OBJECTIVETo observe Smads protein expression in lung tissue of quartz exposed mice and to explore its association with pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis.

METHODSThe experimental mice were divided into control and quartz groups. 0.2 g/kg weight of quartz was injected intratracheally in quartz group. Samples were collected at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th and 28th day after injection. Immunohistochemical methods with quantitative image analysis were used to assay the protein expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), Smad 2/3, Smad 4, and Smad 7 protein levels. Protein expression level is presented by positive unit (PU).

RESULTSSmad 2/3 protein expression increased from day 3, reaching its peak level in day 14 [(42.2 +/- 2.4) PU], and decreased gradually. The elevation of Smad 4 protein level began from day 5, and the highest degree came into day 14 [(40.0 +/- 1.8) PU], decreased thereafter. The expression of Smad 7 presented a decreasing tendency at the beginning and reaching the lowest level in day 14 [(33.5 +/- 3.3) PU]. It seemed to elevate in day 28, but was still lower than the controls. There were positive correlation between Smad 2/3, Smad 4 and TGF-beta(1) (r = 0.91, r = 0.71, respectively, P < 0.05) and also between Smad 2/3 and hydroxyproline contents of lung tissue (r = 0.85, P < 0.05) except Smad 7.

CONCLUSIONSmad protein may have certain association with pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis.

Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Quartz ; toxicity ; Smad2 Protein ; Smad3 Protein ; Smad4 Protein ; Smad7 Protein ; Trans-Activators ; immunology ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats.

METHODSSixty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into control group and SAP group, and in the latter group, SAP was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate in the pancreaticobiliary duct. The rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 h after the operation, and the severity of pancreatitis was assessed according to histological scoring. The serum levels of VEGF were examined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of VEGF in the pancreatic tissues was measured by SP immunohistochemistry. Another 30 SD rats were randomized into the control group, SAP group and SAP+recombinant rat VEGF injection group, and the vascular permeability of the pancreatic microcirculation was determined by Evans Blue leakage test.

RESULTSAt each of the time points for measurement, both the serum VEGF level and scores of pancreatic tissue injury were significantly higher in SAP group than in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expressions of VEGF in the pancreatic tissues of SAP group were significantly up-regulated following the operation (P<0.05). The vascular permeability of the pancreatic microcirculation significantly increased after the onset of SAP, and injection of recombinant rat VEGF significantly increased the leakage rate of Evans Blue.

CONCLUSIONVEGF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and in causing edema and hemorrhage in SAP, and the level of serum VEGF may reflect the severity of pancreatic injury.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; Capillary Permeability ; physiology ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of captopril against lung injury in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

METHODSSeventy-two male SD rats were randomized into sham-operated group (SO group), SAP group and captopril intervention group (CAP group). Serum amylase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung tissue were examined at 1, 6 and 12 h after the operation. TNF-α and AngII in the lung tissue were detected by ELISA, and the histopathological changes of the pancreas and lung were observed microscopically.

RESULTSThe MPO activity , which was similar between SAP group and CAP group at 1 h, were significantly lowered in CAP group at 6 and 12 h (P<0.05). Serum amylase level and the levels of TNF-α and AngII in the lung tissue homogenate were all reduced significantly in CAP group as compared to those in SAP group (P<0.01). The pathological injury of the lung was obviously lessened in CAP group in comparison with that in SAP group.

CONCLUSIONCaptopril can ameliorate SAP-induced lung injury in rats.

Amylases ; blood ; Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Captopril ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ADAMTS13 antigen levels and activity in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and explore its significance in these diseases.

METHODSADAMTS13 activity levels were detected by a new developed Frests-vWF73 kit, ADAMTS13 antigen levels by ELISA kit, and vWF multimers by electrophoresis.

RESULTSADAMTS13 antigen in normal control, AMI and AIS was (878 +/- 198), (618 +/- 188) and (702 +/- 155) U/L, and ADAMTS13 activity was (81.7 +/- 13.9)%, (59.2 +/- 22.1 )% and (65.4 +/- 15.8)%, respectively, being significantly decreased in AMI and AIS patients.

CONCLUSIONADMATS13 might involve in arterial infarction diseases.

ADAM Proteins ; blood ; ADAMTS13 Protein ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Infarction ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

The present study was designed to observe the protection of Grateloupia filicina polysaccharide (GFP) against hepatotoxicity induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice and its underlying mechanism. GFP was intragastrically (ig) given to mice at various doses. After 6 days, the mice were treated with ethyl acetate extract of Dioscorea bulbifera L (EF, ig). Serum levels of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) were measured, and liver histological evaluation was conducted. Furthermore, reductions of liver glutathione (GSH) amount and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) activity were tested. The expressions of GCL-c, GCL-m, and HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1) in liver were observed by Western-blot. The results showed that GFP (600 mg x kg(-1)) decreased EF-induced the increase of serum ALT, AST and TB, and GFP (400, 600 mg x kg(-1)) inhibited EF-induced the increase of serum ALP. Liver histological evaluation showed that the liver injury induced by EF was relieved after treated with GFP. GFP further increased liver GSH amount and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL activity. The Western-blot result showed that GFP augmented EF-induced the increase of HO-1, and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL-c. In conclusion, GFP can act against the oxidative stress liver injury induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; blood ; metabolism ; Dioscorea ; toxicity ; Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase ; metabolism ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings ; antagonists & inhibitors ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rhodophyta ; chemistry

A field trial was carried out to study the influence of different kinds of spring topdressing on growth, yield and quality of Ligusticum chuanxiong. The results showed that the spring topdressing had effects of improving root length, tiller numbers and plant height to some extent. At the same time the chlorophyll content and dry weight accumulation especially the dry weight of root increased significantly. It also showed that the yield increased and quality was improved significantly. The effect of different treatment with urea58.7 kg x hm(-2)(N 27 kg x hm(-2)) was the best and the treatment with N,P,K the second.
Alkaloids ; metabolism ; Coumaric Acids ; metabolism ; Fertilizers ; Ligusticum ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seasons

A simple and quick method is described for the determination of ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide A and ligustilide in rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong. The 5 active ingredients in the sample was extracted using 40% ethanol and analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Chromatography separation was performed using Agilent 1100 series HPLC system with a Symmetry C18 column and gradient elution with a mixture of three solvents : solvent A, acetonitrile, solvent B, methanol and solvent C, 1% aqueous acetic acid, 0 min to 5 min A: B: C 20: 40: 40, 5 min to 30 min A: B: C 60 to 100 : 0 : 40 to 0. The effluent was monitored using a VWD detector set at 321 nm (0-4.3 min) and 275 nm (4.31-30 min). The flow rate was set at 1 mL x min(-1) and the injection volume was 10 microL. The column temperature was maintained at 35 degrees C. The calibration curve was linear (r > or = 0.99) over the tested ranges. The average recovery was 94.44%-103.1% (n = 6). The method has been successfully applied to the analysis in different harvest periods of L. chuanxiong samples. In this paper, single-factor randomized block design to study the 5 components content of L. chuanxiong on ten collecting stages. For the L. chuanxiong collected from April 15th to May 30rd, the content of 5 ingredients increased primarily, and then decreased. Determine the appropriate harvest time has important significance to the promotion of the quality of L. chuanxiong.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Acetonitriles ; chemistry ; Benzofurans ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coumaric Acids ; analysis ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Methanol ; chemistry ; Solvents ; chemistry ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) in lung tissues of silica-treated mice.

METHODSThe experimental mice were divided into control and silica group. 0.2 g/kg body weight of silica was injected intratracheally in silica group. Samples of lung tissue were collected 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 28 d after injection. RT-PCR method was used to analyze the gene expression of TGF-beta(1) in lung tissue of silica-treated mice.

RESULTSThe expression of TGF-beta(1) gene in lung tissue elevated from the 3rd day (1.20 +/- 0.15) and the peak value was on the 7th day (1.74 +/- 0.19). Then the expression decreased from the 14th to 28th day. But there was still higher than control until the 28th day.

CONCLUSIONTGF-beta(1) may play an important role in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Silicon Dioxide ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Time Factors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protein expression of transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) in lung tissues of silica-treated mice.

METHODSThe experimental mice were divided into control and silica groups. 0.2 g/kg body weight of silica was injected intratracheally in mice of silica group. Samples of lung tissue were collected 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 28 d after injection. The immunohistochemical method was used to analyze the protein expression of TGF-beta(1).

RESULTSIn control mice, the expression of TGF-beta(1) in lung tissue was slightly positive while it was markedly increased in silica-treated mice. The expression was significantly elevated from the 7th day to 14th day. The expression in alveolar macrophages reached the peak on the 5th day [(93.4% +/- 2.8%) vs (42.2% +/- 12.0%), P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONTGF-beta(1) may play an important role in early development of silicosis.

Animals ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Lung ; chemistry ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Silicon Dioxide ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Silicosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Time Factors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; adverse effects ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic ; prevention & control ; Chronic Disease ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C