AIM:To examine the role and dynamic changes of mast cell(MC) and its subpopulations in simple and irradiated-wound of rats.METHODS:MC and its subpopulations were estimated using alcian blue-safranin (ABS)double staining RESULTS:(1)The total number of MC in two groups decreased coincidently on day 2 after wounding, and the total MC increased rapidly and reached maximal gradually on day 5 and 7 after wounding, the increment of MC remained consistently 28 day after wounding (2)Both mucosal MC( MMC) and Mix MC decreased obviously on day 2 after wounding, hereafter,they remained the low level all the time However, the CTMC kept in the high level after wounding (3)The Mix MC on day 5 and the total MC during day 5-15 after wounding were lower in irradiated group than in simple wound group CONCLUSION: MC and its subpopulations could delay the healing process of simple and irradiated wound

OBJECTIVETo observe the characteristics of sperm single-stranded DNA breaks (SSB) and double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB) in infertile men, explore the association of DSB with male infertility, and provide a new observation index and idea for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

METHODSThis study involved 60 infertile men (infertility group) and 30 normal healthy males with infertile wives (control group). We comparatively analyzed the seminal parameters of the two groups, determined sperm concentration and viability using the computer aided sperm analysis system, measured the sperm survival rate by hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test, examined sperm morphology by Diff-Quick staining, and detected sperm DNA damage by two-tail comet assay.

RESULTSNine two-tail comet models were established for detecting sperm DNA integrity. Comparisons between the fertility and control groups showed that the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was (33.8 ± 13.1) vs (16.3 ± 7.9)% (P < 0.01), the SSB-DFI was (19.2 ± 11.4) vs (14.9 ± 7.6)% (P > 0.05), the SSB-DFI/DFI was (56.8 ± 32.4) vs (91.4 ± 27.8)% (P < 0.01), the DSB-DFI was (23.9 +13.4) vs (6.1 ± 2.7)% (P < 0.01), and the DSB-DFI/DFI was (70.8 ± 19.5) vs (37.4 ± 11.3)% (P < 0.01). The optimal cut-off value of DSB-DFI/DFI in the diagnosis of male infertility was 39.5%, with the AUG, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.969, 98.3%, and 90%; that of DSB-DFI was 15.85%, with the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.912, 86.7%, and 80%; and that of DFI was 18.65%; with the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.861, 90%, 70%, respectively. In the infertile men, neither SSB-DFI nor SSB-DFI/DFI exhibited any correlation with semen parameters (P > 0.05); DFI was correlated negatively with the percentage of progressively motile sperm, sperm survival rate, and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but not correlated with sperm concentration (P > 0.05); both DSB-DFI and DSB-DFI/DFI showed a negative correlation with sperm concentration, sperm survival rate, and the percentages of progressively motile sperm and morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDouble-stranded, rather than single-stranded DNA breaks, may be a factor inducing male infertility. The type of sperm DNA strand damage is of much reference value for the assessment of male fertility.

Case-Control Studies ; Comet Assay ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; DNA Breaks, Single-Stranded ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; Staining and Labeling

This study is to investigate the effect of ethyl gallate on invasion capabilities and its mechanism of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Using cell adhesion and transwell assay, separately, the effects of ethyl gallate on the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells were measured. The Akt-NF-κB signal pathway protein expressions were analyzed with Western blot. Also, the mRNA levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were analyzed by RT-PCR. Ethyl gallate inhibited the abilities of motility, adhesion and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro (P<0.05), inhibited the mRNA levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, phosphorylation of AKt and protein expression of NF-κB. It is concluded that ethyl gallate can inhibit the abilities of invasion of breast cancer in vitro by inhibiting the mRNA levels of MMP-9/MMP-2, phosphorylation of Akt and protein expression of NF-κB.
Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Gallic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction

Aged ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Pseudolymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic

Objective:It is demostrated that the porous protein-mineral mechanics model could provide more accurate prediction for biomaterial properties of dentine compared with the other established models.This paper would use the model to reevaluate the mechanical properties and its interacting mechanism of human dentine.Method:By using a porous proteinmineral mechanics model,the effect from the interactions between tubules,pedtubular and intertubular matrix on dentine microstructure was discussed.Results:The dentinal micromechanical properties were dependent on the tubular direction,and the absolute values of the stresses derived from the hydraulic and gas tubular pressures increased parabolically with theincreasing diameter of the tubules.It was also found that the effective elastic constants of the dentine microstructure would vary with the aging and the distribution of mineral and collagen within peritubular and intertubular matrix of detine.Conclusions:The theoretical analyses provided in this paper demonstrated that the microstructural characteristics of tubules,peritubular and intertubular dentinal matdx could have different influences on the micromechanical properties of human dentine,which showed the validity of porous protein-mineral mechanics model,and the limitation of some models that neglected the interacting mechanism.

Objective:It is demostrated that the porous protein-mineral mechanics model could provide more accurate prediction for biomaterial properties of dentine compared with the other established models.This paper would use the model to reevaluate the mechanical properties and its interacting mechanism of human dentine.Method:By using a porous proteinmineral mechanics model,the effect from the interactions between tubules,pedtubular and intertubular matrix on dentine microstructure was discussed.Results:The dentinal micromechanical properties were dependent on the tubular direction,and the absolute values of the stresses derived from the hydraulic and gas tubular pressures increased parabolically with theincreasing diameter of the tubules.It was also found that the effective elastic constants of the dentine microstructure would vary with the aging and the distribution of mineral and collagen within peritubular and intertubular matrix of detine.Conclusions:The theoretical analyses provided in this paper demonstrated that the microstructural characteristics of tubules,peritubular and intertubular dentinal matdx could have different influences on the micromechanical properties of human dentine,which showed the validity of porous protein-mineral mechanics model,and the limitation of some models that neglected the interacting mechanism.

Humans ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/pathology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of unblocking the interior and purgation method on improving decreased gastrointestinal motility of post-operative esophageal cancer patients, and to study its mechanisms.

METHODS60 patients with post-operative esophageal cancer were randomly assigned to two groups, the treatment group and the control group, 30 in each group. Routine therapies were given to the two groups. Chinese drugs with unblocking the interior and purgation action was infused by enteral nutrition tube to patients in the treatment group, while normal saline was infused to those in the control group. The first flatus time, the first defecation time, the bowel tones recovery time after operation, and the total amount of the gastric juice draining between the first day and the third day after operation of all patients were recorded. Plasma motilin (MTL) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) contents were detected before operation and the fourth day after operation.

RESULTSThe first flatus time, the first defecation time, the bowel tones recovery time after operation, and the total amount of the gastric juice draining were less in the treatment group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (P<0.05, P<0.01). The post-operative MTL contents were higher and VIP contents lower in the treatment group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in plasmal MTL and VIP contents of the treatment group between before and after treatment (P>0.05). But there was significant difference in plasmal MTL and VIP contents of the control group between before and after treatment (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONUnblocking the interior and purgation method could significantly promote the gastrointestinal motility recovery of post-operative esophageal cancer patients, showing good clinical effect.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Postoperative Complications ; drug therapy ; prevention & control

The research aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Opuntia dillenii Haw polysaccharide (OPS) on atherosclerosis of rats. First atherosclerotic rat models were established by high-fat and high-calcium diet. Thirty days later, the rats were treated with low dosage of OPS (0.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) or high dosage of OPS (0.4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) by intraperitoneal injection for 60 days continuously. At the end of treatment, thoracic aorta rings were prepared and vasorelaxation of rat thoracic aorta in different experiment groups were determined by using 620M multi wire myograph system in vitro. Blood and livers of rats were collected. Then plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of rats were separately determined using whole automatic biochemical analyzer; protein level of hepatic apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and that of hepatic diglyceride acyltransferase (Dgat1) were measured by Western Blot technique. Results showed that the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax decreased markedly in the model group compared with that in the normal group, and significant differences existed in vasorelaxation ratios induced by different concentrations of carbamylcholine chloride (Carb) between these two groups (P < 0.01). After OPS treatment, the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax improved markedly, the vasorelaxation ratios induced by Carb at 5 and 10 μmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.34 ± 0.08 and 0.62 ± 0.15 in the group treated with low dosage of OPS, while the ratios induced by Carb at 1 and 5 μmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.54 ± 0.08 and 0.98 ± 0.02 in the group treated with high dosage of OPS, which were all significantly different with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Plasma contents of TC, TG and LDL reduced significantly by the treatments both with low and high dosages of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Protein level of hepatic ApoB and that of hepatic Dgat1 decreased significantly after the treatment with high dosage of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). These results indicate that OPS can markedly improve the vasorelaxation of thoracic aorta of atherosclerotic rats and has significant anti-atherosclerotic effect; inhibiting the expression of ApoB and Dgat1 and thus decreasing the amounts of TC, LDL and TG serving as one of the molecular mechanisms of its antiatherosclerosis effect.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Opuntia ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective To investigate the constitution,density changes and carrier rate about Yersinia pestis of rodents in plague foci,and to provide the scientific evidence for plague prevention.Methods According to the program of national monitoring plague,two survey procedures,namely quadrat of single-ha for 24 h and 5 m mouse jam,were used to monitor the host animals; culture and identification of Yersinia pestis in liver or spleen of the experimental animals was carried out by using self-made medium in the north of Beiyuanzi village in Dingbian town Shaanxi province.Results One hundred twelve rodents were captured using the first procedures and the rodent average density was 8.62 ind./hm2 and six species of rodents were found namely Meriones unguiculatus ( 100 individuals),Microtusfortis(5 individuals),Ochotona daurica(3 individuals),Meriones meridianus (2 individuals),Mus musculus Linnaeus (1 individual) and Cricetulus barabensis (1 individual).One hundred seventy-three field mouses were captured using the second procedures including Mus musculus Linnaeus (136 individuals),Cricetulus barabensis (36 individuals),and Microtus fortis ( 1 individual ).Among them,Microtus fortis was found in the salt marshes in the southern edge of Ordos Plateau steppe in plague area of Dingbian county.Yersinia pestis was not identified in all animals.Conclusions Microtus fortis is found in natural foci of plague in Shaanxi province for the first time,and a new geographic region was found.Its epidemiological significance needs further study.