Objective To investigate the role of icaritin in delaying the progression of liver cirrhotic process in rats and the related mechanism. Methods For invitro study, primary rat hepatocytes were obtained by perfusing the liver of male Wistar rats; the cultured cells we reexposed to the fresh medium containing CCl4, and then treated with various concentrations of icaritin. The activities of alanine transaninase(ALT) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase(AST) inculture medium were measured with an automatic biochemical analyzer. The intracellular contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were determined by spectro-photometry; the apoptotic cells were detected by the TUNEL method. Forin vivostudy, CCl4-induced experimental rat hepatic fibrosis model was established and was treated with icaritin. Serum levels of ALT, AST, albumin(ALB), andglobulin(GLB) were measured; the pathological changes and collagen-expression in livers were observed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results CCl4 significantly increased the activities of ALT, AST, and the contents of MDA in culture media of hepatocytes, and significantly decreased the SOD activity. More apoptotic cells were observed in CCl4 group than that in icaritin group. The ALT, AST activities in culture supernatant and the intracellular MDA contents in icaritin group were significantly lower than those in both model group and drug carrier group, while intracellular SOD activity was much higher than that in other two groups(P<0.05). Icaritin also reduced the apoptotic ratios of hepatocytes induced by CCl4 compared with model group(P<0.05 or 0.01). In the in vivo experiment, icaritin treatment significantly reduced serum levels of ALT and AST compared with model group(P<0.05) and greatly improved CCl4-induced liver histopathological injuries and collagen I deposition in the liver tissues. Conclusion Icaritin treatment can attenuate CCl4-induced cirrhosis in rats, atleast in part, by protecting the hepatocytes from peroxidation product.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; Prognosis

Colitis, Ulcerative ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; drug therapy ; etiology

Air ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Ethylene Oxide ; analysis ; Furans ; analysis ; Methylene Chloride ; analysis ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of the A260G and A386G single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the DAZL gene with male infertility in the Chinese population of Zhejiang Province.

METHODSWe collected the peripheral blood samples from 317 idiopathic infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia and 246 normal fertile men, and genotyped the polymorphic loci of the A260G and A386G polymorphisms of the DAZL gene using the SNaPshot technique.

RESULTSThe DAZL gene A260G was found genetically polymorphic in the Chinese population of Zhejiang Province, with the gene frequencies and their distribution consistent to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequencies of the AA, AG and GG genotypes of the A260G polymorphism were 92.3%, 7.3%, and 0.4% respectively in the normal controls and 94.3%, 5.7%, and 0% in the infertile patients, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.43, OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.413-1.46). Heterozygosis (AG) of A386G was found in 1 of the control males but not in the infertile patients, while homozygosis (GG) of A386G was not observed in either group (P = 0.259, OR = 0.698, 59% CI: 0.374-1.306).

CONCLUSIONA260G and A386G SNPs of the DAZL gene are not associated with spermatogenic failure and neither represents a molecular marker for the genetic diagnosis of male infertility in the Chinese population of Zhejiang Province.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Markers ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Thrombasthenia ; classification ; diagnosis

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death. Safflower attracts great attention owing to its anti-ischemia/reperfusion injury effect. Ninety-three patients with CAD were included and randomized into safflower treatment group, PCI group and control group. Low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) was performed to measure end-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic volume (EDV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion score index (WMSI) to determine the recovery of hibernating myocardium and cardiac function in all patients before treatment and after 3-month follow-up. The study was to investigate the effects of safflower on hibernating myocardial revascularization and cardiac function. It was found that LVEF was significantly improved, while the ESV and WMSI were significantly reduced after 2-week treatment in safflower and PCI treatment groups. No significant differences were found between safflower and PCI treatment groups in ESV, EDV, WMSI and LVEF after treatment Safflower injection effectively improved hibernating myocardial function.
Aged ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Revascularization ; Myocardial Stunning ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Recovery of Function

This study was purposed to investigate the effects of tortois plastron, astragali, salviae miltiorrhizae and codonopsis pilosulae on gamma-globin gene synthesis in K562 cells in vitro. Benzidine staining was used to clarify the dose-and time-dependent effects of tortois plastron, astragali, salviae miltiorrhizae and codonopsis pilosulae on hemoglobin synthesis in K562 cells and Western blotting was performed to determine the level of hemoglobin F (alpha(2)gamma(2)). The results indicated that the K562 cells treated with 4 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine had different stain rates of benzidine for: 23.5% (tortois plastron), 19.8% (astragali), 15.8% (salviae miltiorrhizae) and 14.5% (codonopsis pilosulae) at 6 days after the treatment. Western blot indicated that synthesis of HbF increased. It is concluded that tortois plastron, astragali, salviae miltiorrhizae and codonopsis pilosulae enhance globins-gamma synthesis level and increase hemoglobin F level in K562 cells, the effect of which resembles that of sodium butyrate.
Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; gamma-Globins ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the absorption mechanism of genistein self-microemulsifying system in rat intestines.

METHODThe concentrations of phenol red and genistein by in situ perfusion in rats were determined by UV and HPLC, respectively. The effects of drug concentrations, pH, various intestinal segments and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor verapamil on the absorption had been studied.

RESULTThe absorption rate constant (Ka) of genistein had no significant difference at concentrations of 0.05-0.5 mg x mL(-1) and pH of 5.4-7.8 in perfusion. It was Ka of jejunum > ileum > duodenum > colon. The absorption of genistein in jejunum had significant difference (P < 0.05) compared with other parts of intestines. Ka was increased obviously when verapamil was coper-fused with genistein (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe absorption of genistein self-microemulsifying system is a first order process with passive diffusion mechanism related to P-gp efflux. It can be absorbed at all segments of rat intestine, and the jejunum is the best absorption segment, pH had no special effect on the absorption of genistein self-microemulsifying system in rat intestine.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Emulsions ; Genistein ; analysis ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Organ Specificity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Temperature ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the sanitation status of centralized air ventilation system in Putuo District of Shanghai, to analyze correlation between different indexes and to provide basis for improving the health status of public places and strengthening health supervision. Methods According to the requirements of WS 394-2012 The Sanitation Criterion of the Centralized Air Ventilation System in Public Places, 18 centralized air ventilation systems in public places in Putuo District of Shanghai were randomly selected for sampling, testing and evaluation during 2014-2018, and 9 indexes of air supply, inner surface of air duct and indoor air were analyzed for correlation. Results The overall qualified rate of centralized air ventilation system in 10 hotels, 4 restaurants and 4 supermarkets was 86.0%.The over standard rate of PM₁₀, bacteria and fungi in air supply was 3.4%, 31.8% and 33.0%, respectively, but β-hemolytic streptococcus was not detected.The dust amount and microbial index on the inner surface of the air duct were up to standard.Another two indexes of fresh air quantity and Legionella pneumophila were tested in the hotel.The qualified rate of fresh air quantity was 25.6%, the positive rate of Legionella pneumophila type 1(LP1) in cooling water was 30.0%, and no Legionella pneumophila was detected in condensate water.The correlation analysis of 9 indexes showed that there was a significant positive correlation between PM₁₀ in air supply and in indoor air; the amount of microbial pollution on the inner surface of air duct and in air supply; and the amount of microbial pollution in air supply and in indoor air. Conclusions In Putuo District, the general sanitary condition of the centralized air ventilation system in public places is not to be optimistic.The qualified rate of bacteria and fungi in the air supply and fresh air quantity is low, and Legionella pneumophila was detected.The indoor air quality can be improved by installing efficient air purification device and regular cleaning and disinfection.