PPAR ? is one of the three isoforms of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) which are essential regulators of lipid storage and metabolism. PPAR ? primarily stimulats lipid metabolism and energy uncoupling in adipocytes and myocytes as well as involvs in the onset and development of many diseases. As the target of medicines, PPAR ? agonists may be powerful drugs for epidermal wound and metabolic syndrome X.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs)are ligand-activated nuclear tran-scription factors,playing an important role in the regulation of glucose and lipids metabolism,inflamma-tion response,proliferation and differentiation.Some drugs targeted on PPARs,such as lipid-lowering and antidiabetic drugs have been developed.Some PPAR agonists were found carcinogenic in animal experi ments,including PPAR αagonist fibrates,PPARγagonist thiazolidinediones,PPARα/γdual ago-nist compounds,and PPARδagonist compounds for clinical development.PPARαagonist carcinogenicity is associated with PPAR receptor activation that regulates lipid metabolis m,and leads to lipids abnormali-ties and increase by peroxisome oxidase in reactive oxygen species (ROS),causing DNA damage. Kupffer cells can generate ROS by NAD PH oxidase that pro motes hepatocyte proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis.PPARγagonist carcinogenicity is generally caused by bladder stone.The carcinogenicity of PPAR agonists to humans has not been confirmed,but the carcinogenic potential of these drugs can-not be ignored.

, 15min),the clearance of reticuloendothelial system (RES) of mice on iv charcoal particles were decreased apparently; serum hemolysin concentration were diminished notably; delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction induced by sheep red blood cell (SRBC) were inhibited obviously. Ginseng root saponins (GRS) 50, 100 mg ??? kg-1ip at 15min before the heat-stressprotected the immunity of mice from inhibitory effects induced by the heat-stressor. The suppression of the clearance of RES on charcoal particles,serum hemolysin concentration as well as DTH reaction induced by SRBC were all abolished by GRS.

The peripheral blood T- lymphocyte percentage, lympocyte percentage in white blood cell (WBC) of mice in heat environment (45C, 15 min) were diminished, and serum corticosterone increased. Ginseng root saponins (GRS) 50, 100 mg/kg were administered ip at 15 min before the heat-stress, the suppression of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte percentage were prevented, but could not inhibit the increase ofserum corticosterone. GRS 50mg?kg-1ip could inhibit the redution of peripheral lymphocyte percentage. GRS 50mg?kg-1 ,reserpine 0.5mg? kg-1or physostigmine salicylate 0.3 mg?kg-1ip abolished the inhibiting effect of heat-stress on DTH reaction in mice.

Objective To study the antidepressant effect of total timosaponin(TT)and its mechanism.Methods The antidepressant effect of TT was examined by mice forced swimming test(FST),learned helplessness(LH)experiment,chronic mild stress(CMS)model,yohimbine induced lethality test and 5-HTP induced head-twitches test.Results TT(25 or 50 mg?kg-1,ig,qd?14 d)markedly shortened the immobility time in the FST,but didn't affect the autonomic activity.TT(12.5,25 or 50 mg?kg-1,ig,qd?14 d)significantly decreased the number of escape deficits in the LH mice.TT(25 or 50 mg?kg-1,ig,qd?21 d)markedly enhanced the locomotor activity and increased consumption of sucrose solution in CMS mice.TT(50 mg?kg-1,ig,qd?14 d)enhanced the mortality of mice after administration of yohimbine for 4 h,and distinctly increased the head-twitch number in the 5-HTP induced head-twitches test.Conclusion TT has antidepressant effects in various depression mouse models.Its mechanism may be related to the reinforcement of NE and 5-HT nerves system.

Aim To study the mechanisms of N-demethyl-clarithromycin-induced apoptosis in human cervical cancer cell line HeLa. Methods MTT, photomicroscopical observation, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, LDH release and Western blot were used for apoptosis assay. Results N-demethyl-clarithromycin inhibited growth of HeLa in a time-dependent manner. Apoptotic bodies were found with Hoechst 33258 staining after treatment with 60 ?mol?L-1 N-demethyl-clarithromycin. DNA fragmentation was observed in N-demethyl-clarithromycin treated HeLa cells. The Akt inhibitor and the ERK inhibitor (PD98059) increased cell death. The expression of anti-apoptotic protein Akt, phosphorylated-Akt, ERK and phosphorylated-ERK decreased. Conclusion N-demethyl-clarithromycin induces HeLa apoptosis through Akt and ERK expression and phosphorylation.

Objective:Clonidine,by activating peripheral α-sbrenoceptors, produces transient pressor response after i.v.injection in anesthetized animals.Moxonidine, with at least 40-fold higher affinity to I1-imidazoline receptors than to α2-adrenoceptors,produces also a transient pressor response. This work was designed to investigate whether I1-imidazoline receptors are involved in this pressor effect of moxonidine. Methods:Female spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs,aged 14-16 weeks)were anesthetized with urethane.To observe the transient pressor responses,moxonidine 0.1,0.3,1.0mg/kg(intravenous,i.v),2.0μg(intracerebroventricular,i.c.v.)and 1.0,10.0mg/kg(intragastric,i.g.)were administrated in different groups of rats.To evaluate the roles of α1-adrenoceptors,α2-adrenoceptors and I1-imidazoline receptors in the transient pressor responses to moxonidine, prazosin(10.0μg/kg),yohimbine(2.0mg/kg),phentolamine(0.2mg/kg),idazoxan(1.0mg/kg)or yohimbine+idazoxan(2.0mg/kg+1.0mg/kg)were intravenously given to the animals before moxonidine 0.3mg/kg (i.v.).Results:It was found that i.v.moxonidine produced a greater pressor response than clonidine when producing a similar reduction of blood pressure.This effect of moxonidine was not influenced by prazosin, but was partly inhibited by yohimbine, phentolamine or idazoxan,and completely blocked by the combination of yohimbine and idzaxon.Neither i.c.v.injection nor i.g. administration of moxonidine induced transient pressor responses.Conclusion:The transient pressor response of i.v. moxonidine is mediated by both peripheral I1-imidazoline receptors and α2-adrenoceptors.

Objective To assess the role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Peripheral blood from 45 RA patients and 28 healthy individuals (HV)were collected to detect RF and hs-CRP by immuno-turbidimetry,ESR by westergren method and MMP-9 by ELISA.The correlation was analysed between MMP-9 and RF, ESR or hs-CRP,respectively,by pearson correlation analysis.Results Levels of RF,ESR,hs-CRP and MMP-9 were signifi-cantly higher in RA patients than HV group (t=3.93~5.96,P<0.001),respectively.RF high titer patients or patients with a high inflammation response showed a higher MMP-9 levels than the RF low titer or slight inflammation patients (P<0.05).MMP-9 was positively correlated to RF,ESR and hs-CRP in RA patients(P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion MMP-9 maybe a sensitive tool in the diagnosis and management of RA patients.

0.1 ?mol?L-1), inducing differentiation through enhancement of melanogenesis and increase of the activity of tyrosinase at lower doses(