Objective To explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on ?-aminobutyric acid B receptor (GABA_BR) subunits during recurrent febrile seizures (FS).Methods Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats aged 21 days were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (37.0 ℃ water,n=8), FS group (45.2 ℃ water,n=8), FS + SNP group (45.2 ℃ water,n=8), FS+L-NMMA group (45.2 ℃ water,n=8). FS rats were induced 10 times in a warm-water bath, once every 2 days. The plasma level of NO was detected by the spectrophotometer. The expressions of GABA_BR subunit mRNA and c-fos gene were examined by in situ hybridization. The expressions of GABA_BR subunit and Fos protein were observed by immunohistochemistry. Results The plasma level of NO increased in FS + SNP group while decreased in FS+L-NMMA group compared with that in FS group. The expressions of GABA_BR_2 were down-regulated in FS+SNP group, while GABA_BR_1 hardly changed compared with those in FS group. In FS+L-NMMA group, both the expression of GABA_BR_2 and GABA_BR_1 up regulated compared with those in FS group. The expressions of c-fos gene and Fos protein were significantly enhanced after recurrent FS. SNP elevated the expressions of c-fos gene and Fos protein, while L-NMMA down regulated the expressions of them.Conclusion NO may play a regulatory role through modulating GABA_BR function in the pathogenesis of recurrent FS.

Objective To explore the influence of ?-aminobutyric acid B receptor(GABA_BR)on carbon monoxide (CO)/heme oxygenase(HO-1)system during recurrent febrile seizures (FS).Methods Sprague-Dawley rats aged 21 days were randomly divi- ded into 4 groups:control group and FS group,FS+baclofen group,FS+phaclofen group.FS in rats were induced 10 times in a bath of warm water, once every 2 days.The plasma level of CO was detected by the dual wave lengh spectrophotometer;the expressions of GABA_BR and HO-1 mRNA were examined by insitu hybridization;the expressions of GABA_BR and HO-1 protein were observed by immunohistochemistry.Results The plasma level of CO increased in FS+baclofen group,while decreased in FS+phaclofen group compared with FS group.The expressions of GABA_BR and HO-1 upregulated in FS+baclofen group,while decreased in FS+phaclofen group compared with FS group.There were significant difference (All P

Objective A major component of flow cytometry data analysis involves gating , which is the process of identifying homogeneous groups of cells .As manual gating is error-prone, non-reproducible, nonstandardized, and time-consuming , we propose a time-efficient and accurate approach to automated analysis of flow cytometry data .Methods Unlike manual analysis that successively gates the data projected onto a two-dimensional filed, this approach, using the K-means clustering results , directly analyzed multidimensional flow cytometry data via a similar subpopulations-merged algorithm.In order to apply the K-means to analysis of flow cytometric data , kernel density estimation for selecting the initial number of clustering and k-d tree for optimizing efficiency were proposed .After K-means clustering , results closest to the true populations could be achieved via a two-segment line regression algorithm .Results The misclassification rate (MR) was 0.0736 and time was 2 s in Experiment One, but was 0.0805 and 1 s respectively in Experiment Two. Conclusion The approach we proposed is capable of a rapid and direct analysis of the multidimensional flow cytometry data with a lower misclassification rate compared to both nonprobabilistic and probabilistic clustering methods .

OJECTIVE: To explore the changes of serum IgE and tryptase caused by anaphylactic shock rats and discuss the relation to PMI and preservative environment of corpse and specimen. METHODS: Rats were used for establishing anaphylactic shock models and randomly divided into room temperature group, refrigeration group, frozen group, manual hemolysis group, specimen preservation group. And the control group was also established. The blood samples were collected after rats were sacrificed. The degree of hemolysis was graded according to the color of the upper layer of the serum. The mass concentration of IgE and tryptase in each group was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The levels of serum IgE and tryptase in anaphylactic shock dead rats were higher than that of the control group. Room temperature and frozen made obviously differences on the levels of serum IgE and tryptase with various PMI. The levels of serum IgE and tryptase in refrigeration group showed relatively stable. The levels of serum tryptase and IgE were elevated with differently increasing hemolysis. The levels of serum IgE and tryptase showed no obvious changes during the specimen kept under different temperature conditions for 25 days. CONCLUSION Serum IgE and tryptase obviously increased in anaphylactic shock rats. However, the levels were influenced by PMI and environmental temperature, especially under the conditions of room temperature and frozen.
Anaphylaxis/blood* ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunoglobulin E/blood* ; Rats ; Temperature ; Tryptases/blood*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Jingui Shenqi Pill (JSP) on the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the skin lesion and its clinical effect in treating bullous pemphigoid (BP) patients.

METHODSThirty BP patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (n=15) treated with JSP plus prednisone and the prednisone group (n=15) with prednisone alone both for 4 weeks. And a normal control group was set up also. Expressions of GR-alpha and GR-beta in the skin lesion of BP patients and the normal skin of the normal control were detected by immunohistochemical assay. Results The total effective rate was 93.33% in the treatment group, significantly higher than that in the prednisone group which was 73.33% (P < 0.05); GR-alpha expression was higher in the treatment group than that in other two groups (P < 0.01), while GR-beta expression in the treatment group was lower than that in the prednisone group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJSP could increase GR-alpha expression and decrease GR-beta expression in the skin lesion of BP patients, so as to improve sensitivity of skin to glucocorticoid.

Aged ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; biosynthesis ; Skin ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

Fatal anaphylactic shock is common in forensic practice. However, it is difficult to diagnose for lacking specific pathological and morphologic changes in forensic autopsy. The application of some biochemical indicators is of great significance. This paper reviews the biological characteristics of some biochemical indicators and detection methods. The forensic application, problems and prospects of these indicators are also introduced in details. The stable biochemical indicators, IgE, tryptase and chymase, show great potential and advantages in the identification of fatal anaphylactic shock in forensic medicine.
Anaphylaxis/metabolism* ; Autopsy ; Biomarkers ; Chymases ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Tryptases

OBJECTIVEFebrile seizures (FS) are the most common seizure disorders in children. Approximately one third of children with a febrile seizure have recurrent events. Although most FS may not represent a serious health problem, those that are more prolonged and recurrent may cause hippocampal damage which is the most important pathological basis of temporal lobe epilepsy. The present study aimed to explore the effect of endogenous heme oxygenase (HO)-carbon monoxide (CO) system on brain damage induced by recurrent FS.

METHODTwenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats aged 21 days were randomly divided into three groups: Control group (immersed in 37.0 degrees C water, n = 8), FS group (immersed in 45.2 degrees C water, n = 8), FS + zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPPIX) group (immersed in 45.2 degrees C water, n = 8). FS in rats were induced ten times in a bath of warm water, once every 2 days. The indirect production of CO in plasma was detected by a dual wavelengh spectrophotometer. The intensity, latency, duration and rectal temperature of the seizure in rats were recorded. Morphologic changes of hippocampal neurons were observed with HE staining. The ultrastructural changes of the hippocampal neurons were observed under electron microscope. Semiquantitative analysis of hippocampal neurons was carried out by using Nissl stain.

RESULTAfter recurrent FS, the content of CO in plasma in FS group was increased as compared with that in control group (P < 0.01). The content of CO in plasma in FS + ZnPPIX group was decreased as compared with that in FS group (P < 0.01), while no significant difference in CO content was found as compared with that in control group (P > 0.05). In FS group, with the increase of seizure number, there was a trend of gradual prolongation of the seizure duration. In FS + ZnPPIX group, the seizure latency was gradually shortened and the seizure duration was further prolonged. There were no significant differences in seizure intensity and rectal temperature between the two groups. After recurrent FS, by using light microscope we could see that the arrangement of hippocampal neurons was disordered, polarity was not clear and vacuolization appeared in some neurons. At the same time the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons under electron microscope changed, which manifested as mitochondrial swelling, dissolved and ruptured ridge and vacuole formation, and dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). ZnPPIX aggravated neuronal injury. No obvious loss of hippocampal neurons was observed in FS group, while the number of hippocampal neurons in CA(1) and CA(3) subfields in FS + ZnPPIX group decreased respectively as compared with that in FS group and in control group (P < 0.01 for all).

CONCLUSIONThe study by using ZnPPIX which is an inhibitor of HO showed that endogenous HO/CO might act as a protective factor in FS-induced brain damage.

Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; physiology ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; physiology ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Neurons ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Protoporphyrins ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recurrence ; Seizures, Febrile ; complications ; pathology

OBJECTIVEFebrile seizure (FS) is one of the most common seizure types in children. Our previous studies have demonstrated that both gamma-aminobutyric acid B receptor (GABABR) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are involved in the pathogenesis of FS. This study was designed to explore the effect of GABABR on H2S/cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS) system in recurrent FS.

METHODSSixty-four Sprague-Dawley rats aged 21 days were randomly assigned into four groups: Control (37 degrees C water bath exposure), FS, FS+baclofen (GABABR excitomotor), and FS+phaclofen (GABABR inhibitor) groups (n=16 each). FS was induced by warm water bath exposure (45.2 degrees C, once every 2 days, 10 times in total. The plasma level of H2S was detected by the spectrophotometer. The expression of CBS mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization. The expressions of CBS protein was observed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe plasma level of H2S increased in the FS+baclofen group (427.45 +/- 15.91 micromol/L) but decreased in the FS+phaclofen group (189.72 +/- 21.53 micromol/L) compared with that in the FS group (362.14 +/- 19.71 micromol/L). The expressions of CBS mRNA and protein were up-regulated in the FS+baclofen group but were down-regulated in the FS+phaclofen group compared with those in the FS group.

CONCLUSIONSGABABR modulated the expression of H2S/CBS system in recurrent FS.

Animals ; Baclofen ; pharmacology ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; genetics ; physiology ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA-B ; physiology ; Recurrence ; Seizures, Febrile ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDFebrile seizure (FS) is the most common seizure disorders. Approximately one third of children with a febrile seizure have recurrent events. The mechanism of FS remains unclear. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a member of the heat shock proteins family and can be induced in the brain by various stresses, including hyperthemia and seizure. This study aimed at investigating the changes of HO-1 in the cortex of rats after recurrent FS.

METHODSFS in rats was induced ten times, once every 2 days. In a bath of warm water, developing rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n = 16) and warm water-treated group (n = 50). The latter group was subdivided into hyperthermia group (n = 19) and FS group (n = 23). The expression and content of HO-1 mRNA in cortex were observed using in situ hybridization and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The content of HO-1 protein in cortex was measured using Western blotting.

RESULTSHO-1 mRNA expression of cortex neurons in FS group was markedly increased in comparison with those in hyperthermia and control groups (P = 0.00), however, there was no statistic difference between hyperthermia group and control group (P = 0.16). The relative amount of HO-1 mRNA in cortex in FS group was increased by 53.13% and 96% in comparison with those in hyperthermia group and control group respectively (P = 0.00), but there was no obvious difference between the later two groups (P = 0.051). Western blotting analysis showed that the HO-1 protein content in cortex in FS group was increased by 198% and 246% in comparison with those in hyperthermia group and control group respectively (P = 0.00). There was no obvious difference in HO-1 protein content between the later two groups (P = 0.09).

CONCLUSIONSRecurrent FS in rats can cause the increase of HO-1 mRNA and protein in cortex which may be involved in the mechanism of FS. The short-time recurrent hyperthermia can not induce the increase of HO-1 mRNA and protein.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; enzymology ; Fever ; enzymology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; analysis ; genetics ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recurrence ; Seizures, Febrile ; enzymology

AIMTo investigate the effects of NPPB, a chloride channel blocker, on proliferation of mesangial cells.

METHODSCell proliferation was determined by measuring cell number and 3H-thymidine incorporation. The LDH activity released from these cells was measured as evaluation of cell viability. The phase of cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCell proliferation assays showed that treatment with both NPPB (50 and 25 micromol x L(-1)) and in hypertonic media (100% increased osmolarity with D-mannitol ) significantly reduced the number of human MC and 3H-thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner. But the LDH activity was not significantly altered in the treatment with 50 micromol x L(-1) NPPB. Flow cytometry experiments showed that 50 and 25 micromol x L(-1) NPPB arrested (84.2 +/- 2.4) % and (80.8 +/- 2.9) % of cells at G0/G1 stage, versus (70.5 +/- 1.4) % of control cells. Conclusion NPPB suppresses cell proliferation and produces growth arrest at G0/G1 phase in human MC by a mechanism probably associated with changes in cell volume.

Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chloride Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Mesangial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nitrobenzoates ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology