ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on human renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by high glucose. MethodsCultured HK-2 cells were divided into 5 groups: normal control group, osmolarity control group, high glucose group, high glucose with EPO (5 U/ml)group and high glucose with EPO (10 U/ml)group. The mRNA expression of α-SMA, TGF-β1, Smad2, ILK of cells were measured by RT-PCR. The levels of intracellular α-SMA and TGF-β1 protein were measured by immunocytochemistry. ResultsCompared with the control groups, mRNA expression of α-SMA, TGF-β1, Smad2, ILK and protein expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 were increased after high glucose treatment (P<0.01). Compared with the high glucose group, EPO 5 U/ml or EPO 10 U/ml remarkably down-regulated the expression of α-SMA, TGF-β1, Smad2 and ILK (P<0.01). ConclusionEPO can inhibit the progression of EMT and the up-regulation of TGF-β1, Smad2 and ILK induced by high glucose.

Objective To explore the distribution of specific allergens for children in Sichuan Province and provide the evidences of clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods Totally 451 cases in West China Second University Hospital,from April to August of 2016,were detected for 20 kinds of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) by a new reverse enzyme-allergosorbent test,SPSS 18.0 statistical analysis was used to evaluate allergen-specific IgE levels in different groups of age,gender and diverse population distribution of disease.Results A total of 282 cases among 451 subjects were detected as IgE positive and the positive rate was 62.53%,among which 248 cases were positive for inhaled allergen-specific IgE,and the positive rate was 54.99%.There were 261 positive cases in food allergen-specific IgE,and the positive rate was 57.87%.For inhaled allergens,the highest positive rate was dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (n=111,24.61%),then dermatophagoides farina (n=110,24.39%),and house dust (n=108,23.95%);For food allergens,the highest positive rate was milk (n=159,35.25%),then egg (n=111,24.61%),and house dust (n=108,23.95%).Conclusions Both Inhaled allergens and food allergens were the important cause of allergic disease for children in Sichuan area.Serum allergen specific IgE determination was helpful to understand the patient′s allergy status,and diagnose the allergic disease.

Objective To study the expression of VEGF-C and it's relationship with pathologic characteristics in rectal cancer.Method In this study 82 patients of mid to low rectal cancer underwent radieal resection from December 2007 to August 2008.Tumor tissues and lymph nodes were studied by immunohistochemical staining for VEGF-C expression in the tumor tissue and CK20 expression in D3 lymph nodes.Results were compared with the pathological results of mesenterium lymph nodes to explain the relationships between VEGF-C expressions and clinical pathologic characteristics.Data were analyzed with Chi square test.Result As for the expression of VEGF-C.significant differences were found between tumor stages(X~2=8.529,P<0.05)and between positive and negative lymph node metastasis(X~2=4.712,P<0.05).but there was no difference between that of mesenterium lymph node metastasis and D3 lymph node micrometastasis(X~2=0.017,P>0.05). Conclmion In rectal cancer,VEGF-C expression is correlated with tumor stage,type,metastasis and micrometastasis of lymph node.

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect of breast cancer-associated antigen 1(BRCAA1)gene silencing on gastric cancer MGC-803 cells and the related mechanism.Methods:Plasmid shRNA-BRCAA1 and shRNA-N were constructed and transfected with FuGene HD into gastric cancer cell line MGC-803.The transfection efficiency was examined using fluorescent microscope 24 h later.The total RNAs was extracted 48 h 'after transfection and the expression of BRCAA1 and GAPDH gene were analyzed by real-time PCR.The cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay 24 h,48 h,and 72 h after transfection.The cell apoptosis was determined by Annexin V-PE/TAAD.The expression of Rb,Bax, Bcl-2 and BRCAA1 proteins was analyzed by Western blotting 48 h after transfection.Results:We found that the transfection efficiency of shRNA-BRCAA1 was(81.2?2.6)%24 h after transfection.Forty-eight hours after transfection with shRNA-BRCAA1 the expression of BRCAAI mRNA decreased by 61.4%;the inhibition rate of MGC-803 cells growth was 45.0%.The cell apoptosis rate of shRNA-BRCAA1 transfection group was significantly higher than those of untransfected group and mock plasmid transfected group([14.4?1.6]%vs[5.4?2.0]%,[4.4?2.5]%,P

OBJECTIVETo determine the parameters of pharmacokinetics in rabbits, and to provide a scientific basis for clinical application of Yinhuang compound microenema.

METHODHPLC was used to determine the concentrations of chlorogenic acid and baicalin in the plasma samples of rabbits, then analyze these data by the pharmacokinetics program 3P97 to determine the parameters of pharmacokinetics and the compartmental model of both ingredients in Yinhuang compound microenema.

RESULTBaicalin showed two compartment model in rabbits and the main parameters of pharmacokinetics were as follows: t(1/2)alpha of 0.311 h, t(1/2)beta of 1.640 h, AUC of 1.531 x 10(-2) g x h x L(-1), tmax of 0.287 h, Vd of 2.182 L. Chlorogenic acid showed two compartment model in rabbits and the main parameters of pharmacokinetics were as follows: t(1/2)alpha of 0.324 h, t(1/2)beta of 1.206 h, AUC of 2.135 x 10(-2) g x h x L(-1), tmax of 0.317 h,Vd of 2.251 L.

CONCLUSIONThe main components in Yinhuang compound microenema baicalin and chlorogenic acid are absorbed quickly and absolutely after rectal administration, which have good characters of pharmacokinetics.

Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Bupleurum ; chemistry ; Chlorogenic Acid ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Enema ; Female ; Flavonoids ; blood ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits

Objective To assess the curative effect and security of bisoprolol in the elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients combined with chronic heart failure (CHF) .Methods 61 cases of elderly COPD patients combined with CHF in our hospital were selected .on the basis of conventional treatment ,the patients were applicated bisoprolol 2 .5 mg ,1 time each day , the NT-proBNP ,LVEF% ,LEVDD and FEV1% were respectively observed before treatment ,4 weeks after treatment ,8 weeks af-ter treatment ,6 months after treatment .Results 4 weeks after treatment ,NT-proBNP ,LVEF% ,LEVDD showed no significant changes .8 weeks after treatment ,NT-proBNP and LEVDD decreased(P<0 .05) ,LVEF% showed no significant changes .6 months after treatment ,NT-proBNP and LEVDD decreased significantly ,meanwhile LVEF% increased (P< 0 .05) .before treatment ,4 weeks after treatment ,8 weeks after treatment ,6 months after treatment ,FEV1% were 47 .33 ± 5 .57 ,47 .08 ± 5 .50 ,48 .30 ± 6 .31 , 49 .64 ± 6 .24 ,All groups showed no changes in the pulmonary function(P>0 .05) .NT-proBNP of all groups were negatively corre-lation with the FEV1% (r= -0 .708 ,-0 .702 ,-0 .833 ,-0 .778) .Conclusion Small doses of bisoprolol is safe and effective in the treament of the elderly COPD patients with chronic heart failure .

Growth patterns of trichome and contaminative bacteria in Spirulina sp. liquid culture were observed, and it was found that the number of neutral and alkalophilic bacteria was always 105～106 times of that of Spirulina sp. trichome. It would be very difficult to get real pure Spirulina sp. strain by classical methods of dilution plate, capillary and single trichome selecting methods. A great deal of contaminative bacteria was washed out by two pretreatment processes. Low speed centrifugation was designed to wash the strains which usually deposit at bottom, and filtration method was designed to treat the strains usually floating at surface. Sandwich plate and dilution plate were designed for the purification of the mobile strains and non-mobile strains, respectively. A lot of strains were purified by the above processes and pure single trichome formed pure colonies on plates.

Objective To evaluate the olfactory function and its influence factors by using Sniffin ’ Sticks test, and to compare the quality of Parkinson ’s disease (PD) recognition between Sniffin’ Sticks and 16 kinds of odor identification in Sniffin ’ Sticks(SS-16) tests.Methods The Sniffin’Sticks test was used to assess the olfactory function of 68 PD patients and 76 healthy volunteers , and the relationship between smell and age, disease duration, Unified Parkinson’ s Disease Rating Scale score, Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) rating, and cognitive function level (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) was analyzed.Results (1)The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in PD group (83.3%) was significantly higher than that in control group (21.2%).The Sniffin’ Sticks test showed that the odor threshold score (6.6 ±3.2, P=0.000), odor discrimination score (6.6 ±3.3, P=0.000), 16 kinds of odor identification score (6.8 ±2.4, P=0.000) in PD group were significantly lower than those in control group.( 2 ) When comparing the PD cases and healthy controls in recognition , the sensitivity and the specificity of the Sniffin ’ Sticks test were 0.897 and 0.737, respectively, similar to the SS-16 test.However, the Sniffin’ Sticks test showed advantage compared with odor threshold and odor discrimination.( 3 ) The olfactory score in PD group was positively correlated with cognitive function (r=0.243, P=0.046), and was unrelated with age, gender, disease duration, and disease severity.The olfactory score in control group was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.270, P=0.018), but positively correlated with cognitive function (r=0.281, P=0.014).Conclusions There is a higher incidence of olfactory dysfunction in PD patients than in control group.Sniffin’ Sticks test is superior to SS-16 test in quantitative and qualitative analysis of olfactory function in PD patients.Two tests both have high sensitivity and specificity in the recognition of PD .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of alcohol intake on penile structure and function in rats.

METHODSThirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and alcohol intake group. They were administered with 2 mL of normal saline and 40% alcohol solution respectively through gastric tubes every day. Three months later, the animal model of alcohol intake was evaluated by modified Nayagida's method, and the effects of alcohol on the rats were studied by sexual behavior, the number of apomorphine-induced penile erection, level of testosterone in the sera, and the content of penile smooth muscle.

RESULTSThe scores of animal model of alcohol intake evaluated by Nayagida's method were 0.66 +/- 2.05 in the control group and 9.26 +/- 5.50 in the alcohol intake group (P < 0.05), which indicated that an animal model of alcohol intake was successfully established. Sexual behavior, the number of apomorphine-induced penile erection, testosterone level in the sera, and the content of penile smooth muscle of the alcohol intake group were all statistically different as compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAlcohol intake induces sexual dysfunction in rats, which may be due to the decline of testosterone level in the sera and decline of penile smooth muscle.

Animals ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Female ; Male ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on patients with osteoarthritis, and to observe the effect of electroacupuncture on the level of IL-1beta and TNFalpha.

METHODSForty-three subjects received electroacupuncture treatment at Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9), etc. The intensity of pain, the ability of the movement of legs, the level of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in patients were measured before and after treatment.

RESULTSAccording to VAS, the intensity of pain was (64.22 +/- 14.55) and (32.50 +/- 10.79) before and after treatment, respectively. The score of movement ability of affected legs was (7.38 +/- 2.01) and (9.05 +/- 1.89) before and after treatment, respectively. Thus, the intensity of pain and the ability of movement were significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.01). The level of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in patients were significantly decreased (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe short term therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on patients with osteoarthritis is better, it may result from that the electroacupuncture inhibit the activity of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood