ObjectiveTo investigate the role of active protein C (APC) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced microglia activation.MethodsMicroglia from one day old Sprague-Dawley newborn rat was collected, purified and identified by primary culture and immunofluorescence staining, and then was randomly divided into four groups including LPS group (1.0μg/ml LPS plus 10μl phosphate buffered saline 12 h later), LPS+ APC group (1.0μg/ml LPS plus 0.1μg/ml APC 12 h later), APC group (10μl phosphate buffered saline plus 0.1μg/ml APC 12 h later) and control group (10μl phosphate buffered saline at each time point). The morphology of micaroglia in all groups was observed under microscope, and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) were determined by immunofluorescence staining. One-way analysis of variance and LSD test were applied for statistical analysis.ResultsPrimary culture microglia was successful and the purity was no less than 99%. In LPS group, the microglia morphology was activated, and the expression of TNF-α was increased significantly than the control group (2.11±0.35 vs 1.38±0.28, LSD test,P=0.002). In LPS+APC group, the microglia morphological change was reversed, and the expression of TNF-α had no significant difference with the control group (1.35±0.36 vs 1.38±0.28, LSD test,P>0.05). The expression of PAR-1 in LPS+APC group was higher comparing with that in the control group (4.60±0.84 vs 2.64±0.41, LSD test,P=0.008) and the LPS group (2.44±0.86, LSD test,P=0.002). The expression of PAR-1 in APC group and LPS group had no obvious difference with control group (2.62±0.69, 2.44±0.86 vs 2.64±0.41, LSD test, bothP>0.05).ConclusionsBy increasing the level of PAR-1 in microglia, active protein C could inhibit the activation of miciroglia and the expression of TNF-α induced by lipopolysaccharide, therefore, protecting the brain tissues from inflammation-induced damage.

Objective To explore the febrile response and placental pathological inflammation of pregnant rats exposed to intrauterine infection in late gestation.Methods Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats at gestational day 18 were randomly divided into control group and intrauterine-infected group with six rats in each.The intrauterine-infected group was intraperitoneally injected with 350 μ g/kg lipopolysaccharide to establish a rat model of intrauterine infection,while the control group was injected with sterile saline of the same dose.Core temperature was measured every 1 h after intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide or saline for 8 h.At gestational day 19,after anesthesia,the placentas were taken and stained with HE.The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,and interleukin-1β in the placenta were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Student t test was used for statistical analysis.Results (1) There was no temperature difference between the two groups before experimental treatment (P ＞ 0.05).Core temperature was increased 1 h after the lipopolysaccharide injection,reaching (37.67 ±0.08) ℃.The increase of temperature was significant compared with the control group [(37.13 ± 0.08) ℃,t=10.178,P ＜ 0.01].Fever was lowered 2 h later and the rats became hypothermic with body temperature below 37 ℃ in the intrauterine-infected group.The body temperature in the intrauterine-infected group after 2-6 h was (37.70 ± 0.10),(37.23 ± 0.05),(36.57 ± 0.06),(36.60 ± 0.10) and (36.57 ± 0.08) ℃,respectively,compared with the control group [(36.83 ±0.12),(36.63 ± 0.12),(36.71 ± 0.07),(36.87±0.12),and (36.77±0.08) ℃,respectively],the differences being all statistically significant (t=11.402,11.163,-4.025,-4.000 and-4.243,all P ＜ 0.01).(2) HE staining revealed large amounts of neutrophils infiltration,vascular enlargement and congestion in the placenta of the intrauterine-infected rats.No inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the control placentas.(3) The expression levels of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α [(0.62 ± 0.02) ng/g],interleukin-6 [(66.12 ± 5.11) ng/g],and interleukin-1β [(7.09± 1.23) ng/g] in the intrauterine-infected group were higher than those in the control group [(0.27±0.01),(16.71 ±1.55) and (2.86 ± 0.38) ng/g,respectively].The differences were all statistically significant (t=-26.608,-18.749 and-5.714,all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion After exposure to lipopolysaccharide in late gestation,pregnant rats show significant inflammatory response in the placenta,with suppression of febrile response and presence of hypothermia.

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a common pediatric endocrine disease caused by premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, featured by rapid development of internal and external reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics in girls before age 8 and boys before age 9.The gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) is the first choice for the treatment of CPP.Currently, 3.75 mg/ month sustained -release short-acting dosage form (1M depot formulations) is the most commonly used in China.The development of long-acting dosage form will reduce injection times and clinic visits.At present, the 3-month long-acting dosage form (11.25 mg 3M depot formulations) of Leprorelin microsphere has been approved in China.However, clinical practice experience of 3-month Leuprorelin acetate depot formulations is lacking in China.Therefore, in this paper, existing clinical evidence for this dosage form was reviewed to provide evidence-based medicine support for its clinical application.

To prepare AS1411 targeted nano-ultrasonic contrast agent with liquid core, and to evaluate its ability for ultrasonic contrast enhancement and targeting MCF-7 cell in vitro.
 Methods: The modified solvent evaporation, self-synthesized membrane material and perfluorobrominane (PFOB) was used to form nano-ultrasonic contrast agent with PFOB core (nanoparticles, NP); then N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) catalysis was used to connect AS1411 to the surface of NP to prepare NP-AS1411. The transmission electron microscopy was chosen to check the morphology of NP-AS1411. The size, surface charge, encapsulation efficiency, biocompatibility, the contrast grey value and the stability of NP-AS1411 and NP were compared. Whether AS411 was attached to the surface of NP was checked by gel electrophoresis. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry were performed to examine the targeting ability of AS1411.
 Results: NP-AS1411 was a shell-nuclear structure under the electron microscope. Its size was at (245.4±16.5) nm, which was larger than that of NP (P=0.05). There was no significant difference in surface charge and encapsulation efficiency between NP-AS1411 and NP (P>0.05). In the MTT experiment, the cell viability decreased significantly at high concentration of NP-AS411 (25 mg/mL) after incubation for 24 h compared with the control group (0 mg/mL ) (P<0.05). The contrast gray value of NP-AS1411 was at 86.1+ 6.7, which was significantly higher than that of deionized water (P<0.05), and equivalent to that of NP (P>0.05). The contrast grey value of AS1411-NP was 80.1±9.2 after keeping at room temperature for 24 h, which showed no obviously change comparing with that before the treatment (P>0.05). The size of NP-AS1411didn't change too (P>0.05). The results of gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the AS1411 connecting to the surface of NP was the most when the molar ratio of NP:AS1411 was at 40:1. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that NP and NP-AS1411 were combined with MCF-7 cells separately but the fluorescence produced by the combination of NP-AS1411 and MCF-7 was more intense.
 Conclusion: The modified solvent evaporation and EDC/NHS catalysis could successfully prepare ultrasound contrast agents with aptamer-conjugated nanoparticles with liquid core. The targeted ultrasonic contrast agents with liquid core possess good ultrasonic contrast enhancement ability in vitro, stability and specificity as well.
Cell Survival ; Contrast Media ; chemical synthesis ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; chemical synthesis