Objective To investigate the anti-apoptosis effects of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in a mouse model of liver ischemia-reperfusion ( IR ) injury and to analyze the possible mechanisms . Methods A cell model of hypoxia/reoxygenation injury was established after transfecting mouse liver AML12 cells with HO-1 small interfering RNA ( siRNA) . Real-time PCR and Western blot assay were performed to detect the changes of HO-1, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) and caspase-3 at the cellular level. The mouse models of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury were established with/without pretreatments with cobalt proporphyrin (CoPP), CoPP+znic proporphyrin ( ZnPP) and/or ZnPP. The levels of aspartate transaminase ( AST) and alanine transaminase ( ALT) in serum samples were measured. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the chan-ges of caspase-3. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of HO-1 and Bcl2 at protein level. The pathological changes of liver tissues were observed under light microscope. The apoptosis of hepatocytes was observed by using Tunel assay. Results Decreased expression of HO-1 and Bcl2 and increased expres-sion of caspase-3 were observed in the model of hypoxia/reoxygenation injury by pre-transfecting the AML12 cells with HO-1 siRNA. Compared with the IR injury group, the CoPP pretreatment group showed lower lev-els of AST and ALT (P<0. 05) and alleviated pathological damages in liver tissues. Moreover, the expres-sion of caspase-3 was inhibited, but the expression of HO-1 and Bcl2 were enhanced. Less apoptotic cells was detected by the Tunel assay (P<0. 05). However, these protective effects could be suppressed by adding ZnPP. Conclusion HO-1 has anti-apoptotic effects in the in vitro model of hypoxia/reoxygenation. CoPP can upregulate the expression of HO-1 and play the role of anti-apoptosis in a mouse model of liver is-chemia-reperfusion injury.

The effects of dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum on growth performance and humoral immune response in Miichthys miiuy were evaluated. One hundred and fifty Miichthys miiuy weighing approximately 200-260 g were divided into five groups and reared in 15 tanks with closed circuiting culture system. The animals were fed 5 diets: basal diet only (control) or supplemented of the basal diet with C. butyricum at doses of 10(3) (CB1), 10(5) (CB2), 10(7) (CB3) or 10(9) (CB4) CFU/g. Compared with the control, the serum phenoloxidase activity was significantly increased by the supplementation (P<0.05), acid phosphatases activity was increased significantly (P<0.05) at the doses of 10(9) CFU/g. Serum lysozyme activity peaked at dose of 10(7) CFU/g and in the skin mucus at dose of 10(9) CFU/g. Immunoglobulin M level in the serum and skin mucus was increased except at dose of 10(3) CFU/g (P<0.05). The growth at the dose of 10(9) CFU/g was higher than that of the control (P<0.05). It is concluded that supplementation of C. butyricum can mediate the humoral immune responses and improve the growth performance in Miichthys miiuy.
Animal Feed ; microbiology ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; physiology ; Clostridium butyricum ; immunology ; Dietary Supplements ; microbiology ; Fishes ; growth & development ; immunology ; Probiotics ; administration & dosage

Objective To describe the MRI features and pathologic findings of biliary cystadenocarcinoma(BCAC)and to assess the diagnostic value of MRI in those tumors.Methods Five cases of BCAC were collected.All cases were proved by pathology.Non-enhanced and multiphase-enhanced MRI were performed in all cases.MRCP were performed in two cases.The MRI features of the five cases were reviewed retrospectively and correlated with pathologic findings.Results Histological evidence demonstrated five cases of BCAC.Four cases were solitary,whereas the other case was multifocal.All cases were solid and cystic lesions.Two cases were unilocular,whereas the other three cases were multilocular. Multiple mural nodules and irregular thickening cystic walls were presented in all cases.The cystic parts of the lesions were homogeneous in signal intensity and showed no enhancement after contrast administration in the five BCAC.Septa were present in three BCAC with multilocular cyst.On MRCP the bile duct dilatation was found in two BCAC.Conclusion MRI can reveal the characteristic findings of BCAC and accurate preoperative diagnosis can be made.

China ; Humans ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis

Objective To investigate the intelligence standard for diagnose the sub-cretin children and children with mental retardation of socio-cultural type.Methods The full intelligence quotient(IQ),verbal intelligence quotient(VIQ)and performance intelligence quotient(PIQ)was tested by Wechsler scale(C-WISC)for mild iodine deficiency disordem children,children living in abnormal socio-cultural condition and normal children aged 7～14 years old in Qinba mountain area.The test results had been compared between the groups.Results There were no significant difference between psychomotor functioning well children and children living normal sociocuhural condition in VIQ,PIQ and full IQ(89.24±18.44 vs 90.75±17.58,87.58±15.78 vs 88.95±15.56,87.42±17.84 vs 89.02±17.18,t=1.14,1.19 and 1.24,respectively,all P＞O.05).PIQ and full IQ were significantly lower in mild iodine deficiency disorders children than in children with abnormal socio-cultural background (65.81±10.22 vs 72.33±13.23,62.42±12.31 vs 68.13±14.54,t=3.26,2.55,P＜0.01 or＜0.05,respectively).But the VIQ was not significantly different between these two groups.The average difference of VIQ and PIQ among mild iodine deficiency disorders children wag-0.32 without significant difierence(t=0.28,P＞0.05),however it was-2.91 among children under abnormal socio-cultural condition with significant difierenee(t=-3.59,P＜0.01).Conclusions IQ for iodine deficiency disorders children is characterized by that VIQ is damaged in parallel with PIQ,while that in children under abnormal soeio-cuhural condition is marked by that VIQ is retarded more severely than PIQ,which ean be used as an intelligence standard for differentiating the sub-cretin children from children wjth socio-cuhural mental retardation.

BACKGROUND:Hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes is the sign of starting endochondral ossification, and it is also an essential step in endochondral ossification, which is a cascade reaction and difficult to be blocked once started. The end result is the formation of bone structure. RNA interference is a post-transcriptional gene silencing. Relevant studies have shown that the use of RNA interference to block the expression of core binding factorα1 (Cbfα1) can effectively inhibit the formation of heterotopic ossification. OBJECTIVE:To use RNA intereference technology to suppress Cbfα1 expression so as to achieve the purpose of blocking the hypertrophic diferentiation of chondrocytes. METHODs: We constructed an adenovirus containing siRNA against Cbfα1 (Ad-Cbfα1-siRNA). Retinoic acid and interleukin-1α were used to induce hypertrophic differetiation of chondrocytes, and then Ad-Cbfα1-siRNA was utilized to inhibit the hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes. Immunohistochemistry method was used to analyze the expression of Cbfα1. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After induction with retinoic acid and interleukin-1α, the chondrocytes in the negative control virus group appeared to have hypertrophy and the expression of Cbfα1 was positive. In the Ad-Cbα1-siRNA group, the expression of Cbfα1 was negative. These findings suggest that the inhibition of Cbfα1 by RNA interference can be a powerful way to prevent the hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes .

OBJECTIVESTo study the feasibility and possibility to diagnose Wilson disease with electronmicroscopical examination of liver biopsies.

METHODSClinical analysis, histological observation and ultrastructural examination were performed on 15 children with Wilson disease.

RESULTSAll 15 subjects had symptoms of hepatic disorders, such as jaundice. Morphological signs of hepatocyte injury in three phase, namely steatosis, mitochondrion changes and cholestasis in bile canaliculi of the early phase, nucleus injury, dilation of endoplasmic reticulum, increase of lysosomes and appearance of residual bodies of the second phase, and massive autophagy and cirrhosis of the late phase were shown. A few inflammatory cells in the liver specimens were observed. Accumulation of copper in lysosomes and autophagosomes was found by energy-dispersion X-ray.

CONCLUSIONThe diagnostic signs for Wilson disease are autophagosomes in hepatocytes, cirrhosis accompanied with a few of inflammatory cells. A certain diagnosis of the disease depends on the finding of copper accumulation in hepatocytes.

Adolescent ; Biopsy, Needle ; Child ; Copper ; metabolism ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the bone-implant interfaces of two kinds of implants with different surfaces in different time in vivo.

METHODSCDIC and ITI-TPS solid-screw cylinder pure titanium implants were selected and implanted in the regions of posterior molars of rhesus monkeys. 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 1 year after surgery, the bone-implant interfaces were evaluated respectively through oral examination, X-ray inspection, light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation.

RESULTSNone of the implants was loose. Soft tissue around implants appeared no inflammation. There were no apparent transparent shadow around the implants interfaces in X-ray photos except little angle-shaped absorption was showed in neck region of CDIC implants of one-month. New bone was observed around implants of one-month through light microscope and SEM. More bone growing around ITI implants were seen than that around CDIC implants except the interfaces of one-year.

CONCLUSIONThe osseointegration of ITI implants are better than that of CDIC implants during three months after implanting without loading. The bone formation at the interfaces of ITI and CDIC implants has no significant difference after one year without loading.

Animals ; Dental Implants ; Macaca mulatta ; Molar ; Osseointegration ; Titanium

OBJECTIVETo clarify the effects of nylestriol on microarchitecture and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA expression in tibial bone in ovariectomized rats.

METHODS30 female rats were randomly allocated into 3 groups: sham, OVX and nylestriol-treated group. Nylestriol-treated group were ovariectomized, then fed with nylestriol for 3 months and the bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in lumbar vertebra by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. After sacrifice of the animal, bone histomorphometric parameters were measured to study the changes in bone microarchitecture, and RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of IL-6 mRNA in bone tissue.

RESULTSBMD was significantly reduced, while IL-6 mRNA level elevated in the OVX group compared with the sham group. Static histomorphometric data showed that the trabecular bone volume, mean trabecular plate thickness and density were reduced while the mean trabecular plate space elevated remarkably in the OVX group in comparison with that in the sham group. As for dynamic parameters, trabecular osteoid surface, tetracyclin labeled surface and bone turnover rate were increased while osteoid maturation rate decreased significantly in the OVX group compared with the sham group. BMD, IL-6 mRNA expression and bone histomorphometric parameters were improved in nylestriol-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONNylestriol plays an important role in maintaining bone volume and improving bone microarchitecture by markedly inhibiting bone turnover and bone resorption, which might be to some degree attributed to reduced IL-6 expression.

Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; drug effects ; Bone Resorption ; prevention & control ; Estradiol Congeners ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Ovariectomy ; Quinestrol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tibia ; pathology

This study investigated the effects of benazepril administered in the morning or evening on the diurnal variation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and clock genes in the kidney. The male Wistar rat models of 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy (STNx) were established. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham STNx group (control), STNx group, morning benazepril group (MB) and evening benazepril group (EB). Benazepril was intragastrically administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day at 07:00 and 19:00 in the MB group and EB group respectively for 12 weeks. All the animals were synchronized to the light:dark cycle of 12:12 for 12 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), 24-h urinary protein excretion and renal function were measured at 11 weeks. Blood samples and kidneys were collected every 4 h throughout a day to detect the expression pattern of renin activity (RA), angiotensin II (AngII) and aldosterone (Ald) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the mRNA expression profile of clock genes (bmal1, dbp and per2) by real-time PCR at 12 weeks. Our results showed that no significant differences were noted in the SBP, 24-h urine protein excretion and renal function between the MB and EB groups. There were no significant differences in average Ald and RA content of a day between the MB group and EB group. The expression peak of bmal1 mRNA was phase-delayed by 4 to 8 h, and the diurnal variation of per2 and dbp mRNA diminished in the MB and EB groups compared with the control and STNx groups. It was concluded when the similar SBP reduction, RAAS inhibition and clock gene profile were achieved with optimal dose of benazepril, morning versus evening dosing of benazepril has the same renoprotection effects.
Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Benzazepines ; administration & dosage ; CLOCK Proteins ; metabolism ; Circadian Rhythm ; Drug Chronotherapy ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Hypertension, Renal ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome