Objective To explore protective effects of curcumin on lung injury in the early hepatic ischemia/reperfsion (reperfusion for 1 and 3 hour) inrats. Methods Wistarratswererandom]y divided into the fo]]owinggroups: GroupA (shamoperation), group B (control group) and group C (cureumin applied). Contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung tissues were determined to evaluate the protective effect of eurcumin on lung injury in the injury of isehemia/ reperfusion. Results Curcumin relieved edema of diaphragmatic wall and exudation of blood cell and white cell in pulmonary alveoli. Curcumin increased the contents of SOD, CAT and decreased contents of MDA, MPO in lung tissue. Conclusion By repressing the generation of oxygen free radical and infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocyte in lung tissue, curcumin can relieve lung injury in the early hepatic ischemia/repeffusion.

Objective To observe the protein and mRNA expression of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) in mammary gland tissue of lactating rats,and to explore iodine uptake mechanism.Methods Eighty adult Wistar rats (60 female and 20 male),weighting 210-250 g were selected.All female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups according to their body mass:normal non-pregnant group,lactating for 5-,10-,15-and 20-day groups and weaning for 5 days group,10 rats in each group.All rats were fed with conventional fodder and tap water freely.In addition to the normal non-pregnant group,other five groups of female and male rats were mated at 3 ∶ 1,respectively.Then the rats in all groups were killed on the 5th,10th,15th and 20th day after lactation and on the 5th day after weaning to get the mammary gland tissue.The protein and mRNA expression of TSHR were determined by immunohistochemical staining and real-time quantitative PCR.Results TSHR protein was expressed in mammary acinar and ductal epithelial cytoplasm.The expression of TSHR in mammary gland showed significant differences between groups (x2 =14.612,P ＜ 0.05),the staining intensity of mammary gland tissue in normal non-pregnant rats(weak,n =4; moderate,n =6) was weaker than that of lactating for 5 days(weak,n =2; moderate,n =3; strong,n =5) and 10 days groups(barely detectable,n =1;moderate,n =4; strong,n =5; x2 =4.113,5.250,all P＜ 0.05).The expression of TSHR mRNA in mammary gland showed significant differences between groups(F=20.488,P ＜ 0.05); the expression of TSHR mRNA in lactating for 10 days group(0.31 ± 0.06) was higher than that of lactating for 5 days group(0.22 ± 0.04,P ＜ 0.01),and the expression of lactating for 15 days group (0.16 ± 0.08) was significantly lower than that of lactating for 5 days group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions TSHR is widely expressed in mammary gland of lactating rats.The iodine uptake of mammary gland is enhanced in early lactation period when the body may be more susceptible to iodine deficiency,therefore iodine should be supplemented reasonably.

To explore the mechanism of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) effect on umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells proliferation and apoptosis, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyurine (BrdU) incorporation assay was adopted to detect effect of TGF-beta1 on synthesis of DNA in cells. Western blot method was used to examine effect of TGF-beta1 on expression of cyclin A, Cyclin D1, CDK2 and CDK4 in G1 phase of cell cycle. Giemsa staining and flow cytometry (FCM) were performed to detected effect of TGF-beta1 on cell apoptosis. The results showed that (1) after culture of cells with IMDM containing 10% FBS, 10% FBS + 1 ng/ml TGF-beta1, 10% FBS + 2 ng/ml TGF-beta1 or 10% FBS + 5 ng/ml TGF-beta1 for 12 hours the OD values of TGF-beta1 group were significantly lower than control group (P <0.01); after culture for 24 hours the OD values of 1 ng/ml TGF-beta1 group had no significant difference compared with control group (P >0.05), but the OD values of 2 ng/ml and 5 ng/ml TGF-beta1 groups were significantly lower than control group (P <0.05). (2) 2 ng/ml TGF-beta1 could significantly inhibit the production of cyclin A, cyclin D1, CDK2 and CDK4, the protein levels were significantly lower than control group. (3) when the cells were co-cultured with 2 ng/ml TGF-beta1 for 12 and 24 hours, Giemsa staining and FCM detection could display typical apoptosis, the apoptosis rates were 14.42% and 31.98%, while apoptosis rate in control were 4.71% and 5.76%. It is concluded that TGF-beta1 can inhibit production of G1 cyclins and CDKs of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells, arrest cells in the G1 phase of cell cycle and induce cell apoptosis. Thus, TGF-beta1 may be an important negative modulator in hematopoiesis.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CDC2-CDC28 Kinases ; analysis ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin A ; analysis ; Cyclin D1 ; analysis ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 ; DNA ; biosynthesis ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Ligustrazine, one of the major effective components of the Chinese traditional medicinal herb Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort, has been reported plenty of biological activities, such as protect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, neuroprotection and anti-tumor, et al. Because of its remarkable effects, studies on structural modification of ligustrazine have attracted much attention. Ligustrazine synthetic derivatives reported in recent decades are mainly derived from four primary intermediates (TMP-COOH, TMP-OH, TMP-NH2, HO-TMP-OH). To explore the neuroprotection activitiy of ligustrazine intermediates, six ligustrazine intermediates (2, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13) were synthesized and their protective effects against CoCl2-induced neurotoxicity in differentiated PC12 cells were studied. The target compounds were prepared via different chemical methods, including oxidation, substitution, esterification and amidation without changing the structure nucleus of ligustrazine. Compared with TMP (EC50 = 56.03 micromol x L(-1)), four compounds (2, 5, 12 and 13) exhibited higher activity (EC50 < 50 micromol x L(-1)) respectively, of which, compound 2 displayed the highest protective effect against the damaged PC12 cells (EC50 = 32.86 micromol x L(-1)), but target compounds 8 and 11 appeared lower activity (EC50 > 70 micromol x L(-1)). By structure-activity relationships analysis, the introduction of carboxyl, amino to the side chain of ligustrazine and appropriately increase the proportion of ligustrazine may contribute to enhance its neuroprotective activity, which provides a reference for the design, synthesis and activity screening of relevant series of ligustrazine derivatives in the future.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic ; Cobalt ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Neuroprotective Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Neurotoxins ; toxicity ; PC12 Cells ; Pyrazines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats

AIMTo investigate the effect of musk soluble components on the growth, the differentiation and the transfection efficiency of rat neural stem cell (NSC) in vitro.

METHODSThe growth and the differentiation of rat NSC were observed when musk soluble components were added into the culture medium of NSC. Meanwhile, the pEGFP-C1, which expressed the enhanced GFP protein, was transfected into the NSC by method of electro- transfection.

RESULTSWhen NSC was treated with musk soluble components, the neurites were outgrowth around NSC and attached to the plate, and the neural spheres were disassociated. The glia-like cells appeared at the concentration of 0.3 per thousand. When the concentration of musk soluble components was lower than 3 per thousand, the transformative cells could recover. Furthermore, the efficiency of transfection pEGFP into NSC was remarkably increased after the treatment with musk.

CONCLUSIONAfter the treatment of NSC with musk soluble components, the neural spheres were disassociated, and then attached to the plate. Musk soluble components could induce NSC differentiation into glia-like cells and improve the transfection efficiency of pEGFP-C1 in vitro.

Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; chemistry ; Female ; Fetus ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection

According to the reported sequence of Buthus martensii Karsch scorpion toxin gene (BmK IT3), we synthesized two primers, which were complementary in a region. By the means of PCR, we got the gene. The gene was fused in expression vector pET-28a, which gave rise to a recombinant plasmid pET(IT3R). Then it was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). With IPTG induction, the gene was efficiently expressed. And the fusion product was soluble.
Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Scorpion Venoms ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; Scorpions ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo research the efficacy and feasibility for unstable fracture of thoracolumbar with AF spine internal fixation device.

METHODSThirty-two patients with unstable fractures of T11-L3 were treated with AF spine internal fixation device and autograft between vertebral lamina vertebral body transverse process from January 2002 to June 2006. There were 21 female and 11 male, aging from 58 to 72 years with a mean of 62 years. All these patients were examined with x-ray and CT preoperative and postoperative respectively. They were followed-up thirteen months averagely, observing the stability of spinal column, bone grafting fusion, the height of vertebra and recovery of anterior bone fragment herniation.

RESULTSAll these AF spine internal fixation devices treated for the unstable fractures of thoracolumbar had not removed because of internal fixation failure or pain. Fracture healing and grafting fusion appeared after operation three months averagely. X-rays revealed post-protrusion angle were recovered from 22 degrees to 8.5 degrees, the heights of anterior were recovered from 50% to 86%, the angle of posterior were recovered from 94% to 98%. The postoperative CT scan showed that six cases with herniation to canal gained a completely recoveries.

CONCLUSIONAF spine internal fixation device used in early stage for unstable fracture of thoracolumbar is a simple and effective method. It has advantages such as providing early substantial fixation, maintaining a well three column stability. Bone grafting is a key factor in this operative technique.

Aged ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of stress/rest MPI in the patients with 50％-75％ coronary artery stenosis.Methods The criteria for patient selection were that the patients should have at least one main coronary artery with stenosis more than 50％,and the maximal stenosis should be less than 75％ according to CAG.The stress/rest MPI was performed in 2 weeks before or after CAG.A total of 244 patients (178 males,66 females) with mean age (57 ± 10) years were included in this study.Symptom restriction stress test was used and stress MPI was performed 1 - 1.5 h after 99Tcm-MIBI (925 MBq)injection at the exercise peak.Rest MPI was performed within 48 - 72 h after stress MPI.Myocardial ischemia was diagnosed when there was a reduced uptake or even a defect in 2 different tomographic sections or in the same part of a myocardium in the continuous 2 slices.When there was an irreversible reduced uptake or defect,myocardial infarction was given as the final diagnosis.No reduced uptake or defect in all slices was shown as normal.The impact of MPI images on the selection for optimal clinical therapy plans was also discussed.X2 test was used for statistical analysis.Results A total of 340 coronary arteries with stenosis 50％ - 75％ were found by CAG.According to stress/rest MPI results,207 patients (84.8％)presented normal,33 had myocardial ischemia,3 had myocardial infarction,and 1 had both myocardial infarction and ischemia.In abnormal MPI images,there were 61 ischemic segments and 9 infarct segments,which were associated with 43 stenotic arteries (23 LAD,10 LCX,and 10 RCA).Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the results of MPI:Group 1 with normal MPI (207/244,84.8％ ) and Group 2 with abnormal MPI (37/244,15.2％ ).In Group 1,9 patients underwent coronary artery revascularization (PTCA or CABG),and the others had medical treatment.Eight patients had PTCA and 29 patients had medical treatment in Group 2.There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( X 2 =11.9,P =0.001 ).Conclusion Stress-rest MPI may be an effective method to evaluate ischemia degree for patients with 50％ -75％ coronary artery stenosis and a useful indicator for the individual treatment.

Objective To study the effect of different levels of iodine nutrition on secretion of placental hormone in pregnant rats.Methods Two hundred and twenty five Wistar rats (165 female,60 male),weighing about 80 - 100 g were used in the study.Female rats were randomly divided into five groups according to their body weights:low iodine group Ⅰ(LⅠ),low iodine group Ⅱ (LⅡ),adequate iodine(control) group(Al),high iodine group Ⅰ ( HⅠ ),and high iodine group Ⅱ (H Ⅱ ),and 33 rats in each group.Animals in the low iodine groups were fed low-iodine diet,the iodine content was 13.46 μg/kg,in addition,these rats drank deionized water which containing potassium iodated,the dose was 0 and 5 μg/L,respectively.The rats of adequate and the two high iodine groups were fed normal diet,the iodine content was 22.00 μg/kg,they also drank deionized water,containing potassium iodated 50,3000,and 10000 μg/L,respectively.The rats mated after 3 months of feeding,and were respectively sacrificed at early pregnancy(5 ± 2)d,second trimester( 12 ± 2)d,and third trimester of pregnancy(17 ± 2)d,and then their serum was taken.Serum human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG),human chorionic thyrotropin(HCT),and progesterone were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results In the third trimester,the serum levels of rat HCG were significantly different between groups(F =4.16,P ＜ 0.05).The means of rats serum HCG of the two low iodine groups [ (16.08 ± 4.45),(17.43 ± 2.70)U/L] were significantly higher compared with that of AI group[ (13.68 ± 3.52)U/L] in the third trimester(all P ＜ 0.01 ).In the second and third trimester,the levels of rats serum HCT were significantly different between groups(F =3.59,3.40,all P ＜ 0.05).The means of rats serum HCT of HI group [(70.11 ± 10.97)μU/L] in the second trimester and HII group[(74.93 ± 13.22)μU/L] in the third trimester were higher than those of AI group[ (57.14 ± 12.56),(58.17 ± 8.54)μU/L] significantly(all P ＜ 0.01 ).There were statistical differences of the means of serum progesterone among trimester of pregnancy(F =4.06,4.43,all P ＜ 0.05).The level of serum progesterone of the third trimester[ ( 1462.80 ± 286.48 )pmoL/L] compared to those of the first[ (1929.93 ± 158.37) pmol/L] and the second trimester[ (1856.44 ± 542.08)pmol/L] was decreased significantly(all P ＜ 0.05) in LI group.In the control group,the level of serum progesterone of the second trimester [ (2046.45 ± 475.67)pmol/L ] was significantly higher than the first trimester[ (1714.39 ± 461.71 )pmol/L,P ＜ 0.05 ].Conclusions During pregnancy,placenta could promote HCG secretion under iodine-deficient conditions.In addition,the placenta increases the secretion of HCT under conditions of excess iodine.In the condition of severe iodine deficiency,the secretion of serum progesterone decreases,and further decreases with prolongation of pregnancy,but it is opposite to the change of HCG during pregnancy.This phenomenon could lead to harmful pregnant outcomes easily.

ObjectiveTo study the mRNA expression of rat Insulin-like growth factors- Ⅰ (IGF- Ⅰ ) and Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in thyroid and placenta with different iodine intakes during pregnancy.MethodsOne hundred and fifty female Wistar rats,weighting 80 - 100 g,were randomly divided into five groups according to body weight,30 rats in each group.Each group was given deionized water containing different concentrations of iodine,50 μg/L(control group,NI),0 μg/L(iodine deficiency 1 group,LI1 ),5 μg/L(iodine deficiency 2 group,LI2),3000 μg/L(iodine excess 1 group,HI1 ),and 10 000 μg/L(iodine excess 2 group,HI2),respectively.After feeding for 12 weeks,the female rats were mated with male rats.The female rats were sacrificed at first(6,7 days),trimester( 12,13 days),and third trimesters( 19,20 days),respectively,then their thyroid and placenta were collected.The mRNA expressions of IGF- Ⅰ and TGF-1 in thyroid and placenta were detected by real-time quantitative PCR.Results①The actual thyroid weights of LI1 and LI2 groups[ (12.17 ± 5.41 ) × 10-2 g,(3.54 ± 1.21) × 10-2 g] were significantly higher than that of NI group[ (2.05 ± 0.50) × 10-2 g,all P ＜ 0.05] ;actual weights of HI1 and HI 2 groups[ (1.64 ± 0.27) × 10-2 g,(1.66 ± 0.29) × 10-2 g] were compared with that of NI group,the difference was not statistically significant(all P ＞ 0.05).②The mRNA expression of IGF- Ⅰ: at the first trimester,LI1 and LI2 groups(l.98 ± 0.35,1.47 ± 0.22) were all higher than that of NI group(1.01 ± 0.18,all P＜ 0.01 ),HI1 and HI2 groups(0.68 ± 0.16,0.75 ± 0.09) were lower than that of NI group(all P ＜ 0.01 );at the second trimester,HI2 group( 1.14 ± 0.17) was lower than that of NI group( 1.58 ± 0.33,P ＜ 0.01 ) ; at the third trimester,LI2 and HI2 groups(1.47 ± 0.20,1.45 ± 0.35) were lower than that of NI group(2.20 ± 0.37,all P＜0.01).The mRNA expression of IGF- I level in NI group at the first,second,and third trimesters(1.01 ±0.18,1.58 ±0.33,2.20 ± 0.37) was up regulated gradually,pairwise comparisons were statistically significant(all P ＜ 0,01 ).③The mRNA expression of TGF-β1: at the first trimester,LI1 group (1.37 ± 0.13) was higher than NI group (1.05 ±0.18,P ＜ 0.01 ),HI1 and HI2 groups(0.50 ± 0.09,0.44 ± 0.11) were lower than NI group(all P＜ 0.01); at the second trimester,LI1 and HI2 groups(1.39 ± 0.28,1.17 ± 0.12) were higher than NI group(0.63 ± 0.22,all P ＜0.01 ) ; at the third trimester,LI1 and LI2 groups ( 1.57 ± 0.30,1.23 ± 0.20) were higher than NI group ( 0.68 ± 0.17,all P＜ 0.01).TGF-β1 mRNA expressions of NI group at the second (0.63 ± 0.22) and third trimesters(0.68 ± 0.17) were lower than that of the first trimester (1.05 ± 0.18,all P ＜ 0.01).④ Rats' IGF-Ⅰ mRNA expression in placental: at the second trimester HI1 group,HI2 group( 1.48 ± 0.16,1.45 ± 0.25) were all higher than the NI group ( 1.00 ± 0.10,all P ＜ 0.01 ) ; at third trimester,HI1 group ( 1.75 ± 0.15 ) were higher than the NI group ( 1.54 ± 0.29,P＜ 0.05),HI2 group(l.94 ± 0.31) were higher than the NI group(P ＜ 0.01 ).IGF- Ⅰ mRNA expression in placental of NI group at the third trimester was higher than the second trimester(P＜ 0.01).⑤ Rats' TGF-β1 mRNA expression in the placenta: at the second trimester and the third trimester of pregnancy there were no significant difference between the five groups(all P ＞ 0.05) ; NI group at the third trimester(0.83 ± 0.16) was lower than the second trimester(0.98 ± 0.20,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions During pregnancy,IGF- I mRNA expression increases in thyroid under the conditions of iodine deficiency,and this effect is particularly significant in the first trimester; at the same time,TGF-β1 mRNA expression is increased,and this inhibition becomes clear with the deepening of iodine deficiency.Under the condition of iodine excess,the functions of IGF- Ⅰ and TGF-β1 in thyroid above-mentioned were relatively weak.With the development of gestational period,promoting tissues growth and differentiation effect of placenta's IGF- Ⅰ was more significant gradually,but,inhibited effect of TGF-β1 was weaken.