Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Precancerous Conditions ; diagnosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis

Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; etiology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications

Objective To explore the role of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) during renal senescence by using human TIMP-1 transgenic mice.Methods Renal histological changes of wild type mice and transgenic mice at the age of 3,12,24 months were observed by periodic acid-schiff(PAS)staining of paraffin sections.The numbers of F4/80 positive cells were detected by immunofluoreseence.The protein expressions of TIMP-1,TIMP-2,matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9,MMP-2,intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1),transforming growth factor?1(TGF-?1),collagenⅢand collagenⅣwere detected by Western blot.The activities of gelatinases and TIMP-1 were examined by gelatin zymography and reverse zymography respectively.Results Focal renal fibrosis was found in two genotypes with aging.At the age of 24 months,compared with wild type,in kidneys of transgenic type,the expressions and activities of gelatinases were dowregulated (MMP-2:2.08?0.20 vs.3.39?0.43;MMP-9:4.02?0.82 vs.6.72?1.40,all P＜0.05);the expressions of collagenⅢ,collagenⅣ,ICAM-1,and TGF-?1 were upragulated(0.72+0.11 vs.0.57?0.09;0.84?0.13 vs.0.6?0.11,0.72?0.12 vs.0.53?0.07; 0.69?0.12 vs.0.45?0.09,all P＜0.05),and the numbers of F4/80 positive cells were increased (18.8?4.4 vs.12.7?3.6,P＜0.05)with the upregulated expression and activity of TIMP-1(1.10?0.18 vs.0.62?0.09;50.75?7.25 vs.20.64?3.50,P＜0.05).Conclusions TIMP-1 could promote age-related renal fibrosis through enhancing inflammation reaction by ICAM-1 upregulation.

cDNA for Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 was cloned and constructed a prokaryotic expression vector--pET-DsBA-IGFBP3. The construct was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3)plysS. The induced fusion protein (D-IGFBP3) was expressed successfully in soluble form. We obtained D-IGFBP3 the purify of which is over 95% after purification by His affinity chromatography. The product was identified by Western-blot. The cell assay showed that the obtained fusion protein can inhibit the growth of MCF-7 and bind with IGF-I in vitro.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Proteins ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Solubility

BACKGROUNDMost of the studies on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) 'spleen' deficiency syndrome in the recent 30 years were conducted only on the basis of single functional index, neglecting the study on the pathophysiologic internal relationship between spleen deficiency syndrome and gastric diseases in modern medicine. But it was at the subcellular molecular biological level that we explored the pathophysiologic basis of classification of spleen deficiency in chronic gastritis by detecting the bioactive substances in gastric mucosa nuclei and mitochondria.

METHODSBy means of optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and histochemical staining, we conducted histopathological, subcellular ultrastructural analysis and nuclei and mitochondrial ultrastructural analysis of gastric mucosa of 188 spleen deficiency patients and of 42 voluntary blood donors. At the same time, bioactive substances were measured by means of X-ray energy dispersive analysis system (EDAX) image analysis system, radioimmunoassay method and chemiluminescence method.

RESULTSThe content of cAMP, superoxide dismutase (SOD), Zn and Cu in gastric mucosa, and the content of Zn and Cu in mitochondria decreased progressively in order of groups: healthy control (HC), spleen Qi deficiency without organic lesion (F-SQD), spleen Yang deficiency without organic lesion (F-SyangD), disease without symptoms group, spleen Qi deficiency with organic lesion (G-SQD), spleen Yang deficiency with organic lesion (G-SyangD), spleen Yin deficiency (SyinD) and spleen deficiency with Qi stagnation (SDQS), chronic spleen deficiency gastritis (CSG) and chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG); decreased in order of HC, intestinal metaplasia (IM)Ia, IMIb, IMIIa and IMIIb, P < 0.05. The content of DNA, Zn and Cu in nuclei progressively increased in order mentioned above, P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONSThe quantitative changes of gastric mucosal cAMP, SOD, Zn, Cu, of mitochondrial Zn, Cu and of nuclear DNA, Zn and Cu are not only the substance base on which the lesion of gastric mucosa tissue structure occurs, but also the substance base on which spleen deficiency is classified. G-SQD and G-SyangD were more likely to be found in low-grade or middle-grade CSG and CAG, while SyinD and SDQS in middle-grade or high-grade CSG, CAG and IMIIb.

Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Cyclic AMP ; analysis ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Gastritis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Splenic Diseases ; classification ; Superoxide Dismutase ; analysis

AIMTo explore the relationship between the effects of curcumin on cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury and immediately genic expressions of Fos, Jun and NF-kappaB in hippocampal CA1 area.

METHODSGerbils were randomly divided into sham group (SH), ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R), curcumin group (CU) and solvent control group (SC). Forebrain ischemia was induced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries. Observations were carried out in each group 15 min, 1 h, 2 h, 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 5 d and 7 d after ischemia: open field test was used to examine the behavioral change, the apoptosis neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was counted, the expression of Fos, Jun and NF-kappaB in hippocampal CA1 was detected by SABC immunocytochemical technique.

RESULTSThe behavioral mark and the number of apoptosis neurons in hippocampal (CA1 region was much less in CU group than in I/R group (P < 0.01) The expression of Fos was more and the expression of Jun and NF-kappaB was less in CA1 area in CU group than in I/R group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin can significantly protect neurons against cerebral ischemia, increasing the expression Fos and decreasing the expression of Jun and NF-kappaB may be the protective mechanisms.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Gerbillinae ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology

Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy ; Male

This study was purposed to investigate the serum levels of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), interleukin 18 (IL-18) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and their clinical significance. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect sVCAM-1, IL-18 and VEGF in serums of 30 patients with AA and 25 normal controls. The results showed that the serum levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in patients with AA [(839.08 +/- 173.97) ng/ml, (380.35 +/- 47.76) pg/ml] were significantly higher than those in normal controls [(538.16 +/- 91.21) ng/ml, (256.39 +/- 59.52) pg/ml] (p < 0.01; p < 0.01). The levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in severe AA patients [(969.94 +/- 182.54) ng/ml, (388.96 +/- 46.06) pg/ml] were higher than those in chronic AA patients [(709.26 +/- 165.32) ng/ml, IL-18 (352.21 +/- 47.08) pg/ml] (p < 0.01; p < 0.05), but the level of VEGF in AA patients [(69.63 +/- 27.42) pg/ml] was lower than that in the normal controls [(125.62 +/- 32.15) pg/ml] (p < 0.01)]. The level of VEGF in severe AA patients [(51.30 +/- 29.86) pg/ml] was significantly lower than that in chronic AA patients [(80.02 +/- 25.14) pg/ml] (p < 0.01). The levels of sVCAM-1 and IL-18 in AA patients after treatment were lower than those before treatment (p < 0.01; p < 0.05), but the level of VEGF after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the high levels of sVCAM-1, IL-18 and low level of VEGF in serum may be involved in the pathogenesis and progress of AA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qiangjing Tablets (QJT) on the semen quality and Fas/FasL signaling pathway in male SD rats with infertility.

METHODSModels of infertility were made in 50 male SD rats by intragastric administration of Tripterygium (GTW) for 3 weeks, and another 20 rats were taken as blank controls. Then 40 successfully established rat models were randomly divided into four groups, model control, low-dose QJT, medium-dose QJT, and high-dose QJT, the latter three groups treated intragastrically with QJT at 58 mg, 105 mg, and 233 mg per kg of the body weight per day, respectively. After 4 weeks of medication, the rats were killed for examination of semen quality and determination of the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the blank controls, the model rats showed significant decreases in sperm concentration ([71.99 ± 9.72] vs [10.94 ± 3.58] x 10⁶/ml, P < 0.01), motility ([48.95 ± 4.10] vs [9.31 ± 5.79]%, P < 0.01), and viability ( [82.06 ± 6.16] vs [24.03 ± 6.93]%, P < 0.01). In comparison with the model controls, the rats in the QJT groups exhibited remarkably increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability, more significantly in the high-dose group ([59.66 ± 4.53] x 10⁶/ml, [35.45 ± 5.21] %, and [61.97 ± 9.75]%) and medium-dose group ([40.89 ± 4.90] x 10⁶/ml, [24.41 ± 4.79]%, and [60.06 ± 10.62]%) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of FasL was markedly reduced in the low-, medium-, and high-dose QJT groups (0.5215 ± 0.0189, 0.5371 ± 0.0364, and 0.4556 ± 0.0215) as compared with that of the model controls (0.5989 ± 0.0448 ) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy upregulating the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, Tripterygium glycosides may induce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and reduce sperm concentration, motility and viability, resulting in infertility. The Chinese medicine Qiangjing Tablets can improve the reproductive function of male rats by decreasing the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Germ Cells ; Glycosides ; Infertility, Male ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen ; drug effects ; Semen Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Tablets ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tripterygium

BACKGROUNDSpleen in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is not actually the spleen in the anatomic sense designated in western medicine because its functions basically belong to the physiological category of digestive system in modern medicine, and it represents a macroscopic concept of digestion, absorption and nutrition metabolism. Spleen deficiency syndrome refers to the clinical phenomena such as hypofunction of digestion, absorption and nutrition metabolism. By integrating TCM with modern medicine, this paper is intended to explore the pathological basis of classification of spleen deficiency in chronic gastritis.

METHODBy means of optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and histochemical staining, we conducted histopathological and subcellular ultrastructural (nuclei and mitochondrial) analysis of gastric mucosa of 188 patients of spleen deficiency, and that of 42 voluntary blood donors without clinical symptoms.

RESULTSThe gastric mucosa of patients with spleen Qi deficiency (SQD) and spleen yang deficiency (SyangD) could either be affected by organic lesion (type G-occurring on the basis of chronic superficial gastritis (CSG), chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG)) or unaffected (type F-chiefly belonging to functional indigestion); spleen yin deficiency (SyinD) and spleen deficiency with Qi stagnation (SDQS) both occurred on the basis of CSG and CAG; and the degree of mucosa inflammatory cells infiltration, the degree of decrease in glands propria, and the incidence of IMIIb in CSG and CAG were more serious than those of G-SQD and G-SyangD, P < 0.05 - 0.01.

CONCLUSIONSpleen deficiency syndrome is likely to occur on the basis of organic lesion of gastric mucosa (disease with symptoms of both CSG or CAG and spleen deficiency symptoms), as well as on the basis of inorganic lesion of gastric mucosa (nondisease with symptoms, which is, despite spleen deficiency symptoms, there is no CSG or CAG). Besides, the clinical phenomenon of disease without symptoms (despite CSG or CAG, there is no spleen deficiency symptoms) occurres because of such factors as genetic diathesis and compensation. The lesion degree of CSG or CAG and the incidence of IMIIb of SyinD and SDQS are more serious than those CSG and CAG of G-SQD and G-SyangD.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Digestive System Diseases ; classification ; Epithelial Cells ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Gastritis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Splenic Diseases ; classification