This study is to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on carotid baroreceptor activity (CBA). The functional curve of carotid baroreceptor (FCCB) was constructed and the functional parameters of carotid baroreceptor were measured by recording sinus nerve afferent discharge in anesthetized male rats with perfused isolated carotid sinus. Resveratrol (30, 60 and 120 μmol·L-1) inhibited CBA, which shifted FCCB to the right and downward. There was a marked decrease in peak slope (PS) and peak integral value (PIV) of carotid sinus nerve charge in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 μmol·L-1), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), eliminated the inhibitory effect of resveratrol. Pretreatment with Bay K8644 (an agonist of L-type calcium channel, 500 nmol·L-1) abolished the effect of resveratrol on CBA. A potent inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatase (sodium orthovanadate, 1 mmol·L-1) did not influence the effect of resveratrol on CBA. Resveratrol inhibits carotid baroreceptor activity, which may be mediated by the locally released NO and decreased calcium influx. Several studies have showed a cardioprotective effect of resveratrol, with the penetrating study of resveratrol, it may show a potential value in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular disease as an alternative medicine.

AIM To study the relationship between cardioprotective effects of resveratrol and carotid sinus baroreflex (CSB). METHODS The functional curve of the CSB was measured by recording changes in arterial pressure in anesthetized male rats with perfused isolated carotid sinus. RESULTS Resveratrol (30, 60 and 120 μmol·L-1) inhibited the CSB, which shifted the functional curve of the baroreflex to the right and upward. There were a marked decrease in peak slope and a reflex decrease of blood pressure, and also an increase in threshold pressure. Changes of these parameters showed a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methylester (100 μmol·L-1), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, and pretreatment with Bay K8644 (500 nmol·L-1), an agonist of L-type calcium channel, could both eliminate the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on CSB. A potent inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatase sodium orthovanadate (1 mmol·L-1) did not influence the effect of resveratrol on CSB. CONCLUSION Resveratrol inhibits carotid baroreflex, which may be mediated by the locally released NO and decreased calcium influx.

Cannabinoid receptors are one of the most expressed G protein-coupled receptors in the central nervous system, which are potential drug targets for inflammation, pain and drug abuse. Cannabinoid receptors are composed of type 1 receptor (CB1R), type 2 receptor (CB2R) and other receptors, of which CB1R plays a vital role in regulating central memory, cognition, and motor function. Therefore, screening CB1R agonists has potential value in treating nervous system diseases. In this study, the intracellular loop 3 (ICL3) domain of CB1R was replaced with a circular-permutated enhanced green fluorescent protein (cpEGFP). After infecting HEK 293T cells with lentivirus particles, we obtained a stable cell line that was overexpressed human CB1R-cpEGFP after puromycin selection. The interaction between receptor agonists and CB1R led to the change of receptor conformation, resulting in de-protonation of the EGFP, and enhancing the fluorescence intensity. Therefore, active CB1R compounds could be verified by measuring the fluorescence intensity. Using CB1R agonist arachidonyl-2′-chloroethylamide (ACEA) as a positive control to evaluate the reliability of this model, studies have shown that ACEA could induce receptor activation and increase fluorescence intensity, while antagonist rimonabant inhibited receptor activation with unchanged fluorescence intensity. In conclusion, this study successfully constructed a fluorescent probe screening model for CB1R agonists.

Accidents, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans

This study is to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on carotid baroreceptor activity (CBA). The functional curve of carotid baroreceptor (FCCB) was constructed and the functional parameters of carotid baroreceptor were measured by recording sinus nerve afferent discharge in anesthetized male rats with perfused isolated carotid sinus. Resveratrol (30, 60 and 120 micromol x L(-1)) inhibited CBA, which shifted FCCB to the right and downward. There was a marked decrease in peak slope (PS) and peak integral value (PIV) of carotid sinus nerve charge in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 micromol x L(-1)), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), eliminated the inhibitory effect of resveratrol. Pretreatment with Bay K8644 (an agonist of L-type calcium channel, 500 nmol x L(-1)) abolished the effect of resveratrol on CBA. A potent inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatase (sodium orthovanadate, 1 mmol x L(-1)) did not influence the effect of resveratrol on CBA. Resveratrol inhibits carotid baroreceptor activity, which may be mediated by the locally released NO and decreased calcium influx. Several studies have showed a cardioprotective effect of resveratrol, with the penetrating study of resveratrol, it may show a potential value in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular disease as an alternative medicine.
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; pharmacology ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Carotid Sinus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Pressoreceptors ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Vanadates ; pharmacology

The objective of study was to investigate the expressions of CD80, CD86 and its ligand CD28 on peripheral lymphocytes in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), to explore the effect of interleukin 18 (IL-18) and its clinical significance in ITP. The expressions of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86 and its ligand CD28) on peripheral lymphocytes from 34 ITP patients and 34 normal humans were detected by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The IL-18 in the plasma was detected by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the expressions of CD80 and CD86 on peripheral lymphocytes from ITP patients were higher than that of the normal control (4.21 +/- 2.27%, 7.19 +/- 5.16% vs 2.34 +/- 0.87%, 4.08 +/- 1.96%) (P < 0.01); the concentration of IL-18 in plasma of ITP patients was (538.31 +/- 111.33) pg/ml, but the concentration of IL-18 in plasma of controls was (489.44 +/- 49.07) pg/ml. The level of IL-18 negatively correlated with the platelet counts in peripheral blood (r = -0.395, P < 0.05). It is concluded that the CD28/CD80 and CD28/CD86 costimulatory molecules are overexpressed, when the IL-18 level in ITP patients is obviously higher than that in normal controls. When ITP occurred, and the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 are closely associated with ITP, it seems that IL-18 may play an important role in ITP pathogenesis.
B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD28 Antigens ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; blood ; immunology

objective To understand whether human metapneumovirus(hMPV)is one of the pathogens leading to the children's respiratory infections in Urumqi.Methods A total number of 209 samples were collected in the People's General Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from November 2006 to April 2007 with Some from the hospitalized children.while the others from outpatient clinic.Specimens included nasopharyngeal aspirates(NPA)and swabs were analyzed.Samples were all tested hMPV M gene by RT-PCR while the two positive PCR amplicons were sequenced and compared with other hMPV in GenBank by Blast and DNAstar.Results Of all the 209 samples.two positive ones were tested.The identities between them were 83.8%.Results from Phylogenetic analysis showed that they might belong to two different clusters.Conclusion hMPV was one of the pathogens leading to the children's respiratory tract infections in Urumqi.with two different hMPV groups existed in the same season.

OBJECTIVETo observe the temporal and spatial changes in the distribution of Ca2+ in the rat brain following focal cerebral ischemia injury and explore the protective effect of puerarin against calcium overload.

METHODSFocal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. After cerebral ischemia, puerarin was administered in the rats at different time points. The volume of ischemic cerebral tissue was assessed by TTC staining, and the fluorescence intensity of Ca2+ in the cortex and corpora striata was determined under laser scanning confocal microscope.

RESULTSThe fluorescence intensity of Ca2+ in the infracted cortex and corpora striata begun to increase 2 h after the ischemia and was further enhanced with the prolongation of the ischemic time. No significance was found in the fluorescence intensity of Ca2+ between the cortex and corpora striata. The fluorescence intensity of Ca2+ in the infarcted corpora striata was obviously higher than that in the cortex after ischemia. Compared with that in the ischemic model group, the fluorescence intensity of Ca2+ in the infarcted cortex and corpora striata decreased significantly at 2 and 12 h following puerarin intervention (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPuerarin treatment can relieve calcium overload, reduce cerebral ischemic volume and play a neuroprotective role against focal cerebral ischemia. Twelve hours following cerebral ischemic injury may be the time window for administering puerarin intervention.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDEarly diagnosis and timely treatment are important for improving therapeutic efficiency of prostate cancer. DNA array is a new bio-technology for disease diagnosis. This study was conducted to diagnose prostate cancer with cDNA macroarray and analysis gene expression profiles of some selective genes in prostate cancer.

METHODSTotal RNA was isolated from patients with prostate cancer and from normal people, and poly (A) RNA was further purified. Then it was analyzed for differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer and normal prostate by cDNA macroarray system.

RESULTSThere were different expressions in the nine prostate-associated specific genes in prostate cancer as compared with normal prostate, in which, 7 were significantly upregulated and 2 were down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONAs a diagnostic approach at molecular level, the cDNA macroarray is an effectively diagnostic method for prostate cancer.

Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Zhuanggu Jianxi Decoction (, ZGJXD) on interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β)-induced degeneration of chondrocytes (CDs) as well as the activation of caveolin-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway, investigating the possible molecular mechanism that ZGJXD treats osteoarthritis.

METHODSSerum pharmacology was applied in the present study, where ZGJXD was orally administrated to New Zealand rabbits and then ZGJXD containing serum (ZGJXD-S) was collected for following in vitro experiments. CDs were isolated aseptically from New Zealand rabbits and then cultured in vitro. Upon IL-1 β stimulation, the degeneration of CDs was verified by inverted microscope, toluidine blue stain and type II collagen immunocytochemistry. After IL-1 β-stimulated CDs were intervened with blank control serum, ZGJXD-S, together with or without SB203580 (a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK) for 48 h, caveolin-1 protein expression and the phosphorylation level of p38 were determined by Western blotting, and the mRNA expression of IL-1 β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and MMP-13 were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSIL-1 β stimulation induced degeneration of CDs, increased caveolin-1 expression and p38 phosphorylation, up-regulated the mRNA level of IL-1 β, TNF-α, MMP-3 and MMP-13. However, the IL-1 β-induced activation of caveolin-p38 signaling and alteration in the expression of p38 downstream target genes were suppressed by ZGJXD-S and/or SB203580 in CDs.

CONCLUSIONZGJXD can prevent CDs degeneration via inhibition of caveolin-p38 MAPK signal pathway, which might be one of the mechanisms that ZGJXD treats osteoarthritis.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Caveolins ; metabolism ; Chondrocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; DNA Primers ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Interleukin-1beta ; physiology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rabbits ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism