OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nano-SiO2 on spatial learning and memory.

METHODSTwenty-four male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (C group), low dose group (L group) and high dose group (H group). The rats were intragastrically administrated with nanometer particles at 25 and 100 mg/kg body weight every day for 4 weeks. After exposure, the ability of learning and memory of rats was tested by Morris water maze, and electrophysiological brain stereotactic method was used to test long-tear potentiation (LTP) in dentate gyrus (DG) of the rats.

RESULTSThe increase rate of body weight in H group was reduced significantly compared with C group ( P < 0.05). In the space exploration experiment of Morris water maze test, the escape latency of H group was longer than that of C group (P < 0.05). The rats of H group spent less time in finding the target quadrant (P < 0.05) . The rate of LP induction of H group was significantly lower than that of C group (P < 0.05). After high fre quency stimulation (HFS), The changes of amplitude of population spike (PS) of L group and H group were lower than those of C group significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNano-SiO₂may result in impairment of spatial learning and memory ability by reducing the rate of LTP induction and the increase of PS in hippocampus.

Animals ; Dentate Gyrus ; drug effects ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Nanoparticles ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Spatial Learning ; drug effects

The different biological functions were studied in mouse bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells isolated by differential time attachment to obtain the optimal adherent time in this study. Density gradient centrifugation-isolated bone marrow mononuclear cells were seeded on the fibronectin-coated dish. The 1-day cultured unattached cells were seeded on the second dish for 2 more days. Then unattached cells in the second dish were seeded on the third dish. The cells on 3 dishes were defined as 1-day adherent cells, 3-day adherent cells and 3-day unattached cells, respectively. After 20-day culture, the biological functions, such as the percentage of biomarkers, the ability of adhesion, and the ability of forming tubes in vitro were analyzed. The results showed that the percentages of positive CD34, FLK-1, and CD34/FLK-1 expressions in 1-day attached cells were significantly increased compared to those in the 3-day adherent or unattached cells (P < 0.01), which showed the strongest adhesion ability. The expression of eNOS in 1- or 3-day adherent cells was significantly higher than that in 3-day unattached cells (P < 0.01). The expression of VEGF in 3-day adherent cells was significantly higher than that in 1-day adherent cells or 3-day unattached cells (P < 0.01). These results suggest the biological functions of 1-day adherent cells are significantly stronger than that of 3-day adherent or unattached cells. VEGF expression in 3-day adherent cells is higher than that in 1-day adherent cells or 3-day unattached cells. The expression of eNOS in 1-day adherent cells or 3-day adherent cells is higher than that in 3-day unattached cells. The optimal adherent time to obtain mouse bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells is 1-3 d.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Time Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of retinol acid (RA) and triiodothyronine (T3) on alleviating the impairment of cognitive function by sleep deprivation (SD).

METHODSMale Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: control group (C group), sleep deprivation group (SD group), sleep deprivation + RA group (SD + RA group) and sleep deprivation + T3 group (SD + T3 group). Open field test (OFT) was used to observe the nervous behavior of the rats after SD and electrophysiological brain stereotactic method was used to test long-term potentiation (LTP) in dentate gyrus (DG) of the rats. Ng protein expression was determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the SD group, the number of crossing in OFT, the changes of amplitude of population spike (PS) and the expression of Ng protein in hippocampus were higher significantly in the SD + RA and SD + T3 groups. All of these had not significant difference comparing with the C group.

CONCLUSIONRA and T3 may alleviate the restrain state of neural system after SD by augmenting the expression of Ng protein in hippocampus.

Animals ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Dentate Gyrus ; metabolism ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Male ; Neurogranin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sleep Deprivation ; metabolism ; psychology ; Triiodothyronine ; pharmacology ; Vitamin A ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the dried roots of Zanthoxylum dimorphophyllumr. spinifolium and to find out the active constituents of the plant.

METHODModern chromatography was used to purify chemical constituents, and their structures were identified by various spectral methods.

RESULTFour compounds were isolated and identified as isopimpinellin (I), xanthoxyletin (II), 6-(2', 3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (III), 6-(2'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy, 3'-dihydroxy-3'-methybutyl)-7-hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (IV).

CONCLUSIONAll of the above compounds were isolated from the above mentioned plant for the first time.

Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Furocoumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical components from dried roots of Zanthoxylum dimorphophyllum var. spinifoliun.

METHODThe chemical components were isolated by low pressure column chromatography and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated and identified as 6-(2', 3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (I), 6-(2',3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-methoxy-8-(3'-methyl-but-2'-enyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (II),6-(2',3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (III), 6-(2', 3'-oxiranyl-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-methoxy-8- (3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (IV), 7-methoxy-8-(3'-methyl-but-2'-enyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (V).

CONCLUSIONThese compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of adiponectin (APN) on the expression of T-cadherin in cultured Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat cardiomyocytes injured by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Primary myocardial cells from neonatal rats were obtained by enzymatic digestion. The cells were divided into control group, H/R group and H/R+APN (3, 10, 20 and 30 μg/mL) groups. The H/R group was incubated in anoxic environment (anoxic solution saturated with high concentration N2) for 3 h, and then in the reoxygenation environment (the reoxygenation solution saturated with pure oxygen) for 1 h. The H/R+APN group was pretreated with different concentrations of APN for 24 h prior to the initiation of H/R. The content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured by chemistry chromatometry. Cellular apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of T-cadherin was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that, compared with control group, the apoptotic rate and release of LDH were significantly increased in the H/R group, whereas the expressions of T-cad mRNA and protein were decreased. Pretreating with APN significantly and dose-dependently decreased apoptotic rate and LDH release, and up-regulated T-cad mRNA and protein level in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes under H/R conditions. These results suggest that APN may protect cardiomyocytes against H/R-induced injury by up-regulating H/R-decreased T-cad expression.
Adiponectin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxygen ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between methyl-tetra-hydrofolic acid (MTHFR) 677 gene polymorphism and the risk of stomach cancer.

METHODSA population based case-control study was conducted and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to detect its genotypes.

RESULTSAmong cases with stomach cancer, the frequency of C/C, C/T, T/T genotype were 25.8%, 54.6%, 19.6%, compared with controls as 34.5%, 50.9%, 14.6% respectively. Using C/C genotype as reference, the OR of C/T or T/T genotype was 1.52 (95% CI: 1.04 - 2.23). 53.3% C and 46.7% T allele were distributed in stomach cancer cases, while 60.0% C and 40.0% T in controls. The OR for T allele in relation to C allele was 1.31 (1.02 - 1.69) when C allele was used as reference. In addition, the present study showed that MTHFR677 AnyT genotype might interact with smoking, moldy food intake, wheat porridge intake, eating salty food and Hp CagA infection to increase the risk of stomach cancer. No interaction was observed between MTHFR677 AnyT genotype and alcohol drinking or green tea intake.

CONCLUSIONMTHFR677 AnyT genotype, might increase the risk of stomach cancer development and the genotype might also interact with other environmental risk factors to increase the risk of stomach cancer.

Adult ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; enzymology ; etiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis on rat myocardial expression of calcium-sensing receptor and apoptosis.

METHODSThe rat atherosclerosis model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of VD(3) (6 x 10(5) U/kg) and high cholesterol diet. Wistar rats were divided into two groups: (1) Control group; (2) AS group (n = 12 each). The expressions of CaSR, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 were analyzed by Western blot and RT-PCR. Apoptotic cells were observed by TUNEL assay. The morphological changes of abdominal aorta and cardiac tissues were observed under optical and electro microscopes. The activity of LDH, CK, SOD and the content of MDA were assayed with ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The level of cTnT was detected by electrochemical immunofluorescence.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the activity of LDH and CK, the content of MDA and cTnT, the apoptosis index, the expression of CaSR, Bax and caspase-3 were significantly increased, but the SOD activity and Bcl-2 expression were significantly decreased, the myocardial ultrastructure injury was significantly aggravated in the AS group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis can up-regulate myocardial calcium-sensing receptor expression, promote myocardial apoptosis, aggravate oxidative stress and myocardial ischemia.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Calcium-Sensing ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of green tea in decreasing the risks of gastric cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer among alcohol drinkers or cigarette smokers.

METHODSA population based case-control study was conducted in Taixing, Jiangsu province.

RESULTSIn Taixing city, identified cases of stomach, liver and esophageal cancers were chosen with informed consent. The numbers were 206, 204, 218 respectively. Controls were chosen from normal population having lived in the area for longer than 10 years, also with informed consent. Green tea drinking seemed to have decreased 81%, 78%, 39% risk for the development of gastric cancer, liver cancer and esophageal cancer among alcohol drinkers. It might also have decreased 16%, 43%, 31% on the risks of developing the three kinds of cancers among cigarette smokers. Interaction assessment showed that drinking green tea could significantly decrease the risk of gastric cancer and liver cancer among alcohol drinkers, with ORs of interaction item 0.23 (95% CI: 0.10 - 0.55) and 0.25 (95% CI: 0.11 - 0.57) respectively.

CONCLUSIONHabit of drinking green tea seemed to have significant protective effects on the development of both gastric and liver cancer among alcohol drinkers while, green tea also having some protective effect on esophageal cancer among alcohol drinkers and on three kinds of cancers among cigarette smokers.

Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Digestive System Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; etiology ; Female ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenols ; administration & dosage ; Polyphenols ; Risk ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Tea ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors related to outcome of chronic severe hepatitis B.

METHODSA total of 336 consecutive patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) were analysed retrospectively. According to the outcome, objects were divided into survival group (n = 137) and death group(n = 199), then to observe the differences between them in respect to age, sex, family history, prothrombin activity (PTA), complications including ascites, infection, electrolyte disturbance, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome and the corresponding quantity of complications in each individual, antivirus therapy, artificial liver support system (ALSS) therapy, and alprostadil therapy. Finally, risk factors related to prognosis were selected by stepwise Logistic regression analyse.

RESULTSIn univariate analyse, significant differences between the two groups were found related to age, PTA, complications and its quantity (P < 0.01 for all), and antivirus therapy (P < 0.05) rather than sex, family history and treatment of ALSS or alprostadil. Logistic regression revealed that risk factors comprised of PTA and quantity of complications, antivirus therapy was the only protective factor.

CONCLUSIONA numbers of factors including age, PTA, complications and its quantity, and antivirus therapy affect the prognosis of CSHB, among which, antivirus therapy can reduce the death rate.

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome