Background Erythropoietin (EPO) was proved to be express in hematopoietic tissue and nervous system and play the effects of stimulating blood cell production and protecting nervous tissue.Researches showed that EPO is expressed in the embryon brain of animal.However,whether EPO exist in nervous-derived retina and its action on retina with the development is concerned. Objective This research was to investigate the expression of EPO during the embryonic development period of rat retina and explore the role of EPO in retina development process.Methods Clean Wistar rats with pregnancy for 12 days,16 days and 20 days were collected,and the embryonic 12-day rats (E12 d,5 rats),embryonic 16-day rats (E16 d,5 rats) and embryonic 20-day rats ( E20 d,5 rats) were obtained by caesarean operation,and 5 12-month W istar rats were used as controls.The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the retinal sections were prepared in the different-embryo-phase (12 d,16 d,20d) and growth phase.The expression of EPO protein and mRNA in rat retina was detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),respectively.The feed and use of the animals followed the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results EPO was positively expressed in the cytoplasm and nuclei in the neuroepithelial layer and pigment epithelium of every-embryo-phase rats but only in retinal ganglion cell layer in 12-month-old rats.The gray scale values of EPO expression in retina were 105.55±10.35,99.35± 8.71,83.27± 7.84and 30.30± 3.80 in E12 d rats,E16 d rats,E20 d rats and 12-month-old rats respectively with a statistically significant difference (F=76.13,P＜0.01 ).RT-PCR revealed that the relative values of EPO mRNA expression in retina were 0.876±0.10,0.861 ±0.09 and 0.256±0.03 in E16 d rats,E20 d rats and 12-month-old rats respectively,presenting a elevated value in embryonic rats compared with adult rats ( P =0.00).Gel imaging deletion showed that the A value of EPO amplification products was highest in E16 d rats and lowest in adult rats.Conclusions The expression of EPO appears a high to low fashion during the embryonic development of Wistar rats,which is closely associated with the developing procedure of retina.

AIM: To investigate the role of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and protein kinase C (PKC) signaling in tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?)-induced cardioprotection against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. METHODS: Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were pretreated with TNF-? or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or L-arginine (L-Arg), respectively, for 12 h and then subjected to continuous hypoxia for 12 h, followed by reoxygenation for 6 h. The manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activity of the cells was measured after H/R. Myocyte injury was determined by the release of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). RESULTS: TNF-? (10~5 (U/L)) significantly increased the Mn-SOD activity and decreased release of LDH from ventricular myocytes. The cardioprotection against H/R injury was induced by the pretreatment with SNP (5 ?mol/L) or L-Arg (5 mmol/L), which was blocked by ODQ (10 ?mol/L), the specific sGC inhibitor, and Chel (5 ?mol/L), the specific PKC inhibitor. Pretreatment with L-NAME (100 ?mol/L), ODQ, Chel, antoxidant 2-MPG (400 ?mol/L) or tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein (50 ?mol/L) attenuated the increased Mn-SOD activity and reduced LDH level induced by TNF-?. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that NO may play a role in TNF-?-induced cardioprotection, which is mediated by sGC and PKC. [

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanisms for the development of cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension,the present study provided the differential protein expression analysis of hypertrophied heart at differ- ent stages in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).Methods The profiles of protein expression of left ventricu lar myocardium in SHR and its normotensive control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats at the age of 4 and 20 weeks were analyzed with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with matrix assisted laser desorption ioniza- tion-time of flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF) mass spectrometry.Results Although the blood pressure of SHR was normal at 4 weeks age,hypertrophy of the left ventricle had already developed.The expression pattern in the hy- pertrophic myocardium was found 27 modulated proteins,20 of which were identified.These proteins are involved in reactions of energy metabolism,mitoehondrial oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress,etc.The expres- sion of 13 proteins was significantly changed in SHR rats at early stage prior to the development of sustained hyper- tension,while the expression changes of other 7 proteins occurred only at late stage in SHR rats when the blood pressure was significantly elevated.Conclusions lncrease in glycolysis and decrease in oxidation of fatty acid and glucose was shown in the hypertrophied myocardium from early stage in SHR prior to the development of hyperten sion.The significant changes in protein expression of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and antioxidative molecules support the hypothesis that oxidative stress promotes and accelerates the development of hypertensive car- diac hypertrophy.

Objective To study the effect of nursing intervention on postural hypotension of aged with heart disease.Methods Nursing intervention were gived to the 68 aged patients with heart disease and postural hypotension.The effect of nursing intervention on postural hyporension and hypotension associated symptoms were observed.Results The postural hypotension was improved and the incidence of hypotension associated symptoms were reduced after nursing intervention.Differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion Nursing intervention was effective on the improvement of postural hypotension.

Aneurysm, Dissecting ; genetics ; Aortic Aneurysm ; genetics ; Diseases in Twins ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the analgesic effect of oxysophoridine(OSR)and the influence of verapamil(Ver)on the antinociception of OSR when two drugs were co-administrated in mice.Methods The number of writhing within 15 min after ip different doses of OSR was observed in painful mouse mo- dels caused by acetic acid.The hot plate method was used to assess nociceptive sensitivity of CaCl_2 and Ver before ip OSR.Nitric oxide(NO)in serum was measured by spectrophotometry.Results The number of writhing was decreased and the latency of licking the hind paws was prolonged in a dose-dependent manner after ip OSR.The antinociception of OSR could be antagonized by CaCl_2 and enhanced by Ver.No inter- ference was detected in serum volume of NO.Conclusion These results suggest that OSR can antagonize the acute pain caused by acetic acid and hot plate in a dose-dependent manner in mice.Calcium channel blocker could enhance the effect of OSR.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of Acai berries(Euterpe oleraceae) on chronic alcoholic hepatic injury in rats and their mechanism.

METHODWistar rats were fed for 1 week and randomly divided into blank group, model group, Dongbao Gantai group, Acai 1.6, 0.8, 0.4 g . kg-1 groups. The blank group was given distilled water, and the other groups were orally given 56% white spirit (Erguotou) for eight weeks at the dosages of 8 mL . kg-1 in the 1st week, which increased by 0.1 mL week by week till to 15 mL . kg-1, in order to establish the chronic hepatic injury model, and observe the effect of Acai berry freeze-dried powder on hepatocyte membrane permeability, liver lipid peroxidation, changes in inflammatory cytokines and pathological changes in hepatocytes.

RESULTAcai berries could significantly reduce serum ALT and AST(P<0.05), MDA(P<0.05), TG(P<0.05) and serum TNF-α and IL-6(P <0.05) and increase GSH and SOD(P <0.05). According to liver histopathological observation, livers in the model group were dominated by steatosis, some livers suffered spotty necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration; The positive drug and Acai groups showed different changes in pathologic changes in rat livers.

CONCLUSIONAcai berries show s specific protective effect on alcoholic hepatic injury. Its mechanism may be correlated with the inhibition of such inflammatory factors as TNF-α and IL-6.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Chronic Disease ; Cytokines ; blood ; Euterpe ; chemistry ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective This study aims to investigate the association of apoB/apoA-1 ratio with insulin resistance (IR) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) . Methods A total of 224 patients with NAFLD and 166 healthy subjects were enrolled as NAFLD group and control group. Weight, height and blood pressure were recorded. Serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FPG), insulin (Fins), lipids, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) indices were calculated. Results Compared with control group, NAFLD group had higher apoB/apoA-1 ratio (0.76 ± 0.28 vs 0.61 ± 0.26) and HOMA-IR (2.43 ± 1.68 vs 1.86 ± 1.61) . Spearman correlation analysis showed that in NAFLD group, HOMA-IR positively correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), apoB/apoA-1 ratio (r =0.34, P < 0. 05) and HbA1c, and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) . Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that apoB/apoA-1 ratio was still associated with HOMA-IR in NAFLD group after adjustment for age and BMI. Conclusion The apoB/apoA-1 ratio is closely associated with IR in patients with NAFLD. ApoB/apoA-1 ratio may play a role in the development of IR in NAFLD.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Ningdong Granule (NG) on serum levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) of children patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS).

METHODSTotally 90 TS children patients were randomly assigned to the NG group, the NG + Tiapride group (abbreviated as the combined treatment group), and the Tiapride group, 30 in each group. Besides,another 30 healthy children were recruited as the healthy control group. Patients in the NG group were treated with NG (consisting of all gastrodia rhizome, Codonopsis pilosula, Ophiopogon japonicus, white peony root, Rhinocerotidae, oyster, earthworm, licorice root, etc.), one dose daily, administered by dissolving it in boiled water, taken in two portions in the morning and in the evening respectively. Patients in the Tiapride group took Tiapride Tablet, 50 -100 mg each time, twice daily. The dosage was adjusted according to individual difference and changes of pathogenic conditions. The maximal dosage was 300 mg per day. Those in the combined treatment group were treated with equal dose of NG and Tiapride Tablet in combination. The treatment course was 3 months for all. Changes of pathogenic condition before and after treatment were assessed by Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS). Serum levels of IL-12 and TNF-alpha were detected by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The total effective rate of the NG group, the combined treatment group, and the Tiapride group was 79.3%, 83.3%, and 67.9%, respectively. It was the lowest in the Tiapride group (P < 0.05). It was significantly higher in the combined treatment group than in the NG group (P < 0.05). (2) The post-treatment YGTSS score was obviously lower in each group after treatment than before treatment (P < 0.05). The posttreatment YGTSS score was obviously lower in the NG group and the combined treatment group than in the Tiapride group (P < 0.05), but with no statistical difference between the fromer two groups (P > 0.05).(3) Compared with the healthy control group before treatment, serum levels of IL-12 and TNF-alpha (pg/mL) were 124.95 +/- 22.78 and 209.52 +/- 21.69 in the NG group, 126.14 +/- 25.65 and 208.97 +/- 22.46 in the combined treatment group, 123.00 +/- 24.26 and 205.10 +/- 26.16 in the Tiapride group, being higher than those in the healthy control group (64.56 +/- 27.59 and 78.13 +/- 33.42; P < 0.05). After treatment, serum levels of of IL-12 and TNF-alpha were 104.67 +/- 16.84 and 183.01 +/- 24.95 in the NG group, 109.04 +/- 16.81 and 179.87 +/- 23.45 in the combined treatment group, significantly lower than before treatment (P < 0.05). But there was no statistical difference in serum levels of IL-12 or TNF-alpha in the Tiapride group between before treatment (123.00 +/- 24.26 and 205.10 +/- 26.16) and after treatment (117.75 +/- 16.79 and 199.76 +/- 33.21; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNG could modulate abnormal serum levels of IL-12 and TNF-alpha in TS children patients, which might be one of its pharmacodynamic mechanisms for treating TS.

Adolescent ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Tourette Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective To study the expression and significance of acid-sensing ion channels(ASICs)in rat articular cartilage with adjuvant arthritis. Methods Complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA) was prepared by suspending heat-killed Bacillus Calmette Guerin(BCG) in liquid paraffin at 10 mg/ml. CFA-induced arthritis was developed by injection of 100 μl CFA emulsion intradermally into the right hind paw. The morphological changes of articular tissues was observed by light microscope; RT-PCR and immunoblotting analyses were used to detect ASICs in rat articular cartilage with adjuvant arthritis. Results RT-PCR and western blot showed that ASIC1a, ASIC2a and ASIC3 were present in the articular cartilage of normal and model group, the ASICs mRNA levels in the model group were higher than in the normal group detected by semiquantitative analysis (P＜0.01), ASICs protein levels in model group were higher than those in the normal group (P＜0.01) when examined by immunoblotting. Conclusion The results show that the expression of ASICs in AA articular cartilage is enhanced and it may be related with articular cartilage breakdown.