Objective To modify the methods of operation and establishment of cerebral ischemia rat models made by thread occlusion. Method We randomly divided 120 male SD rats into a common group (n = 50), an improvement group (n = 60) and a sham-operated group (n - 10). Rats in the common and improvement groups were made into models using the common and improvement methods separately. All models were evaluated on the basis of physical sign indices and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The TTC staining results were taken as gold standards. Then, we compared the achievement ratios of the two groups, and computed the sensitivity and specificity of every physical sign index based on these standards. The χ~2 or correction χ~2 test was used to compare the ratios. Results (1) The achievement ratio in the improvement group was significantly higher than that in the common group (71.67% vs. 52.00%, P = 0.034). (2) The sensitivity of evaluation for both common and improvement methods was 98.55%. However, the specificity of evaluation for the improvement method was significantly higher than that for the common method (100.00% vs. 40.00%, P =0.000). Conclusions The establishment achievement ratio and evaluation correctness of models are obviously elevated by modification of the operation and establishment methods.

Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), a rare wild medicinal animal, is listed under the category of the state key protected wildlife list of China. Musk, secreted by the musk glands, is with high economic and medicinal value and used as precious traditional medicine in China. In order to meet the needs of musk in Chinese traditional medicine, forest musk deer farming was conducted in 1950s, but the research progress on musk secretion mechanism was slow. Therefore, by reviewing the histological and anatomical structure of forest musk deer musk gland, the relationship between sex hormones and the musk secretion process, and the molecular mechanism of the musk secretion, the existing problems in investigating the musk secretion mechanism were analyzed and the development trends in this field were also discussed, in order to provide a reference for further studies on the musk secretion mechanism and improve musk production of forest musk deer.
Animals ; Deer ; metabolism ; Exocrine Glands ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; secretion ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore the preventive effect of Yougui drink on femoral head necrosis in rats under micro CT.

METHODSTwenty-five SD rats were divided into steroid hormone group (group A, 10 rats ), Yougui drink group (group B,10 rats) and normal group (group C,5 rats)with random number table. Endotoxin were injected into abdominal cavity of rats in group A and B for 2 days, methylprednisolone sodium succinate were injected by gluteus for twice a week continued for 6 weeks; group B were gavaged by Yougui drink (veryday for 8 weeks; group C did not do any processing. All rats were killed on the 10th weeks,m icro CT were used to scan femoral head in vitro and preventive effect of Yougui drink (n femoral head necrosis in rats.

RESULTSThere was statistical significance in BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb, Th, Thb, Sp, BS/TV and DA but no significance in SMI between group A and B. Comparison between A and C, there was significant meaning in BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb, Th, Tb, Sp, BS/TV, DA and SMI.

CONCLUSIONYougui drink on femoral head necrosis in rats under micro CT has preventive effect from BMD BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb, Th, Tb, Sp, BS/TV and DA.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Bone Density ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Femur Head Necrosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; X-Ray Microtomography ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Lycium bararum polysaccharides (LBPs) stimulation on the maturation of murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs).

METHODSMurine bone marrow cells were cultured in GM-CSF and IL-4 for 5 days, then were purified with a MACS column. Respectively, BMDCs were stimulated with LBPs, LPS and RPMI1640 for 2 days. Cell phenotypes and antigens uptake by BMDCs were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokines released by BMDCs were detected. The antigen presenting by BMDCs was evaluated by mixed lymphocyte responses.

RESULTCompared with to the BMDCs that only subjected to RPMI 1640, the expression of I-A/I-E, CD11c and secretion of IL-12 by BMDCs stimulated with LBPs were increased, the phagocytosis of FITC-dextran by BMDCs stimulated with LBPs was impaired but the activation of proliferation of allogenic lymphocytes by BMDCs was strengthened.

CONCLUSIONLBPs promote not only the maturation of cultured murine BMDCs in vitro, but also the immune response initiation induced by BMDCs.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; CD11c Antigen ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; immunology

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a bioactive polyunsaturated fatty acid produced by arachidonic acid, and it is mainly metabolized in the liver and has an important regulatory effect on various liver diseases. Prostaglandin E synthases (PGESs) are important terminal rate-limiting enzymes in the PGE2 synthesis pathway and are involved in the development and progression of liver disease. This article mainly summarizes the role of PGESs in liver injury, hepatitis, and liver cancer in existing studies, hoping to provide a reference for further research on the role of PGESs in liver diseases.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Its pathogenesis is complex and mainly related to aquaporin 4 antibody. NMOSD typically follows a relapsing course leading to progressive aggravation of neurological deficits, making prevention of relapse being the key to NMOSD treatment. In addition to traditional non-specific immunosuppressants, new targeted drugs have gradually shown unique advantages in sequential treatment of NMOSD due to their significant efficacy and fewer adverse reactions. This article summarizes and reviews the pathogenesis of NMOSD and the safety and efficacy of immunosequential therapy drugs.

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effects on acute myocardial infarction of QDYX in dog.

METHODThe corconary ciculation and cardial oxygen metabolism, the degree and range of myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarct size, and the changes of the enzymes in serum were determined by using the acute myocardial infarction model of ligation of LAD in the anaesthetized open-chest dogs.

RESULTThe coronary resistance and cardial oxygen consumption were decreased and the myocardial blood flow was increased in dogs treated with QDYX of 1.0,2.0 mg.kg-1. The degree and range of myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarct size and the activity of serum CK, LDH were decreased in acute myocardial infarcion dogs treated with QDYX of 1.0,2.0 mg.kg-1.

CONCLUSIONQDYX can decrease cardial oxygen consumption in dogs, thus having protective effect on myocardial ischemia.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Cardiotonic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Coronary Circulation ; drug effects ; Dogs ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) on T-type calcium currents (ICaT) in spermatogenic cells.

METHODSCa2+ currents were obtained in acutely dissociated mouse spermatogenic cells by the whole-cell patch clamp technique and the effects of E2 on ICaT were observed.

RESULTSE2 at the concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 micromol/L significantly inhibited ICaT in the mouse spermatogenic cells, with the KC50 value of 8.89 micromol/L and the inhibition rates of (13.48 +/- 1.86) %, (28.98 +/- 2.70) and (52.93 +/- 3.42)%, respectively (n = 6, P < 0.05). E2 of 100 micromol/L significantly changed the activation and inactivation of ICaT: the half activation potential (Va 1/2) and the activation steepness factor (Ka) from ( -48.94 +/- 0.22) mV and (5.19 +/- 0.19) mV to (-54.34 +/- 1.02) mV and (6.02 +/- 0.84) mV ( n = 5, P < 0.05) , and the half inactivation potential (Vi 1/2) and the inactivation steepness factor (Ki) from (-56.51 +/- 0.13) mV and (3.36 +/- 0.11) mV to (-61.78 +/- 0.50) mV and (4.25 +/- 0.37) mV, respectively (n = 5, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONE2 has a significant inhibitory effect on ICaT in mouse spermatogenic cells in a con-centration-dependent manner.

Animals ; Calcium Channels, T-Type ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Mice ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Spermatids ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and biologic behavior of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with rhabdoid features.

METHODSTen cases of RCC with rhabdoid features collected during the period from 1995 to 2005 were enrolled into the study. The clinical findings were analyzed and the hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were also performed.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 33 to 69 years (mean age = 52 years). Nine of the patients were males and 1 female. Five patients showed evidence of perinephric invasion. Two patients presented with regional lymph node metastases and 1 patient showed distant metastasis to the lung. Histologically, the rhabdoid foci were characterized by loosely cohesive trabeculae, acini, lobules and clusters of rhabdoid cells in otherwise clear cell RCC (9 cases) or papillary RCC (1 case). The rhabdoid cells were round to polygonal in shape and contained globular eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm, eccentric nuclei, vesicular chromatin pattern and prominent nucleoli. Coagulative tumor necrosis was commonly seen. Immunohistochemical study showed that the rhabdoid cells were diffusely positive for CD10 (10/10), cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (10/10), epithelial membrane antigen (10/10) and vimentin (10/10). Focal staining for neuron-specific enolase and S-100 protein was also noted. They were negative for CK7, CK20 and myogenic markers (including myogenin, smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin). The mean Ki-67 labeling index of the rhabdoid component was higher than that of the non-rhabdoid component (P < 0.05). Follow-up information was available in 8 patients. While 6 patients are still alive without recurrence, 2 patients died of the disease 6 and 29 months respectively after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSRCC with rhabdoid elements are mainly observed in clear cell RCC and need to be distinguished from oncocytic renal tumors and malignant rhabdoid tumor of kidney. The higher proliferative activity in the rhabdoid areas may indicate more aggressive biologic behavior.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nephrectomy ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective:To evaluate the effect of chicoric acid on oxidative stress during myocardial injury in sepsis rats and the relationship with nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway.Methods:Forty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8-12 weeks, weighing 220-250 g, were divided into 5 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (group LPS), LPS+ chicoric acid group (group LPS+ CA), LPS+ Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 group (group LPS+ ML) and LPS+ chicoric acid+ ML385 group (group LPS+ CA+ ML). LPS 15 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected to induce sepsis.Immediately after intraperitoneal injection of LPS, chicoric acid 10 mg/kg or ML385 15 mg/kg (in dimethyl sulfoxide) was intraperitoneally injected in group LPS+ CA and group LPS+ ML, respectively, and ML385 15 mg/kg and chicoric acid 10 mg/kg were intraperitoneally injected in LPS+ CA+ ML group.The equal volume of dimethyl sulfoxide was given instead in group C. At 48 h after establishment of the model, blood samples were collected from the aorta for measurement of concentration of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The animals were then sacrificed, and myocardial tissues were obtained for microscopic examination of pathological changes (by HE staining), for determination of activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and contents of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and iron (by colorimetry), for calculation of the ratio of oxidized nicotinamide adenine 2 nucleotides to reduced nicotinamide adenine 2 nucleotides (NAD + /NADH), and for detection of the expression of Nrf2, NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 1 (NOX1) (by Western blot). Results:Compared with C group, the activities of serum LDH and CK-MB and concentration of IL-6 were significantly increased, the contents of ROS and iron and the ratio of NAD + /NADH were increased, activities of GSH-Px and SOD were decreased, expression of Nrf2, NQO1 and GPX4 was down-regulated, and NOX1 expression was up-regulated in the other four groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group LPS, the activities of serum LDH and CK-MB and concentration of IL-6 were significantly decreased, the contents of ROS and iron and the ratio of NAD + /NADH were decreased, activities of GSH-Px and SOD were increased, expression of Nrf2, NQO1 and GPX4 was up-regulated, NOX1 expression was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and the pathological changes of cardiomyocytes were significantly reduced in group LPS+ CA, and the activities of serum LDH and CK-MB and concentration of IL-6 were significantly increased, the ratio of NAD + /NADH were increased, activities of GSH-Px and SOD were decreased, expression of Nrf2, NQO1 and GPX4 was down-regulated, NOX1 expression was up-regulated ( P<0.05), and the pathological changes of cardiomyocytes were accentuated in group LPS+ ML.Compared with group LPS+ CA, the activities of serum LDH and CK-MB and concentration of IL-6 were significantly increased, the contents of ROS and iron and the ratio of NAD + /NADH were increased, activities of GSH-Px and SOD were decreased, expression of Nrf2, NQO1 and GPX4 was down-regulated, NOX1 expression was up-regulated ( P<0.05), and the pathological changes of cardiomyocytes were accentuated in group LPS+ CA+ ML. Conclusion:The mechanism by which chicoric acid reduces myocardial injury in sepsis rats may be related to activating Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibiting oxidative stress.