Humans ; Perchlorates ; toxicity ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE To investigate the permeability of gap junction composed of connexin 43 (Cx43) for microRNAs (miRNAs) and the impact of gap junction-mediated transfer of miRNAs in glioma U87 cells. METHODS Co-culture assay demonstrated the transmission of miRNAs through gap junction channel into adjacent cells. U87 cells were labeled with green fluorescein protein (GFP) as receivers and cells were transfected miRNAs as donors. Receiver cells and donor cells were mixed together in a ratio of 1:1. After 12 h co-culture, cells were separated using a BD influx flow cytometer based on the GFP labeled. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied detect to the expressions of miRNAs and Cx43 mRNA. Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expressions of Cx43 and GFP in U87 cells. CCK-8 assay is used to detect cell growth. RESULTS Co-culture assays demonstrated miR-34a could transfer between U87 cells. The role of the contact independent could also transfer of miR-34a. Gap junctions inhibitor (CBX and 18-α-GA) showed lower miR-34a expression than co-culture group, whereas gap junctions enhancer (RA and Galanglin) enhanced miR-34a expression. Knockdown of Cx43 could significantly decrease the transferring of miR-34a between U87 cells. Different length of miRNAs (miR-1827, miR-144, miR-203a and miR-1183) were similar to the expression of miR-34a between U87 cells. Additionally, we demonstrated that gap junctions mediate the effect of antiproliferation mediated by miR- 34a in U87 cells. The functional inhibition of gap junctions using either siRNA or inhibition eliminated the miR- 34a mediated antiproliferation, whereas the enhancement of gap junctions treatment augmented this miR34a-mediated antiproliferation. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that gap junction composed of Cx43-mediated transfer miRNAs in different length of nucleotides and gap junction-mediated transfer of miR-34a enhance the antiproliferative effect in glioma U87 cells.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Perchlorates ; toxicity ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; toxicity ; Rabbits

Animals ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Perchlorates ; toxicity ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; toxicity ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:This study aimed to identify the morphology of mast cells by using a modified toluidine blue staining scheme,so as to provide a powerful reference for the experimental basis research of mast cells.Methods:Bone marrow-derived mast cells were induced in vitro.After 4 weeks,the cells were collected,fixed,and stained.Mast cells were fixed at different temperature during different time.The optimum condition was determined by comparing the effects of toluidine blue staining.Results:Bone marrow cells were induced to differentiate into mast cells by SCF and IL-3 in vitro.When mast cells were stained with modified toluidine blue staining,the staining effect was better.Mast cells were round or oval and the cell membrane was complete and the cytoplasm was filled with a large number of purple particles.Conclusion:In this study,we successfully applied a modified toluidine blue staining method to mast cells cultured in vitro.The results showed that the condition at 37 ℃ full fixation with staining could reduce the degeneration of mast cells.This method was easy to operate with good stability.It was suitable for the morphological observation of mast cells cultured in vitro.

Objective To explore the clinical significances of blood gas and dynamic monitor of respiratory mechanics in respiratory failure children with mechanical ventilation.Methods Sixty-four children who need mechanical ventilation over 24 hours were divided into pulmonary disease group(44 cases) and non-pulmonary disease group(20 cases) in pediatric intensive care unit(PICU),from Jan.2005 to May 2008.By Evita 4 ventilator,dynamic monitor of respiratory mechanics,such as respiratory system compliance(Crs),airway resistance(Raw),mean airway pressue(MAP),minute ventilation(MV),oxgen index(OI),Qs/Qt,respiratory index(RI) and blood gas in these children were determined.Their characteristics and clinical significance were analyzed.Results Many parameters such as Crs,Raw,MAP,MV,Qs/Qt,OI,RI were significantly different between 2 groups(Pa

This paper is aim to investigate the pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of neoline in Beagle dogs, and provide a theoretical basis for further study. Ethyl acetate was used for liquid-liquid extracting after 10% ammonia alkalizing. The method of UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was established for the determination of neoline plasma concentrations. Beagle dogs were orally or intravenously administered with neoline for pharmacokinetic and absolute bioavailability study. Good linear relationship of neoline was found over the range of 0.1-4 mg x L(-1) (R2 = 0.9982) and 2-100 microg x L(-1) (R2 = 0.9945). Intra-and inter-day precision, expressed as the relativestandard (RSD) were less than 5.0%. Accuracy, expressed as the relative error (RE) was within 90.0%-115%. The recovery of neoline in dog plasma was more than 80%. After 6 mg x kg(-1) for ig and 1 mg x kg(-1) for iv administration of neoline, the main pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed with Winnonlin software. t(1/2) were (313.88 +/- 63.18), (236.33 +/- 229.84) min, and AUC(0-infinity) were (58,027.40 +/- 14,132.69), (473,578.02 +/- 82,333.08) min x microg x L(-1) for ig and iv administration respectively. The absolute bioavail ability was (73.15 +/- 10.29) %. The method of UPLC-Q-TOF-MS described in the report was sensitive, reliable and specific, and suitable for pharmacokinetic study of neoline in Beagle dog. The high absolute bioavailability of neoline in dog suggested good absorption of neline which was worth of further investigation.
Aconitine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Dogs ; Drug Stability ; Female ; Male

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacies of acupuncture, auricular point sticking, and the combination of the two methods in treating primary dysmenorrhea by using randomized controlled method, for selecting the optimal treatment in treating primary dysmenorrhea, and to explore the nursing care method for primarydysmenorrhea from the perspective of Chinese medicine. MethodNinety patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomized into an acupuncture group of 30 cases (group A), an auricular point sticking group of 30 cases (group B), and a combined group of acupuncture plus auricular point sticking of 30 cases (group C). The patients were given treatment 7 d ahead of the menstrual period, a menstrual cycle as a treatment course, totally for 3 courses. The pain score and clinical efficacies were observed and compared among the three groups for statistical analyses.Result The pain scores were significantly changed in the three groups after intervention (P<0.05), there were significant differences in comparing the pain scores among the three groups after intervention (P<0.05), group A and C were superior to group B (P<0.05), and group C was superior to group A (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.7% in group A, versus 93.3% in group B and 100.0%in group C, and the rank-sum test showed thatZ=7.675,P=0.022 (P<0.05).ConclusionThe three treatment methods are all effective in treating primary dysmenorrhea, while combining acupuncture and auricular point sticking can approach the optimal effect.

AIM: To investigate the effect of hypercapnia on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and the changes of lysyl oxidase (LOX) and extracellular matrix collagen cross-links in the rat.METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normoxia group, hypoxia group, hypercapnia group and hypoxia+hypercapnia group.LOX activity was detected by fluorescence spectrophotometry.LOX protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.The mRNA expression of LOX in the pulmonary artery was detected by real-time PCR.RESULTS: The levels of mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), RV/(LV+S) and WA/TA in hypoxia group were significantly higher than those in normoxia group (P<0.01).Moreover, the levels of mPAP and RV/(LV+S) in hypoxia+hypercapnia group were significantly lower than those in hypoxia group (P<0.01).However, no significant difference of mPAP and RV/(LV+S) between hypercapnia group and normoxia group was observed.In hypoxia group, the collagen cross-links in the lung tissue was significantly higher than that in normoxia group and hypercapnia group (P<0.01).Importantly, collagen cross-links in the lung tissue of hypoxia+hypercapnia group was significantly lower than that in hypoxia group (P<0.01).There was no significant difference in collagen cross-links between hypercapnia group and normoxia group.The expression of LOX at mRNA and protein levels and its activity in the pulmonary arteries of hypoxia group were significantly increased as compared with normoxia group (P<0.01).Furthermore, the expression of LOX at mRNA and protein levels and its activity in the pulmonary arteries in hypoxia+hypercapnia group were lower than those in hypoxia group (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Hypoxia not only up-regulates LOX but also promotes collagen cross-linking in the rat lung, which contributes to the development of pulmonary hypertension.Hypercapnia inhibits hypoxia-induced LOX expression and collagen cross-linking, therefore impairing the progress in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Ammonium perchlorate (AP), mainly used as solid propellants, was reported to interfere with homeostasis via competitive inhibition of iodide uptake. However, detailed mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In this study, AP was administered at 0, 130, 260 and 520 mg/kg every day to 24 male SD rats for 13 weeks. The concentrations of iodine in urine, serum thyroid hormones levels, total iodine, relative iodine and total protein, and malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in thyroid tissues were measured, respectively. Our results showed that high-dose perchlorate induced a significant increase in urinary iodine and serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), with a decrease of total iodine and relative iodine content. Meanwhile, free thyroxine (FT4) was decreased and CAT activity was remarkably increased. Particularly, the CAT activity was increased in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that CAT might be enhanced to promote the synthesis of iodine, resulting in elevated urinary iodine level. Furthermore, these findings suggested that iodine in the urine and CAT activity in the thyroid might be used as biomarkers for exposure to AP, associated with thyroid hormone indicators such as TSH, FT4.