Objective To study the variation of serum IL-1?, Hs-CRP, the monocytes infilitrating into the intima, the expression of HSP-70 in diet-induced hyperlipidemic and chronic Cpn-infected mice and the intervention of berberine. Methods Mice were inoculated intranasally with Cpn three times, every 2 weeks over a 6-week period and fed with high cholesterol diet. C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into 6 groups:Ber1 group, Ber2 group, azithromycin group, atorvastain group, model group, and normal group. Ber1 group were given berberine at the beginning of Cpn infecting, while Ber2 group, azithromycin group and atorvastain group were given the drug after the 3rd Cpn infecting. The serum index, HE dye of the aortas and immune-histochemistry index were observed. Results The level of serum IL-1?, Hs-CRP, the monocytes infilitrating counting and the expression of HSP-70 in model group were increased. All of the index in Ber group, azithromycin group and atorvastain group declined to some extent. Conclusions Berberine has effect of decreasing inflammatory indexes of diet-induced hyperlipidemic and chronic Cpn-infected mice.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of acute normovolemic hemodilution (HD)during induced hypotension (IH). Method: 12 healthy mongrel dogs, were anesthetized and paralysed with sodium pentobarbital and pipecuronium. Ventilation was controlled. Hypotension was induced with nicardipine to lower the MAP by 30% after Hct was reduced to 0.35,0.30,0.25,0.20,0.15 or 0.10 respectively. Blood gases,lactate level(LAC)and hemedynamic variables were measured 15 minutes after HD and 20 minutes after IH. Result: Compared with HD alone, when combined with IH, CI.DO_2 and LAC increased significantly (P

Objective To know the influence of passive smoking on children's immune function. Methods The smoking state of children's family members and the illness-induced absence state of 135 children aged 10-11 years were investigated with questionnaire, and the concentrations of immunoglobin E (IgE) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) in serum of children were examined. Results The concentrations of IgE in serum of the children exposed to passive smoking(n=30) were significantly higher than those of the control group(n=20), while the concentrations of IL-8 were significantly lower(both P

The possibility of polyoxymethylene (POM) as heart valve leaflet material was investigated by comparing the hemocompatibility with that of 316L stainless steel and low-temperature isotropic pyrolytic carbon (LTIC). Surface hydrophobicity was characterized by water contact angle measurement. Platelet adhesion, APTT/PT/TT and hemolysis rate tests were applied for evaluating hemocompatibility. The results showed that POM was hydrophobic and had a low hemolytic rate, adhesion amount and activation degree of platelets on POM surface were less than 316L stainless steel, and was similar to LTIC. This research pointed out potential application of POM as heart valve leaflets.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Blood Platelets ; Carbon ; chemistry ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Platelet Adhesiveness ; Resins, Synthetic ; chemistry ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry

AIM:Activin A,a member of transforming growth factor superfamily,is the negative regulator factor in liver regeneration. In this study,the effects of extract of Ginkgo Biloba on hepatic fibrosis and the expression of Activin A in rats with cirrhosis were investigated. METHODS:The experiment was performed at in the Central Laboratory of Wuhan First Hospital from September 2005 to December 2006. ①Thirty-six male SD rats of(160?20) g were randomized into 3 groups:control group,model group and treatment group. ② Except the rats in the control group,others were intraperitoneally injected with 500 mL/L CCl4 for 8 weeks to establish models of hepatic fibrosis. Meanwhile,the extract treatment group was infused with the extract of Ginkgo Biloba(Chinese drugs preparation laboratory of Wuhan First Hospital,detected by Hubeu Wushi Medicine Industry Co.,Ltd. No. 02-391) daily for 8 weeks. ③After administration,all anesthetized rats were sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for the determination of liver function biochemical indexes. Liver tissue samples were used for histopathological examinations. The expression of Activin A was determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS:All 36 rats were involved in the final analysis. ①The liver function in extract treatment group was significantly improved compared with that in model group. ②The grade of fibrosis in extract treatment group were remarkably lower than that in model group under light microscope. ③The positive staining of Activin A in treatment group was significantly reduced compared with model group. ④The expression of Activin A mRNA in extract treatment group was significantly reduced compared with model group. CONCLUSION:Extract of Ginkgo Biloba can effectively decrease the expression of Activin A in rats with hepatic fibrosis caused by CCl4,and lessen the degree of hepatic fibrosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of MK-801 on levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID)in Parkinson' s disease (PD). MethodsRat models ( n = 25) of Parkinsonism related motor complications were established and were randomly divided into levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) group (n = 10), MK801 treatment group (n = 10) and PD group (n =5). Another 5 rats were served as control group. The behaviors of LID rats treated with MK-801 were observed. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were used to determine the expression of β-arrestin1 in the striate of rats.Results After MK-801 treatment, abnormalinvoluntarymovementscores and peakturning weredecreasedin LIDrats.Immunohistochemistry showed that β-arrestin1-positive cells of the lesioned side ((2. 95 ± 0. 44) × 104) in LID rats were decreased compared to the contralateral side ( ( 3.78 ± 0. 37 ) × 104, t = 5. 415, P ＜ 0. 05 ).Western blot showed that the levels of β-arrestinl in PD group ( presented as lesioned side/contralateral side) were ( 81.02％ ± 2. 23％ ). The levels of β-arrestin1 (64. 88％ ± 3. 10％ ) were deceased in LID rats compared to PD rats ( t = 9.47, P ＜ 0. 01 ). However, the levels of β-arrestin1 ( 89. 26％ ± 1.90％ )were increased in MK-801-treated rats (t = 14. 82, P ＜0. 01). ConclusionsMK-801 reduces LID in PD rats. The beneficial effect of MK-801 may be mediated through the increased expression of β-arrestinl which in turninhibits the overactivation of glutamate receptors.

Objective To investigate the relationship between G protein-coupled receptor kinase 6 (GRK6) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the mechanism study underlying motor complications in Parkinson's disease (PD).Methods The rat models (n= 25) of Parkinsonism related motor complications were established and were randomly divided into levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) group (n= 10,intraperitoneal injection of levodopa for 23 d),MK-801 treatment group (n= 10,intraperitoneal injection of MK-801 at day23 after intraperitoneal injection with levodopa for 22 days) and PD group (n= 5,intraperitoneal injection of vitamin C).Another 5 rats were served as controls (sham-operation group).The behavior changes of rats in MK-801 treatment group were observed,and the expression of GRK6 in the striate of rats was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results After the chronic treatment with levodopa methyl ester,PD rats displayed abnormal involuntary movements,which was similar to levodopainduced dyskinesia in PD patients.Immunohistochemistry showed that GRK6-positive cells of lesion side were decreased in LID rats as compared with PD rats [(3.23±0.41 ) × 103 vs.(4.81 ± 1.31 ) ×103,P＜0.01].Rats in MK-801 treatment group displayed the decreased AIM scores and increased peak rotation,and the increased GRK6-positive cells of lesion side as compared with LID rats (P＜0.05).Western blot showed that the levels of GRK6 was 83.7% ±2.1% in PD group (presented as lesion side/unlesion side),76.8% ± 2.2% in LID group and 91.1% ± 2.7% in MK-801 treatment group (intergroups comparison:all P＜0.05).These results were in accordance with the results of immunohistochemistry.Conclusions Antagonist of NMDA receptor can be used to reduce the motor complications in rats.It may be due to increased GRK6 which inhibits the overactivation of glutamic acid receptors.

In order to construct and express human cardiac troponin C-linker-troponin I(P) [ cTnC-linker-TnI(P)] fusion protein, detect its activity and prepare lyophilized protein, we searched the CDs of human cTnC and cTnI from GenBank, synthesized cTnC and cTnI(30-110aa) into cloning vector by a short DNA sequence coding for 15 neutral amino acid residues. pCold I-cTnC-linker-TnI(P) was constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). Then, cTnC-linker-TnI(P) fusion protein was induced by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). Soluable expression of cTnC-linker-TnI(P) in prokaryotic system was successfully obtained. The fusion protein was purified by Ni²⁺ Sepharose 6 Fast Flow affinity chromatography with over 95% purity and prepared into lyophilized protein. The activity of purified cTnC-linker-TnI(P) and its lyophilized protein were detected by Wondfo Finecare™ cTnI Test. Lyophilized protein of cTnC-linker-TnI(P) was stable for 10 or more days at 37 °C and 4 or more months at 25 °C and 4 °C. The expression system established in this research is feasible and efficient. Lyophilized protein is stable enough to be provided as biological raw materials for further research.
Escherichia coli ; Freeze Drying ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Troponin C ; biosynthesis ; Troponin I ; biosynthesis

Objective To explore the effect of glucose regulated protein (GRP)78 on the neuronal apoptosis after cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. Methods Middle cerebral artery ischemia reperfusion rat's models were used with the modified filament method. The expression of GRP78 in the ischemic penumbra tissue was detected by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry at different time points. Primary cultured rat's neurons were exposed to hypoxia and subsequently reoxygenation. Western blot was used to investigate the expression of GRP78. The changes of the neuronal apoptosis after overexpression of GRP78 induced by 2-deoxyglucose were detected. Results The expression of GRP78 in the ischemic penumbra tissue in model group was significantly increased (mRNA : 0.7367±0.0651, F= 477.160, P < 0.01 ; Protein : 0. 8129±0. 0748, F=39.857, P < 0.01). The neuronal survival status was increased after overpression of GRP78 (increased by 39.22% ± 0. 44%, t=46.374, P < 0.01) while the neuronal apoptosis was decreased (decreased by 16.60±1.02, t=7.530, P <0.01). Conclusion Focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion can induce endoplasmic reticulum stress which plays a role in the neuronal apoptosis. The increased expression of GRP78 may protect the ischemic tissue from neuronal apoptosis.

Objective To examine the serum homocysteine,folic acid and Vitamin B12 levels in macrocytic anemia patients and observe their dynamic changes following therapy. Methods Homocysteine,folic acid and Vita-min B12 were analyzed by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay. Complete blood cell count was analyzed by opti-cal method and resistance method. Results The homocysteine is significantly higher in nutritional megaloblastic a-nemia[ (71.26±27.84)μmoL/L ] than in drug-induced megaloblastic anemia[(11.44±5.06)μmol/L],in myel-odysplastic syndrome[ (9.51±4.13)μmol/L] and in the normal control group[(8.74±5.42)μmoL/L] (P<0.01). After treated with low-dosage folic acid and Vitamin B12,the patients with megaloblastic anemia presented slow declining but eventually normal homocysteine levels,compared with those received high-dosages. Conclusion Homocysteine can be used for differential diagnosis of macrocytic anemia. The duration of remaining of abnormal ho-mecysteine levels is related to the dosage of folic acid and Vitamin B12.