Animal Use Alternatives ; instrumentation ; Animals ; Rabbits ; Urinalysis ; instrumentation

Treating diabetes mellitus (DM) with Chinese medicine (CM) has had a few thousands years of history. Past Chinese medical texts had already recorded numerous medicinal herbs as well as recipes for treating DM and accumulated much clinical experience. In the following article, the prevention of DM using CM in the past 5 years is retrospectively studied, and mainly focuses on the usage of simple Chinese herbal extracts or monomers in terms of cellular as well as molecular biology.
Biomedical Research ; trends ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Panax ; chemistry ; Research Report ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the variation of bone marrow complement level in cytopenia patients with positive BMMNC-Coombs test (CBCPC), and probe the role of complement in destroying hematopoietic cells of CBCPC patients.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-four patients with CBCPC and twenty-three healthy donors as controls were enrolled in this study. The levels of CH50, C3, C4, C5b-9 were tested with ELISA. The auto-antibodies on bone marrow hematopoietic cells (BMHC) were examined with flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe level of C5b-9 in bone marrow (BM) of untreated CBCPC patients [(119.8+/-54.0) microg/L] was significantly higher than that of recovered patients [(100.7+/-33.4) microg/L] or normal controls [(93.9+/-28.8) microg/L] (P<0.05). The levels of CH50 in BM of untreated or recovered CBCPC patients [(33.3+/-11.5) kU/L, (30.8+/-10.3) kU/L] were significantly higher than that of normal controls [(24.1+/-6.4) kU/L] (P<0.05). The level of C3 in BM of untreated or recovered CBCPC patients [(4.9+/-2.2) mg/L], (5.0+/-3.5) mg/L] was significantly lower than that of normal controls [(7.0+/-5.6) mg/L] (P<0.05). The level of complement in peripheral blood was consistent with that in BM. CH50 in BM of CBCPC patients was negatively correlated with their C3 (r=-0.303, P=.0007) and positively correlated with their C5b-9 (r=0.241, P=0.003) levels. The level of C5b-9 in BM of CBCPC patients was higher in the BMHC-IgM positive group [(117.6+/-55.7) microg/L] than in the BMHC- IgM negative group [(99.2+/-26.2) microg/L] (P<0.05). The positive rate of CD34(+)-IgG or CD34(+)-IgM of CBCPC patients was positively correlated with their C5b-9 level (r=0.593, P=0.000, r=0.326, P=0.049). The reticulocyte percentage (r=0.421, P=0.000) and serum indirect bilirubin level (r=0.230, P=0.032) of CBCPC patients were positively correlated with their CH50 level.

CONCLUSIONSThe hematocytopenia of CBCPC patients might be related to the hematopoietic cells destruction caused by auto-antibody activated complements.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Complement System Proteins ; metabolism ; Coombs Test ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; immunology ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To assess the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and osteoporosis. Methods 2202 women aged 50-73 years were included in this cross-sectional study from the communities in Guangzhou, from July 2008 to January 2010. Cardiovascular risk factors including age, years since menopause, physical activity, anthropometrics, body composition, blood pressure, fasting serum lipids, glucose and uric acid, intima-media thickness(IMT) of carotid artery were assessed. Ultrasonic bone density (speed of sound) at the radius and tibia were determined. Osteoporosis was defined as T-score≤-2.5. Common factors for the cardiovascular risk factors were extracted using the factor analysis method. Results Eight common factors representing obesity, lean mass, blood triglycerides and uric acid, cholesterol, age, blood pressure, IMT and physical activity were extracted. Data from the Multivariate logistic regression showed a dose-dependent association of greater scores of age and IMT factors and lower score of lean mass factor with the increased risk of osteoporosis at the radius and tibia. As compared with the bottom quartile, the OR (95%CI) of radius and tibia osteoporosis were 0.62 (0.44-0.88) and 0.62 (0.48-0.80) for lean mass factor, 4.02 (2.72-5.94) and 3.68(2.81-4.82) for age factor, 1.41 (1.00-2.00) and 1.54 (1.19-2.00) for IMT factors, respectively. Moreover, greater blood pressure score was associated with higher risk of radius osteoporosis while the higher obese score, was correlated with the increased risk of tibia osteoporosis. Conclusion The cardiovascular-related risk factors of greater IMT, obesity, blood pressure and lower lean mass scores were associated with increased osteoporosis risks while called for more concern among the Chinese women.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of 'erythroblast island (EI)' formation in the bone marrow of patients with immun-related hemocytopenia (IRP).

METHODSThe category of BM-auto antibody (au Ab) in 48 patients with IRP was detected with FCM. The BM-au Ab in the 'EI' of these cases were explored with immuonhistofluorescence (IF). Clinical and laboratory characteristics of these cases were also analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSIgG could be detected in the 'EI' on the BM smear of 14 cases (29.17%), BM-au Ab mainly deposited at the edge/membranes between macrophage and erythroblasts rather than cyto plasm. Positive reaction were seen in all the cases with GlycoAIgG. The red blood cell count [(1.8 ± 0.5) × 10(12)/L] and hemoglobin level [(59.6 ± 16.2)g/L] were significantly lower than that in the IF(-) group [(2.5 ± 0.9) × 10(12)/L and (83.4 ± 25.0) g/L] (P < 0.05). The percentage of reticulocyte [(2.0 ± 0.8)%], serum level of IBIL [(9.4 ± 4.7) µmol/L], percentage of erythroblats in sternum BM (0.441 ± 0.139) and response rate to therapy (85.7%) in IF(+) group were significantly higher than that in IF(-)group [(1.3 ± 1.0)%, (6.6 ± 6.7)µmol/L, 0.298 ± 0.082, 61.3%, respectively] (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMacrophage was connected with erythroblasts through autologous IgG in the 'EI's of some patients with IRP. 'EI' were the places where macrophages devoured and destroyed erythroblasts rather than erythroid development and differentiation. The pathogenetic mechanism of IRP might be associated with macrophages phagocytosing and destroying BM hematopoietic cells.

Blood Cell Count ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; Coombs Test ; Erythroblasts ; Humans

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of host-derived p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase subunit 38 (p38MAPK) and the hepatitis B virus X antigen (HbxAg) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to study the mechanism underlying hepatocarcinogenesis.

METHODSLiver tissues were biopsied from healthy individuals and patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis, paratumor cirrhosis, and HCC. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect expressions of HBxAg, p38MAPK, cell cycle G2/M phase-related factors (cdc25B, p34cdc2, cyclin B1), and cell proliferation factor ki-67.The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling method (known as TUNEL) was used to detect apoptosis.

RESULTSThe highest rates of HBxAg were detected in CHB (65.0%) and HCC (44.4%) liver samples, and the antigen was mainly expressed in nuclei. Increasingly higher rates of p38MAPK, cdc25B, cyclin B1, and p34cdc2 expression were detected with increases in disease severity: normal liver (40.0%, 20.0%, 20.0%, and 30.0%, respectively), chronic hepatitis B (60.0%, 65.0%, 40.0%, and 50.0%, respectively), liver cirrhosis (65.0%, 75.0%, 70.0%, and 55.0%, respectively), paratumor cirrhosis (66.7%, 75.0%, 75.0%, and 63.9%, respectively), and HCC (77.8%, 80.6%, 80.6%, and 72.2%, respectively). In addition, the intracellular location of p38MAPK expression was different under different disease conditions, showing nuclear expression in CHB and liver cirrhosis samples and cytoplasmic expression in paratumor cirrhosis and HCC samples (x2 = 1.11, P more than 0.05). The proliferation index (PI) and the apoptosis index (AI) were both increased along with disease severity (normal more than CHB more than paratumor cirrhosis more than HCC) (PI: 0.0000+/-0.000, 0.0502+/-0.011, 0.0411+/-0.009, 0.0762+/-0.017; AI: 0.0351+/-0.024, 0.0607+/-0.022, 0.0562+/-0.013, 0.0716+/-0.011), with the notable exception for liver cirrhosis (PI: 0.1810+/-0.036 and AI: 0.1200+/-0.018). PI in poorly-differentiated HCC (0.2285+/-0.062) was significantly higher than in well-differentiated HCC (0.1216+/-0.032, t = 2.082, P = 0.044). AI in well-differentiated HCC (0.152+/-0.026) was significantly higher than in poorly-differentiated HCC (0.081+/-0.022, t = 2.129, P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONSIn the process of hepatocarcinogenesis, HBxAg may cause a series of abnormal changes in cell cycle, proliferation and apoptosis by affecting the expression of p38MAPK.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Division ; Cell Proliferation ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; CpG Islands ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

Abstract?AlM: To observe the effects of Shuangdanmingmu capsule on VEGF expression and retinal vascular morphology in rats with diabetic retinopathy ( DR) .?METHODS: DR rats were fed with Shuangdanmingmu capsule. By comparing with the normal group, the model control group, and positive control group, the effect of Shuangdanmingmu capsule on retinal tissue of DR rats was observed under electron microscopy. After HE staining, retinal structure was observed under the light microscope. lmmunohitochemical staining was used to detect the VEGF expression in retina.?RESULTS:Two months after treatment, the layers tissue of retina presented mild edema, capillary pericytes performed edema, mitochondria showed mild swelling and less clear structure, some endothelial cells showed slight proliferation in Shuangdanmingmu group. Compared with the normal group, the expression level of VEGF in retina increased in the other groups, especially in model control group. A significant differential in expression of VEGF was found between Shuangdanmingmu group, positive control group and model control group (P<0. 01).? CONCLUSlON: Shuangdanmingmu capsule can effectively improve the retinal microvascular, reduce edema and necrosis of each layer of retina, improve the ultrastructure of retina's tissue and inhibit VEGF expression in DR rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of isoliquiritigenin on airway inflammation mice with neutrophil asthma and its possible mechanism.Methods Neutrophil asthma mouse model were established using ovalbumin.Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control group(equal amounts of 0.9％NaCl were given),model group(ovalbumin modeling),DXM group(intraperitoneal injection of 4 mg·kg-1 dexamethasone),experimental-L,-H groups(intraperitoneal injection of 100,200 mg·kg-1 isoliquiritigenin),with 11 mice in each group.Airway resistance of each group of mice was detected within 24 h after the last atomization excitation,and lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were taken;the total cell count was performed by cell counting plate;the cell classification count was performed by Richs-giemsa staining;the levels of inflammatory factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;Weatern blot assay was used to detect protein expression in lung tissue.Results The airway resistance values of control group,model group,DXM group,experimental-L group and experimental-H group were(0.84±0.08),(3.34±0.34),(1.23±0.15),(2.47±0.19)and(1.54±0.18)cmH2 O·s-1;the total number of white blood cells were(15.03±0.11),(331.20±26.64),(38.73±3.28),(180.35±16.89)and(82.74±10.51)x 104·mL-1;interleukin 17(IL-17)levels were(4.79±0.58),(19.21±2.39),(6.35±0.81),(15.96±1.10)and(9.04±0.65)pg·mL-1;V-set and immunoglobulin domain-containing 4(VSIG4)protein expression levels were 0.67±0.04,0.24±0.04,0.59±0.06,0.37±0.04 and 0.53±0.05;Nod-like receptor family heat protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3)protein expression levels were 0.24±0.02,0.74±0.07,0.35±0.04,0.65±0.08 and 0.44±0.03,respectively.The above indexes were compared between the model group and the control group,and the above indexes of DXM,experimental-L and experimental-H groups were compared with model group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Isoliquiritigenin may regulate the VSIG4/NLRP3 complex inflammatory pathway,reduce airway resistance,inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators and improve airway inflammation in mice with neutrophil asthma.