Objective p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a crossing center of various pathways. In this study, protein transduction system based on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 transactivator of transcription (TAT), which is an efficient delivery peptide of the foreign proteins into cells, was employed to study p38 MAPK functions in eukaryotic cells. Methods p38 And its dominant negative form, p38AF, were constructed into pET-His-TAT vector correctly to verify that the recombinant plasmids were well-founded through restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. The two proteins, His-TAT-p38 and His-TAT-p38AF, were expressed and purified in Escherichia coli by SDS-PAGE. Then they were incubated with ECV304 cells respectively and readily transduced into cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. The cells were stimulated by sorbitol. Activating transcription factor (ATF) 2 phosphorylation level was checked using Western blot to assess the activity of endogenous p38. Results Compared with controls, it was found that His-TAT-p38 increased the level ofATF2 phosphorylation in sorbitol-stimulated ECV304 cells, while His-TAT-p38AF inhibited it, indicating p38 MAPK protein delivery system based on TAT was constructed successfully. TAT-p38 and its dominant negative form possessed high biological activity after transduction into ECV304 cells by TAT protein delivery system. The results showed that p38AF fused with TAT could inhibit the transduction of endogenous p38 signal pathway in part, and other pathway might regulate p38 phosphorylation. Conclusions Our study provides a novel pathway to inhibit p38 signal pathway and establish a new method to study p38 function.

Objective To evaluate the preoperative diagnosis and treatment of primary non-specific ureteritis,and to better understand this disease.Methods Three cases of primary non-specific ureteritis (1 man and 2 women)were reported.Their age was 28,38,68 years,respectively.One ease was found to have hydronephrosis on B-ultrasound at physical examination with no symptoms,and 2 had abdominal pain. The lesions were detected in lower part of the ureter in 2 cases,and in middle in I.The patients were diag- nosed preoperatively with combined use of MRU and ureteroscopy.Partial resection of the diseased part of the ureter was performed in all the cases.Results Pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of non-spe- cific ureteritis.Microscopy showed necrotic tissue and inflammatory cell infiltration of ureteral mucosa,dilated and congested blood vessels,hypertrophic muscular layer,and proliferation of fibrous tissue.During the fol- low-up of 2 years,the patients had no symptoms and were free from hydronephrosis.Conclusions The eti- ology of primary non-specific ureteritis is unclear,and no typical symptoms can be found clinically.Combined use of MRU and ureteroscopy is helpful for definite diagnosis of the disease.Partial resection of the diseased part of the ureter has good results.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles and their association with the expressions of aquaporins (AQP) in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles of castrated rats.

METHODSWe randomly divided 18 eight-week-old male SD rats into a control, a castration, and a testosterone (T) replacement group. Four weeks after surgical castration, we detected the plasma T level and measured the volumes of the secretions and the expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the rats.

RESULTSThe plasma T level was significantly lower in the castrated models ([30. 98 ± 28. 84] ng/dl) than in the rats of the control ([700.78 ± 123.8] ng/dl) and T replacement groups ([688.08 ± 132. 47] ng/dl) (P <0. 05). The castration group, in comparison with the control and T replacement groups, showed remarkably reduced ratios of prostatic secretion volume / prostate weight ([11.1 ± 0.30] vs [2.32 ± 0.61] and [2.13 ± 0.56] %, P <0. 05) and seminal vesicle secretion volume / seminal vesicle weight ( [4. 78 ± 1. 97 ] vs [57. 36 ± 11. 86] and [55. 74 ± 7. 21] %, P < 0. 05). Immunohistochemistry revealed the expressions of AQPs 3 and 7 in the epithelial envelop and cytoplasm and that of AQP 11 the in endothelial envelop and cytoplasm of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Western blot exhibited significantly lower expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the castrated rats than in the animals of the control and T replacement groups (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSignificant decreases of the secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles may be related to the reduced expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles in castrated rats.

Animals ; Aquaporins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective To explore the relationship between the inflammatory reaction and insulin function in children with critically ill.Me-thods Ninty-six children with critical disease in Oct.2003 to Oct.2006 were enrolled in the study.Blood sugar,plasma insulin,C-peptide,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-?,C reactive protein(CRP)were measured in the peak period and convalescence.Results Blood sugar and plasma levels of insulin,C-peptide,TNF-?,CRP were significantly higher in the peak period than those in the convalescence(Pa

Objective To discuss the value of 16-slice spiral CT urography in clinical diagnosis.Methods To compare the images between CR excretory urography,CT and MPR,which are the results of 26 cases who were examined by both CR and 16-slice spiral CT urography.Results From the comparison,it is found that the spiral CT urography images are better than that of the CR excertory urography,and at the same time,the relationship between the parenchyma of the renal,renal pelvis,ureter,bladder and the urinary organs and adjacent structures can be demonstrated clearly.Conclusion The scanning time of the spiral CT is shorter.The machine can not only reconstruct powerfully but also work out better images,and the result is better than CR excretory urography which can not detect some details in its images.Therefore CR excretory urogaphy can be replaced by 16-slice spiral CT urography regardless of its cost.

Background The visual system of animal have to optimally adjust in various environmental conditions in order to obtain stable and effective visual funetion.However,the color vision system of animals which encounter uncertainty of spectral signals should be plastic.Whether the densities of various cones and expression of opsins change with long-time spectral deprivation is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the changes of cone density as well as the expression of corresponding opsin and mRNA following the long-term illumination of monochromatic light.Methods Thirty 3-day-old guinea pigs were randomized into 3 groups and exposed tO the 530 nm green light,400 nm purple light and white light for consecutive 8 weeks respectively.The flat-mounted retinal sample was prepared and divided into dorsal zone,ventral zone and mixed zone anatomically according to the distribution of difierent light-sensitive cone.The changes in density of cone cells sensitivited to different colored light were detected by single-1abel or double-label immunocytochemistry.The levels of opsin and its mRNA were determined using Western-blot and real-time PCR respectively.Results The density of green-sensitivity cones was significantly different in the dorsal zone of retina among green light group,purple light group and white light group (F=234.28,P<0.01).Compared with white light group,the density of green-sensitive cones in dorsal retina of green light group was obviously higher but that of purple light group wag evidently lower(q=389.68,P<0.01；q=67.11,P<0.01).No significant difference was found in the density of purple-sensitive cones in the ventral zone of retina among green light group,purple light group and white light group(F=3.14,P>0.05).The density of coexpression of the mixed cone cells was increased in green light group(q=157.55,P<0.01)but decreased in purple light roup (q=254.85,P<0.01)in comparison with white light group.The expression levels of green-opsin and green-opsin mRNA in green light group was significantly elevated(q=184.45,P<0.01；q=4.71,P<0.05),but those of purple light group were evidently declined(q=5.87,P<0.05；q=346.66,P<0.01)in comparison with white light group.There was no statistically significant differences were found in the expression of purple-opsin and its mRNA among all the groups(F=1.24,P>0.05；F=3.27,P>0.05).Conclusion After the exposure of long-time monochromatic light illumination,monochromatic cones density and its opsin in guinea pig occur the corresponding alteration to gain good spatial vision as a compensatory reaction.These outcomes imply that there is some plasticity during the development of color vision.The increase of green-sensitive cones might be from the differentiation of coexpression cones in transition region.

0.05).At different time points after ischemia-reperfusion,the expression of cytochrome C and activation of caspase-3 were lower in the transgen mice than that in the wild type rats.Conclusions Under standard condition,overexpression of bcl-xl could significantly reduce the infarct area and improve neurological function in transgene mice than those in the wild type rats.The effect of overexpression of bcl-xl might be realized through inhibiting the apoptosis of neuron,and the mechanism might be that the overexpression of bcl-xl inhibit the release of cytochrome C and the activation of caspase-3.

To discuss the effect of environmental factors and photosynthesis on the growing of plant and the content of active components in Scutellaria baicalensis, the photosynthetic physiology index and diurnal changes of flavonoid constituent of S. Baicalensis were observed and tested in flowering and fruiting stages, and in the meantime environmental parameters were recorded. The obtained data were analyzed data by using path analysis and gray correlation analysis. The results showed that PAR and SWC were important environmental factors impacting on photosynthesis of S. baicalensis. SWC, RH and Ca were important environmental factors impacting on baicalin content. PAR, Po and Ta were important environmental factors impacting on baicalein content.
Environment ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism

Animals ; Cochlea ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; Male ; Mitochondria ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo develop a new method for the determination of cholesteryl palmitate in Oviductus Ranae.

METHODA HPLC method was set up, using Zorbax Silica column and cyclohexane-diethyl ether (40:1) as mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1), and the UV detection wavelength was 203 nm.

RESULTThe calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.60-8.92 microg (r = 0.9997), the average recovery of the method was 98.4%. RSD 1.8% (n = 6).

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that method was reliable and accurate.

Animals ; Cholesterol Esters ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Female ; Materia Medica ; analysis ; chemistry ; Oviducts ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rana temporaria