Animals ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Epimedium ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Study the immunological adjuvant function of biodegradable microspheres for DNA immunization. Empty poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolic acid) microspheres were prepared using the water- inoil-in-water (w-o-w) technique; A plasmid DNA pRc-CMV encoding hepatitis B virus S antigen was constructed; The mixture of the microspheres and the plasmid DNA was prepared by incubation method. The mixture was administered to Balb/c mice by intramuscular injection. Result: The high antibody titer(1:1600) of intramuscular injection of the mixture of microspheres and the plasmid DNA was obtained, similar to that of intramuscular injection of the mixture of AL(OH)3 and hepatitis B virus S antigen; while intramuscular injection the plasmid DNA elicited no serum antibody respones. Conclusion: biodegradable microspheres may be used as an good adjuvant for DNA immunization.

Objective To report a peliosis hepatic in child and review literature and discuss.Methods Case history was inquired.Physical,labtoratory,imagement and histopathology of liver biopsy(HE staining) were examed.Results A 4-year old girl appeared dermatitis with erythema and herpes at local skin where was bit by insect before onset.The girl appeared fever,cough,then abdominal pain,hepatomegaly,pleural effusion and ascites.Lab examination revealed slight elevation of aspartate transaminase,?-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase.The liver B-mode ultrasonography and CT scan revealed hepatomegaly with density heterogeneity of the parenchyma.The liver biopsy revealed many small capsule filled with blood cells.Conclusions Clinical characteristics of the disease are fever,upper abdomen pain,janundice,ascites and hepatomegaly.The diagnosis shall be combined with the pathologic biopsy of liver.

BACKGROUNDThe synthesis of virus-like particles (VLPs) provides an important tool to determine the structural requirements for viral particle assembly and virus-host interactions. Our purpose was to express simultaneously all three structural proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in insect cells to investigate the proteins assembly into VLPs and the immunogenicity of these particles.

METHODSHCV gene sequences encoding the structural proteins C, E1, and E2 were amplified with PCR, and recombinant baculoviruses were constructed using recombinant DNA techniques. The expression of HCV structural proteins in insect cells was analyzed by immunofluorescence and SDS-PAGE. The interaction of expressed structural proteins was investigated by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. The VLPs in the insect cells were visualized by electron microscopy (EM). VLPs were then purified by sucrose gradient centrifugation and used to immunize BALB/c mice. Antibodies against HCV were tested for in mouse serum samples by an ELISA assay.

RESULTSThe recombinant baculoviruses reBV/C and reBV/E1-E2 were constructed successfully. Insect cells co-infected with reBV/C and reBV/E1-E2 expressed HCV C, E1, and E2 proteins with the expected molecular weights of 20kD, 35kD, and 66kD, respectively. The results of immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting assays revealed the coimmunoprecipitation of C, E1, and E2 proteins, indicating association of the three structural proteins. Electron microscopy of insect cells co-infected with reBV/C and reBV/E1-E2 demonstrated spherical particles (40 to 60 nm in diameter) similar to the HCV virions from serum samples or hepatic tissue samples of HCV infected humans. The VLPs were partially purified. Antibodies to HCV were detectable in the serum of mice immunized with VLPs.

CONCLUSIONHCV structural proteins simultaneously expressed in insect cells can interact with each other and assemble into HCV-like particles, which are shown to be immunogenic in mice.

Animals ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; physiology ; Immunization ; Immunoprecipitation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Microscopy, Electron ; Spodoptera ; Viral Structural Proteins ; immunology ; physiology ; Virion ; physiology ; Virus Assembly

OBJECTIVETo explore the significance of mitochondrial D-loop alterations in hyperplastic pancreatic ductal cells in vicinity of pancreatic cancer coexisting with chronic pancreatitis.

METHODSMalignant lesions and foci of pancreatic ductal intraepithelial neoplasia of the pancreas and paired normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells from the same patients, respectively, were assessed by polymerase chain reaction. Somatic point mutations and sequence variants of D-loop were searched by direct sequencing of the mitochondrial genome. D-loops were sequenced by BLAST to identify their mutations.

RESULTSEleven of 12 pancreatic cancers displayed at least one D-loop variants and one tumor presented heteroplasmy. There was an apparent increase in incidence of D-loop mutational rate from PanIN1 (33.3%) to PanIN3 (75%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMitochondrial D-loop alterations in the pancreas occur in the earliest premalignant lesions and exhibite an increasing occurence that parallels histological severity. These alterations may serve as a valuable marker to follow the histopathological progression of the lesions. Large number of further studies are required to clarify clinical implications of the mitochondrial DNA alterations.

Adenoma ; complications ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pancreatic Ducts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; complications ; genetics ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; complications ; genetics ; Precancerous Conditions ; complications ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

It is a challenging and important project to prolong the in vivo half life of protein and peptide drugs by physicochemical methods without new molecular entities generation. Protein crystallization provides a new strategy for improving the stability and in vivo delivery of these drugs. We show here that recombinant human interferon-alpha (rhIFN) can form spherical crystals. The physical and chemical features of the crystals were characterized, and drug dissolution was determined in vitro. The pharmacokinetics of crystallized interferon after sc injection in rabbit at 1.5 x 10(7) U x kg(-1) was compared to that of soluble form. The crystals were characterized as mono-dispersed spheres, with yield of > 80%, mean diameter size of about 16 microm and crystallinity of 23.2%. The in vitro dissolution behavior of crystallized rhIFN was featured as low initial burst release (21% within the first 2 h) and prolonged cumulative dissolution time up to 72 h without biological potency lost. After sc administration of soluble and crystallized interferon in rabbits, the peak time (T(max)) and half life (t1/2) were prolonged from (1.80 +/- 0.45) h and (1.35 +/- 0.35) h to (13.20 +/- 2.68) h and (10.68 +/- 1.97) h, respectively. The corresponding peak concentration decreased from (1 411.10 +/- 575.28) U x mL(-1) to (721.37 +/- 206.55) U x mL(-1). PK/PD analysis indicated that (96.87 +/- 20.30) % of relative bioavailability was obtained. The research results of this work will provide important academic value and application prospect for improving clinical therapeutic effect and development of biomacromolecules delivery system for protein and peptide drugs.
Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Biological Availability ; Crystallization ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Solubility ; Surface Properties

Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Herpesviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a stress-responsive intercellular messenger modifying hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. The interaction between stress and age in BDNF expression is currently not fully understood. This study was conducted to observe unpredictable stress effect on behavior and BDNF expression in CA3 subfield (CA3) and dentate gyrus of hippocampus in different aged rats.

METHODSForty-eight Wistar rats of two different ages (2 months and 15 months) were randomly assigned to six groups: two control groups and four stress groups. The rats in the stress group received three weeks of unpredictable mild stress. The depression state and the stress level of the animals were determined by sucrose preference test and observation of exploratory behavior in an open field (OF) test. The expressions of BDNF in CA3 and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus were measured using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSAge and stress had different effects on the behavior of different aged animals (age: F = 6.173, P < 0.05, stress: F = 6.056, P < 0.05). Stress was the main factor affecting sucrose preference (F = 123.608, P < 0.05). Decreased sucrose preference and suppressed behavior emerged directly following stress, lasting to at least the eighth day after stress in young animals (P < 0.05). The older stress rats showed a lower sucrose preference than young stress rats (P < 0.05). Older control rats behaved differently from the younger control animals in the OF test, spending more time in the central square (P < 0.05), exhibiting fewer vertical movements (P < 0.05) and less grooming (P < 0.05). Following exposure to stress, older-aged rats showed no obvious changes in vertical movement and grooming. This indicates that aged rats were in an unexcited state before the stress period, and responded less to stressful stimuli than younger rats. There was significantly lower BDNF expression in the CA3 and dentate gyrus regions of the hippocampus following stress in both age groups (P < 0.05), a reduction that was still present at the eighth day after stress (P < 0.05). Stress and age were the main factors affecting the expression of BDNF (F = 9.408, P < 0.05; F = 106.303, P < 0.05). The aged stress group showed lower BDNF expression compared to the young stressed group at every testing time point.

CONCLUSIONStress has age-dependent effects on behavioral responses and hippocampal BDNF expression in rats.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Chronic Disease ; Dentate Gyrus ; chemistry ; Exploratory Behavior ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Psychological ; metabolism ; psychology ; Sucrose ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of ethylbenzene on oxidative damage, ultrastructure and the expressions of apoptosis-related genes in the rat brain tissues.

METHODSFour groups of 10 males of Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated randomly, and inhaled daily with different doses of ethylbenzene: 0, 433.5 mg/m³, 4335.0 mg/m³, and 6500.0 mg/m³ 6 h daily, 5 days per week for 13 weeks. The contents of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were assayed, respectively. The ultrastructure of brain tissues was observed via electron microscope. The gene expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome C, caspase-9 and caspase-3 in brain tissues were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively.

RESULTSThe contents of MDA [(2.03 ± 0.56), (4.17 ± 1.31) nmol/mg pro] in the brain tissues of 4335.0 mg/m³ and 6500.0 mg/m³ ethylbenzene-treated groups were significantly higher than that [(1.08 ± 0.26) nmol/mg pro] in the control group (P < 0.05), while AChE activities [(0.321 ± 0.066), (0.276 ± 0.031), (0.202 ± 0.041) U/mg] and GSH contents [(35.19 ± 15.08), (33.42 ± 15.32), (27.99 ± 7.53) mg/g pro] in all ethylbenzene-treated groups were remarkably depressed (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively). After 6500.0 mg/m³ ethylbenzene inhalation, the nucleolus exhibit demilune with decreased mitochondria. Electrondense of myelin occurred in the injured nerve, ascribing to lipid peroxidationed membrane. The gene expression level of Bax in brain tissue of 4335.0 mg/m³ and 6500.0 mg/m³ ethylbenzene-treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the gene expression levels of cytochrome C, caspase-9 and caspase-3 in all ethylbenzene-treated groups were enhanced (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively), while bcl-2 gene expression levels in all ethylbenzene-treated groups were decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEthylbenzene can induce oxidative damage and apoptosis in brain tissues. The apoptotic mechanism might be involved with up-regulation of Bax, cytochrome C, caspase-9 and caspase-3, as well as restraint of Bcl-2.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Benzene Derivatives ; toxicity ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; DNA Damage ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDNon-valvular atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke; however, the appropriate intensity of anticoagulation therapy for Chinese patients has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and the efficacy of standard-intensity warfarin therapy, low-intensity warfarin therapy, and aspirin therapy for the prevention of ischemic events in Chinese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

METHODSA total of 786 patients from 75 Chinese hospitals were enrolled in this study and randomized into three therapy groups: standard-intensity warfarin (international normalized ratio (INR) 2.1 to 2.5) group, low-intensity warfarin (INR 1.6 to 2.0) group and aspirin (200 mg per day) group. All patients were evaluated by physicians at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months after randomization to obtain a patient questionnaire, physical examination and related laboratory tests.

RESULTSThe annual event rates of ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or systemic thromboembolism were 2.6%, 3.1% and 6.9% in the standard-intensity warfarin, low-intensity warfarin and aspirin groups, respectively (P = 0.027). Thromboembolic event rates in both warfarin groups were significantly lower than that in the aspirin group (P = 0.018, P = 0.044), and there was no significant difference between the two warfarin groups. Severe hemorrhagic events occurred in 15 patients, 7 (2.6%) in the standard-intensity warfarin group, 7 (2.4%) in the low-intensity warfarin group and 1 (0.4%) in the aspirin group. The severe hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups were higher than that in the aspirin group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.101). The mild hemorrhagic and total hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups (whether in the standard-intensity warfarin group or low-intensity warfarin group) were much higher than that in the aspirin group with the annual event rates of total hemorrhages of 10.2%, 7.6% and 2.2%, respectively, in the 3 groups (P = 0.001). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in all cause mortality among the three study groups.

CONCLUSIONIn Chinese patients with NVAF, the warfarin therapy (INR 1.6 - 2.5) for the prevention of thromboembolic events was superior to aspirin.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Warfarin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use