OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Chinese herbal medicine Baotai Granule (BTG, a self-made preparation) on CD antigen blocking efficiency, prolactin (PRL) and progesterone (P) in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

METHODSThirty-four women suffered from RSA were treated with BTG, twice every day, 1 package (10 g) in each time by orally intake. Changes of the efficiency of serum blocking antibody in them to the CD antigen in their husband's peripheral T-lymphocytes before and after treatment were observed. And the changes of blood levels of PRL and P were also monitored.

RESULTSFetus had successfully protected in 30 women (88.2%), in them, the efficiency of blocking to CD3, CD4 and CD8 after treatment were all higher than that before treatment, and levels of PRL and P in peripheral blood increased along with the increase of gestational age, while no obvious change was found in those who failed to complete pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONChinese herbal medicine could protect the fetus by regulating the response between endocrine and immunity network during pregnancy.

Abortion, Habitual ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Antibodies, Blocking ; drug effects ; Antigens, CD ; drug effects ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; blood ; Prolactin ; blood ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) on the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs).

METHODSHRMCs were cultured in vitro with medium containing different doses of AGE-BSA or BSA (50,100, 200, 400 mg/L) for 48 hours, or with AGE-BSA (200 mg/L) for different times (12, 24, 48, 72 h). Immunocytochemistry assay was used to estimate the protein level of RAGE. The ROS in cells were measured by flow cytometry and the mRNA expression of MCP-1 were analyzed by semi-quantiative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after treatment with AGE-BSA or BSA.

RESULTSThe protein level of RAGE was upregulated in the HRMCs with AGE-BSA. The expression of ROS and MCP-1 significantly enhanced by incubation of AGE-BSA in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The effects of AGE-BSA-induced up-regulation of ROS and MCP-1 level was significantly blocked by neutralizing antibodies to RAGE, while the expression of ROS and MCP-1 stood nearly unchanged after cultured with huamn IgG.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ROS and MCP-1 in HRMCs is induced by AGE-BSA through RAGE, which may have potential effects in the pathgenic mechanism of diabetic nephropathy.

Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mesangial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; pharmacology

In order to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of triptolide (TP) on 4T1 mice breast cancer cell line in vitro and in mouse model, as well as the possible mechanisms, we detected the effect of TP on cell proliferation by MTT assay or Crystal Violet Staining in our research. Flowcytometry combined with FITC-Annexin V/PI staining were used for detecting TP induced 4T1 cell apoptosis. The protein expression of ERalpha, p-ERalpha, ERbeta, p-ERbeta, ERK, p-ERK, p38, p-p38, SAPK/JNK, and p-SAPK/JNK was tested by western blotting. We also compare TP with chemotherapy drug doxorubicin in 4T1 tumor bearing BLAB/c mice model, the Xenogen bioluminescence imaging, H&E, and IHC result indicated that TP exhibits an anticancer proliferation activity. As a result, TP in 100, 10, 1, 0.1 micromol x L(-1), all inhibited the proliferation of 4T1 cells by MTT assay and Crystal Violet Staining. TP which concentrations is 10, 1, 0.1 micromol x L(-1) could induce the apoptosis of 4T1 cells and reduce the cell proliferation. TP in 200 microg x kg(-1) could inhibit the tumor growth in vivo. The anticancer proliferation of TP was involved in its effect on reducing expression of ERalpha, p-ERalpha, ERbeta, and p-ERbeta, but nothing to do with the activation of MAPK signaling pathway.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

