Objective To study the effect of Rhubarb as a supplemental emergency treatment for acute omethoate Poisoning (AOMP). Methods 80 male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: slight intoxication group, severe intosieation group, therapeutial group of Rhubarb after severe intoxication and normal control group. The intoxication experimental model (one slight group, two severe groups) were made by intragastrically given at different dose of Omethoate. The severe group was received Rhubarb treatment. Results The rats action in Rhubarb treated group was significantly better than that in control group, and the level of cholinesterase (ChE) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum st different time were significantly higher than those in other two intoxication groups. (P<0. 05 or P <0.01).Conclusions Rhubarb might be good for AOMP as a supple mental emergency therapy.

Objective: To investigate the effects of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β)/eukaryotic extension factor kinase 2 (eEF2K) signaling pathway on the process of pulmonary fibrosis through in vivo experiments, and find new ideas for clinical treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Methods: The pulmonary fibrosis model of C57BL/6 male mice was induced by bleomycin with intratracheal injection at the dose of 2 mg/kg. After 14 days of modeling, animals were divided into model group, negative inhibition group and inhibition group (n=5 for each group), and control group was not processed. The inhibition group was treated with TDZD-8 (4 mg/kg) after modeling, the negative inhibition group was given DMSO solution after modeling, and the samples were collected after 28 days. Hematoxylin-eosin staining method was used to detect lung fibrosis in mice and scored according to Ashcroft scale. Expression levels of GSK3β, p-GSK3β, eEF2K, p-eEF2K (Ser70, Ser392, Ser470), precursor protein of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (pro-MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), collagen I (Col I), collagen Ⅲ (Col Ⅲ) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by Western blot. Results: Compared with control group, the fibrosis score was up-regulated, the expression levels of GSK3β, p-GSK3β, p-eEF2K (Ser70, Ser392, Ser470), pro-MMP-2, MMP-2, Col I, Col Ⅲ and α-SMA were increased, while that of eEF2K was decreased in model group (P＜0.05). Compared with model group, the fibrosis score, expression levels of GSK3β, p-GSK3β, p-eEF2K (Ser70, Ser392, Ser470), pro-MMP-2, MMP-2, Col I, Col Ⅲ and α-SMA were decreased, but the expression level of eEF2K was increased in inhibition group (P＜0.05). Conclusion: GSK3β can activate eEF2K by phosphorylation at the sites of Ser70, Ser392 and Ser470, increase the contents of fibrosis indicators, promote the formation of pulmonary fibrosis, and aggravate lung tissue lesions.
Animals ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Elongation Factor 2 Kinase/metabolism* ; Eukaryota/metabolism* ; Fibrosis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced* ; Signal Transduction

Objective: To explore the protective effect of formula of Gougancai decoction (FGD) on acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in rats, in order to provide basis for the development of pharmaceutical preparations or healthcare products. Method: Sixty rats were randomly divided into normal group, Silymarin group (120 mg·kg^-1) and FGD groups (475, 950, 1 900 mg·kg^-1). The normal group and the model group were given equal volume of saline by gavage, while the other groups were administered with the corresponding dose of drugs according to the body weight. After 10 days, the acute liver injury model was established with 12% carbon tetrachloride peanut oil solution (5 mL·kg^-1), except the normal group. All of the rats were put to death to collect serum and liver tissues. The contents of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected by biochemical methods, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in liver tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay(ELISA). Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) protein expression in liver tissues were detected by Western blot, and htoxylin eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the variation of liver histopathological. Result: Compared with the normal group, the serum activities of AST, ALT, ALP and the content of TBIL, MDA in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01), the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 in liver tissue were remarkably increased (P<0.01), but the serum activities of SOD, GSH-Px were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the expression of NF-κB was enhanced in liver tissue (P<0.01), and PPAR-γ was down-regulated (P<0.01), indicating the successful modeling of acute liver injury. Compared with the model group, FGD could reduce the activities of AST, ALT, ALP and the contents of TBIL, MDA (P<0.05, P<0.01), decease the level of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and down-regulate the expression of NF-κB (P<0.05, P<0.01), but up-regulate the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and the expression of PPAR-γ (P<0.05, P<0.01). The liver tissue lesions were alleviated to varying degrees. Conclusion: FGD has a protective effect on CCl₄-induced acute liver injury in rats, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of PPAR-γ and the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway, with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects.

To investigate some rare causes of obstructive jaundice in children. Three school children with obstructive jaundice caused by uncommon causes were analyzed. Despite pre operative physical examination, B Ultrasonic and CT examinations, the diagnosis was not established. The main clinical manifestation of three patients was obstructive jaundice. Postoperative pathological examination proved that one patient was suffering from cryptococcus neoformans infection of the common bile duct, another embryonal rabdomyosarcoma of common bile duct, and the third primary hydatid cysts in the common bile duct. They were all treated with surgical removal of the lesions, followed by reconstruction of the bile duct and other adjunctive treatment with satisfactory result. The results suggest that obstructive jaundice in children may be caused by some unusual diseases. Comprehensive analysis and corresponding treatments were recommended.

Objective To analyze the evolution of rtI233V mutation in the reverse transcriptase domain of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its association with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) resistance. Methods The rate of detection of rtI233V mutation in 9830 patients with chronic HBV infection was analyzed. HBV reverse transcriptase genes isolated from serial serum samples of two patients were amplified by nested PCR, and clonal sequencing (>20 clones/sample) was performed to analyze the evolution of rtI233V mutations. The replica of pTriEx-HBV1.1 vectors harboring wild-type and mutant strains (rtI233V, rtN236T, rtI233V+rtN236T) were respectively constructed and transiently transfected into HepG2 cells. Media containing serial concentrations of lamivudine (LAM), ADV, entecavir (ETV), or tenofovir (TDF) were used to treat the cells. Then HBV DNA in the supernatants was quantitatively determined by real-time PCR in order to analyze HBV mutants' replication competence and phenotypic characteristics under the drug pressures. Results The detection rate of rtI233V mutation in 9830 nucleos(t)ide analogues-treated patients was 0.28% (28/9830), including 0.19% (19 patients) with rtI233V individual mutation and 0.09% (9 patients) with rtI233V mutation combining with rtN236T or other mutations. All of the patients had rtI233V had ADV exposure history: 16 (57.1%) of them received ADV monotherapy for over six months, and 12(42.9%) of them received ADV combined sequential therapy for over 12 months. Replication competence and phenotypic resistance analysis showed rtI233V and wild-type strains had similar viral replication competence, while rtN236T exhibited significantly lower replication competence compared with wild-type strains. rtI233V strains remained sensitive to LAM, ADV, ETV, and TDF and showed little influence on drug resistance when combined with rtN236T, but it showed ability to restore the defected replication capacity of rtN236T strains. Conclusions The rtI233V mutation is associated with sub-optimal response to ADV. Though it does not directly reduce virus sensitivity to ADV, rtI233V mutation enhances replication competence of ADV resistant strains, and it is a complementary mutation.

Objective To identify a novel mutation rtN236V in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse-transcriptase (RT) region of an adefovir dipivoxil (ADV)-refractory patient with chronic hepatitis B, and analyze its phenotypic resistant characteristics. Methods HBV DNA was extracted from an ADV-refractory patient with chronic hepatitis B, and the full-length RT region was amplified by nested PCR. The PCR product was cloned into the pGEM-Teasy vector, and then transfected into JM109 cells. Thirtyfour clones were randomly selected for DNA sequencing, and drug-resistance-associated mutations were analyzed. After restriction double enzyme digestion and ligation procedure, the 1.1-ploid genome length HBV recombinant plasmids harboring wild type and three different mutants in RT region were constructed. The replication-competent constructs were then transiently transfected into the HepG2 cells. Four hours post-transfection, new medium containing different concentrations of lamivudine, ADV, entecavir and tenofovir were supplemented every other day for 4 days. The phenotypic characteristics of the HBV mutants were analyzed under the drug pressure, the supernatant was collected and HBV DNA production was quantitatively detected using real-time PCR. Results Virological and biochemical breakthrough appeared in this patient after ADV treatment for 15 months. Sequence analysis of 34 clones showed that there were 20 strains (58.8%) for rtN236V mutant, 11 (32.4%) for rtN236T, 2 (5.9%) for wild type and 1 (2.9%) for rtA181V+N236V. The relative viral replication capacity of rtN236T, rtN236V and rtA181V+N236V mutants was 89.43%, 83.60% and 75.44% of the wild-type strain, respectively. Phenotypic resistance analysis showed that the susceptibility of mutant harboring rtN236T, rtN236V and rtA181V+N236V was 1/4.75, 1/3.10 and 1/5.10 of the wild-type virus. The three mutants were still susceptible to lamivudine, entecavir and tenofovir. Conclusion A novel mutation rtN236V concomitant with rtN236T and rtA181V mutations has been first identified in viral pool of an ADV-refractory patient. rtN236V may decrease the viral replication capacity and the susceptibility to ADV, which might be a novel ADV resistant mutation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of licochalcone A (LCA) on the proliferation and cell cycle of human lung squamous carcinoma cells and explore its possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: MTT assay was used to detect the changes in proliferation of H226 cells after treatment with different concentrations of LCA for 48 h, and the IC₅₀ of LCA was calculated. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle changes in H226 cells treated with 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L LCA, and the expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase CDK2 and CDK4, and p-PI3K, PI3K, p-Akt, and Akt in the treated cells were detected using Western blotting. The effect of intraperitoneal injection of LCA for 24 days on tumor volume and weight was assessed in a BALB/c-nu mouse model bearing lung squamous carcinoma xenografts. RESULTS: MTT assay showed that LCA significantly decreased the viability of H226 cells with an IC₅₀ of 28.3 μmol/L at 48 h. Flow cytometry suggested that LCA treatment induced obvious cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. LCA treatment also significantly decreased the expressions of cyclin D1, CDK2, and CDK4, and inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt in H226 cells. In the tumor-bearing mice, LCA treatment for 24 days significantly reduced the tumor volume and weight. CONCLUSION LCA is capable of inhibiting the proliferation and inducing cell cycle arrest in lung squamous carcinoma cells possibility by regulating the PI3K/Akt singling pathway.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Cyclin D1 ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Lung Neoplasms ; Signal Transduction ; Lung

Objective PINK1 and Parkin are directly invoveled in the regulation and maintenance of mitochondrial functional morphology. We aim to explore the effect of Wnt2 overexpression on PINK1^B9 Mutant Drosophila and its mechanism in this study. Methods The GAL4-UAS system was used to construct the normal control flies（W1118/ + ；MHC-GAL4/+）, PINK1^B9 transgenic Drosophila model flies（UAS-PINK1^B9 /y；MHC-GAL4 / +；Parkinson's disease model of Drosophila melanogaster), the Wnt2 overexpression flies（UAS-PINK1^B9 /y；MHC-GAL4 / Wnt2 OE） and the Wnt2 RNAi flies（UAS-PINK1^B9 /y；MHC-GAL4 /Wnt2）. On the 5th day, the abnormal wings phenotype rate and flying rate of flies were observed. The contents of Ndufs3 proteins were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expression levels of PGC-1α, Nrf1 and TFAM related to mitochondrial metabolism and synthesis were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The morphology of mitochondria was observed by electron microscopy. Complex I and Complex II function was detected by high-resolution mitochondrial respiratory system. Results Compared with the normal control flies, PINK1^B9 transgenic Drosophila model flies showed increased abnormal wings phenotype rate([1.87±0.06]% vs [68.79±0.70]%), decreased flying rate([ 97.51±0.52)% vs(3.95±0.53)%], and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05); Compared with PINK1^B9 transgenic Drosophila model flies, the Wnt2 RNAi flies showed decreased abnormal wings phenotype rate[(10.14±1.72)%], increased flying rate([41.83±2.57]%)(P<0.05). Compared with the normal control flies, PINK1^B9 transgenic Drosophila model flies showed decreased expression levels of PGC-1α and Nrf1,Ndufs3 proteins, Complex I and Complex II(P<0.05);On the contrary, the Wnt2 RNAi flies showed increased trends compared with PINK1^B9 transgenic Drosophila model flies(P<0.05). Conclusion Overexpression of Wnt2 protects PINK1^B9 transgenic Drosophila models, which is related to the improvement of mitochondrial function.

OBJECTIVETo investigate anticancer effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combined with CL, extract of Rosa roxburghii Tratt on human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line (JEC).

METHODSJEC cells cultured in vitro in the logarithmic growth phase were seeded in the culture plate and divided into the control group (RPMI 1640), the positive group (10(-4) mol/L 5-FU), the CL groups (at the dose of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 microg/mL), and the CL (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 microg/mL) combined with 5-FU groups. Effects of 5-FU combined with CL on JEC cell growth were drawn and measured by MTT and growth curves. Effects of CL combined with 5-FU on the JEC cell differentiation was analyzed by detecting the reduction capability of nitrobenzene thiocyanate (NBT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) contents in the cultured medium. Effects of CL combined with 5-FU on the JEC cell apoptosis and cell proliferation cycle were detected by acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) fluorescent staining and flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSThe proliferation inhibitory effect of CL combined with 5-FU on JEC cells was enhanced when compared with that of CL or 5-FU alone (P<0.05). The percentages of NBT positive JEC cells and apoptotic JEC cells increased in the 5-FU combined with CL groups when compared with 5-FU group or the CL group alone (P<0.05). The LDH concentration of the JEC cell culture supernate decreased in 5-FU combined with CL groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of G0-G1 phase JEC cells treated by 5-FU combined with CL was higher than that of 5-FU or CL alone (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCL could enhance anticancer effects of 5-FU. Its mechanisms might be correlated with reinforcing the cytotoxicity of 5-FU, inducing cell differentiation and apoptosis, and inhibiting cell proliferation and division.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rosa ; chemistry