Objective To establish a method for determination of trace bromate in flour and the products by ion chromatography.Methods Conductance-ion chromatography and Ionpac~R AS9-HC column were employed and 9.0 mmol/L sodium carbonate was used as the eluent,the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min.BrO_3~-in the samples soaked in the purified water was extracted by ultrasonic microwave,the water-soluble macromolecules were removed by ultra filtration cup in the extract,then the direct injection determination was conducted.Results The lowest detection limit was 0.01 mg/L,the quantitative detection limit was 0.03 mg/kg,the relative standard deviation was 0.6%-7.6%,the recovery rate was 97.8%-103.6%.Conclusion This method is simple,rapid,accurate,sensitive and is applicable to the determination of trace bromate in flour and the products.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB pathway with p38MAPK in Curcuma wenyujin diterpenoid compound C (CDCC) fighting against inflammation and inducing gastric cancer cell apoptosis by stimulating gastric cell SGC7901 with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were in vitro acted by CDCC in different concentrations at different time points. Their growth inhibition ratios were measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis rate of gastric cancer cells was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. Nuclear translocation of p65 was detected by cell immunofluorescence. Expression levels of p38MAPK/P-p38MAPK, p65/P-p65, and Caspase 3/P-Caspase 3 were measured by Western blot.

RESULTSCDCC had significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of SGC-7901. It also could effectively induce the apoptosis of gastric cancer cell SGC-7901. It also could reduce nuclear translocation of p65 in gastric cancer cell SGC-7901. Results of Western blot indicated that expression levels of p38MAPK and p65 were reduced and the expression level of Caspase-3 was elevated along with increased concentrations of CDCC (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONApoptosis executive protein Caspase 3 activated by regulating p65 via p38MAPK might be one of possible mechanisms for CDCC fighting against inflammation and gastric cancer.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Curcuma ; Diterpenes ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

In this paper, we studied the relationship between the prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha))-induced cardiac hypertrophy and calcineurin (CaN) signal transduction pathway in vivo and in vitro. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a single i.p. injection with monocrotaline (MCT) (60 mg/kg) and then given orally with celecoxib (20 mg/kg) or vehicle once a day for 14 d before (from d 1 to d 14) or after (from d 15 to d 28) right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) was formed. Body weight (BW), right ventricular weight (RV), left ventricular with septum weight (LV), as well as lung weight were determined. RVH index (RVHI=RV/LV), RV/BW, and lung weight/BW were calculated and histological changes were observed with transmission electron microscope. PGF(2alpha) level, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and CaN mRNA expressions, expression of CaN and its downstream effectors, NFAT(3) and GATA(4) protein were assayed by EIA kit, RT-PCR, and Western blotting, respectively. The cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in primary culture induced by PGF(2alpha) (0.1 micromol/L) was evaluated by measuring the cell diameter, protein content, and ANP mRNA as well as CaN mRNA expressions. It was found that 14 d or 28 d after MCT was given, the RVHI, RV/BW, and lung weight/BW were significantly increased by 47%, 53% and 118%, and by 64%, 94% and 156%, respectively; at the same time PGF(2alpha) levels in RV tissue were increased by 44% and by 51% with increasing RVHI, and elevated expressions of ANP and CaN mRNA, as well as CaN, NFAT(3) and GATA(4) proteins in a positive correlation manner. Furthermore, some histological injuries were found in RV tissue. Celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, obviously blunted the elevation of RVHI, RV/BW, and lung weight/BW no matter it was given before or after RVH. In vitro experiments showed that 0.1 micromol/L PGF(2alpha) significantly increased the cardiomyocyte diameter and protein content, and promoted ANP and CaN mRNA expressions, which was blocked by cyclosporin A, a CaN inhibitor. Our results indicate that PGF(2alpha) may be involved in cardiac hypertrophy induced by MCT in rats through CaN signal transduction pathway.
Animals ; Calcineurin ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dinoprost ; metabolism ; physiology ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Monocrotaline ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of oxymatrine on chronic heart failure induced by isoproterenol (ISO) and to observe its effects on ADMA metabolism pathway in ISO-induced chronic heart failure in rats.

METHODMale Sprague-Dawley rats were given oxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) orally for 14 days. Heart failure was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (5 mg kg-1 d-1 ) at the 8th day for 1 week. Serum parameters, haemodynamic parameters, Heart weight, and histopathological variables were analysed. Expression of protein levels were measured by Western blot.

RESULTOxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) significantly attenuated serum content of cTn I, improved left ventricle systolic and diastolic function and left ventricular remodeling, reduced the ISO-induced myocardial pathological changes compared with ISO group. In addition, oxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) significantly reduced serum level of ADMA (P <0. 01), normalize the reduced dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDAH2) expression (P <0. 01) , but had no effect on the isoproterenol-induced upregulated protein arginine methyltransferases 1 expression.

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine could ameliorate the experimental ventricular remodeling in ISO-induced chronic heart failure in rats and the mechanism involved in reducing serum content of ADMA and increased DDAH2 expression.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Amidohydrolases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Isoproterenol ; adverse effects ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo discuss the expression and significance of caspase-3 gene in the apoptotic muscle cells in gamma-radiation-induced muscle cell lines.

METHODSThe caspase-3 mRNA in the control and gamma-radiation induced apoptotic muscle cells was analysed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of caspase-3 gene transcript was higher in 103Pd radioactive stent dog bile duct than in general stent dog bile duct, and apoptotic muscle cells were higher in 103Pd radioactive stent dog bile duct than in general stent dog bile duct.

CONCLUSIONSThe high level expression of caspase-3 gene may help to understand the muscle cells sensitivity to gamma-radiation apoptosis. 103Pd radioactive stent may increase the expression of caspase-3 gene in dog bile duct and prevent the billiary narrow when dog bile duct was injured by balloon.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Bile Ducts ; enzymology ; radiation effects ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; genetics ; radiation effects ; Dogs ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Palladium ; administration & dosage ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; radiation effects ; Radioisotopes ; administration & dosage ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effects of naja naja atra venom (NNAV) in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODSThe rat diabetes model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Thirty-two model rats were randomly divided into one DN group (n=8) and three treatment groups (n=8 each) that received NNAV at doses of 30, 90, or 270 μg/(kg·day) via oral gavage, another eight rats as normal controls. After 12 weeks, all rats were sacrificed and the changes in serum and urine biological index levels were determined by colorimetric assay. Microalbumin (mALB), N-acetyl-β- glucosaminidase (NAG) and cystatin C (CysC) concentrations were measured by ELISA. Renal tissues were sliced for pathological and immunohistochemical observations.

RESULTSComparied with the DN group, serum glucose was decreased by 31.04%, total cholesterol 21.96%, triglyceride 23.78%, serum creatinine 19.83%, blood urea nitrogen 31.28%, urinary protein excretion 45.42%, mALB 10.42%, NAG 20.65%, CysC 19.57%, whereas albumin increased by 5.55%, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol 59.09%, creatinine clearance 19.05% in the treatment group by NNAV administration at dose of 90 μg/(kg·day). NNAV also reduced the levels of malondialdehyde in serum (22.56%) and kidney tissue (9.79%), and increased superoxide dismutase concentration in serum (15%) and decreased it in renal tissue (8.85%). In addition, under light microscopy kidney structure was improved and glomerular hypertrophy decreased by 8.29%. As shown by immunohistochemistry, NNAV inhibited transforming growth factor-β1 by 6.70% and nuclear actor-κB by 5.15%.

CONCLUSIONNNAV improves biological indexes in DN, and it may exert renoprotective effects in rats with STZ-induced diabetes.

Animals ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Elapid Venoms ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Elapidae ; physiology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase

BACKGROUNDInternal metallic stents have been widely used in clinical practice, but a high postoperative restenosis rate limits its application. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of intrabiliary radiation on muscle formation and biliary duct remodeling after biliary duct balloon injury in dogs.

METHODSTwenty male dogs (15 - 20 kg) were randomly divided into treatment group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Balloon overstretching injury was induced using a balloon catheter placed across the biliary duct. Subsequently, a 103Pd radioactive stent was positioned at the target site in each animal in the treatment group, providing the injured biliary duct with a radiation dose of 12.58 x 10(7) Bq. Dogs in the control group received Ni-Ti stents. All the dogs were killed one month after initial injury. The injured sections were dissected free from the dogs, and were processed for histological and morphological study. Cross-sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome, and Verhoef-van Giesen. Muscle formation area and lumen area were determined using a computer-assisted image analysis system.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, 103Pd radioactive stents significantly reduced muscle formation area (78.3%, P < 0.01), and percentage area of stenosis [control stents: (60.0 +/- 21.6)%, 103Pd radioactive stents: (31.6 +/- 9.5)%]. In addition, in the treatment group, the biliary duct lumen area was significantly larger than that in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS103Pd radioactive stents providing a radioactive dose of 12.58 x 10(7) Bq are effective in reducing muscle formation and biliary duct remodeling after balloon overstretching injury.

Animals ; Bile Ducts ; pathology ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Dogs ; Male ; Muscle Development ; radiation effects ; Muscle, Smooth ; radiation effects ; Palladium ; administration & dosage ; Radioisotopes ; administration & dosage ; Random Allocation ; Stents ; adverse effects

The application of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) has improved the clinical management of PCa patients.However,the PSA assay has been faced with criticism due to its potential association with over-diagnosis and subsequent overtreatment of indolent patients.Matrix metalloproteinase-26 (MMP26) is a member of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and has been reported to be highly expressed in many cancers.This investigation evaluated the potential of serum MMP26 as a biomarker for PCa.The level of serum MMP26 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 160 subjects including PCa group (n=80),benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) group (n=40) and control group (n=40).Furthermore,we evaluated the expression of MMP26 in tissues by immunohistochemistry.The results showed the serum MMP26 levels were significantly higher in PCa group than in BPH group and control group.Similarly,the MMP26 protein was positive in PCa tissues and negative in BPH tissues and control tissues.In conclusion,these results suggested MMP26 could be used as a potential serum biomarker in the diagnosis of PCa.

Objective To analyze epidemic characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Qingpu District of Shanghai and provide evidence for prevention and control of COVID-19. Methods The COVID-19 cases diagnosed in the medical facilities in Qingpu District were included in the study.Descriptive epidemiology was employed to describe diagnosis, clinical symptoms and possible exposure. Results There were 53 suspected cases identified in Qingpu District, 47 of which were excluded and 6 were confirmed.Two confirmed cases were identified when seeking medical treatment and 4 by other means.Of the confirmed cases, 83.3% were male and 66.7% were imported.Their initial symptom was mainly cough.The 75.0% of the confirmed cases had underlying diseases.By PCR testing of SARS-CoV-2, 100.0% of the sputum specimens tested positive, 50.0% of the nasopharyngeal swabs were positive, whereas 100.0% of the throat swabs were negative. Conclusion COVID-19 is more common in men than in women.The positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 in sputum samples is highest, followed by nasopharyngeal swabs and throat swabs.It is crucial to implement the countermeasures at earlier stages, such as strengthening the road entrance monitoring, at-home or intensive health observation of foreign visitors for early identification of suspected COVID-19 cases.

BACKGROUNDIn recent years, interventional tumor therapy, involving implantation of intra-cholangial metal stents through percutaneous trans-hepatic punctures, has provided a new method for treating cholangiocarcinoma. (103)Pd cholangial radioactive stents can concentrate high radioactive dosages into the malignant tumors and kill tumor cells effectively, in order to prevent re-stenosis of the lumen caused by a relapsed tumor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of gamma-rays released by the (103)Pd biliary duct radioactive stent in treating cholangiocarcinoma via induction of biliary cholangiocarcinoma cell apoptosis.

METHODSA group of biliary duct cancer cells was collectively treated with a dose of gamma-rays. Cells were then examined by the 3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl terazolium-bromide (MTT) technique for determining the inhibition rate of the biliary duct cancer cells, as well as with other methods including electron microscopy, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, and flow cytometry were applied for the evaluation of their morphological and biochemical characteristics. The growth curve and the growth inhibition rate of the cells were determined, and the changes in the ultrastructure of the cholangiocarcinoma cells and the DNA electrophoresis bands were examined under a UV-lamp.

RESULTSThe gamma-ray released by (103)Pd inhibited cholangiocarcinoma cell growth, as demonstrated when the growth rate of the cells was stunned by a gamma-ray with a dosage larger than 197.321 MBq. Typical features of cholangiocarcinoma cell apoptosis were observed in the 197.321 MBq dosage group, while cell necrosis was observed when irradiated by a dosage above 245.865 MBq. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis results were different between the 197.321 MBq irradiation dosage group, the 245.865 MBq irradiation dosage group, and the control group.

CONCLUSIONS(103)Pd radioactive stents which provide a radioactive dosage of 197.321 MBq are effective in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma; (103)Pd radioactive stents should be useful for the clinical treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; ultrastructure ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; radiation effects ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; ultrastructure ; DNA ; analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; Gamma Rays ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Palladium ; Stents