Objective To observe the influence of silymarin on expressions of transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1) and collagen type Ⅲ(Col Ⅲ) in rats with experimental tubulointerstitial fibrosis(TIF) induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO).Methods Se-venty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham operation group(n=24),model group(n=24) and silymarin treatment group(n=24).The rats in model group and treatment group were operated by ligation of left-ureter.The rats in sham opera-tion group operated by dissociating left-ureter were taken as controls.Rats in treatment group were fed with silymarin [30 mg/(kg?d)]24 h before operation,and rats in model group and sham operation group were treated by intragastric administration with the same volume nomal saline at the same time.Eight rats were killed at day 7,14,and 21,respectively.The score of TIF changes,histologically,was evaluated under light microscope.Expressions of TGF-?1 and Col Ⅲ in tubulointerstitial tissue in 3 groups were investigated by immunohistochemistry.Results 1.The TIF pathological index in treatment group was less than that in model group,but more than sham operation group at day 14 and 21(Pa

Objective To investigate the expressions and significances of GATA-3 and Th2 cytokines in asthmatic mice.Methods Sixteen BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group and asthmatic group.The pathological changes in trachial and pulmonary tissue were observed with HE staining method.The GATA-3 mRNA expression in pulmonary tissue was messured with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).And the IL-5,IL-13 proteins in pulmonary tissue were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results HE staining showed infiltration of a great deal of inflammatory cells around the bronchial wall in asthmatic group,while there was no obvious infiltration in control group;Compared with control group,the expressions of GATA-3 mRNA and IL-5,IL-13 protein in pulmonary tissue increased significantly(Pa

Objective To study the effect of different concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1,25(OH)2D3] on cell proliferation,differentiation and the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mouse MC3T3E1 osteoblast.Methods Osteoblast were cultured in medium with different concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3.Incubated for 48 h,cell proliferation of osteoblast were examined by MTT reduction assay (mono-nuclear cell direc cytotoxicity assay),the osteocalcin (OC) levels in cell medium were detected by ELISA,and the expression of VDR mRNA and protein were examined by using SYBR Green real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results 1.After incubation with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48 h,the number of MC3T3E1 osteoblast was significantly less than that in control group(P0.05).3.SYBR Green real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that the expression of VDR mRNA as well as VDR protein of osteoblast in 10-8,10-9 mol/L experimental groups were significantly higher than those in control group (Pa0.05).Conclusions Cell proliferation of mouse osteoblast can be inhibited,while the cell differentiation was promoted by 1,25(OH)2D3.1,25(OH)2D3 up-regulated the expression of VDR in mouse osteoblast,which suggested that the VDR signal pathway may play some role in proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the features of drowning victims with psychiatric disorders to support further investigation on such cases. METHODS: One hundred and five archives of drowning victims with psychiatric disorders from January 2010 to June 2014 in Harbor Public Security Subbureau, Shanghai Public Security Bureau were reviewed. The decedents' general information, autopsy findings, case investigation data and disease histories were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 105 cases, 104 were suicides. Most decedents were poorly educated. Most suicides occurred in warm climate, and the corpses were usually found within 2 days. Most decedents had no suicide history and notes, but had abnormal mental or behavior changes before suicide. Depression, depression status and schizophrenia were the main types of psychiatric disorders, and only 9 decedents had received regular therapies before their deaths. CONCLUSION Mental disorder is a high risk factor in the drowning victims. Guardians should be aware of psychotic abnormal behaviors, especially during warm climate seasons.
China/epidemiology* ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Depressive Disorder/epidemiology* ; Drowning/psychology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders/psychology* ; Psychotic Disorders ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Schizophrenia ; Seasons ; Suicide/statistics & numerical data*

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of maternal vitamin D deficiency on lung morphogenesis and platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A) expression in rat offspring.

METHODSSprague-Dawley (SD) female rats were randomly divided into two groups: normal control and vitamin D deficiency, with 6 rats in each group. The vitamin D deficiecy group was kept away from light and fed with the forage without vitamin D. After 2 weeks, the rats were mated with normal SD male rats. The morphological changes of fetal rat lungs on day 20 of gestation and 1-day-old neonatal rat lungs were observed by light microscope and electronic microscope. The levels of PDGF-A mRNA and protein in fetal and neonatal rat lungs were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique and Western blot method respectively.

RESULTSUnder the light microscope, smaller alveolar space, smaller diameter of the respiratory membrane and thicker alveolus mesenchyma were observed in lungs of fetal and neonatal rats from the vitamin D deficiency group compared with the controls (P<0.05). Under the electronic microscope, fewer lamellar bodies but more glycogen deposition in intracytoplasm were observed in the lungs of fetal rats from the vitamin D deficiency group compared with the controls. There was an increased number of empty lamellar bodies in neonatal rats from the vitamin D deficiency group. The levels of PDGF-A mRNA and protein in lungs of fetal and neonatal rats from the vitamin D deficiency group were significantly lower than the controls (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMaternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may inhibit the development of lung morphogenesis and PDGF-A expression in late fetal and neonatal rats. The low expression of PDGF-A may be involved in the inhibitory effect of vitamin D deficiency on the lung development.

Animals ; Calcifediol ; blood ; Female ; Lung ; embryology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; embryology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of soil fertility in Sheyang county where Chrysanthemum morifolium has been cultivated for more than 30 years and to develop the special fertilizer for cultivation of C. morifolium.

METHODThe pH values, organic matter and the contents of total and available N, P, K and Zn in the soil layer of 0 to 40 cm, as well as the total N, P, K and Zn contents in the flowers, roots, stems and leaves of the plants, were analysed. The balanced fertilization plan for cultivation of C. morifolium was put forward. In addition, the formula of special fertilizer for cultivation of C. morifolium was determined according to flower yield and utilization rate of N, P, and K.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe soil had high pH values and high soil salt contents, with unbalanced application of N, P, and K fertilizers and a shortage of available Zn after cultivation of C. morifolium. The contents of soil organic carbon, N and P declined with increasing cultivation time of C. morifolium, which resulted from the improper rotations and fertilization. The balance fertilization practice and the special fertilizer utilization are effective ways to improve soil fertility for C. morifolium.

Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Fertilizers ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Potassium ; analysis ; Soil ; analysis ; Zinc ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression dynamics and significance of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) membrane type-matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MT-MMP-2) in hepatic fibrosis and its reversal counterpart.

METHODSAn experimental CCl4 induced hepatic fibrosis rat model was established by intraperitoneal administration of carbon tetrachloride for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks, and normal rats were used as a control group. The immunohistochemical methods and in situ hybridization were used to detect MMP-2,MT-MMP-2 mRNA and related antigens in the liver.

RESULTSMMP-2,MT-MMP-2 mRNA and related antigens were expressed in mesenchymal cells and parts of hepatocytes besides active pathological changes, especially in the fibrous septum and portal area. Expression of MMP-2,MT-MMP-2 mRNA and related antigens were increased in hepatic fibrosis and decreased gradually in its reversal counterpart.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggested that mesenchymal cells are the main cellular origins of MMPs. The levels of MMP-2 and MT-MMP-2 antigens and gene expression were closely related to hepatic fibrosis. MMP-2 and MT-MMP-2 may play important roles in hepatic fibrosis and its reversal counterpart.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Hepatocytes ; enzymology ; Liver ; enzymology ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; enzymology ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The specific inhibition of angiotensin II action at AT(1) receptors by losartan has been shown to decrease peripheral insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients and animal models. We examined the effect of losartan on the expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), protein kinase B (PKB) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), as well as the phosphorylation status of IRS-1 and the association between IRS-1 and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase in skeletal muscle from fat-fed and-streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, the effects of losartan on GLUT4 translocation in muscle cells and on insulin sensitivity were also evaluated. Muscle tissues were isolated from male losartan-treated and untreated normal or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats with a dose of 4 mg/kg per day for 6 weeks. Oral administration of losartan improved insulin sensitivity, which was determined by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In skeletal muscles, the protein levels of IRS-1, PKB and GLUT4 in NIDDM rats were not significantly different from those of the control rats, and they were not affected by losartan. The levels of IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, PI 3-kinase activity associated with IRS-1 and PKB activation after stimulation with insulin in muscle tissue of NIDDM rats were significantly decreased (P<0.01) compared with those in the control rats, while they were not increased by losartan. Losartan had a major effect on GLUT4 translocation in myocytes, as it significantly increased (P<0.05) the insulin-induced amounts of GLUT4 in plasma membrane (PM) and T-tubules (TT) in myocytes from NIDDM rats. Consistent with these results, the plasma glucose level in losartan-treated NIDDM rats was decreased (P<0.05) compared with that in untreated NIDDM rats. Our results suggest that losartan may exert beneficial effects on insulin resistance by increasing the translocation of GLUT4 in muscle tissue, which is probably associated with a non-PI 3-kinase-dependent mechanism.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; Insulin Resistance ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Muscle Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Phosphoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVERadioresistant cells in esophageal cancer is one of the important reasons for the local failure of radiotherapy. In recent years, some researchers used gene chip technology to screen the differentially expressed genes between parental and radioresistant human esophageal cancer cells. But there were some problems in these studies, for example comparing cells at only one time interval, and genetic background not matching. In this study, we selected 3 different pairs of parental and radioresistant human esophageal cancer cells, and compared the gene expression profiles by cDNA microarray at 3 time intervals to identify and analyze the differentially expressed genes between parental and radioresistant human esophageal cancer cells.

METHODSWe compared the gene expression profiles between parental cells (TE13, Seg-1, Kyse170) and radioresistant cells (TE13R, Seg-1R, Kyse170R) before, and at 8 h and 24 h after irradiation with a cDNA microarray consisting of 48 000 genes (Human Genome). We identified differentially expressed genes by Pathway and GO analyses, and verified the differentially expressed genes LEF1 and CTNNB1 by RT-PCR.

RESULTSA total of 460, 451, and 397 differentially expressed genes were found before, and at 8 h and 24 h after irradiation. After Pathway and GO analyses, 14 differentially expressed genes, participating in cell growth, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, gene repair and signal transmission, were selected to further research. LEF1 and CTNNB1 were verified by RT-PCR, and the results were consistent with those of cDNA microarray.

CONCLUSIONSThe WNT signal pathway may be an important pathway participating in the formation of radioresistance of esophageal cancer cells. LEF1 and CTNNB1 may be the important genes causing the esophageal cancer cell radioresistance.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; radiation effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Radiation Tolerance ; Transcriptome ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; radiation effects ; beta Catenin ; metabolism