Objective To investigate the relationship between endothelial damage and p120-catenin (p120-ctn) in a model of paraquat intoxication,and the modulatory effect of mangiferin on p120-ctn.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in two compartment spreading apparatus in vitro.The endothelial cells were divided into three groups:control group (cultured in DMEM with 10％ fetal bovine serum),paraquat group (paraquat was added to the medium with final concentration of 0.05 μmol/L) and mangiferin group (cultured in medium with addition of paraquat for 30 minutes,then mangiferin was added in a final concentration of 20 μmol/L).The cellular permeability at 6,12,24,48,72 hours after culture in the three groups was measured.The expressions of p120-ctn 1A,p120-ctn 3A mRNA and p120-ctn protein were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot analysis.The distribution of p120-ctn protein was observed by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with control group,cellular permeability in paraquat and mangiferin groups were increased with prolongation of time,and peaked at 72 hours [(29.86 ± 3.98)％,(24.39 ± 2.79)％ vs.(11.71 ± 1.67)％,both P＜0.05].The cellular permeability was significantly lower in mangiferin group than that in paraquat group at different time points (all P＜0.05).At 6 hours after intoxication,the expressions of p120-ctn 1A,p 120-ctn 3A mRNA (gray value) and p 120-ctn protein (gray value) were significantly lower in paraquat group than those in control group (p120-ctn 1A mRNA:0.150 ± 0.024 vs.0.433 ± 0.024,p120-ctn 3A mRNA:0.316 ± 0.043 vs.0.701 ±0.020,p120-ctn protein:0.485 ±0.031 vs.0.763 ±0.038,all P＜0.01).The expressions of p120-ctn 1A,p120-ctn 3A mRNA and p120-ctn protein were significantly higher in mangiferin group than those in paraquat group from 6 hours on (p120-ctn 1A mRNA:0.281 ± 0.021 vs.0.150 ± 0.024,p120-ctn 3A mRNA:0.602 ± 0.042 vs.0.316 ± 0.043,p120-ctn protein:0.675 ± 0.031 vs.0.485 ± 0.031,all P＜0.01),and they were gradually increased with prolongation of time,and peaked at 72 hours (p120-ctn 1A mRNA:1.376 ±0.128 vs.0.150 ± 0.024,p120-ctn 3A mRNA:1.251 ± 0.059 vs.0.316 ± 0.043,p120-ctn protein:0.844 ± 0.050 vs.0.485 ± 0.031,all P＜ 0.01).Under upright fluorescence microscope,p120-ctn was mainly distributed in the cell membrane in control group,with a slight expression in cytoplasm,and no expression in the nuclei.With prolongation of time,p120-ctn expression in the cell membrane was gradually decreased in paraquat group,while it was increased in the cytoplasm and nuclei,with blurring of cell membrane and widening of cellular gap.p120-ctn expression was improved on the cell membrane in mangiferin group at corresponding time points,with decreased in expression in nuclei and cytoplasm.Conclusion The p120-ctn protein plays an important role in the enhancement of endothelial permeability in paraquat intoxication,and mangiferin may attenuate endothelial injury in paraquat intoxication possibly through modulation of p 120-ctn protein.

Described in this paper are the contents and objectives of embedded information service for research on aviation medicine in light of information access, identification and analysis in persons engaged in research on aviation medicine.

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential protective effect of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant Mitoquinone (MitoQ) on post-thaw human sperm.

METHODSSemen samples were collected from 60 normal fertile men, each divided into six parts of equal volume to be incubated at 37 °C in normal saline (G0, control) or in the extender with 2 nmol/L (G1), 20 nmol/L (G2), 200 nmol/L (G3), 2 µmol/L (G4), and 20 µmol/L of MitoQ (G5). After one hour of incubation, the samples were subjected to computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) for sperm motility, flow cytometry for reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric acid assay for the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), and MitoTracker fluorescent staining and flow cytometry for the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Then, the semen were cryopreserved with none (B0), 200 nmol/L (B1), and 2 µmol/L of MitoQ (B2), followed by detection of the changes in the ROS, MDA, and MMP of the post-thaw sperm.

RESULTSThe percentage of progressively motile sperm and total rate of sperm motility were significantly higher in G3 ([30.8 ± 10.2]% and [70.6 ± 9.0]%) and G4 ([32.7 ± 13.5]% and [70.3 ± 11.9]%) than in G0 ([17.6 ± 5.0]% and [54.9 ± 11.5]%) (P < 0.05). The level of ROS dropped markedly with the increased concentration of MitoQ, 86.5 ± 31.6 in G3, 93.6 ± 42.0 in G4, and 45.1 ± 15.0 in G5, as compared with 160.8 ± 39.7 in G0 (P < 0.05). The content of MDA was remarkably lower in G3 ([0.9 ± 0.5] µmol/mg) and G4 ([0.9 ± 0.5] µmol/mg) than in G0 ([1.9 ± 1.1] µmol/mg) (P < 0.05), but not in G5 ([1.7 ± 0.7] µmol/mg), which was even higher than in G3 and G4 (P < 0.05). The MMP showed a significant reduction in G5 (1156 ± 216) in comparison with G0 (1701 ± 251) (P < 0.05) but exhibited no remarkable difference between G0 and G1 (1810 ± 298), G2 (1995 ± 437), G3 (1950 ± 334), or G4 (1582 ± 314). The percentage of progressively motile sperm and total rate of sperm motility after freezing-thawing were significantly decreased as compared with those of the fresh semen (P < 0.01), but both were remarkably higher in B1 ([3.2 ± 2.3]% and [ 43.0 ± 9.5]%) than in B0 ([0.8 ± 0.6]% and [26.5 ± 11.4]%) (P < 0.05). The ROS level was significantly lower in B1 and B2 than in B0 (34.6 ± 12. 3 and 37.0 ± 10.5 vs 56.9 ± 14.3, P < 0.05), and so was the MDA content ([1.4 ± 0.5] and [1.4 ± 0.6] µmol/mg vs [2.6 ± 1.0] µmol/mg, P < 0.05), but the MMP was markedly higher in B1 and B2 than in B0 (1010.0 ± 130.5 and 880.6 ± 128.6 vs 721.1 ± 24.8, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAddition of MitoQ to the freezing extender at 200 nmol/L may effectively improve the quality of human sperm and MitoQ is a good protective addictive for human sperm cryopreservation.

Antioxidants ; Cryopreservation ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Ubiquinone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

Puerariae Lobatae Radix, also known as Gegen, is a root derived from Pueraria lobata. Based on field investigation and the developmental anatomy of root tuber, we have elucidated the relationship between the growth of root tuber and the anomalous structure. The results of analysis showed that the root system of P. lobata was developed from seed and adventitious root and there existed root tuber, adventitious root and conductive root according to morphology and function. The root tuber was developed from adventitious root, its secondary structure conformed to the secondary structure of dicotyledon's root. With the development of root, the secondary phloem of root tuber appeared abnormal vascular tissue, which was distributed like ring in the outside of secondary vascular tissue. The root tuber might have 4-6 concentric circular permutation abnormal vascular tissuelobate, and was formed by the internal development of abnormal vascular tissue. The xylem and phloem of abnormal vascular tissue were the main body of the root tuber. The results reveal the abnormal anatomical structure development of P. lobata, also provides the theoretical basis for reasonable harvest medicinal parts and promoting sustainable utilization of resources of P. lobata.
Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Tubers ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Pueraria ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

Objective To study the clinical value of short term variation(STV)of fetal heart rate. Methods Three hundred thirty-eight pregnant women who delivered at our hospital during June 2002 and Dee 2005 were studied.All the eases were examined by non-stress test(NST)and vibratory acoustic stimulation test(VAST).Meanwhile,they were also analyzed by Sonieaid system 8002.One hundred fifty cases with STV≥5.0 ms as control group,and 188 cases with STV

Objective:To evaluate the clinical research papers published in recent years about tuberculosis , to understand the ethical review in biomedical journals in our country .Method:We analyzed clinical papers published in two journals that are famous in the field of tuberculosis since 2010 .Results:There were 33 articles included in our study .The number of informed consent is higher than that of ethical review .The descriptions of informed con-sents were not standardized in 12%articles.9%of articles did not mention the name of the ethics committee .Con-clusion:The attention degree to ethics of some editors and researchers should be improved .Pay more attention to medical ethical education , improve cognitive level of ethical issues , ensure the interests of the participants and im-prove the quality of research .

Objective:To investigate association between genetic polymorphism in the grainyhead-like 2 gene (GRHL2)and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)in the Chinese population.Methods:A matched case-control association study was employed,In which,3 790 workers exposed to continuous and steady-state occupational noise in a steel factory participated.The questionnaires were adopted to col-lect individual features and audiometry tests performed.In the sstudy,286 subjects were diagnosed as ca-ses,Which were each designated on the basis of the matched criterion,and 286 paired samples were se-lected finally.Noise intensity was measured according to the standards given in ‘Measurement of Noise in the Workplace’(Occupational Health Standard of the People’s Republic of China,GBZ /T1 89.8 -2007).Cumulative noise exposure (CNE)was calculated,according to monitoring data on A-weighed sound pressure level and employment time.Genomic DNA was obtained from peripheral blood samples using 2 mL DNA extraction Kit following the manufacturer’s protocol.Five single nucleotide polymor-phisms (SNPs)of GRHL2 were genotyped by multiplex SNP genotyping kit.The continuous variables and categorical variables were analyzed by t-test and chi-square test respectively.Multivariate Logistic re-gression was used to test the association between genetic frequency and disease status,with adjustments for the possible confounding variables.The haplotypes were established and their frequencies in the two groups were assessed by haploview and phase softwares.Results:All the five SNPs (rs373571 3, rs3824090,rs373571 4,rs373571 5 and rs61 1 41 9)were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE)(P >0.05).The subjects carrying rs373571 5 GG genotype had a higher NIHL risk than those carrying the GA genotype under the co-dominant model (OR =0.644,95% CI:0.442 -0.939,P =0.022)after ad-justment for height,blood pressure,drinking status and smoking status.After being stratified by CNE,in the CNE ≥ 98 dB (A)group,rs373571 5 polymorphism was associated with the NIHL under the co-dominant model (OR =0.509,95% CI:0.281 -0.923,P =0.026)after adjustment for height,blood pressure,drinking status and smoking status as well.However,no statistical significant difference was found in variant genotypes of the other SNPs between the case and control subjects.Four-locus (rs373571 3,rs3824090,rs373571 4 and rs373571 5)haplotypes were constructed,and no risk or protec-tive haplotypes was identified.Conclusion:It is suggested that GRHL2 polymorphisms may be associated with development of NIHL.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change and correlation of carbon monoxide/heme oxygenase and nitrogen monoxide/nitric oxide synthase system in atherosclerosis and the influence of the two systems on atherosclerotic progress.

METHODSThe rabbits received 1% cholesterol diet (chol group, n = 8), or 1% cholesterol diet plus L-arginine (L-arg group, n = 8) or L-NAME (L-NAME group, n = 8) by drinking water, or 1% cholesterol diet plus heme-L-lysinate (Heme group, n = 8) or ZnPP-IX (ZnPP group, n = 8) by injection in abdominal cavity for 10 weeks.

RESULTSCompared with those in control group, aortic NO production and expression of NOS decreased markedly; while CO production (P < 0.01) and HO-1 activity increased obviously in chol group. The aortic plaques area was (40.2 +/- 8.9)% in chol group. Compared with those in chol group, aortic areas [(26.6 +/- 9.2)%] reduced distinctly in heme group, aortic CO production and NOS activity increased obviously (P < 0.01) in L-arg group. However, compared with those in control group, HO-1 expression and CO production decreased markedly (P < 0.01) in heme group, while they were not different from those in chol group. Compared with those in chol group, aortic cNOS activity and NO production increased obviously and aortic plaques area [(28.1 +/- 7.7)%] greatly reduced (P < 0.01) in L-arg group. However, HO-1 expression and CO production of L-arg group decreased distinctly compared with those of control group, but they were similar to those of chol group. The aortic c-myc and c-fos expressions in both heme group and L-arg group reduced markedly compared with those in chol group, while they were similar to those in ZnPP and L-NAME group.

CONCLUSIONThe reciprocal relationship between heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide and nitric oxide synthase/nitrogen monoxide system in atherosclerosis may play the inhibitory role against atherosclerotic lesion.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological mechanism of curcumin inhibiting the invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: The cytotoxicity of curcumin was detected by Am-Blue assay. Cell-based luciferase assay was used to detect the change of the microRNA-21 expression level. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of mRNA of pri-miR-21, pre-miR-21 and microRNA-21. The protein expression levels of PTEN, PDCD4 and EMT markers were detected by Western blot. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to detect cell invasion and migration. RESULTS: Curcumin can significantly inhibit the expression of microRNA-21, while inhibiting the mRNA expression of the precursors pri-miR-21, pre-miR-21 and mature microRNA-21. Curcumin can significantly enhance the expression levels of microRNA target proteins PTEN and PDCD4. Curcumin inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, in which the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin was increased, and the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin was decreased. Curcumin can inhibit the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Curcumin inhibits the invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the expression of microRNA-21.