ObjectiveTo develop three animal models to mimic muscle tremors of Parkinson's disease and observe effects of Chinese herb compounds Jian-Xing on these models.MethodsPure muscle tremor mice models were developed by single intraperitoneal injection of arecoline or oxotremorine. The mitochondria damaged model was developed by intraperitoneal injection of MPTP(1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) 20mg/kg for 8 days. Duration time of tremoring was recorded. The climbing time and spontaneous movements of MPTP mice were recorded. HPLC was used to detect the content of dopamine and it's metabolites in MPTP mice.ResultsAfter injection of oxotremorine or arecoline,model mice exhibited significant tremoring, duration time of tremor of mice in Jian-Xing group shortened significantly. As to MPTP model mice, climbing time of model mice prolonged, times of spontaneous movements of model mice decreased and the content of dopamine in striaturn decreased compared with control group. Climbing time of mice in Jian-Xing group shortened, spontaneous movements increased and content of dopamine increased distinctively. ConclusionOxotremorine, arecoline and MPTP all can produce tremor animal models. Chinese herb compounds Jian-Xing can shorten the duration time of tremor.As to MPTP model, Jian-Xing can shorten the climbing time of model mice, increase the spontaneous movements and increase the content of dopamine in striaturn.

Objective: To investigate the effect of taurine on learning and memory impairment, cytokines secretion in rats intrahippocampally injected with ?-amyloid (A?) 1-40. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into control group, A? injected group, taurine (0.3g/kg?d, 0.6g/kg?d) groups. The rats were fed with taurine for 7 days, and then subjected to bilateral intrahippocampus injection of A?1-40 or vehicle. Two weeks later, all rats performed Morris water maze test. The contents of IL-6, TNF-? were checked by way of radio-immunity assay for hippocampus samples. Results: Compared with A?model group, the escape latency and distance were significantly reduced in taurine (0.6g/kg?d) group; the ratio of swimming distance in the target quadrant to that in the whole pool of the probe trial; the content of cytokines of IL-6 and TNF-?in hippocampus were reduced significantly. Conclusion: Taurine can effectively attenuate the cognitive dysfunction caused by A?1-40 in rats. The reduced cytokines content in hippocampus might contribute to this effect.

Objective To evaluate the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in non-medullary andmedullary cells in lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice.Methods Ten healthy male TLR4+/+ in non-medullary cells/TLR4+/+ in medullary cells (WT/WT) mice,10 TLR4-/-in non-medullary cells/ TLR4-/-in medullary cells (KO/KO) homozygote mice,10 TLR4+/+ in non-medullary cells/TLR4-/-in medullary cells (WT/KO) mice,and 10 TLR4-/-in non-medullary cells/TLR4+/+ in medullary cells (KO/WT) heterozygote mice,aged 6-8 weeks,weighing 20-25 g,were used in the study.Lung I/R was induced by occlusion of the left hilum for 60 min followed by 240 min of reperfusion in anesthetized mice.Blood samples were obtained from the femoral artery at 240 min of reperfusion for blood gas analysis,and the oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) was calculated.The animals were then sacrificed and lung tissues were immediately removed for determination of wet/dry weight ratio,myeloperoxidase activity and contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha,interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-6 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and for microscopic examination of the pathological changes of lungs which were scored.Results Compared with WT/WT mice,the oxygenation index was significantly increased in sequence,and lung injury scores,wet/dry weight ratio,myeloperoxidase activity and contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha,IL-1β and IL-6 were decreased in sequence in WT/KO,KO/WT and KO/KO mice (P＜0.05).Conclusion TLR4 in non-medullary cells plays a rnore important role in lung I/R injury than that in medullary cells of mice.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the Malytea Scurfpea fruit (MSF) on melanocyte adhesion and migration.

METHODHuman epidermal melanocytes were treated with MSF and Ginger respectively, then adhesion to bovine serum fibronectin-coated culture dishes was checked. Control and treated cells were also examined for migration into micropore filters coated with the same protein.

RESULTCompared with control, MSF treated melanocytes were obviously easier to adhere to the dishes and move into the filters in a dose-dependent manner. When the dose of MSF was 200 mg x L(-1), it could not reincrease melanocyte adhesion and migration. At 10 mg x L(-1), under every other concentrations of MSF, there was no marked difference among MSF-treated, Ginger-treated and untreated melanocytes (P < 0.05) when adhesion test were studied. But to migration, even at 10 mg x L(-1) MSF, there was obvious increased migration compared with MSF-untreated or Ginger-treated melanocytes (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMSF has effect on melanocyte adhesion and migration, which can explain, in part, the capacity of MSF to modulate melanocyte function in vitiligo lesions.

Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo provide guidance for selection and breeding of Pesudostellaria heterophylla, agronomic traits of 3 mainly cultivated form of P. heterophylla were observed and compared in Guizhou shibing.

METHODThirteen agronomic traits of P. heterophylla from 3 cultivation form were measured and the traits were analyzed using multiple comparison, correlation analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis and path analysis.

RESULTThe results showed that agronomic traits were different in 3 cultivation form, significant(P <0.05)or very significant correlated (P <0.01)among multiple agronomic traits, the width and the number of root, the first branch number, cleistogamous flowers, length and width of leaves, and the aboveground biomass were the main factors that affected the underground biomass, and the number of root, the aboveground biomass had a directly positive effect on the underground biomass. Meanwhile, whole length, length and width of leaves, cleistogamous flowers etc. had direct or indirect effect on the underground biomass.

CONCLUSIONAboveground biomass would be as the best indirect selection traits on breeding high yield of P. heterophylla, the first branch number, width of leaves and cleistogamous flowers world be as a better auxiliary index on breeding high variety of P. heterophylla.

Agriculture ; economics ; Animals ; China ; Hemiptera ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Regression Analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the cortex of cerebral infarction rat induced by photochemical reaction, and study the effect of extract from Cornus officinalis (whose main ingredient is iridoid glycoside) in the course of disease.

METHODAfter rats were fed with experimental drugs for 7 days, the model of cerebral infarction was induced. Spectrophotography and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the change of the content of NO, NOS and the expression of NF-kappaB in the cortex.

RESULTCompared with control group, distinct infarction was visible in the model group, and the content of NO, the activity of NOS and the positive cell number of NF-kappaB were increased obviously. Compared with model group, the extract of C. officeinalis decreased the area of infarction, the content of NO, the activity of NOS and the positive cell number of NF-kappaB.

CONCLUSIONThe iridoid glycoside of C. officinalis may have therapeutical effect on cerebral infarction through regulating the content of NO and NF-kappaB.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cornus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of icariin (ICA) on the content of beta-amyloid (Abeta) and the expression of neurotrophic factors in the brain of mitochondrial deficiency model rats. SD rats were infused subcutaneously with sodium azide, which is an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV, via a minipump (0. 5 mg . kg-1 h-1) for 28 days to establish the mitochondrial deficiency animal model. The activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV (i. e. cytochrome C oxidase, COX) in hippocampus was measured by biochemical methods. ELISA method was used to detect the content of Abeta in the brain. The expression of neurotrophic factors was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry methods. Image analysis was performed by Image-pro software. The results showed that chronic infusion of sodium azide by minipump induced a significant decrease in the activity of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase, an obvious increase in the content of Abeta, and a marked decline in the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB in the brain of rats. Intragastrical administration of ICA (12 or 36 mg . kg-l) significantly ameliorated all these abnormalities in the model rats. In conclusion, ICA can increase mitochondrial activity, inhibit Abeta production, and enhance the expression of neurotrophic factors in the brain of model rats induced by sodium azide. The results suggested that ICA may have beneficial prospect for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Amyloid ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Nerve Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, trkB ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of morroniside on H2O2-induced apoptosis in nerve cells.

METHODHuman neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y cells were pre-incubaed with morroniside (1, 10, and 100 micromol x L(-1)) for 24 h prior to exposure to H2O2 (500 micromol x L(-1)) for 18 h. The activity of reactive SOD was measured by a biochemical assay. The expression of caspase-3, caspase-9, Bcl-2 and Bax was determined by Wastern blotting method.

RESULTPretreatment of the cells with morroniside (10 and 100 micromol x L(-1)) increasd SOD activity by 14% (P<0.01) and 11% (P<0.05) in comparison with cells exposed only to H2O2. Morroniside (1, 10, 100 micromol x L(-1)) lowered caspase-3 level by 31% (P<0.01), 103% (P<0.001) and 95% (P<0.001), decreased caspase-9 content by 71% (P<0.001), 132% (P<0.001) and 37% (P<0.05), and increasd Bcl-1 level by 88% (P<0.01), 121% (P<0.001) and 60% (P<0.01) respectively but no significant change occurred in Bax level in comparison with cells exposed only to H2O2.

CONCLUSIONMorroniside has neuroprotection effect against H2O2-induced oxidation injury in nerve cell.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidants ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective:To detect IL-35 in mononuclear cells of peripheral blood and lung tissue with BCG infected mouse,and to analyze its effect on the tuberculosis immune mechanism and pathology.Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis infecting animal model was made by BCG injection in wild type C57BL/6 mouse.Then,mice were sacrificed in different time points.The peripheral blood and lung tissue were isolated.The bacterial load and histopathological analysis in lung tissue were performed,and the expression of IL-35 subunits P35 and EBI3 in monocytes were detected by flow cytometry.Furthermore,the correlation of IL-35-expressing monocytes with the load of bacterium was analyzed.Results:The expression of P35 and EBI3 in monocytes in peripheral blood and lung tissue of BCG-infected mice was significantly higher than that of the control group,and the peripheral blood of the experimental group was significantly increased at 4 weeks after infection.The expression of EBI3 in lung tissue diaplayed significant rising trend.The correlation analysis showed that the P35 expression was positively correlated with the expression of EBI3 in monocyte,and the IL-35-ex-pressing monocyte in lung tissue was negatively correlated with the load of bacteria.The IL-35-expressing monocyte in peripheral blood and lungs increased significantly at 2-week and 4-week,while it increased in lung tissue at 8 week,significantly.Conclusion: BCG-infects mouse monocytes with high expression of IL-35,it may participate in anti-tuberculosis immune regulation.

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors on relapsing tuberculosis related to smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis which had been cured for five years.

METHODSPatients with smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis registered in 1995 from ten countries in Hubei province were studied and logistic regression was used for data analysis.

RESULTSThe 5-year relapse rate of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis was 3.85 percent. Risk factors related to relapse would include being non-modeled county, negative smear after treated for three months, the class of retreatment, management of non-DOTS, method of chemotherapy and patients that did not get treated by the tuberculosis institute, with odds ratios of 0.15, 4.62, 3.68, 5.88 and 6.47, respectively.

CONCLUSIONEffect standard, regulation DOTS and the centralized management measure might have had effects on decreasing the relapse rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antitubercular Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Contact Tracing ; Directly Observed Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; isolation & purification ; Odds Ratio ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Sputum ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; microbiology