The maintenance of the balance between oxygen supply and oxygen consumption is a key measure in preventing acute kidney hypoxic/reoxygenation injury. Morphine can inhibit metabolism and reduce the oxygen consumption. We tried to investigate the protective effects of morphine hypoxic preconditioning on acute kidney hypoxic/reoxygenation injury in rabbit and its influence on expression of caspase-3 protein. Kidney hypoxic and reoxygenation were induced by making the tested rabbits inhale 8% oxygen for three hours firstly, and then putting them in the air to breathe in normal oxygen for another three hours. Morphine hypoxic preconditioning was induced by administering morphine 3 mg/kg, and then hypoxic of 8% oxygen was induced. Caspase-3 protein expression in renal tissue was assessed by immunohistochemical method. In the present study, the expressions of caspase-3 protein were significantly higher in saline-control hypoxic group than in morphine hypoxic preconditioning group ((29.3+/-5.7)% vs. (12.16+1.23)%, P<0.05). These observations suggested that morphine hypoxic preconditioning can protect rabbit against acute kidney hypoxic/reoxygenation injury by decreasing expression of caspase-3 protein.
Animals ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Kidney ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Male ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of influence of phosphoprotein associated with glycosphingolipid microdomains 1 (PAG1) on the biological behavior of human prostatic cancer cell line PC-3M-1E8.

METHODSThe expression of GST-Raf1-RBD recombinant protein, a specific binding domain of active Ras (GTP-Ras), was induced by IPTG in JM109 bacterium. SDS-PAGE and coomassie brilliant blue staining were performed using cleaved product of the bacterium to determine the expression of the fusion protein. GST-pull down essay was designed to detect the level of active Ras in PGA1 and vector transfected, respectively and in the native PC-3M-1E8 cells. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of downstream proteins of Ras signal pathway which may be related to the function of PAG1. Phalloidine labeled by tetramethylrhodamine-5-(and-6) isothiocyanate (TRITC) was used for the staining of intracellular F-actin, Laser passing confocal microscopy was adopted for observing change of the cell morphology and the arrangement of F-actin.

RESULTSAfter IPTG induction, the GST-Raf1-RBD recombinant protein, with a molecular weight of 33 000, was noticed to be highly expressed in JM109 bacterium. GST-pull down assay revealed that the expression level of active Ras markedly decreased after PAG1-transfection while the total Ras remained unchanged. The expression of p-ERK and cyclin D1 in the PAG1-transfected cells decreased in accordance with the level of active Ras. However, the expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and p-Akt didn't show any variation. Additionally, the structure of F-actin was turbulent and the pseudopodia of cells diminished conspicuously after PAG1-transfection. There was a high expression of PAG1 in normal human prostate tissue, however, the positive rate of PAG1 immuno-staining decreased in cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma, correspondent with increasing of the grading index of cell differentiation established in the Gleason grading system for the diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSAn over-expression of PAG1 in PC-3M-1E8 cells effectively suppresses the activation of Ras and ERK, as well as the cyclin D1 expression, leading to an inhibition of the proliferation ability of tumor cells. The turbulence of F-actin and reduction of pseudopodia of cells result in an impairment of cell mobility, invasiveness and metastatic capability. In human prostate and prostatic adenocarcinoma tissues, the expression of PAG1 is related to the cellular differentiation and malignancy.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Transfection ; ras Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of laparoscopic radical trachelectomy and lymphadenectomy in the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer.

METHODSThe clinical data of 6 patients (stage 1a2 to 1b1), who underwent laparoscopic fertility-preserving radical operation for cervical cancer in our department from February 2009 to October 2010, were retrospectively analyzed in terms of operation duration, intra-operative blood loss, postoperative pathology, complications, and pregnancy.

RESULTSBoth radical resection of cervical and pelvic lymph node dissection were completed under laparoscopy, and only the cervical and vaginal cuffs were closed from vagina. The operation duration ranged 155-210 min (mean: 185 min) and the intra-operative blood loss was approximately 60-120 ml(mean: 105 ml). The average length of hospital stay was 18 days without complications, postoperative infection, and bleeding. Postoperative pathology showed no lymph node metastasis, and no ligament, blood vessels, vaginal cutting margin, or upper part of cervix was invaded by tumor cells. During the 8-20-month follow-up, 1 patient had become pregnant for 4 months and no case experienced tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic fertility-preserving lymphadenectomy and radical trachelectomy is feasible for patients with early-stage cervical cancer who have strong wish to have a child.

Adult ; Female ; Fertility Preservation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Laparoscopy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; surgery ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDChemokines and their receptors have been a research focus in transplantation immunology. Chemokines and their receptors play a role in lymphocyte recruitment and differentiation process. This study aimed to observe whether IL-4 and IL-10 may regulate the expression of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4(+) T cells in CBA/JxDBA/2 mouse model and to explore the role of CCR3, CCR5, CXCR3 in immune tolerance in pregnancy.

METHODSThe mouse model of spontaneous abortion (CBA/JxDBA/2) and the normal pregnant mouse model (CBA/JxBALB/c) were used. CBA/JxDBA/2 mice were injected with IL-4 (CBA/JxDBA/2-IL-4), IL-4 and IL-10 (CBA/JxDBA/2-IL-4+IL-10), or normal saline (CBA/JxDBA/2-NS) as a control. The expression of CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4(+) T cells from mouse peripheral blood was measured by the double-labelled FCM method, and the embryo resorption rate was also examined.

RESULTSThe embryo resorption rate in the CBA/JxDBA/2 group without any treatment was significantly higher than that in the CBA/JxBALB/c group (17.9% vs 3.7%, P < 0.01). The embryo resorption rate in the CBA/JxDBA/2 group immunized with IL-4 or IL-4 together with IL-10 was significantly decreased, compared with that in the control and NS groups respectively. CCR3 expression on CD4(+) T cells in the CBA/JxDBA/2 group without any treatment was significantly lower than that in the CBA/JxBALB/c group (0.3738 +/- 0.3575 vs 1.2190 +/- 0.2772, P < 0.01); both CCR5 (3.0900 +/- 1.5603 vs 1.2390 +/- 0.6361, P < 0.01) and CXCR3 (2.4715 +/- 0.9074 vs 0.9200 +/- 0.5585, P < 0.01) expressions on CD4(+) T cells of the CBA/JxDBA/2 group without any treatment were significantly higher than those of the CBA/JxBALB/c group. Significant up-regulation of CCR3 and down-regulation of CXCR3 were found in the CBA/JxDBA/2 group treated with IL-4 (CCR3: 2.0360 +/- 0.6944, CXCR3: 1.3510 +/- 0.5263, P < 0.01) or IL-4 and IL-10 (CCR3: 1.8160 +/- 1.0947, CXCR3:1.0940 +/- 0.7168, P < 0.01). Because of the CCR5, IL-4 and IL-10 (1.9400 +/- 0.8504 vs 3.0900 +/- 1.5603, P < 0.05), but IL-4 alone (2.5310 +/- 1.3595 vs 3.0900 +/- 1.5603, P > 0.05) treatment significantly decreased the expression of CCR5 in CBA/JxDBA/2.

CONCLUSIONSThe abnormal expression of CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4(+) T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion. The pregnancy immune tolerance may be induced through selective induction of CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 expressions by IL-4 together with IL-10.

Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo Loss ; metabolism ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Female ; Interleukin-10 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, CCR3 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CCR5 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR3 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of erythrocyte theology in rabbits with acute renal failure (ARF).

METHODSThirty-eight healthy rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n = 8), model group (establishing ARF model via intramuscular injection 1% HgCl2, and divided into 12 h, 24 h, 48 h subgroups, all n = 10), the arterial blood sample was taken out through carotid artery at corresponding times after anesthetization with urethane, for detecting the indices of renal function and erythrocyte rheology.

RESULTSThe levels of urea and creatinine in plasma of model rabbits at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h were higher than those of control group, and there was a rise trend along with the time extension. The erythrocytes electrophoresis time at 12 h of model group was higher, the electrophoresis rate and migration rate of erythrocytes were lower compared with those of control group; the erythrocytes electrophoresis time at 24 h of model group was lower and the electrophoresis rate and migration rate were higher compared with those of model group at 12 h; and there were no statistical differences in erythrocytes electrophoresis indices between model group at 48 h and other groups. Meanwhile, there was a rise trend in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), K value of equation and emendation along with the time extension of ARF, but these indices only at 48 h of model group was lower significantly than that of control group. There were no statistical differences in aggregation index and deformability index of erythrocytes among groups.

CONCLUSIONDuring the process of ARF, the erythrocytes electrophoresis time lengthen and electrophoresis rate and migration rate decrease at early stage, and these indices gradually return to normal; the indices of ESR increase gradually.

Acute Kidney Injury ; blood ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Erythrocytes ; physiology ; Hemorheology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo explore the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic presacral neurectomy (LPN) in treating endometriosis-associated pain.

METHODSTotally 64 patients with endometriosis were divided into two groups using prospective non-random method. Patients in the control group received only the conventional laparoscopic resection of endometriosis lesions, while patients in the LPN group underwent LPN in addition to the resection of endometriosis lesions. The pre-operative pain scores, intra-operative staging results, surgical duration, intra-surgical blood loss, post-operative pain relief were compared between these two groups.

RESULTSThese two groups showed no significant differences in terms of age, body weight, pre-operative pain score, surgery staging, surgical duration, and intra-operative blood loss (all P > 0.05). All patients were followed up for 6 to 18 months (median: 12.8 months). The post-operative pain relief rate was 89.28% (25/ 28) in LPN group and 61.29% (19/31) in the control group (P = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONLPN can effectively and safely in treating endometriosis and its associated pain.

Adult ; Dysmenorrhea ; surgery ; Endometriosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Sympathectomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have shown that local immune cells in the feto-maternal interface are recruited from peripheral blood, and that chemokines and their receptors play an initial and key role in this recruitment process. In this study, we aimed to determine whether spontaneous abortion is associated with the expression of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR3 on CD4(+) T cells.

METHODSPeripheral blood, spleen, and thymus were collected from the spontaneous abortion mouse model CBA/JxDBA/2 (SA group, n = 14), the normal pregnant mouse model CBA/JxBALB/c (NP group, n = 13), and normal non-pregnant CBA/J mice (NNP group, n = 11). The number of chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR3 expressed on CD4(+) T cells was measured by double-label flow cytometry (FCM) method.

RESULTSIn peripheral blood, the SA group had significantly lower CCR3 expression (P < 0.01) and higher CCR5 and CXCR3 expression (P < 0.01) on CD4(+) T cells than did the NP group. But comparing these chemokines between the SA and NNP groups, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). In spleen, the SA group expressed significantly lower CCR3 expression (P < 0.01) and higher CCR5 and CXCR3 expression (P < 0.05) on CD4(+) T cells than did the NP group. When compared with the NNP group, the SA group had significantly higher CCR3 expression (P < 0.01), but was not statistically different with regards to the other two chemokines (P > 0.05). In thymus, the SA group had significantly lower CCR3 expression (P < 0.05) and higher CXCR3 expression (P < 0.05) on CD4(+) T cells than the NP group, with no significant difference in CCR5 expression (P > 0.05). Compared with the NNP group, the SA group had higher CCR3 expression (P < 0.01), but there was no statistical difference in CXCR3 and CCR5 expression (P > 0.05) between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal expression of CCR3, CCR5 and CXCR3 on CD4(+) T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion.

Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Embryo Loss ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, CCR3 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CCR5 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR3 ; metabolism ; Spleen ; metabolism ; Thymus Gland ; metabolism

Acupuncturists have always paid high attention to deqi (needling sensation) in clinical. However, relationship between deqi and curative effect has not been elucidated yet. In order to have a further understanding on effect of deqi on clinical effect, through study on literature associated with deqi since the establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949, it is held that various factors can influence therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment, including whether needling sensation appears or not, the speed of deqi, the intensity of deqi, different types of sensations as well as propagated sensation along meridians (PSM). Joint launched multidisciplinary researches should be carried out to reveal the influence principle of deqi on acupuncture effect, and to lay foundations for the further studies on mechanism of deqi.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Meridians ; Qi ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDOxymatrine has certain antiviral effects in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but its exact mechanism is unclear. The objective of the present study was to explore oxymatrine's antiviral mechanism by studying its effect on the hepatitis B virus (HBV) specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) surface programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) expression in CHB patients.

METHODSSixty-five CHB patients who had HBV DNA(3)10(4) copies/ml, positive HBeAg, positive human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2 x upper limit of normal value (ULN) were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (n = 33), treated with an intravenous infusion of 600 mg oxymatrine in glucose solution once a day for a month, then with a 200 mg oxymatrine oral capsule three times a day, and a 200 mg silibin meglumine tablet three times a day; control group (n = 32) patients were treated only with silibin meglumine tablet, method and dosage were the same as those of treatment group. Three months later, peripheral blood HBV-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression, HBV-specific CTL level, HBV DNA, HBeAg, and results of liver function tests were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThree months post-treatment, in the treatment group, peripheral blood HBV-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression ((19.42 ± 15.94)%) decreased significantly compared to the pretreatment level ((31.30 ± 24.06)%; P < 0.05), and decreased significantly compared to that of control group three months after treatment ((29.45 ± 21.62)%; P < 0.05). HBV-specific CTL level ((0.42 ± 0.07)%) significantly increased compared with the pretreatment ((0.29 ± 0.15)%; P < 0.01), and the control group posttreatment level was (0.31 ± 0.15)% (P < 0.05). HBV DNA level in 11 cases became negative (HBV DNA < 500 copies/ml, 33.33%), which was higher than that of the control group after treatment (two cases, 6.25%; χ(2) = 7.45, P < 0.01), HBeAg of nine cases turned negative (27.27%), which was higher than that of the control group after treatment (one case, 3.13%; χ(2) = 7.27, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine could downregulate peripheral blood HBV-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression in CHB patients, increase HBV-specific CTL level, which may be one of the possible mechanisms by which oxymatrine clears or inhibits HBV in CHB patients.

Adult ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; analysis ; Quinolizines ; therapeutic use ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; chemistry

OBJETIVETo investigate the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza on hippocampal CA1 neurons in mice with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.

METHODSForty male National Institute of Health (NIH) mice were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 animals each, including the sham group, the model group, the SalB group (SalB 22.5 mg/kg) and the nimodipine (Nim) group (Nim 1 mg/kg). A mouse model of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury was established by bilateral carotid artery occlusion for 30 min followed by 24-h reperfusion. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content, the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) of the pallium were determined by biochemistry methods. The morphologic changes and Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in hippocampal CA1 neurons were observed by using hematoxylineosin staining and immunohistochemistry staining, respectively.

RESULTSIn the SalB group, the MDA content and the NOS activity of the pallium in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion mice significantly decreased and the SOD activity and the T-AOC significantly increased, as compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The SalB treatment also rescued neuronal loss (P<0.01) in the hippocampal CA1 region, strongly promoted Bcl-2 protein expression (P<0.01) and inhibited Bax protein expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSalB increases the level of antioxidant substances and decreases free radicals production. Moreover, it also improves Bcl-2 expression and reduces Bax expression. SalB may exert the neuroprotective effect through mitochondria-dependent pathway on hippocampal CA1 neurons in mice with cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury and suggested that SalB represents a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; drug therapy ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; pathology ; Cell Count ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Neurons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism