Objective To explore the clinical effect and lung CT change of long-term used of low-dose roxithromycin in treatment for bronchial expansion patients in stable phase. Methods 94 cases collected in the Department of Respiration, The Second Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University from February 2011 to December 2012 were diagnosed as bronchiectasis, 34 cases in control group were given oral treatment for ambroxol 30 mg, three times one day, 60 cases in treatment group were added roxithromycin 75 mg on basis of control group, two times one day. Patients in two groups were both treated for 6 months. The therapeutic effect and the score of life quality and dyspnea scores in two groups were observed, and the changes of CT data were compared before and after treatment. Results After treatment, the life quality score and dyspnea score of two groups were all improved, but the treatment group was signiifcantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). The effective rate in treatment group was 86.67%, which was signiifcantly higher than 70.59%in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, chest CT imaging score of patients in treatment group were improved, signiifcantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Long-term low dose administration of roxithromycin can control and stable bronchiectasis symptoms, and improve signs and symptoms .

Objective To screen for microRNA (miRNA) involved in fetal rat lung development.Methods Fetal lungs were collected at their 16 d,19 d and 21 d of gestational age,and were observed after HE staining.Differentially expressed miRNA (fold change＞ 1.0) were screened by miRCURYTM locked nucleic acids chip.Some differentially expressed miRNA were selected for further analysis to investigate their change trends in 16 d,19 d and 21 d of gestational age.Results (1) Under the observation after HE staining,in gestational age 16 d group,original bronchus was dendritic distributed,with thick interstitial,rare capillary and no alveolar structure existed; in gestational age 19 d group,primary alveolar was seen,interstitial became thinner,and more capillaries were found; in gestational age 21 d group,more alveolar septa were identified and pulmonary acinus cavity was extremely expanded.(2) Two hundred and two differentially expressed miRNA were found.Among them,many miRNA were firstly reported in rat fetal lung development,suchas miRNA-3560 (8.4211415,4.8889050),miRNA-126 * (7.5239524,1.5118160),miRNA-186* (0.980 325 0,0.688 447 5),miRNA-466c* (0.977 220 0,0.877 227 0),miRNA-195 (13.549 629 0,0.985 488 8),miRNA-34a (12.426 133 0,0.604 066 2) and miRNA-466b-1 *(0.993 153 1,1.732 802 3).(3)The expression of miRNA-466c * and miRNA 186 * decreased as the gestational age increased from 16 d to 21 d,while expression of miRNA-195,miRNA-3560,miRNA-466b-1 *,miRNA-126 * and miRNA-let-7b increased; miRNA-34a expression increased during 16 d to 19 d.miRNA 17-92 family expression decreased,while expression of most let-7 family members (except let-7i and let-7e) increased from 16 d to 21 d of gestational age.Conclusions These miRNA might play an important role in the physiological mechanisms of fetal lungs development.

Objective To observe the influence of inactive FRMD4A gene′s expression on the biological behavior of tongue cancer CAL-27cell. Methods FRMD4A-siRNA was transfered into CAL-27 cell by lipidosome, to the expression of FRMD4A-siRNA in CAL-27 cell after transfection was detect by qRT-PCR cell proliferation , was checked by CCK-8,the influence of inactive FRMD4A gene on cell cycle distribution of CAL-27 cell was assayed by flow cytometry. Results Compared with the control group, FRMD4A mRNA expression significantly reduced in FRMD4A-siRNA interfering group (94%) and the cell proliferation index decreased(P<0.05). The cell cycle arrested in G1 period (P<0.05). Conclusion FRMD4A-siRNA could effectively inhibit FRMD4A mRNA expression in tongue cancer CAL-27cell, impact the distribution of cell cycle, and reduce cell proliferation.

To establish a UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of geniposide, genipin 1-O-beta-D-gentiobioside and geniposidic acid in rat brains and study the brain pharmacokinetics of the three iridoid glycosides in stroke rat after the oral administration of Xingnaojing. In this experiment, brain samples were precipitated with protein for twice. Acquity BEH C18 column was adopted, with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid-water as the mobile phase for gradient elution. ESI source was adopted for mass spectra; multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was conducted to detect negative ions. The time for sample analysis was 3.5 min. the results showed good linear relations among the three iridoid glycosides, with the extraction recovery between 99.6% and 114.3%, good intra- and inter-day precisions and accuracies and stability in line with the requirements. The t1/2 and MRT in the three components were similar in brains of stroke rats. Geniposide and genipin 1-O-beta-D-gentiobioside showed double peaks; where as geniposidic acid showed a single peak. In conclusion, the method is so specific, sensitive, accurate and reliable that it can be used to study the brain pharmacokinetics of Xingnaojing oral preparation.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of urotensin II (U II) on the nitric oxide (NO) production in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NO content in cardiomyocytes were measured. The current results showed that U inhibited eNOS mRNA expression, the NOS activity and the NO production of cardiomyocytes. U II (0.1 micromol/L) inhibited the NOS activity and the NO production in cardiomyocytes in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest that the cardiovascular effect of U II might be partially associated with NO production in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Rats ; Urotensins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the overexpression of the ERbeta gene on the penile vascular endothelium of ERbeta knockout (ERbetaKO) mice and its molecular mechanisms.

METHODSWe randomly divided 12 ERbetaKO male mice into groups A (ERbetaKO + TNFalpha + pAdxsi-ERbeta) and B (ERbetaKO + TNFalpha + empty virus), the former treated by pAdxsi-ERbeta adenovirus transfection, the latter with empty virus, and meanwhile both injected intraperitoneally with TNFalpha at 6 microg per kg body weight per d for 14 days. Then we observed the erectile function of the mice by APO, determined the changes of the endothelial markers CD34 and vWF by immunohistochemical staining, and detected the expressions of the relevant molecules in the eNOS-NO pathway by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with group B, group A showed a significantly increased number of penile erections (0.50 +/- 0.55 vs 2.17 +/- 0.41, P < 0.05), shortened erectile latency ([28.83 +/- 1.33] min vs [24.00 +/- 1.27] min, P < 0.05), enriched CD34 and vWF markers (0.67 +/- 0.52 vs 1.50 +/- 0.55 and 0.50 +/- 0.55 vs 1.33 +/- 0.52, both P < 0.05), elevated expressions of eNOS and Cam (RT-PCR: 1.38 +/- 0.03 vs 1.62 +/- 0.05 and 1.02 +/- 0.09 vs 1.42 +/- 0.05, both P < 0.05; Western blot: 1.27 +/- 0.04 vs 1.55 +/- 0.07 and 0.76 +/- 0.05 vs 0.95 +/- 0.08, both P < 0.05), and reduced expression of caveolin-1 (RT-PCR: 2.13 +/- 0.13 vs 1.72 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05; Western blot: 3.99 +/- 0.16 vs 3.40 +/- 0.14, P < 0.05). The results of RT-PCR were consistent with those of Western blot.

CONCLUSIONThe ERbeta gene protects the penile vascular endothelium via the eNOS-NO pathway.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mice, Knockout ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Penis ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and role of miRNA-126/miRNA-126(*) in the fetal lung development of rats.

METHODSTwelve pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups and the fetal rats were removed at 16, 19 and 21 days of gestation respectively. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to observe lung morphology of fetal rats. Then microRNA (miRNA) microarray was used to study the expression patterns of miRNA-126/miRNA-126(*) in fetal lungs at the three time points. And miRNA-126(*) was selected for further study by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThere was no evident difference in the expression of miRNA-126 among the three groups, however the expression level of miRNA-126(*) increased gradually as the fetal lung developed. The real-time PCR result further showed that expression of miRNA-126(*) increased gradually with lung development, displaying significant differences among the three groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSmiRNA-126(*) may play an important role in development of the fetal lung in rats.

Animals ; Female ; Lung ; embryology ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDTo compare the diagnostic values of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in staging hepatic fibrosis (HF) in an animal model.

METHODSThis study consisted of 44 rabbits served as HF group and 9 normal rabbits. HF group was divided into two subgroups: Group A (n = 32) and Group B (n = 12). Rabbits in Group B were served as a complementary group when rabbits in Group A suddenly died during the study. Rabbits from control and Group A underwent abdominal MR imaging (MRI), MRE, and DWI. In Group A, random eight rabbits underwent MRI examinations at 4, 5, 6, 10 weeks after carbon tetrachloride oil subcutaneous injection. Liver stiffness (LS) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of liver parenchyma were measured. The diagnostic performance of MRE and DWI for staging HF was compared using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis on the basis of the histopathological analysis of HF.

RESULTSSignificant differences of LS and DWI values were present among HF stages (P < 0.005). The LS values measured on MRE (r = 0.838, P < 0.001) were more strongly correlated with the HF stages than with ADC values (r = -0.527, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of LS were significantly larger than those of DWI were for discriminating two stages of HF (0.979 vs. 0.712 for ≥ S1, 0.922 vs. 0.699 for ≥ S2). MRE showed higher specificity for predicting all stages of HF compared to DWI.

CONCLUSIONSMRE more strongly correlated with the HF stages than DWI and is more specific in predicting all HF stages.

Animals ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; methods ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; Rabbits

BACKGROUND: Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complexes are a key regulator of pancreatic beta cells mass and function. DEP-domain containing mTOR-interacting protein (DEPTOR) is a common part of mTOR complexes and whether DEPTOR loss in islet β cells affects insulin-secreting function has never been identified. OBJECTIVE: To assess the alternation of insulin secretion by silencing DEPTOR gene in pancreatic β cells NIT-1 and to explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Three siRNA sequences for silencing DEPTOR gene were designed and constructed, which were transfected with lipofectamine into NIT-1 cells. There were six groups: blank transfection group (NIT-1 cells plus Lipofectamin), negative control group (NC-FAM), positive control group (GAPDH), siRNA deptor 1 group (siRNA deptor385), siRNA deptor 2 group (siRNA deptor766), and siRNA deptor 3 group (siRNA deptor1275). The transfection efficiency was determined by fluorescence microscope. The relative expression level of DEPTOR mRNA was detected by quantitative-PCR. Insulin secretion in the cell conditioned medium was determined by insulin ELISA kit. The expression level of DEPTOR downstream key protein was detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Specific green fluorescence accumulated in a punctated pattern under fluorescence microscope, indicating that the effectiveness of transfection was eligible. Quantitative-PCR results showed two (siDEPTOR385 and siDEPTOR766) of the three siRNA sequences could significantly disrupt the expression of DEPTOR mRNA, which had significant difference with negative control group (P＜ 0.05). The ELISA results showed that the total amount of insulin secretion in the effective transfected groups was significantly increased (P＜ 0.05). Western blot assay results showed the grey levels of p-s6 and p-4EBP-1 proteins were significantly elevated, while p-AKT of those former was slightly decreased. These findings suggest that siRNA technology can effectively silence the DEPTOR gene in NIT-1 cells, which improves β-cell insulin secretion in a manner of mTORC1 activation.

Objective To investigate the CT characteristics of primary pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC). Methods CT characteristics of 14 cases with primary pulmonary saromatoid cacinoma confirmed by surgical pathology were analyzed retrospectively. Results Among the 14 cases, the clinical manifestations were chest pain and cough in 6 cases, cough with blood-stained sputum in 5 cases, chest tightness and asthma in 2 cases, and no symptoms in 1 case. All the 14 cases had solitary masses in the lung. Carcinoma of 7 cases located in the upper lobe of the right lung, and carcinoma of 1 case located in the inferior lobe of the right lung. Carcinoma of 3 cases was located in the upper lobe of the left lung, and 3 cases were found in the inferior lobe of the left lung. Eleven cases had peripheral tumors and 3 cases had central tumors. CT plain scan revealed an isodense mass. There were 12 cases with uneven mass density and necrosis, and 2 cases had uniform mass density. The smooth margin was identified in 7 masses, and ill-defined margin and lobulation was shown in 7 masses. Cavity was observed in 1 mass, and speckled calcification was seen in 1 mass. Pleural invasion and thickening was in 5 cases, pneumothorax occurred in 1 case, and there was 1 case of liver metastasis. Enhancement scan showed patchy or annular enhancement around the mass, and the central enhancement of the mass was not obvious or uneven patchy enhancement. Conclusions The CT characteristics of primary pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma are solitary masses in the lung, especially if the mass is located in the periphery of the upper lobe of the right lung with uneven density, and enhancement scan shows patchy or annular enhancement around the mass.