OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles and their association with the expressions of aquaporins (AQP) in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles of castrated rats.

METHODSWe randomly divided 18 eight-week-old male SD rats into a control, a castration, and a testosterone (T) replacement group. Four weeks after surgical castration, we detected the plasma T level and measured the volumes of the secretions and the expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the rats.

RESULTSThe plasma T level was significantly lower in the castrated models ([30. 98 ± 28. 84] ng/dl) than in the rats of the control ([700.78 ± 123.8] ng/dl) and T replacement groups ([688.08 ± 132. 47] ng/dl) (P <0. 05). The castration group, in comparison with the control and T replacement groups, showed remarkably reduced ratios of prostatic secretion volume / prostate weight ([11.1 ± 0.30] vs [2.32 ± 0.61] and [2.13 ± 0.56] %, P <0. 05) and seminal vesicle secretion volume / seminal vesicle weight ( [4. 78 ± 1. 97 ] vs [57. 36 ± 11. 86] and [55. 74 ± 7. 21] %, P < 0. 05). Immunohistochemistry revealed the expressions of AQPs 3 and 7 in the epithelial envelop and cytoplasm and that of AQP 11 the in endothelial envelop and cytoplasm of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Western blot exhibited significantly lower expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the castrated rats than in the animals of the control and T replacement groups (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSignificant decreases of the secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles may be related to the reduced expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles in castrated rats.

Animals ; Aquaporins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective This study is to investigate the changes in the NFATc 4/3 signaling pathway in rat hippocampus after whole brain radiation. Methods A total of 120 one?month?old male Sprague?Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups to receive whole brain radiation using 4?MeV electron beams with doses of 0( control) ,2,10,and 20 Gy,respectively,in a single fraction. At 6 hours,12 hours,1 day,3 days,1 week,and 2 weeks after radiation,Western blot and real?time PCR were used to evaluate the changes in expression levels of CaN, NFATc 4/3, p?NFATc 4/3, and GSK?3β. Results There were no significant changes in the expression of NFATc 4/3 or p?NFATc 4/3 at 6 and 12 hours after whole brain radiation. At 1 day after radiation,compared with the control group,the expression of p?NFATc 4/3 in the radiation groups was significantly increased in a dose?dependent manner ( 2 Gy:P= 0. 014;10 Gy:P=0. 011;20 Gy:P=0. 000 );however, there was no significant difference in the expression of NFATc 4/3 between the radiation group and the control group. The expression of NFATc 4/3 was significantly decreased in the radiation groups than in the control group at day 3 ( 2 Gy:P=0. 040;10 Gy:P=0. 000;20 Gy:P=0. 000),1 week (2 Gy:P=0. 692;10 Gy:P=0. 032;20 Gy:P=0. 021),and 2 weeks (2 Gy:P=0. 001;10 Gy:P=0. 000;20 Gy:P=0. 000) after radiation,while there was no significant difference in the expression of p?NFATc 4/3 between any two groups. There were no time?or dose?dependent changes in expression of CaN or GSK?3β. Conclusions Ionization radiation has an inhibitory effect on the NFATc 4/3 signaling pathway in rat hippocampus. Combined with our previous results,this study suggests that radiation?induced cognitive dysfunction is associated with the NFATc 4/3 signaling pathway.

Background Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved proteins that are induced in cells when confronted with a wide variety of proteotoxic stresses.HSP27 has a high degree of similarity with α-crystallin protein.The abnormality of HSP27 structure and expression are closely related to the formation of cataracts.Our previous study showed sodium salieylate has the protective effect on H2O2-induced lens damage.Objective This study was to investigate the roles of MAPK signal pathway in sodium salicylate-induced the expression of HSP27 in human lens epithelial cells (LECs) in vitro.Methods Human LECs were incubated in the fresh media containing sodium salicylate at different concentrations (0-55 mmol/L) for different times (1-5 hours) and allowed to be recovered in fresh medium without sodium salicylate for 1-24 hours with or without pretreatment with P38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) and JNK/SAPK inhibitor ( SP600125). The expressions of P38MAPK, EBK1/2, JNK/SAPK, phosphorylated P38MAPK, phosphorylated ERK1/2, phosphorylated JNK/SAPK and HSP27 were detected by Western blot. HSP27 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of HSP27 was also detected by immunohistochemistry. Results There was only weak expression of HSP27 in normal human LECs.After stimulation of 35-55 mmol/L sodium salicylate was removed and human LECs were cultured again for 6 hours,the expression of HSP27 in LECs were significantly increased ( F= 509. 953,P<0. 01). HSP27 was absent expressed in human LECs in 55 mmol/L sodium salicylate stimulation for 1-5 hours groups, but LECs were re-cultured for 3,6 hours after removed the stimulation, the expression of HSP27 was elevated (F = 452. 534, P<0. 01). Activation of P38 M APK occurred after sodium salicylate stimulation 30 minutes and 1 hour ( F = 865.68, P<0. 01). However, ERK 1/2 was expressed after sodium salicylate was eliminated for 1-6 hours ( F = 388.84, P<0. 01). JNK/SAPK was inactived by sodium salicylate. The expression of HSP27 could be down-regulated with the pretreatment of SB203580 and PD98059. Conclusion Sodium salicylatc can induce the expression of HSP27 in human (LECs) . The effects are mediated,at least in part ,through the activation of P38MAPK and ERK1/2 signaling pathway .

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor (sEHI) for NF-κB pathway and cell circle arrest of tubular epithelial cell in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mice model.Methods Thirty-two healthy C57BL/6 male mice performed UUO surgery to induce renal interstitial fibrosis.Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups:sham group (n=8),sEHI (1 mg· kg-1·d-1) group (n=8),UUO group (n=8) and UUO+sEHI (1 mg· kg-1· d-1) group (n=8).Daily sEHI [1-(1-methylsulfonyl-piperidin-4-yl)-3-(4-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-urea,TUPS] or 2％ DMSO was applied to mice by oral gavage from day 1 to day 14 after surgery.All mice were sacrificed at day 14 and kidneys were harvested for further analysis.The changes of renal tissue morphology and pathology were observed by Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and sirius red staining.The expressions of sEH,nuclear factor κB p65 (NF-κB p65) and IκB were measured by Western blotting.The expressions of TNF-α,IL-1β,MCP-1,IL-6,TGF-β,CTGF,collagen-Ⅳ and α-SMA were analyzed by real-time PCR.Immunofluorescence staining of phospho-histone H3 (p-HH3) and Ki67 was performed to determine the stage of cell cycle G2/M arrest.Results The expression and activity of sEH increased in UUO group (P ＜ 0.05).Administration of sEHI inhibited activity of sEH and infiltration of inflammatory cell in tubular interstitial,as well as attenuated tubular damage and tubular interstitial fibrosis.Western blotting analysis revealed administration of sEHI inhibited up-regulated NF-κB p65 and down-regulated IκB in UUO group (P ＜ 0.05).Real-time PCR demonstrated that administration of sEHI obviously decreased the mRNA expression of cytokines and fibrosis markers,including of TNF-α,IL-1 β,MCP-1,IL-6,TGF-β,CTGF,Collagen-Ⅳ,α-SMA (P ＜ 0.05).Immunofluorescence staining showed that there were much more p-HH3 and Ki67 double positive nuclear tubular epithelial cells and interstitial cells in UUO group,compared with Sham group (P ＜ 0.05).Administration of sEHI reduced the number of double positive nuclear cell only in tubular epithelial cells (P ＜ 0.05),but not in interstitial cells.Conclusions In UUO tubular interstitial fibrosis model,sEHI inhibits the activation of NF-κB pathway by down-regulating p65 and up-regulating IκB and ameliorates the infiltration of inflammatory cells.In addition,sEHI plays anti-fibrosis effect by moderating cell cycle G2/M arrest and reducing the excrete of pro-fibrosis factors of tubular epithelial cells.

Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; drug therapy ; Angiotensin II ; blood ; Capsules ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of both intra- and extrathoracic sarcoidosis on 18F-FDG PET/CT.Methods From 2007 Aug.to 2009 Nov.,22 patients( 10 males,12 females) with sarcoidosis,confirmed by pathological study and clinical follow-up,underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging.The imaging patterns of intrathoracic and extrathoracic lesions were analyzed.The patterns were classified as the typical or atypical ( symmetrical or asymmetrical FDG accumulation and enlargement of hilar lymph nodes) based on PET and CT separately.Nonparametric McNemar test,independent t-test and Fisher exact test were applied for statistical analysis.Results For typical pattern vs atypical pattem identification,PET was significantly different from CT ( 18 and 4 vs 12 and 10,P =0.031 ).In those with atypical pattern demonstrated by CT alone at hilar region,PET showed either symmetrical or asymmetrical accumulation of FDG.Except for mediastinal lymph nodes involvement,lung parenchyma was the second common site ( 19/22,86.4％ ),followed by lymph nodes at abdomen and (or) pelvis ( 12/22,54.5％ ).Conclusion The imaging characteristics of both intra- and extrathoracic sarcoidosis on 18F-FDG PET/CT may be helpful for the diagnosis of atypical sarcoidosis on CT image alone.

0.05),the mean FA on the left was higher than the right(t=1.912,P

Pregnane X receptor (PXR), a member of nuclear receptor superfamily, plays an important role in xenobiotic and endogenous metabolism, endocrine balance, and cell proliferation, etc. Previous study has shown that pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile (PCN), a mouse PXR agonist, could induce liver enlargement. And we found that the change in hepatocytes exhibits regional distribution characteristics: hepatocyte enlargement occurs around the central vein (CV) area, while hepatocyte proliferation occurs around the portal vein (PV) area. In this study, the dynamic changes of hepatocytes during PXR-induced liver enlargement were determined. Serum and liver samples from male C57BL/6 mice were collected for biochemical and pathological analysis after PCN treatment for 1, 2, 3, 5 days, respectively. The animal experiment was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Sun Yat-Sen University. The results showed that with the increase in the PCN treatment days, the feature of this regional change of hepatocyte around the CV and PV areas became more and more obvious. At the same time, the factors related to hepatocyte enlargement, such as the expression of PXR downstream genes and the hepatic content of triglyceride (TG), has gradually increased. The upregulation of proliferation-related proteins and downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitor proteins were observed in the early stage of PCN treatment, suggesting that hepatocyte proliferation occurs earlier than hepatocyte enlargement during PXR-induced liver enlargement. This study reveals the dynamic change of hepatocytes during PXR-induced liver enlargement and provides a new insight in liver enlargement promoted via PXR activation.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of preoperative CTO lesions by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and to compare the lesion characteristics and clinical data of patients with subsequent vs failed PCI.Methods A total of 113 patients were randomly selected and 116 vessels were analyzed by CCTA before PCI.The patients were further investigated as PCI success group vs PCI failure group according to their PCI result.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors that affected the success of CTO intervention.The ROC curve was used to determine and evaluate the CT-CTO score and J-CTO score for diagnostic efficacy.Results The success rate of PCI was 55.2％.64 lesions were successfully opened,with the success rate of 72.4％.The prevalence of smoking in patients in the PCI failure group was significantly higher than that in PCI success group (65.4％ vs.42.2％,P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in age,gender,history of hypertension,diabetes mellitus,and myocardial infarction(P ＞ 0.05).Statistical differences were observed between the PCI success group and the PCI failure group in the presence of occlusion segment head-end bifurcation,occlusion severe incision,severe calcification (calcification ≥ 180°),occlusion segment length ≥ 20 mm,occlusion of calcification lesions,occlusion segment distal shape of the unambiguous of fiber cap shape of the distal occlusion segment under CCTA(P ＜ 0.05).In the PCI failure group,approximately 17.3％ of the patients had previous attempt to open the CTO lesions,which were higher than the PCI success group (9.4％).However,The difference was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the unambiguous distal fibrous cap of the occlusion segment and the occlusion of the proximal branch and the occlusion length ≥20 mm were the main factors affecting the failure of CTO intervention.In terms of prediction,the predictive value 30 CT-CTO score yielded a higher area under the ROC curve than that of the J-CTO score (0.8776 vs 0.7387,P ≤ 0.05).Conclusion CT angiography can predict the success rate of intervention for CTO lesions.Compared with J-CTO score,CT-CTO score has a higher predictive value.Unambiguous fiber cap shape,occlusion segment head end bifurcation,occlusion segment length ≥20 mm were the independent risk factors that affecting the success of CTO operation.

Objective To establish a magnetic nanoparticles separation-based quantitative real-time PCR(RT-PCR)assay for fast and accurate detection of Plasmodium falciparum and providing a technical support for improving the control and preven-tion of imported malaria. Methods According to the conserved sequences of the P. falciparum genome 18SrRNA,the species-specific primers and probe were designed and synthetized. The RT-PCR was established by constructing the plasmid standard , fitting the standard curve and using magnetic nanoparticles separation. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were evaluat-ed. Results The relationship between the threshold cycle(Ct)and logarithm of initial templates copies was linear over a range of 2.5×101 to 2.5×108 copies/μl(R2=0.999). Among 13 subjects of entry frontier,a P. falciparum carrier with low load was de-tected by using the assay and none was detected with the conventional examinations(microscopic examinations and rapid tests). Conclusion This assay shows a high sensitivity in detection of P. falciparum,with rapid and accurate characteristics,and is especially useful in diagnosis of P. falciparum infectors with low parasitaemia at entry-exit frontier ports.