Aim To observe the effect of mycophenolate mofetil(MMF) on expressions of MCP-1 and CD68 in renal tubulointerstitial injury of diabetic rats and explore the mechanism of MMF′s protective role.Methods Diabetes was induced in uninephrectomized male Wistar rats by peritoneal injection of STZ (65 mg?kg-1). Rats were randomly divided into three groups:control group (NC),diabetic group (DM) and treated group (DM+MMF) with MMF(15 mg?kg-1?d-1).This study lasted for 8 weeks. 24 h urinary protein,blood glucose and the ratio of left kidney weight/body weight were determined after 8 weeks.The renal tubulointerstitial morphological change was observed,immunohistochemical method was used to analyze expressions of MCP-1 protein and CD68. Expression of MCP-1 mRNA in renal tissue was measured by quantitative Real-time PCR.Results Compared with NC group, serum glucose level,24 hour urinary protein and the ratio of left kidney weight/body weight were significantly increased(P

[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To investigate whether L-carnitine ( LC) inhibits the eryptosis effect of uremic serum on erythrocytes.METHODS:Erythrocyte suspension (2%) was cultured and divided into 3 groups in vitro: control group ( C group) , uremic serum group ( U group, 30%uremic serum) , and uremic serum+LC group ( L group, 30%uremic serum+200 μmol/L LC) .Erythrocytes were collected at 24 h and 48 h.Eryptosis ( phosphatidylserine expression repre-sents eryptosis) was estimated by flow cytometry with Annexin V staining.The content of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) was also detected.Glutathione ( GSH) was measured by ELISA.RESULTS:Eryptosis in C group was increased as the in-cubating time extended.Eryptosis in U group was higher than that in C group, while that in L group was lower than that in U group.Meanwhile, ROS content was higher and GSH was lower in U group than those in C group.ROS content was low-er and GSH was higher in L group than those in C group.CONCLUSION:LC inhibits uremic serum-induced eryptosis by decreasing ROS and increasing GSH, thus attenuating oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the effect of resveratrol (Res) on paraquat (PQ)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and mortality in mice and the mechanism of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inflammatory pathway. Methods Sixty-eight healthy male ICR mice with grade SPF were enrolled, among them 20 mice were used for mortality observation (n = 10), and other 48 were used for determination of related parameters (n = 6). The mice were randomly divided into four group s: normal saline (NS) control group, Res control group, PQ group and PQ + Res group. The mice in the latter two groups were subdivided into 6, 24, 72 hours subgroups. The PQ poisoning model of mice was reproduced by one injection of 30 mg/kg PQ intraperitoneally. The mice in PQ + Res group were given 60 mg/kg Res intraperitoneally on the contralateral side after PQ injection. The mice were sacrificed at 6, 24, 72 hours after PQ poisoning, and lung tissue was harvested. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-6 and IL-1β) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes in lung tissue were observed with electron microscopy. Apoptosis cells in the lung were identified by terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) for the estimation of apoptosis rate. The protein expression of NF-κB p65 was determined by Western Blot. Results Compared with PQ group, the death number of mice at 48, 72, 96 hours in PQ + Res group was slightly decreased (0 vs. 2, 2 vs. 5, 4 vs. 6) but without statistically significant difference (all P > 0.05). Under electron microscope, the lung injury in PQ group was severer than that in NS control group, and Res was found to be able to alleviate the lung injury. Compared with NS control group [(2.45±0.61)%], the apoptosis rate at 6 hours in PQ group was significantly increased [(8.42±1.48)%], and peaked at 72 hours [(21.23±3.47)%]. Res could decrease the apoptosis rate after PQ poisoning [6 hours: (5.56±1.31)% vs. (8.42±1.48)%, 24 hours: (11.14±2.07)% vs. (16.88±2.96)%, 72 hours: (13.28±2.32)% vs. (21.23±3.47)%, all P < 0.05]. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and NF-κB p65 in lung tissue were all markedly increased after PQ poisoning, and they were significantly decreased after Res intervention as compared with those of PQ group [TNF-α (ng/L): 2.62±0.29 vs. 4.06±0.74 at 6 hours, 3.98±0.41 vs. 6.79±0.80 at 24 hours, 5.06±0.75 vs. 11.00±0.75 at 72 hours; IL-6 (ng/L): 14.19±1.54 vs. 16.55±1.24 at 6 hours, 13.21±1.37 vs. 19.73±0.85 at 24 hours, 13.72±0.56 vs. 22.45±0.72 at 72 hours; IL-1β (ng/L): 8.54±1.64 vs. 12.59±0.66 at 6 hours, 10.15±0.29 vs. 16.24±1.03 at 24 hours, 16.14±0.70 vs. 19.55±0.56 at 72 hours; 6-hour NF-κB p65: (1.34±0.07) folds vs. (1.86±0.11) folds when the expression in NS control group was represented as 1, all P < 0.05]. Conclusions Res cannot lower the mortality in mice with PQ poisoning, but it seems to be able to attenuate PQ-induced ALI and cell apoptosis. The mechanism responsible for the latter maybe the inhibitive effect of Res on NF-κB p65 translocation and cytokines production.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between changes in B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) and cardiac troponin I(cTnI)levels and prognosis of critically ill patients with sepsis. Methods This study retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 75 patients with severe sepsis and septic shock admitted into Emergency Intensive Care Unit(EICU)of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Zhejiang Province. According to the severity of the cases,they were divided into two groups:severe sepsis group(34 cases)and septic shock group(41 cases),and based on the difference in prognosis,they were divide into survivor group(32 cases) and non-survivor group(43 cases). Electrocardiogram(ECG)was performed within 24 hours after admission in all the patients. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)score and biochemical markers showing organ dysfunctions as BNP, cTnI, creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase MB mass(CK-MB), and lactate were compared between severe sepsis and septic shock groups and between survivor and non-survivor groups. Results The septic shock group had significantly higher baseline BNP,cTnI,lactate and APACHE Ⅱscore and mortality rate than those in severe sepsis group〔BNP(μg/L):1.90(1.08,2.79)vs. 0.41(0.31,0.75),cTnI (μg/L):1.15(0.92,1.28)vs. 0.58(0.40,0.79),lactate(mmol/L):6.63±3.72 vs. 3.28±1.66,APACHEⅡscore:26.00(24.00,28.00)vs. 21.50(20.00,29.25),mortality rate:70.73%vs. 41.18%,P<0.05 or P<0.01〕. Compared with survivor group,the ages of non-survivor group were older with more males and higher BNP,cTnI,lactate and APACHEⅡscore〔males(cases):30 vs. 13,age(years old):66.49±14.97 vs. 58.19±17.05,BNP:1.60(0.62, 2.51)vs. 0.57(0.37,1.79),lactate:4.10(3.00,9.00)vs. 3.10(2.13,4.18),cTnI:1.02±0.49 vs. 0.62±0.37, APACHE Ⅱ score:28.00(25.00,30.00)vs. 21.00(20.00,25.75),P<0.05 or P<0.01〕. However,there were no statistically significant differences in the levels of CK and CK-MB between the above compared groups(both P>0.05). The patients' ECGs had no obvious changes. Conclusions High plasma BNP and cTnI levels in patients with sepsis may suggest myocardial damage and relatively bad prognosis. The examination of BNP and cTnI levels may help clinicians to early detect the high-risk patients with septic cardiac dysfunction and assess their prognoses.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on renal morphology and renal function of rats with streptozotocin diabetes. METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, which were normal control group, untreated group and Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group. Diabetic nephropathy was induced in rats of the last two groups by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin after unilateral nephrectomy. Then the rats in the normal control and untreated groups were fed with normal saline while those in the Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group were fed Salvia miltiorrhiza preparation for 8 weeks. The glomerular volume (VG), kidney-to-body weight ratio (KW/BW), urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were observed. The expression levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), fibronectin (FN) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: UAER, Ccr, VG and KW/BW ratio were significantly higher in the untreated group than those in the normal control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in the untreated group were also significantly higher as compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.05). UAER, Ccr, VG, KW/BW ratio and the levels of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in the Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group were obviously lower than those in the untreated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Salvia miltiorrhiza can protect rats with streptozotocin diabetes from diabetic nephropathy by suppressing the over-expressions of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in renal cortex.

Objective To investigate the effects of trimebutine maleate (TM) on the expression of large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BKCa) and ryanodine receptors (RyR)channels at mRNA and protein level in colonic smooth muscle cell of cold restraint stress(CRS)induced rats.Methods A total of 24 Wistar rats were divided into CRS group,CRS with TM group and control group equally.The rats of CRS group were gavaged with 0.9％NaCl (6 ml/kg) daily; the rats of CRS with TM group were gavaged with 15 g/L TM (6 ml/kg) daily and activity was restricted in wire cage at 4 ℃ for two hours,continuously for five days.The rats of control group were gavaged with 0.9 ％ NaCl (6 ml/kg) once without CRS.The amount and characteristics of stool of rats in each group were observed.The colonic smooth muscle was isolated to detect the expression of BKCa and RyR at mRNA and protein level by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot.Results The median of rats defecation particles of CRS group was six,control group was one and CRS with TM group was five.Compared with control group,the defecation appearance of CRS group and CRS with TM group was looser and wetter observed by naked eyes.Compared with control group,there was no obvious pathological changes in CRS and CRS with TM group.There was no significant difference in the mRNA expression of BKCa and RyR channels between control group and CRS group.Compared with control group,the BKCa expression at mRNA level of CRS with TM group increased 1.45 fold.Compared with control group,the RyR2 expression at mRNA level of CRS with TM group increased 1.32 fold.Compared with control group,the BKCa expression at protein level of CRS with TM group increased 1.39 fold,and there was no RyR2 expression band at protein level.Conclusion TM might affect colonic smooth muscle contraction through the upregulation of BKCa expression at mRNA and protein level and RyR expression at mRNA level.

Objective To investigate the interference effect of baicalin on acute brain injury induced by aconitine in rats and its mechanism. Methods A total of 200 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal control,baicalin control,aconitine poisoning,baicalin 15 mg/kg intervention and baicalin 30 mg/kg intervention groups(each,n=40). Aconitine(20μg/kg)was given via tail vein in aconitine poisoning group. The rats in the normal control group and baicalin control group were respectively injected with saline 2 mL/kg and baicalin 30 mg/kg via tail vein. The aconitine poisoning rats were given with baicalin at the dose of 15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg respectively in the low and high dose baicalin intervention groups within 2-3 minutes after injection of aconitine. Rats in all groups in the study were anesthetized and sacrificed at 1,6,12,24 hours after various agents were respectively given in the groups,the rat cerebral cortex samples were collected,the histological changes in normal and baicalin control groups and pathological changes of the aconitine poisoning rats were observed,the levels of glutamate(Glu),aspartate(Asp),γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA),glycine(Gly)were detected and the apoptotic cells were determined at the above time points. Results Compared with the normal control group,the aconitine poisoning group had significantly higher levels of excitatory amino acids Glu and Asp and the number of apoptotic neurons. After exposure to aconitine for 1 hour, the levels of inhibitory amino acids of GABA and Gly were markedly decreased in the rat cortex in the poisoning group compared to the normal control group(both P<0.05),at 6 hours and 12 hours they were significantly increased and after 24 h,they began to decline,but still maintained at relatively high levels. Compared with the aconitine poisoning group, after baicalin intervention for 1 hour,in the 15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg baicalin intervention groups,the levels of Glu and Asp were markedly decreased〔Glu(μmol/L):309.39±14.59,307.22±23.69 vs. 370.46±40.31,Asp(μmol/L):143.43±8.36,129.12±4.86 vs. 222.97±6.26〕,while the levels of GABA and Gly were increased〔GABA(μmol/L):55.91±4.76,59.61±13.11 vs. 32.05±2.20,Gly(μmol/L):32.33±1.85,33.90±0.66 vs. 21.96±4.75〕,and the number of neuronal apoptosis was obviously decreased(cell/mm2:18.65±4.10,14.80±1.89 vs. 58.15±3.68,both P<0.05). Under microscope and electron microscope,the pathological and ultrastructural changes indicated that the aconitine poisoning group had the most marked cerebral cortex damage at 12 hours after poisoning,while the two baicalin intervention groups showed milder damage than that in aconitine poisoning group. Conclusions The neural toxic effect of aconitine in rats may be related to the imbalance between the neurotransmitter contents of excitatory Glu. Asp and inhibitory GABA,Gly in the cerebral cortex. Baicalin can decrease the contents of excitatory amino acid and elevate the inhibitory amino acid,therefore it may ameliorate the cerebral injury of acute aconitine intoxication in rats.

AIM:To investigate the effect of capsaicin on lipopolysaccharide ( LPS)-induced activation of cul-tured endothelial cells of mouse aorta in vitro.METHODS:The endothelial cells were isolated from mouse aorta and cul-tured in vitro, and the specific cell markers of the cells were identified by immunofluorescence staining.The cells were stimulated with LPS (100μg/L) combined with or without capsaicin, and the cells and supernatant were collected at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h.The levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 ( sICAM-1) , soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) in the supernatant were measured by ELISA.The levels of nuclear NF-κB p65 and cytopasmic p-IκBαand IκBαwere detected by Western blotting.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the levels of sP-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in LPS group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and LPS promoted the expression of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in a time-dependent manner.Compared with LPS group at the same time point, capsaicin inhibited the expression of sP-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in a dose-dependent manner.Compared with con-trol group, the protein levels of NF-κB p65 and p-IκBαin LPS group at 24 h were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the protein level of IκBαin LPS group at 24 h were significantly decreased (P<0.05).Compared with LPS group, capsaicin decreased the protein levels of NF-κB p65 and p-IκBαand increased the protein level of IκBαin a dose-depend-ent manner.CONCLUSION:Capsaicin has a protective effect on LPS-induced vascular endothelial cell activation, which potentially contributes to the suppression of IκBαdegradation and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation.

Objective To observe the release of glutamate (Glu)and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) from PC 12 cells induced by aconitine,and to study the intervention of Shuanghuanglian on the injury of these cells. Methods The cell proliferation test agent in cell counting kit(CCK-8)was applied to assay the aconitine toxicity to PC12 cells and to establish the PC12 cell injury model induced by aconitine. The PC12 cells during logarithmic growing phase were randomly divided into the following groups:blank control group(complete medium containing 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide was added), Shuanghuanglian control group (complete medium containing 50 μg/mL Shuanghuanglian),baicalin control group(complete medium containing 20 μmol/L baicalin),aconitine toxic group(complete medium containing 100 μmol/L aconitine),Shuanghuanglian intervention group(complete medium containing 100μmol/L aconitine and 50μg/mL Shuanghuanglian)and baicalin intervention group(complete medium containing 100 μmol/L aconitine and 20 μmol/L baicalin). The cells in all groups were incubated for 24 hours respectively. The changes of PC12 cell absorbance(A)values were detected by CCK-8 assay before and after intervention by Shuanghuanglian and baicalin. The PC12 cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Glu and GABA contents in cell culture medium were determined by chromatometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Compared with blank control group,after the PC12 cells treated with 100 μmol/L aconitine for 24 hours,their cytoactivity was decreased markedly(A value:1.003±0.042 vs. 1.685±0.030,P<0.05),then afterwards in the experiment,the incubation of 100 μmol/L aconitine with PC12 cells for 24 hours was considered as the intervention concentration. In blank control group,the normal PC12 cells accounted for 95.89%,while in the aconitine toxic group,the rate of injured PC12 cells reached 64.27% and early apoptosis rate reached 45.46%, and in Shuanghuanglian intervention group and baicalin intervention group,the early apoptosis rate was decreased to 33.24% and 28.22% respectively. Compared with blank control group,there were no significant differences in cytoactivities and the contents of Glu and GABA released by PC12 cells in Shuanghuanglian control group and baicalin control group(all P<0.05),while in the aconitine toxic group,the cytoactivity was significantly decreased(A value:1.056±0.039 vs. 1.722±0.083),and the contents of Glu and GABA were significantly increased〔Glu(μmol/L):5.295±0.137 vs. 3.433±0.138;GABA(μmol/L):0.769±0.020 vs. 0.528±0.012,both P<0.05〕. Compared with aconitine toxic group,the cytoactivities of PC12 were significantly elevated(1.202±0.059 and 1.180±0.032),the levels of Glu were significantly reduced(4.055±0.086 and 3.984±0.057),and the contents of GABA were obviously increased(0.809±0.016 and 0.930±0.021)in the cell culture medium of the Shuanghuanglian intervention group and baicalin intervention group(all P<0.05). The increase of cytoactivity in Shuanghuanglian intervention group was more marked than that of baicalin intervention group(P<0.05). There were no statistical significant differences in contents of Glu and GABA between Shuanghuanglian intervention group and baicalin intervention group(both P>0.05). Conclusions The changes of Glu and GABA may be one of the mechanisms of neural toxic effect of aconitine. Shuanghuanglian possibly can decrease Glu level and increase GABA content by way of its main component baicalin to antagonize the aconitine neurotoxicity.

Objective To investigate the change in NF-κB activity in astrocytes in spinal dorsal horn in a rat model of neuropathic pain and the underlying mechanism. Methods Sixteen male SD rats aged 2-3 months weighing 220-280 g were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n = 8 each) : sham operation group (group S) and CCI group. Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constrictive injury (CCI) . Right sciatic nerve was exposed and 4 loose ligatures were placed on the sciatic nerve at 1 mm intervals with 4-0 chromic catgut. In group S the right sciatic nerve was exposed but not ligated. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) to von Frey filament stimulation and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to radiant heat stimulation were measured at 1 d before (baseline) and 7 d after operation. The animals were then killed and the lumbar segment of the spinal cord (L_(4-6)) was removed. The expression of NF-κB in the astrocytes in spinal dorsal horn was determined by immuno-histochemistry. Results PWT and PWL to mechanical and thermal stimuli were significantly decreased after operation as compared with the baseline before operation in group CCI. The number of NF-κBp65 immunoreaction positive cells in the spinal dorsal horn on the operated side was significantly larger in group CCI than in group S. Conclusion NF-κB signal transduction pathway in the astrocytes in the spinal dorsal hom may be involved in neuropathic pain.