0.05).(3)The levels of CRH and DHEA-S in umbilical cord blood of PL(7.8?3.3)ng/L,and(514?295)?g/L,respectively and of TL (7.7?4.1)ng/L,and(483?207)?g/L,were higher than that in term not in labor(4.8?2.4)ng/L, and(360?80)?g/L,respectively(P 0.05).In PL,the level of CRH in umbilical cord blood and the expression of CRH mRNA in placentas and fetal membranes were correlated with each other(r=0.935 and 0.853,P

Objective To compare the effects of electroacupuncture at points Shangjuxu(ST37), Zusanli(ST36), Xiajuxu(ST39) and Yanglingquan(GB34) on colonic expressions of interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor a7 mRNA (nAchRa7mRNA) in ulcerative colitis rats and investigate if large intestine lower He-Sea point Shangjuxu has relative specificity to fu organ diseases. Method Seventy healthy SD rats were randomized into blank, model, Shangjuxu, Zusanli, Xiajuxu, Yanglingquan and Chengjin groups, 10 rats, half male and half female, each. A rat model of ulcerative colitis was made by induction of 2-4-6 three nitrobenzene sulfonic acid/ethanol solution enema in every group except the blank group. After successful model making and ten days of treatment, rat colonic mucosal ulcers and inflammation were observed macroscopically, colonic IL-1bcontent was measured by ELISA and the expression of nAchRa7mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. Result Compared with the model group, colonic lesions were reduced in varying degrees, colonic IL-1b content was significantly lower and the expression of nAchRa7mRNA was higher in every acupoint group (P<0.05, P<0.01);the colonic ulcer score was lower in the Shangjuxu and Zusanli groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the Shangjuxu group, colonic expression of nAchRa7mRNA was lower in the other four acupoint groups (P<0.01); colonic mucosal ulcers and inflammatory lesions were more severe and the colonic ulcer score and the IL-1bcontent were higher in the Xiajuxu, Yanglingquan and Chengjin groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion The mechanism of electroacupuncture treatment for ulcerative colitis may be that it regulates abnormal immunologic function by modulating IL-1b and nAchRa7mRNA and reduces mucosal lesions. The overall therapeutic effect of Shangjuxu is better than those of Zusanli, Xiajuxu, Yanglingquan and Chengjin, indicating that Shangjuxu has relative specificity to fu organ large intestine.

Objective To study the accuracy and the clinical significance of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.Methods A total of 90 patients with StageⅡorⅢbreast cancer and negative axillary node after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in the study.Mapping proce- dure and SLNB were performed using methylene blue injected at the site of the primary breast cancer,followed by the axillary lymph node dissection.Results The sentinel lymph node(SLN)was successfully identified in 82 out of 90 patients(91.1%).The number of sentinel harvested nodes ranged from 1 to 4(average 1.6).The accuracy of SLNB to predict the axillary lymph node status was 93.9 %(77/82),the sensitivity,positive predictive value,nega- tive predictive value and false negative rate were 87.5 %(40/45),100 %,88.1% and 11.1%(5/45),respectively. The SLN identification rate tended to be higher and false negative rate tended to be lower in patients with T2 prima- ry tumor before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Conclusion Our study indicated that SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with StageⅡorⅢbreast cancer had a similar effect as SLNB in non-neoadjuvant studies. SLNB was considered to be able to accurately predict the axillary lymph node status in patients with T2 primary tu- mor before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: To explore the mechanism of acupuncture in regulating cognitive deficits in insomnia rats by observing the effect of acupuncture on microglia in thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). Methods: Thirty rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an acupuncture group, with 10 rats in each group. The insomnia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) once a day for 2 d. Rats in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of normal saline. Rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 5 consecutive days. The CLOCKLAB 2 data acquisition system was used to dynamically observe the sleep of the rats throughout the experiment. The cognition of rats was evaluated by event-related potentials (ERPs). After intervention, brain tissue was extracted. Immunofluorescence was used to test the fluorescence expression in TRN region. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: After intraperitoneal injection of PCPA suspension, the spontaneous activity in light period of rats in the model group and acupuncture group increased significantly compared with the control group (both P<0.01). After acupuncture treatment, the rats in the acupuncture group had much less spontaneous activity during the light period than those in the model group (P<0.01), and the results indicated that acupuncture could effectively improve the sleep quality of insomnia rats. Compared with the control group, rats in the model group showed that the P3 latency, the average optical density of microglia, and the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α increased significantly (all P<0.05), and the P3 amplitude decreased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, rats in the acupuncture group presented that the P3 latency, the average optical density of microglia, and the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly decreased (all P<0.05), and the amplitude of P3 was significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture possesses an ability to improve the cognitive state in insomnia rats. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting the microglial activation, diminishing the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators like IL-1β and TNF-α, and promoting the recovery of central nervous system function.

Using NADPH-d histochemistry, the effect of NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 on the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord was investigated during inflammatory pain and hyperalgesia induced by injection of formalin into the right hind paw. The course of the change in the nitric oxide (NO) content of the lumber intumescence was observed by measuring the ratio of nitrate/nitrite (NO3/NO2) and also the end product of NO. The results showed that the NOS expression and NO contents significantly increased 24 h after formalin injection, which were substantially inhibited when MK-801 was intrathecally injected 15 min prior to formalin injection or 12 h after formalin injection. The results suggest that the increases in the expression of NOS and NO contents in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord are mediated by activation of NMDA receptors during pain and hyperalgesia after formalin injection.

Objective To evaluate the role of sclerostin in bone loss of postmenopausal Chinese women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods The postmenopausal patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus and age, body mass index, and duration of menopause matched healthy controls were enrolled into this cross-sectional study according to criteria of inclusion and exclusion. The serum sclerostin level and bone mineral density of the anterior-posterior lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck, and total hip were determined by using a quantitative sandwich ELISA kit and dual X-ray absorptiometry, respectively. Meanwhile, the clinical and laboratory indexes of bone mineral metabolism were analyzed. Associations between serum sclerostin level and bone mineral density as well as bone turnover markers were evaluated by linear regression analysis.
Results Finally, 265 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes and 225 non-diabetic women were recruited in the diabetic group and control group, respectively. Serum sclerostin level of the diabetic group was significantly higher than that of the control group (48.2±19.4 vs. 37.2±18.6 pmol/L, P<0.001) and was increased with age in both groups (diabetic group, r=0.374, P<0.001;control group, r=0.312, P<0.001). In type 2 diabetes patients, serum sclerostin concentration was positively correlated with hemoglobin A1c level (r=0.237; P=0.021). Biochemical bone turnover markers, intact parathyroid hormone and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, were negatively associated with serum sclerostin level (r=?0.138, P=0.078 and r=?0.265, P<0.001). Conversely, the positive correlation between sclerostin and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen was found in diabetic patients (r=0.354, P<0.001). Serum sclerostin levels of the diabetic group were positively correlated with bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip (r=0.324, 0.367, and 0.416, respectively;all P<0.001).
Conclusions Sclerostin might participate in the pathogenesis of bone loss of type 2 diabetes. The high sclerostin level might serve as a marker of increased osteocyte activity in postmenopausal patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective To investigate the potential role of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (NOD1), a component of the innate immune system, in mediating lipid-induced insulin resistance in adipocytes.
Methods Adipocytes from Toll-like receptor 4 deficiency mice were used for stimulation experiments. The effect of oleate/palmitate mixture on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation was analyzed by reporter plasmid assay. The release of proinflammatory chemokine/cytokines production was determined by using real-time PCR. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was measured by 2-deoxy-D-[3H] glucose uptake assay. Chemokine/cytokine expression and glucose uptake in adipocytes transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting NOD1 upon fatty acids treatment were analyzed.
Results Oleate/palmitate mixture activated the NF-κB pathway and induced interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA expressions in adipocytes from mice deficient in Toll-like receptor 4, and these effects were blocked by siRNA targeting NOD1. Furthermore, saturated fatty acids decreased the ability of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Importantly, siRNA targeting NOD1 partially reversed saturated fatty acid-induced suppression of insulin-induced glucose uptake.
Conclusion NOD1 might play an important role in saturated fatty acid-induced insulin resistance in adipocytes, suggesting a mechanism by which reduced NOD1 activity confers beneficial effects on insulin action.

To investigate the effect of peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) on the reactivity of rabbit pulmonary artery, the responses of rabbit pulmonary artery rings (PARs) pre-incubated with ONOO(-) to endothelium-dependent and receptor-dependent relaxants ACh and ADP, endothelium-dependent and receptor-independent relaxant calcium ionophore A23187, endothelium-independent relaxant sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and alpha(1)-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) were observed in vitro in an accumulative manner. (1) Relaxations of PARs to ACh, calcium ionophore A23187 and ADP were markedly impaired with shift of accumulative dose-response curve of each agonist to the right. Inhibition of endothelium-dependent and receptor-dependent or independent relaxation by ONOO(-) was dose-dependent. (2) ONOO(-) incubation inhibited SNP-induced relaxation in a dose-dependent manner. (3) Contractile response of PARs to PE varied with the different doses of ONOO(-). In PARs pre-incubated with 0.5 mmol/L ONOO(-), contractile response was significantly enhanced with shift of PE accumulative dose-response curve to the left, whereas in PARs pre-incubated with 1.0 mmol/L or 2.0 mmol/L ONOO(-), it was markedly reduced with right shift of PE accumulative dose-response curve. (4) Vehicle of ONOO(-) had no effect on responses to each agonist.Decomposed ONOO(-) had minimal effect on the response to PE and ADP, in contrast, relaxation of PARs to ACh, A23187 and SNP were enhanced. These results indicate that ONOO(-) may contribute to regulatory disorder of pulmonary artery reactivity.
Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; In Vitro Techniques ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; physiology ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of melatonin (MT) on the abnormal reactivity of thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups randomly: (1) Vehicle group; (2) LPS group: LPS (4 mg/kg, i.p.); (3) LPS+MT group: MT (5 mg/ml, i.p.) was given 30 min before LPS and 60 min after LPS (4 mg/kg ,i.p); (4) MT group: received two doses of MT, 90 min after the first injection of MT another dose of MT was given. Six hours after LPS injection,the rats were killed and both thoracic aortic rings (TARs) and pulmonary artery rings (PARs)were prepared. The reactivity of TARs and PARs in the four subgroups was tested separately. The contraction response to phenylephrine (PE) and the endothelium-dependent relaxation response (EDRR) to ACh were observed with the isolated artery ring technique. Concentration-response curves were generated with ACh or PE (1 x 10(-8) - 1 x 10(-5) mol/L). Superoxide dismutes (SOD) activity and the content of malondialhyde (MDA) in artery tissues were detected. For TARs, LPS significantly reduced the contraction response to PE compared with the vehicle group (P<0.01) and the curve of cumulative dose responses to PE in the LPS group shifted downward. Although EDRR to ACh in the LPS group had the tendency to decrease but still showed no significant difference compared with the vehicle group (P>0.05). For PARs, EDRR to ACh was depressed significantly in the LPS group (P<0.01), while no effect on contraction response to PE in the LPS group was observed, compared with the vehicle group (P> 0.05). Compared with the LPS group, TARs in the LPS+MT group exhibited an increased contraction response to PE, but were still lower than that in the vehicle group. Similarly, EDRR to ACh of PARs in the LPS+MT group was improved significantly and there was no difference between the LPS+MT group and the vehicle group. The vascular reactivity was unaffected in MT group compared with the vehicle group in both TARs and PARs. SOD activity in the LPS +MT group increased significantly and the content of MDA decreased markedly compared with the LPS group. These results suggest that MT may improve the vascular reactivity in endotoxemia rats due to its antioxidant properties.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; physiopathology ; Endotoxemia ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on cardiac function and the receptor mechanism in anesthetized rats. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), the left ventricle systolic pressure (LVP) and the maximal/minimum rate of LVP (+/-LV dp/dt(max)) were measured. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Low dose of CCK-8 (0. 4 microgram/kg i.v.) caused tachycardia and slight increase in MAP, LVP and LV dp/dt(max) (P<0.01), while medium dose (4.0 microgram/kg i.v.) and high dose of CCK-8 (40 microgram/kg i.v.) elicited a bradycardia and marked increase in MAP, LVP and LV dp/dtmax (P<0.01). (2) Proglumide (1.0 mg/kg i.v.), a CCK-receptor (CCK-R) antagonist, significantly inhibited the pressor effects of CCK-8, whilst it reversed the bradycardic responses (P<0.01). (3) Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), CCK-A receptor (CCK-AR) and CCK-B receptor (CCK-BR) mRNA were expressed in myocardium of rats. The above results indicate that CCK-8 may enhance cardiac function in a dose-dependent manner and elicit a change in HR, which is likely induced by the activation of CCK-R on myocardium.
Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cholecystokinin ; drug effects ; Sincalide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects ; Ventricular Pressure ; drug effects