Animals ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; Light ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of Yiqi Huaju Recipe (YHR) combined with routine therapy on the blood pressure, the blood pressure variability and other cardiovascular risk factors in hypertension patients complicated with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

METHODSTotally 43 hypertension patients complicated with MetS were recruited in this study and randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases, treated with basic routine treatment +YHR) and the control group (21 cases, treated with basic routine treatment + placebo). The treatment course was 12 weeks. Detected were parameters such as 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), serum lipid, etc.

RESULTSThe anthropometric parameters and plasma glucose levels (except HbAlc) were obviously lowered after treatment than before treatment in the treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Besides, better effects were obtained in the WC, WHR, 2 h PPG, FPI and HOMA-IR (P < 0.05). The average blood pressure amplitude, the blood pressure variability, and blood pressure load at any time point were more obviously improved in the two groups after treatment than before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Besides, partial indices were better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSYHR combined with routine therapy exhibited better effect on reducing the blood pressure amplitude, the blood pressure variability, and the blood pressure load in hypertension patients complicated with MetS. It could also effectively decrease the risk of other vascular disease.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; Middle Aged

AIMTo investigate the in vitro recovery and influencing factors of ketoprofen in microdialysis probe, and study the pharmacokinetic of unbound ketoprofen in rat after iv administration.

METHODSThe recovery of ketoprofen was detected by a concentration difference method. After microdialysis probe was inserted into the jugular vein of male Wistar rats, the probe was infused with various concentrations perfusate. The in vivo recovery and the pharmacokinetics of unbound ketoprofen in rat were investigated. Dialysate samples were determined by HPLC.

RESULTSThe recovery detected by gain was as the same as that by loss; the recovery was independent of the drug concentration surrounding the probe. The in vitro recovery was 28.75% by concentration difference method and the in vivo recovery was (40.3 +/- 2.7) % by retrodialysis method. After i.v. administration of ketoprofen in rat, T 1/2, AUC and CL of unbound ketoprofen were (181 +/- 16) min, (112 +/- 27) microg x min x mL(-1) and (0.22 +/- 0.05) L x min(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONMicrodialysis sampling can be used for the pharmacokinetic study of unbound ketoprofen in rat.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketoprofen ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Experiments were performed on Sprague Dawley rats with multibarrel microelectrode technique. The effects of acoustic response of A I cortex neurons produced by electrical stimulation of lateral amygdaloid nucleus (LA) and the influence of GABA were observed. Experimental results showed that iontophoretic administration of GABA caused a pronounced inhibition of the electrical activity of A-I neurons. Blockade of GABA(A) with bicuculline (BIC) facilitated the acoustic response. The acoustic response of A-I neurons was inhibited when the LA was stimulated. Iontophoretic application of GABA resulted in a similar inhibitory effect as that of LA stimulation. Blockade of GABA(A) with bicuculline reversed the inhibitory effect of LA stimulation on the acoustic response of A-I neurons. In contrast, application of strychnine, a glycine receptor antagonist, could not reverse the inhibitory effect of LA. Baclofen, a GABA(B) agonist, did not affect the acoustic response of the auditory neurons. These results indicate that GABA is the ultimate transmitter which mediates the LA stimulation-induced inhibition of the acoustic response of A-I neurons in rats, possibly via the GABA(A) receptor.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Amygdala ; physiology ; Animals ; Baclofen ; pharmacology ; Bicuculline ; pharmacology ; Cerebral Cortex ; physiology ; Electric Stimulation ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; physiology ; GABA Agonists ; pharmacology ; GABA Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Iontophoresis ; methods ; Male ; Microelectrodes ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA-A ; physiology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of berberine hydrochloride on the expressions of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in periodontal tissues in rat periodontitis model.

METHODSBased on the successful rat periodontitis model, the experimental rats were randomized into different groups followed by oral treatment with berberine hydrochloride for 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks and then the rats were sacrificed and analyzed. Pathological assay and HE staining were used to detect the general conditions and pathological changes of rat periodontal tissues. And immunohistochemical staining was conducted to determine the expressions of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in rats periodontitis model periodontal tissues.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the periodontitis tissues were significantly higher than that in the control group. Treatment with berberine hydrochloride decreased the levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in periodontitis tissues (P<0.05). Moreover, the general conditions and pathological changes in the control group and groups treated with berberine hydrochloride were much better than that in periodontitis groups.

CONCLUSIONBerberine hydrochloride inhibited the expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in periodontal tissues in rats periodontitis model and promoted the regeneration of the periodontal tissues. This study suggested that berberine hydrochloride may have potential clinical application.

Animals ; Berberine ; Interleukin-1beta ; Male ; Periodontitis ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of exposure of paraquat and maneb on the behavior, the morphology and electrical activity of the Substantia nigra and striatum, and to discuss the relationship between this two pesticides and Parkinson's disease.

METHODS37 rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: control group (n = 11), paraquat (10 mg/kg) group (n = 13) and combinative group of paraquat (10 mg/kg) and maneb (30 mg/kg) (n = 13), and were exposed twice a week for 6 weeks by intraperitoneal injection. The behavior of animals in the declined-plane, the vertical-grid and the open-field test were observed. The morphology of substantia nigral neurons were investigated by HE pathology. The spontaneous discharge of striatum neurons were recorded after exposure.

RESULTSCompared to the control group and the pre-exposure group, both the numbers of animals sliding down from the declined-plane and the latency of rats' moving on the vertical-grid significantly increased, and the animals' autonomic movement decreased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). After the combinative exposure, the neurons of the Substantial nigra pars compacta (SNPc) were progressively impaired, the cell density of the paraquat group [(82.17 ± 12.91) n/mm(2)] and the combined group [(41.15 ± 6.44) n/mm(2)] were lower than that in control group (143.10 ± 20.85 n/mm(2)] (P < 0.01). In the paraquat group (5.97 ± 7.30 Hz) and the combined group [(6.95 ± 9.87) Hz], the average discharge rates of the striatum neurons were increased significantly compared to the control group [(1.78 ± 5.05) Hz] (P < 0.01). The bursting discharge was increased significantly in the combined group (22.3%) compared to the control group (9.8%) and the paraquat group (5.6%) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe co-exposure of paraquat and maneb could induce similar symptoms to Parkinsonism syndrome of rats such as rigidity, moving reduction and etc, and the combined exposure had a certain enhanced effect compared to alone paraquat exposure. The combinative exposure of paraquat and maneb could cause neural loss in SNPc and it is involved with the enhanced electrophysiological activity in striatum. The synergy toxicity of paraquat and maneb in nigrostriatal system is related to Parkinson's disease.

Animals ; Corpus Striatum ; drug effects ; Male ; Maneb ; toxicity ; Paraquat ; toxicity ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; chemically induced ; Pesticides ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substantia Nigra ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of pretreatment with finasteride in decreasing intraoperative bleeding and irrigating fluid absorption during transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).

METHODSEighty patients with benign prostate hypertrophy undergoing TURP were divided into two groups: 40 patients were pretreated with finasteride for 7 to 14 days before TURP and 40 patients without pretreatment. Absorption of irrigating fluid was quantified by analyzing the serum concentration of gentamycin. Intraoperative blood loss was calculated based on hemoglobin concentrations before and after operation.

RESULTThe whole blood loss, hemoglobin concentration of irrigating fluid used, blood loss per minute, blood loss per gram tissue resected, whole irrigation absorption, irrigation absorption per minute and per gram tissue resected in patients pretreated with finasteride were significantly less than those in patients without pretreatment (P<0.05). The blood transfusion volume, the incidence of hypotension and hyponatremia in patients pretreated with finasteride were significantly less than those in patients without pretreatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPretreatment with finasteride is of value in reducing intraoperative bleeding, irrigation absorption and perioperative complication during TURP.

Absorption ; Aged ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; prevention & control ; Finasteride ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

OBJECTIVETo define the differences in gene expression patterns between glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-transformed human lung fibroblast cells (2BS cells) and controls.

METHODSThe mRNA differential display polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR) technique was used. cDNAs were synthesized by reverse transcription and amplified by PCR using 30 primer combinations. After being screened by dot blot analysis, differentially expressed cDNAs were cloned, sequenced and confirmed by Northern blot analysis.

RESULTSEighteen differentially expressed cDNAs were cloned and sequenced, of which 17 were highly homologous to known genes (homology = 89%-100%) and one was an unknown gene. Northern blot analysis confirmed that eight genes encoding human zinc finger protein 217 (ZNF217), mixed-lineage kinase 3 (MLK-3), ribosomal protein (RP) L15, RPL41, RPS 16, TBX3, stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) and mouse ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (UBC), respectively, were up-regulated, and three genes including human transforming growth factor beta inducible gene (Betaig-h3), alpha-1,2-mannosidase 1A2 (MAN 1A2) gene and an unknown gene were down-regulated in the GMA-transformed cells.

CONCLUSIONAnalysis of the potential function of these genes suggest that they may be possibly linked to a variety of cellular processes such as transcription, signal transduction, protein synthesis and growth, and that their differential expression could contribute to the GMA-induced neoplastic transformation.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; toxicity ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; Male ; Mannosidases ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Methacrylates ; toxicity ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Ribosomal Proteins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ubiquitins ; metabolism ; Zinc Fingers ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the genotoxic and nongenotoxic effects of short-term exposure to glycidyl mathacrylate (GMA) on human lung fibroblast cells (2BS cells) in vitro.

METHODSDNA strand breakage was determined by single cell gel electrophoresis, and DNA ladder formation assay and flow cytometric analysis were carried out to detect apoptic responses of cells to GMA exposure. The HPRT gene mutation assay was used to evaluate the mutagenicity, and the effect of GMA on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in the exposed cells was examined with the scrape loading/dye transfer technique. The ability of GMA to transform 2BS cells was also tested by an in vitro cell transformation assay.

RESULTSExposure to GMA resulted in a dose-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks but not apoptic responses. GMA was also shown to significantly induce HPRT gene mutations and morphological transformation in 2BS cells in vitro. In contrast, GMA produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of GJIC.

CONCLUSIONSGMA elicits both genotoxic and nongenotoxic effects on 2BS cells in vitro. The induction of DNA damage and gene mutations and inhibition of GJIC by GMA may casually contribute to GMA-induced cell transformation.

Cell Communication ; Cell Differentiation ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Epoxy Compounds ; toxicity ; Fibroblasts ; Gap Junctions ; Humans ; Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase ; genetics ; Lung ; cytology ; Methacrylates ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo study the immunohistochemical expression of OCT4, CD117 and CD30 in germ cell tumors and to assess their diagnostic value.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study for OCT4 was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 63 cases of germ cell tumors, including seminoma (21), dysgerminoma (7), germinoma (8), embryonal carcinoma (8), yolk sac tumor (6), mature teratoma (10) and immature teratoma (3), as well as 25 cases of non-germ cell tumors, including granulosa cell tumor (8), clear cell adenocarcinoma (4), Leydig's cell tumor (5), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (4) and malignant melanoma (4). Besides, the expression of CD117 and CD30 in all germ cell tumors was studied.

RESULTSAll cases of seminoma and germinoma, 6/7 cases of dysgerminoma and 7/8 cases of embryonal carcinoma were positive for OCT4, with strong nuclear staining. All other germ cell tumors and non-germ cell tumors were negative for OCT4, except for 1 case of yolk sac tumor and 1 case of clear cell adenocarcinoma which showed weak staining. Positive membranous expression of CD117 was demonstrated in 19/21(90.5%) seminoma, 5/7 dysgerminoma and 7/8 germinoma. Focal weak membranous staining was also noted in 1 case of yolk sac tumor. The melanocytes in teratoma were also positive for CD117. All cases of embryonal carcinoma were negative. On the other hand, positive membranous expression of CD30 were demonstrated in 6/8 embryonal carcinoma. One case of germinoma and 1 case of yolk sac tumor showed weak cytoplasmic positivity. All cases of seminoma and dysgerminoma, 7/8 germinoma and all cases of teratoma were negative for CD30.

CONCLUSIONSOCT4 is a sensitive and relatively specific marker for diagnosing seminoma, dysgerminoma, germinoma and embryonal carcinoma. CD117 and CD30 immunostains, when used in combination, represent valuable tools for distinguishing embryonal carcinoma and seminoma, dysgerminoma, germinoma.

Carcinoma, Embryonal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dysgerminoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Germinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Seminoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Teratoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology