OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of extracellular regulating kinase (ERK) signaling pathway on the secretion of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons induced by stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1).

METHODSThe hippocampal neurons of newborn SD rats were cultured and identified in vitro; the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 was examined by Western blot; ELISA was used to detect the effect of PD98059, a ERK1/2 specific blocker on GABA secretion of cultured hippocampal neurons and Western blot were adopted to measure the protein expression levels of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65/67) and gamma aminobutyric acid transporter (GAT); after blocking ERK1/2 signaling pathway with PD98059; RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of GAT-1 and GAD65 after treated with PD98059.

RESULTSThe levels of ERKl/2 phosphorylation were increased significantly by SDF1 acting on hippocampal neurons, and CX-CR4 receptor blocker AMD3100, could inhibit SDF-1 induced ERK1/2 activation; SDF-1 could inhibit the secretion of GABA in cultured hippocampal neurons, and ERK1/2 specific inhibitor PD98059, could partly reverse the inhibition of GABA secretion by SDF-1. The effects of SDF-1 on cultured hippocampal neurons was to decrease the mRNA genesis of glutamic acid decarboxylase GAD65 and GABA transporter GAT-1, besides, ERK inhibitor PD98059 could effectively flip the effect of SDF-1. The results of Western blot showed that SDF-1 could inhibit the protein expression of GAT-1 and GAD65/67 in hippocampal neurons and the inhibition of GAT-1 and GAD65/67 protein expression could be partially restored by ERK1/2 blocker.

CONCLUSIONSDF-1 acts on the CXCR4 of hippocampal neurons in vitro, and inhibits the expression of GAD by activating the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and this may represent one possible pathway of GABA secretion inhibition.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glutamate Decarboxylase ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; secretion

Objective To explore the mechanism of Niaochangshu capsule in the treatment of postmenopausal overactive bladder, through observing its influence on bladder weight and the expression of eNOS and AQP1 of ovariectomized female rats. Methods Female SD rats were divided into blank group, model group, Nilestriol group and Niaochangshu group. Rats were removed ovaries except the blank group. The treatment groups were given corresponding drugs, blank group and model group were given normal saline by gavage. After 4 weeks, the bladders' weight and thickness were detected, the expressions of eNOS and AQP1 in serum and bladder tissue were determined by ELISA, and NO by spectrophotometry. Results Ovariectomy resulted in decreased bladder weight, bladder mucosal and muscular atrophy, and opposite changes showed after given Niaochangshu. The expressions of eNOS and NO in bladder and serum were decreased significantly after ovariectomy, while increased by given Niaochangshu capsule or nylestriol (P<0.05), and there was significant difference between Niaochangshu group and Nilestriol group (P<0.05). The expression of AQP1 was decreased in the model group, and increased after given nylestriol or Niaochangshu capsule. While the expression of AQP1 in bladder had no significant difference among the four groups. Conclusion Niaochangshu capsule can reverse bladder mucosal and muscular atrophy caused by estrogen deficiency, and increase the content of eNOS in serum and bladder, thus play the role in the treatment of postmenopausal overactive bladder.

GJ-4 is crocin enrichments extracted from Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, and our previous studies have shown that GJ-4 significantly improved learning and memory impairment induced by Aβ in mice. Herein, a memory deficit model was developed by injecting okadaic acid (OA) into the lateral ventricle of mice, and the neuroprotection and underlying mechanism of GJ-4 on neuronal injury caused by Tau hyperphosphorylation were investigated. The Animal Care & Welfare Committee, Institute of Materia Medica, CAMS & PUMC has approved all procedures (No.00000318). GJ-4 at different doses was intragastric administration to mice for 16 days. Step-down test and Morris water maze test showed that GJ-4 could significantly improve OA-induced memory impairment in mice, and reduced the loss of Nissl bodies in the hippocampus of mice. GJ-4 could also decrease the phosphorylation level of Tau protein at Ser396, Thr231 and Ser404 via increasing protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity and inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity. Besides, further researches indicated that GJ-4 could inhibit the level of oxidative stress in the brain of OA mice, reduce neuronal apoptosis and inhibit the neuroinflammation mediated by activation of astrocytes in the hippocampus of mice, and eventually achieve its effects in improving learning and memory impairment in mice. According to these findings, we anticipated that GJ-4 might be a potential therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVETo examine serum IL-2 and IL-6 levels in BMS patients with or without depression and make clear the relationship between serum IL-2, IL-6 and mood disorder.

METHODSSerum IL-2 and IL-6 were examined in 48 BMS patients by means of ELISA. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was used to evaluate the depressive symptomatology.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in serum IL-2 and IL-6 among BMS patients with or without depression. Mood disorder was not correlated to serum IL-2 and IL-6, but positively correlated to pain levels.

CONCLUSIONDepression status may not influence serum IL-2 and IL-6 levels significantly, but it has a relationship with BMS. The HDRS can be used to determine depression status in BMS patients in order to help clinical treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Burning Mouth Syndrome ; blood ; psychology ; Depressive Disorder ; blood ; psychology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

Objective To investigate the effect of excessive fluoride,aluminum on Zn,Fe,Ca,Mg,Cuin rat blood.Methods Forty eight SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups matched with their weights:control group,high aluminum group,high fluorine group and high fluorine-aluminum group.Aluminum content in their drinking water was 0,90,0,90 mg/L respectively.Fluorine content of their feed was 5.2,5.2,106.0,106.0 mg/kg and aluminum Was 6.8,6.8,19.7,19.7 mg/kg respectively.90 days later,the level of blood Zn,Fe,Ca,Mg, Cu Was detected by the atomic absorption spectrometry.Results Compared among these groups,Zn,Fe,Mg and Cu content of the whole blood had significant difierences(F=46.25,14.74,6.10,2.93,P<0.05),while Ca content of the whole blood did not significantly change(F=2.81.P>0.05).Factorial analysis showed that excessive intake of aluminum could significantly decreased Zn,Fe,Mg content of the blood(F=42.66,5.41,7.04,P<0.05)and excessive intake of fluorine could significantly decreased Zn,Fe,Mg,Cu content of the blood(F=64.50,37.90,9.75,6.74, P<0.05).The coexistence offluorine and Muminum had interaction to the level of Zn(F=31.59,P<0.05)and did not obviously interact with other elements(F=0.91,1.63,1.51.0.00,P>0.05).Compared with the control group [(131.30 ±13.86)μmol/L,(10.24 ±1.02),(1.71 ±0.19)mmol/L,(20.43 ±4.42)μmol/L],Zn content in the high aluminum group[(90.84±9.98)μmol/L]decreased significantly(P<0.05),so did Zn,Fe,Mg content in tlle high fluorine group[(85.85 ±10.92)μmol/L,(8.49 ±0.68),(1.52 ±0.13)mmol/L],the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05)0Zn,Fe,Mg,Cu content in the high fluorine-aluminum group,being(82.82 ±11.00)μmol/L, (8.16±0.45),(1.46±0.09)mmoL/L,(15.69±2.38)μmol/L,respectively,all decreased signitlcarIdy(P<0.05). Compared with the high aluminum group[(9.43±1.09)mmol/L],Fe content of the high fluorine aluminum group[(8.16±0.45)mmol/L]decreased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusions Excessive fluoride can cause blood zn, Fe,Mg,Cu decline,so can excessive aluminum.Combination of excessive fluofine and aiuminum has 8ignificant synergic effect on the level of Zn but have rio influence on Ca.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of European nutritional risk screening (NRS2002) on inpatients from our department of neurology,and investigate the incidence rate of nutritional risk,malnutrition,overweight and obesity of inpatients from department of neurology and neurosurgery.Methods 817 cases of patients were investigated,those who reached NRS2002 standard were graded on the next day of admission,and those who could not had exact BMI because they were not able to stand or had hydroncus had ALB test on the next day of admission.Patients' adjustment to NRS2002 was analyzed and nutritional risk,malnutrition,overweight and obesity were compared between department of neurology and neurosurgery.Results In department of neurology,the rate of complete adaption was 42.02％,incomplete adaption was 47.89％,and none adaption was 11.93％.while in the department of neurosurgary,the rate of complete adaption was 43.38％,incomplete adaption was 33.82％,and none adaption was 22.79％.The difference was statistically significant (x2 =20.331,P ＜ 0.01).The incidence rate of nutritional risk was 48.33％ in department of neurology and 30.48％ in the department of neurosurgery,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =19.017,P ＜ 0.01).And the differences of incidence rate of malnutrition,overweight and obesity had no statistical significance between the department of neurology and neurosurgery (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions NRS-2002 can be applied on patients from department of neurology,but data collection is affected because many patients cannot stand or have normal communication due to diseases,thus deviation may cause incomplete adaption or none adaption.Patients from department of neurology are more suitable to NRS2002 than those from department of neurosurgery and their incidence rate of nutritional risk is higher.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; enzymology ; prevention & control ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Selenium ; pharmacology ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Yeast, Dried ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the benzene exposure level and cytopenia among the benzene exposed workers in Shanghai, China and to analyze the influential factors for the health of benzene-exposed workers.

METHODSA total of 3314 benzene-exposed workers, who were from 85 benzene-related enterprises selected by stratified random sampling based on enterprise sizes and industries, were included in the study. The time-weighted average (TWA) concentration of benzene in each workshop was measured by individual sampling and fixed point sampling, and the benzene exposure level in workshop was evaluated accordingly. The occupational health examination results and health status of benzene-exposed workers were collected.

RESULTSThe median of TW A concentrations of benzene was 0.3 mg/m3. The TWA concentrations measured at 7 ( 1.4%) of the 504 sampling points were above the safety limit. Of the 7 points, 3 were from large enterprises, 2 from medium enterprises, and 2 from small enterprises; 3 were from shipbuilding industry, 1 from chemical industry, and 3 from light industry. Of the 3314 benzene-exposed workers, 451 ( 13.6%) had cytopenia, including 339 males ( 339/2548, 13.3%) and 112 females ( 112/766, 14.6% ). There were significant differences in the incidence rates of leukopenia and neutropenia among the benzene-exposed workers of different sexes and ages (P<0.05); there were significant differences in the incidence rate of cytopenia among the benzene-exposed workers of different ages and working years ( P<0.05 ); there were significant differences in the incidence of neutropenia among the benzene exposed workers of different working years ( P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMonitoring and intervention measures should be enhanced to protect the benzene-exposed workers in the large enterprises in shipbuilding industry and medium and private enterprises in chemical industry from occupational hazards.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Benzene ; toxicity ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Pancytopenia ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

To study the effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-alpha) on HL-60 cells in vitro and in vivo, MTT and colony forming assay were used to examine the effects of rhTNF-alpha on proliferation of HL-60 cells; AO/EB (acridine orange-ethidium bromide) staining, Annexin-V flow cytometry analysis and TUNEL assay were used to detect apoptotic cells. The effect of rhTNF-alpha on xenograft growth of HL-60 cells was evaluated by tumor inhibition rate, histology, ultrastructure and TUNEL assay. The results showed that rhTNF-alpha inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Staining of cells with AO/EB revealed that rhTNF-alpha induced nuclear chromatin condensation and fragmentation. Positive Annexin V-FITC on cell membrane showed that rhTNF-alpha induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. TUNEL assay showed that the apoptotic percentage of HL-60 cells reached 37.5% when incubated with 3200 U/ml rhTNF-alpha for 48 hours. In vivo rhTNF-alpha inhibited xenograft growth of HL-60 cells with the highest inhibition rate of 60.33%. Pathologically it was found that there were necrotic areas in the tumors of groups treated with rhTNF-alpha. There were more apoptotic cells in treatment groups than in that control group by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and TUNEL assay. It is concluded that rhTNF-alpha is able to inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 cells and to induce apoptosis of HL-60 cells in vitro and in vivo.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

Objective To classify and grade the environments with Oncomelania hupensis snails inside embankment in marsh-land and lake areas,so as to improve the work efficiency and realize the systematic management. Methods The schistosomiasis endemic area Liaodi and Xiongdi villages in Jiangling County,Hubei Province were selected as the experiment villages,and the environments with snails in the two villages were divided into sections with a length of 500m,then the snail situation were sur-veyed by the systematic sampling method with 10m and 50m a frame respectively. The environments were classified according to the discovery of infected snails and wild fecal contamination,and the numbers of sites with snails and their areas in different class-es were recorded. Meanwhile,the data of sites with infected snails in Jingzhou City during the recent 5 years were collected and graded according to the average density of snails,so as to discuss the correlativity between the grades of environments with snails and the numbers of sites with infected snails and the occurrence rate of frames with snails. Results There were 1 967 sites with in-fected snails in Jingzhou City during the recent 5 years,and there was a positive correlation between the grades of environments with snails and the occurrence rate of frames with snails(rs=0.77,P<0.01),when the grade was 5,the constituent ratio of num-bers of sites with infected snails was 3.1%,and when the grade was 2-3,the ratio raised to 56.3%. There were 39 sites with snails in the two villages,the Class 1,2 and 3 environments included 1,18 and 20 sites,with the areas of 1 080,51 640 m2 and 41 220 m2 , respectively. There were no statistically significant difference between the grades divided by snail survey with 10m and 50m a frame(χ2=4.667,P>0.05),but the time-consuming of the former was 3 times of the latter. Conclusions The classification and grading of the environments with snails inside embankment in marshland and lake areas can master the key point of the snail survey. The subsection and setting frames at a suitable distance can save time and manpower,improve work efficiency,as well as understand the distribution of snail status of the environment with snails,which can realize the sort management of the snail envi-ronments inside embankment.