OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tetramethyl pyrazine (TMP) on the cytokines and inflammatory mediators in the serum and the synovial fluid of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA)rats, and further to investigate its possible mechanisms for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSType II CIA rat model was established. Rats in the TMP group were administered with TMP at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, once daily. Dexamethasone at 2.0 mg/kg was intramuscularly injected to those in the Dexamethasone treated group, once daily. Normal saline at 2 mL/kg was given to those in the normal control group and the model group, once daily. All medication was started from the 7th day, lasting to the 35th day. CIA rats' foot swelling degree was observed. Contents of serum IL-1, IL-6, IL-2, NO and PGE2in the synovial fluid were detected by radioimmunoassay and nitrate reduction method.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the foot swelling obviously increased, contents of NO and PGE2 in the synovial fluid were obviously elevated in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the foot swelling could be obviously inhibited by 100 mg/kg TMP and Dexamethasone; serum levels of IL-1 and IL-6 obviously decreased, serum IL-2 level obviously increased, contents of NO and PGE, decreased (P < 0.01). TMP 50 mg/kg could obviously inhibit the foot swelling of CIA rats (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in other indices (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTMP at 100 mg/kg showed obvious inhibition on CIA rats. Its inhibitory effect might be correlated to inhibiting activities of endogenous cytokines and the generation of inflammatory mediators in inflammation local regions, improving contents of anti-inflammation cytokines, and inducing the balance of the inflammatory cytokine network.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; blood ; metabolism ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Female ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism

Objective: To describe the differences of plasma folate concentration and prevalence of folate deficiency in genders and ages in Chinese adults aged 35 to 64 years. Methods: By cross-sectional analysis, plasma folate concentration was measured in 2 545 adults including men and women by microbiological assay. Results: (1) Men tended to have lower plasma folate concentration and higher prevalence of folate deficiency(9.70 nmol/L, 31.0%) than did women(14.2 nmol/L, 12.5%, P=0.001). (2) Men in South have significantly higher plasma folate concentration and lower prevalence of folate deficiency than in North. The difference of plasma folate concentration was not evident between urban and rural area, but evident in North between in winter and spring. There were no significant differences of prevalence of folate deficiency for men between urban and rural areas in both regions. For women, the differences of plasma folate concentration in areas were significant, which were higher in South and urban, and lower in North and rural areas. (3) Plasma folate concentration increased with age in Southern men. A similar trend for others was not significant. Conclusion: Men have lower plasma folate concentration and higher prevalence of plasma folate deficiency than do women. The distribution of plasma folate concentrations in urban and rural areas seems different between men and women.

Colon ; pathology ; Colonic Polyps ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Animals ; Heart Function Tests ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; methods ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Animals ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To standardize the method of microbiological examination on Shegan Mixture in Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015. Methods Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015 was used. Microbial enumeration test and specified microorganisms test were used to verify Shegan Mixture. The samples were treated by membrane filtration. Six kinds of strains for microbiological counting and limiting bacteria were used to study applicability. Results Microbial counts of the five strains of the recovery ratio were between 0.5 to 2, and Escherichia coli tested by control bacteria was qualified. Conclusion The microbiological examination methods for Shegan Mixture can meet the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015.

Objective: To describe the distribution of plasma vitamin B12 concentration in Chinese adults aged 35 to 64 years.Methods:Cross-sectional analysis was empolyed.Plasma vitamin B12 concentration was measured in 2 459 adults sampled from the representative urban and rural areas in the South and North of China.Results:Adjusted plasma vitamin B12 concentration was significantly higher (260 pmol/L) in the Southerners than in the Northerners (189 pmol/L).There were different patterns of seasonal changes of plasma vitamin B12 concentration between South and North.Plasma vitamin B12 concenration was higher during the summer and autumn (269 pmol/L)than during the winter and spring (252 pmol/L) in the South.However,the concentration was lower during the summer and autumn (177 pmol/L) than during the winter and spring (200 pmol/L) in the North.Women tended to have higher plasma vitamin B12 concentration than men.There were 5.5 percent of the participants whose plasma vitamin B12 concentration was lower than 110 mol/L.Conclusion:Significant regional and gender differences in plasma vitamin B12 concentration were observed in Chinese adults.The seasonal changes between the South and North were different.

Objective To assess the characteristic of left ventricular(LV) twist changed from infancy to the elder,in order to determine the normal value of LV twist in different age group.Methods After acquired basal and apical LV short-axis images in 293 healthy volunteers (aged 15 days to 72 years) by 2-dimensional echocardiography, speckle tracking echocardiography was used to analysis LV twist motion offline.The peak apical rotation (PAr), peak basal rotation (PBr), peak LV twist (Ptw), peak LV twist normalized by LV length ( PtwN), peak untwisting velocity ( PutwV), isovolumic untwisting% ( Iutw% ) in different group were compared.Results Reliable LV twist measurements were obtained in 274 volunteers.Different LV twist values were noted according to age.Ptw increased gradually with advancing age, when normalized by LV length, PtwN showed higher values before 3 years old and 25 to 45 years old.PutwV increased with aging from infancy to 25 years old, and leveled off from 25 to 45 years old, then decreased with advancing age.Iutw% was lowest before 3 years old,and increased gradually from 25 to 45 years old,then decreased with aging.Conclusions speckle tracking echocardiography can be used to noninvasively and exactly assess LV twist with high feasibility.The effect of aging on LV twist may reflect the process of maturational and adaptive modulation of LV torsional biomechanics from infancy to the elder.

Objective To study the change and the significance of T-lymphocyte immune function in peripheral blood in population living in arsenic-contaminated area. Methods Fifty-three cases of patients with arsenism symptoms were selected into experimental group, inhabitants who had no chronic arsenism symptoms into control group in the endemic area of Shuocheng District, Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province in 2006. Vein blood samples were taken and analyzed with SAP assay to measure the percentage of CD3+ ,CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Results It was found that the percentage of CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ [(41.89 ± 11.58)%, (25.60 ± 9.05)% and 1.02 ± 0.41] in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group [(68.38 ± 7.23)%, (39.17± 4.28)% ,1.69 ± 0.56, t = 13.61,18.72,14.79, all P < 0.05], while there was no statistical differences of CD8+ [(25.30 ± 6.85)%] compared to the control group[(23.54 ± 8.35)%,t = 3.07,P > 0.05]. The gender-related effect of arsenic on CD4+ and CD8+ was found by multiple linear step regression analysis(t = - 3.05, - 4.30, all P < 0.05). In case group, there were no statistical differences in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+[(40.65±10.06)%, (24.48 ± 6.29)%, (24.52 ± 8.16)%,0.98 ± 0.25] between males and females [(43.07±12.96)%, (26.77±3.12)%, (26.50 ±9.32)%, 1.07 ±0.41, t = - 0.76,3.05,0.30,2.10, all P > 0.05]. Conclusions The immune function of T-lymphocytes of patients with chronic arsenism has been suppressed. It is of active significance to detect T-lymphocyte subpopulation in peripheral vein in patients with chronic arsenism aiming at estimating the function of cell immune and providing early diagnosis index.

Objective To explore the DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats exposed to sodium arsenite. Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats, weighing 180 - 200 g, equal male and female, were randomly divided into 4 groups, 8 in each group. Sodium arsenite 0(control) ,0.05,0.15,0.45 mg/L were given through drinking water for 30 days. Body weight and drinking water consumption were measured every day. Blood were collected and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes was examined by single cell gel electrophoresis.Results The increase of body mass[( 121.00 ± 38.57), ( 120.62 ± 42.80), ( 125.38 ± 48.68)g]and water intake [(36.9 ± 6.2), (37.9 ± 5.8), (39.3 ± 4.2)ml/d]in 0.05,0.15,0.45 mg/L sodium arsenite groups were compared with the control group[( 119.25 ± 47.27)g, (38.4 ± 5.1 )ml/d], and the difference were not significant (F = 0.040,0.828, all P ＞ 0.05). The tail ratios[46.25%(185/400) ,57.00%(228/400),64.00%(256/400)], tail lengths [(32.89 ± 17.18), (58.74 ± 36.28), (77.55 ± 35.73 ) μm]and tail moments [(6.29 ± 3.74), ( 11.20 ± 9.64),(17.30 ± 12.60)μm]in 0.05,0.15,0.45 mg/L sodium arsenite groups were significantly higher than those of the control group[39.25%(157/400), (18.73 ± 15.83),(2.61 ± 1.05)μm, all P ＜ 0.01], and the tail ratios,tail lengths and tail moments in lymphocytes increased with increased doses of arsenic concentration. Conclusions Low doses of arsenic exposure can induce DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats.