OBJECTIVETo establish the steriod-induced osteoporosis model with the type of Kidney-Yin deficiency.

METHODSTotally 45 female Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group and Liuwei Dihuang pills(Chinese character: see text)group. The model was established by intramuscular injecting of Dexamethasone. Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group was administered orally with Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text). The signs and symptoms of mice were observed dynamically. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the 6th weeks. The level of ACTH, cAMP, cGMP, TSH and E2 in serum were detected to evaluate deficiency of Kidney-Yin. Morphological changes and bone density were observed to evaluate osteoporosis.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, mice in model group appeared obvious Kidney-Yin deficiency symptoms, including hair dry, restlessness, excitability, hard stool, and yellow. (2) Compared with control group,the weight of mice in model group gained slower (P<0.01); the index of adrenal gland,liver and spleen decreased (P<0.01, P<0.01 ,P<0.01); the level of ACTH and TSH increased (P<0.01 ,P<0.01), the level of E2 decreased (P<0.01) and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP increased (P< 0.05). (3)Compared with control group,the bone density of lumbar vertebra and femur in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); HE staining revealed osteoporosis in model group mice. (4)However, the Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group can partly antagonize the inhibition of the HPA axis, alter the disordered sex hormone and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP, and reverse the osteoporosis partly.

CONCLUSIONthe model of osteoporosis with type of Kidney-Yin deficiency could be established by Dexamethasone intramuscular injection. With less interference, it wight be a stable and reliable modeling method for integration of disease and syndrome in TCM.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Dexamethasone ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; Yin Deficiency ; complications

This study aimed to explore the impact of depression caused by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on in vivo activity of six kinds of CYP450 isoforms in rats. According to 'Katz' method, the model of CUMS was established. Tolbutamide, chlorzoxazone, theophylline, midazolam, omeprazole and dextromethorphan were chosen as probe substrates of CYP2C6, CYP2E1, CYP1A2, CYP3A2, CYP2D1 and CYP2D2 of rats. Plasma concentration of six kinds of CYP450 in control group and model group were determined by LC-MS/MS and computed pharmacokinetic parameters. Consequently, metabolism of theophylline and chlorzoxazone accelerated significantly (P < 0.01), but tolbutamide, dextromethorphan, omeprazole and midazolam had no significant difference. The present study proved that depression caused by CUMS had strong induction to CYP1A2 and medium induction to CYP2E1.
Animals ; Chlorzoxazone ; metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Depression ; Dextromethorphan ; metabolism ; Liver ; enzymology ; Midazolam ; metabolism ; Omeprazole ; metabolism ; Rats ; Stress, Physiological ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Theophylline ; metabolism ; Tolbutamide ; metabolism

Objective To study the protective effect of Panax notoginseng saponins(PNS)and its components Rg1 and Rb1 on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/Reox)-induced tight junction damage. Methods Anaerobic box were used to induce OGD in HUVEC cells for 6 h followed by reoxygenation for 24 h. Transepithelial/endothelial electrical resistance(TEER)and cell permeability were detected,immunefluorescence was used to observe the ZO-1 and claudin-5 protein expression. Results PNS 20,40 mg/L and ginsenoside Rb1 significantly inhibited the OGD/Reox-induced decreased tight junction resistance,and the increased cell permeability(P< 0.05). PNS 20,40 mg/L and ginsenoside Rb1 partly restored the inter-cellular tight junctions which were regularly arranged on the cell membrane, and the cells displayed cobble stone-like arrangement. Conclusions PNS ameliorates ischemia-induced vascular endothelial cell tight junction damage via MMP-9 and VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway. Rb1 is one of the effective monomer components.

Objective To investigate the effect of different concentrations of magnesium-calcium alloy extract on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) in human colonic epithelial NCM460 cells.Methods The different concentrations of extracts (the volume fraction was 10％,50％ and 100％ respectively) were made with magnesium-calcium alloy.The 5 × 106 L-1 NCM460 suspension was randomly divided into control group,experimental group 1,experimental group 2 and experimental group 3.The cells in the control group were cultured by 2 000 μL high glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (containing 10％ volume fraction of fetal bovine serum).The cells in the experimental group 1,2 and 3 were cultured by 2 000 μL magnesium-calcium alloy extract with volume fraction of 10％,50％ and 100％ respectively.The expressions of MMP9 and TIMP3 mRNA in NCM460 cells was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction,and the expression of MMP9 and TIMP3 protein in NCM460 cells was detected by Western blot at after one,three and five days of cultivation respectively.Results The expression of MMP9 mRNA and TIMP3 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 1,2 and 3 was significantly lower than that in the control group after one day of cultivation (P ＜ 0.05).After three and five days of cultivation,the expression of MMP9 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 1 was significantly lower than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05),but the expression of MMP9 mRNA in the NCM460 cells of the experimental group 2 and 3 was significantly higher than that in the control group and the experimental group 1 (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of MMP9 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 3 was significantly higher than that in the experimental group 2 after five days of cultivation (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of MMP9 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 1,2 and 3 after three and five days of cultivation was significantly higher than that after one day of cultivation(P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of MMP9 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 1 between three and five days of cultivation (P ＞ 0.05).The expression of MMP9 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 2 and 3 after five days of cultivation was significantly higher than that after three days of cultivation(P ＜ 0.05).The expression of TIMP3 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 2 and 3 was significantly higher than that in the experimental group 1 after one day of euhivation (P ＜ 0.05).After three days of cultivation,the expression of TIMP3 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 1,2 and 3 was significantly lower than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05);the expression of TIMP3 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 2 was significantly lower than that in the experimental group 1 and 3 (P ＜ 0.05).After five days of cultivation,the expression of TIMP3 mRNA in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 1,2 and 3 was significantly higher than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of TIMP3 mRNA in NCM460 cells after three and five days of cultivation was significantly higher than that after one day of cultivation (P ＜ 0.05),and the expression of TIMP3 after five days of cultivation was significantly higher than that after three days of cultivation in the experimental group 1 (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of TIMP3 mRNA in NCM460 cells after three days of cultivation was significantly lower than that after one day of cultivation (P ＜ 0.05),and the expression of TIMP3 after five days of cultivation was significantly higher than that after one and three days of cultivation in the experimental group 2 (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of TIMP3 mRNA in NCM460 cells after five days of cultivation was significantly higher than that after one and three days of cultivation in the experimental group 3 (P ＜ 0.05).After five days of cultivation,there was no significant difference in the expression of MMP9 protein in NCM460 cells between the experimental group 1 and control group (P ＞ 0.05),the expression of MMP9 protein in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 2 and 3 was significantly higher than that in the control group and the experimental group 1 (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference in the expression of MMP9 protein in NCM460 cells between the experimental group 2 and 3 (P ＞ 0.05).After five days of cultivation,the expression of TIMP3 protein in NCM460 cells of the experimental group 1,2 and 3 was significantly higher than that in the control group (P ＜0.05);but there was no significant difference in the expression of TIMP3 protein in NCM460 cells among the experimental group 1,2and 3 (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The high concentration of magnesium-calcium alloy extract has certain influence on the expression of MMP9 and TIMP3 gene in NCM460 cells,which may lead to the early inflammatory reaction,and the mechanism may be related to the calcium ion concentration in the extract.

BACKGROUNDClinical combination of some traditional Chinese medical herbs, including berberine, with irradiation is demonstrated to improve efficacy of tumor radiotherapy, yet the mechanisms for such effect remain largely unknown. The present study investigated the effect of berberine on apoptosis induced by X-rays irradiation and the relation between this effect and gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC).

METHODSThe role of gap junctions in the modulation of X-rays irradiation-induced apoptosis was explored by manipulation of connexin (Cx) expression, and gap junction function, using oleamide, a GJIC inhibitor, and berberine.

RESULTSIn transfected HeLa cells, Cx32 expression increased apoptosis induced by X-rays irradiation, while inhibition of gap junction by oleamide reduced the irradiation responses, indicating the dependence of X-rays irradiation-induced apoptosis on GJIC. Berberine, at the concentrations without cytotoxicity, enhanced apoptosis induced by irradiation only in the presence of functional gap junctions.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that berberine potentizes cell apoptosis induced by X-rays irradiation, probably through enhancement of gap junction activity.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Oleic Acids ; pharmacology ; X-Rays

The bioinformatics software was used to predict the B cell and T cell epitopes of Toxoplasma gondii microneme 16 (TgMIC16) followed by epitopes display on the yeast of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.B and T cell epitopes of TgMIC16 were predicted by DNAStar and IEDB,and software of SYFPEITHI and BIMAS,respectively.According to the predicted results,the antigenic epitope region was expressed with pCTCON2/EBY100 display system.The expression protein was detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) and flow cytometry.Results showed that there were potential B/T cell epitopes in TgMIC16 and concentrated in the aa343-625 region.The epitope region was successfully displayed on the surface of yeast cells,and the optimal induction time was 24 hours.The study would lay the foundation for the development and efficacy evaluation of the yeast carrier vaccine in the further research.

To observe the serum samples and the anti-inflammatory effect of Tripterygium wilfordii in treating RA by using the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model, make a correlation analysis on concentration-time and effect-time curves, and explore RORγt, IL-17, STAT3, IL-6 mRNA transcriptional levels in rats by PCR. Methotrexate, tripterine and high-dose T. wilfordii could down-regulate RORγt, IL-17, STAT3, IL-6 mRNA transcriptional levels in AA rat lymph nodes. The study on PK-PD model showed correlations between inflammatory factors and blood concentration of T. wilfordii. T. wilfordii and its main active constituent tripterine could show the inflammatory effect and treat RA by inhibiting IL-17 cytokine.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Biomarkers ; Female ; Interleukin-17 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tripterygium ; Triterpenes ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology

Molecular mechanisms whereby H2S influences its targets have been of intriguing interest. In this work, L-lactic dehydrogenase ( L-LDH) was used as the protein target, and three kinds of H2S-donor reagents ( NaHS, Na2S, and polysulfide) were chosen. The interactions of these H2S-donor reagents with L-LDH were disclosed by molecular fluorescent assays for real-time monitoring of L-LDH activity. The results of the SDS-PAGE showed that H2S might not interact with L-LDH to form disulfide/trisulfide bonding. Circular dichroism spectra assays revealed that H2S reagents could be likely to react with cysteine thiols to yield sulfurated thiol (-SSH) derivatives in L-LDH, and sulfur-containing PS ( polysulfide) was a stronger protein S-sulfurating agent than the other two sulfides. Matrix assisted laser desorptionionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry ( MALDI-TOF-MS/MS) study showed partial S-sulfuration of the active cysteine sites existed in L-LDH. In conclusion, H2S exerts its biological effects as a gasotransmitter through its reactions with cysteine thiols in proteins by S-sulfuration.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of thyroid nodules and thyroid dysfunction in southern mountainouss areas of Ningxia.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of 10 639 adults in Jingyuan county with a population proportionate sampling method.High-resolution ultrasound was used to examine the thyroid and fasting blood specimens were collected in the morning for measurement of TSH,FT4,FT3.Chi-square test and spearman rank correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results The prevalence of thyroid nodules was 29.08％,the sex-and age-adjusted rate was 27.17％.The prevalence of thyroid nodules was higher in women than in men (32.68％ vs.24.88％,x2=76.029 2,P＜0.001) and age was positively associated with thyroid nodules (r=0.272,P＜0.001).The rate of thyroid dysfunetion,subclinical hypothyroidism,subclinical hyperthyroidism,hypothyroidism,hyperthyroidism were 17.39％,13.00％,0.42％,0.96％,3.01％,respectively.The prevalence of thyroid nodules was higher in abnormal TSH group than in normal TSH group (39.44％ vs.27.24％,x2=95.624 0,P＜0.001).The level of THS,FT3,FT4 in thyroid nodules group differed fromn control group (Z=-9.144,P＜0.001;Z=-6.140,P＜0.001;Z=-1.997,P=0.046).Conclusion The prevalence of thyroid nodules and thyroid dysfunction were higher in southern mountainous areas of Ningxia.The relationship between thyroid nodules and thyroid function needs further research.We should pay attention to the early screening and diagnosis of thyroid nodules in mountainous areas.

BACKGROUNDPancreatic beta-cell apoptosis induced by lipotoxicity, to a large extent, contributes to the progression of type 2 diabetes. To investigate the mechanism of free fatty acid induced apoptosis, we aimed to study the effects of palmitic acid (PA) on the apoptosis and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) expression in βTC3 cells as well as the possible role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in this process.

METHODSHoechst 33258 was used to detect βTC3 cell apoptosis, which was induced by PA stimulation for 12 hours. PGC-1α expression was analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, IκB kinase β (IKKβ), IκBα, NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) and Rel-B expressions were analyzed by Western blotting. MG132 was employed to block the endogenous IκBα degradation before PA administration, and then its effect on PA-inducing cell apoptosis and PGC-1α mRNA expression was analyzed.

RESULTSSignificant increased cell apoptosis was found at the concentration of 0.5 mmol/L and 1.0 mmol/L PA administration. PA (0.5 mmol/L) could extensively reduced the expression of PGC-1α mRNA. After exposing βTC3 cells to 0.5 mmol/L PA for different time periods (0, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours), IKKβ protein expression increased while IκBα, NIK and Rel-B protein expression declined in a time-dependent manner. Pretreatment with MG132 to inhibit the degradation of IκBα, partially prevented the down-regulation of PGC-1α mRNA expression after 12-hour PA treatment in accordance with the decrease of PA induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSNF-κB canonical pathway was activated in PA-mediated βTC3 cell apoptosis, whereas non-canonical pathway was inhibited. Reduced PGC-1α expression by PA in βTC3 cells could involve the activation of canonical NF-κB pathway, so as to deteriorate the PA induced apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Leupeptins ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Palmitic Acid ; pharmacology ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism