Animals ; Neural Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Semaphorins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE:To study the chemical constituents of the flower of Zang Epipremnum aureum. METHODS:The con-stituents of ethyl acetate extract of the flower of E. aureum were separated and purified with varied chromatographic techniques, and the structures were identified based on spectral data and chemical properties. RESULTS:Ten compounds were isolated from eth-yl acetate extract of the flower of E. aureum,they were identified as rutamontine(1),edgeworoside C(2),edgeworin(3),tiliro-side (4),helichrysoside (5),kaempferol (6),2,4-dihydroxypheny-2-hydroxy-4-metho-xybenzyl-ketone (7),ethyl caffeate (8), phthalic acid bis-(2-ethyl-hexyl) ester (9) and noreugenin (10). CONCLUSIONS:Compound 7 is firstly isolated from natural source,compounds 5,8 and 9 is firstly isolated from the family Thymelaeaceae,compound 6 is firstly isolated from Edgeworthia and compound 2 and 10 are firstly isolated from the flowers of E. aureum. The study lays certain foundation for the quality evalua-tion of E. aureum.

Objective To investigate the cytolytic activity of extracellular cytolytic toxin rVVC of Vibrio vulnificus on the apoptosis of human ECV304 cells, and to analyze the activities of Caspase-3,-8 and -9. Methods The cytotoxic effect of refolded rVVC on the growth and apoptosis of ECV304 cells was identified by MTT, Hochest33342/PI fluorescent staining, flow cytometry and DNA agarose electrophoresis analysis, respectively. The activities of Caspase-3, -8 and -9 was measured using a colorimetric method. Results The viability of human ECV304 cells exposed to rVVC was inhibited by rVVC after 24 h. 2.0 HU/ml rVVC groups had a better cytotoxic effect to human ECV304 than that of 0.5 HU /ml rVVC groups. The apoptosis of human ECV304 cells in 2.0 HU/ml rVVC+40 μmol/L Z-VAD-FMK groups was relative reduced than that of 2.0 HU/ml of rVVC groups. After 0.5 h treatment with 2.0 HU/ml of rVVC, the Caspase-3 activity in human ECV304 cells increased gradually and reached the peak at 3 h (versus control groups, P<0.01). The activity of Caspase-8 and -9 remained unchanging. Conclusion The rVVC has cytotoxic effect on human ECV304 and the cytolysin is probably correlated with Caspase-3.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) for treating depression and to explore the role of brevican in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in modulating stress susceptibility and the antidepressant effects of EA in rats. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were equally divided into three groups: green fluorescent protein (GFP) + control, GFP + chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS), and short-hairpin RNA targeting on brevican (shBcan) + CUMS. Another 24 SD rats were equally divided into CUMS + GFP, CUMS + GFP + EA, and CUMS + shBcan + EA groups. Behavioral tests were conducted to assess depression-like behavior. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the expression of brevican, aggrecan, GLuA1, and PSD95 in mPFC subregions. Results: Behavioral parameter evaluation show that rats in the shBcan + CUMS group exhibited a significantly reduced sucrose preference (P = .0002) and increased immobility time (P = .0011) compared to those in rats in the GFP + CUMS group. Western blotting showed that brevican expression was significantly downregulated in the PrL of the shBcan + CUMS group compared with that in the GFP + CUMS group (P = .0192). Furthermore, compared to the CUMS + GFP + EA group, the CUMS + shBcan + EA group exhibited a significantly decreased sucrose preference (P = .0334), increased immobility time (P = .0465), and increased latency to food (P = .0261). In the CUMS + shBcan + EA group, the EA-induced brevican and PSD95 overexpression was reversed, compared with that in the CUMS + GFP + EA group (P = .0454 and P = .0198, respectively). Conclusion EA exerts its antidepressant effects through the modulation of brevican expression in rats. Our findings highlight the important role for brevican in stress susceptibility, which could be a potential target for treating depression.

Our previous study demonstrates that hypoxia promotes human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) proliferation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the gene profile involved in this process by using cDNA microarray. Cultured hMSCs were treated with hypoxia (3% O(2)) for 4 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively. Then these cells were collected to prepare total RNA. Hypoxia-induced gene expression profile was examined and analyzed by GenePix Pro 4.0 software. Some of cDNA microarray results were confirmed by RT-PCR. Microarray analysis identified that 282 genes expressed differentially, of which most were involved in metabolism. The number of differentially expressed genes at different hypoxia time points was different, and most genes were regulated after 24-hour hypoxia. Among the 282 differentially expressed genes, 4 hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) targeted genes and 10 genes that changed at 3 continuous time points were found. The results obtained indicated that 4 HIF-1 targeted genes, i.e., transforming growth factor beta3 (TGFbeta3), phospho-glycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) and BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), displayed up-regulated pattern at 36 h under hypoxia. BNIP3 displayed a dynamically up-regulated pattern at 12, 36 and 72 h under hypoxia. However, TGFbeta3 and PGK1 were down-regulated at 72 h. In addition, the gene expressions of adenylate kinase 3-like 1 (HAC), neurofilament light polypeptide 68 kDa (NEFL), N-myc downstream regultated gene 1 (NDRG1), discoidin domain receptor family member 1 (DDR1), tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3), nucleoprotein (AHNAK) and eukaryotic elongation factor selenocyteine-tRNA-specific (EESTS) were up-regulated. Moreover, the gene expressions of EESTS, NEFL were up-regulated at 5 different time points under hypoxia. Furthermore, it was found that the gene expressions of histone cluster 1 (HIS1) and transferring receptor (TFRC) were down-regulated. These results suggest that the proliferation of hMSCs induced by hypoxia is a complex process in which a number of genes may be involved.
Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Transcriptome

BACKGROUNDThe mechanism of the neural injury caused by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) that characterizes obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is not clearly known. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is responsible for the CIH-induced neural injury and the possible pathway it involves.

METHODSEight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were used. For each exposure time point, eight mice divided in room air (RA) and IH group were assigned to the study of P2X7R expression. Whereas in the 21 days-Brilliant Blue G (BBG, a selective P2X7R antagonist) study, 48 mice were randomly divided into CIH group, BBG-treated CIH group, RA group and BBG-treated RA group. The hippocampus P2X7R expression was determined by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The spatial learning was analyzed by Morris water maze. The nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) expressions were analyzed by Western blotting. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β (IL-β), IL-18, and IL-6 were measured by real-time PCR. The malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase levels were detected by colorimetric method. Cell damage was evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and Terminal Transferase dUTP Nick-end Labeling method.

RESULTSThe P2X7R mRNA was elevated and sustained after 3-day IH exposure and the P2X7R protein was elevated and sustained after 7-day IH exposure. In the BBG study, the CIH mice showed severer neuronal cell damage and poorer performance in the behavior test. The increased NFκB and NOX2 expressions along with the inflammation injury and oxidative stress were also observed in the CIH group. BBG alleviated CIH-induced neural injury and consequent functional deficits.

CONCLUSIONSThe P2X7R antagonism attenuates the CIH-induced neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and spatial deficits, demonstrating that the P2X7R is an important therapeutic target in the cognition deficits accompanied OSAS.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypoxia ; Male ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 ; analysis ; physiology ; Rosaniline Dyes ; pharmacology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and serum uric acid levels in coke oven workers and to provide new clues to the pathogenic mechanism of PAHs.

METHODSA total of 1302 coke oven workers were divided into four groups, namely control group and low-, intermediate-, and high-dose exposure groups. The concentrations of ambient PAHs at each workplace were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The detailed information on the occupational history and health of workers was collected by questionnaire survey and physical examination, and so were their blood and urine samples. Serum uric acid and creatinine levels were measured using a Hitachi 7020 automatic biochemical analyzer. Ten urinary PAH metabolites were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTSSerum uric acid levels were the highest in the high-dose exposure group, followed by the intermediate- and low-dose exposure groups, and were the lowest in the control group. There were significant correlations between serum uric acid levels and the quartiles of 1-hydroxynaphthalene and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (P < 0.05). After adjustment for PAH metabolite-related relationship, only urinary 1-hydroxyphenanthrene was significantly correlated with serum uric acid levels (P = 0.001). After adjustment for confounding factors and using the 1st quartile of 1-hydroxyphenanthrene as a reference, the odds ratio for hyperuricemia in subjects with the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles of 1-hydroxyphenanthrene were 1.55, 1.57, and 2.35, respectively.

CONCLUSIONUrinary 1-hydroxyphenanthrene is associated with a dose-response increase in serum uric acid levels in coke oven workers, and exposure to phenanthrene in PAHs may be a risk factor for hyperuricemia.

Adult ; Coke ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; urine ; Uric Acid ; blood

Background: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection induces inflammation in gastric mucosa, and the production of nitric oxide (NO) may increase in response to the inflammation. However, the correlations between NO concentration in exhaled air and the severity of gastric inflammation and Hp infection are not clear. Aims: To explore the influence of Hp infection on fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), an indicator of airway inflammation, and the relationship between FeNO and severity of gastric inflammation. Methods: Adult patients who accepted

Objective To study the tumor inhibitory effects and an in-fluence on immune organs of the water extract from stem of Coix Lachry-ma-jobi L.(WESCLL) in mice with liver cancer H22.Methods The experimental subjects were using mice with liver cancer H 22.The mice are randomly divided into 7 groups and were fed 0.9%sodium chloride , cyclophosphamide (0.02 g? kg -1 ), WESCLL(2,4,6,8,10 g? kg -1 ) by oral gavages.After 9 days′administration, the mice were killed. Their subcutaneous sarcoma ,liver,thymus and spleen were separated and weighted.Then the tumor inhibiting rates and liver , thymus and spleen index were calculated.Results The WESCLL has obvious effects on re-straining the liver cancer H22.There was significant difference compared with model group (P<0.05).The effect of WESCLL is more noticeable on liver index and weigh′s increase of the mice ( P<0.05 ) .There was not significant difference on thymus and spleen indexes compared with model group ( P<0.05 ) .Conclusion WESCLL have distinct effect on anti-tumor.

Background:The effects of keto acid (KA) supplements on Chinese patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) are unclear.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of KA supplementation on nutritional status,inflammatory markers,and bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) parameters in a cohort of Chinese patents with MHD without malnutrition.Methods:This was a prospective,randomized,controlled,single-center clinical study conducted in 2011 till 2014.Twenty-nine patients with MHD were randomly assigned to a control (n =14) or a KA (n =15) group.The control group maintained a dietary protein intake of 0.9 g/kg/day.The KA group received additional KA supplement (0.1 g/kg/day).BIA was used to determine the lean tissue mass,adipose tissue mass,and body cell mass.The patients' nutritional status,dialysis adequacy,and biochemical parameters were assessed at the ends of the third and sixth months with t test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test.Results:The daily total energy intake for both groups was about 28 kcal/kg/day.After 6 months,the Kt/V (where K is the dialyzer clearance of urea,t is the dialysis time,and V is the volume of the distribution of urea) was 1.33 ± 0.25 in KA group,and 1.34 ± 0.25in the control group.The median triceps skin-fold thickness in KA group was 12.00 and 9.00 mm in the control group.In addition,the median hand-grip strength in KA group was 21.10 and 25.65 kg in the control group.There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the anthropometry parameters,dialysis adequacy,serum calcium and phosphorus levels,inflammatory markers,and amino-acid profiles,or in relation to the parameters determined by BIA.Both groups achieved dialysis adequacy and maintained nutritional status during the study.Conclusions:In this cohort of Chinese patients with MHD,the patients in the control group whose dietary protein intake was 0.9 g/ kg/day and total energy intake was 28 kcal/kg/day,maintained well nutritional status during study period.The KA supplement (0.1 g/kg/day) did not improve the essential amino acid/non-essential amino acid ratio,nor did it change the patients' mineral metabolism,inflammatory parameters,or body compositions.