Objective To investigate the effects of methylprednisolone(MP) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9 and airway inflammation in murine models of asthma. Methods Thirty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into asthma group,MP group and control group(n=10).Murine models of acute asthma were established by ovalbumin(OVA) via peritoneal injection and intranasal instillation.The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed with HE staining,and cell quantitation was conducted in bronchalveolar lavage fluid(BALF).The expression of MMP-9 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry and gelatin zymogram,and the expression of MMP-9 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with control group,there were more significant airway spasm and more infiltration of inflammatory cells in histologic examination,and there was higher eosinophil cell quantitation in BALF in asthma group(P

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs.Methods Twenty-four adult male guinea pigs,aged 3 months,weighing 400-500 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:dexmedetomdine group (group D),noise-induced hearing loss group (group N) and dexmedetomidine + noise-induced hearing loss group (group DN).A loading dose of dexmedetomidine 5 μg/kg was infused over 5 min,followed by 135 min of infusion at a rate of 10 μg· kg-1 · h-1.The equal volume of normal saline was infused in group N.Groups N and DN were exposed to noise of 4 kHz center frequency and 118-122 dB SPL for 120 min starting from 20 min of administration.Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cochlear blood flow (COBF) were recorded before administration and every 5 min during drug administration.The changing rate of COBF was calculated.Arterial blood samples were collected for determination of plasma concentration of noradrenaline (NE) by high performance liquid chromatography at 20 and 140 min of administration.Auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold was recorded before administration and at 1 and 72 h and 10 days after the end of administration.Results Compared with group N,MAP was significantly decreased,the changing rate of COBF was increased at 5-10 min and 30-140 min of administration,ABR threshold was decreased at 1 and 72 h and 10 days after the end of administration,and the plasma concentration of NE was decreased at 140 min of administration in D + N group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can attenuate noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs possibly through inhibiting activation of sympathetic nerves and increasing COBF.

Objective To study the expression of phosphorylated myosin light chain kinase(P-MLCK) in human pulmonary arterial endothelial cell(HPAEC) induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Methods HPAECs were cultured in vitro and treated with LPS(2 ?g/mL) and normal saline for 1 h,respectively.Immunofluorescence method and western blotting were used to detect P-MLCK. Results Compared with normal saline group,the number of HPAECs decreased,but the morphology of cells did not change.After treatment of LPS for 30 and 60 min,the expression of P-MLCK in HPAEC increased from 0.41?0.05 to 0.82?0.43 and 1.56?0.07,respectively(P

Suitable pretreatment of biological samples can truly reflect the role of law of the measured components played in the body and will provide experimental evidence for the studies on metabolic process, material basis of efficacy, mechanism of action, pharmacology, toxicology and the others. Biological samples include blood, urine, hair, tears, etc. There are also many samples processing methods, such as the direct protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction and solid phase extraction and so on. These methods could be used alone or combined.
Animals ; Body Fluids ; chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; methods ; Humans ; Liquid-Liquid Extraction ; Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Solid Phase Extraction

Objective To study the inflammation and expression of myosin light chain kinase(MLCK) through establishing acute lung injury animal model of mice induced by lipopolysacchride(LPS), and approach the role of MLCK in the mechanism of acute lung injury.Methods Twenty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into LPS group(n=10) and control group(n=10).The BALB/c mice of LPS and control groups were induced by 30 ?L 0.9% NaCl via intranasal instillation,while only LPS group was treated with LPS(20 ?g/each mice).The pathology,wet/dry lung weight ratio and the total cell quantitation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were compared between these two groups.Furthermore,immunohistochemistry assays were used to determine the status of MLCK expression in the lung.And RT-PCR was adopted to determine the status of MLCKmRNA in the lung. Results Compared with the control group,the LPS group showed more serious pulmonary hemorrhage,edema and infiltration of neutrophils, significantly increased water content in the lungs and total cell quantitation in BALF(P

Objective To study the effect of montelukast(MK)and dexamethasone(Dex)on inflammation of asthma.Methods Asthma model was established and treated with MK or Dex.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and histopathologic change were observed,IL-5mRNA of lung and bone marrow cells were detected by in situ hybridization,IL-5 immunoreactive cells by immunohistochemistry,and CD34+ and CD3+ of bone marrow cells by flow cytometry. ResultsCompared with asthma group,the number of total cells and eosinophils in BALF of MK group and Dex group were significantly decreased(P0.05). Conclusion MK and Dex can well inhibit airway inflammation and expression of IL-5mRNA in lung and bone marrow cells,though MK may be inferior to Dex in some aspects.The combined treatment of leukotriene receptor antagonist and glucocorticosteroid may be a new direction for asthma.

Lu Dangshen, a traditional authentic medicinal material of Codonopsis Radix is mainly produced in Shangdang (Changzhi) area of Shanxi Province. Baitiao Dangshen is mainly produced in Gansu Province. Codonopsis Radix contains many kinds of components such as phenylpropanoids, polyalkynes, alkaloids, terpenes, fatty acids, flavonoids, and so on. At present, the effect of producing areas on its chemical compositions has not been systematically studied. This study analyzed the differences of metabolites among Codonopsis pilosula from different producing areas by UPLC-HRMS. PCA, OPLS-DA coupled with Thermo mzcloud online and local databases were used to compare the overall differences of metabolites among Codonopsis pilosula from different producing areas, and the chemical constituents were identified to further screen and find out the different metabolites and analyze the metabolic pathways by information retrieval in HMDB, PubChem, Chemspider and KEGG databases. The results showed that 72 differential metabolites were identified in this study. There were 15 kinds of up-regulated and 57 kinds of down-regulated metabolites of Lu Dangshen compared with Baitiao Dangshen. The top 30 metabolic pathways were analyzed by KEGG enrichment, and the most important metabolic pathways were phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, which was demonstrated that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and related intermediate metabolites could be used as the characteristics of distinguishing Lu Dangshen from different habitats of Codonopsis pilosula. The present study provided a basis for analyzing the influence of producing areas on the chemical components of Codonopsis pilosula and reasonably evaluating the quality of Codonopsis Radix, and also provided a new idea for expounding the authenticity of Lu Dangshen.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the properties of orthodontic rectangular arch wires in torsion.

METHODSTo measure and analyze the torsional moments and angles of 0.46 mm x 0.63 mm rectangular orthodontic arch wires in single 0.022 inch bracket of the maxillary central incisor with a torsion measurement apparatus.

RESULTS(1) The torsional stiffness of stainless steel arch wires, Chinese nitinol arch wires, 7.0 mm vertical loop arch wires, 3.0 mm and 6.0 mm horizontal loop arch wires is 4.909, 1.325, 4.137, 3.448 and 3.024 Nmm per degree, respectively. (2) The arch wires will be twisted 19.143, 36.832, 19.851, 21.812 and 22.418 degrees; respectively to obtain optimal force. (3) Vertical and horizontal loop decreased the torsional stiffness of the rectangular stainless steel arch wire.

CONCLUSIONThe straight rectangular stainless steel arch wire is not well suitable for the torque control of the incisor. Loop design in arch wire is capable of decreasing torsional stiffness. The horizontal loop is more effective than vertical loop.

Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Peliosis Hepatis

Objective To evaluate the running status of the water-improving projects in Gansu Province in order to further improve the supervising mechanism and raise the efficiency of defluoridation in drinking water.Methods The water-improving projects,either being normal,or intermittent,or discarded and the cause of abnormal running in 33 counties in Gansu Province were surveyed with unified standard method.Fluoride content in water was determined by F-ion selective electrode.Results 993 water improving projects covering 3389 fluorosis villages were surveyed,682 projects worked well[68.68%(682/993)]and had supplied water with normal fluoride contents to 2174 villages[64.15%(2174/3389)]and benefited 116.56 hundred thousand populations.And the rest 311[31.32%(311/993)]projects worked abnormally or supplied unqualified fluoride water.The main causes were the exceeded lasting life,insufficiency of water resources,high fluoride content in water and unqualified administration.Conclusions Most of the water-improving projects in Gansu Province are basically running normally,but about 1/3 of the projects do not function well,so the management of the projects must be improved and consummated.