OBJECTIVETo study the effects of cadmium chloride in anterior pituitary and the relation between apoptosis and expression of procaspase-9 mRNA.

METHODSIn vivo studies:40 SD male rats were randomly distributed into four groups which were administered with CdCl2 at different doses by gavage for 6 weeks;

IN VITRO STUDIESthe rats' anterior pituitary cells were primarily cultured for 120 hours, then treated with CdCl2 at the dose of 0, 1.56, 3.12, 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00, 100.00 micromol/L for 6 hours; The indices included: expression of procaspase-9 mRNA, detection of apoptosis with TUNEL assay.

RESULTSThe results showed the excretion of ACTH, LH seemed to be decreased dramatically and the apoptosis inclined to enhance remarkably, and further more, the expression of procaspase-9 mRNA appeared to be increased significantly as compared with those of the control. It was show that a dose-effect relationship between the CdCl2 dosing and indices above with the regression analysis and a linear correlation between the mean gray value of apoptosis cell and the relative gray value of procaspase-9 mRNA positive cell. The results indicated that damnification, for example, apoptosis could be caused by certain dose of CdCl2 in anterior pituitary cells with dose dependent manner. Caspase-9 might play a role in the occurrence of apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that cadmium could induce apoptosis of anterior pituitary both in vivo and in vitro in the manner of dose-dependent, and caspase-9 might play a role during above processes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cadmium Chloride ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

AIM:To investigate the expression of IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-17A in asthmatic mice vaccinated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin(BCG)and hepatitis B(HepB)in the neonatal period.METHODS: BALB/c mice were ran-domly divided into BGG+HepB+ovalbumin(OVA)group(B/H/O group),B/O group,H/O group,B/H group,OVA group,BCG group,HepB group and normal saline(NS)group(n=6).The mice in B/H/O group and B/H group at 0, 7 and 14 d received subcutaneous injection of 1×105CFU BCG for 3 times,while at 0 and 28 d received intramuscular in-jection of 1.5 μg HepB on the hindlimb twice.The mice in other groups were individually vaccinated with BCG or HepB. OVA sensitization and aerosol inhalation were performed to establish the asthma model.The lung tissues were collected for HE staining.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)and peripheral blood(PB)were collected,and the number of eosino-phils(EOS)in BALF was counted.The serum levels of IFN-γand IL-4,and the level of IL-17A in lung tissue homoge-nate were measured by ELISA.RESULTS: The pathological changes of the lung in OVA group, B/O group, B/H/O group and H/O group were observed.There were extensive inflammatory cell infiltration around the bronchus,and epithe-lial cell hypertrophy.Those in B/H/O group and H/O group were worse than those in OVA group, while those in B/O group was better than those in OVA group.Total BALF cell counts in B/H/O group,B/O group and H/O group were de-creased(P<0.05)as compared with OVA group.The BALF EOS count in B/H/O group was higher than that in B/H group,that in B/O group was higher than that in BCG group,and that in H/O group was higher than that in HepB groups (P<0.05).Compared with H/O group, OVA group and NS group, the serum IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in HepB group was in-creased(P<0.05),and compared with B/H/O group,B/O group,OVA group and NS group,that in B/H group was al-so increased(P<0.05).Compared with OVA group, the level of IL-17A in the lung tissues of B/H/O group and B/O group was decreased(P <0.05), and compared with B/O group, that in B/H/O group was further decreased(P <0.05).CONCLUSION:Combined vaccination of BCG and HepB reduces the inflammotory responses in the lung tissues of asthmatic mice.The mechanism may be related with the decrease in the release of IL-4, the increase in IFN-γ/IL-4, and the inhibition of IL-17A expression.

OBJECTIVETo study the method for synthesis of 2-hydroxyl-5- butyramidobenzoic acid and test its effect on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.

METHODS2-hydroxyl-5-butyramidobenzoic acid was synthesized from 5-aminosalicylic acid and butyric acid by amidation, esterification and hydrolization. The effect of 2-hydroxyl-5-butyramidobenzoic acid on acetic acid enema-induced colitis in rats was investigated.

RESULTSThe structure of 2-hydroxyl-5-butyramidobenzoic acid was identified by IR and 1H-NMR. After treatment with acetic acid, the colon mucosal damage index (CMDI), fecal occult blood (OB) test, and activity of myelperoxidase (MPO) increased significantly in the rats as compared to the control levels. 2-hydroxyl-5- butyramidobenzoic acid obviously reduced the CMDI and OB, and reduced the level of MPO in the rats with colitis.

CONCLUSIONThe synthesis of 2-hydroxyl-5-butyramidobenzoic acid requires only mild conditions with simple procedures, and the synthesized 2-hydroxyl-5-butyramidobenzoic acid shows obvious therapeutic effects on mucosal damage of in rats with acetic acid-induced colitis.

Acetic Acid ; Aminobenzoates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Protective Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salicylates

Objective To investigate the effect on radioactivity in drinking water around Qinshan nuclear power station (QNPS)in normal operational condition.Methods The field monitoring and laboratory analysis methods were adopted to detect the total radioactivity level in drinking water in 2015,according to different distances from the nuclear island and different types of water.Results The total alpha and total beta radioactivity level in drinking water around QNPS were 0.027(0.098)Bq /L and 0.263(0.071)Bq /L respectively,which were obviously lower than the national health standard limits(total alpha and total beta are 0.5,1.0 Bq /L respectively).Total radioactivity level had no relation with the distance from the nuclear island (P >0.05).The total alpha radioactivity in deep well water was the highest among the investigated three types of drinking water,and the highest value was 0.224 Bq /L.The beta radioactivity level in river water was the highest,and the highest value was 0.408 Bq /L.The total alpha radioactivity level was 0.017 (0.013)Bq /L in 2015, higher than the average level during 2010—2014.The beta radioactivity average level was 0.319 (0.102)and 0.289 (0.055)Bq /L,also higher than the average level during 2010—2014.Conclusion The total radioactivity in drinking water among nuclear power plant is in normal background level,so at present there is no effect of the radioactive contamination on drinking water around QNPS in nuclear power plant's normal operational condition.

Objective To establish a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) through the optimization of the chromatographic conditions, which can detect the contents of clenbuterol hydrochloride (CL) residues in animal edible product in a large quantity. Methods The animal edible product were extracted by perchloric acid, and then impurities were removed by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) which used ethyl acetate- isopropanol. After the organic phase was concentrated, C18 column (150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used to separate CL. Mobile phase were methanol-sodium dihydrogen phosphate, and then determined by HPLC. Results A good linear response was obtained over the range of 0.2-10.0 μg/mL with the correlation coefficient (r) 0.99984. The method determination limit was 0.15 μg/kg which was lower than the National standard method 0.5μg/kg. The retention time of the CL was 6.51 min, the chromatographic peak was good. The recovery rates spiked with standards 1.6-12 μg were 92.86％-100.93％, which was higher than National standard method (89.79％-92.36％) . The precision of intra-day and inter-day were both under 5％, which lower than National standard. Conclusion The optimized chromatographic conditions are suitable for the large quantity determination of clenbuterol hydrochloride in animal edible product.

OBJECTIVEThe effects of Jing'an capsule on the quality of rat sperm were studied to supply data for its safe clinical use.

METHODSEighty SD male rats were evenly and randomly divided into three test groups and one control group. Then the test groups were continuously given Jing'an capsule at different dosages: 557.1 mg/kg, 5,571 mg/kg or 11,420 mg/kg and the control group was given starch (20 g/L). Sixty days later, one of the epididymides, the sperm density was made and the sperm motility and morphology were investigated. The data obtained were analyzed by ANOVA, chi 2 test and Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTSThe sperm density, motility and morphology were variable at different dosages. Compared with the control, the sperm density increased significantly at the dosage of 557.1 mg/kg(P < 0.05), and a significant decrease was observed in the sperm density and motility (P < 0.05) at the dosage of 11,420 mg/kg. Although the rate of abnormal sperm morphology decreased at the dosage of 557.1 mg/kg and increased at the dosage of 5,571 mg/kg or 11,420 mg/kg compared with the control, there was no statistic significance(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA low dosage of Jing'an capsule might ameliorate the quality of sperm, while a high dosage could do damage to sperm.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Zinc Sulfate ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of anti-psychotic treatment on the expression of Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) mRNA in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of schizophrenia patients.

METHODSThe NRG1 mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes was measured using semi-quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR in 80 first-onset schizophrenia patients, 37 sibling controls and 83 non-related controls. The patients were treated with risperdone and quetiapine for 4 weeks. Positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS) was used to evaluate the severity and clinical efficacy.

RESULTSPrior to the treatment, the expression of NRG1 mRNA expression was significantly lower in patients than other two groups (F=73.004, P=0.000). From the second week on, the level of NRG1 mRNA expression in patients became significantly higher than before and gradually increased, whilst no significant difference between sib and non-sib controls. Prior to the treatment, there was significant correlation (r=-0.232, P=0.038) between the level of NRG1 mRNA and PANSS scores. Four weeks after the treatment, a significant correlation between the reduction rate of PANSS and the change of NRG1 mRNA (r=0.27, P=0.016).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of NRG1 gene mRNA is associated with schizophrenia. Decreased expression of NRG1 may play a role in the development of schizophrenia, which can be improved by anti-psychotic drugs.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antipsychotic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Neuregulin-1 ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Schizophrenia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

Sustained-release tablet has become one of the hottest research spots in the area of sustained release preparations with its unique advantages. At present, a series of shortcomings were exited in the ordinary ginkgo preparations, which were used for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In order to avoid these shortcomings, ginkgo flavonoids matrix tablets were prepared in this paper. Furthermore, the amount and varieties of matrix material, adhesives and fillers were investigated. Meanwhile, the formulation was optimized by using the method of orthogonal design, and Zero-order, First-order, Higuchi, Ritger-peppas equation were used for the model fitting and mechanism discussing of drug release.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Tablets ; chemistry

Objective To develop a wear prediction model for hard-on-hard hip joint replacement under the condition of complex dynamic loading and time-dependent motion, and to apply it to the study on wear prediction of the typical metal-on-metal hip joint replacement in the complicated three-dimensional (3D) physiological motion condition. Methods The finite element model for contact mechanics was established and the fixed-tracked method was adopted to make the dynamic wear reappear on the bearing surface of artificial hip joint with 3D Euler transformation, and the data communication about the corresponding contact and wear for simulation was also made. Results The wear prediction test showed that the spherical bearing geometry of the artificial hip joint gradually became the non-spherical form due to the wear with time; meanwhile, the corresponding contact area was increased, the distribution of the contact pressure tended to be flattened, and the maximum contact pressure was decreased. Conclusions The wear prediction model developed here for metal-on-metal hip joint replacements with bilateral bearing surfaces under the condition of complex dynamic loading and motion could be used to carry out simulation test for the wear prediction of metal-on-metal artificial joint, which provides a new method to understand the wear mechanism of hip joint replacement.

Objective Due to the limitation of manufacturing techniques, possible design optimization selecting and influence of its wearing in clinical application, the bearing surface of hip joint replacements is presented as non-spherical geometry, and the finite element method can be used to study the contact mechanics behavior in such kind of non-spherical hip joint replacement. MethodsThe reconstructing of non-spherical articular surface based on spherical-grid-data model (SGDM) was developed to investigate the effect of contact mechanics of an ellipsoidal head against a spherical cup in a typical metal-on-metal hip joint replacement. Results The maximum contact pressure of the non-spherical bearing was decreased effectively, and meanwhile the contact area was increased when curvature radius of the ellipsoidal head around the centre of the contact zone was increased, while the effects of the cup inclination angle on the maximum contact pressure and contact area of the non spherical bearing under the same load showed relatively small, but the contact pressure distributions were different. Conclusions A well-controlled non-sphericity can improve the magnitude and distribution of contact pressures on metal-on-metal hip joint replacements. In addition, the developed model and evaluation method in this paper can be used for simulation of dynamic contact and wear prediction of non-spherical hip joint replacements.