Objective To study the effects of high salt intake on blood pressure and renin-angiotensin in male rats with different plasm androgen levels.Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were randomized to sham(n=10)or operated(n=10),or castration(n=10),or testosterone replacement after castarion(26.7 mg/kg,n=10)and fed with 8% NaCl for 8 weeks.Tall arterial pressure were recorded before,4 and 8 weeks after experiment.Serum PRA,plasma angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)and testosterone(T)were determined by radioimmunoassey respectively. Results After 8 weeks high salt dietary,blood pressure was significantly increased in sham and testosterone replace ment rats(Sham operation group:137.3?4.0 vs the basal line:117.5?5.9 mmHg,testosterone replacement group: 134.4?5.2 vs the basal line:116.6?7.7 mmHg,P0.05).Concomitantly,sham operation or testosterone re placement rats had higher PRA and plasm Ang Ⅱ content compared with castrated rats(PRA:Sham operation 5.90 ?0.77 vs testosterone replacement group:5.69?0.47 vs castrated rats:4.90?0.55 mol/(L?h),P

OBJECTIVETo explore the function of vascular endothelial cell (VEC) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) of Xin-blood-stasis syndrome.

METHODSSome vasoactive substances produced by VEC were detected and analyzed in patients with CHD of or without Xin blood stasis syndrome in group A (n=112) and group B (n=108) respectively, also in patients with non-CHD but of Xin-blood-stasis syndrome in group C (n=110), and healthy persons in group D (n=100), including nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET), angiotensin H (Ag II), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule -1 (sVCAM-1).

RESULTSThe abnormality degree of ET, Ag II , sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in various groups showed such a tendency as group A> group B> group D (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), while no significant difference in these criteria between group A and group C was shown (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe vasoactive substances secreted by VEC are closely related to the formation and progression of CHD, and are likely to be important pathological markers of blood-stasis syndrome in CHD.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Artery Disease ; physiopathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; physiology ; Endothelins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism

Dingzhi Xiaowan is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine in treating depression, which is a similar formula of Kaixinsan. In this research, a rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS(E)) method was established to analyze the metabolites of Dingzhi Xiaowan in depressive model rat plasma, bile, urine and feces. After we established Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model rats and orally administrated Dingzhi Xiaowan, rat plasma, bile, urine and feces samples were collected and prepared. Using Waters Cortects UPLC C18 column (2.1 mm x 50 mm, 1.6 μm), acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid mobile phase gradient, these samples were analyzed and 33 metabolites of nine bioactive compounds were detected and tentatively identified by Metabolynx. Among the 33 metabolites, three metabolites were identified from plasma sample, three came from bile sample, and 27 metabolites were identified from urine and feces samples. This approach provided a rapid method for characterizing the metabolites of Dingzhi Xiaowan and gave the truly active structures and the action mechanism of their antidepressant effects.
Animals ; Bile ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Depression ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Feces ; chemistry ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Extracts ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The efficacy of Chinese herbal formula in treating depression has been proved in many studies. In this study, six different Kaixin San formulas were compared to investigate their effects on central monoamine neurotransmitters of chronic stress rats and against depression based on their different components in plasma, in order to discuss the efficacy-comparability relationship and the possible efficacy mechanism. The classic isolation method and the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model were combined to investigate the changes in contents in hippocampus and monoamine neurotransmitters (NE, DA, 5-HT) and the components of some formulas in plasma with HPLC and UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE methods. As a result, Dingzhi Xiaowan recorded in Essential Recipes for Emergent Use Worth A Thousand significantly increased the behavioral scores, NE and 5-HT contents in hippocampus and NE, DA and 5-HT contents in cortex, with the best anti-depressant effect. Dingzhi Xiaowan recorded in Complete Records of Ancient and Modern Medical Works showed a notable increase in sucrose preference and open field score in model rats, NE content in hippocampus and NE, DA and 5-HT contents in cortex, with a certain anti anti-depressant effect. Kaixin San recorded in Ishinpo showed remarkable rise in weight of model rats. NE content in hippocampus and DA content in cortex. Puxin Decoction recorded in A Supplement to Recipes Worth A Thousand Gold showed 5-HT content in hippocampus and DA content in cortex. Kaixin San recorded in Yimenfang only showed DA content in cortex. Kaixin Wan recorded in Essential Recipes for Emergent Use Worth A Thousand did not mention the antidepressant effect. According to the results, the formulas' different anti-depressant effects may be related to the different plasma components.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Biogenic Monoamines ; analysis ; Brain Chemistry ; drug effects ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; analysis ; Norepinephrine ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; analysis ; Stress, Psychological ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of morphology assessment of sperm from fresh semen in routine in vitro fertilization (IVF).

METHODSWe analyzed the morphology of the sperm from fresh or optimized semen samples and, based on the sperm morphology of the raw semen, allocated 908 IVF cycles due to the pure tubal factor to different groups: morphologically normal sperm (MNS) ≤ 4%, > 4% - ≤ 15%, and > 15% in Trial 1 and MNS ≤ 1%, > 1% - ≤ 2%, > 2% - ≤ 3%, and > 3%-- ≤ 4% in Trial 2. We compared the rates of fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, -blastocyst formation, and pregnancy among different groups.

RESULTSThe total fertilization rate was significantly lower in the MNS ≤ 4% than in the MNS > 4% - ≤ 15% and >15% groups (74.40% vs 78.61% and 80.03%, P < 0.01). Compared with the MNS ≤ 1%, > 1% - ≤ 2%, and > 2% - ≤ 3% groups, the MNS > 3% - ≤ 4% group showed remarkably increased rates of 2PN normal fertilization (77.23%, 78.97% and 78.99% vs 85.47%, P < 0.01), cleavage (95.71%, 96.01% and 97.27% vs 98.73%, P < 0.05), and blastocyst formation (53.85%, 49.01% and 49.55% vs 63.41%, P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were observed in the rates of clinical pregnancy, implantation, early abortion, live birth, or malformation at birth among different groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMNS ≤ 4% affected the total rate of fertilization while MNS ≤ 3% reduced the rate of normal fertilization in IVF. However, even MNS ≤ 1% did not result in fertilization disorder or failure. Therefore, teratozoospermia alone was not an indicator of ICSI and sperm mor- phology assessment had no obvious value for predicting the rates of embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, and live birth in IVF.

Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

Objective To investigate diffusion-weighted(DWI)magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of the thrombi in patients with cerebral sinus thrombosis(CST),and explore their relation with the recanalization rate alter thrombolytic therapy. Methods The clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed in 14 CST cases,including conventional MRI,FLAIR,DWI and MRV features.The hyperintense signals on DWI at the site ofvenous occlusion were analyzed,and MRV was performed 1-3 months after the thrombolytic therapy to assess the recanalization.The relation between the findings by T1WI,FLAIR and DWI before the thrombolytic therapy and the recanalization rate after the therapy was evaluated.Results Hyperintense signals Was detected in 21 occluded sinuses in 9 patients(41%)with a recellt CVT.Hyperintense signals in the thrombi on the initial MRl were associated with a significantly lowered rate of complete recanalization of the vessel as compared with that among cases without the hyperintense signals(19.0%vs 68.2%,P=0.005). Conclusion The DWI signals of the thrombi in the cerebral venous sinuses can be associated with the progression of the thrombosis,and the presence of hyperintense signals in the occluded cerebral sinuses on the initial DWI may suggest a low rate of sinus recanalization after 1 t0 3 months of thrombolytic therapy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanism of dermal damage in heat shock-induced skin aging by observing the expressions of metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 (TIMP-1) in retinoic acid-treated cultured human fibroblasts with heat shock.

METHODSCultured human fibroblasts were treated with tazarotene or all-trans-retinioic acid (at-RA) after heat shock for 30 min in 43 degrees celsius; water bath. Twenty-four hours later, MMP-1 and TIMP-1 contents in the supernatant of the cell culture medium were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSBoth tazarotene and at-RA dose-dependently reduced the expression of MMP-1 and increased the expression of TIMP-1 in cultured human fibroblasts exposed to heat shock, and tazarotene produced stronger effect than at-RA.

CONCLUSIONRetinoic acid can reduce the expression of MMP-1 and increase the expression of TIMP-1 in cultured human fibroblasts, suggesting its therapeutic potential for heat shock-induced skin aging.

Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nicotinic Acids ; pharmacology ; Skin Aging ; radiation effects ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and blood stasis syndrome (BSS) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSThe ACE gene type in 48 patients of CHD of BSS type, 52 CHD patients of non-BSS type and 54 healthy subjects (control) was determined by PCR assay, also levels of endothelin (ET), angiotensin II (Ag II), and nitric oxide (NO) were determined.

RESULTSOccurrence of DD genotype and allele genotype of ACE gene was higher in patients of BSS than that in patients of non-BSS and control (P < 0.01). ET/NO level was higher in patients of BSS than that in control (P < 0.01). ET and Ag II levels in patients of BSS were significantly higher than those in patients of non-BSS (P < 0.05) and control (P < 0.01). Levels of ET/NO and Ag II in subjects with DD genotype in various groups were higher than those in subjects with Ag II or ID genotype, the highest level occurred in patients of BSS with DD genotype, when compared with the other two groups, the difference in Ag II was significant (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), when compared with control, the difference in ET/NO was significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDD genotype of ACE gene may be the susceptible gene of CHD in patients of BSS type.

Aged ; Alleles ; Angina Pectoris ; genetics ; Angiotensin II ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; genetics ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endothelins ; blood ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male

Most plants can form a symbiosis in root with microorganisms for mutual benefit, Nonlegumes mainly form the symbiotic mycorrhiza with arbuscular fungi. The interaction is initiated by invasion of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi into the plant root, and follows by production of several special signal molecules, such as the symbiosis receptor-like kinase (SYMRK) from plant. SYMRK has an extracellular domain comprising three leucine-rich repeats (LRRs), a transmembrane domain and an cytoplasmic protein kinase domain. Symrk is required for a symbiotic signal transduction pathway from the perception of microbial signal molecules to the rapid symbiosis-related gene activation. Study of symrk may set up a solid foundation for giving further insight on the function and mechanism of plant-fungi symbiosis.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae ; physiology ; Phosphotransferases ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; classification ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; enzymology ; genetics ; microbiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; Symbiosis ; genetics