Attitude to Health ; China ; Dust ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Needs Assessment ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health Services ; Pneumoconiosis ; prevention & control ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To investigate the distribution of neurons expressing Fos protein in central nervous system (CNS) following esophageal mucosal acid exposure,and to map the contribution of spe- cific brain areas in sensitizing responsivity and emphasize the coding change of CNS to the esophageal acid stimulation.Methods Thirty-six healthy Sprague-Dwley rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group A (n=6) was normal group of home cage control animals to which no stimulation was given. Group B (n=7) was saline group which received esophageal perfusion with normal saline solution (0.9% NaCl).Group C (n=8) was treated with esophageal mucosal acid exposure containing 0.1 mol/L HCl. Group D (n=7) was sensitized by ovalbumin.Group E (n=8) received basal ovalbumin-sensitization plus esophageal mucosal acid exposure.The rat model of esophageal visceral hypersensitivity was estab- lished by the basic ovalbumin-sensitization combined with intra-esophageal mucosal acid exposure.The neuronal expressions of c-fos proto-oncogene were detected with immunohistochemical counter-staining and computerized color image analyzer under various conditions.Results The rats in model group with basic ovalbumin-sensitization plus esophageal acid perfusion initiated a high density expression of c-fos- immunoreactive(Fos-IR) neurons in multineuronal networks.A significantly higher number of Fos positive neurons was found in the model group than those in the corresponding regions of other groups (P＜0.05) in the following brain areas:frontal and parietal cortex,insular cortex,cingulated cortex,central amyg- daloid nucleus,the K(?)lliker-Fuse nucleus,the nucleus ambiguus,parabrachial nucleus,hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus,paraventricular thalamic nucleus,paratrigeminal nucleus,the nucleus of solitary tract,area postrema,reticular nucleus of medulla,whereas no significant difference was found in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus,supraoptic nucleus,periaqueductal gray matter or orbital part of infe- rior frontal gyrus.The values of Fos-IR neurons were also increased in the central amygdala,parabrachi- al nucleus,paraventricular nucleus,the paratrigeminal nucleus and NTS in the model group than that in the corresponding regions of other groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion The basic ovalbumin-sensitization fa- cilitated dramatically the c-fos expression evoked by esophageal acid perfusion,suggesting that visceral hypersensitivity induced by ovalbumin may alter cortical reactivity processing of esophageal acid stimula- tion in brain areas.

OBJECTIVETo study the antiulcer effects and the mechanism of Veronicastrum axillare (Sieb. et Zucc) Yamazaki (VAY) on ethanol induced gastric ulcer rats.

METHODSTotally 48 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the ranitidine group, the high dose VAY group, the medium dose VAY group, and the low dose VAY group, 8 in each group. Rats in the normal group and the model group were administered with normal saline respectively. Rats in the ranitidine group were administered with 0.18% ranitidine suspension (at the daily dose of 0.027 g/kg) by gastrogavage. Those in the high dose VAY group, the medium dose VAY group, and the low dose VAY group were administered with VAY at the daily dose of 2.8 g/kg, 1.4 g/kg, and 0.7 g/kg by gastrogavage, once daily for 14 consecutive days. The gastric ulcer model was established using absolute ethanol after the last gastrogavage. The ulcer index and the ulcer inhibitory rate were compared. The concentrations of malonyldialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the serum and the homogenate of the gastric mucosa tissue were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the gastric ulcer index in the rest groups obviously decreased (P < 0.01). The ulcer index was dose-dependent with VAY (P < 0.01), with the highest gastric ulcer index shown in the high dose VAY group (P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, the concentrations of MDA and NO significantly increased in the serum and the gastric mucosa tissue, the activity of SOD and the EGF content in the gastric mucosa tissue of rats in the model group significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the MDA concentrations in the serum and the gastric mucosa tissue decreased, the serum NO content increased, the NO content in the gastric mucosa tissue decreased, the serum SOD activity increased, the EGF content in the gastric mucosa tissue increased in the rest groups, all showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe water extract of VAY had significant effects on ethanol induced gastric ulcer. Its mechanisms might lie in reducing the generation of free radicals, promoting the oxygen free radical clearance, restraining lipid peroxidation, regulating and controlling the in vivo contents of NO and EGF.

Animals ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plantago ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

In-vitro assay methods were established to evaluate transactivation and binding activity of compounds on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y (PPARγ). Firstly, plasmids were constructed for transactivation assay of PPARγ response element (PPRE) triggered reporter gene expression, and for cell-based binding activity assay of the chimeric receptor, which was fused with PPARγ ligand binding domain (LBD) and yeast transcriptional activator Gal4. Secondly, by using PPARy competitive binding assay based on time resolved-fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET), affinities of compounds and drugs to PPARγ were evaluated. In application of these above methods, the PPARγ activating potency and characteristics of different compounds were evaluated, and a novel benzeneselfonamide derivative, ZLJ01, was found to have comparable binding activity and affinity with the well-known PPARy agonist, but lack of PPRE mediated transactivation activity. In preliminary study on in-vitro hypoglycemic activity, ZLJ1 was found to promote insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by liver cells. Therefore, we believe that combining transactivation and binding activity as well as affinity evaluation, the system could be used to screen non-agonist PPARγ ligand as anovel PPARγ modulator
Genes, Reporter ; Hepatocytes ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemistry ; Ligands ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; chemistry ; Plasmids ; Response Elements ; Sulfonamides ; chemistry ; Transcriptional Activation

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) can inhibit apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells induced by cisplatin (DDP) and its possible mechinism.

METHODSDNA fragmentation assay, (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labling TUNEL), Western blot were used to analyze the changes in expression levels of Survivin and bcl-2 protein. The relative activity of caspase-3 was also determined.

RESULTS200 mIU/ml FSH could regulate down the percentage of apoptotic cells and DNA fragmentation induced by 5.0 micrograms/ml cisplatin, while 200 mIU/ml FSH increased Survivin protein expression but could't influence the expression of bcl-2 protein.

CONCLUSIONFSH can inhibit ovarian cancer cells apoptosis induced by cisplatin. The possible mechinism is up-regulation of Survivin expression and down-regulation of caspase activity.

Antineoplastic Agents ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cisplatin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; DNA Fragmentation ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, FSH ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective To investigate characteristics and alternation of cerebral evoked potentials (CEP) response to esophageal mucosal acid exposure and distention in patients with non-erosive gastro-oesoph- ageal reflux disease (NERD) and in healthy subjects,and to study the mechanism of visceral hypersensitivity in NERD.Methods Twenty-one NERD patients and 10 volunteers were recruited.Mechanical distention stimulation and acid perfusion of the esophagus were performed using the balloon-affixed and polyvinyl multi- lumen catheter.First,maximally tolerated pain thresholds of all subjects were recorded,then esophageal mechanical stimulation with a 75% of maximal tolerated intensity and a frequency of 0.2 Hz was performed altogether 64 times by means of a computer-controlled barostat.The alternation of esophageal CEP was recorded before and after acid perfusion with a multichannel international 10-20 system of electroencephalography. Experimental data was analyzed by student's t-test and one way analysis of variance.Results Esophageal mu- cosal distention may evoke recognizable and reproducible and multi-peak CEP.The latencies for N1,P1 and N2 in volunteers were (246?77),(388?84)and (502?78) ms,CEP morphology of NERD patients was charac- terized by randomly distributed patterns,and the latencies for N1 ,P1 and N2 were (192?46),(293?76) and (440?79)ms,significantly shorter for mechanical stimulation compared with those of control group respectively (all P value

Objective To study the influence and dose effect of ultrasound on the contraction of uterine smooth muscle in rats.Methods Estradiol benzoate was injected into rats three days before conducting an in-vitro experiment.Their uteri were resected and irradiated with ultrasound(0.8 MHz,3 W/cm~2,0-40 rain).The contrac- tion frequency and amplitude were recorded using an MS-302 biological experiment system.Results It could be seen that the contraction frequency and amplitude,and general contractile activity were significantly increased during ultrasonic irradiation(P＜0.01).The increased contraction frequency and amplitude lasted for ten minutes,and then the normal contraction pattern resumed.The contraction frequency as well as the percentage change in eontraction fre- quency were highest during the first 15 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation;the contraction amplitude as well as the per- centage change in amplitude were highest during 40 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation.Contraction activity was at its highest for 30 minutes,but the percentage change in activity was highest for 20 minutes.Conclusions Ultrasound can induce uterine smooth muscle contraction in rats.This biological effect is related to the irradiation time.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the use of antibiotics in general hospitals of Ningbo. METHODS Totally 4 391 case history records in April,2004 of 12 hospitals were investigated on the use of antibiotics. RESULTS Medicines incomes accounted for 55.16% in total revenue in a hospital,and antibiotics accounted for 32.66% among medicines incomes.Antibiotics using rate was 62.11% in internal medicine departments.The percentage of antibiotics using without evidence was 23.92%,the combined antibiotics using rate was 49.89%.The average duration for antibiotics using was 10.83 days.Antibiotics using rate in surgery departments before operation was 71.00%,during operation was 20.48%,the combined antibiotics using rate during operation was 14.50%,antibiotics using rate after operation was 96.55%.Antibiotics using for treatment accounted for 62.37% and for prevention was 24.17%. CONCLUSIONS Antibiotics using rate is high in hospitals in Ningbo.Income of medicine is also an important part of total revenue in a hospital.We should pay more attention to management on clinical use of antibiotics.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have indicated the possibility that genistein may improve depression via regulating the expression of miR-221/222. This study is to explore whether genistein could improve depression by altering miR-221/222 levels and investigate the possible mechanisms involved in the improvement effect of genistein. METHODS: The animal model of depression was established through unpredictable chronic mild stress. Nest building test and splash test were adapted to evaluate the effects of genistein on depressive symptoms in mice. qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of miR-221/222 and connexin 43 (Cx43) in the prefrontal cortex of the mice. In vitro, U87-MG astrocytes were treated with genistein and the expression of miR-221/222 and Cx43 was measured. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify whether Cx43 was a direct target of miR-221/222. RESULTS: The behavioral tests showed that genistein could significantly reduce depression symptoms of mice, and this remission was not affected by gender. Genistein in vivo and in vitro could reduce increased levels of miR-221 and miR-222 in the prefrontal cortex of depressed mice, while upregulate Cx43 expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay suggested Cx43 was directly regulated by miR-221/222 in astrocytes. CONCLUSION: Genistein can play its antidepressant effect through down-regulating miR-221/222 by targeting Cx43.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; Behavior Rating Scale ; Blotting, Western ; Connexin 43* ; Depression* ; Genistein* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Prefrontal Cortex

BACKGROUNDTuberous sclerosis (TS) is an autosomal dominant disorder with a significant range of clinical expressions. The involvement of vital organs, such as the brain, kidney, heart and lung is the main cause of death in patients with TS. The aim of this study is to summarize the characteristic cutaneous features and common extracutaneous involvement of TS, which are helpful to the early detection of visceral involvement.

METHODSThe analyzed clinical data from 78 patients with TS included those from detailed history, physical and dermatological examination, cranial computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), abdominal ultrasonography, chest roentgenography, hand and foot X-ray and ophthalmologic examination.

RESULTSThe skin, brain and kidney were involved frequently in TS patients. Hypomelanotic macules were the most common and earliest cutaneous lesions. Their number was more than 3 in 81.5% of the patients. They were followed by facial angiofibromas and Shangreen's patch in a decreasing frequency. Forehead plaque, facial angiofibromas and Shagreen's patch appeared in patients at mean age of 2.6, 6.0 and 8.1 years respectively. Cranial CT showed a high positive rate in TS patients.

CONCLUSIONSCutaneous features of TS are helpful in the early diagnosis of the disease. Hypomelanotic macules are especially important for patients with epilepsy or babies whose number of hypomelanotic macules is more than 3. Cranial CT is of great value in the diagnosis of TS. The involvement of visceral organs such as the brain and kidney should be examined in TS patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiomyolipoma ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney Neoplasms ; etiology ; Male ; Radiography ; Skin ; pathology ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology