AIM: The study was undertaken to investigate the effort of Dexamethasone (DEX) on cultured rabbit corneal epithelial (RCE) cells and rabbit corneal epithelial wound healing.METHODS: For the in vitro experiments, primary cultures of RCE cells were used. DEX in different concentrations was added to cultured RCE cells. The effects were measured with tetrazolium salt (MTT)method and flow cytometry. For the in vivo wound-healing experiments, a central corneal deepithelialization was created and were treated with 0.1g/L DEX eyedrop randomly explain how randomly. Epithelial wound healing was evaluated clinically and analyzed histopathologically using light microscopy along with immunohistochemical staning and electronic microscopy.RESULTS: Less than 0.1g/L DEX didn't influence survival rate in cell culture conditions by MTT assay. Flow cytometric studies revealed that 0.1g/L DFX had no effect on cellular growth phase in cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells. The mean time of the epithelial healing was significantly shorter in the DEX-treated group than in the control group at 24h. There were strong proliferative-cell-nuclear-antigen(PCNA) expressions in newly generated epithelial cells of both groups. The Dex-treated group had a more regular architecture of stromal lamella and significantly less inflammatory response than the control group under electronic microscopy.CONCLUSION: Less than 0.1g/L DEX had no inhibiting effect on cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cell growth.0.1g/L DEX eye drops can effectively promote epithelial growth and reduce inflammatory response, which may have useful clinical application at the early stage of corneal wound healing process.

OBJECTIVETo investigate serum level and gene polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSIn a prospective study of 179 patients with documented ACS and 164 controls, we measured baseline serum MMP-9 levels using ELISA and determined the MMP-9/C-1562T and MMP-9/G5564A genotypes using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Fib serum level was measured by Clauss assay. We also analyzed the Fib/Bbeta-148C/T and GPVI/T13254C polymorphisms.

RESULTSSerum levels of MMP-9 and Fib in ACS patients were significantly higher than in controls (P < 0.001), and serum level of Fib in the acute myocardial infarction group was higher than in patients with unstable angina (P < 0.05). No significant difference between ACS patients and controls was found in frequencies of MMP-9/C-1562T, MMP-9/G5564A, Fib/Bbeta-148C/T, and GPVI/T13254C genotypes and alleles (P > 0.05). The T allele of the Fib/Bbeta-148T polymorphism was associated with increased plasma Fib level (P < 0.05). There was a strong positive correlation between serum level of MMP-9 and Fib (r = 0.289, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSerum levels of MMP-9 and Fib were independent risk factors of ACS. There was an obvious relationship between the Bbeta-148C/T mutation and high Fib level. No significant difference between controls and ACS patients was found in the frequencies of MMP-9 C-1562T and G5564A, Fib Bbeta-148C/T and GPVI T13254C genotypes and alleles (P > 0.05).

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sexual function and the quality of sexual life in patients with chronic prostatitis (CP), and to analyze the correlated factors and their influence on the quality of life (QOL) of the CP patients.

METHODSWe randomly selected 148 CP patients as the CP group and 71 healthy men as controls, asked them to fill out a questionnaire on sexual function and the quality of sexual life, obtained their scores on NHI-CPSI, and comparatively analyzed the results. We also made analyses on the influence of age, disease course, CP symptom scores and EPS level on sexual function and the quality of sexual life, as well as the impact of CP symptoms, sexual dysfunction and sexual life quality on the QOL of the CP patients.

RESULTSNo retro-ejaculation was found in either of the two groups. The mean score on sexual function and sexual life quality was 38.1 +/- 7.9 and 47.8 +/- 3.1 in the CP and the control group, respectively, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Compared with the controls, the CP patients showed significantly decreased scores on libido, erectile function, ejaculation, orgasm frequency, self-confidence in sexual life, sexual satisfaction, and the partners' orgasm frequency and sexual satisfaction (P < 0.05). The indexes of sexual function and the QOL score were significantly correlated with CP symptoms, but not with the disease course and the WBC and lecithin counts in the prostatic fluid. The age of the patients was significantly correlated with the score of libido but not with other indexes of sexual function. CP symptoms, including pain, micturition and reduced sexual function and sexual life quality, along with the decreased orgasm frequency and sexual satisfaction of the patients' spouses, remarkably influenced the patients' QOL.

CONCLUSIONCP symptoms significantly decrease the indexes of sexual function of the patients and, in turn, their sexual life quality and QOL. Sexual dysfunction and reduced sexual life quality of CP patients are significantly correlated with CP symptoms, but not with the course of the disease, the age of the patient and the results of EPS detection.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatitis ; physiopathology ; Quality of Life ; Sickness Impact Profile ; Spouses ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and the clinical value of external use of jiuyi Powder (JP) in treating plasma cell mastitis using partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA).

METHODSTotally 50 patients with plasma cell mastitis treated by external use of JP were observed and biochemical examinations of blood and urine detected before application, at day 4 after application, at day 1 and 14 after discontinuation. Blood mercury and urinary mercury were detected before application, at day 1, 4, and 7 after application, at day 1 and 14 after discontinuation. Urinary mercury was also detected at 28 after discontinuation and 3 months after discontinuation. The information of wound, days of external application and the total dosage of external application were recorded before application, at day 1, 4, and 7 after application, as well as at day 1 after discontinuation. Then a discriminant model covering potential safety factors was set up by PLSDA after screening safety indices with important effects. The applicability of the model was assessed using area under ROC curve. Potential safety factors were assessed using variable importance in the projection (VIP).

RESULTSUrinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), 24 h urinary protein, and urinary α1-microglobulin (α1-MG) were greatly affected by external use of JP in treating plasma cell mastitis. The accuracy rate of PLSDA discriminate model was 74. 00%. The sensitivity, specificity, and the area under ROC curve was 0. 7826, 0. 7037, and 0. 8084, respectively. Three factors with greater effect on the potential safety were screened as follows: pre-application volume of the sore cavity, days of external application, and the total dosage of external application.

CONCLUSIONSPLSDA method could be used in analyzing bioinformation of clinical Chinese medicine. Urinary β2-MG and urinary NAG were two main safety monitoring indices. Days of external application and the total dosage of external application were main factors influencing blood mercury and urine mercury. A safety classification simulation model of treating plasma cell mastitis by external therapy of JP was established by the two factors, which could be used to assess the safety of external application of JP to some extent.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; Alpha-Globulins ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Mastitis ; drug therapy ; Plasma Cells ; ROC Curve ; Safety

AIMTo study the protective effects of hydroxyethylpuerarin against the injury of astrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

METHODSExperiments were performed with cells from passage 4. Plasma membrane integrity was measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The occurrence of apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The glutamate uptake of astrocytes was studied with [3H]-glutamate incorporation. Intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were assessed by automatic biochemistry analyzer.

RESULTSCompared with H2O2 injured group, the occurrence of apoptosis, levels of LDH release and intracellular MDA of astrocytes reduced in hydroxyethylpuerarin pre-treated groups, but the glutamate uptake and intracellular SOD activity of astrocytes increased.

CONCLUSIONHydroxyethylpuerarin could reduce the occurrence of apoptosis and improve neurotrophic function of astrocytes, which may be related with its antioxidant effects during oxidative stress.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect and mechanism of angiotensin (Ang) II on E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) and evaluate the effect of compound EXP-2528, a novel Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist. The experiment was performed in cultured BMEC of rat. The mRNA and protein expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 in BMEC was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed that the mRNA and protein expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 in BMEC were significantly upregulated by 4 h or 18 h exposure to 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) Ang II. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with the selective AT1 receptor antagonists losartan and compound EXP-2528, but not with the AT2 selective antagonist PD123319. Combining losartan with PD123319 also significantly inhibited Ang II-induced E-selectin and VCAM-1 expression in BMEC, but there was no significant difference compared with losartan group. These findings indicated that Ang II upregulated E-selectin and VCAM-1 in BMEC by activating AT1 receptor and then involved in the development of cerebrovascular disease.
Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Brain ; blood supply ; Cells, Cultured ; E-Selectin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Isoxazoles ; pharmacology ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; Microvessels ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism

AIMTo study the pharmacokinetics of genistein at different doses in Beagle dogs.

METHODSSuspended in 0.5% CMC-Na solution, genistein was orally administered to Beagle dogs at doses of 2.67, 5.34 and 10.68 mg.kg(-1). At various time intervals, 1.5 mL of blood was drawn from the femoral vein of dogs in their front legs. The plasma was treated with beta-glucuronidase. The genistein in plasma was extracted twice by vortexing with 2.0 mL mixture of methyl tert-tubtyl ether and pentane (v/v = 8:2). The organic phase was removed into the tubes and then evaporated in ventilation cabinet. The residue was dissolved in 50 microL of methanol. 20 microL solution was drawn and detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by 3P97 software.

RESULTSThe plasma drug concentration-time data were fitted to the two-compartment model. When the dose was 2.67 mg.kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound were 52.9 min and 6.7 mg.min. L(-1), respectively. When the dose rose to 5.34 mg.kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound became 224.8 min and 26.1 mg.min.L(-1), respectively. However, when the dose increased to 10.68 mg .kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound increased to 267.7 min and 33.2 mg.min L(-1), respectively. The AUC of glucuronidated genistein was 33.9, 70.1 and 140.5 mg.min.L(-1) at the dose of 2.67, 5.34 and 10.68 mg.kg(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONDue to significant first pass metabolism, the drug was mainly existed in the form of glucuronidated genistein in the plasma. With the increase of dose, the absorption of genistein became saturated and the half life prolonged.

Animals ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Dogs ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Genistein ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronides ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male

Objective - To analyze the effect of using vibration tools on the prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders （ ） Methods ， - WMSDs in automobile factory workers. By judgment sampling method front line workers with more than one year of working experience in an automobile factory were selected as the research subjects. Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was used for investigation. The workers were divided into the control group and the vibration tool group. The propensity score ∶ ， matching method was used to balance the confounding factors of the two groups of workers by 1 1 and 568 people were Results included in each group. The prevalence of WMSDs was compared between the two groups after matching. After ， ， ， ， ， ， matching the prevalence of WMSDs in the shoulder elbow hand/wrist upper back waist hip/buttock and knee of workers in ， （ P ） the vibration tool group was higher than that in the control group and the differences were statistically significant all <0.05 .， The prevalence of WMSDs in different body parts of workers in the vibration tool group ranking from high to low was waist ， ， ， ， ， ， ， ， ， ， neck shoulder hand/wrist upper back knee ankle/foot elbow and hip/buttock with the rate of 74.3% 61.3% 54.2% ， ， ， ， ， （P ） Conclusions 54.0% 50.9% 39.4% 35.2% 31.0% and 27.1% respectively <0.01 . The use of vibration tools can ， ， ， ， ， increase the risk of WMSDs in shoulder elbow hand/wrist upper back waist hip/buttock and knee of automobile factory workers. Corresponding measures should be taken to reduce vibration intensity and reduce contact time to protect workers'

OBJECTIVETo identify two differentiation-associated proteins induced by rhIL-6 in M1 mouse myeloid leukemia cells.

METHODSProtein spots were excised from 2-D gels and digested in-gel with trypsin. The trypsin lysis products were first analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) through peptide mass fingerprinting and then performed peptide sequencing by nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (nano-ESI-MS/MS). The database search was finished with the Mascot search engine (http://www.matrixscience.co.uk) using the data processed through MaxEnt3 and MasSeq.

RESULTSThe two proteins were not revealed by peptide mass fingerprint using MALDI-TOF-MS, while they were respectively identified as Destrin and Putative protein after the sequence of their trypic peptides were obtained by the nano-ESI-MS/MS techniques.

CONCLUSIONNano-ESI-MS/MS technique can successfully identify the two differentiation-associated proteins induced by rhIL-6 and has great advantage in protein analysis.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Destrin ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Microfilament Proteins ; analysis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nanotechnology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVEIt has been proposed that genetic polymorphisms in apoptosis-related genes might be associated with sensitivity of cancer cells to platinum-based chemotherapy. This study examined the relationship between p53 and p73 genetic polymorphisms and the response to platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSA total of 165 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were genotyped for the p53 codon 72 Pro-->Arg and p73 exon 2 G4C14-->A4T14 polymorphisms using PCR-RFLP and ARMS-PCR assays. Clinical response to the chemotherapy was obtained after 2 to 3 cycles. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression model. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTSThe p53 Pro allele carriers had higher response rate than non-carriers (OR = 2.46; 95% CI = 1.11 - 5.45). A higher response rate was also observed for the p73 G4C14/A4T14 or A4T14/A4T14 genotype, compared with the G4C14/G4C14 genotype (OR = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.14 - 4.30). When these two polymorphisms were combined to be analyzed, it was found that the response rate in those carrying the wild-type genotypes at both genes was only 7.7%, whereas the response rates in patients carrying 1, 2, or more than 2 variant alleles of p53 and p73 were 34.8%, 42.2% and 40.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThose results suggest that p53 and p73 polymorphisms may be associated with clinical responsiveness to platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tumor Protein p73 ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics