No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans

Objective To observe the effects of chronic arsenic exposure on estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated gene 9 (Ebag9) and estrogen-responsive finger protein (efp) mRNA expression in female rat' s myocardium.Methods Fifty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups according to arsenic (As2O3) concentrations in drinking-water:0.00(control),0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L groups and RT-PCR was used to detect Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression of myocardium at the 32 weeks of experiment.Results Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression levels in 0.00,0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L groups were respectively as follows:0.54 ±0.14,0.52 ± 0.10,0.48 ± 0.24,0.58 ± 0.13,0.45 ± 0.19 and 0.85 ± 0.14,0.86 ± 0.12,0.87 ± 0.09,0.99 ±0.10,0.86 ± 0.19.Compared to the control group,Ebag9 mRNA level of the 0.20 mg/L group was increased,and decreased in other groups,but the difference between two groups was not significant(all P ＞ 0.05).Compared to control group,the efp mRNA level of 0.20 mg/L group increased significantly(P ＜ 0.05),and showed increased tendency in other arsenic groups,but the difference between two groups was not significant (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression have changed in myocardium of rats exposed to chronic arsenic.Arsenic may has endocrine disruptor effect to female rat's myocardium.

Objective To study the effects of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B)decoy oligodeoxynucleotide(ODN)on the preeclamptic umbilical serum induced expression of precollagen Ⅰ,Ⅲ mRNA and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)in cultured human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMC).Methods Primary cultured HUASMC of normal pregnancy were divided into four groups: group A(HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of normal pregnancy);group B(HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of preeclampsia);group C(HUASMC were transfected with NF-?B cis decoy ODN 48 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia);group D(HUASMC were transfected with NF-?B scramble ODN 24 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia).NF-?B cis decoy ODN and NF-?B scramble ODN were transfected with cationic lipofectamine to the latter two groups,respectively.The proliferation of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and the apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The expression levels of precollagen Ⅰ,Ⅲ mRNA were detected by RT-PCR,the expression levels of TNF-? were detected by western blot.Results(1)The proliferation of group B(0.19?0.02)and group D(0.18?0.03)was significantly increased as compared with those of group A(0.11?0.02)and group C(0.14?20.02)(P0.05).(5)The expression of TNF-? of group B(0.74?0.11),group C(0.36?0.09)and group D(0.79?0.12)were significantly higher than that of group A(0.15?0.03)(P0.05).Conclusions NF-?B cis decoy ODN could down-regulate the proliferation,as well as the expression levels of precollagen and TNF-? of HUASMC induced by umbilical serum of preeclampsia.NF-?B may play an important role in the pathogenesis of placental artery abnormalities in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of monocyte subpopulations and the changes of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), CD163 and CD36 expressions in the peripheral blood of patients with hyperlipidemia of phlegm-stagnancy obstruction syndrome pattern (HLE-PSO), and to evaluate the intervening effects of Qutan Huayu Jiedu (QHJ) herbs on these parameters.

METHODSMonocytes in the peripheral blood were sorted using flow cytometry into 3 subpopulations: the CD14high CD16- (Mo1), the CD14high CD16+ (Mo2a) and the CD14low CD16+ (Mo2b) subpopulation. The percentages of various monocyte subpopulations in 83 patients and 42 matched healthy controls were determined and the levels of their surface receptors TLR4, CD163 and CD36 expressions were assayed with flow cytometer. Furthermore, patients allocated in the tested group (10 patients) and the control group (11 patients) were treated with QHJ Herbs and Qutan Huayu (QH, removing Phlegm and dissolving stagnancy but without detoxication) herbs respectively. The changes of monocyte subpopulations percentage and TLR4, CD163 and CD36 expressions were determined 4 weeks after they received treatment.

RESULTSPercentage of Mo2a subpopulation was significantly higher in HLE-PSO patients than the normal range (5.35 +/- 2.57 vs. 3.09 +/- 2.38, P < 0.01), but the deviation of the other two subpopulations in percentage was insignificant. The TLR4 expression on Mo1 monocyte in patients was lower than normal (50.73 +/- 24.45 vs. 69.92 +/- 21.06, P < 0.01), while CD163 and CD36 expressions of all three subpopulations in patients were similar to those in healthy persons respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, a significant lowered Mo2a proportions were observed in the tested group (3.73 +/- 1.05 vs. 5.50 +/- 2.06, P = 0.043); but not in the control group (4.20 +/- 1.81 vs. 5.65 +/- 1.89, P = 0.097), while the levels of TLR4, CD163 and CD36 were not significantly altered after treatment in both groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe elevated proportions of Mo2a subpopulation and the lowered TLR4 expression in Mol subpopulation are the characteristic changes in HLE-PSO patients, which might be related with the hyperlipidemia caused immune injury in patients. QHJ herbs could effectively improve the disproportion of Mo2a subpopulation.

Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; CD36 Antigens ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

Objective To study the influence of arsenic exposure on menstruation.Methods A cluster sampling method was applied to select the subjects of women aged 10 to 65 from Linhe,Hangjinhouqi and Wuyuan counties in Inner Mongolia in 2004.Drinking water samples were collected to detect arsenic levels,and menstrual related situation was surveyed.The subjects were divided into four groups according to drinking water arsenic concentration:control(≤0.01 mg/L),low(＞ 0.01-0.10 mg/L),moderate(＞ 0.10-0.20 mg/L) and high(＞ 0.20mag/L).Results A total of 602 women were surveyed.There were 83 subjects exposed to arsenic before menarche and their menarche age was (14.37 ± 1.54) years old.There were 90 people exposed to arsenic before menopause and the menopause age was (48.13-0.41) years old.The age of menarche and menopause were positively related to the years of arsenic exposure,and correlation coefficients were 0.268 and 0.278 (all P ＜ 0.05).Compared to control group(14.0％,16/112),menstrual abnormality rate decreased in low(12.1％,21/173) and high dose groups(10.2％,19/186),while increased in the moderate dose group(18.2％,16/88),but the differences were not statistically significant(x2 =3.664,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Long-term arsenic exposure delays the menarche and menopause age,suggesting that arsenic has certain endocrine disruption or estrogen-like effects.

Churg-Strauss Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged

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

Objective To summarize the features of esophageal hiatus hernia (EHH) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and investigate the diagnostic value of CEUS in EHH.Methods A retrospective analysis of 88 EHH patients and 50 healthy controls was conducted with focus on their findings on CEUS.Results The structures of the cardiac and abdominal esophagus were clear in 50 healthy controls,and the esophageal hiatus diameters were (1.96±0.39) cm.In contrast,the cardiac and abdominal esophagus in EHH patients were unable to be identified in subdiaphragm region.The esophageal hiatus was wider with a diameter of (3.24±0.76) cm.The difference was statistically significant(t=2.36,P＜0.05).The hernia sacs were found in 78 EHH patients at rest.And the hernia sacs were present on the diaphragm in 10 EHH patients after pressure.The maximum diameter of hernia sac was 7.6 cm.The size of hernia sac may change with abdominal pressure.In sliding EHH patients,the sac wall was found to slide up and down the diaphragm.A mass was found on the wall in 2 patients.The B ring was present in 76 patients.For healthy controls in supine position,contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed that the gastric bottom and diaphragm were at dependent or horizontal position.The gastric bottom and diaphragm was upward in 73 patients.Conclusions The EHH has characteristic appearance on CEUS.It is easy to detect and diagnose EHH with CEUS,which has a diagnostic value in detection of space-occupying lesions in hernia sac.CEUS can be used for EHH screening.

The effect of CO2 and the manner of CO2 offer on the growth rate and maximual cell density of ultro-high density culture of Chaetoceros mulleri in the photobioreactor were studied in the work. The amount of CO2 offered to the culture was controlled by the parameter of pH value in the culture. Furthermore the growth kinetics of Chaetoceros muller in the photobioreactor was studied. The results showed requirement of CO2 by the cells and the increase of pH in the culture were the key limiting factors to the growth, when a high cell concentration in the culture was reached. The offer of CO2 could improve the statute of CO2, could control the pH in the culture and increase the growth rate and maximum cell density. The results from the experiments of CO2 offer manner showed different efficiency to growth was resulted from differences of CO2 offer manner. The best way is mixing the CO2 and air before the CO2 was offered to the culture.
Bioreactors ; Carbon Dioxide ; pharmacology ; Culture Media ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Diatoms ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo establish fingerprinting of Flos Buddleja by using RP-HPLC for the quality control.

METHODThe HPLC condition was as follows: Inertsil ODS-3 C18 analytical column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm), gredient eluation with MeCN (0.1% TFA)-H2O (0.1%TFA), flow rate 1.0 mL x min(-1), detection wavelength 254 nm. 10 commercial samples were analyzed to establish a fingerprinting.

RESULTAmong the obtained fingerprinting, most of the detected peaks were separated effectively. The accuracy, repeatability and stability of this method were satisfied. The RSDs of relative retention time and area of aimed peaks which existed in all samples wereless than 5%. Theresults were in accordance with the request of fingerprinting.

CONCLUSIONThe established fingerprinting can be used for the quality control of Flos Buddleja.

Buddleja ; chemistry ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ecosystem ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control