ObjectiveTo observe the expression of syntaxin-1 in hippocampus of adult rats with hypothyroidism and the role of different doses of thyroid hormone replacement therapy,further to explore the molecular mechanism of brain damage.MethodsAll 44 male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to their body mass(250 - 300 g):hypothyroidism group,routine dosage thyroxine treatment group,high dosage thyroxine treatment group and control group (11 in each group).Hypothyroidism group,routine dosage thyroxine treatment group and high dosage thyroxine treatment group received daily intraperitoneal injection of propylthiouracil (PTU) 10 mg/kg.Hypothyroidism group was given PTU by intraperitoneal injection for two weeks after the previous four week treatment,the routine dosage thyroxine treatment group and the high dosage thyroxine treatment group were given 50,200 μg/kg L-thyroxine daily intraperitoneally for two weeks; the control group received daily intraperitoneal injection of saline.The levels of serum T3,T4 were assayed by radioimmunoassay method,and the level of syntaxin-1 in hippocampus was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.ResultsIn the hypothyroidism group,the levels of serum T3,T4[(0.34 ± 0.04),(43.01 ± 2.95)nmol/L] were significantly lower than those in the control group[(0.65 ± 0.05),(55.20 ± 3.56)nmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05].In the routine dosage of thyroxine treatment group,the levels of serum T3,T4[(0.63 ± 0.05),(55.04 ± 3.77)nmol/L] were not significantly different compared to the control group (all P ＞ 0.05 ).In the high dosage thyroxine thyroid hormone treatment group,the levels of serum T3,T4[(1.11 ± 0.10),(96.68 ± 6.42)nmol/L] were significantly higher than those in the control group(all P ＜ 0.05).The levels of syntaxin-1 protein in the CA1,CA3 and dentate gyrus(DG) of all layer regions of hippocampus (0.059 ± 0.016,0.064 ± 0.014,0.068 ± 0.016,0.069 ± 0.017,0.072 ± 0.016,0.070 ± 0.011,0.051 ± 0.012,0.072 ± 0.017) were significantly higher compared to the control group(0.037 ± 0.008,0.045 ± 0.010,0.042 ±0.009,0.040 ± 0.010,0.053 ± 0.009,0.042 ± 0.009,0.032 ± 0.007,0.047 ± 0.010,all P ＜ 0.05).In the routine dosage and the high dosage thyroxine thyroid hormone treatment group,the level of syntaxin-1 in CA1,CA3and DG regions(0.041 ± 0.011,0.046 ± 0.017,0.044 ± 0.014,0.037 ± 0.008,0.051 ± 0.010,0.043 ± 0.010,0.033 ± 0.011,0.045 ± 0.014 and 0.040 ± 0.010,0.045 ± 0.011,0.043 ± 0.010,0.033 ± 0.009,0.050 ± 0.010,0.041 ± 0.009,0.032 ± 0.009,0.046 ± 0.009)were not significantly different compare to the control group(all P＞0.05).ConclusionThe expression of syntaxin-1 in hippocampus of adult-onset hypothyroidism is increased,which can be reversed by routine dosage treatment of thyroxine.

Objective To analyze the clinical speciality of invasive fungal infection(IFI)and provide doctors with clinical evidence for early anti-fungal therapy.Method One hundred and thirty-seven patients with 91 male and 46 female,who suffered from invasive fungal infection in ICU from January.1,2000 to June 30, 2006,were enrolled in this study.The age ranged from 17 to 82 years old.Out of 137 patients with IFI,the percentage of albicans candida,glabirate candida,tropicalis candida and parapsilosis candida were 47.4%, 26.3%,20.4% and 3.6%,reseparately.The sputum,urine,blood and other drainages were collected to perform the fungal examination after three days of admission every three days.Results Of 137 patients,42 of them were complicated with hemorrhage,53 patients with IFI developed candida anthema in the chest,abdomen and extremity.,49 patients suffering from IFI had organ dysfunction.The chest image revealed that infiltration caused by IFI especially occurred in apex of lung in some patients.The pathogen analysis displayed that albicans candidiasis easily developed candida anthema,glabirate candidiasis frequently resulted in organ dysfunction,and tropicalis candida led to hemorrhage in some organs.Conclusions The clinical specialty,of IFI caused by candida included hemorrhage,candida anthema,organ dysfunction,and infiltration in apex of lung.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of local co-transfection vascular endothelial growth factor165 (VEGF165) and tissue-type plasminogen activator genes on inhibiting intimal hyperplasia and restenosis in rabbits artery after operation injury and possible mechanisms.

METHODSMicrology operation injury was used to establish the model of intimal injury of right external iliac artery in rabbits. To select 120 male New Zealand rabbits and were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 40, in each group): Group A (physiological brine control group), Group B (pBudCE4.1 group), Group C (pBudCE4.1/VEGF165-tPA group). The vas-wall of micrology operation injury were infused respectively physiological brine, pBudCE4.1 and pBudCE4.1/VEGF165-tPA transfection solution by micro-injector. Each group were divided into 5 subgroups (n = 8, in each subgroup) randomly according to the sacrifice times (2 d, 1 week, 2 week, 4 week and 8 week after operation). The injured vascular specimen were harvested for pathology test, electric microscopy study, reverse transcription-PCR examining and immunochemistry detecting.

RESULTSThe intimal area and narrow ratio of vases in Group C at every time point after operation were significantly lessened than that in Group A and Group B (P < 0.01). The narrow ratio of vases in Group C at 8 week after operation were decreased respectively by 57.9% and 59.0% than that in Group A and B. The expression of VEGF165 mRNA in Group C were increased significantly than that in Group A and B at every time point after operation (P < 0.01), the expression reached the peak at 1 week and continued to 4 week after operation. Immunohistochemical identified that tPA positive cell in Group C were significantly increased than that in Group A and B (P < 0.01) at every time point after operation.

CONCLUSIONLocal co-transfection VEGF165 and tPA genes could restrain intimal hyperplasia and restenosis of vas, which lay a foundation for future multi-gene therapy of vascular intimal hyperplasia.

Animals ; Arteries ; pathology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Hyperplasia ; prevention & control ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Plasmids ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct the localization system involving anti-TfR monoclonal antibody (McAb) and AFP promoters and assess its effect on human hepatoma cell lines.

METHODSThe conjugate of anti-TfR McAb and polylysine (PLL) was made by SPDP and purified by molecular screen chromatography. DNA blocking test determined that the ratio of one pEBAF/tk to six Ab-PLL was the most suitable to couple them. The pEBAF/tk recombinant plasmid bearing HSV-TK gene was coupled to Ab-PLL by noncovalent bond. The pEBAF/tk was transferred into human hepatoma cell line HepG2, SMMC7721 and pulmonary cancer cell line A549 by receptor-mediated gene delivery (Ab-PLL-DNA) and liposome procedure. The growth inhibitory rates of HepG2, SMMC7721 and A549 cells were measured by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe inhibitory rates of HepG2/tk in 100 mg/L and 1 mg/L of GCV were 60.5% and 24.3%, respectively. The inhibitory rate of GCV to SMMC7721 was 23.2% in 3 days. The pulmonary cancer cell A549, A549/tk (Ab) and A549 /tk (lipo) could not be inhibited by the addition of GCV.

CONCLUSIONThe localization system employed in this paper has high specificity, effectiveness and safety for gene therapy. It would be a promising strategy for gene therapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ganciclovir ; therapeutic use ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Receptors, Transferrin ; immunology ; Simplexvirus ; enzymology ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; genetics

Adolescent ; Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Adult ; Age Factors ; Athletic Injuries ; epidemiology ; Blood Group Antigens ; Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; education ; statistics & numerical data ; Physical Education and Training

AIMTo investigate the effects of glycyrrhiza decoction on migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) and gastrointestinal hormone in small intestine in rats.

METHODSWe observed MMC cycle,phase Ill duration,fast wave numbers of phase III of MMC in one minute, fast wave numbers of one cluster in phase III of MMC of small intestine of glycyrrhiza group and control group rats with electrophysiology method, and immunohistochemistry to examine relative content of serotonin (5-HT), substance p(SP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in small intestinal chromophil (EC) and myenteric nerve plexus in small intestine of control group and glycyrrhiza group rats.

RESULTSCompared glycyrrhiza group with control group,we found that glycyrrhiza was able to decrease fast wave numbers in one minute and fast wave numbers in one cluster in phase III of MMC of small intestine (P < 0.05), and evidently extend small intestinal cycle of MMC (P < 0.05), it also shortened the phase III III duration (P < 0.05) or made the phase III of MMC absent. Compared glycyrrhiza group with control group it was indicated that content of 5-HT in small intestinal mucous membrane and myenteric nerve plexus was evidently decreased (P < 0.05), and content of SP in myenteric nerve plexus of small intestine of rats was evidently decreased (P < 0.05), and content of VIP in small intestine of rats was evidently increased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGlycyrrhiza is able to inhibit small intestinal motility, this inhibition is related with the amount of 5-HT, SP, VIP secreted by small intestinal mucous membrane of rats.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electromyography ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Glycyrrhiza ; Intestine, Small ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; analysis ; Substance P ; analysis ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo determine the affinity of new opioid receptor ligands to cloned mu opioid receptors stably expressed in CHO cell.

METHODSThe binding characteristics of the opioid ligand [3H] diprenorphine (3H-dip) were studied by cellular biological techniques and radioligands binding in cloned mu opioid receptors stably expressed in CHO cells in saturation binding experiments, and were followed by competition binding experiments with a variety of new synthesized opioid receptor ligands.

RESULTSThe Kd and Bmax of [3H] diprenorphine bound to mu receptors were 1.06 nmol/L and 930 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Competition binding experiments revealed that ligand 3# and 12# displayed much higher affinity than DAMGO and Morphine for the cloned mu opioid receptor. However, the affinities of ligands 2#, 6#, 8# and 9# were lower than DAMGO and Morphine.

CONCLUSIONThe present results suggest that the new ligands 3# and 12# have higher affinity to mu opioid receptors. However, ligands 2#, 6#, 8# and 9# have lower affinity to mu opioid receptors.

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Binding, Competitive ; CHO Cells ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cricetinae ; Diprenorphine ; pharmacology ; Ligands ; Receptors, Opioid, mu ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism

In order to investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograpy (ERCP) in liver cirrhosis patients with common bile duct stones, we retrospectively analyzed data of 46 common bile duct stones patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent ERCP between 2000 and 2008. There were 12 cases of Child-Pugh A, 26 cases of Child-Pugh B, and 8 cases of Child-Pugh C. 100 common bile duct stones patients without liver cirrhosis were randomly selected. All the patients were subjected to ERCP for biliary stones extraction. The rates of bile duct clearance and complications were compared between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. The success rate of selective biliary cannulation was 95.6% in liver cirrhotic patients versus 97% in non-cirrhotic patients (P>0.05). The bile duct clearance rate was 87% in cirrhotic patients versus 96% in non-cirrhotic patients, but the difference was not statistically significant. Two liver cirrhotic patients (4.35%, 2/46) who were scored Child-Pugh C had hematemesis and melena 24 h after ERCP. The hemorrhage rate after ERCP in non-cirrhotic patients was 3%. The hemorrhage rate associated with ERCP in Child-Pugh C patients was significantly higher (25%, 2/8) than that (3%, 3/100) in non-cirrhotic patients (P<0.01%). There was no significant difference between these two groups in the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and cholangitis. ERCP is safe and effective for Child-Pugh A and B cirrhotic patients with common bile duct stones. Hemorrhage risk in ERCP is higher in Child-Pugh C patients.

OBJECTIVEShen Yan Ling Tablet is an innovative compound of traditional Chinese medicine, scientifically prepared with Tripterygium wilfordii, Radix Astragali, and others, with precise efficacy on renal diseases and reduced adverse effects of Tripterygium wilfordii. Based on the Guiding Principles for New Drug Toxicity Research Before Clinical Application, we investigated the long-term toxicity of Shen Yan Ling Tablet and its effect on the reproductive function in rats.

METHODSAccording to the clinical therapeutic dose and the results of the acute toxicity test of Shen Yan Ling Tablet, we equally divided 80 rats (males and females half-and-half) into a low-dose (1.25 g/kg body wt), a medium-dose (2.50 g/kg body wt), a high-dose (5.00 g/kg body wt) and a control group. After a 3-month medication, we conducted standardized long-term toxicity tests and observed the effects of Shen Yan Ling on the serum sexual hormones and epididymal sperm count.

RESULTSAfter 3 months of treatment with Shen Yan Ling, no death occurred, the general status remained unchanged, and the parameters of blood cytology and biochemistry fluctuated within the normal range, without any significant changes (P > 0.05). Some blood parameters, RBC, WBC, HGB, AST and TBIL, showed statistic changes (P < 0.05), but with no clinical significance. There were no significant differences in the mass coefficients of the main organs between the medication and control groups. The high-dose group exhibited slight hepatic and pulmonary pathological changes and significantly reduced sperm counts in the epididymis, but no significant changes in serum sexual hormones (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThree-month medication of Shen Yan Ling at 1.25 - 5.00 g/kg produced no significant accumulated toxicity on rats, but it had a negative effect on their reproductive function at a higher dose of > or = 5.00 g/kg.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; Female ; Male ; Nephritis ; drug therapy ; Organ Size ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Tablets ; Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Tripterygium