A collection of neurons in the upper lumbar spinal cord (lumbar segments 3 and 4) of male rats project to the lower lumbar spinal cord (lumbar segments 5 and 6) and release a gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) to the somatic and autonomic regions, which are known to regulate male sexual reflexes. The GRP plays some special functions when bound to the specific GRP receptor (GRPR). The spinal GRP system is regulated by androgens. Accumulating evidence shows that GRP plays an important role in rat penile erection and ejaculation, and pharmacological stimulation of GRPRs with a specific agonist can restore penile reflexes and ejaculation in castrated male rats. Therefore, the GRP system appears to be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory dysfunction. The present paper briefly reviews the recent studies on the role of the spinal GRP system in regulating the sexual function of males.
Androgens ; metabolism ; Animals ; Ejaculation ; physiology ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide ; metabolism ; physiology ; Male ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Rats ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the effecof bilateral ovariectomy combined with hormone injection on the bone mineral density and biomechanical property of sheep proximal femu.Method16 healthy adulsheep were divided into the sham operation group (n=8) and the experimengroup (n=8) randomly .Bilateral ovariewere only exposed in the sham operation group .The ex-perimengroup waperformed bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) and began to conducthe intramusculainjection of methylprednisolone (0 .45 mg · kg -1 · d-1 ) aftepostoperative 1 month fo10 month.The bone density (BD) of all sheep proximal femuwameas-ured before OVX and in postoperative 1 yea.The compression tesand the axial pullouteswere performed to evaluate biome-chanical property of postoperative 1 yeaproximal femu.ResultBD of proximal femubefore surgery had no statistically signifi-candifference between the two group,and which in the sham operation group had no statistically significandifference between before and aftesurgery (P＞0 .05) .BD of proximal femuin postoperative 1 yeain the experimengroup wasignificantly de-creased and significantly lowethan thain the sham operation group (P＜0 .05) .The maximal compression stresand the energy absorption value in the experimengroup were significantly lowethan those in the sham operation group with statistically signifi-candifferences(P＜0 .05);the maximal axial pulling force and the energy absorption value in the experimengroup were signifi-cantly lowethan those in the sham operation group with statistically significandifference (P>0 .05) .Conclusion The method of bilateral ovariectomy combined with hormone injection can significantly decrease BD and biomechanical intensity of sheep proximal femu.

Objective To explore the effects of smoking and alcohol drinking on arsenic metabolism of people exposed to different concentrations of arsenic in drinking water.Methods Residents in Shanxi exposed to different concentrations of arsenic in drinking water and age ≥ 18 years old adults were chosen as the subjects for this study in 2008,the subjects were divided into three groups according to the concentrations of arsenic in drinking water: high-arsenic exposure group (more than 0.05 mg/L),low-arsenic exposure group (between 0.01 and 0.05 mg/L) and control group(less than 0.01 mg/L),excluded recently had eaten seafood and had poisoning symptoms of chronic arsenic in drinking water in the crowd.Smoking and alcohol drinking habits were investigated by questionnaire.Arsenic species in the urine samples were detected with hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy.Total arsenic(tAs) was the sum of iAs％,MMA％ and DMA％.iAs％,MMA％ and DMA％ were calculated as iAs/tAs,MMA/tAs and DMA/tAs,respectively.The first methylation ratio(FMR) and the secondary methylation ratio(SMR) were calculated as (MMA + DMA)/tAs and DMA/(MMA + DMA),respectively.Results Three hundred and ninety-five adults were chosen in this study.In the high exposure group the alcohol drinking and smoking subjects had higher MMA％(16.24％) but lower SMR(82.19％ ) than the non-drinking and non-smoking subjects (12.16％ and 86.13％,respectively).The differences of both MMA％ and SMR were significant(P ＜ 0.05 ).No significant difference was observed between the non-smoking/non-drinking subjects and the smoking or the drinking subjects(all P ＞ 0.05 ).In the low exposure group there were higher MMA％( 13.86％,13.99％) lower DMA％(72.87％,77.76％)and lower SMR (83.48％,83.90％ ) in those with smoking or drinking/smoking compared with the non-drinking and non-smoking subjects (11.83％,80.35％ and 86.54％,respectively,all P ＜0.05 ).No significant difference was observed between drinkers and non-drinking/non-smoking subjects(P ＞ 0.05).In the control group there were a higher MMA％( 17.27％,17.06％) lower DMA％ (73.89％,72.29％) and lower SMR (81.48％,82.58％ ) in those with smoking or drinking/smoking compared with the non-drinking and nonsmoking subjects( 11.52％,79.68％ and 87.19％,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).No significant difference was observed between drinkers and the non-drinking/non-smoking subjects (all P ＞ 0.05).ConclusionThe arsenic methylation capacity of people with drinking and smoking is poorer than that of non-drinking and non-smoking subjects after arsenic exposure.

Objective:To purify HLA-DR molecules. Methods: Anti-HLA-DR antibody L243 was purified and coupled with CNBr activated Sepharose 4B gel. Immunoaffinity column was used to purify HLA-DR molecules. Results:Twenty micrograms of HLA-DR molecules were isolated from about 5 g Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B lymphoblastoid cell line RAJI lysates by affinity chromatography. The purified HLA-DR molecules existed in α/β heterodimers form and could bind to conformation-dependent antibody L243. These HLA-DR molecules were separated into two strands,α and β,by boiling denaturation. These results are the basis for studying MHC Ⅱ binding peptide motif and CD4＋ T cell epitopes of antigens in future.

The prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-30a(+)/sBLyS was constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21 (lambda DE3). The recombinant protein was found to be highly expressed by the plight of soluble part and inclusion body. For the sake of enhancing the proportion of the soluble part, inducement at 16 degrees C for 12 h was ascertained. The expressing product was then purified by Ni2+ affinity chromatography gel. PI of the recombinant human sBLyS(rhsBLyS) is about 7.1-7.3 and it assembles into a homotrimer. The effect of rhsBLyS on B lymphocytes by MTT method told us the B lymphocytes' proliferating capacity dose depended on concentration and also stimulating time of the rhsBLys. With rhsBLyS(2 micrograms/mL) stimulating 3 days, B lymphocytes can proliferate the most.
B-Cell Activating Factor ; B-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Humans ; Isoelectric Point ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Temperature ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Abstract?AIM: To investigate mechanism of bradykinin ( BK) on inflammations of retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE) cells.?METHODS: ARPE -19 cells were cultured in vitro, stimulated by 100nM BK for 24h. Cell morphology changes were observed by microscope, and BK receptor localization was detected through cell immunofluorescence. Changes of Ca2+in BK and BR antagonist stimuli were detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy.The expressions of COX-1, COX-2, eNOS and iNOS protein in control group and BK group were detected by Western Blot.?RESULTS: After the stimulation of BK, there was no significant changes of ARPE-19 cells in morphology.Kinin B1 receptors ( B1R ) and B2 receptors ( B2R ) could be detected in ARPE-19 cells.Compared with control group, Ca2+concentrations significantly increased in BK group; in B1R antagonist group and B2R antagonist group Ca2+concentrations increased less than BK group; B1R and B2R antagonist group showed no obvious changes in Ca2+concentrations.Compared with control group, COX-2 and iNOS protein concentrations were significantly increased in BK group (P<0.001).?CONCLUSION:BK induces the increasing expression of COX-2 and iNOS in the cultured ARPE cells through binding with either B1R or B2R.

The chitosan/PHEA-blended hydrogels were prepared from PHEA and chitosan in various blend ratios. The water contents of the hydrogels were in the range of 50%-80% (wt). The attachment and growth of fibroblast cells(L929) on the hydrogels were studied. The results indicated the PHEA content in hydrogels has great effect on cell attachment but has little effect on the growth of L929 cells.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cell Division ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; physiology ; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate ; chemistry ; Mice ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEElastofibroma dorsi has an extremely low incidence. At present, comparative study on imaging manifestations and pathologic findings of elastofibroma dorsi has not been reported in China. This study was to investigate clinical manifestations, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances, and pathologic features of elastofibroma dorsi and to improve preoperative imaging diagnosis of this disease.

METHODSThe clinical manifestations, imaging findings, and pathologic appearances of 6 cases of elastofibroma dorsi were retrospectively analyzed and related literatures were reviewed. All patients were examined with MRI, and 4 of them were examined with CT scan.

RESULTSAll patients were above 30 years old without obvious symptoms. The tumors presented as a lenticular soft-tissue mass in the deep subscapular region. The tumor's density on plain CT scan or signal intensity on MR T1-weighted image was approximately equal to that of muscle with some interlaced fat-like areas within mass suppressed by fat-suppression MR sequences, which corresponded to dense collagen tissue and interspersed mature adipose tissue observed microscopically.

CONCLUSIONSCT and MRI can reflect the histological features of elastofibroma dorsi. On the basis of their imaging characteristics, a correct preoperative diagnosis of elastofibroma dorsi can easily be made.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fibroma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scapula ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

ObjectiveTo construct geographic information database of drinking water type of endemic arsenism at village level with Google Earth and provide scientific basis for prevention and management of endemic arsenism.MethodsDrinking water samples were collected in the field of Shilegetu village,Tuoketuo county,Inner Mongolia in 2008.Arsenic concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry.Global positioning system(GPS) was performed to obtain the geographic information of the water sources.Google Earth was applied to establish the geographic information database.Results There were 5 drinking water resources in this village.They were located between 40°29′09″ N and 40°29′36″ Nlatitude and 111°28′00″ E and 111°29′02″ E longitude,with the altitude between 1010 m and 1021 m.For all drinking water resources,four water arsenic concentrations was beyond 0.05 mg/L and one below 0.05 mg/L.In addition,one water source had been abandoned and the remaining four were providing daily drinking water for residents of the villages.ConclusionsThe geographic information database,established by Google Earth,can intuitively reflect the real situation of the endemic village.It can provide more useful information for field epidemiological research.It is an effectively tool in control and management of endemic arsenism.

Objective To observes the change of early effective biomarkers of endothelial injury with lowarsenic exposure in drinking water. MethodsNinety rurad residents, who had lived in Yanhe village, Xuyi county and Jiangsu province for at least 10 years, were recruited by simple random sampling in this study. The level of arsenic in their household shallow well were divided into three groups, which were ＜ 10 (32 people), 10 - 50(28 people) and ＞ 50 μg/L(30 people). Blood samples from individuals were collected. Malondialdehyde(MDA) in human plasma, which is considered as the most important marker for monitoring lipid peroxidation, was determined as conjugate with tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulphate(TBA). The level of anti-superoxide anion radical(O-·2),C-reactive protein(CRP) and NO in human plasma was measured with colorimetry, turbidimetry and nitric acid reductase, respectively. The number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells(CEPCs) in peripheral blood was analyzed by CD133+/KDR+ antibodies and flow cytometry. Results Ninety cases underwent questionnaires. Between the groups, the difference of the levels of MDA (61.1, 65.5, 67.5 μmol/kg), O-·2 (4774.6, 5143.3, 4736.0 U/kg) ,CRP[(5.92 ± 2.44), (5.11 ± 2.40), (5.55 ± 2.96)mg/L], and NO[(659.8 ± 387.5), (667.4 ± 486.6), (762.1 ±763.2)μmol/kg], was not statistically significant (F =0.00, 0.46, 0.80, 0.47, all P ＞ 0.05). The difference of the number of CEPCs in different groups of arsenic in drinking water was statistically significant(0.96 x 10-5, 0.77 x 10-5,1.59 x 10-5, F=5.08, P＜ 0.05), where ＜ 10, 10 - 50 μg/L groups were significantly lower than ＞ 50 μg/L group (q =4.58, 6.65, all P ＜ 0.05). ConclusionsThe number of CEPCs in peripheral blood changes significantly with lower-arsenic exposure, whereas there are no obvious changes with the markers of oxidized damage and inflammation. This is the first human demonstration showing that lower-arsenic exposure may cause endothelial injury.