Objective To investigate the effect of curcumin on the apoptosis in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion neurons in a rat model of diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) . Methods One hundred and eight male SD rats weighing 200-230 g were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n = 27 each): control group (group C), DNP group, solvent control group (group SC) and curcumin group (group Cur) . Diabetes was induced with intraperitoneal streptozocin 70 mg/kg. Successful induction of diabetes was defined as blood glucose ＞ 16.7 mmol/L. Curcumin and com oil 100 mg/kg (23 mg/ml) were given intraperitoneally once a day for 14 consecutive days starting from 14 days after administration of streptozocin in Cur and SC groups respectively. Mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured 2 d before and 14 d after streptozocin injection and 3, 7 and 14 d after curcumin injection. The pain threshold measured at 14 d after administration of streptozocin decreased by more than 15% of the baseline in all the rats. The expression of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion was determined at 3, 7 and 14 d after curcumin injection by immuno-histochemistry and Western blot, and the neuronal apoptosis rate was determined by TUNEL. Results Compared with group C, MWT and Bcl-2 expression were significantly decreased, TWL was significantly shortened, the neurona lapoptosis rate and caspase-3 expression were significantly increased in DNP, SC and Cur groups ( P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group DNP, MWT and Bcl-2 expression were significantly increased, TWL was significantly prolonged, the neuronal apoptosis rate and caspase-3 expression were significantly decreased in Cur group ( P ＜0.05) . There was no significant difference in the parameters mentioned above between DNP and SC groups ( P ＞0.05). Conclusion Curcumin can attenuate DNP by inhibiting the apoptosis in spinal dorsal hom and dorsal root ganglion neurons in rats, and the inhibition of caspase-3 expression and increase in Bcl-2 expression are involved in the mechanism.

Objective To study the identification rate of sentinel lymph node (SLN) in patients with breast cancer (BC) and the accuracy in predicting axillary lymph node(ALN) metastasis using methylene blue (MB) and patent blue violet (PBV) injection. Methods From October, 1999 to April, 2001, 94 patients with BC were selected for this study. Of them, 32 patients were injected with 1% MB and 62 patients with 1% PBV to identify SLN. All 94 patients underwent the axillary lymph node dissection. Results In MB group and PBV group , the SLN identification rate were 65.6% (21/32), 88.7% (55/62); the accuracy rate to predict axillary lymph node status were 90.5% (19/21), 98.2% (54/55) respectively. Conclusion Compared with MB ,PVB is the more ideal vital blue dye in identification of SNB.

Objective To investigate the effects of electrical stimulation on the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) in adult rats with spinal cord injury. Methods 72 adult SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: damage control group, electrical stimulation group and normal group. The spinal cord incomplete injury model on T9 was made with Allen's method. The electrical stimulation group received electrical stimulation for 7 d. They were assessed with the Basso, Beattie & Bresnahan locomotor rating scale (BBB scale), and the expression of NGF were tested with immunohistochemistry and Western blot l d, 3 d, 5 d, 7 d after injury. Results The BBB score improved after spinal cord injury, and electrical stimulation group improved more than control group since the 5th day after injury (P<0.05). The expression of NGF increased in electrical stimulation and injury control group after injury (P<0.05). Conclusion Electrical stimulation after spinal cord injury induces expression of NGF that creates a favorable microenvironment for nerve regeneration.

Objective To explore the relationship of four kinds of lifestyle factors,namely,prenatal passive smoking,hair dyeing or perming,exposure to noise,living in a house renovated in the past one year,with congenital heart disease.Methods A hospital-based case-control study was conducted.Totally 270 mothers in the case group and 1633 mothers in the control group were interviewed through a face-to-face questionnaire survey.A generalized linear model was employed to investigate the association between congenital heart disease and prenatal lifestyle factors.Results Both in Model 1 and Model 2,prenatal hair dyeing or perming had no association with congenital heart disease.On the other hand,prenatal passive smoking,exposure to noise and living in a house renovated in the past one year all increased the risk of congenital heart disease.After adjustment for all confounders,the OR values were 1.771 (95％ CI:1.079-2.909),2.079 (95％ CI:1.310-3.298),and 2.494 (95％ CI:1.511-4.116),respectively.Conclusion Prenatal passive smoking,exposure to noise and living in a house renovated in the past one year are the risk factors for congenital heart disease.It is very important to avoid such factors during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy.

OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence of anemia in children living in poor rural villages in western China and to find out related factors affecting hemoglobin level of children so as to search for proper intervention.

METHODS3747 children under 3 years old and their families were studied using stratified random sampling in 40 counties in western China. Databases were set up, and data logically checked by Epi 6.0 software. All the data were input with duplication method and analyzed by SPSS 10.0 software.

RESULTSThe prevalence of anemia of children under 3-year-old was 32.7% in 40 counties with significant difference among provinces with the highest in Guizhou province (43.5%). The lowest was in Ningxia and Qinghai provinces, which was 20%. The prevalence of anemia of children was relatively high in 6 and 18 months of age after birth, but declining when children grew older. Many factors were associated with children's anemia, viz. feeding pattern, age, diarrhea, family income, nationality, mother with anemia and drinking clean water etc.

CONCLUSIONInterventions as popularizing knowledge of appropriate feeding, drinking clean water and decreasing the prevalence of common diseases including diarrhea would decrease the prevalence of anemia of local children.

Age Factors ; Anemia ; epidemiology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

The object of this study is to investigate the pharmacokinetic interaction of pioglitazone hydrochloride and atorvastatin calcium in healthy adult Beagle dogs following single and multiple oral dose administration. A randomized, cross-over study was conducted with nine healthy adult Beagle dogs assigned to three groups. Each group was arranged to take atorvastatin calcium (A), pioglitazone hydrochloride (B), atorvastatin calcium and pioglitazone hydrochloride (C) orally in the first period, to take B, C, A in the second period, and to take C, A, B in the third period for 6 days respectively. The blood samples were collected at the first and the sixth day after the administration, plasma drug concentrations were determined by LC-MS/MS, a one-week wash-out period was needed between each period. The pharmacokinetic parameters of drug combination group and the drug alone group were calculated by statistical moment method, calculation of C(max) and AUC(0-t) was done by using 90% confidence interval method of the bioequivalence and bioavailability degree module DAS 3.2.1 software statistics. Compared with the separate administration, the main pharmacokinetic parameters (C(max) and AUC(0-t)) of joint use of pioglitazone hydrochloride and atorvastatin calcium within 90% confidence intervals for bioequivalence statistics were unqualified, the mean t(max) with standard deviation used paired Wilcoxon test resulted P > 0.05. There was no significant difference within t1/2, CL(int), MRT, V/F. Pioglitazone hydrochloride and atorvastatin calcium had pharmacokinetic interaction in healthy adult Beagle dogs.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Biological Availability ; Cross-Over Studies ; Dogs ; Drug Interactions ; Female ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Thiazolidinediones ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the polymorphism of prostacyclin synthase gene (CYP8A1) and myocardial infarction (MI) in Uigur population.

METHODSTotally 210 patients with MI and 206 healthy control subjects were detected by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The serum 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) was detected with radioimmunoassay kit in all subjects.

RESULTSThe frequencies of CC, AC and AA were 0.024 (5/210), 0.124 (26/210) and 0.852 (179/210) in MI group while ones those 0.010 (2/206), 0.073 (15/206) and 0.917 (189/206) in the controls. There was no significant difference in frequencies of CC, AC and AA genotypes between controls and MI cases (chi(2) = 0.782, P > 0.05), but the frequency of CC + AC genotype in MI group [0.14 (31/210)] was higher than that in the controls [0.083 (17/206)] giving significant difference (chi(2) = 4.321, P = 0.031). The C allele frequency in the MI group [0.086 (36/420)] was higher than that in the controls [0.046 (19/412)] showing significant statistical difference (chi(2) = 5.284, P = 0.021). There was significant difference (t = 6.255, P < 0.01) in serum 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) level between MI group [(17.40 +/- 4.56) pg/ml] and control group [(20.34 +/- 5.02) pg/ml]. In the cases and control group, the serum 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) level of the persons with CC + AC genotype [(14.30 +/- 3.31) pg/ml, (18.31 +/- 4.62) pg/ml] was lower than those of AA genotypes [(19.34 +/- 5.51) pg/ml, (25.10 +/- 5.00) pg/ml], and the statistical significance was also observed (t' = 6.934, P < 0.05; t = 5.393, P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the C allele of the CYP8A1 gene was an independent risk factor for MI (OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.06 - 2.05).

CONCLUSIONThe C allele of CYP8A1 might be a risk factor of MI in Uigur population, and be resulting from the decrease of serum 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) level for gene variation.

Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; ethnology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Population Groups

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) in rats and the tissue distribution of CPT-11 in mice after injection of irinotecan hydrochloride nanoparticles (CPT-11 NPs) via tail veins, separately, a LC-MS/MS method was established to determine the concentration of CPT-11 in whole blood of rats and in different tissues of mice. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of CPT-11 were compared after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs and CPT-11 solution. Compared with CPT-11 solution, the elimination half-life of CPT-11 was prolonged from 2.28 h to 3.95 h after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs, and its AUC was 1.47 times than that of CPT-11 solution. After the injection of CPT-11 NPs in mice, the concentrations of CPT-11 loaded in CPT-11 NPs were significantly higher in the whole blood, colon and lungs than those in CPT-11 solution, but lower in the spleen, liver, kidney and heart, but the least in brain. CPT-11 NPs could improve CPT-11 's AUC, and help CPT-11 to reach long circulation activity.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Camptothecin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Mice ; Nanoparticles ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of apigenin on semen parameters in male mice.

METHODSTotally 100 healthy male mice of Kunming strain were randomly divided into 5 groups according to the body weight: negative control, solvent control, low-dose apigenin, median-dose apigenin and high-dose apigenin, the latter three groups given intragastric apigenin at a fixed time every day for 7 and 14 days. At 35 days after the first medication, all the mice were killed and detected for the sperm motion parameters by computer aided sperm analysis (CASA).

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences in sperm motion parameters, density and motility between the negative control and the three apigenin groups after 7-day medication. At 14 days, the high-dose apigenin group showed remarkable decreases in average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), straightness (STR), wobbliness (WOB), the percentage of grade b sperm and sperm motility, and a significant increase in beat cross frequency (BCF) as compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONApigenin affects sperm motility in male mice to a certain extent.

Animals ; Apigenin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Semen ; drug effects ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of infrasound and its effects on the workers at power plants.

METHODSThe audible noise and infrasound in three thermoelectricity plants were measured and by using Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), the subjective sensation, and the physiological indices were compared between exposed workers and controls.

RESULTSThe infrasound levels were different at different measure sites of the three thermoelectricity works ranging from 40 to 98 dB. There was still 40 approximately 80 dB infrasound even when the soot blower stopped running. Different apparatus produced different infrasound levels with the highest ranging from 62 to 115 dB. A single frequency (16 Hz) infrasound was produced in certain department during working hour with sound pressure levels of 110 to 120 dB, but the audible noise sound pressure level was less than 70 dB. There was no significant difference in the indices representing vision fatigue and neurobehaviour function between exposed workers and controls. Workers at certain department experienced evident subjective sensation of neurobehavioral dysfunction, and the scores of somatization, depression, hostility, phobic anxiety, and psychotism in the SCL-90 were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control and the norm in China (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInfrasound is ubiquitous in the working environment, but usually, the noise levels are less than 120 dB. In some special production department, there is persistent infrasound above 110 to 120 dB. No obvious health effects are found among those who are exposed to infrasound below 100 dB. However, the workers who are chronically exposed to infrasound above 110 to 120 dB present notable subjective sensation of autonomic neurobehavioral dysfunction, and their psychological health status is not as good as those in the control and those in the domestic normal pattern.

Adult ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Power Plants ; Sound ; adverse effects ; Workplace