Objective: To investigate the marriage intention and its influencing factors among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), so as to provide the reference for formulating high-risk behavior intervention strategies and reducing the risk of HIV transmission among this population. Methods: Unmarried HIV-infected MSM were sampled from newly reported HIV/AIDS patients in Gongshu District of Hangzhou City from 2020 to 2022. Participants' sociodemographic information, family status and marriage intention were collected using questionnaire surveys. Factors affecting marriage intention were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 430 questionnaires were allocated and 400 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 93.02%. The respondents had a mean age of (28.90±4.67) years, and included 271 cases with registered residence outside Hangzhou City (67.75%). There were 82 cases indicating that they would probably or definitely get married, accounting for 20.50%, including 46 cases (56.10%) aged 30 years and older, 67 cases (81.71%) engaged in commercial services/freelance work/worker and 53 cases (64.63%) being the only children. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that unmarried HIV-infected MSM who were aged 30 years and older (OR=2.751, 95%CI: 1.230-6.154), had a monthly income of <10 000 Yuan (5 000 to <10 000 Yuan, OR=7.010, 95%CI: 2.049-23.981; <5 000 Yuan, OR=5.229, 95%CI: 1.803-15.165), had a high school education and below (OR=5.935, 95%CI: 1.775-19.844), were the only children (OR=3.407, 95%CI: 1.468-7.910), came from families with economic conditions above the average level (OR=8.906, 95%CI: 2.070-38.308), did not disclose their sexual orientation (OR=3.298, 95%CI: 1.118-9.727), held a positive attitude towards government policies (OR=70.544, 95%CI: 14.583-341.237), had no homosexual intercourse in the past six months (OR=3.583, 95%CI: 1.278-10.044), and had not informed their sexual partners of their HIV status (OR=2.910, 95%CI: 1.228-6.897) were more willing to get married. Conclusion A certain proportion of unmarried HIV-infected MSM in Gongshu District are willing to get married, and their marriage intention is affected by age, educational level, family economic conditions, the only children or not, disclosing sexual orientation or not, having homosexual intercourse in the past six months or not, informing sexual partners of HIV status or not, and the attitude towards government policies.

The role of pulchinenoside (PULC) in the regulation of MeCP2 expression was investigated in RA model rats. Adjuvant arthritis rats were used as RA model rats, and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from the RA model rats were cultured. The effect of 100 mg x kg(-1) PULC gavage treatment on the MeCP2 expression and the effect of MeCP2 siRNA on the expression of SFRP2 and β-catenin were detected by real time qPCR and Western blotting. The role of PULC in the FLS proliferation was detected by MTT. The results showed that the MeCP2 expression was down-regulated, the SFRP2 expression was up-regulated and the FLS proliferation was inhibited in FLS after therapy. MeCP2 siRNA significantly inhibited the MeCP2 expression, up-regulated the SFRP2 expression and inhibited the β-catenin expression in FLS from RA model rats. PULC may increase the SFRP2 expression, inhibit the Wnt signaling and inhibit the FLS proliferation in FLS from the RA model rats by inhibiting the MeCP2 expression.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

Lonicerae Japonicae Flos was one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicine for its special biological activities. The content of luteoloside, one of its major compounds, was an important standard for the quantity control of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos. The major method used for the detection of luteoloside was instrumental analysis. Compared with the ELISA method, instrumental analysis was time-consuming, complex pretreatment and low-throughout. Thus, it was significantly important to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for luteoloside analysis. Here, the conjugates of luteoloside-bovine (LG-BSA) and luteoloside-ovalbumin (LG-OVA) were produced as the immunogen and coating antigen by the carbodiimide ( CDI) method, respectively. The conjugation ratio of carrier protein and the hapten in the conjugate were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry (UV). LG-BSA conjugate was used to immunize Bal b/c mice to produce antiserum. The titer and specificity of antiserum were detected by ELISA. The conjugation ratio of hapten and carries protein were 3. 7: 1 (LG-BSA) and 1. 0: 1 (LG-OVA). The antiserum titer was higher than 2 000 with the linear range of 18.4-4 852.4 μg x L(-1), R2 = 0.988 4 and IC50 = 298.7 μg x L(-1). The result showed that the conjugate antigen LG-BSA was synthesized successfully and the mice can produce specific antiserum injected with artificial antigen.
Animals ; Antibodies ; analysis ; immunology ; Antigens ; chemistry ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Female ; Immunization ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

To study the effect of pulchinenoside (PULC) on the Frizzled (FZD) expression of adjuvant arthritis ( AA) rats. AA rats were prepared through the toe injection with complete Freund's adjuvant to culture fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). The effect of the oral administration with PULC on the FZD8 expression was detected by the real time qPCR. The effect of FZD8 knockout on the expressions of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 were detected by MTT and ELISA. The role of miR-375 in the abnomal expression of FZD8 was detected by the real time qPCR. The results showed signfiicant decrease in the FZD8 expression among AA rats, FLS proliferation ater FZD8 knockout and IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 expressions and notable increase in miR-375 expression after the oral administration with PULC. The up-regulated miR-375 expression can inhibit the FZD8 expression. PULC may inhibit the FZD8 expression by up-regulating the miR-375 expression.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; administration & dosage

Objective To analyze the relation between ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging and pathological changes in patients with lupus nephritis (LN).Methods Ten normal control and 29 patients with LN underwent ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging.The LN patients were divided into two groups:silent LN (SLN) group,18 patients;and obvious LN (OLN) group,11 patients.For each case,glomerular filtration rate (GFR),peak time (t_p),half excretion time (t_(1/2)) and the excretion rate at 20 min (R_(20)) were calculated.Assessment of renal function on the scintigraphic images was evaluated by nuclear medicine physicians.The t-test,Fisher'exact probability and R×C association were used for data analysis.Results There were significant differences between normal people and two goups of LN in tp(t=5.3,9.3,both P＜0.05),t_(1/2)(t=6.9,12.0,both P＜0.05)and R_(20)(t=10.1,12.1,both P＜0.05).As to GFR,there was significant decrease in OLN patients(t=4.1,P＜0.05),but not in SLN patients(t=1.7,P＞0.05).Diagnoses of renal function by renal dynamic imaging were compared with the renal pathological changes (r=0.2273,P＜0.05).Conclusions ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging is useful for evaluation of the early stage renal function for LN patients and to diagnose LN patients with no symptom of renal impairment.It may help to assess the degree of renal parenchymal damage while obviating the need for renal biopsy in these patients.

BACKGROUNDThe CRF07_BC recombinant strain has been one of the most predominantly circulated HIV-1 strains in China, it is therefore necessary and urgent to develop a relevant animal model to evaluate candidate vaccines targeting HIV-1 CRF07_BC. A highly replication-competent simian/human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIV) construct containing the Chinese CRF07_BC HIV-1 env gene with the ability to infect Chinese rhesus monkeys would serve as an important tool in the development of HIV vaccines. The aim of this study was to examine whether SHIV XJDC6431 with the env fragment from a Chinese HIV-1 isolate virus could infect the human and monkey peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), establish infection in Chinese rhesus macaque.

METHODSA SHIV strain was constructed by replacing the rev/env genes of SHIV KB9 with the corresponding fragment derived from the HIV-1 CRF07_BC strain. The infectious activity of the SHIV clones was determined in vitro in PBMCs from both non-human primate animals and humans. Finally, one Chinese rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) was infected with one SHIV via intravenous infusion.

RESULTSOne SHIV clone designated as SHIV XJDC6431, was generated that could infect macaque and human PBMC. The virus produced from this clone also efficiently infected the CCR5-expressing GHOST cell lines, indicating that it uses CCR5 as its coreceptor. Finally, the virus was intravenously inoculated into one Chinese rhesus macaque. Eventually, the animal became infected as shown by the occurrence of viremia within 3 of infection. The viral load reached 105 copies of viral RNA per ml of plasma during the acute phase of infection and lasted for 10 weeks post infection.

CONCLUSIONSWe conclude that SHIV XJDC6431 is an R5-tropic chimeric virus, which can establish infection not only in vitro but also in vivo in the Chinese rhesus macaque. Although the animal inoculated with SHIV XJDC6431 became infected without developing a pathologic phenotype, the virus efficiently replicated with a persistent level of viral load in the plasma. This suggested that the SHIV could be used as a tool to test candidate AIDS vaccines targeting the Chinese HIV-1 CRF_07BC recombinant strain.

Animals ; Chimera ; Genes, env ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Macaca mulatta ; Proviruses ; genetics ; Receptors, CCR5 ; physiology ; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics ; physiology

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, B-Cell ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies