OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of alcohol extract of Plumula Nelumbini (AEPN) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic fibrosis rats and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSTotally 32 male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the high dose AEPN group, and the low dose AEPN group, 8 in each group. 1,000 mg/kg AEPN was given to rats in the high dose AEPN group by gastrogavage at 10 mL/kg, once daily, while 500 mg/kg AEPN was given to rats in the low dose AEPN group by gastrogavage at 10 mL/kg, once daily. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin (ALB) were examined using automatic biochemical analyzer. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline (Hyp) in the hepatic tissue were determined using colorimetry. The degree of liver fibrosis was observed by HE staining and Masson staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was detected using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the normal control group, serum levels of ALT and AST obviously increased and the serum ALB level obviously decreased in the model group (all P < 0.05). After treated by AEPN, serum levels of ALT and AST were lowered. and the serum ALB level was higher (all P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the normal control group, collagen deposition was obviously seen in rats' livers of the model group, and pseudolobule had formed; inflammatory activities and fibrosis degrees were serious; contents of Hyp also increased (P < 0.05).After treated by AEPN, collagen deposition was obviously reduced with no obvious pseudolobule; inflammatory activities and fibrosis degrees were alleviated; contents of Hyp were also lowered (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with the normal control group, contents of MDA in the liver tissue obviously increased, while activities of SOD obviously decreased (P < 0.05) in the model group. After treated by AEPN, contents of MDA in the liver tissue decreased and the serum SOD level significantly increased (all P < 0.05). (4) Compared with the normal control group, the expression of α-SMA was obviously elevated in the model group (P < 0.05). After treated by AEPN, its expression was obviously lowered (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAEPN could fight against CCl4 induced liver fibrosis in rats. Fighting against lipid peroxidation and inhibi- ting activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells might be possibly main mechanism.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Collagen ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

As an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), mineral medicine plays an irreplaceable role. However, little has been reported on its species and valence state of heavy metals and deleterious elements, and also the relevance to pharmacological effect and toxicology. The present paper, in a new perspective, summarized the determination of the species and valence state of heavy metals and deleterious elements in recent years, discussed the progress of the pharmacological effect and toxicology, and prospected for future study which might provide reference for mineral medicine.
Animals ; Drug Contamination ; statistics & numerical data ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; toxicity ; Minerals ; analysis ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEOver the last few decades, diabetic cardiomyopathy has been identified as a significant contributor in cardiac morbidity. However, the mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy have not been clarified.

METHODSIn the present study, a diabetic rat model was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The myocardial CD147 expression and extent of glycosylation, as well as thematrixmetalloproteinases(MMPs) expression and activity, were observed in the diabetic and synchronous rats.

RESULTSThe results showed that CD147 located on sarcolemma of cardiomyocytes. The myocardial CD147 expression and glycosylation were significantly increased in the diabetic rats as compared with the control. Expression of MMP-2 protein, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity were also increased in left ventricular myocardium in the diabetic rats. Tamoxifen only inhibited the enhanced expression of myocardial CD147 in the diabetic rats, but not in synchronous control rats. Tamoxifen inhibited glycosylation of myocardial CD147 in both diabetic and control rats. The inhibition of tamoxifen on CD147 glycosylation was stronger than on the expression in the myocardium. The extent of myocardial CD147glycosylation was positively related toMMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Tamoxifen induced an inhibition of myocardial MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in the control and diabetic rats.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that myocardial CD147 expression, especially the extent of glycosylation, regulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity, then accelerates cardiac pathological remodeling inducing diabetic cardiomyopathy. Tamoxifen inhibits myocardial CD147 glycosylation and further depress the activity of MMPs. Therefore, tamoxifen may protect the diabetic rats against diabetic myocardium.

Animals ; Basigin ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies ; drug therapy ; Glycosylation ; Heart ; drug effects ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Rats ; Sarcolemma ; metabolism ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology

Adult ; Aged ; Coal Mining ; Health Promotion ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

Background Following the accelerated speed of population aging in China,the incidence of cataract is rising gradually.Researches indicated that senescenee marker protein-30 ( SMP-30 ) is closely associated with the occurring and developing of cataract. Objective This study was to investigate the expression of SMP-30 in human lens epithelial cells(LECs) of age-related cataract and study the relationship between SMP-30 and apoptosis.Methods Capsulotomy was performed on 80 eyes of 59 patients with simple cortex age-related cataract and 70 eyes of 53 age-matched patients with nucleus age-related cataract.The anterior capsular specimens were obtained by circularly capsulorhexis during the operation.Expressions of the SMP-30 protein and mRNA in the LECs of two types of cataract were detected using immunochemistry and real-time PCR respectively.Apoptosis of the LECs was assayed by TUNEL.The differences of expression of SMP-30 and apoptosis were compared between the two types of cataract.Results Immunochemistry showed that SMP-30 was expressed in cytoplasm of LECs.The expression intensity of SMP-30 was higher in the center zone compared with periphery zone.The apoptosis rate of LECs was significantly higher in the center of the anterior capsule than the periphery in both two types of cataract ( nucleus cataract:19.34％±0.11％ vs 8.32 ％ ± 0.57 ％,P =0.025 ; cortex cataract:42.07 ％ ± 0.86 ％ vs 13.55 ％ ± 0.64 ％,P =0.010 ).The expression amount of SMP-30 mRNA was lower at the periphery than the center of lens in both two types of cataract (nucleus cataract:45.21±2.79 vs 76.42±11.21,P=0.042 ;cortex cataract:108.32±4.32 vs 206.34±15.67,P=0.037 ),and that of nucleus cataract was significantly lower than cortex cataract (60.02±9.08 vs 157.33 ± 13.01,P =0.034),and the apoptosis rate of LECs was declined in the nucleus cataract group compared with the cortex cataract group ( 14.05％ ±0.22％ vs 27.70％ ±0.81％,P =0.007 ). Conclusions LECs apoptosis exists in age-related cataract.SMP-30 probably plays an important role in the formation of cataract.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a multiplex allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) assay with three-color fluorescence labeling for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) SNP typing. METHODS: Based on the principle of AS-PCR, the primer sets were designed for 20 SNP located on the coding region of mtDNA and divided into 2 groups labeled with FAM and HEX fluorescence, respectively. A primer set included two forward (reverse) allelic specific primers with different sizes and a generic reverse (forward) primer. Blood samples from 200 unrelated individuals were analyzed by AS-PCR and capillary electrophoresis. Three random samples at least for each SNP site were examined and verified by direct sequencing. The haplotype frequency was investigated. RESULTS: Distinct electropherograms of 200 blood samples were obtained successfully. The typing results of direct sequencing were identical to those obtained from AS-PCR. The minimum detectable DNA concentration was 0.2 pg under the system of 10 microL. The sensitivity of the DNA concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 5 pg. The 200 individuals were assigned into 15 haplotype, and the haplotype diversity was 0.906 0. CONCLUSION AS-PCR is a simple, rapid and efficient method for mtDNA SNP typing, and can be applied to forensic practice.
Alleles ; DNA ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Mitochondrial/analysis* ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and presented malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (MAH).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 36 patients with biopsy-proven SCC and presented MAH who were treated at the our department from January 2001 to December 2010. The survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox analysis.

RESULTSAmong these 36 patients, the median blood calcium level was 2.94 mmol/L (2.77-4.87 mmol/L), and the median survival time was only 45 days (1-839 d). Log-rank test showed that central nervous system symptoms, bone metastasis, and hypercalcemia occurring over 160 days after cancer diagnosis were predictors for poor survival(p=0.003, P=0.049, P=0.005). In the COX proportional hazard model analysis, central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia occurring over 160 days after cancer diagnosis were independent prognostic factors for survival time (RR=5.721, P=0.000; RR=4.624, P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONSPatients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and presented MAH have poor prognosis. Central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia occurring over 160 days after cancer diagnosis are independent predictors of the prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of Mailuoning on the facial nerve demyelination of Hemifacial spasm and provide the data for therapy of Hemifacial spasm.

METHOD24 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into control group, Saline group and Mailuoning group, on the latter two groups the models of Hemifacial spasm were made by the temporal superficial artery closely contacting the main trunk of facial nerve at stylomastoid foramen. From the 5th week, the Saline and Mailuoning were injected intravenously into ear margin for 2 weeks on Saline and Mailuoning group respectively. At the 7th week, the MDA and SOD in serum were measured, mean while the microstructure and ultrastructure of facial nerve were observed on 3 animal groups.

RESULTThe MDA decreased obviously (P < 0.05) and SOD increased significantly (P < 0.01) in Mailuoning group comparing with that of Saline group, while the MDA and SOD showed insignificant changes of Mailuoning group and control group. The facial nerve severely demyelinated and axons retrogressively changed in Saline group but mild in Mailuoning group.

CONCLUSIONMailuoning injection has a significant protective effect on the facial nerve demyelination of Hemifacial spasm and the very important applied value for therapy of Hemifacial spasm.

Animals ; Demyelinating Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Facial Nerve ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Hemifacial Spasm ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effects of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (SFI) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injured aged rats.

METHODSAged SD male rats, weighing 200-300 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups: the model group, the sham-operative group, the nimodipine positive control group (abbreviated as nimodipine group) and the SFI group. Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injured rat model was established by modified Longa method. SFI was administered by intravenous dripping 1 week before ischemia. Nervous function disorder, brain infarction area, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) levels, brain contents of Ca2+ , water, MDA and SOD levels were observed 3 hrs after ischemia and 3 hrs after reperfusion.

RESULTSperimental results showed that SFI could obviously improve the deficit of nerve function, decrease water content of brain, reduce the infarction area of brain, and inhibit Ca2 + aggregation. LDH and CK levels in serum and MDA in brain were obviously lower than those in the model group and SOD activity in cerebral tissue was obviously higher than that in the model group.

CONCLUSIONSFI had protective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injured aged rats, whose mechanism might be related to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and Ca2+ aggregation.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Brain ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Creatine Kinase ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Injections ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Water ; metabolism