Objective To investigate the mechanism of presynaptic protein (Munc18) antibody in inducing epilepsy on rat. Methods Munc18 antibody was continuously micro-injected into CA1 area of hippocampus in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat (the injection times were nine). The potential epileptic seizure was evaluated according to both electroencephalogram (EEG) and behaviors. HE, Nissle and TUNEL staining were applied on rat brain sections as to detecting the cell damage and apoptosis after tenth week. Results Ten of twelve rats produced epileptic EEG, five cases among these ten rats maintained abnormal EEG after the sixth week since injections. Nine of the above twelve rats had epileptic seizure according to Racine grade one to four, four cases among these nine rats kept seizure after the sixth week since injections. The number of neurons decreased (155?20,P

OBJECTIVETo apply needle-knife to treat lumber disc herniation (LDH) and surface electromyography were used to analyze biomechanical characteristic of patient's lumber muscle to make a comprehensive evaluation on its efficacy.

METHODSThirty patients who met the inclusive criteria were selected and treated with needle-knife, once a week for 2 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS), ASLR and JOA score before and after treatment were observed. Surface electromyography was applied to test the surface electromyography signals. AEMG, MFs and MPF were calculated before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, VAS was significantly reduced, ASLR, JOA, AEMG and MPF were obviously increased, and the absolute value of MFs was lowed (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe needle-knife could significantly relieve lumbar muscle strength, muscle tone and muscle fatigue, improve in the imbalance of lumbar extensor muscle group, leading to the recovery of biomechanical characteristic, and the clinical efficacy is superior.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Cryptotanshinone (CPT), a lipid soluble active compound in Salvia miltiorrhiza, has a significant inhibitory effect on multiple malignant tumors, e. g. chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells and can effectively enhance imatinib's chemotherapeutic effect. However, its functional molecular mechanism remained unclear. In this experiment, the authors conducted a systematic study on the effect of CPT on the imatinib sensitivity and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in CML cells by using CML cells K562 and imatinib persister K562-R. The MTT assays were performed to determine CPT's impact on the inhibitory effect of imatinib. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining analysis was used to detect the changes in the cell apoptosis rate. The active changes in apoptosis regulatory proteins Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and PARP were determined by Western blot. After the cells were pretreated with the gradient concentration of CPT, the expression of P-gp was analyzed by Western blot and flow cytometry. The changes in intracellular concentrations of imatinib were determined by HPLC analysis. The results indicated that the pretreatment with CPT significantly increased the proliferation inhibiting and apoptosis inducing effects of imatinib on K562 and K562-R cells as well as the degradation product expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and PARP, with a significant difference with the control group (P < 0.01). However, CPT showed no impact on the P-gp expression in CML cells and the intracellular concentrations of imatinib. In summary, the findings suggested that CPT enhanced the sensitivity of CML cells to imatinib. Its mechanism is not dependent on the inhibition in P-gp expression and the increase in intracellular drug concentration.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology

Background Previous experimental and clinical studies have proved that elevated serum uric acid increased risk for developing hypertension.Whereas,there are a paucity of information on the relationship between serum uric acid and prehypertension.Objective The purpose of this research is to evaluate the association between the serum uric acid and prehypertension.Method A cohort of seven thousand eight hundred thirty-nine subjects without hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases were recruited from a cross sectional study in urban and rural place in 9 provinces during 2005-2006.Based on serum uric acid(324 ?mol/L for overall population,366 ?mol/L for male,285 ?mol/L for female),people were categorized into quartiles.The odds ratio for prehypertension was calculat ed with the lowest quartile as the reference.Results The prevalence of prehypertension increased with increasing uric acid in total population(P324 ?mol/L)to lowest quartile 1(

Objective To identify the differential serum proteins in patients with hepatic injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism. Methods Six serum samples were collected from patients with liver injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism and healthy subjects(control gruop) in endemic arsenism area. Twodimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE) was performed to separate serum proteins, after silver staining, the differential expression of proteins were analyzed and then identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS). Results The 2-DE map of serum protein patterns of patients and normal control were established successfully. The results showed that there were an average of (824 ± 31 ) spots and (782 ± 42) spots on 2-DE matching of the patients and control groups and the matching rate was 94.9%(782/824). From these two groups 49 differential protein spots were identified, of which over 3 times the difference in the expression of 30 protein spots were singled out and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis was carried out. Ten proteins were identified. Upregulated expression was observed in alpha-2-macroglobulin, B-cell receptor-associated protein, keratin 1,apolipoprotein A-I, and down-regulated expression was observed in haptoglobin, α2-heremans-schimid-glycoprotein,mitogen-activated protein kinase 4, zinc finger protein 323, ZAP-70 and SP40 in the patient group. Conclusions The well-resolved and reproducible 2-DE serum patterns of patients are established and some differentially expressed proteins are characterized. Whether these proteins of differential expression are serum markers for liver injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism need to be further verified.

The present study was designed to observe the expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) and inhibitory Smads in kidney of rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN), and explore the possible mechanism of DN. Male Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were single injected with streptozocin (STZ, 55 mg/kg body weight) for 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks to induce DN. Blood glucose, kidney weight/body weight and 24-hour urine protein in the control and DN rats were examined; the expressions of BMP-7, Smad6 and Smad7 were detected by using immunohistochemical techniques, Western blot and real-time PCR. The results showed that blood glucose and 24-hour urine protein in DN rats were higher than that in the control rats and kidney weight/body weight was also elevated in DN rats, especially in 16-week STZ-induced rats. The expressions of BMP-7 and Smad6 proteins in DN rats were elevated, while BMP-7 mRNA expression was increased 2 weeks after STZ injection and decreased 16 weeks after STZ injection. The expressions of Smad7 protein and mRNA were elevated in DN rats 2 weeks after STZ injection and decreased 16 weeks after STZ injection. In addition, the expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and collagen type I (COL-I) mRNA were increased in DN rats. These results suggest in the early stage of DN, increase in BMP-7 and inhibitory Smad expression may play a role in the feedback regulation and restrain the development of DN.
Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smad6 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Objective:To investigate the effects of estradiol on ~(60)Co?-ray induced apoptosis of bone marrow hematopoietic cells of mice,and to discuss the related anti-irradiation mechanism.Methods:KM mice were randomly divided into 3 groups(15 mice/each group):control group(without radiation),pure radiation group and estradiol+radiation group(ER group).The pure radiation group was irradiated by 4.0 Gy?-ray at a dose rate of 1.15Gy/min;the ER group was administered with 0.1 mg estradiol(IM)at 10 days before 4.0 Gy?-ray radiation;and the control group received no special treatment.The apoptotic DNA segments of bone marrow hematopoietic cells were analyzed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis;flow cytometry was used to examine the apoptosis rate of cells and expression of Fas and Bcl-2 at 4 h,8 h,and 12 h after irradiation.Results:Eight hours after radiation,the apoptotic DNA segments were obviously increased and apoptotic DNA ladder appeared,which was not seen in the other 2 groups.The apoptosis rate of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in ER group was significantly lower than that in the pure radiation group at 4,8,and 12 h after irradiation(P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and the clinical value of external use of jiuyi Powder (JP) in treating plasma cell mastitis using partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA).

METHODSTotally 50 patients with plasma cell mastitis treated by external use of JP were observed and biochemical examinations of blood and urine detected before application, at day 4 after application, at day 1 and 14 after discontinuation. Blood mercury and urinary mercury were detected before application, at day 1, 4, and 7 after application, at day 1 and 14 after discontinuation. Urinary mercury was also detected at 28 after discontinuation and 3 months after discontinuation. The information of wound, days of external application and the total dosage of external application were recorded before application, at day 1, 4, and 7 after application, as well as at day 1 after discontinuation. Then a discriminant model covering potential safety factors was set up by PLSDA after screening safety indices with important effects. The applicability of the model was assessed using area under ROC curve. Potential safety factors were assessed using variable importance in the projection (VIP).

RESULTSUrinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), 24 h urinary protein, and urinary α1-microglobulin (α1-MG) were greatly affected by external use of JP in treating plasma cell mastitis. The accuracy rate of PLSDA discriminate model was 74. 00%. The sensitivity, specificity, and the area under ROC curve was 0. 7826, 0. 7037, and 0. 8084, respectively. Three factors with greater effect on the potential safety were screened as follows: pre-application volume of the sore cavity, days of external application, and the total dosage of external application.

CONCLUSIONSPLSDA method could be used in analyzing bioinformation of clinical Chinese medicine. Urinary β2-MG and urinary NAG were two main safety monitoring indices. Days of external application and the total dosage of external application were main factors influencing blood mercury and urine mercury. A safety classification simulation model of treating plasma cell mastitis by external therapy of JP was established by the two factors, which could be used to assess the safety of external application of JP to some extent.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; Alpha-Globulins ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Mastitis ; drug therapy ; Plasma Cells ; ROC Curve ; Safety

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)/Smad4 pathway in development of renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSMale Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were divided into 5 groups: group A (normal control), group B [diabetes mellitus (DM) 2 weeks], group C (DM 4 weeks), group D (DM 8 weeks), and group E (DM 16 weeks). Except for the normal control group, other groups were induced DM by single injection of STZ (55 mg/kg) respectively. Blood glucose level, serum creatinine, and 24-hour urine protein were examined. Expressions of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 protein and mRNA in kidney were detected using immunohistochemical technique, Western blot, and real-time PCR. mRNA expressions of stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and collagen In in kidney were also detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe levels of blood glucose, serum creatinine, and 24-hour urine protein in rats of group B, C, D, and E were higher than those of the control group. With the progression of renal fibrosis, the expressions of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 protein and mRNA in kidney of diabetic rats elevated. In addition, the renal MMP-3 mRNA expression diminished in diabetic rats, while TIMP-1 and collagen III mRNA increased.

CONCLUSIONSIn STZ-induced diabetic rats, the TGF-beta1/Smad4 appears to play an important role in renal fibrosis of DN. The increased expression of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 might result in the transcriptional regulation of downstream target genes of TGF-beta1/Smad4 pathway, which contributes to the progression of renal fibrosis in diabetic rats.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Smad4 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Animals ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Protein Kinase C ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar