The study is designed to evaluate the protective effect of xanthan gum (XG) injection on cartilage injury in the rabbit osteoarthritis (OA) model induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), and to explore the effect of XG on the expression of caspase-3 and Bax protein in OA cartilage. Sixty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10) according to random number table method, and one group was selected randomly as the normal control group (control) while the other 5 groups of right knee were used to establish the OA model with ACLT, which were then divided into model group (model), XG-0.6 mg·kg^-1, XG-1.2 mg·kg^-1, XG-2.4 mg·kg^-1 treatment group and sodium hyaluronate (SH-1.2 mg·kg^-1) treatment group according to drug intervention. The knee joint temperature and knee joint width of each group were measured in the course of treatment. After treatment, the macroscopic morphology of rabbit joints in each group was observed. The pathological morphology of articular cartilage of rabbits in each group was observed using HE staining. The expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in the cartilage of rabbits were detected by Western blot. The result shows that XG inhibited the increase in knee joint temperature and knee width caused by OA in a dose-dependent manner. XG improved the morphological abnormalities and tissue injuries of the femoral condyle and tibial plateau caused by OA. Western blot result shows that, compared with the control group, the levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in knee cartilage cells of model group and XG-0.6 mg·kg^-1 group were significantly increased (P<0.01). However, no significant difference was observed in the levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 between the model group and the XG-0.6 mg·kg^-1 group (P>0.05). These two groups are significantly higher than those of XG-1.2 mg·kg^-1 and XG-2.4 mg·kg^-1 (P<0.01) groups. Meanwhile, no significant difference was observed in the level of cleaved caspase-3 between the knee cartilage in XG-2.4 mg·kg^-1 and XG-1.2 mg·kg^-1 group (P>0.05). The level of Bax in knee cartilage in XG-2.4 mg·kg^-1 group was lower than that of XG-1.2 mg·kg^-1 group (P<0.05). In conclusion, XG effectively protected cartilage damage in OA, and inhibited the expression of Bax and caspase-3 protein in OA cartilage.

AIMTo study the effect of diabetes-like environment on the cardiac hypertrophy, cultured cardiomyocytes were used to study the effect of high insulin and high glucose on norepinephrine (NE)-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

METHODSUsing cultured myocardial cells as a model, the cellular hypertrophy was observed. The contracting frequency was counted by the inverted microscope, the protein content was assayed with Lowry's method, the cardiomyocytes' volumes were measured by computer photograph analysis system, the protein synthesis was assayed with [3H] leucine intake method.

RESULTSThe total cellular protein content, cellular volumes, cellular protein synthesis showed an increase in high insulin group and high glucose group compared with control group. High insulin and high glucose and NE group showed a further increase compared with high glucose and NE group.

CONCLUSIONThe high insulin itself induces hypertrophy of the cultured myocardial cells slightly. Meanwhile, imitating diabetes-like environment with high insulin and high glucose and NE can further accelerate hypertrophy of the cultured myocardial cells.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Norepinephrine ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of salvianolic acid B(SalB)on myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats based on RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway.Methods Diabetic rat model was established by injecting streptozotocin into tail vein of healthy male SD rats.At the end of the 12th week, the collagen fiber expression in the left ventricular myocardium of rats was detected by Sirius Red reagent staining.The protein expressions of α-SMA, Collagen and Collagen III in left ventricular myocardium were detected by Western blot.Cardiac fibroblasts(CFs)were cultured in SD rats by differential adhesion, and CFs were pretreated with different concentrations of SalB(12.5, 25, 50 μmol·L-1)for 1 h, and the optimal dose was determined by high glucose induction.RhoA protein expression in CFs was detected by immunofluorescence; the protein expressions of α-SMA, Collagen , Collagen III, RhoA and ROCK1 in CFs were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the normal control group, the expression of collagen in left ventricular myocardium of diabetic rats increased significantly, and the expression of α-SMA, Collagen and Collagen III increased significantly.After SalB intervention, the expression of collagen decreased significantly, and the expression of the above proteins decreased significantly(P<0.01).The expression of α-SMA, Collagen , Collagen III, RhoA and ROCK1 in CFs stimulated with 25 mmol·L-1 high glucose for 24 h was significantly increased.After pretreatment with SalB(25 μmol·L-1)and inhibitor Y-27632(10 μmol·L-1), the activity of CFs was significantly inhibited, and the expression of these proteins was significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion SalB can improve myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats, and has a certain role in protecting the myocardium of diabetic rats.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway.

Objective To screen and identify the hub genes closely related to cardiac hypertrophy by using bioinformaticsmethod and biological experiments. Methods The chip data related to cardiac hypertrophy in mice were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the GE02R online tool was adopted to screen for differentially expressed genes; DAVID 6.7, String 11.0 and Cytoscape 3.7. 0 softwares were used to analyze differentially expressed genes; Kunming mice were randomly divided into a normal saline group (n = 6) and an angiotensin II (Ang II) group (n = 6) to establish a cardiac hypertrophy model, the expression of hub gene in Kunming mouse model of cardiac hypertrophy induced by Ang II was detected by Real-time PCR method. Results A total of 202 common differentially expressed genes and 12 hub genes were selected; the Real-time PCR result demonstrated that decorin(Dcn), HADHA and heat shock protein (HSP) 90αA 1 were significantly down-regulated in the Angli group. Conclusion The selected hub genes can influence the development of cardiac hypertrophy in Kunming mice through extracellular matrix and transforming growth factor β(TGF-β).

Objective To evaluate left ventriclular systolic function in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) after modified Morrow surgery using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI).Methods Twenty three HOCM patients were recruited in this study.Echocardiographic data from HOCM patients during pre-operation,1-month and 3-month post-operation were analyzed by Qlab software to compare the variation in systolic function indicators 1-month and 3-month post-operation including global and 16 segmental longitudinal strain,circumferential strain and conventional echocardiographic parameters of left ventricle.Results Compared with preoperative data of HOCM patients,postoperative LVOT diameter and pressure gradient,left atrial diameter and volume index were significantly decreased(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction(P<0.05).Compared with the preoperative case,global and segmental longitudinal strain showed significant reduction after 1 week and gradually recovered after 3 months,without significant variation.The longitudinal strain of the anteroseptum reduced significantly and the longitudinal strain of the free wall increased after 3 months,however,the circumferential strain reduced significantly.The circumferential strain of basal and middle segment after 3 months had improved significantly than those of postoperative 1 week.The circumferential strain of surgical site is no obvious change and the strain of free wall was improved after 3 months.Conclusions 2D-STI can effectively evaluate global and regional systolic function of left ventricle for HOCM patients after modified Morrow surgery.

Burned bones have their unique characteristics in investigation of fire disaster/crimes, airplane disaster, explosion and other accidents. To study the morphological changes of skeletal tissue and DNA changes at different incinerating temperature might provide precise standard means to determine genera, sex, and age. Genetic locus was also applied in the above fields. The techniques to extract and detect of DNA in burning bones have been improved in recent years. In this article investigation advancement of analysis of burned bones with the morphology, histology, and molecular biology as well as the latest methods and techniques were reviewed. These results provide a new approach for further research and practice in forensic medicine.
Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Animals ; Bone and Bones/pathology* ; Burns/pathology* ; DNA/analysis* ; Forensic Anthropology/methods* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Sex Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; Time Factors

The burned bone DNA test have became more and more important in identifying the individuals and paternity involved in the fire, explosion disasters as well as burn corpse crimes. As an important genetic marker system, STR has been widely used in forensic individual identification, paternity test and other fields. In this article, the influence of burned temperature and time to STR typing was reviewed, the choice of STR locus and DNA extraction methods were discussed about burned bones.
Bone and Bones/pathology* ; Burns/pathology* ; DNA/analysis* ; Disasters ; Fires ; Forensic Genetics ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics* ; Paternity

Aim To study the protective effect of simvastatin(Sim)on liver function injury in apolipoprotein E gene knockout(ApoE KO)mice fed with high-fat diet and the underlying mechanism.Methods Twenty-four 8-week-old male ApoE KO mice were randomly divided into ApoE KO group,ApoE KO+Sim group and ApoE KO+PD150606 group.The contents of total cholesterol(TC)and triglyceride(TG)in serum and liver,and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)in serum were measured.The contents of malondialdehyde(MDA)and reactive oxygen species(ROS)and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)in liver were determined.The contents of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)and the activity of calpain in liver were examined.Results Compared with C57 group,ApoE KO group showed significant increase in the contents of TC and TG in both serum and liver.In addition,the activities of AST and ALT in serum and the contents of MDA and ROS in liver significantly increased,while SOD activity in liver decreased in ApoE KO group.The contents of TNF-α and IL-6 and the activity of calpain in liver significantly increased.Compared with ApoE KO group,Sim group had no significant effects on TC and TG,while reduced the activities of AST and ALT,decreased the contents of MDA and ROS,increased the activity of SOD and decreased the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 as well as the activity of calpain in liver.PD,the calpain inhibitor,had the similar effects with Sim regarding the above mentioned parameters.Conclusions Sim improved the liver function injury of ApoE KO mice,which might be related to the inhibition of calpain activity,subsequently increasing the antioxidant capacity and reducing the inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVETo study the possible effect of antepartum taurine supplementation in regulating the activity of Rho family factors and promoting the proliferation of neural stem cells in neonatal rats with fetal growth restriction (FGR), and to provide a basis for antepartum taurine supplementation to promote brain development in children with FGR.

METHODSA total of 24 pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, FGR, and taurine (n=8 each ). A rat model of FGR was established by food restriction throughout pregnancy. RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot were used to measure the expression of the specific intracellular markers for neural stem cells fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7), Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA), and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (Rac).

RESULTSThe FGR group had significantly lower OD value of FABP7-positive cells and mRNA and protein expression of FABP7 than the control group, and the taurine group had significantly higher OD value of FABP7-positive cells and mRNA and protein expression of FABP7 than the FGR group (P<0.05). The FGR group had significantly higher mRNA expression of RhoA and ROCK2 than the control group. The taurine group had significantly higher mRNA expression of RhoA and ROCK2 than the control group and significantly lower expression than the FGR group (P<0.05). The FGR group had significantly lower mRNA expression of Rac than the control group. The taurine group had significantly higher mRNA expression of Rac than the FGR and control groups (P<0.05). The FGR group had significantly higher protein expression of RhoA and ROCK2 than the control group. The taurine group had significantly lower protein expression of RhoA and ROCK2 than the FGR group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAntepartum taurine supplementation can promote the proliferation of neural stem cells in rats with FGR, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the activity of Rho family factors.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Brain ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7 ; analysis ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; drug therapy ; Male ; Neural Stem Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Taurine ; pharmacology ; rho-Associated Kinases ; analysis ; genetics ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of curcumin on diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Ten female db/db mice were randomly divided into 2 groups: one was treated with curcumin at 200 mg/(kg.d) and the other was a placebo group. Five age-matched db/m mice were grouped as the controls. In the curcumin group, curcumin was administered to db/db mice for 18 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the blood glucose and albumin were measured, and the kidney tissue sections were stained with PAS to observe the pathological changes. The expression of collagen IV and FN in the kidney was detected by immunohitochemistry staining. Western blot was used to detect the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and IκB in the kidney. RESULTS: Compared with db/m mice, the weight and blood glucose of db/db mice were markedly increased, accompanied with heavy proteinuria, glomerulus hypertrophy, mesangial area expansion, thickening of basement membrane and ECM deposition. The phosphorylation of STAT3 was upregulated and the degradation of IκB was increased. Compared with the db/db mice, curcumin significantly decreased the urinary albumin, inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the degradation of IκB, and reduced the expression of collagen IV and FN in the kidney. CONCLUSION Curcumin can obviously decrease albuminuria and attenuate glomerular sclerosis in diabetic db/db mice by inhibiting phosphorylation of STAT3 and degradation of IκB.
Albuminuria ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Female ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Phosphorylation ; Proteinuria ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism