Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of visfatin on matrix metalloproteinases-9(MMP-9)expression and invasive activity in macrophages.Methods THP-1 monocytes were induced into macrophages.To investigate the effects of visfatin on MMP-9,cells were divided into 2 groups:①macrophages+visfatin 12 h;②macrophages+visfatin 24 h.The concentrations of visfatin in each group were:0(control),50,100,200,400 ng/mL.MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression were analysed by RT-PCR and Western blotting,and MMP-9 invasive activity was assayed by gelatin zymography.To investigate the mechanism of visfatin on MMP-9,cells were divided into 5 groups:①macrophages without stimulation(control);②macrophages pretreated with MAPK p38,ERK1/2,JNK pathway inhibitor for 1 h,then stimulated with visfatin(200 ng/mL)for 24 h;③macrophages pretreated with retinoid X receptors(RXR)nature ligand or peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ?(PPAR?)natural/synthetic ligand for 1 h,then stimulated with visfatin(200 ng/mL)for 24 h;④macrophages stimulated with visfatin(200 ng/mL)for 24 h;⑤macophages+visfatin(200 ng/mL)for different time(5,10,15,30,60 min).MMP-9 expression,PPAR? expression,and the effect of visfatin on MAPK phosphorylation were analysed by Western blotting.Results Visfatin not only significantly enhanced MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression in macrophages(P

This paper, from the aspects of neuroendocrine, emotion, learning etc, analyzed comprehensively the characteristics of the influence of prenatal stress (PS) on offspring, including intensity of PS, timing of exposure and individual differences. Despite the variety in methodology, most studies on it indicate that the prenatal stressful events lead to offspring's increased plasma glucocorticoid (GC) level, more depressed-related behaviors and impaired learning abilities. Although mechanism of prenatal stress is still unclear, most studies show that it is concerned with hypothalamio-pituitary-adneral (HPA) axis,dopaminergic (DA-ergic) system, neuropeptide Y (NPY)and serotoninergic (5-HT ergic) system. Moreover, further studies are proposed to pay more attention to the relationship and interaction of various related substances.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the reverse effect of Yinchenhao decoction(YCHD) in dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

METHODThe rat hepatic fibrosis model was established through the intraperitoneal injection with 1% dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN) with a dose of 1.0 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1) for consecutively three weeks, once for the first three days of each. The rats were randomly divided into six groups: the silymarin positive control group (50.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), YCHD high (20.0 g x kg(-1) d(-1)), middle (8.0 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and low (3.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) dose groups, the model group and the normal control group. The model group and the normal control group were orally administered with normal saline for consecutively five weeks. The pathologic changes in liver tissues were observed by HE staining. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), g-glutamyltransferase (g-GGT), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), collagen type IV (CIV) and type III procollagen amino terminal peptide (PIIINP) in serum were determined. The metabolite profiling of amino acid and the content of hydroxyproline in liver tissues were also measured.

RESULTCompared with the model group, YCHD high and middle dose groups could significantly reverse the pathologic changes in liver tissues of rats. YCHD could reduce the levels of ALT, AST, gamma-GGT, HA, LN, CIV, PIIINP in serum and the content of hydroxyproline in liver tissues in a dose-dependent manner, and altered the metabolite profiling of amino acid in rat liver tissues.

CONCLUSIONYCHD has the effect in reversing dimethyl nitrosamine induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1),and to analyze its diagnostic value for prostatic carcinoma.Methods The possible difficulties and the way to solve the difficulties with ELISA spot were explored first.Three agents which could segregate idio-antigen and one technique which could depurate proteinum were designed and developed.The non- idio- proteinum cross reaction problems were solved and the routine method to measure TSP-1 with ELISA was set up successfully.The serum TSP-1 was measured in 14 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 18 patients with prostatic carcinoma.Results The TSP-1 values were (73.77±12.72)% and (121.86±-19.47)% in prostatic carcinoma group and benign prostatic hyperplasia group,respectively (t= 8.44,P＜0.01).The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of TSP-1 and prostate specific antigen (PSA) for prostatic cancer were 92.7%,88.9% and 85.7%,66.7%,respectively (P＜0.01).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of TSP-1 and PSA were 0.9663 and 0.7421 (P＜0.05).Conclusions The determination of TSP-1 with ELISA is feasible.TSP-1 is an ideal diagnostic parameter for prostatic carcinoma and it may distinguish BPH from malignant prostatic disease more exactly than PSA.

Based on the different permeability of DNA-intercalant dyes YO-PRO-1(YP) and propidium iodide (PI) to the membrane of viable, apoptotic and necrotic cells, cell samples were stained with 4?mol/L YP and 4?g/ml PI for 10 min, and the fluorescence intensity of both YP and PI were measured by fluorometer at Ex/Em wavelength of 485/538nm and 530/590nm, respectively. The correlation between YP fluorescence intensity and the apoptotic cell number was confirmed by fluorescence microscope and linear regression(r=0.999,P

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the spatial organization of neurons, astrocytes and vessels in rat brain. METHODS: Cerebral vascular was shown by vivi-perfusion with ink. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry and nissl's staining were performed on the serial sections of frozen brain tissues. RESULTS: Astracytes distributed along the branches of blood vessels, and neurons in the region of the relatively rich blood vessels. Neurons and astrocytes presented regional distribution. CONCLUSION This method can well indicate the spatial organization of neurovascular unit, the regional differences in the distribution may be related to physical activities and the corresponding adjustment function.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; physiology ; Brain ; cytology ; physiology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; physiology ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To study the chemical constituents of K. oblongifolia, silica gel column chromatography, MCI and Sephadex LH-20 were used to separate the 70% acetone extract of the stems of K. oblongifolia. The structures of the isolated compounds have been established on the basis of physicochemical and NMR spectroscopic evidence as well as ESI-MS in some cases. Twenty compounds were obtained and identified as heteroclitalignan A (1), kadsulignan F (2), kadoblongifolin C (3), schizanrin F (4), heteroclitalignan C (5), kadsurarin (6), kadsulignan O (7), eburicol (8), meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (9), kadsufolin A (10), tiegusanin M (11), heteroclitin B (12), (7'S)-parabenzlactone (13), angeloylbinankadsurin B (14), propinquain H (15), quercetin (16), kadsulignan P (17), schizanrin G (18), micrandilactone C (19) and (-)-shikimic acid (20). Compouds 1, 5, 8, 11-15, 18 and 20 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Toxicity of compounds 1-10 were evaluated with zebrafish model to observe the effect on its embryonic development and heart function. The results showed that compounds 7, 9 and 10 caused edema of zebrafish embryo and decreased the heart rate of zebrafish, which exhibited interference effect on heart development of zebrafish.
Animals ; Embryo, Nonmammalian ; drug effects ; Guaiacol ; analogs & derivatives ; toxicity ; Kadsura ; chemistry ; Lignans ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; toxicity ; Quercetin ; toxicity ; Triterpenes ; toxicity ; Zebrafish ; embryology

AIMTo explore whether the anti-tumor action of 17beta-estradiol is enhanced by re-expression of the homeodomain transcription factor Nkx3.1 in PC3 human prostate cancer cells.

METHODSPC3 cells were stably transfected with pcDNA3.1-Nkx3.1-His vector, which carries a full-length cDNA of human Nkx3.1. The PC3 cells stably transfected with vector pcDNA3.1 were set as a control. The expression of Nkx3.1 protein in the cells was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The effect of Nkx3.1 on cell proliferation of PC3 cells was examined with MTT assay. The antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of 17beta-estradiol alone or in combination with Nkx3.1 were estimated on PC3 cells by using MTT growth tests and flow cytometric analyses. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was analyzed using Western blotting.

RESULTSThe plasmid carrying Nkx3.1 gene induced high expression of Nkx3.1 protein in PC3 cells. The re-expression of exogenous Nkx3.1 did not cause a significant reduction in cellular proliferation, whereas the expression of Nkx3.1 enhanced the 17beta-estradiol anti-proliferative effect in PC3 cells. Nkx3.1 expression promoted 17beta-estradiol-induced apoptosis of PC3 cells, as shown by analysis of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase expression.

CONCLUSIONThe present study demonstrates that re-expression of Nkx3.1 enhances 17beta-estradiol anti-tumor action in PC3 human prostate cancer cells. The in vitro study suggests that re-expression of Nkx3.1 is worthy of further consideration as an adjuvant treatment of androgen independent prostate cancer with estrogen anti-tumor therapies.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the relationship between drinking-water type of endemic arsenicosis and adult carotid artery atherosclerosis. Methods In 2009, 285 participants aged over 40 from drinking-water type of endemic arsenism areas and 293 residents aged over 40 from control areas were investigated in Yingxian county,Shanxi province. Portable-type B mode color ultrasound was used to examine the carotid artery of all participants.The carotid atherosclerosis were diagnosed and graded through the ultrasonograms. Content of water arsenic and hair arsenic of 10 people randomly selected in every villages were detected. Results A total of 5 villages with drinkingwater type of endemic arsenicosis as observation group and 5 villages without drinking-water type of endemic arsenicosis as control group were investigated. The prevalence rates of adult carotid atherosclerosis within observation group were 35.09%(20/57), 55.74%(34/61), 38.46%(20/52), 36.51%(23/63) and 46.15%(24/52), respectively,and standardized prevalence rates were 32.5%, 33.8%, 34.9%, 46.2% and 47.3%, respectively and the prevalence rates of adult carotid atherosclerosis within control group were 18.18%(10/55), 30.77%(16/52), 20.00%(10/50),18.67% (14/75) and 21.31% ( 13/61 ), respectively; the standardize prevalence rates were 22.4%, 17.7%, 10.7%,24.6%, 18.9%, respectively. The standardize prevalence rates were higher in observation group [39.50%(113/285) ]than that in control group[39.50%(113/285), T = 26, P ＜ 0.01 ]. The severity of adult carotid atherosclerosis (composition of 4 - 7 scores ) was compared between observation group [ 17.70%(20/113 )] and control group [ 14.06% (9/64) ], and the difference was insignificant(x2 = 0.26, P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence rate of carotid atherosclerosis in drinking-water type of endemic arsenicosis areas is higher than that of the control areas.The study provides evidence that arsenic poisoning can cause atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate regional spontaneous brain activity in mild cognition impairment (MCI) patients with amnesic (aMCI) and non-amnesic (naMCI).Methods Twenty-five aMCI patients,21 naMCI patients and 15 normal controls (NC) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.The regional homogeneity (ReHo) map of the whole brain was obtained by calculating the similarity of each voxel with its nearest 26 voxel time series.The differences of ReHo map across the whole brain among three groups were compared.Results In aMCI group,ReHo values were lower in right frontal lobe and higher in left middle temporal gyrus and left cerebellum compared with NC (P＜0.05,Alphasim correction).In naMCI group,ReHo values were higher in anterior cingulate cortex and right middle frontal gyrus and lower in right parahippocampa gyrus,right middle temporal gyrus as well as right precuneus compared with NC (P＜0.05,Alphasim correction).Compared with naMCI,the ReHo values were significantly higher in left prefrontal gyrus,left middle temporal gyrus and lower in right cerebellum (P＜0.05,Alphasim correction).Conclusion There are differences in spontaneous brain activity of left prefrontal gyrus,left middle temporal gyrus and right cerebellum between aMCI and naMCI,which may be used to differentiate brain function between aMCI and naMCI patients.