Objective To evaluate the inflammatory response and the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR)isoforms(PPARα,PPARβ/δ,and PPARγ)in the brain(cortex,striatum,cerebellum)of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).Methods Brain tissues(cortex,striatum,and cerebellum)were dissected from SHR and age-matched control Wistar-Kyoto rats.Myeloperoxidase(MPO)activity was measured in brain tissues as an index of neutrophil accumulation and the carbonyl protein content was analyzed by spectrophotometry to evaluate the protein oxidation.RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to examine the expressions of inflammatory mediators(IL-1β,TNFα,ICAM-1,and iNOS)and nuclear factor PPARs(PPARα,PPARβ/δ,and PPARγ),respectively.Results(1)Systolic blood pressure of SHR was significantly higher than that of Wistar-Kyoto rats,(205.4±9.4)mm Hg versus(130.4±7.9)mm Hg(t=14.96,P＜0.01).(2)MPO activity of cortex,striatum,and cerebellum were markedly higher in SHR than in Wistar-Kyoto rats.Carbonyl protein levels of cortex,striatum,and cerebellum in Wistar-Kyoto rats and SHR were(3.27±0.43)nmol/mg versus(11.87±1.11)nmol/mg,(4.02±1.04)nmol/mg versus(14.06±1.36)nmol/mg,(5.94±0.71)nmol/mg versus(14.95±1.82)nmol/mg,indicating significantly higher levels of protein oxidation in SHR than Wistar-Kyoto rats(t=17.70,14.36,11.30,P＜0.05).Consistently,the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators(IL-1β,TNFα,ICAM-1,and iNOS)was upregulated when compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats.The difference between SHR and control Wistar-Kyoto rats was statistically significant except the mRNA expression of IL-1β in striatum,cerebellum and TNFα in cerebellum of SHR.All the above experimental data indicated the occurrence of inflammatory status in the brain tissue of hypertension.(3)mRNA and protein levels of brain PPAR isoforms(PPARα,PPARβ/δ,and PPARγ)of SHR increased significantly when compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats.Specifically.protein levels of PPARα in cortex.striatum,and cerebellum of SHR increased by 644.78%,791.95%,and 42.85%;PPARβ/δ increased by 106.72%,94.12%,and 161.44%;PPARγ was up-regulated by 2700.16%,790.81%,and 875.00%compared with that of Wistar-Kyoto rats,respectively.Conclusions The brain(cortex,striatum,and cerebellum)from SHR shows marked inflammatory status and increased expression of all PPAR isoforms.Increases in PPARs expression may play a compensatory role in the inflammatory response of the brain in SHR.

Objective: To investigate the different efficacy of Yinchenhao Decoction (YCHD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, for liver cirrhosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) in rats. Methods: To induce liver fibrosis, 0.5% DMN solution (2mL/kg body weight, i.p.) was given three consecutive days a week to male Wistar rats for 4 weeks. Cirrhotic rats were randomly divided into DMN group, YCHD group, Xiaochaihu decoction group by the end of the fourth week to accomplish a 2-week recipe treatment course. In CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis model, 50% CCl(4)-olive solution was injected subcutaneously to rats at a dose of 2 mL/kg body weight twice a week to duplicate rat cirrhosis model. After 8 weeks, rats were divided into CCl(4) group, CCl(4) plus YCHD group and Xiaochaihu decoction group. For the YCHD group, YCHD was administered intragastrically once a day for 4 weeks. For DMN or CCl(4) model, by the end of 6 or 12 weeks respectively, rats were sacrificed for sampling to detect liver function, hepatic histological changes, hydroxyproline (Hyp) content and apoptosis-related gene expressions. Results: In DMN liver fibrosis model, hepatic fibrosis was obvious at week 2 and cirrhosis was evident at week 4 in DMN-treated rats. Compared to 6-week DMN group, hepatic pathological changes and liver function were improved significantly and content of Hyp decreased remarkably in YCHD group. In CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis model, hepatic fibrosis was obvious at 8 weeks and cirrhosis was evident at 12 weeks in CCl(4)-treated rats. Compared to 12-week CCl(4) group, hepatic pathological changes and liver function were not obviously improvement in YCHD group. The results of gene chip showed that YCHD significantly decreased Fas, Bax and caspase-3 gene expressions, and increased Bcl-xL gene expression in the liver of DMN model. However, in the model induced by CCl(4), YCHD did not inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis induced by CCl(4), but increased tyrosine kinase receptor gene expression by 4.8 times. Conclusion: YCHD exerts more significant therapeutic effects on DMN-induced than CCl(4)-induced cirrhosis in rats in Hyp content and pathological change in liver tissue.

Objective To evaluate the inverse distance weighted(IDW) in revealing the characteristics of spatial distribution of water fluoride in Heze City,Shandong Province.Methods A geographic information system (GIS) database of water fluoride was established in Heze City of Shandong Province using the data of endemic fluorosis surveys collected by Endemic Disease Prevention Institute in Shandong Province during 2005-2007.IDW spatial interpolation was applied to predict the distribution of fluoride in drinking water in 139 towns of Heze City.Sensitivity and specificity were calculated.Results Mean water fluoride levels in 10 counties of Heze City were all higher than 1.0 mg,/L,and the water fluoride in Cao County,Juye,Mudan District and Juancheng were higher than 2.0 mg/L.Of all 139 townships of Heze City,129 were higher fluoride townships where fluoride was ＞ 1.0 mg/L,10 were lower fluoride townships(≤ 1.0 mg/L).IDW spatial interpolation showed that the water fluoride of most areas in Heze City were ＞ 1.0-2.0 mg/L.The areas with water fluoride of ＞ 2.0-3.0 mg/L were mainly located in eastern Juancheng,northern Mudan District,north-central Chengwu,central and southern Juye,southeastern part of Caoxian and eastern part of Shan Town.Regions of water fluoride ＞ 3.0 mg/L were mainly distributed in Xieji and Wanfeng towns of Juye County,Jishan town of Juancheng County,Sunlaojia town of Caoxian and Dusi town of Mudan County.The internal verification results showed that the sensitivity,specificity and overall accuracy rate of IDW used for predicting water fluoride content was 100.00％ (129/129),10.00％ (1/10) and 93.53％ (130/139),respectively.While the external verification results showed that the sensitivity,specificity and overall accuracy rate of IDW for predicting water fluoride content was 100.00％(31/31),11.11％(1/9) and 80.00％(32/40),respectively.Conclusion With the application of IDW interpolation,it is feasible to infer the overall spatial distribution based on the monitoring data,and to reveal the spatial characteristics of water fluoride in Heze City,Shandong Province.

Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin-18 (IL-18), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels of liver cirrhosis induced by the composite factors of carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4) in SD rats and their significance. Methods Totally 80 male SD rats of clean class were randomly divided into normal control group (20 rats) and model groups, the latter of which were further divided into three groups according to the length of administration time, namely, 2-week group (2 wk group), 4-week group (4 wk group) and 6-week group (6 wk group), with 20 rats in each. Six rats were killed after 2 wk, 4 wk and 6 wk administration time, respectively. The rat serum levels of IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ and the hepatic homogenate supernatant of IL-18 were detected by ELISA; pathological changes of liver tissues were observed by HE staining. Results ① Pathological observation revealed that in the model groups hepatic cells degenerated and swelled at week 2 while large amounts of fibrosis and pseudolobules of some liver tissues occurred at week 6. ② The serum levels of IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ were gradually increased with the modeling time, and they were significantly higher in 6-week group than in normal control group (P<0.01). ③ The levels of hepatic homogenate supernatant of IL-18 in the model groups were elevated with liver damage, and they were significantly higher in 6-week group than in normal control group (P<0.01). Conclusion During the formation of liver cirrhosis induced by composite factors of CCl_4 in rats, IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels gradually increase, suggesting that the three cytokines play a certain role during the occurrence of liver cirrhosis in rats.

BACKGROUND:Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine minimaly invasive treatment for halux valgus based on wrapped curtain method with “8”-shaped bandage and sub toe pad external fixation has been used for a long time in the clinic. This method abandons the internal implant fixationandexternal plaster fixation. After surgery, patients could take care of themselves. However, theactivity of the broken end may cause fracture nonunion, which once aroused scholars’ question. Recently, with the continuous improvement of foot biomechanics research, foot finite element model and applications become a reality.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate thestability of osteotomy after the operation of wrapped curtain method with“8”-shaped bandage and sub toe pad external fixation on the basis of static finite element method.
METHODS:A young female volunteer with halux valgus was selected, whose body weight was 58 kg, and right foot halux abductor valgus angle was 24°; intermetatarsal angle was 13°; proximal articulator set angle was 7°; distal articulator set angle was 7°. CT was used to scan the right foot. ABAQUS software was applied to establish a finite element model of right foot halux valgus bone, and model of the first metatarsal neck minimaly invasive osteotomy was simulated based on wrapped curtain method with external fixation. Von Mises stress and displacement at the osteotomy endwere calculated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The maximum stress was 0.067 MPa without external fixation, and the maximum stress was 1.258 MPa with the external fixation. Stress was mainly distributed in the outer edge of the osteotomy. (2) The maximum absolute displacement was 0.363 mm without external fixation, and the maximum absolute displacement was 0.716 mm with external fixation. The two largest displacements were both in the Z-axis direction. Statistical analysis confirmed that the four nodes absolute displacement and stress were significantly different (P< 0.01). (3) The maximum relative displacement was 0.101 mm. The maximum relative displacement was 0.046 mm with external fixation. The maximum relative displacement without external fixation was-0.102 mm and occurred in the Z-axis. The maximum relative displacement with external fixation was 0.110 mm and occurred in the Y-axis. (4) One-way analysis of variance confirmed that the four nodes relative displacements were not statisticaly significant in X-axisand Y-axis (P> 0.05). The four nodes relative displacements were statisticaly significant in Z-axis (P< 0.05). (5) These findings suggest that the external fixation based on wrapped curtain method after halux valgus surgery could effectively reduce osteotomy displacement. The moderate stress and elastic fixation are conducive to fracture healing.

To investigate the effects of three classical anti-jaundice formulas Yinchenhao Decoction (YCHD). Yinchen Wuling San (YCWLS) and Zhizi Baipi Decoction (ZZBPD) on liver fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats and explore the formula-syndrome relationship.

Objective To construct the eukaryotic expression vector of mutants in the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene and observe its expression in rat schwannoma cell line RT4. Methods Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to induce the mutation of the codons for the residue Ile 546 in pEGFP-N1-NF2 into Met to construct the muton of pEGFP-N1-NF2~(△Ⅱe546Met). After lipofectin-mediated transient transformation of RT4 with the plasmids containing the mutation and the one without mutation, respectively, the mRNA and protein expression levels of NF2 were determined using fluorescence imaging and Western blotting. The cell proliferation was determined by the MTT assay. Results DNA sequence analysis confirmed the success of site-directed mutagenesis and Western blotting showed that pEGFP-NF2 protein could be expressed in the RT4 cells. The RT4 cell inhibition rate in the pEGFP-N1-NF2~(△Ⅱe546Met) transfection group was statistically lower than that in the pEGFP-N1-NF2 transfected group (P<0.05).Conclusion The recombinant plasmids pEGFP-N1-NF2~(△Ⅱe546Met) has been successfully constructed with efficient expressions in RT4.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence and time trends of esophageal and gastric cancers in Linzhou city bassed on the data of Linxian Tumor Registry, and to provide valid reference data for research and effective estimation of cancer control in this area.

METHODSAll incidence records for the both cancers during 1988-2003 were drawn from Linzhou Tumor Registry and grouped by sex, age, year and then linked to corresponding population data. The incidence rates of those two topographic site cancers were calculated and the age-adjusted rates were calculated by direct standardization to the world population. A joinpoint model was used to get the annual percentage change (APC) of the age-adjusted rates, and to estimate the epidemiological trends of both cancers in population of Linzhou city.

RESULTSIn the year 2003 the age-adjusted incidence rates of esophageal and gastric cancers were 81.78 per 100 000 and 77.08 per 100 000, respectively, in the population of Linzhou city. The incidence rate of both cancers showed a decreasing trend from 1988 to 2003. The APC of the incidence rates of esophageal cancer was - 2.6% and that of gastric cancer was - 1.8%, and both indexes were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence rates of esophageal and gastric cancers have presented a decreasing trends in the population of Linzhou city. This trend will continue along with the development of social economy, elevation of living standard and improvement in living habit and environment.

Cardia ; China ; epidemiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Sex Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology

In order to investigate the transmission risk of H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIV) from sewage in Changsha poultry markets, the evolution relationship and molecular characteristics of non-structural (NS) genes of H5N1 AIV from sewage were analyzed. Nine H5N1 AIV environmental sewage specimens were collected from Changsha poultry markets. The NS genes were amplifyed by PCR and then sequenced with TA cloning. Amino acid(aa) sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis were conducted by Lasergene and Mega5 software. Eight NS genes TA cloning were constructed successfully. Phylogenetic tree indicated that they were belonged to the allele A subgroup. Aa homology analysis showed 90.1% 92.5% identity in NS1 proteins and 91.0% - 92.6% identity in NS2 proteins compared with reference viruses of the allele A (A/chicken/ Hubei/ w h/ 1999). The homologies of the amino sequences of NS1 and NS2 in this study were 93.8%-100.0% and 98.4%-100.0%, respectively. The C terminal of all eight H5N1 NS1 proteins from sewage in poultry markets carried a ESEV of PL motif and the 92 amino acids were E, furthermore, the 80 to 84aa were missed which were the characteristics of highly pathogenic AIV. The NS genes of H5N1 AIV from sewage in poultry markets have molecular characteristics of highly pathogenic and have the potential risk of H5N1 virus spreading.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; transmission ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Poultry ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Sewage ; virology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of epidermal stem cells (ESCs) in different degrees of burn wounds in scalded rats.

METHODSThirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were employed in the study. First degree (I), shallow (shallow II) and deep partial thickness (deep II) and full thickness burn wounds (III) were created on the rat skin. Burn wound samples were harvested at 24 postburn hours (PBHs) from all the wounds and were processed to tissue slices. The tissue slices were stained by immunohistochemistry technique. The expression and distribution of ESCs in different degrees of burn wounds were observed with integrins alpha 2 beta 1 and keratin 10 (K10) as first antibodies.

RESULTSK10 positive cells were found to distribute in the strata spinosum, granulosum and lucidum in the first degree burn wound (I) with large amounts of integrins alpha 2 beta 1 positive cells in the residual basal layer and skin appendages (hair follicles) in shallow partial thickness burn wound (shallow II degree), and there were less integrins alpha 2 beta 1 positive cells in the remaining skin appendages in deep dermis in deep partial thickness burn wound (deep II degree). Finally, integrins alpha 2 beta 1 positive cells were sparsely found in the III degree burn wound.

CONCLUSIONThe distribution of ESCs in burn wounds was closely related to the depth of burn wound. The residual ESCs might be the origin of burn wound regeneration and reepithelization.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Integrin alpha2beta1 ; analysis ; Keratin-10 ; Keratins ; analysis ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; pathology