Venous thromboembolism, which is a common thrombotic disease, is prone to become a fatal pulmonary embolism due to the lack of existing treatments.Although the anticoagulant drugs are widely used, the disease relapses easily.In recent years, there are much progress in the formation of venous thrombosis and diagnosis, and antiplatelet agents may play a certain role in the prevention of venous thrombosis.These new developments provide a new train of thought that platelets play as a breakthrough to find more effective treatments.This article summarizes the progress in the diagnosis of venous thrombosis on platelets in recent years, which discusses whether antiplatelet strategies could be applied in venous thrombosis so as to provide reference for further research.

Infection diseases induced by bacteria continue to be one of the greatest health problems worldwide. In this framework, nanotechnology-based solutions, and in particular silver nanoparticles ( AgNPs) , have recently emerged as promising candidates in the market as new antibacterial agents because of the enhanced broad-range antibacterial/antiviral properties and low cost.Here we analyze the experimental conclusions on the bactericidal effects of AgNPs, and discuss the safety issues.

AIMTo investigate the role of serine/threonine protein phosphatases in regulation of cell signal transduction on voltage-dependent sodium channels in rat trigeminal ganglion (TRG) neurons. METHODSWhole-cell patch clamp techniques were used to record the total sodium current (INa-T) and the tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium current (INa-TTX-R) before and after okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of the serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, perfusion on adult rat TRG neurons. RESULTS1μmol*L-1 okadaic acid inhibited INa-T by (20±13)% (n=9, P<0.05) and INa-TTX-R by (4±3)% (n=6, P<0.05), respectively. The inhibition on INa-T was significantly greater than that on INa-TTX-R (P<0.05). Furthermore, 1μmol*L-1 okadaic acid produced significant 3-4 mV hyperpolarizing shifts in the conductance-voltage curves of INa-T, while it had no effect on that of INa-TTX-R. CONCLUSIONThe serine/threonine protein phosphatases take part in the regulation of total and TTX-R sodium channels on rat TRG neurons. In addition, small-diameter TRG neurons express various voltage-gated sodium channel with different sensitivity to okadaic acid.

Objective To explore the effects of simvastatin on the protein expressions of urokinase-typeplasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Methods Male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into saline group , LPS group and LPS plus simvastatin group , and were then pretreated with simvastatin (1 mg/kg) for 30 minutes before addition of LPS (8 mg/kg). Changes in left ventricular pressure were recorded. Ninety minutes after LPS injection, whole blood was collected from the inferior vena cava, and neutrophils were separated. The neutrophils were then lysed to detect levels of uPA and PAI-1. Results Left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP: mmHg), maximal differential of left ventricular pressure (+dp/dtmax:mmHg/s), and heart rate (beats/min) were markedly decreased at different time points after administration of LPS, and maximal differential of left ventricular pressure increased in the rats receiving LPS as compared with those receiving saline, although the differences between the control and LPS groups were not statistically significant. LPS caused a great decline in uPA content and an elevation in PAI-1 content in neutrophils, but simvastatin diminished the impact of LPS on neutrophils. Conclusion Simvastatin plays a role in protection of cardiac function in rats with LPS-induced septic shock , and controls expressions of uPA and PAI-1 in neutrophils.

In order to further investigate the mechanisms of action of berberine (Ber), we assessed the effects of Ber on the mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in rat corpus cavernosum. After incubation with Ber for 1 or 3 h respectively, the levels of NOS mRNA were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results showed that there were iNOS and eNOS mRNA expressions in rat corpus cavernosum. Ber enhanced eNOS mRNA expression in rat penis, but exhibited no effect on the expression of iNOS mRNA (P > 0.05). The present study indicated that the relaxation of Ber involved the NO-cGMP signal transduction pathway. The enhancing effect of Ber on eNOS mRNA expression might associated with its relaxation of corpus cavernosum.
Berberine/*pharmacology ; Connective Tissue/physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/*biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I/biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I/genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/genetics ; Penile Erection/*physiology ; Penis/*metabolism ; Penis/physiology ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics

AIM To investigate the effects of serine/threonine protein phosphatases in regulation of cell signal transduction on voltage-gated potassium and calcium channels in cultured rat trigeminal ganglion (TRG) neurons. METHODS Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record the potassium and calcium currents from adult rat TRG neurons before and after perfusion of okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of the serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. RESULTS Okadaic acid 1 μmol·L-1 inhibited transient outwards potassium currents (IA) by 28.6%, increased delay rectified potassium currents (IK) and calcium currents (ICa) by 22.7% and 20.0%, respectively. okadaic acid 1 μmol·L-1 produced significant hyperpolarizing shifts in the conductance-voltage (G-V) curves and inactivation curves of IA , also produced significant hyperpolarizing shifts in the G-V curves of IK, while it had no effect on the activation and inactivation kinetics of ICa. CONCLUSION Serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A may be involved in the modulation of voltage-gated potassium and calcium channels on rat TRG neurons. In addition, voltage-gated potassium and calcium channels show different dependence on the dephosphorylation reactions of PP1 and PP2A phosphatases.

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of Longzhu ointment in the treatment of allergic contact dermatitis.Methods: Allergic contact dermatitis mouse model was induced by dinitrobenzene (DNFB) and the mice were randomly divided into the model group, matrix group, Longzhu ointment group and hydrocortisone butyrate group.0.5% DNFB was used for sensitization on abdomen of mice one and two days before the administration, and 0.2% DNFB was used on the right ears of mice after 6-day administration to establish mouse ACD model.A day after the excitation of dermatitis, the ear swelling degree was determined, the changes of histopathology was observed, and the immunohistochemical methods were performed to quantify the expression of TNF-γ and macrophage surface markers CD68 in the tissue samples.Results: The ear swelling degree in the group treated with Longzhu ointment was significantly reduced (P <0.01).Compared with the postive control group,the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).HE staining showed that tissue edema decreased obviously.The immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that the expression of INF-γ in Longzhu ointment group was obviously reduced.Under the microscope with magnification of 200 times, CD68 positive cells in Longzhu ointment group was significantly reduced than those in the model group(P＜0.01).The expression of CD68 positive cells in butyric acid hydrocortisone group was not significantly different from that in Longzhu Ointment group.Conclusion: Longzhu ointment can inhibit allergic contact dermatitis obviously, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of lymphocyte secretion INF-γ and the reduction of macrophage infiltration.

In order to further investigate the mechanisms of action of berberine (Ber), we assessed the effects of Ber on the mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in rat corpus cavernosum. After incubation with Ber for 1 or 3 h respectively, the levels of NOS mRNA were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results showed that there were iNOS and eNOS mRNA expressions in rat corpus cavernosum. Ber enhanced eNOS mRNA expression in rat penis, but exhibited no effect on the expression of iNOS mRNA (P＞0.05). The present study indicated that the relaxation of Ber involved the NO-cGMP signal thansduction pathway. The enhancing effect of Ber on eNOS mRNA expression might associated with its relaxation of corpus cavernosum.

To investigate the effects of WIN 55,212-2 on IK in cultured rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons, whole-cell patch clamp techniques were used to record the IK before and after WIN 55,212-2 perfusion at different concentrations. 30 μmol/L WIN 55,212-2 markedly (35.7 %±7.3%, P＜0. 01, n=8) inhibited IK currents, and the currents were partially recovered after washing.30μmol/L WIN 55,212-2 also induced a significant depolarizing shift in conductance-voltage parameters (control: V0.5 =10.43 ± 4.25 mV, k= 16.27±3.86; WIN 55,212-2: V0. 5 =24.71±3.91mV, k =16.69±2.75; n = 8, P＜0.01 for V0. 5). 0.01μmol/L WIN 55,212-2 slightly (27.0 %± 7.9 %, P＜0.05, n=7) increased IK currents, but had no significant change in conductance voltage parameters (control: V0.5 =10. 74±5. 27 mV, k=17. 33±2. 96; WIN 55,212-2: V0.5 =11.06±2.05 mV, k=19. 69±6. 60; n=7, P＞0.05 for V0.5 and k). These results suggested that WIN 55,212-2 has dual action, which might be through different receptors.