AimTo evaluate the effects of different doses of valsartan on blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) . MethodsEighteen SHR(fourteenweek-old, male) were divided into three groups (six rats in each group ): SHR control group in which the rats were fed with normal saline; low dose valsartan group in which the rats were fed with valsartan 8 mg· kg-1 · d-1 and high dose valsartan group in which the rats were fed with valsartan 24 mg · kg -1 · d-1, all for 8 weeks. The rats in the WKY control group(n ＝ 6) were fed with normal saline for 8 weeks. Results SBP, LVM/ BW and TDM of SHR were remarkably lower than those of the control after drug intervention, and the effect on SBP, LVM/ BW and TDM was most remarkable in the high dose valsartan group. ConclusionDifferent doses of valsartan can decrease SBP of SHR and inhibit the progression of ventricular hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of melatonin on residual hair follicle cells of scald rats at early stage.

METHODSEighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into scald group, treatment group, sham group , with 6 rats in each group. The rats in scald group and treatment group were subjected to 30% TBSA partial thickness scald on the back, and were resuscitated with balanced solution after 1 hour, while those in sham group were immersed in water at 37 degrees C for 25 s to simulate scald, and did not receive fluid replacement. Rats in treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg/kg melatonin solution at 1 minute, 8 hours and 12 hours after scald, while those in sham group and scald group were given equal volume of 1% alcohol sodium-isotonic saline instead. Tissue samples were harvested at 6, 12 and 24 post scald hours (PSH) for determination of MDA and GSH levels. Apoptosis of residul hair follicle was detected by TUNEL method and immunohistochemistry of caspase-3.

RESULTSThe level of MDA in scald group at each time point was much higher than that in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05), and it peaked at 12 PSH. The changes in GSH were just opposite to that of MDA. Under fluorescence microscope, the residual hair follicle cells were blue, and the apoptotic cells appeared green. The apoptosis rate in scald group at 6, 12, 24 PSH was obviously higher than that in sham (P < 0.01) and treatment groups (P < 0.05), which was (20.2 +/- 3.4)% vs (4.3 +/- 2.3)% vs (10.9 +/- 3.2)%, (31.2 +/- 3.6)% vs (5.1 +/- 2.5)% vs (19.1 +/- 3.7)%, (22.4 +/- 2.7)% vs (4.1 +/- 2.4)% vs (13.1 +/- 3.4)%, respectively. The score of caspase-3 positive cell in scald group was higher than those in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is obvious correlation between oxidative stress and apoptosis rate of hair follicle cells in rats with partial thickness scald. Early administration of melatonin may have anti-apoptosis ability for residual hair follicle cells by attenuation of oxidative stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Melatonin ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The content of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) which as the enzymatic hydrolysis product of benzyl glucosinolate through thioglucosidase was determined by HPLC. The content of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) which as the enzymatic hydrolysis product of benzyl glucosinolate through thioglucosidase was determined by HPLC. The chromatography condition was as follows: Kaseisorb LC ODS 2000 (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 min) column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile(A)-water( B) under gradient elution (0-5 min, 3%-8% A; 5-9 min, 8%-48% A; 9-23 min, 48%-62% A; 23-28 min, 62%-99% A); the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) with 10 microL injection volume; detection wavelength was 246 nm and temperature of column was 40 degrees C. The content of benzyl glucosinolate was in the range of 10.76-17.91 g x L(-1). The method is simple, accurate and good reproducibility which can be used for the determination of benzyl glucosinolate in Lepidium meyenii, effectively.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Glucosinolates ; analysis ; Lepidium ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the consistency of HER2 gene status before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer by FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) and IHC (immunohistochemistry) techniques,and analyze the factor of the difference in the result and the feasibility of HER2 gene tested by FISH in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy breast cancer patients.Methods FISH and IHC for HER2 gene expression status was performed on the archival paraffin-embedded sections of breast cancer tissues before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy from 135 Chinese female patients,x2 test of paired comparison of enumeration data and Kappa analysis were used to compare the difference and consistency of this two techniques.ResultsThe detection rate of HER2 status in punctured cancer tissues before neoadjuvant chemotherapy by FISH and HER2 did not show statistical difference in our research while the opposite result were showed in cancer tissues after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Moreover,the two techniques of HER2 test were less concordant in patients accepted taxanes neoadjuvant chemotherapy than CAF treatment.ConclusionsThe consistency of FISH and IHC techniques of cancer tissues before neoadjuvant chemotherapy gained advantage compared to the ones after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy especially taxanes should take the test of HER2 gene status by FISH technique.

Compound Wuzhigan capsules is a compound preparation composed of Wuzhigan, Shidagonglao, Gangmei, Shanzhima. A Randomized, double-blind, multi-center, positive parallel control designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of compound Wuzhigan capsules on anemopyretic cold. One hundred and twenty anemopyretic cold patients were given compound Wuzhigan capsules (test group), 2 capsules one time, three times a day, 119 patients were given compound Wuzhigan tablets (control group) ,4 tablets one time, three times a day; three days of treatment The study showed, the markedly effective rate and total effective rate respectively were 63. 3% and 80% of the test group. For the control group, the markedly effective rate and total effective rate respectively were 72. 5% and 80. 7%. The difference was not statistically significant. Compound Wuzhigan capsules can reduce the dosage, and get better patient compliance.
Adult ; Capsules ; Common Cold ; complications ; drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Safety ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clubfoot ; physiopathology ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Obej ctive Abnormal proliferation of T cells plays an important role in the development of autoimmune diseases. The article aimed to study the inhibitory effect of small molecule compound BD691 on T cell proliferation and its mechanism. Methods Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes were isolated and purified by the immunomagnetic microbeads,then T cells were ac-tivated with anti-CD3/CD28 mAbs or alloantigen.The inhibitory effect of BD691 on activated T cell proliferation, the cytotoxic effect BD891 on resting T cells and the expression of activated T cells marker CD25 were measured by flow cytometry.Furthermore, ELISA was used to detect the secretion of cytokines associated with T cell differentiation. Results BD691 significantly inhibited the prolif-eration of T cells being stimulated by anti-CD3/CD28 mAb or alloantigen in a dose-dependent manner, and IC50 values are (8.5 ± 1.5)μmol/L and (7.2 ±1.3)μmol/L, respectively.However, BD691 had no obvious cytotoxic effects on resting T cells and periph-eral blood mononuclear cells, even at a high concentration ( up to 100μmol/L) .In T cells which were not activated by anti-CD3/CD28 mAb, the percentage of CD25+T cells is only 1.6%of the total cells, while the number increased to 68% after activating treatment.Mean-while, in T cells which were activated by 0, 3.3, 10, 30μmol/L BD691, no obvious change of CD25 expression were observed, while immunosuppressant FK506 (0.1μmol/L) significantly decreased the expression of CD25 +T cells (14.9%).In unactivated T cells, 95.6%cells were at G0/G1 phase, while after activation, the percentage of cells at G0/G1 phase reduced to 57.7%.In addition, BD691 inhibited the secretion of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17 in activated T cells, but had no effects on the secretion of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10. Co nclusion BD691 exerts no effects on T cell activation, but it inhibits T cell proliferation by inducing T cell cycling arrest at G0/G1 phase.Moreover, BD691 inhibits the secretion of key cytokines (such as IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-17) closely related to the differ-entiation of Th1 and Th17 cells.The results suggest that BD 691 is a potential lead compound to develop a new immunosuppressant for the inhibition of abnormal proliferation and differentiation of T cells.

Objective To construct the Neisseria surface protein A (NspA) DNA vaccine of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and evaluate the humoral and cellular immune responses induced by this vaccine in mice model.Methods The recombinant expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+)/NspA was constructed by inserting NspA gene into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+) and confirmed by poly merase chain reaction (PCR),restriction enzymes HindⅢ,XbaⅠand DNA sequencing.NspA mR- NA in transfected RAW264.7 cells and NspA protein expression in transfected COS-7 cells were de- tected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical stai- ning,respectively.Forty-five male BALB/c mice were immunized with pcDNA3.1 (+)/NspA recom binant plasmid.The level of serum anti-Neisseria gonorrhoeae antibody of the immunized mice was detected by tube agglutination test,and the level of interieron (IFN)-?was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The proliferation of splenocytes was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colormetry.The NspA gene in BALB/c mice was identified by PCR with the total DNA extracted from quadriceps femoris in immunized sites.Results Restriction enzymes digestion a- nalysis and DNA sequencing results revealed that the pcDNA3.1 (+)/NspA had been constructed successfully.NspA gene had been transcripted and expressed in mammalian cells.The peak titer of specific antibody was 1:640 in pcDNA3.1(+)/NspA immunized group and there was no specific an- tibody detected in both pcDNA3.1 (+) immunized group and PBS group.The IFN-?level in pcD NA3.1 (+) immunized group was (23.79?11.85)pg/mL and that in pcDNA3.1 (+)/NspA immu- nized group was(169.71?30.52)pg/mL (P

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β(1))-induced scarring of skin.

METHODSFibroblasts isolated from healthy adult skin were cultured in vitro and divided into blank control group (serum-free DMEM culture), TGF-β(1) group (with stimulation of 10 ng/mL TGF-β(1) for 48 hours), troglitazone group (with the same treatment as in TGF-β(1) group after stimulation of 10 µmol/L troglitazone for 2 hours), and 15-dioxygen prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) group (with the same treatment as in TGF-β(1) group after stimulation of 10 µmol/L 15d-PGJ2 for 2 hours) according to the stimulation added into DMEM. The expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was determined with Western blot. The mRNA levels of CTGF, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were determined with real-time fluorescence RT-PCR. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTSThe expression of CTGF at mRNA and protein levels in skin fibroblasts were significantly increased in TGF-β(1) group as compared with control group; while expression of CTGF at mRNA and protein levels in 15d-PGJ2 and troglitazone groups were significantly decreased as compared with that in TGF-β(1) group. The mRNA level of MMP-1 in TGF-β(1) group (0.193 ± 0.051) was obviously lower than that in blank control group (1.281 ± 0.195, F = 12.811, P < 0.01), while the mRNA levels of MMP-1 in troglitazone group (0.417 ± 0.043) and 15d-PGJ2 group (0.485 ± 0.027) were significantly increased as compared with that in TGF-β(1) group (F = 12.811, P values all below 0.01). The mRNA level of PDGF in TGF-β(1) group (1.044 ± 0.237) was obviously higher than that in control group (0.349 ± 0.057, F = 16.848, P < 0.01), while the levels in troglitazone group (0.677 ± 0.055) and 15d-PGJ2 group (0.511 ± 0.017) were significantly decreased as compared with that in TGF-β(1) group (F = 16.848, P values all below 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe inhibitory effect of activated PPARγ on the expression of CTGF induced by TGF-β(1) may be the main mechanism of its inhibitory effect on TGF-β(1)-induced scarring on skin, and its influence on MMP-1 and PDGF may also be one of the underlying mechanisms.

Cell Line ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo survey an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in Lulong County and analyze the cause of the disease.

METHODSEpidemiological methods were applied to investigate an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred in June 2000 in Lulong County. Stool specimens were collected from diarrhea patients and were tested for human calicivirus by ELISA and RT-PCR. The products of RT-PCR were cloned and sequenced, then phylogenetic analysis was carried out.

RESULTSIn total, 736 farmers were surveyed, among them 134 had acute gastroenteritis, the attack rate was 18.20%, and one elderly patient died. The age of patients was from 1 to 77 years and the incidence of the disease among young people was higher with a peak in June 25 through 30. Six stool specimens were tested for caliciviruses by ELISA and 3 were positives, one of them was confirmed by RT-PCR and belonged to norovirus genotype GI/2. No other pathogens were detected.

CONCLUSIONHuman calicivirus was confirmed to be the cause of the outbreak of acute gastroenteritis.

Acute Disease ; Caliciviridae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Caliciviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Feces ; virology ; Gastroenteritis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction