OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HLJDD), a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine, on p85 mRNA and protein expressions of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3K) in target tissues (skeletal muscular and adipose tissues) in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to investigate the molecular mechanism of HLJDD in treating T2DM. METHODS: The male Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) 30 mg/kg through tail vein, and fed with high-fat and high-caloric diets to induce T2DM. Then the rats were randomly divided into untreated group, aspirin-treated group and HLJDD group, and treated correspondingly. Meanwhile, a group of normal animals without any treatment was set up for normal control group. Ten weeks later, serum fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum fasting insulin (FINS) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were routinely determined. The expressions of PI-3K p85 mRNA and protein in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue were determined with RT-PCR and Western blotting before and after insulin treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the untreated group, the FBG and OGTT levels in T2DM rats treated with HLJDD decreased significantly (P<0.05). The FINS in HLJDD group was lower than that in the normal control group (P<0.05), but was not significantly different from that in the untreated group. The PI-3K p85 mRNA and protein expressions in HLJDD group obviously increased, as compared with those in the untreated group. CONCLUSION: The effect of HLJDD in treating T2DM was probably associated with its improvement of PI-3K p85 mRNA and protein expressions in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue of the T2DM rats.

OBJECTIVETo study the anticancer effect in vitro and in vivo and mechanism of DHA compound.

METHODSCervical cancer cell line HeLa cells, glioma cell line U251 cells and mouse hepatoma H(22) tumor were used in this study. Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy were used to observe the morphological changes of cell apoptosis. Western blot was used to detect the expression of caspase-3. RT-PCR was used to determine the effect on Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA transcription in U251.

RESULTSAntitumor effect was observed in vivo and in vitro. Typical morphological changes were seen in cancer cells. The level of caspase-3 was significantly increased and the content of Bcl-2 mRNA was decreased significantly, while the content of Bax mRNA was significantly increased in the U251 cells after treatment with DHA compound.

CONCLUSIONDHA compound can inhibit the growth of some types of tumors and the increase of caspase-3 and Bax mRNA and decrease of Bcl-2 mRNA may be involved in its mechanism of action.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Docosahexaenoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Glioma ; pathology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To discuss the MRI features of sophorae subprostrate intoxication.Methods Four cases with sophorae subprostrate intoxication underwent conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)with a 1.5 T MR system.Results In four cases,all cerebellar dentate nuclei showed symmetric patchy hyper-intensity on T_2 weighted images and iso-intensity on diffusion-weighted images as well as hyper-intensity on ADC maps.The bilateral dorsum of the brain stem and thalamus were involved in one ease.Symmetric long T_1 and T_2 signals and high DWI signals with low ADC values in bilateral basal ganglia area were demonstrated in one case with severe symptoms.After treatment,repeated MR images in two cases showed the abnormal signals of dentate nucleus disappeared,and the lesions of basal ganglia area in one case tended to be cystie with longer T_1 and T_2 signals and low DWI signals.Conclusion It is specific for intoxication of sophorae subprostrate to affect the dentate nuclei and lentiform nuclei.MRI and DWI is helpful for the early diagnosis,differential diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of this disease.

BACKGROUND: Vibrio vulnificus inside the body could activate the NF-κB signaling pathway and initiate the inflammatory cascade. The lung is one of the earliest organs affected by sepsis associated with acute lung injury. High mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) is an important late-acting pro-inflammatory cytokine involving in the pathophysiology of sepsis. It is also involved in the injury process in the lung, liver and intestine. There has been no report on the involvement of HMGB1 in Vibrio vulnificus sepsis-induced lung injury. METHODS: Sixty rats were randomly divided into a normal control group (group A,n=10) and a Vibrio vulnificus sepsis group (group B,n=50). Sepsis was induced in the rats by subcutaneous injection of Vibrio vulnificus (concentration 6×108 cfu/mL, volume 0.1 mL/100g)) into the left lower limbs. The rats in group B were sacrificed separately 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after the infection. Their lungs were stored as specimens, lung water content was measured, and lung pathology was observed under a light microscope. The expressions of the HMGB1 gene and protein in the lungs were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the LSD method for pair-wise comparison between the two groups.P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Compared to group A (0.652±0.177), HMGB1 mRNA expression in the lungs of group B was significantly higher at 0 hour (1.161±0.358,P=0.013), 24 hours (1.679±0.235,P=0.000), and 48 hours (1.258±0.274,P=0.004) (P<0.05), and peaked at 24 hours. Compared to group A (0.594±0.190), HMGB1 protein expression at 6 hours (1.408±0.567,P=0.026) after infection was significantly increased (P<0. 05), and peaked at 24 hours (2.415±1.064,P=0.000) after infection. Compared to group A (0.699±0.054), lung water content was significantly increased at 6 hours (0.759±0.030,P=0.001),12 hours (0.767±0.023,P=0.000), 24 hours (0.771±0.043,P=0.000) and 48 hours (0.789±0.137,P=0.000) after infection (P<0.05). Compared to group A, pathological changes at 12 hours in group B indicate marked pulmonary vascular congestion, interstitial edema and inflammatory infiltration. Alveolar cavity collapse and boundaries of the alveolar septum could not be clearly identified. CONCLUSION:Vibrio vulnificus sepsis can lead to injury in rat lungs, and increased HMGB1 expression in lung tissue may be one of the mechanisms for injury from Vibrio vulnificus sepsis.

Tuberculous epididymitis is a rare urological disease difficult to diagnose. The conventional methods for diagnosis are often time-consuming and invasive. The combined use of scrotal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and urinary polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay for mycobacterial DNA (the latter because of its high sensitivity and specificity to demonstrate mycobacterial DNA) is a valuable method for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous epididymitis. We report a 79-year-old man who was admitted with the chief complaints of bilateral scrotal swelling and pain. The combined use of scrotal MRI and urinary PCR allowed prompt diagnosis of tuberculous epididymitis and adequate antituberculous therapy.
Aged ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Epididymitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tuberculosis, Urogenital ; diagnosis ; microbiology

AIMTo ascertain the bioactivity and to analyse quantificationally the denervating action of botulinum toxin A (BTXA) in gel.

METHODS36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups. In group A - D, the gastrocnemius muscle of one leg was randomly selected to receive injection of BTXA solution 5U in 0.1 ml, BTXA gel 12.5U in 0.1 ml, BTXA gel 5U in 0.1 ml and BTXA gel 2U in 0.1 ml respectively, while the gastrocnemius muscle of other leg was injected with 0.1 ml of saline solution in group A and 0.1 ml of gel in group B to group D as control. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of both gastrocnemius muscles were measured and the amplitudes were recorded before injections, and 5 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after the injections respectively.

RESULTSThe reduction of CMAP amplitude was significantly different at various time (P < 0.01), and CMAP amplitude decreased significantly after the treatment of BTXA (P < 0.01). The reduction of CMAP amplitude was significantly dif ferent in group A to I) (P < 0.01), and more reduction was found in group A and B (P < 0.01), and the reduction was higher in group C than in group D (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the reduction of CMAP amplitude between group A and group B.

CONCLUSIONBioactivity of BTXA in gel was showed and the denervating action of BTXA in gel was demonstrated in a dosage and time dependent manner.

Animals ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; administration & dosage ; Dosage Forms ; Female ; Gels ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Mice ; Muscle Denervation ; methods ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Solutions

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of oxidative stress and nuclear factor-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression in the lung tissues of acute hydrogen sulfide (H2S) intoxicated rats and intervention effects of ulinastatin (UTI).

METHODSA total of 96 SD rats of clean grade were divided randomly into four groups: normal control group (n = 8), UTI control group (n = 8), H2S -intoxicated model group (n = 40), and UTI treatment group (n = 40). The H2S-intoxicated model group and UTI treatment group were exposed to H2S (283.515 mg/m3) by inhalation for 1h, then UTI treatment group was intraperitoneally exposed to UTI at the dose of 10(5) U/kg for 2 h. H2S-intoxicated model group and UTI treatment group were sacrificed at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after exposure, respectively. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione (GSH) in the rat lung tissues were measured. The expression levels of Nrf2 mRNA in the rat lung tissues were detected. Pathological changes of rat lung tissues were observed under a light microscope and the lung injury scores were evaluated.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the pulmonary SOD, CAT and GSH levels at 2,6 and 12 h after exposure and the pulmonary GSH-Px levels at 2, 6, 12 and 24 h after exposure in H2S-intoxicated model group significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The levels of pulmonary MDA at 2, 6, 12 and 24 h after exposure in H2S-intoxicated model group were significantly higher than those in normal control group (P < 0.01). As compared with H2S -intoxicated model group, the pulmonary GSH-Px activities at 6 and 12 h after exposure, the pulmonary CAT activities at 2, 6 and 12 h after exposure, the pulmonary GSH levels at 2, 6, 12 and 24 h after exposure and the pulmonary SOD activities at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after exposure in UTI treatment group significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the pulmonary MDA levels at 2, 6 and 12 h after exposure in UTI treatment group significantly decreased (P < 0.01). The expression levels of Nrf2 mRNA at 2, 6, 12, 24 h after exposure in H2S-intoxicated model group were 0.314 +/- 0.011, 0.269 +/- 0.010, 0.246 +/- 0.011 and 0.221 +/- 0.018, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (0.149 +/- 0.012) in control group (P < 0.01). As compared with H2S-intoxicated model group, the expression levels (0.383 +/- 0.017, 0.377 +/- 0.014, 0.425 +/- 0.017, 0.407 +/- 0.011 and 0.381 +/- 0.010) of Nrf2 mRNA at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after exposure in UTI treatment group significantly increased (P < 0.01). The lung injury at 24 h after exposure in H2S-intoxicated model group was higher than that in UTI treatment group. Histopathological examination showed that the scores of lung injury at 12, 24 and 48 h after exposure in UTI treatment group was significantly lower than those in H2S-intoxicated model group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOxidative stress and Nrf2 activation may be the important factors in rat lung injury induced by H2S-intoxicated, UTI may reduce the rat lung injury and protect the rat lung from damage induced by H2S by inhibiting ROS, improving the imbalance in redox and up-regulating Nrf2 mRNA expression.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Animals ; Glycoproteins ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; poisoning ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the newborn's Apgar score in 'one minute' and relevant factors.

METHODSOne year inpatient woman from a Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Anhui province were selected by cluster sampling method and newborn asphyxia situation was investigated using Apgar score and self-designed questionnaire.

RESULTSThe Apgar score in 'one minute' which marking 8 to 10, 4 to 7 and 0 to 3 were found in 1875 (73.78%), 426 (16.77%) and 240 infants (9.45%) respectively. The average Apgar score in 'one minute' and five minutes were (7.69 +/- 2.27) and (9.01 +/- 1.89) respectively, The Apgar score in 'one minute' was significantly correlated with that of five minutes (Pearson coefficient correlation r = 0.841, P = 0.00). Ordinal regression analysis revealed that parturient age (OR = 1.04), being farmer (OR = 2.22), parity (OR = 1.26), assistant vaginal delivery (OR = 4.93), caesarean section (OR = 1.95), pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome (OR = 1.42), albuminuria in gestational period (OR = 1.44), newborn being male (OR = 1.23), low birth weight (OR = 2.94), inborn abnormality (OR = 12.12), premature birth (OR = 1.22) and complications of delivery (OR = 5.04) were risk factors while the number of years under study (OR = 0.91), prenatal check-up (OR = 0.48), body length of newborn infant (OR = 0.88) and single birth (OR = 0.57) were protective factors.

CONCLUSIONApgar score in 'one minute' of newborn infant was affected by several factors as stated above. Health care program in earlier period toward community parturient should be strengthened in order to discover and control high risk factors of duration of pregnancy in earlier period.

Apgar Score ; Asphyxia Neonatorum ; epidemiology ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors

AIMTo compare the results of bladder tumor associated antigen (BTA TRAK), nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP 22) and voided urine cytology (VUC) in detecting bladder cancer.

METHODSA total of 135 elderly male and 50 healthy volunteers enrolled in this study were classified into three groups: (i) 93 patients with bladder cancer; (ii) 42 patients with urinary benign conditions; and (iii) 50 healthy volunteers. BTA TRAK and NMP 22 kits were used to detect bladder cancer. Voided urine cytology was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the screening tests.

RESULTSThe sensitivity and specificity of cytology, BTA TRAK and NMP 22 were 24% and 97%, 51% and 73%, 78% and 73%, respectively. The level of NMP 22 increased with tumor grading. The BTA TRAK kit has the lowest sensitivity among the screening tests. The NMP 22 with the best sensitivity can be an adjunct to cytology for evaluating bladder cancer.

CONCLUSIONThe NMP 22 test has a better correlation with the grading of the bladder cancer than BTA TRAK. As cytology units are typically not available in hospitals or in outpatient clinics, NMP 22 might be a promising tool for screening bladder cancer.

Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Nuclear Proteins ; urine ; Taiwan ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; urine ; Urine ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of inflammatory factors in lung tissue of acute paraquat (PQ) poisoned rats.

METHODSFifty male SD rats were randomized divided into two groups: the normal control group (NC group, n = 10) and the PQ group (n = 40). The 1 ml saline was administered once in normal control group. The PQ group was administered with 20 mg/kg 1% PQ by intraperitoneal injection to establish the model of PQ induced lung injury. At six hours, at the first, the third and the seventh day the PQ group were sacrificed, while at the first day the normal control group was sacrificed. The level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA, interleukin 10 (IL-10) mRNA, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) mRNA in lung of rats were detected. Meanwhile, pathological changes of the lung were examined under optical microscope.

RESULTSCompared with that in normal control group, TNF-alpha mRNA expression in lung tissue of PQ group reached the peak at the six hour and decreased slowly at the first day [(0.740 +/- 0.100) and (0.584 +/- 0.049) respectively]. At the six hour and the first day in PQ group it was significantly higher than that in normal control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). IL-10 mRNA expression in lung tissue of PQ group was elevated at the six hour, reached the peak at the first day, at the third day [(0.551 +/- 0.016) and (0.524 +/- 0.010) respectively] and the seventh day also higher than that in normal control group. At the first and the seventh day in the PQ group it was significantly higher than that in normal control group (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, HMGB-1 mRNA expression in lung tissue of PQ group was also elevated at the six hour, reached the peak at the first day, at the third [(0.695 +/- 0.060), (0.871 +/- 0.154) and (0.819 +/- 0.188) respectively] and the seventh day also higher than that in normal control group. At six hour, the first and the third day in the PQ group it was significantly higher than that in normal control group (P < 0.01). The histological changes such as alveolar edema, hemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration in the PQ group were more than those in the normal control group.

CONCLUSIONIn rats after PQ intoxication the levels of the inflammatory factors TNF-alpha, IL-10 and HMGB-1 are higher than normal rats, and inflammatory could play an important role in lung injury of poisoned rats.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; HMGB1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism