AIM:To investigate the protective effect of nerve growth factor combined with Ginkgo biloba extract on retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) injury in rabbits with experimental high intraocular pressure.METHODS:Establishment of rabbit glaucoma ischemia reperfusion model.Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups:nerve growth factor group, Ginkgo biloba extract group and combination group.Respectively, in the continuous administration of 1, 7, 14d.We observed the morphological changes of the tissues of the retina.The levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), nitric oxide(NO) and malondialdehyde(MDA) in retinal tissue were measured.RESULTS:Respectively, first, in the continuous administration of 1, 7, 14d, the contents of MDA and NO in Ginkgo biloba extract group and nerve growth group were higher than that in combination group (P<0.05).Secondly, the SOD content of Ginkgo biloba extract group and nerve growth group were lower than that of combination group at each time point (P<0.05).At each time point, the number of HE staining of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) showed that the loss of RGCs in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the other groups, and the ganglion cell count showed that the Ginkgo biloba extract group and the neuronal growth group were lower (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Nerve growth factor combined with Ginkgo biloba extract has better protective effect on retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.The mechanism may be related to the decrease of free radicals and increase the activity of SOD in retinal tissue.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in the elderly. Methods The clinical characters of HCM in 70 elderly patients were retrospectively analysed. Results Among the 196 identified HCM patients, 70 were elders. Out of them, 7 patients(10.0%) were suspected as HCM according to the clinical symptoms, 29 patients (41.4%)were suspected as other cardiac diseases, 34 (48.3%) were diagnosed HCM due to other reasons. Among the 70 patients, 12 patients(17.1%) had history of cerebrovascular diseases, 54 (77.1%) manifested symptoms after 45 years of age and 4 (5.7%) showed no obvious symptoms. Among them, 18 patients were examined by UCG for two times and HCM was diagnosed at the second time. Conclusions HCM in the elderly is not an uncommon disease. The onset of cardiac symptoms is relatively late in the elderly HCM and frequently misdiagnosed; cerebrovascular diseases are commonly seen in elderly HCM patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Child ; Female ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective:To explore the expression and clinical significance of late autophagy in per-ipheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with primary gouty arthritis (GA).Methods:Peripheral blood, clinical data, and laboratory tests were collected from 30 patients with acute gout (AG), 30 patients with intermittent gout (IG), and 50 healthy controls (HC). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect mRNA expression levels of autophagy-related genes (ATG5, ATG12, ATG16, ATG3, ATG7, ATG10, ATG4B, LC3-2/LC3B). Measurement data conformed to normal distribution were tested using t test or analysis of variance (ANOVA), and non-normal distribution data were tested using Mann-Whitney test or Kruskal-Wallis H test. SNK was used for pairwise comparison among the three groups. Correlation between variables was tested by Spearman correlation analysis. Results:① The expression level of ATG5 mRNA,ATG12 mRNA, ATG16 mRNA, ATG10 mRNA and LC3-2 mRNA in the AG group was lower than that of the IG group and the HC group, and the expression level of the IG group was lower than that of the HC group[9.16×10 -3(6.04×10 -3, 15.00×10 -3) vs 14.48×10 -3(9.95×10 -3, 21.38×10 -3) vs 0.08×10 -3(12.21×10 -3, 42.79×10 -3), H=19.377, P<0.001; 18.89×10 -3(13.85×10 -3, 24.92×10 -3) vs 21.13×10 -3(12.11×10 -3, 28.06×10 -3) vs 33.57×10 -3(13.11×10 -3, 49.89×10 -3), H=7.545, P=0.023; 8.72×10 -3(4.96×10 -3, 13.74×10 -3) vs 10.62×10 -3(7.48×10 -3, 24.71×10 -3) vs 20.07×10 -3(11.99×10 -3, 39.56×10 -3), H=20.962, P<0.001; 1.05×10 -3(0.73×10 -3, 1.84×10 -3) vs 1.60×10 -3(0.93×10 -3, 2.58×10 -3) vs 1.69×10 -3(1.05×10 -3, 3.54×10 -3), H=8.193, P=0.017; 2.31×10 -3(1.22×10 -3, 3.53×10 -3) vs 2.78×10 -3(1.68×10 -3, 5.96×10 -3) vs 3.68×10 -3(2.00×10 -3, 5.67×10 -3) , H=7.135, P=0.028]. The expression level of ATG4B mRNA in the AG and IG group was higher than that in HC group, and there was significant difference between IG group and AG group, IG group and HC group[9.95×10 -3(6.32×10 -3, 12.23×10 -3) vs 10.86×10 -3 (8.80×10 -3, 17.03×10 -3) vs 8.07×10 -3(5.52×10 -3, 11.63×10 -3), H=8.531, P=0.014]. There was no significant difference between the ATG3 mRNA and ATG7 mRNA groups ( H=0.539, 3.739, bothall P values >0.05). ② The results of Spearman correlation analysis suggested that in patients with acute gout, ATG3 was negatively correlated with PDW and MPV ( r=-0.499, P=0.006; r=-0.463, P=0.011); ATG4B was positively correlated with HDL-C ( r=0.408, P=0.048); ATG7 was negatively correlated with GLOB ( r=-0.554, P=0.001); ATG10 was positively correlated with ALB ( r=0.412, P=0.024) and negatively correlated with Crea and hsCRP ( r=-0.459, P=0.011; r=-0.375, P=0.045); ATG12 was negatively correlated with MO ( r=-0.434, P=0.017); ATG16 was negatively correlated with ALT and AST ( r=-0.389, P=0.034; r=-0.366, P=0.047); LC3-2 was positively correlated with UA ( r=0.381, P=0.041) and negatively correlated with MPV and PDW ( r=-0.413, P=0.026; r=-0.449, P=0.015). In patients with intermittent gout, ATG3 and ATG4B were negatively correlated with apoB100 ( r=-0.555, P=0.011; r=-0.462, P=0.040); ATG5 was negatively correlated with Crea ( r=-0.456, P=0.011); ATG10 was negatively correlated with TC, LDL-C, and apoB100 ( r=-0.526, P=0.017; r=-0.556, P=0.011; r=-0.515, P=0.020). Conclusion:Autophagy is involved in the development of gout, and is correlated with ibflammatory and metabolic indicators, suggesting that autophagy is an important feature in the pathogenesis of GA.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of Qianjing Decoction in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia (OAS).

METHODSWe randomly divided 100 SPF male rats into five groups of equal number: normal, model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing. OAS models were established in the animals followed by intragastrical administration of normal saline, ornidazole, Huangjingzanyu Capsules (200 mg per kg body weight per day), levocarnitine (100 mg per kg body weight per day), and Qianjing Decoction (10 g per kg body weight per day), respectively, qd, for 4 successive weeks. Then, we detected the concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm, obtained the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), α-glucosidase, and fructose in the epididymis, and determined the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the epididymal tissue of the rats by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm in the model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qianging groups were (35.34 ± 4.22) x 10(6)/ml and (40.04 ± 7.05)%, (48.12 ± 5.56) x 10(6)/ml and (62.46 ± 7.12)%, (47.14 ± 4.87) x 10(6)/ml and (63.23 ± 6.34)%, and (50.25 ± 5.08) x 10(6)/ml and (66.34 ± 7.58)%, respectively, all significantly lower than in the normal group ([53.05 ± 4.55] x 10(6)/ml and [70.20 ± 8.54]%) (P < 0.05), but remarkably higher in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups than in the model rats (P < 0.05). Compared with the thinned epididymal lumen walls, decreased sperm count, and disorderly and loose arrangement of the lumens in the OAS models, the rats in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups showed evidently thicker epididymal lumen walls, with the lumens full of sperm cells and arranged regularly and compactly, similar to those of the normal rats. The levels of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly lower but that of MDA markedly higher in the model rats ([84.12 ± 23.25], [10.56 ± 3.02], and [14.04 ± 2.06] nmol/mg) than in the normal group ([110.04 ± 19.56], [17.25 ± 3.56], and [8.87 ± 1.35] nmol/mg) (P < 0.05), while the former two indexes remarkably higher and the latter one significantly lower in the animals treated with Qiangjing Decoction ([120.56 ± 23.68], [16.34 ± 3.12], and [8.45 ± 1.56] nmol/mg), Huangjingzanyu Capsules ([115.34 ± 21.35], [15.23 ± 3.67], and [8.33 ± 1.54] nmol/mg), and levocarnitine ([116.67 ± 22.67], [15.35 ± 3.45], and [8.05 ± 1.78] nmol/mg) than in the models (P < 0.05). The levels of fructose, LDH and α-glucosidase were decreased markedly in the OAS models ([100.22 ± 12.12] mg/[ ml x g], [322 ± 46.13] U/[ ml x g], and [10.48 ± 2.33] U/[ml x g]) as compared with the normal rats ([128.12 ± 13.45] mg/[ml x g], [428 ± 35.12] U/[ml x g], and [15.34 ± 3.12] U/[ ml x g]) (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the rats treated with Qiangjing ([130.23 ± 13.67] mg/[ml x g] [455 ± 51.50] U/[ml x g], and [18.56 ± 4.67] U/[ml x g]), Huangjingzanyu ([124.16 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [ 419 ± 43.14] U/[ml x g], and [17.64 ± 4.08] U/[ml x g]), and levocarnitine ([123.34 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [430 ± 31.80] U/ [ml x g], and [16.85 ± 5.55] U/[ml x g]) than in the models (P < 0.05). The Nrf2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in the models as compared with the normal rats (P < 0.05) but remarkably increased in the Huangingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05). The SDH mRNA expression was significantly lower in the model than in the normal rats (P < 0.05) but markedly elevated in the Huangjingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the Qiangjing than in the Huangjingzanyu group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOrnidazole induces OAS in rats, which is closely associated with excessive oxidation and energy metabolism dysfunction. Qiangjing Decoction can improve and even reverse ornidazole-induced OAS in rats as well as improve the ultrastructure of their testicular and epididymal tissues. Antioxidation and improvement of energy metabolism are probably the action mechanisms of Qiangjing Decoction in the treatment of OAS.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; Asthenozoospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Carnitine ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oligospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Ornidazole ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of daidzein (DD) on ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload and its mechanism.

METHODMyocardial hypertrophy model of rats induced by pressure overload was prepared by constricting abdominal aorta. The operated rats were randomly divided into sham operated control group, aorta-constricted model group and three DD groups (30, 60, 120 mg kg(-1)). Four weeks later, the heart-weight (HW), left ventricular weight (LVW), the ratio of HW/BW and LVW/BW (LVI) and the cardio-myocyte diameters (MD) after dyeing by HE colar were measured. The hydroxyroline, nitric oxide (NO) and the activity of nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -ATPase in left ventricle were quantified with spectrophotometry and the angiotension II (Ang II) in left ventricle and serum was messured with radioimmunoassay.

RESULTAfter treatment of the left ventricular with DD, vs aorta-contricted model group, NO content, cNOS and Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -ATPase activity were significantly increased, the content of AngII in left ventricle and serum and iNOS activity and the ratio of HW/BW, LVI, MD were significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONDD has protective effects on ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload and its mechanism may be related to raising NO content and reducing the level of Ang II.

Angiotensin II ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a common disease in men, and its pathogenesis remains to be clarified. The precise regulation of cytokines is involved in all types and all stages of CP. The interaction of inflammation, inflammatory cells and cytokines leads to the development and progression of CP. With further understanding of the immunological and molecular biological mechanisms of the disease and more inflammatory cytokines used in its detection, it is of special significance to apply cytokines in the classification and treatment of CP. This review outlines the roles of cytokines in the pathogenesis of CP, particularly chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), their relationship with CP, and their significance in the classification and diagnosis of CP/CPPS.
Chronic Disease ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatitis ; etiology ; metabolism

Objective Streptococcus pneumoniae can form biofilms .The aim of this study was to investigate the biofilm forma-tion of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the relationship with antibiotic resistance of penicillin etc . Methods A total of 147 clinical iso-lates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were collected from 7 teaching hospitals in Nanjing from 2010 to 2012.Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of penicillin, erythromycin, cefuroxime and ceftriaxone were determined by agar dilution method .Streptococcus pneumoniae with various penicillin MIC was selected randomly as follow:MIC≤0.065μg/mL, 0.5μg/mL, 2μg/mL and≥4μg/mL, which was incuba-ted to form biofilms in 96-well plates and 24-well plates for 24 hours.The A values at 570 nm was measured and the biofilm was observed through confocal laser scanning microscope ( CLSM) . Results The biofilm semi-quantitative detection and CLSM both displayed that all strains formed biofilms.The A value of the group which penicillin MIC was ≤0.065μg/mL (0.228 ±0.063) was higher than the 0.5μg/mL group (0.200 ±0.061) and the≥4μg/mL group (0.186 ±0.050) (P<0.05) , and there was no difference among the groups which penicillin MIC were 0.5μg/mL, 2μg/mL and≥4μg/mL, respectively (P>0.05).The A value of the group which erythromycin MIC was ≤0.5μg/mL (0.211 ±0.068) was higher than the ≥4μg/mL group (0.201 ±0.052) (P>0.05).The A value of the group sensitive to cefuroxime (0.216 ±0.062) was higher than the group resistant to cefuroxime (0.196 ±0.054) (P<0.05). Conclusion Streptococcus pneumoniae can form biofilms .Streptococcus pneumoniae with high antibiotics MIC has a trend of weakened biofilm formation .

Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; blood ; Humans ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; Occupational Exposure

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl) lysine albumin (CMLs), a primary advanced glycation end products (AGEPs) isoform in diabetic body, on the function and angiogenesis of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and the protective effect of Danhong Injection (DH). METHODS Human ADSCs were cultured and separated from human subcutaneous fatty tissue using enzymatic digestion and centrifugation. The morphology was observed using optical microscope and differentiation capacities assessed. Cells were exposed to 5 different interventions respectively for 24 h, i.e., PBS, 60 1 microg/mL BSA, 60 microg/mL CML-BSA, 100 microL/mL DH, and 60 micro./mL CML-BSA +100 microL/mL DH. Their effect on the proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and secretion were observed using WST-1 assay, Transwell assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI flow meter test reagent kit, human VEGF reagent kit, ELISA reagent kit, respectively. The effect on ADSCs angiogenesis was observed by in vitro angiogenesis test.

RESULTSCompared with the BSA group, the capacities of proliferation and migration could be significantly inhibited by CML-BSA, the apoptosis promoted, the secretion of VEGF reduced, and the angiogenesis of ADSCs weakened (P < 0.05). Compared with the blank control group, 100 microL/mL DH could significantly promote the proliferation and migration capacities of ADSCs, inhibit apoptosis of ADSCs, increase the secretion of VEGF, and improve the angiogenesis of ADSCs (P < 0.05). Compared with the CML-BSA group, the inhibition of CML-BSA on the proliferation and migration capacities of ADSCs could be significantly reversed, the promotion of CML-BSA on the apoptosis of ADSCs improved, the secretion of VEGF increased, and the angiogenesis of ADSCs elevated (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONclusion CMLs could significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration capacities of ADSCs, promote their apoptosis, and inhibit their angiogeneses, which could be improved by DH.

Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects