ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of protective effect of Xuebijing injection on vascular endothelial cells in rats with heat stress.Methods Ninety Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into control, model and Xuebijing injection treatment groups, 30 rats in each group. Heat stress model was reproduced by placing rats in constant temperature box at 40℃, 60% relative humidity for 1 hour, Xuebijing injection group was treated by intraperitoneal injection of Xuebijing 2.5 g/kg, while the control and model groups were treated by intraperitoneal injection of normal saline 2 mL/kg, once a day only in 1 day for both groups. After model establishment, the rectum temperature, heart rate and the mean arterial pressure(MAP) were recorded at 2, 6, 12 hours in each group. At the same time, the rat abdominal aortic blood was collected and serum was separated, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to determine the aortic serum levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS), nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) and p53, and the prothrombin time(PT), activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT) and D-dimer of venous blood were detected by automatic blood coagulation analyzer(ACLTOP).Results Compared with those in control group, the rectum temperature, heart rate, LPS, NF-κB, p53, PT, APTT, D-dimer were significantly increased, and MAP was obviously decreased in model group(P<0.05 orP<0.01). Compared with model group, the above indexes were improved significantly in Xuebijing injection treatment group at 2 hours〔rectum temperature(℃): 38.02±0.22 vs. 39.32±0.33, heart rate(bpm): 507±14 vs. 562±35, MAP(mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa): 98±6 vs. 87±13, LPS(ng/L): 0.65±0.03 vs. 0.82±0.05, NF-κB(ng/L): 1.10±0.04 vs. 1.33±0.05, p53(ng/L): 1.33±0.03 vs. 1.73±0.02, PT(s):15.47±1.03 vs. 20.28±2.01, APTT(s): 40.26±2.46 vs. 47.46±3.51, D-dimer(μg/L): 238.54±8.32 vs. 323.12±8.14,P<0.05 orP<0.01〕.Conclusion Xuebijing injection can correct the disorders of blood PT, APTT, D-dimer via decreasing the secretion of the levels of NF-κB, p53 from vascular endothelial cells in rats with heat stress, thus the integrity of the vascular endothelium can be protected, and LPS entering into the blood stream can be inhibited.

Objective To explore the effectiveness of ω-3 fatty acids in intervening rat models of chronic obstructive pulmonery disease (COPD).Methods The rat COPD models were established by cigarette smoking and intratracheal lipopolysaccharide instillation.Totally 90 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal control group (treated with normal saline),COPD group,and intervention group (the COPD rat models treated with ω-3 fatty acids).Lung tissues were obtained on the 7th,21st,and 28th day.The left lower lobes were analyzed to determine the expressions of nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)and the right lung lobes were sliced for detecting the cell apoptosis.Double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) was used to detect the serum IFN-γ and interleukin-6 (IL-6).Results (1) The pathological changes of lung tissue:there were a large number of inflammatory exudation,alveolar wall thickening,hyperplasia of vascular smooth muscle and the alveolar structure destruction in the COPD model group,but the lung tissue were part of alveolar cavity and a little inflammatory exudate in ω-3 fatty fish acids treatment group,control rats were almost no alveolar inflammation on the 28th days.(2) On the 28th day,NF-κB protein expression of the lung tissue (18.91 ± 3.07) in rats of COPD model group was significantly higher than the control group and the intervention group (5.47 ±4.86 and 7.23 ±2.21) (P ＜0.01).On the 28th day,IFN-γ protein expression in lung tissue of the rats in the model group was 7.12 ±3.37,significantly lower than the intervention group (18.74 ± 2.65),the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).(3) The IL-6 levels of the blood-serum of model group rats were (13.43 ± 2.47) ng/L,significantly higher than the control group and the intervention group [(4.78 ± 1.93) and (4.98 ± 1.89) ng/L],the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01) on the 28th day,,but the IFN-γ level [(2.23 ± 0.63) ng/L] in COPD group was more poorer than ω-3 fatty acids group and the intervention group [(4.51 ± 0.71) and (7.05 ± 0.52) ng/L] (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The ω-3 fatty acids can lower NF-κB protein expressions in lung tissues and serum and IL-6 levels in COPD rats; aslo,it can increase the IFN-γ protein expression in lung tissue and serum.Thus,it can prevent the lung inflammation in COPD rats.

Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the age-associated changes of ultrastructure,mRNA and protein expressions of H+-K+-ATPase in elderly gastric parietal cell. Methods Fifty patients with relative normal stomach without gastroduodenal diseases were enrolled,including younger group (aged 20-59 years,n=19) and elderly group (aged≥60 years,n=31).Furthermore,the elderly group was divided into 3 subgroups:60-69 years old (n =11 ),70-79 years old (n=10 ),above 80 years old (n =10).The ultrastructure of gastric parietal cell was observed under electron microscope.The expression of H+-K+-ATPase α subunit mRNA and H+-K+-ATPase β subunit protein were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and Western-blot,respectively.The ageing-associated changes of all these data were respectively compared. Results No significant difference was showed in the morphology of gastric parietal cell and acid-secretion-associated organelles among all the groups.The average ratio Am to Ac (Am means the area of mitochondria,Ac means the area of cytoplasm) of gastric parietal cell and the average At to Ac ratio (At means the area of secretory canaliculi and tubulovesicular system )between younger group and elderly group had no significant difference[(48.4±7.5) ％ vs.(50.6±7.6) ％,t=-0.775,P=0.444; (13.8±4.1) ％ vs.(12.2±4.7) ％,t=0.984,P=0.332].Meanwhile,there were no distinctions in the expression of H+-K+ -ATPase α subunit mRNA and H+-K+-ATPase protein among all elderly subgroups(F=1.522,2.32,P=0.24,0.114).However,the mRNA expression of H+-K+-ATPase a subunit was higher in the elderly group than in the younger group(t=-3.682,P=0.001).Furthermore,the expression of H+ -K+ -ATPase protein in the elderly group was increased as compared with younger group(t=-3.389,P=0.004). Conclusions Acidsecretion-associated organelles of human gastric parietal cell have no degeneration and the expression of H + -K+-ATPase is in trend of increase with aging,indicating that healthy elderly people have the basis of ultrastructure and molecular biology to maintain well function of acid secretion.

Objective The detection of malignant lymphoma with invasion in liver and spleen using PET/CT has not been well documented in the literature. This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of PET/CT in this regard and to compare it with plain CT. Methods Forty-one pathologically confirmed malignant lymphoma patients with liver and spleen invasion were recruited into this study. Among all patients, there were 38 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and 1 gastric mucosa associated lymphoma. PET/CT imaging was recorded 1h after injection of 296～444 MBq 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Results (1) There were 30(30/41) patients with liver invasion, including hepatic nodules, mass and portal nodes. The mass was large to invade surrounding liver parenchyma. (2) There were 23(23/41) patients with spleen invasion. The spleen was enlarged and demonstrated diffused hyper-metabolism. (3) Other invasion included: lung (n=13), cortical bone and marrow (n=12), stomach (n=9), pleural (n=6), and subcutaneous soft tissue (n=5) and so on. Conclusion PET/CT could accurately diagnose the invasion in liver and spleen of malignant lymphoma, which was of potential role on the diagnosis and staging of lymphoma.

Objective To investigate the titer stability of the harvest solution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2(SARS-CoV-2)at 2 ～ 8 ℃ and the inactivation effect of β-propiolactone inactivator on the virus.Methods Three batches of SARS-CoV-2 harvest solution(batch numbers:202111001,202111002 and 202111003)were stored at 2 ～ 8 ℃ for 12 d and sampled every 3 d(0,3,6,9 and 12 d)for detection of the titers by Karber method;Three batches of virus harvest solution equilibrated overnight at 2 ～ 8 ℃ were inactivated by adding β-propiolactone at a volume fraction of 1∶4 000 and detected for the titers at different inactivation time points(0,0.5,1,1.5,2,3,4,8,16 and 24 h),of which samples inactivated for 8,16 and 24 h were taken for inactivation verification,and samples inactivated for 24 h were observed by transmission electron microscope.Results The titers of SARS-CoV-2 decreased with the prolongation of storage time at 2 ～8 ℃,which showed no obvious decrease during 0 ～ 3 d,while decreased from the initial 7.75,6 and 7.5 lgCCID_(50)/mL to5.75,4.625 and 6.25 lgCCID_(50)/mL on day 12,indicating that the virus activity showed a gradual decrease trend at 2 ～8 ℃；With the inactivation time,the virus titer decreased continuously and could not be detected after inactivation for 3 h.Transmission electron microscope observation showed that the inactivated virus particles were intact and the spike protein was evenly distributed.Conclusion The virulence of SARS-CoV-2 stored at 2 ～ 8 ℃ was unstable,so the subsequent inactivation and purification process should be carried out as soon as possible;The titer of virus could not be detected after3 h of inactivation,which provided a reference for the determination of the inactivation process.

Objective To discuss the molecular mechanism of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in tumor and to assess its value to identify pathologic type and cancer staging in patients with earlystage nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods Forty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma of early-stage,including 12 cases with T1 stage and 28 cases with T2 stage, underwent FDG PET imaging.The maximum standardized uptake value ( SUVmax ) and mean standardized uptake value ( SUVmean ) of FDG uptake of each patient were measured and compared between T1 and T2 stage by t-test.The expression of glucose transport protein 1 ( Glut1 ) and hexokinase- Ⅱ ( HK- Ⅱ ) of each case was measured in paraffin sections by streptavidin-perosidase (SP) immunohistochemistry.The positive expression rate of Glut1 and HK- Ⅱ was calculated and compared between T1 and T2 by x2 test.Meanwhile, the correlation between the expression of Glut1 or HK-Ⅱ and the SUVmax was tested by Pearson analysis.Results The SUVmax and SUVmean in 40 patients were 9.45 ± 1.87 and 6.04 ± 1.09, respectively.The SUVmax of patients with T1 stage (8.95 ± 1.91 ) was significantly lower (t =4.46, P＜0.001 ) than that of patients with T2 stage (11.55 ± 1.70), and the SUVmean of patients with T1 stage (5.61 ± 1.08) was significantly lower ( t = 6.76, P ＜ 0.001 ) than that of patients with T2 stage (7.98 ± 1.10) too.Among 40 patients, all patients showed positive expression of Glut1 and HK-Ⅱ , and the positive expression rate of Glut1 and HK-Ⅱ was ( 45.2 ± 10.9 )% and ( 68.3 ±9.5)%, respectively.The positive expression rate of Glut1 was (38.4 ±8.1)% in T1 stage and (49.7 ±12.6)% in T2 stage, which displayed no difference (x2 =40.58, P＞0.05), but the HK-Ⅱ positive expression rate showed significant difference (x2 =58.71, P＜0.05) between T1 stage (60.1 ±11.1)% and T2 stage (77.9 ± 14.7 )%.The correlation analysis indicated that there was low-degree positive correlation (r =0.369, P=0.019) between the SUVmax and Glut1 expression, and there was medium-degree positive correlation (r = 0.549, P = 0.001 ) between the SUVmax and HK-Ⅱ expression.Conclusion Expression of Glut1 and HK-Ⅱ was positively correlated with FDG uptake in patients with early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo study on the effect and mechanism of curcumin on inhibiting injury induced by free radical in pulmonary fibrosis.

METHODOne hundred and forty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (24 rats in each group). Rats in the model control group, positive medicine group, and high, moderate and low curcumin groups were injected with a single dose of bleomycin by trachea, and rats in sham-model control group with same volume normal saline. One day after the injection, curcumin solution of different dosages (200,100,50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) was respectively given to rats in the high, moderate and low curcumin group by daily gastrogavage, while equal volume of normal saline was given to those in the sham-model control group and model control group, and an equal volume of prednisone (0.56 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) was saline was given to those in positive medicine control group. On the 7, 14, 28 days, the contents of GSH-Px, SOD, MDA and iNOS in pulmonary tissues of different groups were measured.

RESULTCurcumin can raise the content of SOD and GSH-Px and lessen the level of MDA and iNOS.

CONCLUSIONCurcumin can regulate the level of free radical in the body of rats with pulmonary fibrosis and lessen the oxidative injury of pulmonary tissues caused by free radical, in the body of rats with pulmonary fibrosis. The mechanisms of curcumin on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lie in adjusting the level of free radical and inhibiting the injury of lung tissue induced by free radical.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Bleomycin ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Curcumin ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDWith the significant improvement in the survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) undergoing radiotherapy and the growing availability of the sophisticated imaging modalities, the number of radiation encephalopathy (RE) cases relating to NPC radiotherapy is increasing. In this study, we investigated the metabolic and density changes of the compromised brain tissues during delayed RE using a positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) to provide clinical evidences for the diagnosis of delayed RE following radiotherapy for NPC.

METHODSThe PET/CT manifestations and the clinical data of 53 pathologically confirmed NPC patients with delayed RE following radical radiotherapy and 15 healthy volunteers were investigated. The standardized uptake values (SUV) of the bilateral temporal lobes, the occipital lobe and the brain stem were measured respectively; and then the metabolic reduction rate of 88 temporal lobes and 13 brain stems were calculated for a statistical comparison between the two groups.

RESULTSThe earliest case of delayed RE in the investigated patients occurred 1.5 years after radiotherapy. Delayed RE frequently involved the inferior temporal lobe. For patients with delayed RE confirmed by clinical symptoms and imaging findings, PET maintained a 100% coincidence rate with CT; however, in the 25 temporal lobes of the 35 delayed RE patients, PET revealed obvious hypometabolic changes whereas CT displayed normal density. The incidence of brain stem metabolic reductions was 24.5% (13/53) in the investigated patients, including 4 patients with hypometabolic changes shown by PET and negative finding shown by CT. The incidence of granuloma adjacent to the hypometabolic region in the temporal lobe was 12.5% (11/88).

CONCLUSIONDelayed RE patients exhibit significant hypometabolic changes in the inferior temporal lobe, captured by PET much earlier than by CT. PET/CT offers a valuable means for the diagnosis of delayed RE in subacute stages and granuloma formation.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; radiation effects ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This paper was aimed to study the effect of genistein (GST) on L-type calcium current (I(Ca,L)) in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes using whole cell patch-clamp recording technique. The results are as follows. (1) GST (10, 50, 100 micromol/L) reduced the voltage-activated peak amplitude of I(Ca,L) in a concentration-dependent manner. Daidzein (100 micromol/L), a structural analogue of GST which has little or no inhibitory effect on tyrosine kinase, produced no effect over the same concentration range on I(Ca,L) (n=5, P>0.05). (2) GST up- shifted the current-voltage (I-V) curve, but the characteristics of I-V relationship were not significantly altered, and the maximal activation voltage of I(Ca,L) was not different from that of control. GST did not affect the activation kinetics of I(Ca,L). (3) GST markedly shifted the steady-state inactivation curve of I(Ca,L) to the left, and accelerated the voltage-dependent steady-state inactivation of I(Ca,L). V(0.5) value was -28.6 +/-0.6 mV in the control and -32.8 +/-1.1 mV in the presence of GST. The kappa values were 5.8 +/-0.5 mV and 6.5 +/-0.9 mV, respectively (n=6, P<0.05). (4) GST markedly shifted the curve of time-dependent recovery of I(Ca,L) from the steady-state inactivation to the right, and slowed down the recovery of I(Ca,L) from inactivation (n=7, P<0.01). (5) Sodium orthovanadate (1 mmol/L), a potent inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatase, significantly inhibited GST-induced inhibition (n=6, P<0.01). From the results obtained it is concluded that genistein inhibits I(Ca,L) and acts on the inactivated state of L-type calcium channel. This inhibitory effect of GST involves protein tyrosine kinase inhibition in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.
Animals ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; drug effects ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors