Methods C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four experimental groups in this study:a control group(Con),a control group with rosemary essential oil inhalation(Con+REO),a sleep deprivation group(SD)and a sleep deprivation group with rosemary essential oil inhalation(SD+REO).A 72-hour sleep deprivation model was induced using the multiple platform water environment method,with the Con+REO and SD+REO groups exposed to rosemary essential oil inhalation.Cognitive function was evaluated through Y-maze and novel object recognition tests.The hippocampal tissue was analyzed for superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and the concentrations of malondialdehyde(MDA)and glutathione(GSH).ELISA was used to determine the levels of norepinephrine(NE),dopamine(DA),and serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)in the hippocampus.The expression levels of postsynaptic density 95(PSD95)and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in the hippocampus were determined using immunoblotting techniques.Results Compared with the Con and Con+REO groups,the SD group demonstrated a significant reduction in the spontaneous alternation percentage in the Y-maze as well as the novel object recognition index.Additionally,there was a pronounced decrease in hippocampal SOD activity and GSH content,a substantial elevation in MDA levels,and a decrease in the levels of DA,NE,and 5-HT.The expressions of PSD95 and BDNF proteins also decreased.In comparison with the SD group,the SD+REO group exhibited a significant increase in the spontaneous alternation percentage in the Y-maze and the novel object recognition index.There was also a marked increase in hippocampal SOD activity and GSH content,a reduction in MDA levels and elevated levels of NE and DA.Moreover,the expressions of PSD95 and BDNF proteins were upregulated.Conclusion The inhalation of rosemary essential oil enhances the memory of sleep-deprived mice,and the underlying mechanism may involve the mitigation of oxidative stress within the hippocampal tissue,the modulation of neurotransmitter levels,and the facilitation of synaptic plasticity.

Objective To establish an auxiliary method for diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury based on serum GFAP rapid detection test strips using immunochromatographic technology labeled with quantum dot microspheres.Methods The quantum dot microspheres were coupled with GFAP antibodies.The detection conditions were optimized to obtain the fluorescence probe in order to prepare the immunochromatographic test strips.An auxiliary diagnostic method was established after optimization of detection conditions.Finally,the auxiliary diagnostic effect of the test strips was evaluated using clinical samples.Results The serum concentration of GFAP could be detected by the optimized test strips within 13 mins with a detection limit of 0.15 ng/mL,and no more than 70μL of the serum sample was required.In addition,good reproducibility was achieved by different batches of test strips(CV=10.7%).The detection sensitivity and specificity of the strips to mild traumatic brain injury using 51 clinical samples were 95.24%and 96.67%respectively,indicating good effects of detection.Conclusion The developed test strips are user-friendly with reliable results,which can facilitate field rapid diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury in complicated wartime environments.

Objective To survey the prevalence of greenhouse farmer's lung and related risk factors in part of rural areas of Liaoning Province.Methods Using uniform scheme,procedures and questionnaire,a survey for 5420 farmers(2660 men and 2760 women)with complete data who work inside greenhouses was performed in Shenyang,Xinmin,Chaoyang,and Jinzhou between August 2006 and June 2009.Pulmonary function tests was performed for every active farmer.Results Greenhouse farmer's lung was diagnosed in 308 cases,205 men(66.55%,205/308)and 103 women(33.44%,103/308),a prevalence of 5.7%(308/5420).The prevalence rate of greenhouse farmer's lung in males was significantly higher than that in females(?2=39.93,P0.05).In the 308 cases,the number of patiernts presented with fever chill,cough/sputum,chest tightness/shortness of breath were 180(58.44%),192(62.34%),160(51.95%)respectively,and the number of crepitations,radiological changes,spirometry abnormalities and serum IgE antibodies(+)was 164(53.25%),153(49.68%),147(47.73%)and 136(44.16%)at the time of the study.62.34%(192/308)of patients with greenhouse farmer's lung were mild and 38.66%(116/308)were severe.Conclusion The total prevalence rate of greenhouse farmer's lung in part of rural areas of Liaoning Province was 5.7% and multiple risk factors were associated with the disease.