Objective:To investigate the protective role of heme oxygenase-1 and its reaction product,carbon monoxide against acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups with five in each.The control group received a single dose of corn oil injection.Carbon tetrachloride was injected intraperitoneally(i.p) to establish acute liver injury models in rats.Hemin(50 ?mol/kg) was administered i.p.12 hours before CCl_4 treatment,with an aim to induce HO-1 protein expression in the liver of rats.Carbon monoxide was injected i.p.12 hours prior to CCl_4 injection,resulting in about 8%-12% carboxyhemoglobin concentration in vivo.The expression of HO-1 in the liver of hemin-treated rats was determined by western blot method at different time points.At 24 h after carbon tetrachloride administration,all rats were sacrificed to collect blood samples for the examination of ALT,AST levels and to remove liver tissues for analysis of MDA concentration,SOD activity and caspase-3 activity as well as TNF-a contents.In addition,histopathological changes were investigated and hepatocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL method.Results: The administration of carbon tetrachloride to rats caused a marked hepatic damage,characterized by significant elevation of serum ALT,AST levels(2 136.3?163.4 U,1 422.7?221.7 U) and liver MDA con-tent(5.28?0.93 ?mol/g),caspase-3 activitiy(optical density value(4.69)?1.02) and TNF-? level(256.3?27.3 ng/L) combined with a remarkable reduction in liver SOD activity(45.9?14.8 U/mg) as compared with the control rats.Histopathological observations revealed severe damage in the liver and prominent hepatocyte apoptosis took place in CCl_4treated rats.However,pretreatment with hemin could induce high expression of HO-1 protein and exert potent protective effects against liver injury,as demonstrated by a significant decrease in ALT,AST levels(287.1?24.3 U,246.2?21.7 U) and MDA concentration(3.27?1.34 ?mol/g),reduction in caspase-3 activity(optical density value 2.49?1.47) and TNF-? level(132.6?19.5 ng/L),as compared with the CCl_4-treated rats.Moreover,hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury were both attenuated remarkably in the liver of rats pretreated with hemin.In contrast to hemin administration,single injection of exogenous CO produced the same protective effects,as indicated by the remarkable reduction of ALT,AST levels and caspase-3 activity and TNF-a levels.Conclusion: The above results suggest that HO-1/CO system has a potent protective effect on acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.Induction of HO-1 expression and low concentration of CO can inhibit the progress of hepatic damage,which might be due to the alleviation of lipid peroxidation and reduction of caspase-3 activity or inhibition of TNF-? level.

Objective To investigate the change of serum leptin and ghrelin levels in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) and their clinical significance.Methods Fifty-four patients with active UC and 25 normal controls were enrolled in this study,and serum levels of leptin and ghrelin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent absorption.The correlations between serum leptin/ghrelin and the main clinicopathological features of patients with active UC were analyzed.The nutritional status of these patients were assessed by using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 ( NRS 2002).Results The serum levels of leptin and ghrelin in patients with active UC were significantly higher than those in normal controls [leptin:(245.51 ± 129.72) vs.( 183.80 ±59.67) pg/ml,P =0.029; ghrelin:(1477.96 ±501.86) vs.(1188.00±474.51) pg/ml,P=0.041]; and both of them were correlated with the disease severity ( leptin:r =0.715,P =0.019 ; ghrelin:r =0.667,P =0.027),but were not correlated with the clinical type,the extent of lesion,and the endoscopic grading (all P ＞ 0.05).In the UC patients with nutritional risk,the serum levels of leptin and ghrelin were also significantly higher than those in subjects without nutritional risk [ leptin:(332.82 ± 172.92) vs.( 194.15 ± 49.71 ) pg/ml,P =0.026 ; ghrelin: ( 1848.60 ±326.48) vs.(1259.93±459.24) pg/ml,P=0.021].Conclusion Patients with active UC have remarkably higher serum leptin and ghrelin levels,which is associated with the disease severity and the nutritional risk.

Cooperation hydrogen production was carried out using Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT and Enterobacter aerogenes. The effects of the initial ratio of Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT and E. aerogenes, culture temperature, and carbon source on the cooperation hydrogen production were investigated. The results suggested that cooperation hydrogen production rate was highly affected by the initial ratio of Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT and E. aerogenes. The mixed bacteria of Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT and E. aerogenes with 1:1 initial ratio benefited to the cooperation hydrogen production, which led the hydrogen production rate and duration of gas production to 3.1 mol H2/mol glucose and 81 h, respectively. The pH dynamics analysis of culture medium further discovered that the pH of the mixed bacteria with 1:1 initial ratio changed from 6 to 7 smaller than other conditions, which was probably fitted to produce hydrogen. Furthermore, the mixed bacteria with 1:1 initial ratio had the higher hydrogen production efficiency at temperatures of 28?C and 37?C than at 20?C, and without any hydrogen production at temperature of 50?C. The carbon sources of glucose, succinate acid, malic acid could be used to produce hydrogen by the mixed bacteria. Even the soluble starch, unused by Rhodopseudomonas sp. DT, was also decomposed by the mixed bacteria to produce hydrogen with the conversion efficiency of 8.22%. The glucose was the optimal carbon resource, and the conversion efficiency could reach to 36.11%. The results, further, implied that the cooperation hydrogen production could enlarge the use of the carbon sources.

Objective To investigate dynamic changes of heme oxygenase-1 and carbon monoxide in acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrach loride(CCl_4)in rats.Method Male SD rats were randomly allocated to induce acute liver injury by CCl_4 injection.Hepatic HO activity was examined at different time point following CCl_4 treatment.Expression and location of HO-1 protein was determined by western blot and immunohistochemical methods.Serum ALT,AST levels and hepatic SOD,MDA concentrations were also analyzed.Results Administration of CCl_4 to rats caused a marked hepatic damage,characterized by significant elevation of serum ALT,AST levels and liver MDA content combined with a remarkable reduction in liver SOD activity.HO activity was elevated significanfly in a time-dependant manner after CCl_4 injection,while the expression of HO-1 protein increased remarkably from 6 to 36 hours.CO concentration in the liver homogenate of control rats remained very low but was elevated significantly after CCl_4 treatment,which was in accordance with changes of HO-1. Conclusions HO-1 activity and protein expression as well as CO production are higher in rats with acute liver injury induced by CCl_4 than in control group.HO-1/CO system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute hepatic damage and may have potent protective effect against liver injury.

To study the preventive effect of sophocarpine (Soc) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, in order to analyze the influence of Soc on toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and janus tyrosine kinase 2 signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signal pathways in mice intestinal tissues. The mice was given 2.5% DSS for 6 days to induce the acute colitis model. The Soc-treated group was intraperitoneally injected with sophocarpine 30 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1) since the day before the experiment to the end. The disease activity index (DAI) was assessed everyday, and the colonic morphology and histological damage were observed with HE staining. The mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by real-time RT-PCR. The changes in key protein kinase p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase1/2 (JNK1/2), extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), JAK2, STAT3 in TLR4/MAPKs and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways were detected by western blot. The result showed that the model group showed statistical significance in body weight, DAI, colon length and histopathological changes compared with the normal group (P <0.05); however, the Soc-treated group showed significant improvements in the above indexes compared with the model group (P <0.05). TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the model group was significantly higher than that in the normal group (P <0.05), but lowered in the Soc-treated group to varying degrees (P <0.05). In the normal group, the expressions of TLR4 and the phosphorylation of P38, JNK1/2, JAK2, STAT3 were at low levels; in the model group, the phosphorylation of P38, JNK1/2, JAK2, STAT3 increased; the Soc-treated group showed a decrease in TLR4 expression compared with the model group, with notable declines in the phosphorylation of TLR4, P38, JNK1/2, JAK2, STAT3. These findings indicate that Soc can inhibit TLR4/MAPKs, K2/STAT3 signaling pathway activation, reduce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and relieve inflammatory reactions, so as to effectively prevent experimental colitis.
Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Colitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Cytokines ; genetics ; Janus Kinase 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phosphorylation ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology

Objective To identify the association between risk of sporadic colorectal cancer and the common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repairs genes, gene to gene interactions among them and their gene to environment interactions with common environmental factors. Methods In this population-based case-control study, 206 primary colorectal cancer cases and 845 cancer-free healthy controls were enrolled. Genotyping was carried out using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique, with the status of subjects case or controls unknown.Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) and logistic analysis were both used for association analysis.Results As compared to the younger age group (≥42,＜61 years), the risk of colorectal cancer in older age group (≥61 years) increased significantly ( OR = 2.04,95% CI: 1.49-2.80). Similar result was observed in the family cancer history ( OR = 1.51, 95% CI : 1.05-2.17 ). However, no significant association between any single DNA repair gene SNP and colorectal cancer risk was discovered. Results from MDR analysis only showed a significant interaction among the four following factors: age, alcohol drinking, XRCC1 Arg194Trp and OGG1 Ser326Cys (the cross-validation consistency = 10/10, the average testing accuracy = 0. 616, P=0.011 ). Using a logistic regression model, the"high-risk"individuals had a significantly elevated risk of colorectal cancer compared to those "low- risk" individuals classified by the above MDR model ( OR = 2.72,95% CI : 1.66-4.47 ). Conclusion The impact of polymorphisms in DNA repair genes on the risk of sporadic colorectal cancer exhibited a low-penetrance characteristics while the intricate interactions existing among them and with environmental factors.

A metabolic profiling analysis method for metabolomic studies of rice leaf was established based on HSS T3 combined with XBridge Amide Q-TOF LC/MS by comparing the influences of different extraction methods in rice leaves of metabolites. The extraction and separation of rice leaf metabolites using three different methods including methanol-chloroform-water,methanol-chloroform-ammonia,methanol-methyl tert-butyl ether -water and different chromatographic systems were compared by the numbers of peaks, identified metabolites and the metabolic pathways. The results showed that the method of methanol-chloroform-water reached the highest coverage rate of metabolites in rice leaves,and the maximum number of unique metabolites including prephenic acid, luteolin, α-linolenic acid, aconitic acid, gibberellin A12 aldehyde, isovitexin, L-Glutamate were detected. Metabolites with different polarity in rice leaf could be detected by HSS T3 and XBridge Amide. A total of 16 kinds of organic acids, 17 kinds of nucleotides, 21 kinds of amino acids, 66 kinds of fatty acids,11 kinds of phospholipids and 7 kinds of sphingolipids were identified. XBridge Amide had an absolute advantage in detecting phospholipids and sphingolipids. The metabolic pathways involved purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, arginine metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, phospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism and vitamin B2 synthesis. It showed certain complementarity between the two columns in identifying metabolites and involved the metabolic pathways. The established method is expected to be useful for the metabolomic studies of rice.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics of children with Castleman's disease and to improve doctors' awareness of this disease.

METHODSClinical characteristics of 5 cases with Castleman's disease were observed and analyzed and relevant reports in literature were reviewed.

RESULTS(1) All the five patients' histories were long, and the first symptoms of them were painless lymphnode enlargement, and all of them were at school age; 3 patients' abdominal lymphnodes were enlarged, mediastinum lymphnodes enlarged in 3 cases, cervical lymphnodes were involved in 3 cases; (2) The clinical subtypes: the disease in 3 cases was localized Castleman's disease (LCD), all of their pathological subtype was hyaline vascular variant (HV). The rest of them were multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD), whose pathology was plasma cell variant (PC), and both of them had a febrile symptoms; (3) The white blood cells, C-reactive protein and ferritin levels were all elevated to different extents. Four of them had viral infections, and their cellular immune function was abnormal; (4) The LCD patients' prognosis was good after the complete resection. There is no standard therapy for MCD, the available therapies include antiviral, immune modulatory regimens, CD20 B cell monoclonal antibody and chemotherapy, but the prognosis was worse than that of LCD.

CONCLUSIONSCastleman's disease is rare in children, which can be misdiagnosed because it has no specific manifestations. The prognosis depends on the subtype.

The prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-30a(+)/sBLyS was constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21 (lambda DE3). The recombinant protein was found to be highly expressed by the plight of soluble part and inclusion body. For the sake of enhancing the proportion of the soluble part, inducement at 16 degrees C for 12 h was ascertained. The expressing product was then purified by Ni2+ affinity chromatography gel. PI of the recombinant human sBLyS(rhsBLyS) is about 7.1-7.3 and it assembles into a homotrimer. The effect of rhsBLyS on B lymphocytes by MTT method told us the B lymphocytes' proliferating capacity dose depended on concentration and also stimulating time of the rhsBLys. With rhsBLyS(2 micrograms/mL) stimulating 3 days, B lymphocytes can proliferate the most.
B-Cell Activating Factor ; B-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Humans ; Isoelectric Point ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Temperature ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Reperfusion is the most effective treatment for acute myocardial infarction, markedly reducing mortality and morbidity. Reperfusion however induces necrotic and apoptotic damages to cardiomyocytes, that were viable prior to reperfusion, a process called myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury(MI/RI). Over the past 30 years, hundreds of experimental interventions (both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic) have been reported to protect the ischemic myocardium in experimental animals; however, with the exception of early reperfusion, none has been translated into clinical practice. The population-based survey assessed men have about twice the total incidence of morbidity and mortality of women, and the sex gap in morbidity tends to diminish after age 45 years. So hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is given to treat the MI/RI, and lots of studies shows that the side effect is greater for estrogen, compared with phyestrogen. In this article, we review the important pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury, the prevention and limitations of HRT. And we highlight the mechanism of phyestrogens treatment the MI/RI in experiment. The aim is to provide the theoretically new way of develop the safe and effective products for the researchers.
Animals ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Phytoestrogens ; administration & dosage ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage