Objective To study the intervention effect and mechanism of integripetal rhodiola herb (IRH) on Alzheimer’s disease model rats. Methods Alzheimer’s disease model was made by injecting D-galactose (10 mg/mL) in abdominal cavity and taking AlCl3 (20 mg/mL) by intragastric administration, and injecting scopolamine. Morris water maze testing system was undertaken to observe the change of learning and memory ability in rats, biochemical indicator tested was to contrast the state of oxidative stress, common HE staining and immunohistchemistry staining were to observe the morphology change of the hippcampus and cortex cell. The model rats were administrated IRH by means of intragastric administration contrasting with hydergine to compare the effect. Results The memory ability of model group was obviously decreased, cellula nervosa were damaged badly. A? and senile plaques appeared on hippcampus and cortex. All of the test indexes in Morris water maze showed that the abilities of space search, learning and memory in different groups remarkably improved compared with that of the model group (P

Objective To summarize the advantage and application of evaporative light scattering detector(ELSD) for the analysis of natural drugs .Methods The application of ELSD in natural medicine analysis was reviewed in the article .Results ELSD in analysis of natural drugs ,natural drugs quality standards research ,fingerprint ,multi‐spectrum combination technology and high‐throughput screening had been widely applied .Conclusion Evaporative light scattering detector had a broad applica‐tion prospect .

Objective To investigate the effect of excessive fluoride,aluminum on Zn,Fe,Ca,Mg,Cuin rat blood.Methods Forty eight SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups matched with their weights:control group,high aluminum group,high fluorine group and high fluorine-aluminum group.Aluminum content in their drinking water was 0,90,0,90 mg/L respectively.Fluorine content of their feed was 5.2,5.2,106.0,106.0 mg/kg and aluminum Was 6.8,6.8,19.7,19.7 mg/kg respectively.90 days later,the level of blood Zn,Fe,Ca,Mg, Cu Was detected by the atomic absorption spectrometry.Results Compared among these groups,Zn,Fe,Mg and Cu content of the whole blood had significant difierences(F=46.25,14.74,6.10,2.93,P<0.05),while Ca content of the whole blood did not significantly change(F=2.81.P>0.05).Factorial analysis showed that excessive intake of aluminum could significantly decreased Zn,Fe,Mg content of the blood(F=42.66,5.41,7.04,P<0.05)and excessive intake of fluorine could significantly decreased Zn,Fe,Mg,Cu content of the blood(F=64.50,37.90,9.75,6.74, P<0.05).The coexistence offluorine and Muminum had interaction to the level of Zn(F=31.59,P<0.05)and did not obviously interact with other elements(F=0.91,1.63,1.51.0.00,P>0.05).Compared with the control group [(131.30 ±13.86)μmol/L,(10.24 ±1.02),(1.71 ±0.19)mmol/L,(20.43 ±4.42)μmol/L],Zn content in the high aluminum group[(90.84±9.98)μmol/L]decreased significantly(P<0.05),so did Zn,Fe,Mg content in tlle high fluorine group[(85.85 ±10.92)μmol/L,(8.49 ±0.68),(1.52 ±0.13)mmol/L],the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05)0Zn,Fe,Mg,Cu content in the high fluorine-aluminum group,being(82.82 ±11.00)μmol/L, (8.16±0.45),(1.46±0.09)mmoL/L,(15.69±2.38)μmol/L,respectively,all decreased signitlcarIdy(P<0.05). Compared with the high aluminum group[(9.43±1.09)mmol/L],Fe content of the high fluorine aluminum group[(8.16±0.45)mmol/L]decreased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusions Excessive fluoride can cause blood zn, Fe,Mg,Cu decline,so can excessive aluminum.Combination of excessive fluofine and aiuminum has 8ignificant synergic effect on the level of Zn but have rio influence on Ca.

Translocating protein and translocating peptides have therapeutic potential against tumors by exposing the cytotoxic domains of toxic proteins to the cell cytosol. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of N-terminally fused PE translocating peptides on granzyme B (GrBa) activity. PE II-GrBa fusion protein genes were constructed by replacing N-terminal signal and acidic dipeptide sequence of human granzyme B gene with two truncated translocating sequences of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE II aa 280-364/358) by recombinant PCR, and then cloned into pIND inducible expression vector. The resulting pIND-PE II-GrBa expression vectors were co-transfected with assistant plasmid pVgRXR into HeLa cells through lipofectamine, followed by selection on G418 and zeocin. The resistant cells were collected and induced with ponasterone A. Western blot analysis demonstrated that ponasterone A induction caused the expression of PE II-GrBa fusion proteins, and indirect immunofluorescence detected giant sized multinucleated cells, suggesting cytoskeletal and mitotic abnormalities as reported in our previous studies. Western blot, enzymatic activity assay and cell counting analysis indicated that two types of PE II-GrBa fusion proteins were capable of cleaving both endogenous and exogenous substrates of granzyme B, and inhibiting the growth of cells. The PE II (aa 280-358)-GrBa was shown to have higher serine protease activity and stronger growth inhibitory effect. Such inhibition was presumably associated with G2 arrest as determined by cell cycle analysis. These data prove that PE II-GrBa fusion proteins have cell inhibitory effect similar to GrBa, and that the shorter PE-derived peptide exerts less influence on GrBa activity. This study helps to optimize the construction of recombinant protein comprising translocating peptides and cytotoxic molecules for tumor cell killing.
ADP Ribose Transferases ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Toxins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Exotoxins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Granzymes ; genetics ; pharmacology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; pharmacology ; Virulence Factors ; genetics ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo characterize molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities in six 46, XX males, and to investigate the clinical manifestations and underlying mechanisms in such patients.

METHODSClinical data of six XX male patients were collected. Karyotyping, multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were utilized to detect and locate the sex determining region (SRY) gene.

RESULTSPCR and FISH showed that all patients were SRY-positive XX males. All patients have their SRY gene located at the tip of derivative X chromosomes, which have resulted from translocation between short arms of X and Y chromosomes. High resolution karyotyping at 550-750 band level has revealed that the translocation breakpoints were at Xp22.33 and Yp11.2 in three patients. In the remaining patients, the breakpoints were either at Xp22.32 and Yp11.31 or Xp22.31 and Yp11.2. The breakpoints at Xp22.32, Xp22.31 and Yp11.31 were rarely reported. Genotype-phenotype correlation analysis indicated that the clinical manifestations were age-specific. Four adult patients have come to clinical attention due to infertility, with typical features including azoospermia and testis dysgenesis, whereas poorly developed secondary sexual characteristics and short stature were main complaints of adolescence patients, and short stature was the sole symptom in a child patient.

CONCLUSIONCombined karyotyping, PCR and FISH are important for the analysis of XX males. Particularly, high resolution karyotyping is valuable for the refinement of chromosome breakpoints and detailed analysis of genotype-phenotype correlation.

46, XX Disorders of Sex Development ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Genetic Association Studies ; methods ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; methods ; Male ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical manifestations, genotypes, and genetic characteristics of two pedigrees with Kennedy disease.

METHODSThe clinical data of the patients from two Kennedy disease families were collected. The numbers of trinucleotide CAG repeats in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene were determined by DNA sequencing and repeat fragment analysis.

RESULTSFamily A was composed of 58 individuals in 4 generations. The proband had onset at 39 years old. There were two Kennedy disease patients in family B which included 61 individuals in 5 generations. The two patients had onset at 39 and 41 years old, respectively. All the three patients displayed limbs and bulbar muscular weakness because of the damage of lower motor neurons. They had androgen insensitivity syndrome in common, and showed mild or moderate increase in serum creatine kinase level. The electromyogram showed wild damage in anterior horn of spinal cord. Muscle biopsy displayed neurogenic muscular atrophy. The numbers of the CAG repeat expansion in the androgen receptor gene of the three patients were 49, 48, and 47, respectively. X-linked recessive mode of inheritance was demonstrated by pedigree analysis in the two families.

CONCLUSIONKennedy disease usually occurs in mid-adulthood man. The clinical features are the weakness and wasting of limbs and bulbar muscles. Genetic analysis contributes to diagnosis and identification of carriers, and is beneficial to genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Biopsy ; Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electromyography ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Muscles ; pathology ; Pedigree ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of dutasteride inhibiting fertility by studying its effects on the expressions of the epididymal epithelial junction proteins Claudin1 and β-catenin in rats.

METHODSSixteen 3-month-old SD male rats were equally divided into an experimental and a negative control group to be treated intragastrically with dutasteride at 40 mg/kg per day and the same dose of solvent, respectively, for 14 consecutive days. Then, the sperm motility and morphology of the rats were detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis, the serum levels of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) measured by ELISA, changes in the tight junction of epididymal cells observed under the transmission electron microscope, the protein and gene expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, and the conception rate of the mated female rats calculated.

RESULTSDutasteride significantly suppressed the serum DHT level, sperm motility, and fertility of the rats (P <0.05). Interspaces between epididymal epithelial cell tight junctions were observed, the volume of epididymal fluid obviously increased, and the expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin gene and protein remarkably downregulated in the experimental rats (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONDutasteride can significantly inhibit the fertility of male rats by reducing the serum DHT level, suppressing Claudin1 and β-catenin expressions, and damaging epididymal epithelial cell junctions.

Animals ; Azasteroids ; pharmacology ; Claudin-1 ; metabolism ; Dihydrotestosterone ; blood ; Dutasteride ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood ; Urological Agents ; pharmacology ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of sweat function examination in early diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

METHODSNinety-eight hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients with or without DPN (DN and DC groups) according to Michigan Diabetic Neruopathy Score (DNS) and 40 healthy volunteers (NC group) were evaluated for their sweat function of the feet in relation to the peripheral autonomic nerve with sweat printing method using Neuropad. The Neuropad color-changing time was recorded to assess the sensitivity and specificity of sweat printing methods relative to DNS for DNP evaluation, and the correlation of the Neuropad color-changing time to DNS score was analyzed.

RESULTSThe average Neuropad color-changing time was 4.0-/+0.6, 4.3-/+1.2 and 23.0-/+6.1 min in NC, DC, and DN groups, respectively, showing significant differences between the 3 groups (P<0.05). The morbidity rate detected by sweat printing method was 62.2%, similar to that detected by DNS (57.1%, P>0.05). The sensitivity of the sweat printing method for DPN diagnosis was 92.8%, with specificity of 78.5%, positive predictive value of 93.2%, and negative predictive value of 78.6%. DNS showed significant positive correlation with the Neuropad color-changing time (r=0.46, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSweat printing method provides an objective, simple and reliable method for sweat function evaluation of the feet of type 2 diabetic patients to help in early DPN diagnosis, and quantification of the results of sweat printing method can be indicative of the DPN severity.

Case-Control Studies ; Color ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Early Diagnosis ; Foot ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sweating ; physiology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antagonism effects of green tea (GT) against microcystin LR (MC-LR) induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in mice.

METHODSAll 40 male mice were randomly divided into four groups. Mice in group III and IV were pretreated with green tea for free drink at doses of 2 g/L and 12 g/L prior to MC-LR intoxication, for consecutively 18 days. The toxin treatment mice were administered continually intraperitoneal injections of MC-LR at a dose of 10 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1) bw from day 6th till sacrifice, continually 13 days. Mice were sacrificed and immediately subjected to necropsy, and the body weight, relative organ weight, serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant enzyme levels (SOD and GSH), lipid peroxidation products (MDA) and histopathology were systematically evaluated.

RESULTSMC-LR exposure led to increase the oxidative stress and organ injury was significantly observed through biochemical parameters and microscopic evaluation. However, high dose of GT pretreatment caused a significant elevation in serum GSH and SOD levels, and a decrease of serum MDA level as compared with MC-LR control. The mean values of GSH and SOD activities were separately 467.29 mg/L and 139.22 U/ml in group IV. Subsequently, GT pretreatment obviously diminished the serum ALT, AST and Cr activities. Those pathological damages in liver and kidney, were to a certain extent, lessened in GT pretreatment mice in correlation with the biochemical parameters.

CONCLUSIONGT might elevate antioxidant defense system, clean up free radicals, lessen oxidative damages and protect liver and kidney against MC-LR induced toxicity.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Microcystins ; toxicity ; Oxidative Stress ; Tea

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the efficacy of a hybrid artificial liver support system in the treatment of chronic severe hepatitis.

METHODSThe hybrid artificial liver support system (HALSS) consisted of a bioreactor containing more than 5 x 10(9) porcine hepatocytes and plasma exchange device. 15 patients with chronic severe viral hepatitis were treated with the hybrid system.

RESULTSAll the patients experienced a reduction in symptoms, such as fatigue, abdominal distention or ascites. After each treatment serum total bilirubin decreased markedly (from 493.5 micromol/L+-139.8 micromol/L to 250.9 micromol/L+-91.3 micromol/L, t=8.695, P<0.001), while prothrombin activity increased (from 24.5%+-8.4% to 30.6%+-6.3%, t=3.325, P<0.01). There were 11 patients whose progress of hepatocytes necrosis stopped after HALSS treatment, and finally they recovered completely. Four patients died of their worsen conditions. No serious adverse events were noted in the 15 patients.

CONCLUSIONHALSS is a reliable hepatic support device for chronic severe hepatitis.

Adult ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bioreactors ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver Failure ; therapy ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Exchange ; instrumentation ; methods ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Treatment Outcome