Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism

Chlamydial infection in human urogenital tract induces inflammation and causes tissue damage and scarring. It is thought that cytokine production by the Chlamydia-infected cells plays a key role in chlamydial disease processes. Although many cytokines have been detected during chlamydial infection, little is known about the molecular mechanisms on how Chlamydia triggers and sustains the inflammatory cytokine cascades. In the current study, chlamydial infection of the human cervical epithelial cell line HeLa cells can induce the production of IL-8, IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-6. Using inhibitors for probing intracellular kinase signaling pathways required for the Chlamydia-induced cytokines, it was found that the Chlamydia-activated MAPK / P38 pathway is required for the chlamydial induction of IL-1α and IL-6 while both the Chlamydia-activated MAPK/ERK and MAPK/P38 pathways contribute to the production of IL-8.

Objective To investigate the effect of parecoxib on cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats. Methods Twenty-four adult male SD rats, weighing 230-250 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 8 each): group Ⅰ sham operation (group S), group Ⅱ AMI and group Ⅲ parecoxib (group P). Myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of left anterior descending branch (LAD) of coronary artery in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ . In group S, LAD and cervical sympathetic trunk were exposed but not ligated and transected.Group P received intrperitoneal parecoxib 8 mg/kg once a day for 3 days 24 h after ligation of LAD, while group AMI received normal saline instead. At 4th day after ligation LAD, the left ventricular systolic pressure ( LVSP),left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and ± dp/dtmax were measured and recorded. Blood samples were taken from common carotid artery to determine the plasma concentrations of TXA2 and PGI2 and PGI2/TXA2 was calculated. Then the animals were sacrificed and hearts removed. Myocardial infarct size of left venicle was calculated. Results Compared with group S, LVSP, ± dp/dtmax, plasma concentrations of PGI2 and PGI2/TXA2 were significantly decreased, while LVEDP and plasma concentrations of TXA2 increased in group AMI and P( P ＜0.05). Compared with group AMI, LVSP, ± dp/dtmax, plasma concentrations of PGI2 and PGI2/TXA2 were significantly decreased, while LVEDP and plasma concentrations of TXA2 increased in group P ( P ＜ 0.05). There was no significant difference in myocardial infarct size between group AMI and P (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion Parecoxib can improve cardiac function after AMI in rats and the mechanism is related to regulation of the balance of PGI2/TXA2.

Objective To observe effects of tetrandrine on β-glucan induced RAW 264 .7 cells proliferation .Methods RAW 264 .7 cells model was established .Four methyl thiazol tetrazolium(MTT) was used to detect the effects of different concentrations of tetrandrine on the proliferation of RAW264 .7 cells .The levels of interleukin(IL)-6 ,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) ,prostaglan-din E2 (PGE2 ) and IL-10 in the culture supernatant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) .Results MTT results showed that the growth curves of different concentrations of tetrandrine on RAW264 .7 cells had biphasic affections .ELISA results suggested that tetrandrine could inhibit the IL-6 ,TNF-α,PGE2 expressions and promote IL-10 expression .Conclusion Effects of tetrandrine onβ-glucan induced RAW264 .7 cells proliferation are relative to inhibition of IL-6 ,TNF-α,PGE2 expressions and promotion of IL-10 expression .

Adolescent ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Coronary Angiography ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications

Animals ; Gene Expression ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; genetics ; metabolism ; p21-Activated Kinases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of human leucocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR) gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients of various TCM syndrome types in order to seek an objective index for syndrome differentiation of SLE.

METHODSSLE patients were sorted into various syndrome types by TCM syndrome differentiation, i. e. Pi-Shen yang-deficiency type (A), yin-deficiency with internal heat type (B), qi-yin deficiency type (C) and Gan-Shen yin-deficiency type (D). Their peripheral blood sample was collected for detecting HLA-DR positive lymphocytes and monocytes in PBMC using flow cytometry.

RESULTSComparisons among patients of various syndrome type showed that the proportion of HLA-DR positive monocytes and lymphocytes in PBMC in patients of type A was the lowest (P < 0.01); proportion of HLA-DR positive lymphocytes in patients of type B was significantly higher than in those of type C and D (P < 0.01), and that in type D was higher than in type C (P < 0.05); total proportion of HLA-DR positive cells in patients of type A was the lowest, that in type B was higher than that in type C and D (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found between the latter two types (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHLA-DR could be taken as an objective index for reference in syndrome differentiation of SLE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; HLA-DR Antigens ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; classification ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Syndrome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of CDK4 and cyclin D1 in gastric carcinoma,and to discuss their correlation with WHO histological classification,TNM stages and lymph node metastasis.Methods Forty paraffin wax specimens from patients with gastric carcinoma were collected and expression of CDK4 and cyclin D1 proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the positive rates for CDK4 and cyclin D1 protein were 65% and 55%,respectively.There was positive correlation between CDK4 and cyclin D1 proteins(P0.05).Conclusion CDK4 and cyclin D1 proteins are frequently overexpressed in gastric carcinoma and there is a positive relationship between the two proteins,which may be involved in the development of gastric carcinoma.

The paper reported an investigation of the pharmacokinetics of SN-38 (7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin) in rats and the tissue distribution in mice after injection of irinotecan hydrochloride nanoparticles (CPT-11) via tail veins. An LC-MS/MS method was established to determine the concentrations of SN-38 in whole blood of rats and in different tissues of mice. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of SN-38 were compared after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs and CPT-11 solution. Compared with irinotecan solution, the elimination half-life of SN-38 was prolonged from 2.17 h to 2.67 h after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs, but its AUC had little change. After the injection of CPT-11 NPs in mice, over time, the concentrations of CPT-11-metabolized SN-38 in CPT-11 NPs were significantly higher in the whole blood, colon and lungs than those in CPT-11 solution, followed by in the spleen and liver, but those in the heart and brain had no change. However, the amount of SN-38 in the kidneys was reduced with time. CPT-11 NPs could prolong SN-38's (one of its metabolites) blood circulation time in rats and significantly increased the concentration of CPT-11-metabolized SN-38 in the whole blood, colon and lungs of mice. CPT-11 NPs made SN-38 efficiently target-bind to the colon and lungs of mice.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacokinetics ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Colon ; metabolism ; Half-Life ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lung ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nanoparticles ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo explore the action mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Shenmen" (HT 7) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) on insomnia.

METHODSThirty SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group and an EA group, 10 cases in each group. The insomnia model was made by immobilization method in the model group and EA group. After model establishment, rats in the blank group and model group were treated with fixation and no treatment was given. Rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Shenmen" (HT 7) and "San-yinjiao" (SP 6) for 15 min, once a day for 4 days. After treatment, the level of daytime and nighttime activity, open-arm entry percentage and open-arm time percentage of elevated plus-maze test were measured; the content of noradrenaline (NE), dopamine (DA) and epinephrine (EPI) in plasma and NE, DA in thalamus and brainstem were detected by using euzymelinked immunosorbent assay method.

RESULTSCompared with the blank group, the daytime activity was increased and nighttime activity was reduced in the model group (both P<0. 05); the open-arm entry percentage and open-arm time percentage of elevated plus-maze test were both reduced in the model group (both P<0. 05); the contents of NE, DA, EPI in the plasma and NE, DA in thalamus and brainstem were increased in the model group (all P<0. 05). Compared with the model group, the daytime activity was reduced and nighttime activity was increased in the EA group (both P<0. 05); the open-arm entry percentage and open-arm time percentage of elevated plus-maze test were both increased in the EA group (both P<0. 05); the contents of NE, DA, EPI in the plasma and NE, DA in thalamus and brainstem were reduced in the EA group (all P< 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Shenmen" (HT 7) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) can restrain the over-activity of the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system to treat the insomnia.

Acupuncture Points ; Adrenal Medulla ; metabolism ; Animals ; Anxiety ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Norepinephrine ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; physiopathology