OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the overexpression of the ERbeta gene on the penile vascular endothelium of ERbeta knockout (ERbetaKO) mice and its molecular mechanisms.

METHODSWe randomly divided 12 ERbetaKO male mice into groups A (ERbetaKO + TNFalpha + pAdxsi-ERbeta) and B (ERbetaKO + TNFalpha + empty virus), the former treated by pAdxsi-ERbeta adenovirus transfection, the latter with empty virus, and meanwhile both injected intraperitoneally with TNFalpha at 6 microg per kg body weight per d for 14 days. Then we observed the erectile function of the mice by APO, determined the changes of the endothelial markers CD34 and vWF by immunohistochemical staining, and detected the expressions of the relevant molecules in the eNOS-NO pathway by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with group B, group A showed a significantly increased number of penile erections (0.50 +/- 0.55 vs 2.17 +/- 0.41, P < 0.05), shortened erectile latency ([28.83 +/- 1.33] min vs [24.00 +/- 1.27] min, P < 0.05), enriched CD34 and vWF markers (0.67 +/- 0.52 vs 1.50 +/- 0.55 and 0.50 +/- 0.55 vs 1.33 +/- 0.52, both P < 0.05), elevated expressions of eNOS and Cam (RT-PCR: 1.38 +/- 0.03 vs 1.62 +/- 0.05 and 1.02 +/- 0.09 vs 1.42 +/- 0.05, both P < 0.05; Western blot: 1.27 +/- 0.04 vs 1.55 +/- 0.07 and 0.76 +/- 0.05 vs 0.95 +/- 0.08, both P < 0.05), and reduced expression of caveolin-1 (RT-PCR: 2.13 +/- 0.13 vs 1.72 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05; Western blot: 3.99 +/- 0.16 vs 3.40 +/- 0.14, P < 0.05). The results of RT-PCR were consistent with those of Western blot.

CONCLUSIONThe ERbeta gene protects the penile vascular endothelium via the eNOS-NO pathway.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mice, Knockout ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Penis ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Transfection

Geo-herbals are preferred by long-term clinical application of Chinese medicine, they are produced in a specific area and affected by the specific production and processing methods. Geo-herbals have a high reputation, compared with other regions produced by the same kind of herbs with good quality, efficacy and stable quality characteristics. Geo-herbal is a unique concept that has been formed by the history of Chinese civilization for thousands of years and the history of Chinese medicine. According to the definition of geo-herbal, it can be seen that there are some differences in the quality and efficacy of the same kind of medicinal herbs in different regions, and there is some similarity in the specific area. In this study, the spatial distribution characteristics of artemisinin in Artemisia annua were analyzed by spatial statistical analysis. ①The spatial autocorrelation of artemisinin content was analyzed by "I coefficient". The results showed that the content of artemisinin in each province was significant and positive spatial autocorrelation. The content of artemisinin in each province was not randomly distributed, but with a clear spatial aggregation characteristics. ②The spatial variability of artemisinin content was analyzed by "G statistic". The results showed that the area with high content of artemisinin was distributed in the southwest region, and the content of artemisinin was concentrated in the space, which tends to accumulate at high value. The content of artemisinin in Tianjin and Liaoning province is low, and it tends to accumulate at low value, while the content of artemisinin in other provinces is the transition zone of high and low value. ③Based on the index of artemisinin in each province, the spatial correlation of artemisinin content in each region was analyzed by "moran scatter plot". The results showed that the content of artemisinin in nine provinces such as Guangxi and Chongqing belonged to high value gathering area. ④Based on the artemisinin content and ecological environment factor of sampling point, the "geophysical detector" was used to analyze the continuous quantitative data and discontinuous qualitative data. The results showed that the sunshine, temperature and precipitation were the main factors affecting the content of artemisinin.

The differences in the spatial distribution of regional Chinese material medicine resources between regions are determined by differences in natural conditions and social resources among different regions. Spatiotemporal evolution of the distribution of Chinese material medicine resources is a manifestation of the development process of Chinese medicine industry in time and space. The spatiotemporal evolution of the distribution of regional Chinese material medicine resources can reveal the regularity of spatial distribution of Chinese material medicine resources. County as the basic unit of the national material medicine resources census, the difference of resource endowment is of great significance to the rational development of Chinese material medicine resources policy and the coordinated development of regional resources and environment. Based on the results of the pilot project of Jilin province, this study selected 51 counties that had completed the census of Chinese material medicine resources. According to the species of Chinese material medicine resources, we explored the diversity of Chinese material medicine resources in Jilin province by using statistical data analysis (ESDA), trend surface analysis and spatial variability function to analyze the spatial differences of Chinese material medicine resources. Chinese material medicine resources are distributed in the eastern and southeastern part of Jilin province, mostly in the Changbai Mountains. The species of Chinese material medicine resources tend to be low-value spatial aggregation; the overall cold spots are located in Changchun and Jilin city, near the administrative center, mostly urban built-up area. The rich areas of Chinese material medicine resources are rich in hot spots, mainly in broad-leaved forest. The low-abundance of Chinese material medicine resources is dominated by cultivated vegetation.

Anemia ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance ; Paraproteinemias

Objective To investigate the relationship between the levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine and gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in children with enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Methods The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in vitro. The levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The plasma norepinephrine level of severe group was significantly higher than the mild group in children with EV71 infection in HFMD (P < 0.05); however, the levels of plasma adrenaline in two groups had no statistical differences (P > 0.05); There was no significant difference in the distribution of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C genotype and allele between EV71 infection group and healthy control group (P > 0.05). Further analysis of EV71 infection group by dividing it into mild and severe groups showed that there was no significant difference in the distribution of genotype and allele between these two groups as well (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in different genotypes of EV71 infection group (P > 0.05), and in the levels of plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine in the mild and severe groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions As the disease gets worse, the plasma norepinephrine level has a rising trend in children with EV71 infection in HFMD, which is an important indicator to evaluate the progress of the disease. However, the gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C have no significant correlation, not only with the susceptibility and severity of EV71 infection in hand, foot and mouth disease, but also with the levels of catecholamine.