AIMTo investigate the effects of resveratrol (Res) on the proliferation of VSMCs induced by Ang I and the expression of calmodulin (CaM) and calcineurin (CaN) in the proliferation of VSMCs treated by Ang 1 and to discuss the mechanism.

METHODSRabbit arterial VSMCs were cultured in vitro and VSMCs were identified with the method of immunocytochemistry. A cell proliferating model of VSMCs induced by AngII was established. VSMCs were cultured for 4-8 passages. The experiments were randomly divided into control group, AngII group (0.1 micromol/L) and AngII + Res groups with different concentrations(20, 40, 80, 160) micromol/L. VSMCs proliferation was determined with MTT colorimetric method. CaM was detected with Coomassie brilliant blue method and CaN was determined by enzyme reaction phosphorus measurement.

RESULTSRabbit VSMCs were cultured successfully and could be passaged. After immunocytochemistry staining, all the cells cytoplasm were stained and positive. Cell proliferation, CaM and CaN activities were increased significantly in VSMCs proliferation induced by AngII (P <0.05, P < 0.01). The index of AngII + Res groups were obviously reduced compared with AngII group ( P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe VSMCs proliferation induced by AngII can be inhibited by Res significantly, and the inhibiting mechanism of Res may be related to inhibiting CaM and CaN activities then restraining the proliferation of VSMCs in a dose dependent manner.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

Infrasound widely exists in nature, our living condition, productive and traffic environment. Gastrointestinal tract is relatively sensitive to infrasound. However, the effect of infrasound on gastrointestinal function is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to observe the effects of infrasound on gastric motility and gastric morphology and to assess the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in gastric antrum after exposure to infrasound of 8 Hz - 130 dB for 2 hours per day for 14 consecutive days. Gastric motility was assessed by gastric fluid-emptying rate. Gastric morphology was evaluated by HE. The expression of NOS was measured by tissue microarray technology. The results would contribute to understand the role of infrasound in gastroenterology, and help to explain the mechanism of infrasound on gastroenterology.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Sound ; adverse effects ; Stomach

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on plasma levels of MSP and MCP-1 in AIDS patients.

METHODSForty Chinese AIDS patients were treated with HAART for 3 months and 84 German AIDS patients with HAART for 3 to 6 years. The pre-treatment and post-treatment plasma levels of MSP and MCP-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and their correlations with CD4+ cell counts and viral loads were analyzed.

RESULTThe mean levels of MCP-1 were significantly higher and MSP were significantly lower in HIV-infected patients compared with the HIV-negative controls (P <0.01). After HAART for three months, there were no significant changes in the levels of these cytokines. But after long-term HAART (for 3 to 6 y), the level of MCP-1 was increased and that of MSP decreased significantly (P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between MSP and MCP-1 levels, and the same for MSP level and CD4+ cell counts; while there was a positive correlation between MCP-1 levels and CD4+ cell counts.

CONCLUSIONThe changed plasma levels of MSP and MCP-1 are associated with HIV-1 infection and HAART may reverse the levels of these two cytokines.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Macrophage-Activating Factors ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo extract tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) from MKN-45 gastric cancer which is similar to "muddy phlegm" in Chinese medicine and observe influences of MKN-45 tumor interstitial fluid (MKN-45 TIF) intervention on metastasis of gastric cancer and on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), kinase insert domain containing receptor (KDR), epithelial-cadherin (E-cad), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and telomerase genes and proteins in primary tumor tissue.

METHODSAn MKN-45 tumor-bearing model was established in 50 nude mice. The modeled animals were equally randomized to 5 groups: the simple tumor-bearing group (model group), the normal saline (NS) via tail vein injection (i.v.) group (NS i.v. group), MKN-45 TIF i.v. group (TIF i.v. group), NS intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) group (NS i.p. group), and MKN-45 TIF i.p. group (TIF i.p. group). The TIF and NS intervention groups received injection (i.p. or i.v.) of MKN-45 TIF or NS twice a week, 0.2 mL at a time. After 8 weeks, the primary tumors were removed, weighed and HE stained to observe tumor metastasis. The primary tumor tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR to detect expressions of VEGF, KDR, E-cad, COX-2, ICAM-1, and telomerase genes and proteins in different groups.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in tumor weight between TIF intervention groups and the model and NS intervention groups. Tumor metastasis was observed in all 5 groups, but the tumor metastasis rate in TIF intervention groups was significantly higher than those in the model and NS intervention groups. The gene and protein expressions of gastric cancer-related factors VEGF, KDR, COX-2, ICAM-1 and telomerase were unregulated while the gene and protein expressions of E-cad were downregulated in TIF intervention groups.

CONCLUSIONSTIF promotes tumor growth, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. These findings provide preliminary experimental clues for verifying the hypothesis of "tumor-phlegm microenvironment".

Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Fluid ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

This study was undertaken to observe the effect of acute stress on seizure occurrence in chronic period of epileptic model rats. Lithium-pilocarpine (LiCl-PILO)-induced epileptic rat model was constructed. At the spontaneous recurrent seizure period, acute stress stimulations such as cat's urine and foot electrical shock were applied to observe the behavioral changes and seizure occurrence. The results showed that after the cat's urine stimulation, the self-directed behaviors of the epileptic model rats decreased significantly, while the risk assessment behaviors increased significantly. The seizure occurrence, however, was not observed during the 45 min after the stimulation. Applying electrical foot shocks also did not evoke seizures in epileptic model rats. On the contrast, intra-peritoneal injection of low dose of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 30 mg/kg) evoked seizure more efficiently, and the duration of seizure activity was extensively prolonged in epileptic model rats than that of control rats. Taken together, these results indicate that although applying stress stimulations such as cat's urine and electrical foot shock cause several behavioral changes, they are not severe enough to evoke seizure in epileptic model rats.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Lithium Chloride ; adverse effects ; Pentylenetetrazole ; adverse effects ; Pilocarpine ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Seizures ; physiopathology ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the Chinese herbal medicine of Longbixiao (LBX) Capsule on the expressions of TGF-beta1 and Smoothelin in human prostatic stromal cells cultured in vitro.

METHODSBlood serum medicated with LBX was incubated with the stromal cells isolated from men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cultured in vitro. The mRNA expression levels of TGF-beta1 and Smoothelin were detected by real-time RT-PCR and other relevant techniques.

RESULTSIn the high and low concentration groups, the gene relative expressions of TGF-beta1 were (0.158 +/- 0.020) and (0.169 +/- 0.020) , while those of Smoothelin were (0.035 +/- 0.007) and (0.036 +/- 0.007) respectively, both significantly decreased in comparison with the control group(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLBX reduces the mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1 and Smoothelin in human prostatic stromal cells and can be used in the treatment of BPH.

Animals ; Capsules ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; genetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serum ; chemistry ; Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated the role of representative endoplasmic reticulum proteins, stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), and store-operated calcium entry-associated regulatory factor (SARAF) in pacemaker activity in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) isolated from mouse small intestine. METHODS: The whole-cell patch clamp technique applied for intracellular calcium ions ([Ca²+]i) analysis with STIM1 or SARAF overexpressed cultured ICCs from mouse small intestine. RESULTS: In the current-clamping mode, cultured ICCs displayed spontaneous pacemaker potentials. External carbachol exposure produced tonic membrane depolarization in the current-clamp mode, which recovered within a few seconds into normal pacemaker potentials. In STIM1-overexpressing cultured ICCs pacemaker potential frequency was increased, and in SARAF-overexpressing ICCs pacemaker potential frequency was strongly inhibited. The application of gadolinium (a non-selective cation channel inhibitor) or a Ca2+-free solution to understand Orai channel involvement abolished the generation of pacemaker potentials. When recording intracellular Ca²+ concentration with Fluo 3-AM, STIM1-overexpressing ICCs showed an increased number of spontaneous intracellular Ca²+ oscillations. However, SARAF-overexpressing ICCs showed fewer spontaneous intracellular Ca2+ oscillations. CONCLUSION: Endoplasmic reticulum proteins modulated the frequency of pacemaker activity in ICCs, and levels of STIM1 and SARAF may determine slow wave patterns in the gastrointestinal tract.
Animals ; Calcium ; Carbachol ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Gadolinium ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Intestine, Small ; Ions ; Membranes ; Mice

OBJECTIVE: To noninvasively assess the neurodegenerative changes in the brain of patients with Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease by measuring the lesion tissue with the iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least square estimation-iron quantification (IDEAL-IQ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Routine brain MRI, IDEAL-IQ and 1H-proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS, served as control) were performed on 12 patients with type C Niemann-Pick disease (4 males and 8 females; age range, 15–61 years; mean age, 36 years) and 20 healthy subjects (10 males and 10 females; age range, 20–65 years; mean age, 38 years). The regions with lesion and the normal appearing regions (NARs) of patients were measured and analyzed based on the fat/water signal intensity on IDEAL-IQ and the lipid peak on 1H-MRS. RESULTS: Niemann-Pick type C patients showed a higher fat/water signal intensity ratio with IDEAL-IQ on T2 hyperintensity lesions and NARs (3.7–4.9%, p < 0.05 and 1.8–3.0%, p < 0.05, respectively), as compared to healthy controls (HCs) (1.2–2.3%). After treatment, the fat/water signal intensity ratio decreased (2.2–3.4%), but remained higher than in the HCs (p < 0.05). The results of the 1H-MRS measurements showed increased lipid peaks in the same lesion regions, and the micro-lipid storage disorder of NARs in NPC patients was detectable by IDEAL-IQ instead of 1H-MRS. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggested that IDEAL-IQ may be useful as a noninvasive and objective method in the evaluation of patients with NPC; additionally, IDEAL-IQ can be used to quantitatively measure the brain parenchymal adipose content and monitor patient follow-up after treatment of NPC.
Brain ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Methods ; Niemann-Pick Diseases ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Water

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of liver phosphofructokinase-2 (PFK-2) level at different postmortem intervals as well as due to different causes of death. METHODS: One hundred and five rats were randomly divided into 3 groups and the rats were sacrificed by either bleeding, suffocating, and neck breaking, respectively. The content of liver PFK-2 at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours following death were studied using immunohistochemishtry and image analysis. RESULTS: PFK-2 content of the rat's liver in all 3 groups showed a linear decrease at different postmortem intervals with no significant statistical differences found between the different groups. CONCLUSION PFK-2 level in rat liver appears to decrease linearly in correlation with prolonged PMI.
Animals ; Asphyxia/metabolism* ; Cause of Death ; Cervical Vertebrae/injuries* ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver/enzymology* ; Male ; Phosphofructokinase-2/metabolism* ; Postmortem Changes ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Shock, Hemorrhagic/metabolism* ; Staining and Labeling ; Time Factors

Objective:To observe the efficacy of cosmetic suturing techniques combined with topical recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (rh-bFGF) in repairing facial trauma.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on 140 patients with facial trauma admitted to the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People＇s Hospital from January to December 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on different treatment methods using a random number table method: treatment group (70 cases), including 38 males and 32 females aged 3 to 54 (23.1±8.2) years, received cosmetic suturing techniques combined with topical rh-bFGF for wound repair; control group (70 cases), including 36 males and 34 females aged 2 to 49 (22.3±7.5) years, only received cosmetic suturing techniques for wound repair. Patients were followed up 2 weeks post-surgery to evaluate wound healing quality. Patient satisfaction was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Six months post-surgery, scar conditions were evaluated using the Vancouver scar scale (VSS).Results:In the treatment group, 65 cases were directly sutured, and 5 cases were repaired with skin flaps, with a first-class healing rate of 100% (70/70). In the control group, 66 cases were directly sutured, and 4 cases were repaired with skin flaps, with a first-class healing rate of 91.4% (64/70). The first-class healing rate in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.037). Two weeks post-surgery, the VAS score for surgical satisfaction in the treatment group was (1.13±0.52) scores, which was lower than that in the control group (2.56±1.32) scores, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.001). Six months post-surgery, the VSS score for the treatment group was (2.49±1.27) scores, which was lower than that in the control group (4.67±1.93) scores, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.001). Conclusions:In repairing facial trauma, the combination of cosmetic suturing techniques and topical rh-bFGF can improve wound healing quality, reduce wound scarring, and enhance patient satisfaction with surgery.