OBJECTIVETo study the role of PI3K/Akt pathway in the neuroprotective effect of paeoniflorin on PC12 cells.

METHODThe paeoniflorin group (5, 10, 20 μmol · L(-1)) was pretreated for 30 min, and then added with Aβ25-35 (20 μmol · L(-1)) for interaction for 24 h. Inhibitor LY294002 (10 μmol · L(-1)) was pretreated for 30 min before the action of paeoniflorin (10 μmol · L(-1)). The MTT colorimetric method was used to detect the cell viability. The apoptosis rate was tested by the FITC-Annexin V/PI staining. The protein expression of p-AKT, Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 protein were detected by Western blot analysis.

RESULTPaeoniflorin could significantly inhibit the Aβ25-35-induced PC12 cell toxicity and apoptosis. Its protection effect may be achieved by up- regulating AKT phosphorylation level, increasing Bcl-2 protein expression, reducing Bax protein expression, inhibiting the activation of caspase-3. Inhibitor LY294002 could weaken the above protective effects of paeoniflorin.

CONCLUSIONPaeoniflorin could activate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to protect the PC12 cell injury induced by Aβ25-35.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Peptide Fragments ; toxicity ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To compare the lipid lowing effect and the clinical safety between intensive therapy with Chinese medicine Zhihitai and atorvastntin in patients with moderate and high risk of atherosclerosis. Methods All the patients were randomly divided in to a Zhibitai group (n = 85) receiving 480 mg of Zhibitai orally twice a day or an atorvastatin group (n = 84) receiving 10 mg atorvastatin orally once daily. Blood lipoproteins, myocardial enzymes, fiver and renal function were measured before treatment and at the fourth and eighth week after therapy , while high sensitive creactive protein (hs-CRP), P-selectin, matrix-metall proteinase-9 (MMP-9) and soluble intercellular adhering molecule-1 (SICAM-1) were detected before treatment and eighth week after therapy in all patients. Results TC and LDL-C were significantly decreased while HDL-C was increased in both groups after 4 and 8 weeks treatment (P < 0. 05). TG was decreased in Zhibitai group after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, but it was decreased in atorvastatin group only after 8 weeks of treatment. Inflammatory factors such as hs-CRP, P-selectin, MMP-9, SICAM-1 were decreased significantly (all P < 0. 01), but there was no significant difference between the two groups. There were no difference in liver and kidney function, myocardial enzymes and incidence of muscle-ache and digestive system side reaction. ConclusionsBesides the lipoprotein disorder, inflammatory factors in patients with moderate and high risk of atherosclerosis could be regulated with intensive therapy of Zhibitai. Most importantly, it is safe to use Zhibitai clinically.

Objective To investigate the relationship of circulating zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) as well as adiponectin with adiposity and insulin resistance in humans.Methods Serum ZAG and adiponectin levels were determined by ELISA in 285 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT),impaired glucose tolerance (IGT),and newly diagnosed cases with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).The relationships between circulating ZAG and insulin resistance or metabolic parameters were also explored.Results Circulating ZAG and adiponectin levels were all lower in T2 DM and IGT subjects than those in control subjects [ZAG:(37.14 ± 13.25 and 48.84 ± 18.74 vs 59.36 ± 16.20) mg/L,P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ; adiponectin:(27.79 ± 11.23 and 33.00 ± 9.42 vs 41.81 ± 13.68) μg/L,P＜0.01].Circulating ZAG was correlated positively with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and adiponectin (all P＜0.01),and inversely with body mass index,waist-hip ratio,FAT％,diastolic blood pressure,triglyceride,fasting blood glucose,fasting insulin,HbA1C,and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR,P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).By multivariate analysis,ZAG levels were independently associated with body mass index,HOMA-IR,diastolic blood pressure,and adiponectin (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusions ZAG levels,associated with fat,insulin sensitivity,and adiponectin expression,are likely to play an important role in insulin resistance and energy homeostasis in humans.

The text has isolated 267 strains LAB from the traditional fermentative food in Sichuan. Using agar plate proliferation experiment and double-layer agar plate proliferation experiment (eliminating the effects of organic acid and H_2O_2, decreased after treatment with trypsin and papain) to screen a LAB of Bacteriocins P158 which has antibacterial action to Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis. P158 was isolated from fermented glutinous rice. Through detection of its appearance, physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA gene sequence homology analysis, it was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum.

Objective To observe the effect of nitroglycerin(NTG) on pulse wave velocity(PWV) in patients with hypertension(HTN).Methods36 volunteers,mean age 48.1±10.2 years,were divided into HTN group and non-hypertension(NHTN) group according to whether he or she had hypertension or not.The baseline PWV and PWV at 5th minute and 10th minute after sublingual NTG were detected.PWVs of the two groups were compared.ResultsThe basal PWV in HTN group was higher than that in NHTN group.PWV was reduced significantly after NTG were given sublingually 5 minutes or 10 minutes compared with baseline condition(both P<0.01).PWV 10 minutes after sublingual NTG raised a little compared with that after 5 minutes(P<0.01).PWVs 5 minutes or 10 minutes after sublingual NTG in HTN group were higher than those in NHTN group(both P<0.05).ConclusionNTG can reduce PWV in patients with HTN.

Adult ; Asthenopia ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Automobile Driving ; Color Perception ; Humans ; Middle Aged

The purpose was to compare the difference between transgene expressions driven by homologous duplicated carbonic anhydrase (DCA) promoter and foreign CaMV35S promoter in the unicellular green alga, Dunaliella salina(D.salina).The CaMV35S promoter-bar construct and DCA promoter-bar construct into D.salina by a Backon 2000 electroporation system were introduced. After the repeated selections with the phosphinothricin (PPT) of 3mg/L, 3 PPT-resistant phenotype transformants were isolated from the CaMV-bar and DCA-bar pools of transformants of D. salina, respectively. The results of PCR and sequencing showed that bar genes were stably integrated into the genome of D.salina, and Southern bolts showed the number of transgene copy had no significant difference between both promoters. Semi-quantitive RT-PCR indicated that the mRNA levels of bar gene were higher in DCA-bar transformants than the CaMV-bar transformants, and could be increased under the induction of high salt in DCA-bar transformants but not in the CaMV-bar transformants. Analysis of growth rate of transformants showed DCA-bar transformants achieved the log stage faster than the CaMV-bar transformants. It is concluded that the homologous promoters have more advantages than the foreign promoters in the transgenic D.salina.

To optimize the immunization strategy against HIV-1, a DNA vaccine was combined with a recombinant vaccinia virus (rTV) vaccine and a protein vaccine. Immune responses against HIV-1 were detected in 30 female guinea pigs divided into six groups. Three groups of guinea pigs were primed with HIV-1 DNA vaccine three times, boosted with rTV at week 14, and then boosted with gp140 protein at intervals of 4, 8 or 12 weeks. Simultaneously, the other three groups of animals were primed with rTV vaccine once, and then boosted with gp140 after 4, 8 or 12 weeks. The HIV-1 specific binding antibody and neutralizing antibody, in addition to the relative affinity of these antibodies, were detected at different time points after the final administration of vaccine in each group. The DNA-rTV-gp140 immune regimen induced higher titers and affinity levels of HIV-1 gp120/gp140 antibodies and stronger V1V2-gp70 antibodies than the rTV-gp140 regimen. In the guinea pigs that underwent the DNA-rTV-gp140 regimen, the highest V1V2-gp70 antibody was induced in the 12-week-interval group. However, the avidity of antibodies was improved in the 4-week-interval group. Using the rTV-gp140 immunization strategy, guinea pigs boosted at 8 or 12 weeks after rTV priming elicited stronger humoral responses than those boosted at 4 weeks after priming. In conclusion, this study shows that the immunization strategy of HIV-1 DNA vaccine priming, followed by rTV and protein vaccine boosting, could strengthen the humoral response against HIV-1. Longer intervals were better to induce V1V2-gp70-specific antibodies, while shorter intervals were more beneficial to enhance the avidity of antibodies.
AIDS Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Animals ; DNA, Viral ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; HIV Infections ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunization ; methods ; Vaccines, DNA ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccinia virus ; genetics ; immunology ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To investigate the feasibility of high?resolution microendoscopy( HRME) im?aging for animal gastrointestinal mucosa. Methods Mucosal tissues were harvested from the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine of Japanese big?ear white rabbits. The effects of HRME imaging of different lo?cations such as the gastric antrum and fundus, small intestine and large intestine were observed, and those of different exposure time were compared.Accuracy of HRME imaging was compared with pathology. Results The specific tissues of the gastrointestinal mucosa could be clearly distinguished from the HRME images. In the superficial layer of the fundic mucosa, numerous closely arranged glands as well as oval or elongated branched openings of the gastric pits and linear peripheral cracks were visible;the nuclei were arranged reg?ularly. In the superficial layer of the antral mucosa, irregular or tubular openings of the gastric pits and cracked glandular cavities were visible, with the cells surrounding the gastric pits regularly arranged and the nuclei small and densely distributed. In the superficial layer of the small intestine mucosa, stereoscopic thick?finger?shaped villi cluster was visible. The intervillous spaces were crack?like, and the surface was cov?ered by regularly arranged reflective, absorptive cells. In the superficial layer of the large intestine mucosa, many regularly arranged daisy?like round crypts of uniform size, as well as reflective, goblet cells surrounding the crypt and the interval space between crypts were visible. When the exposure time increased, the nuclei became brighter. An excellent correlation was noted between the results of histologic examination and those obtained by using HRME. Conclusion HRME can produce accurate images of the animal gastro?intestinal mucosae and may be a novel technique for further studies of human gastrointestinal pathology.

Objective To summarize the picture features of high resolution micro-endoscopy (HRME) for normal gastrointestinal mucosa. Methods We select 10 cases' normal esophageal mucosa, gastric and duodenal mucosa, in-testinal mucosa and colonic mucosal biopsies for this study, use HRME to observe the specimens and describe the features of different parts of the digestive tract normal mucosa according to the collected HRME pictures. Results After HRME imaging, all specimens were sent to pathological examination. We obtained 1 284 HRME pictures for 50 cases of biopsy specimens, 400 pictures were selected for results analysis after screening. HRME image charac-teristics of different parts of the digestive tract normal mucosa are as follows. Esophageal mucosa: cell arrangement rules, round and bright nucleus, the same size, nuclear spacing normal, the number of cells per field in basically are the same. Fundic mucosa: numerous closely arranged glands as well as oval or elongated branched openings of the gastric pits and linear peripheral cracks were visible; the nuclei were arranged regularly. Antral mucosa: irregular or tubular openings of the gastric pits and cracked glandular cavities were visible, with the cells surrounding the gastric pits regularly arranged and the nuclei small and densely distributed. Duodenal mucosa:visible villi was large fingers,on both sides of lint jagged depression, stereoscopic obviously, a cluster-like arrangement and the gap was crack-like. Intestinal mucosa:villous structures wider gap is wider, less than the number of the duodenum. Colonic mucosa:the nucleus of the same size, shape rules, round or oval and daisy-like glandular structures. All specimens were confirmed normal mucosa by pathology. Conclusion HRME can accurately identify the different parts of the diges-tive tract normal mucosa and it has a high consistency compared with pathological results.