Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Laminin ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Risk Assessment ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Silicosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood

Bibenzyl is a type of active compounds abundant in Dendrobium. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of six bibenzyls isolated from Dendrobium species on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). All those bibenzyls inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation at 10 micromol x L(-1) except tristin, and of which moscatilin was found to have the strongest activity at the same concentration. The lowest effective concentration of moscatilin was 1 micromol x L(-1). Further results showed that moscatilin inhibited VEGF-induced capillary-like tube formation on HUVECs in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting results showed that moscatilin also inhibited VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2 (Flk-1/KDR) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Further results showed that moscatilin inhibited VEGF-induced activation of c-Raf and MEK1/2, which are both upstream signals of ERK1/2. Taken together, results presented here demonstrated that moscatilin inhibited angiogenesis via blocking the activation of VEGFR2 (Flk-1/KDR) and c-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signals.

AIM: Lycopene as an antioxidant can decrease the risk of age-related chronic diseases, such as cancer. In this study, we investigated the impact of lycopene on bone mineral density and bone biomechanics in experimental osteoporotic rats. METHODS: The experiment was performed at the Animal Experiment Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College from July 2006 to November 2007. The lycopene was provided by the Xinjiang Zhixing Technology Invest Development Company, and diluted to certain concentration by corn oil. Fifty six-month-old SPF female Wistar rats were selected and divided into 5 groups (n=10) according to body mass: Sham operation and corn oil group (2 mL/d), ovariectomy (OVX) and corn oil group (2 mL/d), OVX and estradiol benzoate (EB) group (0.2 mg/kg, once a week), low and high lycopene groups (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, once a day). Except the sham operation group, all rats underwent OVX to establish models of osteoporosis. Each group was administrated corresponding medicine for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Within 2 weeks postoperatively, 1 of sham operation group died and 2 of low lycopene group died. Finally, 47 rats were included in final analysis. ①The lumbar and femoral bone mineral density and maximum stress of ovariectomized rats were significantly lower than those of sham operation group (P

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the manifestations and characteristics of adverse drug reactions (ADR) induced by Traditional Chinese medicine.METHODS:85 ADR reports collected from the spontaneous reporting system in our hospital from 2005 to 2008 were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS:ADR almost involved all the body system and 31.63% were nervous system.Main dosage form inducing ADR was injection (51.76%).CONCLUSION:ADR induced by Traditional Chinese Medicine can not be disregarded.Clinical pharmacists should pay more attention to the drug therapy by intravenous administration to reduce the incidence of ADR.

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of testicular masses associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia(CAH).Methods A 25-year-old man presented with bilateral testicular nodules.Physical examination revealed palpable multiple nodules in the bilateral testes and epididymides as well as enlarged and hard right testis with uneven surface.Biochemical examination showed testosterone(T) of 18.7 nmol/L,17?-(OH)P＞20.0 ng/ml,positive results of rapid ACTH stimulation test and dexametha- sone suppression test.B-ultrasound demonstrated diffuse testicular lesions with nodules in parts of the bilater- al testes.Bilateral testicular nodules were biopsied,and pathological diagnosis was interstitial cell hyperplasi- a.Positive staining for?-inhibin was observed immunohistochemically.The clinical characteristics of testicular masses associated with CAH were reviewed in combination with the literature.Results Based on medical history,imaging,laboratory and pathologic examinations,the patient was diagnosed with testicular masses as- sociated with CAH.He received oral cortisol at dose of 40 mg daily for 2 weeks,and then at dose of 30 mg daily as maintenance therapy.After treatment of 8 months,B-ultrasound showed complete regression of the testicular tumors.Follow-up of 24 months showed no recurrence of the tumor.Conclusions For patient with bilateral testicular masses,endocrinological evaluation and clinical history taking are indicated to exclude testicular interstitial cell hyperplasia associated with CAH.By oral steroid replacement therapy,hormone-sen- sitive testicular masses can regress.

Background and purpose:In the process of gastric cancer development, cytothesis and apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) are very important pathological processes. Glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and phosphorylated form of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (pERK) play important roles in it. This study aimed to investigate the expression of GRP78 and pERK in gastric adenocarcinoma, chronic atrophic gastritis and superficial gastritis, and the role of GRP78 and pERK in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods:Gastric adenocarcinoma, chronic atrophic gastritis and superifcial gastritis tissues in 60 cases respectively were employed in the study. We chose 25 fresh tissue samples from each group, and the level of GRP78 and pERK mRNA in different tissues were detected by RT-PCR assay. The expressions of GRP78 and pERK in different parafifn samples were detected using immunohistochemistry assay. In addition, the relationships between GRP78 and pERK expression and age, gender, differentiation, invasion, disease stage, and lymphoid node metastasis were analyzed. Results: The expression level of GRP78 and pERK mRNA in gastric adenocarcinoma(1.26±0.18, 2.35±0.36) were significantly higher than chronic atrophic gastritis (0.89±0.25, 1.18±0.25) and superficial gastritis (0.29±0.09, 0.68±0.10, P<0.01). The positive ratio of GRP78 expression in gastric adenocarcinoma, chronic atrophic gastritis and superficial gastritis were 78.3%, 46.6%, 6.7%. The positive ratios of pERK expression were 88.3%, 43.3%, 5.0%, respectively. The GRP78 and pERK expression in different tissues were signiifcantly different (P<0.01). GRP78 and pERK expression were positively correlated with differentiation, disease stage and lymph node metastasis. There was a positive correlation between the gene and protein expression of GRP78 and pERK with a Pearson correlation value of 0.307 and 0.368, respectively. Both univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that GRP78 was related to the prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma. Conclusion:GRP78 and pERK may play an important role in the transition of normal gastric cells to malignant cells. The expression of these two genes enhances tumor progression. Overexpression of GRP78 and pERK is significantly correlated with poor prognosis in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. The determination of the expression of GRP78 and pERK might be helpful for the prevention, early diagnosis of gastric carcinoma. Particularly, GRP78 is valuable for the judgement of prognosis, and might be a new target for the treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Aim To investigate the protective effects of beraprost sodium on cerebral cortical neuron injury in chronic aluminum-overload rats and its effects on PGIS-IP signaling pathway. Methods 75 SD rats were randomized into five groups: normal control group, chronic aluminum-overload group ( model group) and beraprost sodium groups-low dose (6 μg· kg-1 ), medium dose ( 12 μg · kg-1 ) and high dose (24 μg·kg-1). Aluminum gluconate (Al3+ 200 mg ·kg-1 d-1, once a day, 5d a week, for 20 weeks, p. o. ) was administered to rats of cerebral damage model. The rats of experimental groups were concomi-tantly treated with beraprost sodium ( p. o. ) daily for 20 weeks. After the model was built successfully, the spatial learning and memory( SLM) function was done by Morris water maze. The cortical neurons damage was detected by HE staining, SOD activities and MDA contents. The 6-k-PGF1α levels in cortex were meas-ured by ELISA. The expressions of PGIS, IP mRNA and IP protein were also studied. Results Compared with the rats of normal control group, the SLM function was significantly impaired ( P<0. 01 ) and considera-ble karyopycnosis was observed in model group rats. The SOD activities were weakened ( P <0. 01 ), the MDA contents increased ( P<0. 05 ) and the levels of 6-k-PGF1α raised significantly ( P <0. 01). The ex-pressions of PGIS and IP mRNA in the rats cortex obvi-ously increased ( P<0. 01 ), so did the expression of IP protein(P<0. 05). Compared with the rats of mod-el group, the SLM function of rats in experimental groups decreased significantly ( P<0. 01 ) and damage of cortical neurons reduced remarkably. The SOD ac-tivities increased ( P <0. 01 ) and the MDA contents decreased ( P <0. 01). Besides, the content of 6-k-PGF1α, the expressions of PGIS mRNA and IP protein in the rats cortex decreased significantly ( P<0. 05 ) as well as IP mRNA ( P<0. 01). Conclusion Our re-sults demonstrate that in cerebral cortical neuron of chronic aluminum-overload rats, beraprost sodium has notably protective effects and the mechanism might be related to PGIS-IP signaling pathway.

AIMTo design and synthesize compounds with insulin-sensitizing activity.

METHODSUsing association principle of drug design, ten title compounds were designed and synthesized on the basis of known compounds with insulin-sensitizing activity, and their insulin-sensitizing activity were evaluated on 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells.

RESULTSOne of the synthesized compounds showed strong insulin-sensitizing activity in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThis compound may possess good sugar-lowering activity, and will be chosen for further hypoglycemic evaluation in vivo.

3T3-L1 Cells ; metabolism ; Adipocytes ; drug effects ; Animals ; Drug Design ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the use value of picrosirius red staining plus polarized microscopy to observe the dynamic changes of collagen fiber in lung fibrosis in silicotic mice model.

METHODSThe experimental mice were divided into control and quartz groups. 0.2 g/kg weight of quartz was injected intratracheally in quartz group. Lung tissues were collected at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th and 28th day after injection respectively. Lung tissue slides were stained with picrosirius red. With the aid of polarized microscope, image analysis software, the distribution and change of type I and type III collagen could be qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Lung tissue hydroxyproline was determined by chloramines T method.

RESULTSIn early stage the predominant increment was type III collagen, but in late stage type I was predominant. The contents of both type collagen tended to increase as postexposure time prolonged. The time course of the ratio of type I to type III showed increasing trend, and there was a statistical significance on day 28 (1.49 +/- 0.39 vs 0.59 +/- 0.24, P < 0.05). The total area of collagen was positively correlated with hydroxyproline concentration of lung tissue (r(2) = 0.928 5, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPicrosirius red staining combined with polarized microscopy and digital image processing is a useful method to elucidate collagen accumulation, distribution and subtype ratio in silicosis.

Animals ; Azo Compounds ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Coloring Agents ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Microscopy, Polarization ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Quartz ; toxicity ; Staining and Labeling

Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature