Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hormones, Ectopic ; secretion ; Humans ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Keratin-8 ; metabolism ; Myelolipoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; secretion ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of montelukast(MK),a selective cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist on interleukin(IL)-5 and eotaxin expression as well as serum total immunoglobulin E(IgE) production during MK treatment of mouse acute asthma airway inflammation.Methods Sensitized Balb/c mice were challenged by ovabumin(OVA)to establish the acute asthmatic mo-(del).Twenty-five mg/kg of MK(MK group) or Saline(Saline group)were given by intravenously for 3 days.Cellular infiltration of bronchoalveolar larvage fluid(BALF) were assessed by Wright staining.Production of IL-5 and eotaxin in the lung or BALF and serum IgE were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The expression of IL-5 and eotaxin mRNA were measured by semi-quantified reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Plasma MK level was determined by liquid chromatography.Results After 24 h OVA challenge,the numbers of total white blood cells,neutrophils and eosinophils(EOS)of BALF were(26.0?18.9)?10~7/L,(5.92?8.09)?10~7/L and(0.74?0.88)?10~7/L in MK treatment group.They were significantly reduced compared with those in Saline group,respectively(P80%.The level of IL-5 in BALF and lung tissue were(48.52?14.45) ng/L and(27.40?9.62) ng/g protein in MK group,which significantly declined compared with that in saline group;BALF eotaxin level declined too.Serum IL-5 and total IgE level were also significantly reduced;IL-5 mRNA expression in lung significantly decreased.Eotaxin and its mRNA expression in lung were not decreased significantly.Conclusion MK(exerts) its anti-inflammatory effect mainly through the suppression of IL-5 and IgE production.

Objective To clarify the human and animals brucellosis epidemic trends of ABa Prefectufe of Sichuan Province during 2000-2007,to strengthen the prevention and control and determine the strategy for its prevention and cure of brucellosis.Methods According to the National Surveillance of Brucella Document,serology[tube agglutination test(SAT)and plate agglutination test(PAT)]method was used to test the key people,SAT and rose Bengal plate test(RBPF)method to test the yaks and sheep in monitoring sites.Results There were 2 new human brucellosis during 2000-2007.Two thousand and eighty-eight human blood serum were detected.36 people were serohlogie positive,the detection rate was 1.72%(36/2088);the highest rate was in 2003.up to 2.65%(9/339).One hundred and eighty-two thousand,nine hundred and sixty-four cattle and sheep were quarantined.7368 were serologic positive,the detection rate was 4.03%(7368/182 964),4.16%(4844/116 356)for vak and 3.79%(2524/66 608)for sheep;the highest rate being 5.74%(195/3396)in 2001.Conclusions These general trends of human brucellosis is stable,while animals brucellosis has increased in ABa prefecture during 2000-2007.Effective prevention and cure should be adopted to prevent its outbreak.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles and their association with the expressions of aquaporins (AQP) in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles of castrated rats.

METHODSWe randomly divided 18 eight-week-old male SD rats into a control, a castration, and a testosterone (T) replacement group. Four weeks after surgical castration, we detected the plasma T level and measured the volumes of the secretions and the expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the rats.

RESULTSThe plasma T level was significantly lower in the castrated models ([30. 98 ± 28. 84] ng/dl) than in the rats of the control ([700.78 ± 123.8] ng/dl) and T replacement groups ([688.08 ± 132. 47] ng/dl) (P <0. 05). The castration group, in comparison with the control and T replacement groups, showed remarkably reduced ratios of prostatic secretion volume / prostate weight ([11.1 ± 0.30] vs [2.32 ± 0.61] and [2.13 ± 0.56] %, P <0. 05) and seminal vesicle secretion volume / seminal vesicle weight ( [4. 78 ± 1. 97 ] vs [57. 36 ± 11. 86] and [55. 74 ± 7. 21] %, P < 0. 05). Immunohistochemistry revealed the expressions of AQPs 3 and 7 in the epithelial envelop and cytoplasm and that of AQP 11 the in endothelial envelop and cytoplasm of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Western blot exhibited significantly lower expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the castrated rats than in the animals of the control and T replacement groups (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSignificant decreases of the secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles may be related to the reduced expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles in castrated rats.

Animals ; Aquaporins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective To examine the separate or combined effects of aerobic exercise and AlaGln administration on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods T2DM was induced in rats by feeding a high-fat diet and injecting a low dose of streptozocin.Then they were trained for 8 weeks with or without administration of alanyl glutamine(Ala-Gln).At the end of training,the content of fasting serum glucose (FBG),insulin (INS),C-peptide and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were measured and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated.Results Compared with the normal rats,significant increase was observed in the FBG concentration(P＜0.05)and HOMA-IR(P＜0.05),but significant decrease in C-peptide(P＜0.05) and GLP-1(P＜0.01) of the type 2 diabetic rats.Aerobic exercise resulted in significant decrease in the FBG and HOMA-IR levels,but significant increase in the concentration of C-peptide(P＜0.01).Ala-Gln administration reduced FBG (P＜0.05),and promoted the concentrations of serum insulin (P＜0.05),C-peptide (P＜0.01) and GLP-1(P＜0.05) significantly.The combination of aerobic exercise with Ala-Gln administration had a significant interaction on promoting serum insulin(P＜0.05),but not on decreasing FBG and HOMA-IR,or increasing C-peptide and GLP-1.Conclusion The aerobic exercise or Ala-Gln administration can significantly lower blood glucose levels by improving the impaired insulin secretion in type 2 diabetic rats,and their combination has a synergistic effect on promoting insulin secretion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism that the formulas for activating blood and resolving stasis can regulate hemopoietic stem cell to produce new blood.

METHODRats were established animal model of acute cerebral infarction by referencing Olivette' method. They were randomly divided into model group, the group of the high, middle, low dose of the formulas for activating blood and resolving stasis. Each group and then wasrandomly divided into subgroups by 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 d. Xuesaitong capsule was formulated into 20, 40, 60 g x L(-1) with normal saline. The rats were given gavage drugs once a day until the experient ended, and the model group was administrated by intragastrical perfusion of normal saline. ELISA was used to detect the expression of SCF in peripheral blood and bone marrow among different groups at different time points. Flow cytometry was used to observe the changes of CD117 in blood and bone marrow.

RESULTThe CD117+ HSC and SCF concentration in peripheral blood and bone marrow of model group were increasing during 1-14 d,there was a peak on the 14th day, then the expression was reducing. CD117+ HSC and SCF concentration rising trend in the group of the high, middle dose of the formulas for activating blood and resolving stasis was preceded model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONActivating blood and resolving stasis can regulate hemopoietic stem cell to produce new blood, and it is through the regulation of CD117+ HSC number to achieve the purpose.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Compared with the traditional organic fluorescent dyes, quantum dots present good biomarker characteristics. Especially, quantum dots for cell labeling and targeted bioimaging present unique optical properties.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biocompatibility of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with mononuclear macrophages.METHODS: The macrophages RAW264.7 were inoculated into 96-well plates containing 0, 50, 100 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots for 1 or 2 hours. Then, the fluorescent signal was detected by flow cytometry. After 0-24 hours of culture,the fluorescence signal intensity of the macrophages cultured with 50 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots was detected by flow cytometry. After 18 hours of culture, quantitative PCR was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β in macrophages, and macrophage proliferation cell apoptosis were detected by MTT and flow cytometry,respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The fluorescence signal intensity was positively correlated with the mass concentration of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, and the intensity of the fluorescent signal was increased with the labeling time. After labeling using 50 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, the fluorescence signal of macrophages increased continuously with time, and reached the peak at 18 hours. Compared with 0 mg/L quantum dot group, 50, 100mg/L quantum dot groups could significantly promote the expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β in macrophages (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).The level of tumor necrosis factor α in the 100 mg/L quantum dot group was higher than that in the 50 mg/L quantum dot group (P < 0.01). The expression of interleukin-1β showed no difference between 50 and 100 mg/L quantum dot groups.The cell proliferation in the 50 and 100 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dot groups was significantly higher than that in the 0 mg/L quantum dot group (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the former two groups. In addition, 50 and 100 mg/L CdSe/ZnS quantum dots had no significant effect on apoptosis of macrophages. To conclude, CdSe/ZnS quantum dots could activate macrophages and promote their proliferation and secretion of inflammatory factors, but did not affect their apoptosis.

BACKGROUNDFew studies have examined the properties of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epitope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in children. To address this issue, we characterized epitope-specific CTL responses and analyzed the determinants that may affect CTL responses before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in children with HIV-1 infection.

METHODSA total of 22 HIV-1-infected children and 23 uninfected healthy children as control were enrolled in the study. Circulating CD4 T cells and HIV-1 RNA load in plasma were routinely measured. Peripheral HIV-1-specific CTL frequency and HIV-1 epitope-specific, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-producing T lymphocytes were measured using tetramer staining and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, respectively. Circulating dendritic cell (DC) subsets were monitored with FACS analysis.

RESULTSMore than 80% of the children with HIV-1 infection exhibited a positive HIV-1-epitope-specific CTL response at baseline, but HIV-specific CTLs and IFN-gamma-producing lymphocytes decreased in patients who responded to HAART in comparison with non-responders and HAART-naive children. The duration of virus suppression resulted from HAART was inversely correlated with CTL frequency. While in HAART-naive children, HIV-1-specific CTL frequency was positively correlated with myeloid DC (mDC) frequency, although the cause and effect relationship between the DCs and CTLs remains unknown.

CONCLUSIONSHIV-1-epitope-specific CTL responses are dependent on antigenic stimulation. The impaired DC subsets in blood might result in a defect in DC-mediated T cell responses. These findings may provide insight into understanding the factors and related mechanisms that influence the outcome of HIV-1 carriers to HAART or future antiviral therapies.

Adolescent ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Child ; Epitopes ; immunology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; HIV-1 ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Viremia ; drug therapy

This study is to report the establishment of an UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of plasma concentration of UA carried in self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) and its pharmacokinetics in rats. It was used for determination and analysis when serum with internal standard was extracted from C18 solid-phase column. Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 microm) was used for separation. The mobile phase was acetonitrile -0.1% ammonia with gradient elution at the flow rate of 0.2 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was 40 degrees C and the detection wave length was 210 nm. It was detected by negative ion using electrospray ionization source (ESI) and scanned by multiple reaction ion monitoring (MRM) mode. The liner relationship of UA was very good in the range of 1.19-3 815.00 ng x mL(-1) (r = 0.999 0). Recovery rate of different concentrations were 87.42%-89.95%. The precision of inter-day and intra-day were less than 11%. The method developed in our study was proved to be sensitive, rapid and simple. It is suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of UA-SMEDDS in rats.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Triterpenes ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

Objective: To find out the pathomechanism of low back and leg pain related to intervertebral disc. Methods: The nucleus pulposus of coccygeal vertebral was transplanted to the cavum epidurale of rats to establish the non-compressive model with transplanted nucleus pulposus. The evoke potentials and morphology of nerve roots were observed. Results: Even without mechanical compression, rats transplanted with nucleus pulposus resulted in significant harm to evoked potential and morphology of cauda equina. Conclusion: The biomechanical and/or immunologic inflammatory effect of nucleus pulposus can result in nerve roots injury and is an important factor in the pathogenesis of low back and leg pain.