Objective: To observe the effect of the intravenous infusion of vasostatin-2 (VS-2) on hemodynamics in experimental rats with spontaneous hypertension (SH).
Methods: A total of 36 (14-16) weeks male SH rats with the mean body weight at (160-250) g were randomly divided into 6 groups:①Control group, the rats received normal saline (100μl/kg),②Catestatin (20μg/kg) group,③VS-2 (5μg/kg) group,④VS-2 (10μg/kg) group,⑤VS-2 (20μg/kg) group and⑥VS-2 (40μg/kg) group. n=6 in each group. The average blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and barorelfex sensitivity (BRS) were monitored and compared upon VS-2 treatment and between VS-2 and catestatin treatments in conscious and freelance rats.
Results: Compared with prior treatment, VS-2 (20μg/kg) and VS-2 (40μg/kg) could obviously decrease the HR, BP and BRS in SH rats. In VS-2 (20μg/kg) group, HR by bpm was (341.3 ± 19.3) vs (365.5 ± 25.5), BP by mmHg was (133.0 ± 8.9) vs (147.5 ± 11.2) and BRS by ms/mmHg was (0.52 ± 0.18) vs (0.37 ± 0.12);in VS-2 (40μg/kg) group, HR was (348.8 ± 30.8) vs (374.5 ± 34.8), BP was (131.5 ± 9.3) vs (151.7 ± 10.8) and BRS was (0.53 ± 0.05) vs (0.38 ± 0.03), all P<0.01. Catestatin treatment could also decrease the HR as (318.7 ± 13.4) vs (365.5 ± 25.5), BP as (119.7 ± 7.3) vs (147.5 ± 11.2) and BRS as (0.58 ± 0.15) vs (0.35 ± 0.11), all P<0.01. Compared with catestatin (20μg/kg), the rats received VS-2 (20μg/kg) had the weaker reduction of HR as (318.7 ± 13.4) vs (341.3 ± 19.3), BP as (119.7 ± 7.3) vs (133.0 ± 8.9), all P<0.01, while BRS was similar as (0.58 ± 0.15) vs (0.52 ± 0.18), P>0.05.
Conclusion: Intravenous infusion of VS-2 may obviously affect HR, BP and BRS in experimental SH rats;compared with the same dosage of catestatin, VS-2 had the weaker reduction of HR, BP and BRS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the intervention effect and mechanism of compound Ginkgo biloba (CGB) preparations on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODThe C57BL/6 mouse NAFLD model was induced with high fat diets. Since the 2nd week after modeling, the mice were orally administered with 600 and 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) CGB for eight weeks. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHOL) and LPS in serum, as well as pathological changes and expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in hepatic tissues were observed. Changes in intestinal tight junction proteins ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1 in intestinal tissues were determined under microscopy.

RESULTCompared with the normal group, the model group showed obvious fatty degeneration in rat livers, with notable increase in TNF-alpha expression (P < 0.01), significant increases in ALT, AST, TG, CHOL and LPS in serum (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), injury in intestinal tight junction proteins, and remarkable declines in ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1 (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, CGB high and low dose groups showed obvious relieves in fatty degeneration in rat livers and injury in intestinal tight junction proteins, significant reductions in TNF-alpha expression (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and AST, TG, CHOL and LPS in serum (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and remarkable increases in ZO-1 and Occludin expressions (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCGB can protect intestinal tight junction proteins, reduce intestinal leakage, relieve fatty degeneration and inflammations in livers and prevent NAFLD occurrence and development.

Alanine Transaminase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the function of transferrin-DNA complex,transported by transferrin(Tf)and trans-arterial injection via interventional approach be the duel-target-orientated delivery and the transferring into malignant cells to get more effective therapy.Methods p53-LipofectAMINE ligand with different concentrations of Tf(0,10,25,50,100?g)transfected the 4 strains including LM6、Hep3B、YY and L02 in vitro to evaluate the gene transfeetion efficiency through western blot.Then,after setting up the VX2 hepatocarcinoma models,we delivered the Tf-p53-LipofeetAMINE complex into the hepatic arteries via interventional techniques to analyse the transfection efficiency in vivo.Results Tf,within the range of 10 100?g,could increase gene transfection efficiency mediated by liposome,and the efficiency increases with the raise of Tf concentration.Combination with interventional technique to inject Tf-DNA complex into tumor arteries,gene transfeetion efficiency was enhanced in rabbit models.Conclusion Tf can enhance gene- liposome transfection efficiency,furthermore with combination of interventional catheter technique,there would be a potential duel-target-orientated gene therapy method.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:99-103)

OBJECTIVETo review the study of estrogen receptor modulator and correlative Chinese herbs.

METHODBased on to the documents in the world, the estrogen receptor modulator and correlative Chinese herbs summarized.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONEstrogen receptor modulator is biological compounds in botany. It can exert faint estrogen-like effects by low affinity with estrogen receptor. Some of the Chinese herbs have the estrogen-like activity, but further and more systemic research work are to be done.

Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Coumarins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Genistein ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lignans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of polybrominated diphenyl ether-153 (BDE-153) exposure during lactation period on the calcium ion (Ca(2+)) concentration and calcium-activated enzyme levels in cerebral cortical cells among adult rats and to provide a scientific basis for the study on the developmental neurotoxicity of BDE-153.

METHODSForty newborn male rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups according to their body weights and litters: 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg BDE-153 groups and olive oil solvent control group. On postnatal day 10 (PND 10), the BDE-153 groups were administrated BDE-153 (0.1 ml/10 g body weight) by intraperitoneal injection, while the olive oil solvent control group was given an equal volume of olive oil. Two months later, these rats were decapitated, and the cerebral cortex was separated quickly on an ice-cold dish. The Ca(2+) concentration in cerebral cortical cells was measured by flow cytometry. The activities of calcineurin (CaN) and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATP enzyme were determined by colorimetric method. The mRNA and protein expression of calpain-1 and calpain-2 was measured by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe mean fluorescence intensities of intracellular Ca(2+) in control group and 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg BDE-153 groups were 10.83, 1.48, 1.93, and 0.62, respectively; the 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg BDE-153 groups had significantly lower intercellular Ca(2+) concentrations than the control group (P < 0.05). The activities of CaN and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATP enzyme and mRNA and protein expression of calpain-1 showed no significant differences between the 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg BDE-153 groups and control group (P > 0.05). The protein expression of calpain-2 increased as the dose of BDE-153 rose. Compared with the control group (mRNA: 0.81±0.26; protein: 0.15±0.07), the 5 and 10 mg/kg BDE-153 groups had significantly higher mRNA expression of calpain-2 (5 mg/kg BDE-153 group: 1.16±0.52; 10 mg/kg BDE-153 group: 1.32±0.23) and significantly higher protein expression of calpain-2 (5 mg/kg BDE-153 group: 0.31±0.07; 10 mg/kg BDE-153 group: 0.37±0.06) (P < 0.05). The 10 mg/kg BDE-153 group had significantly higher protein expression of calpain-2 than the 1 mg/kg BDE-153 group (0.37±0.06 vs 0.22±0.07, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCa(2+-) mediated calpain-2 activation may be one of the main mechanisms of BDE-153 neurotoxicity.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase ; metabolism ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calpain ; metabolism ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Male ; Polybrominated Biphenyls ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

ObjectiveTo investigate the tolerance, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of coblopasvir hydrochloride capsules in patients with hepatitis C. MethodsA total of 36 patients with hepatitis C who were admitted to The First Hospital of Jilin University from November 2016 to January 2017 were enrolled as subjects, and four dose groups (30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg) and one placebo group were established. The subjects were administered once daily for 3 consecutive days; tolerance was evaluated on D2 and D6, and follow-up was performed on D8 and D10. The subjects were enrolled based on single dose escalation, and a multiple-dose study was conducted under the premise of good tolerance to single dose. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the plasma concentration of coblopasvir hydrochloride in human body, and WinNonlin 6.4 software was used to calculate main pharmacokinetic parameters. HCV RNA load was used to evaluate antiviral activity at different time points; a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups, and the LSD t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsAfter coblopasvir hydrochloride capsules were administered orally once a day at a dose of 30-120 mg, the plasma concentration and exposure of coblopasvir hydrochloride increased with the increase in dose. There were no significant differences in plasma concentration and exposure between multiple-dose administration and single-dose administration in a fasting state, without accumulation in human body. After the oral administration of coblopasvir hydrochloride capsules once a day, the subjects with HCV genotype 1b had a reduction in HCV RNA load since baseline, with the lowest level at 120 hours, and there was a significant difference in antiviral activity between different dose groups (F=14.621, P＜0.000 1), among which the 60 mg group had a significantly greater reduction than the 30 mg group (P=0.025), while there was no significant difference between the 60 mg group and the 90/120 mg group (P＞0.05). There was no significant difference in HCV RNA load between different groups of patients with HCV genotype 2a (P＞0.05). Of all 36 subjects, 20 reported 34 cases of treatment-emergent adverse events, among which 19 cases were associated with coblopasvir hydrochloride, and no significant adverse events or serious adverse events were observed. ConclusionOral administration of coblopasvir hydrochloride capsules in a fasting state at a dose of 30-120 mg/d (for 3 consecutive days) has good safety and antiviral activity. Therefore, it has good application prospect in the treatment of HCV infection and provides a basis for dose selection in phrase 2 study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between clinical phenotypes and genotypes in children with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD)/Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) so as to provide a theoretical basis for disease management, gene therapy, and prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data and gene detection results of 52 children with BMD/DMD. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to detect the DMD gene. The children with negative results of MLPA were further screened by exon chip capture combined with next-generation sequencing (NGS). The mothers of 20 probands were validated by sequencing. RESULTS: The pathogenic genes for BMD/DMD were detected in 50 children by MLPA and NGS, with a detection rate of 96%. Among the 52 children, 36 (69%) had gene deletion, 7 (13%) had duplication, and 7 (13%) had micromutation. Among the 43 children with deletion/duplication, 32 had DMD and 11 had BMD; 37 children (86%) met the reading frame rule, among whom 27 (96%) had DMD and 10 (67%) had BMD. All 7 children with micromutation had DMD. CONCLUSIONS The reading frame rule has an extremely high predictive value for DMD but a limited predictive value for BMD.
Child ; Dystrophin ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genotype ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of pulmonary function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the standardized treatment of bronchial asthma in children.

METHODSA total of 254 children who were newly diagnosed with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma were selected as asthma group, and they were divided into two subgroups: asthma with concurrent rhinitis and asthma without concurrent rhinitis. All patients received the standardized management and treatment for one year. The pulmonary function parameters included forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), and mid-expiratory flow at 25%, 50%, and 75% of vital capacity (MEF25, MEF50, and MEF75). The FeNO levels were measured before treatment and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment. Another 62 healthy children were selected as the control group, and the pulmonary function and FeNO levels were measured only once.

RESULTSDuring one year of standardized treatment, FEV1, PEF, MMEF, MEF25, MEF50, and MEF75 gradually increased, and FeNO levels gradually decreased (P<0.05). Indicators of large airway function, such as FEV1 and PEF, almost returned to normal after 6 months of treatment; indicators of small airway function, such as MMEF, MEF25, MEF50, and MEF75 almost returned to normal after 9 months of treatment; there were no significant differences in the above indices between the asthma group and the control group after one year of treatment (P>0.05). However, the asthma group had a significantly higher FeNO levels than the control group after one year of treatment (P<0.05). The asthmatic patients with concurrent rhinitis had significantly higher FeNO levels than those without concurrent rhinitis before treatment and 3 months after treatment (P<0.05). Before treatment, there was a significant negative correlation between FeNO levels and pulmonary function parameters (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWith the standardized treatment of bronchial asthma in children, pulmonary function parameters gradually increase and FeNO levels gradually decrease. The recovery of large airway function occurs earlier than the recovery of small airway function. Furthermore, the effect of rhinitis on airway responsiveness should be noted.

Asthma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Rhinitis ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the relationship of galectin-3 (Gal-3)and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)with in-stent restenosis (ISR).Methods We consecutively recruited 434 patients who had undergone successful drug eluting stent (DES)implantation.Then we divided them into ISR group (n=41)and NO-ISR group (n=393)according to the results of coronary angiography review.Independent risk factors for ISR were found out by multivariate analysis and the two groups were matched for these factors except for Gal-3 and MMP-9 .After elim-ination of the influence of confounders,serum Gal-3 and MMP-9 were compared between the groups and their rela-tions with the severity of ISR were analyzed.Patients were grouped based on Gal-3 and MMP-9 concentrations and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs)were compared between the two groups.Results After elimination of the influence of confounders,the results showed that serum levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in ISR group than in NO-ISR group (P＜0.001).Serum levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 increased with the increased grade of classification.Serum levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 were obviously higher in classes Ⅲ and Ⅳ ISR than in class Ⅰ (P＜0.05).Patients with higher levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 had a higher incidence of MACEs (P＜0.01).ISR group had a higher incidence of MACEs than NO-ISR group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 are correlated with ISR and its severity,and they are independent risk factors for ISR.The rate of MACEs during follow-up period was increased with the increased levels of Gal-3 and MMP-9 .

BACKGROUNDImmune cells within a tumor microenvironment have shown modulatory effects on tumor angiogenic activity. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a hypervascular tumor that reportedly increases the frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumor tissues. This study investigated the correlation between Tregs infiltration and angiogenic status in RCC.

METHODSThirty-six patients with RCC were enrolled in the present study, and twenty age-matched healthy donors were included as the control. Tregs were defined as CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(low/-) T cells. The frequency of Tregs in peripheral blood and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in surgical resection specimens were measured with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Microvessel density (MVD) was calculated on slides stained with CD34 antibody. Spearman's rank correlation was performed to evaluate the correlation between the frequencies of Tregs in TILs and VEGF values, as well as between frequencies of Tregs and MVD determinations.

RESULTSCompared to healthy controls, the frequency of peripheral blood Tregs was significantly increased in patients with RCC (P < 0.05). The percentage of tumor-infiltrating Tregs was higher than that of peripheral blood Tregs in patients with RCC (P < 0.01). In addition, the frequency of tumor-infiltrating Tregs was shown to significantly correlate with the pathological stage (P < 0.05) and nuclear grade (P < 0.01). Importantly, a significant positive correlation was observed between the frequency of tumor-infiltrating Tregs and VEGF protein expression (r = 0.51, P < 0.05), as well as between frequencies of Tregs and MVD score (r = 0.39, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThese observations suggest that the high pro-angiogenic status of RCC may be associated with the accumulation of Tregs in the local microenvironment. Angiogenesis networks may be connected with immune tolerance units and cooperate with each other to facilitate tumor growth and progression.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Neoplasms ; immunology ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; immunology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology