The purpose of this study is to explore depression metabolic markers in rat hippocampus and to investigate the anti-depressant effect of genipin and its mechanisms using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabonomics. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure was conducted to establish the depressive rat model. At the beginning of the third week, genipin low dose (25 mg x kg(-1)), middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)), high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)), and venlafaxine (50 mg x kg(-1)) were given to the CUMS rats separately once daily for two weeks except control and model groups. Rat hippocampus was analyzed by 1H NMR based metabonomics after drug administration for 2 weeks. Significant differences in the metabolic profile of rat hippocampus of the CUMS treated group and the control group were observed with metabolic effects of CUMS including decreasing in glycine and N-acetylaspartate, increasing in inositol, glutamate, lactate, glutamine, taurine and alanine. Genipin showed ideal antidepressive effects at a dose of 50 mg x kg(-1) in rats, decrease of inositol, glutamate, lactate, alanine were observed, while glycine and N-acetylaspartate were increased. Important influence has been found on normal nervous system function of these significant changed metabolites, which suggests that the antidepressant effect of genipin may be played by enhancing the activity of neurons in hippocampus, repairing and improving the function of the neuron. The metabonomics approach is an effective tool for the investigation of the anti-depressant effect and pharmacologic mechanisms of genipin.
Alanine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Aspartic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Glycine ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Inositol ; metabolism ; Iridoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To explorethe effect of Bailingcapsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) inrats withadenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis .Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis ani mal models were established and SDrats were dividedinto mo-del group (n=30) ,treatment group (n=30) andcontrol group(n=30) ,randomly .Experi mental rats were harvested at 7 w,12 w,17 wafter onset of experi ment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology ,i mmunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) ,transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)and a-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) in kidneys at three ti me points mentioned above ,respectively .Results Compared with controlgroup ,24 h urinary proteinin model grouplost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three ti me points relative to controlgroup(P0 .05) rel-ative to control group.There was significant difference at 12 wand 17 w(P

Objective To explore the effect of Bailing capsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition( EMT) in rats with adenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis animal models were established and SD rats were divided into mo-del group ( n = 30), treatment group ( n = 30) and control group( n = 30), randomly. Experimental rats were harvested at 7 w, 12 w,17 w after onset of experiment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology, immunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1 )and a-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in kidneys at three time points mentioned above, respectively. Results Compared with controlgroup, 24 h urinary protein in model group lost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three time points relative to controlgroup ( P ＜ 0.01 ). Urinary NAG in model group was markedly higher than that in control group from 7 w after onset (P ＜ 0.01 ) andwas increasingly raised at 12 w and 17 w (P＜0.01). The value of blood BUN and Cr in model group increased at 7 w (P＞0.05) rel-ative to control group. There was significant difference at 12 w and 17.w (P ＜ 0.01 ). Histologically, kidneys in model group, at 7 w,exhibited tubular casts and gently tubular dilation, granuloma in cortex, mononuclear cells infiltration in tubulointerstitial areas, andmild interstitial fibrosis. At 12 w, the degree of tubular injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis gradually aggravated. Up to 17 w, diffusetubular dilation or atrophy was observed and focal tubules disappear. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis was exhibited. In normal kidneys, im-munohistochemistry suggested that the light expression of BMP-7 was detected in proximal renal tubular epithelial cells and marked ex-pression was identified in distal tubule, collecting duct, and renal tubular epithelial in junction area between cortex and medulla. How-ever, the expression of BMP-7 in kidneys of model group significantly decreased with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis and was nega-tive correlation with the expression of TGF-β1(r = -0. 981 P＜0.01) and α-SMA (r= -0.975 P＜0.01). Bailing capsule ad-ministration protected the expression of BMP-7 and reduced TGF-β1 and α-SMA expression before 12 w(P＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Ourstudy shows an anti-fibrotic reno-protective function of Bailing capsule in rats with tubulointerstitial fibrosis via prevention of epithelial-mesenchymal transition at early stage. However, the beneficial effect lost with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Objective To construct the recombinant plasmid pYES6-S and express and purify spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome(SANS)coronavirus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Methods DNA fragments of SANS coronavirus were obtained by reverse transeription.Four over- lapped fragments of spike protein genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and ligated into an integral spike protein gene by restriction enzyme digestion.The spike protein gene recombined with pYES6 and cloned into E.coll.The recombinant plasmid pYES6-S was induced and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae(INVScl)by galactose.Results The recombinant plasmid pYES6-S was confirmed that inserted fragment was right in length,direction and base matching by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing.The purified protein encoded by the whole spike protein gene was about Mr 110?10~3 identified by electrophoresis.Conclusion The whole spike protein gene of SARS coronavirus is cloned into E.coli and the protein is expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae successful ly.which can be helpful in SARS vaccine research.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the polymorphism and forensic efficiency values of STR loci D12S391/D18S865 METHODS: Population studies on D12S391 and D18S865 were carried out in a sample of 454 unrelated Wenzhou Han individuals using PCR followed by PAGE and silver stain detection. RESULTS: 11/7 alleles and 50/21 genotypes of D12S391/D18S865 were respectively observed among the 454 unrelated individuals. The genotype frequency matched the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, The heterozygotes (H) in D12S391/D18S865 were 0.7974/0.7379, Power of Exclusion were 0.9566/0.9077, polymorphism information content (PIC) were 0.8260/0.7279 respectively. CONCLUSION D12S391 and D18S865 were high polymorphic loci and the frequencies were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.5), so the two loci can be used in forensic medicine and in other genetic research areas.
Alleles ; China/ethnology* ; DNA/isolation & purification* ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Forensic Medicine ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVE: To study genetic polymorphism of D7S2846, D19S400 and D18S535 in Han population in Wenzhou. METHODS: DNA was extracted with chelex-100 method from EDTA-blood samples of 194 unrelated individuals in Wenzhou and amplified with PCR technique. The PCR products were analyzed by PAG vertical electrophoresis and silver-stain. RESULTS: 6 alleles and 15 genotypes of D7S2846, 10 alleles and 36 genotypes of D19S400, 8 alleles and 26 genotypes of D18S535 was observed. The heterozygosities of the three loci are 0.644, 0.724 and 0.772; The power of discriminating are 0.854, 0.940 and 0.938. CONCLUSION The heterozygosities of the three loci are high and the frequencies was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05), so the three loci can be used in forensic medicine and in other genetic researches.
Alleles ; China/ethnology* ; DNA/isolation & purification* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVETo observe the electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at Baihui (GV20) on the concentration of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and adenosine, and to evaluate its effects on the neurologic function score and the infarction volume after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), thus exploring its mechanisms for relieving the ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODSTotally 54 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the sham-EA group, the EA group, and the control group, 18 in each group. Rats in the control group were not intervened after anesthesia. Rats in the EA group were needled at Baihui (GV20) for 30 min. Rats in the sham-EA group received the same procedure as those performed in the EA group without electricity connected. The changes of adenosine and ADA contents were detected at 30, 60, and 120 min after EA respectively. The I/R model was established. Totally 48 male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the model group (Group A), the EA group (Group B), the EA +8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) group (Group C), the EA + DMSO group (Group D), the Deoxycoformycin (Deo) group (Group E), and the normal saline group (Group F). Rats in Group B, C, and D received EA for 30 min before modeling. Rats in Group C and D were peritoneally injected with DPCPX (1 mg/kg) and DMSO (1 mL/kg) at 30 min before EA. The neurologic function score was evaluated and the infarct volumes were detected after 24-h reperfusion.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-EA group, there was no statistical difference in the contents of the adenosine or ADA in the control group at each time point (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group at the same time point, the content of ADA significantly decreased at 60 min in the EA group [(315.0 +/- 22.9 U/L), P < 0.05], and restored to the normal level at 120 min after EA. The content of adenosine increased in the EA group at 120 min [(20.4 +/- 2.2) ng/microL, P < 0.05]. Compared with the model group, the neurologic function score decreased (P < 0.05) and the infarct volumes were obviously reduced (P < 0.01) in Group B, D and E. There was no statistical difference in the neurologic function score or the infarct volumes in other groups, when compared with the model group (P > 0.05)

CONCLUSIONEA at Baihui (GV20) showed protective effects on the cerebral I/R rats, which might be achieved through lowering the ADA concentration and elevating the adenosine content, and further activating adenosine A1 receptor.

Adenosine Deaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo estimate the number of drug users in Hongjiang, Hunan and to develop strategy for drug reduction in the future.

METHODSTwo capture-recapture methods were used to estimate the numbers of drug addicts. Random stratified sampling survey was used to verify the optimum allocation. The first capture-recapture method (CR1) referred to the number from optimum allocation random stratified sampling survey conducted in the communities and the number from local Public Security Bureau list being the second capture. The second capture-recapture method (CR2) referred to the collection of records in the detoxification unit with an interval of 4 months. The estimated number was calculated under Seber's adjustment formula. Face to face interview was carried out during the optimum allocation random stratified sampling survey process.

RESULTSOf 1388 interviewed in the communities, 24 (1.73%) were identified as drug addicts under the optimum allocation random stratified sampling survey. When the figure 1.73% was applied to the total population (72,709) in Hongjiang, the result yielded an estimation of 1258 drug addicts. The estimated numbers of CR1 and CR2 were 904 and 1069 respectively. However, the number was 1.3 to 1.6 fold higher than the reported number (687) by local Public Security Bureau.

CONCLUSIONThe capture-recapture method seemed a better method in estimating the number of drug addicts.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Needle Sharing ; Population Surveillance ; methods ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; epidemiology

In the present study, the genome shuffling was used to improve lipase production of Penicillium expansum. A lipase producing mutant strain-Penicillium expansum FS8486 and a wild type of Aspergillus Tamarii FS-132 isolated from soil of a volcano in Xinjiang were used as the parental strains. After two rounds of genome shuffling, several elite daughter strains were screened. The lipase activity in one of the daughter strains was increased 317% over the starting strain FS8486. Comparisons of the morphology, RAPD (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA) polymorphism and the fatty acid compositions between the daughter and the parental strains suggested that the filial generation were generated by genome shuffling. In this study, the genome shuffling used successfully first time in eukaryotic microorganism and increases the production of the desired metabolite in short time, the study will be useful to spread the genome shuffling in eukaryotic microbial breeding.
Aspergillus ; genetics ; DNA Shuffling ; methods ; Genetic Enhancement ; methods ; Genome, Fungal ; genetics ; Lipase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Penicillium ; enzymology ; genetics ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique

BACKGROUNDPolypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are prominent prescribing issues in elderly patients. This study was to investigate the different prevalence of PIM use in elderly inpatients between 65-79 years of age and 80 years or older, who were discharged from Geriatric Department in West China Hospital.

METHODSA large-scale cohort of 1796 inpatients aged 65 years or over was recruited. Respectively, 618 patients were 65-79 years and 1178 patients were 80 years or older. Updated 2012 Beers Criteria by the American Geriatric Society was applied to assess the use of PIM among the investigated samples.

RESULTSA review of the prescribed medications identified 686 patients aged 80 years or older consumed at least one PIM giving a rate of 58.2%. Conversely, 268 (43.4%) patients aged 65-79 years consumed at least one PIM (χ2 = 40.18, P < 0.001). Patients aged 80 years or older had higher hospitalization expenses, length of stay, co-morbidities, medical prescription, and mortality than patients aged 65-79 years (all with P < 0.001). Patients aged 80 years or older were prescribed with more benzodiazepines, drugs with strong anticholinergic properties, megestrol, antipsychotics, theophylline, and aspirin. In multiple regression analysis, PIM use was significantly associated with female gender, age, number of diagnostic disease, and number of prescribed medication.

CONCLUSIONSThe finding from this study revealed that inpatients aged 80 years or older encountered more PIM use than those aged 65-79 years. Anticholinergic properties, megestrol, antipsychotics, theophylline, and aspirin are medications that often prescribed to inpatients aged 80 years or older. Doctors should carefully choose drugs for the elderly, especially the elderly aged 80 years or older.

Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Potentially Inappropriate Medication List ; statistics & numerical data