Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) during brain injury of irradiated rats.Methods According to the random number table method,82 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups:50 rats in the irradiation group and the other 32 rats in the control group given sham-irradiation.The whole brains of rats in the irradiation group were irradiated with a single dose of 20 Gy electron beam to establish an animal model of radiation-induced brain injury.All brain tissues were respectively taken out 1,3,7,14 and 28 d after irradiation.The quantificational real-time-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of the NF-κB mRNA while the expression of NF-κB protein was analyzed by ELISA and Western blot.The positioning expression of NF-κB protein in the hippocampus was measured with immunohistochemical staining.Results In the irradiation group,the expression of NF-κB mRNA significantly increased at 3 and 7 d following irradiation (t =37.79,35.30,P ＜ 0.05) and it approached a peak value on the third day following irradiation.The expression of NF-κB protein in whole brain tissues after irradiation was up-regulated and reached a peak on the first day post-irradiation and it was significantly higher than controls at 1,3,7,14 d after irradiation (t =30.94,14.87,27.17,13.27,P ＜ 0.05) then declined and dropped to the normal level by 28 d.The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of NF-κB positive cells in the hippocampus increased at 1,3 and 7 d following irradiation (t =-8.49,-4.47,-3.46,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions After irradiation,the expressions of NF-κB mRNA and corresponding protein first increase and then later decrease,which promotes the development of brain injury.

Intravenous preparations take more risk than oral preparation and externally applied agent.In phaseⅠtoler- ance trial of intravenous preparations of TCM on human subjects,minimum dose and maximum dose should be decided in light of data derived from preclinical pharmacodynamic and toxicological experiments,combined with practical situation in clinic.Dose-ascending coefficient of the should be reasonable.During the application of intravenous preparations of TCM in tolerance trial,clinical monitoring must be done to ensure the safety of subjects.Overall and integrated observa- tional indices should be designed on the basis of the features of preparation types,administration methods,the nature of medicine,etc.,so as to provide full-scale data for safe dose range,concentration of the preparation,dripping veloci- ty and possible adverse reactions,etc.

The chemical constituents of 95% ethanol extract of Melastoma dodecandrum were isolated and purified by chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC, to obtain thirteen compounds eventually. On the basis of their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data, these compounds were identified as quercetin (1), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-(6"-O-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol (4), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O- [2",6"-di-O-(E)-coumaroyl]-β-D-glucopyra-noside (6), luteolin (7), luteolin-7-O-(6"-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucopyranoside (8), apigenin (9), apigenin-7-(6"-acetyl-glucopyranoside) (10) , naringenin (11), isovitexin (12), and epicatechin-[8,7-e] -4β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dyhydroxyl-2(3H)-pyranone (13). Eight compounds(3,5,6,8-11 and 13) were obtained from M. dodecandrum for the first time.
Apigenin ; analysis ; Chromatography ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dextrans ; Flavanones ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Kaempferols ; analysis ; Luteolin ; analysis ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analysis ; Silica Gel

OBJECTIVETo establish an early diagnostic method for detecting female genital tuberculosis.

METHODSEighty-six women with genital tuberculosis during January 2005-September 2007 were examined by phage amplified biological assay, and the results were compared with those from leucorrhea culture, smear and PCR.

RESULTSForty-five patients were tuberculosis positive with 100% of specificity identified by phage amplified biological assay. Twenty patients were tuberculosis positive by PCR. Five patients were culture-positive tuberculosis and no case had smear-positive tuberculosis.

CONCLUSIONPhage amplified biologically assay is sensitive and specific, which could be used for the early diagnosis of female genital tuberculosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bacteriological Techniques ; methods ; Bacteriophages ; Biological Assay ; methods ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tuberculosis, Female Genital ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

Objective It is rarely reported whether myricetin inhibits the activation and function of cardiac fibroblasts and thereby prevents myocardial fibrosis. This study was to investigate the effects of myricetin on the activation,proliferation and secretion of cardiac fibroblasts and its possible molecular mechanisms. Methods Fibroblasts isolated from 1-3 days old rats were cultured and their activation,proliferation and secretion were induced with the transforming growth factor (TGF). The fibroblasts were incubated with myricetin at different concentrations of 1,3,10,30 and 100 μmol/L for 24 hours followed by detection of their proliferation with the CKK8 kit,the transcription levels of fibrotic factors by RT-PCR and the expression levels of α-SMA and signal proteins by immunoflu-orescence staining and Western blot,respectively. Results The expression of α-SMA was significantly up-regulated in the cardiac fi- broblasts of the rats in the TGF-β,30 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β and 100 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β groups as compared with that in the control group (P<0.05) but down-regulated in the 30 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β and 100 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β groups in com-parison with that in the TGF-β group (P<0.05). At 48 hours,the transcription levels of collagenⅠ,collagenⅢ,fibronectin and con-nective tissue growth factor were markedly higher in the TGF-β,30 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β and 100 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β groups than in the control group (P<0.05) but lower in the 30 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β and 100 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β groups than in the TGF-β group (P<0.05). The phosphorylation levels of smad2 and smad3 were remarkably elevated in the TGF-β,30 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β and 100 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β groups and the expression of smad4 reduced in the TGF-β group as com-pared with the control group (P<0.05). The levels of smad2,smad3 and smad4 were all significantly decreased in the 30 μmol/L myr-icetin+TGF-β and the 100 μmol/L myricetin+TGF-β groups in comparison with the TGF-β group (P<0.05). Conclusion Myricetin suppresses the activation,proliferation and secretion of cardiac fibroblasts induced by TGF-β via inhibiting the smad signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the perinatal outcomes of women with pulmonary hypertension complicating congenital heart disease(CHD).Methods Clinical data of 45 cases of pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension complicating CHD from Apr 1995 to May 2007 were analyzed and they were divided into three groups:29 cases of slight group[pulmonary hypertension of 30 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) to 49 mm Hg],8 cases of moderate group(pulmonary hypertension of 50 mm Hg to 79 mm Hg)and 8 cases of severe group(pulmonary hypertension equal to or higher than 80 mm Hg).The types of CHD,cardiac functional status(New York heart association,NYHA),gestational weeks of pregnancy termination,mode of delivery,pregnancy after CHD operation and outcomes of infants were compared between the groups. Results(1)The highest incidence of CHD were atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect(58%, 26/45).The rate of pregnant women after CHD operation was 29%(13/45),they were mainly in slight group and their NYHA class were in Ⅰ-Ⅱ.(2)The occurrence rate of NYHA class Ⅲ-Ⅳ was 7/8 in severe group.The rate of NYHA class Ⅰ-Ⅱ as 6/8 in moderate group.The rate of NYHA class Ⅰ- was 97%(28 /29)in slight group.(3)The rate of term delivery was 93%(27/29),preterm labor 3% (1/29),abortion 3%(1/29),and the birth weight was(3153?399)g on average in slight group.The rate of term delivery was 5/8,preterm labor occurred in 3 cases in moderate group.The rate of term delivery was 5/8,preterm labor occurred in 2 cases,and iatrogenic abortion in 1 case in severe group.The average birth weight between slight group and moderate or severe group had a significant difference.(4)Caesarean section rate was 78 %(35/45)among all patients.The rate of cesarean section delivery was 76%(22/29)in slight group,6/8 in moderate group,and 7/8 in severe group.(5)The rate of pregnant women who had portent heart failure or heart failure was 24%(11/45),overall maternal mortality was 4%(2/45).Conclusions The higher the pulmonary hypertension,the worse the outcome of the mother and fetus;The pregnant women with good heart function after cardiac operation would have a good perinatal outcome.Cesarean section is more suitable for those women.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the potential molecular mechanism responsible for the early time of tumor promotion, gene expression profile was studied in the transformed BALB/c 3T3 cells induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA).

METHODSThe two-stage cell transformation model was established by using the initiator of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and promoter of TPA. Cell proliferation was measured by trypan blue staining and cell cycle analysis was carried out by flow cytometry assay. A cDNA microarray representing 1 152 genes was used to investigate the gene expression profiles of BALB/c 3T3 cells exposed to TPA at 4 h and 24 h respectively.

RESULTSTPA could effectively inhibit cell proliferation and induce the G1 and S cell cycle arrested in the early time. Moreover 19 genes were found differentially expressed at least twofold in the TPA treated cells as compared with the control cells, 9 of them were upregulated and 10 downregulated. Most of the differentially expressed genes were involved in cell proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis, and related to ras or p53 signal transduction pathway.

CONCLUSIONTPA could influence the transcriptional expression of some genes related to cell cycle modulation and ultimately result in the cell growth arrest.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; BALB 3T3 Cells ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Methylnitronitrosoguanidine ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo discuss the technique details of subintimal arterial flossing with antegrade-retrograde intervention (SAFARI) to improve technical success in the treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTO) diseases in lower extremity when there is failure to reenter the distal true lumen.

METHODSBetween May 2009 and Aug 2010, 15 patients underwent endovascular recanalization with SAFARI technique. There were 8 male and 7 female patients with a mean age of 74.9 years. There were 3 patients with severe claudication (Rutherford category 3) and 12 patients with critical limb ischemia (Rutherford category 4 to 6). The clinical and follow-up data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSFourteen patients were treated with SAFARI technique successfully. The technique success rates were 93.3%. The mean ankle brachial index increased from 0.39 to 0.83.Symptoms were relieved in 86.6% patients, Ulcer were healed in 93.3%patients.

CONCLUSIONSSAFARI technique is a safe and effective method in treating CTO diseases, when it is failure to renter the distal true lumen with subintimal angioplasty technique.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo identify the type of the intermediate filament (IF) protein of Angiostrongylus cantonensis and analyze its tissue localization.

METHODSRecombinant pET-IF of antigen IF was expressed in E.coli with IPTG induction, and the expression products were purified by His.Bind column and identified for determining the type of the IF protein by Western blotting. Anti-IF antibody was prepared by multi-spot subcutaneous injection into mouse and used to detect the tissue slices of A. cantonensis by immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTSThe antigen IF were correctly expressed and purified, and identified as a keratin located in the intestine wall and cytoplusma.

CONCLUSIONThe antigen IF is distributed in the intestine wall of A. cantonensis.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis ; cytology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Protein Transport

OBJECTIVETo observe the mutation of 5'noncoding region of bcl-6 gene in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and its effect on lymphoma pathogenesis.

METHODS38 DLBCL, 2 reactive hyperplasias, 5 follicular lymphomas and 5 T cell lymphomas were chosen for PCR direct sequence analysis using two sets of primers in 5'noncoding region of the bcl-6 gene.

RESULTSNo mutation was found in the marginal region of reactive hyperplasias, T cell lymphomas, and follicular lymphomas but detected in 1/2 of the follicular center cells, and 7/38 cases of DLBCL. The incidence is less than that seen in other reports. Basepairs substitution and point insertion were the main mutation types.

CONCLUSIONSThe positive rate of mutation of 5'noncoding region of bcl-6 gene in DLBCL is 18.7%, less frequent than the published data of DLBCL reported in other countries. It may, in some extent, participate in the pathogenesis and progression of DLBCL.

5' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; genetics ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; Transcription Factors ; genetics