OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) on levels of neuropeptide Y1-36 and calcitonin gene-related peptide immune reactive substances (ir-NPY, ir-CGRP) in blood plasma and pons-oblongata after hypoxia-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) in neonatal rats.

METHODSSeven-day old rats were randomized into HIBI group (A), HIBI + SM group (B) and sham operation group(C). And each group was subdivided into 4 subgroups according to the different time after operation. 0.5 ml SM was injected intraperitoneally immediately and every 12 hrs afterwards. Changes of ir-NPY and ir-CGRP levels in plasma and pons-oblongata were observed immediately and 12, 24 and 48 hrs after HIBI by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSPlasma levels of ir-NPY and ir-CGRP in different times after HIBI were all significantly raised but those in pons-oblongata were either raised or lowered to a certain degree. Part of the elevated ir-NPY could be reversed by SM injection.

CONCLUSIONCentral and peripheral neuropeptide Y1-36 and calcitonin gene-related peptide take part in the pathophysiological process of HIBI, SM could partially reverse the abnormal post-HIBI elevation of ir-NPY, which may be one of the pathways of SM in promoting recovery of damaged brain function.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain Ischemia ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Neuropeptide Y ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the direct effects of fenvalerate (Fen) on sperm motility in SD rats.

METHODSSperm were isolated from caudal epididymides of healthy adult male rats with the diffusion method. The motility parameters of the isolated sperm, such as VCL, VSL, VAP, BCF, STR and LIN, were monitored by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system after 1, 2 and 4 h Fen-exposure in vitro at concentrations of 0, 1, 4, 16 and 64 micromol/L respectively.

RESULTSAfter 1 and 2 h Fen-exposure, VSL, BCF, STR and LIN decreased significantly at 64 micromol/L compared with the control group. After 4 h Fen-exposure, the motility parameters VCL, VSL, BCF, STR and LIN dropped progressively at 64 micromol/L, and VCL declined markedly at 16 micromol/L. However, only VCL and STR showed alterations in a time-response manner.

CONCLUSIONFen may affect the caudal epididymal sperm and produce a direct toxic effect on sperm motility in SD rats.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Male ; Nitriles ; toxicity ; Pyrethrins ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was inserted into the pseudogene (psi) region of genome of rabies virus rHep-Flury strain, and a recombinant rabies virus carrying GFP, designated as HEP-GFP, was rescued by reverse genetics system. It was demonstrated that green fluorescent protein could be expressed in the chimeric virus after 5 passages in BHK-21 cell line. The research indicated that the pseudogene (psi) region in the genome of rHEP-Flury strain, as an independent functional unit in the process of virus assembly, could independently carry and express exogenous genes.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cricetinae ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Rabies virus ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics

Structure of natural product-ursolic acid was modified for increasing its antitumor activity. Ursolic acid was acylated, esterified, hydrolized or oxidized to obtain target pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with different substitutes. Sixteen derivatives of ursolic acid were designed and synthesized including eleven new compounds. Anti-tumor activities of ursolic acid and these derivatives against HeLa, SKOV3 and BGC-823 cells in vitro were investigated by MTT assay. The results indicated that compounds 7a and 8a were found to have stronger cell growth inhibitory than ursolic acid on HeLa cells and SKOV3 cells separately, and are worth to be intensively studied further.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Triterpenes ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the antiinflammatory effect of a compound TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) agent on animal models. The agent contains ant extractive and a blent of three herbal products, herba epimedii, fructus cnidii, and fructus lycii.

METHODThree animal models to induce experimental inflammation in rats, including carrageenin--induced paw edema, cotton-ball granuloma and adjuvant induced arthritis, were chosen to study the antiinflammatory effect of the TCM agent.

RESULTThe TCM agent showed a marked inhibitory effect on edema induced by all three types of inflammation in rats, the inhibitory rate of the TCM agent at the dose of 0.20, 0.40 and 0.80 g.kg-1 in granuloma model bing over 25% at 1 hour post oral administration, and being 23.8%, 22.7%, 39.7% at 6 hour. In addition, the TCM agent also showed a significant preventive as well as therapeutic effect on adjuvant induced arthritis in rats, and improved the pathological changes of the animal joints with the induced arthritis.

CONCLUSIONTCM agent has significant antiinflammatory effects on the three above mentioned animal models.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Ants ; Arthritis ; drug therapy ; Capsules ; Cnidium ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Edema ; drug therapy ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body ; drug therapy ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Male ; Materia Medica ; therapeutic use ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of fascin, an actin bundling protein, in the development and progression of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and explore its association with the clinicopathologic characteristics and 5-year survival of the patients.

METHODSUsing tissue array and immunohistochemistry, the expression of fascin was determined in 241 ESCC tissues and the corresponding normal esophageal mucosal tissues.

RESULTSESCC tissues showed a significantly higher overexpression rate of fascin than the corresponding normal esophageal mucosal tissues (68.9% vs 15.5%, P<0.05). The overexpression of fascin was correlated to lymph node metastasis and TMN stage, but not to the patients' age, gender, tumor differentiation and general classification. Survival analysis showed that abnormal expression of fascin was associated with the 5-year survival rate of patients with ESCC.

CONCLUSIONSThe abnormal expression of fascin may play an important role in the progression of ESCC, and detection of fascin expression may have important prognostic values.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of FASL-844 polymorphism in southern Chinese males of Han nationality and examine the contribution of the polymorphism to susceptibility of idiopathic azoospermia and oligozoospermia.

METHODSFASL-844 polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) in 184 infertile patients with idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia 236 normal fertile male controls.

RESULTSFrequencies of FASL-844 CT and TT genotypes of the patients were significantly different from those of the controls (P = 0.024; P = 0.008). Males with FASL-844 TT genotype had an increased risk of idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia compared with those with CC genotype (OR 2.76, 95% CI: 1.20-6.35), and even a higher risk when compared with those with CC and CT genotypes (OR 2.90, 95% CI: 1.28-6.58).

CONCLUSIONFASL-844 polymorphism appears to be a genetic predisposing factor of idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia among southern Chinese Han males.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; Fas Ligand Protein ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

OBJECTIVEX-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is the most common peroxisomal disorder characterized by progressive demyelination of the central nervous system, adrenal cortex insufficiency and accumulation of saturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in tissues and body fluids due to the impaired beta-oxidation in peroxisomes. X-ALD shows a wide range of phenotypic variation. Childhood cerebral form (CCER) is the most common phenotype with severe neurological symptoms and often the average interval from onset to total disability or death is 3 years. So far no effective treatment is available for the underlying defect. Screening for carriers of mutated relevant gene and prenatal diagnosis are very important for the prevention of the disease. In this study, the authors explored the method of carrier screening and prenatal diagnosis of X-ALD.

METHODSThe plasma VLCFAs levels of 83 suspected carriers for ALD were determined by using GC/MS and ABCD1 gene mutational analysis was performed in 31 of them. Amniocentesis was performed in 9 suspected carriers for ALD during 18 - 30 gestational weeks. The VLCFAs level of cultured amniocytes was tested with GC/MS. ABCD1 gene mutational analysis was performed on two cases (one was a male and the other a female) whose VLCFAs levels of amniocytes were found elevated. The plasma VLCFAs levels were measured in five of the nine prenatally diagnosed children when they were 1 day to 3.5 years old.

RESULTSFifty-one of 83 suspected carriers had high plasma VLCFAs levels; 29 of 31 suspected carriers showed ABCD1 gene mutation. Among the nine fetuses, four were males and five were females. The VLCFAs levels of the cultured amniocytes were high in two cases, one was female and the other a male. ABCD1 gene mutational analysis of these two cases showed a 871G > A (E291K) mutation and a 726G > A (W242X) mutation, respectively, which confirmed the biochemical result. The VLCFAs levels were normal in the rest of cases and five of them were confirmed by postnatal plasma VLCFAs assay.

CONCLUSIONThe carrier screening and prenatal diagnosis are very important for prevention of the X-ALD. Only the combined use of plasma VLCFAs level analysis and ABCD1 gene mutational analysis could detect X-ALD carriers correctly. ABCD1 gene mutational analysis and postnatal plasma VLCFAs level test verified that amniocytes VLCFAs level analysis is a reliable prenatal diagnostic method for this disease.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family D, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Adrenoleukodystrophy ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Adult ; Fatty Acids ; analysis ; Female ; Genetic Carrier Screening ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo study the pathological characteristics of salivary malignant myoepithelioma with characteristic multinodular architecture.

METHODSTo observe the histologic and cytologic characteristics of 19 cases of de novo salivary malignant myoepithelioma with multinodular growth pattern. Immunohistochemistry of calponin, SMA, S-100, GFAP, cytokeratin, PCNA was done on 11 cases and ultrastructure was observed on 3 cases.

RESULTS19 tumors presented characteristic multinodular growth pattern, mostly accompanied by central necrosis. Neoplastic nests invaded the surrounding normal tissue and tumor cells displayed a variety of pleomorphism. Epitheliod cell was the most predominant cell type. Tumor-related extracellular matrix formation was revealed among tumor cells. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the tumor cells were positive for calponin, SMA, S-100, GFAP, AE1/AE3, CKH and PCNA. Myofilaments were found in neoplastic cell cytoplasm under the electron microscope.

CONCLUSIONHistologic and cytologic observation, immunostaining and ultrastructural study all supported the myoepithelial and malignant nature of the tumor.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Myoepithelioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Parotid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathogenesis of tumors by blocking the normal differentiation process of stem cells.

METHODSBone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from rats were isolated, cultured and purified by whole bone marrow adherence method. The rat BMSCs were induced to differentiate into adipocytes with dexamethasone, insulin and indomethacin. Blockage of the differentiation process was induced by 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC).

RESULTSThe differentiation experiment showed that at 30 days after the induction, oil red O staining-positive cells occurred with increased intracytolasmic lipid droplets, characteristic for adipocytes. The differentiation blockage experiment showed that at 30 days after induction, the deposits of oil red O staining-cytoplasmic lipid droplets was significantly reduced, indicating that the blocked cells were adipocytes, but not fully differentiated. Morphological identification showed that cell contact inhibition disappeared, abnormal cell nuclei, increased number of micronucleus aberration and karyotype abnormalities, indicating that malignant transformation of the stem cells occurred after the differentiation blockage.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of this study show a blockage of the differentiation of that stem cells at the intermediate phase, and a tendency of malignant transformation of the stem cells. The results of our study provide new evidence that cancer stem cells may be originated by suppression of stem cell differentiation.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Indomethacin ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Methylcholanthrene ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar