This study is to investigate the anti-allergic effect of anthocyanidin and to explore its possible mechanism. The experiments of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction (PCA) and colorimetry were used to determine the effect of anthocyanidin on degranulation of mast cells in vivo. For in vitro study, various concentrations of anthocyanidin (100, 50 and 25 micromol x L(-1)) were added to the culture medium of mast cells cultured with 100 microg x L(-1) of dinitrophenyl (DNP) specific IgE overnight. The azelastine (100 micromol x L(-1)) was selected as the positive control. The antigen (DNP-human serum albumin, DNP-HAS)-induced release of degranulation was measured by enzymatic assay, histamine was determined by EIA, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by Western blotting, separately. In addition, the effects of anthocyanidin on phosphorylation of NF-kappaB, p38MAPK and Akt were observed by Western blotting. The results showed that treatments with anthocyanidin (100 and 50 mg x kg(-1)) were followed by a decrease in PCA of rats. Anthocyanidin (100 and 50 micromol x L(-1)) obviously suppressed the degranulation from mast cells, whereas results from anthocyanidin (100 and 50 micromol x L(-1)) group indicated significant inhibitory effect on histamine, the calcium uptake, TNF-alpha, IL-6, phosphorylation of NF-kappaB, p38MAPK and Akt of mast cells induced by antigen. Anthocyanidin may suppress the anaphylactic reaction by inhibiting the action of mast cells. NF-kappaB, p38MAPK and Akt at least in part contribute to this event.
Animals ; Anthocyanins ; pharmacology ; Anti-Allergic Agents ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Degranulation ; drug effects ; Histamine Release ; drug effects ; Immunoglobulin E ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe goal of this study was to investigate whether murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is able to exacerbate the atherosclerotic process in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE -/-) mice, and the effect of fluvastatin on the atherogenesis.

METHODSThe apoE-/- mice kept on a west diet were given low dosage of MCMV. At 14,18 and 24 weeks post infection, AS lesion were measured on aorta. The fluvastatin was administered, and AS lesion were measured accordingly above.

RESULTSWe observed that in the chronic phase of the infection, AS lesion area was significantly increased. MCMV gB mRNA was not amplified by real-time PCR from the arterial wall. The IgG antibody level of MCMV in blood plasma and the content of virus DNA in salivary gland were not correlated with AS lesions. After the administration of fluvastatin, there was no significant difference of AS lesions between MCMV infected group and mock-infected group.

CONCLUSIONMCMV may aggravate the AS lesion in apoE -/- mice in the chronic phase of infection, and promote more severe type of AS lesions. But it might not be the direct effects of mechanism of MCMV on the local lesion of AS. Fluvastatin could meliorate the progression of AS after MCMV infection, but this was not accomplished by decreasing MCMV duplication.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; genetics ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; genetics ; virology ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; pharmacology ; Herpesviridae Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Muromegalovirus ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the relation between the recent active infection with Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus,herpes simplex virus-1, coxsackievirus B I-IV and the relapse of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR MS).

METHODSUsing ELISA method, IgM antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus-1, coxsackievirus BI-IV in the plasma from 34 RR MS patients and 200 normal controls were detected. The rates of recent active infection with the above mentioned viruses of the patients and controls were compared.For patients group,comparison was also made between the clinical data of recent active infected patients and patients without recent active infection.

RESULTSThere was no statistically significant difference in positive rates of positive rates of IgM antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus-1 and coxsackievirus BI, II, III or VI between the two groups. While there was statistically significant difference in positive rates of IgM antibodies to coxsackievirus B VI and V in the RR MS patients and those in the controls (being 3/34 and 0/200 P < 0.05; 2/34 and 0/200 P < 0.05, respectively). In the patient group, when patients who had active infection with any of the viruses were compared with those who had no active infection, no significant difference between them was found in terms of age, course, frequency, body temperature on admission, differential leukocyte count (neutrophilic granulocyte, lymphocyte and monocytes), use of glucocorticoids, and EDSS point value.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a high rate of recent active infection with coxsackievirus B VI and V in RR MS patients at relapsing stage. While the recent virus active infection is unrelated to the severity of the symptoms.

Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; immunology ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; immunology ; Enterovirus B, Human ; immunology ; Enterovirus Infections ; immunology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; immunology ; Herpes Simplex ; immunology ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; immunology ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; immunology ; Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis ; immunology ; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting ; immunology ; Recurrence ; Simplexvirus ; immunology

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of depression,anxiety and suicide behavior in patients suffering from tuberculosis in Hangzhou and to explore their relationship with medication adherence. Methods Demographic characteristics,self-rating anxiety scale (SAS),the center for epidemiological studies -depression (CESD),social support rating scale (SSRS),suicide behavior information and the morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS)were investigated in 973 tuberculosis patients who were selected by systematic random sampling.Results The means of SAS and CESD were 39.71 ±8.30 and 14.16 ±10.77 respectively,which were both higher than the norms(P<0.01).Totally 102 (10.48%)patients had anxiety and 333 (34.22%)were depressed.Out of 973 patients,60 (6.17%)reported suicide ideation after tuberculosis diagnosis.The prevalence of non -adherence was 20.55%,which was defined with MMAS score above one and more.The non -adherence group had higher anxiety,depression and suicide ideation prevalence than the adherence group (15.50%vs.9.18%,46.50%vs.30.66%,11.00%vs.4.92%respectively,P<0.01).The mean score of SSRS,subjective support,objective support and utilization of support in the non-adherence group were 30.71 ±5.15,4.61 ±2.07,19.74 ±4.55 and 6.34 ±1.93 respectively,which were 34.06 ±7.39,6.62 ± 2.27,20.67 ±5.27 and 6.77 ±2.23 in the adherence group respectively.SSRS and its three dimension scores were significantly lower in the non-adherence group than that in the adherence group (P<0.01).Conclusion These findings show a quite serious situation of psychological problems of tuberculosis patients in Hangzhou and suggest psychological intervention should be included in adherence intervention.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and predictors of acute stress disorder (ASD) in the victims affected by Wenchuan earthquake in China.

METHODSA random clustered sampling method was used. Of 891 victims enrolled in the study, 874 were completely assessed with the ASD constructive questionnaire and diagnosed with DSM-IV criteria. Sociodemographic variables were obtained. Also, the major symptoms of ASD (i.e., general symptoms to a traumatic event; dissociative symptoms; re-experiencing symptoms; hyper-arousal symptoms; avoidance symptoms) were recorded.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of ASD was 12.59% (110/874). The incidence rates of ASD for female and male were 15.16% (72/475) and 9.52% (38/399) respectively. There was a significant difference between female and male on the incidence rate of ASD (chi(2) = 6.26, P = 0.01). Logistic regression indicated that the ASD diagnosis was predicted by gender (beta = 0.58, P = 0.01, OR = 1.79), the condition of casualties of family members (beta = 0.60, P = 0.01, OR = 1.82), and the condition of sharp properties loss (beta = 1.02, P = 0.01, OR = 2.76).

CONCLUSIONThe major earthquake should have great influence on mental health of victims. The efforts to reduce casualties and property loss might help to prevent ASD. Further research is needed on gender difference among traumatic events.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; China ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective:The aim of this study was to research the relationship between HPLC fingerprint and anti-inflammatory effect of Zhideke granules， and the substance basis of its anti-inflammatory effect was preliminary explored. Method:The fingerprint of 10 batches of Zhideke granules were determined by HPLC， the mobile phase was consisted of methanol-0.2% phosphoric acid solution for gradient elution with a detection wavelength of 254 nm. Similarity analysis， hierarchical cluster analysis （HCA）， principal component analysis （PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） were used to evaluate the quality difference between batches of Zhideke granules. The correlation analysis between the common peaks and the inhibition rates of Zhideke granules on ear swelling and cotton ball granuloma in mice was carried out by partial least squares （PLS）， and the peaks greatly contributing to the anti-inflammatory effect were screened out. Result:There were 31 common peaks in the HPLC fingerprint of Zhideke granules. The similarities of 10 batches samples were ≥0.992. The HCA and PCA analysis results were consistent， and the samples were divided into 3 categories. Combined with the OPLS-DA results， 15 components were the main markers affecting the differences of different batches of samples. Different batches of Zhideke granules differed in anti-inflammatory effect. The chromatographic peaks being positively correlated with the anti-inflammatory effect were mainly from Belamcandae Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix， Chromatographic peaks 3， 6， 19， 27-30 had significant contribution to anti-inflammatory effect， of which peaks 28 and 30 were irisflorentin and wogonin. Conclusion:HPLC fingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition method can provide a reference for systematic evaluation of the overall quality of Zhideke granules. Zhideke granules has a certain inhibitory effect on acute and chronic inflammation in mice， and the anti-inflammatory effect is the result of the combined action of various ingredients， while Belamcandae Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix have significant significance for the anti-inflammatory effect.