OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of arecoline on hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes rats and to elucidate its possible mechanism.

METHODSForty five Wistar rats were fed with high fructose diet for 12 weeks to induce type 2 diabetic rat model. rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8): control group, model group and model group were treated with different dose (0, 0.5, 1, 5 mg/kg) of arecoline. After 4 weeks, the fasting blood glucose, blood lipid and insulin level measured , mRNA expression of liver constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the protein expression of p-AKT and glucose transporter4 (GLUT4) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS1.5 mg/kg arecoline could significantly decrease the level of fasting blood glucose, blood lipid, blood insulin level and liver G6Pase, PEPCK, IL-6, TNF-alpha mRNA level in type 2 diabetes rats. 1.5 mg/kg arecoline also could significantly increase CAR, PXR mRNA level and p-AKT and GLUT4 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONArecoline improved hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes rats by increasing the mRNA levels of CAR and PXR leading to the creased glucose metabolism and inflammation related genes expression.

Animals ; Arecoline ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; metabolism ; Receptors, Steroid ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the effect of BML-111 on NF-κB pathway during acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in rats.Methods Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation group (group HSR),BML-111 group,and BML-111 + BOC-2 (lipoxin A4 receptor antagonist) group (group BOC-2).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal pentobarbital sodium.Hemorrhagic shock was induced by blood letting and maintained for 30 min.The animals were then resuscitated for 30 min by infusion of the shed blood and lactated Ringer's solution.In group BOC-2,BOC-2 (50 μg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally before blood letting.In BML-111 and BOC-2 groups,BML-111 (1 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally at the beginning of resuscitation.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h after the end of resuscitation and lungs were removed for determination of pathological changes,myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity,intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression (by immunohistochemistry),tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) content (by ELISA),and NF-κB p65 and IκB-α expression (by Western blot).Results Compared with group S,the MPO activity,ICAM-1 expression,and TNF-α content were significantly increased,NF-κB p65 expression was up-regulated,and IκB-α expression was down-regulated in group HSR.Compared with group.HSR,the MPO activity,ICAM-1 expression,and TNF-α content were significantly decreased,NF-κB p65 expression was down-regulated,IκB-α expression was up-regulated,and pathological changes of lung were attenuated in group BML-111.Compared with group BML-111,the MPO activity,ICAM-1 expression,and TNF-α content were significantly increased,NF-κB p65 expression was up-regulated,and lκ:B-α expression was down-regulated,and pathological changes of lung were aggravated in group BOC-2.Conclusion BML-1 11 inhibits activation of NF-κB pathway and inflammatory responses,thus mitigating acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in rats.

To identify the active constituents in vitro and blood-absorbed ingredients in vivo from Yin Chen Hao decoction provides scientific evidence for probing its prevention and treatment mechanism on acute liver injury. An ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) method was applied for analysis of Yin Chen Hao decoction and the serum samples of mice with con-A induced acute liver injury after preventive oral administration for 14 days (the use of all laboratory animals in this study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Naval Medical University, 19YF1459400). A total of 90 chemical constituents were identified from Yin Chen Hao decoction, mainly were flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, quinones. 5 prototype compounds were identified in the serum, including chrysophanol, deoxyrhapontin-8-O-gallate, mussaenosidic acid, herniarin, emodin. The established UPLC-QTOF/MS method could efficiently and sensitively identify the constituents in vitro and blood-absorbed ingredients of Yin Chen Hao decoction, primarily clarify the material basis of its hepatoprotective effect, and provided a scientific basis for the quality marker selection and the pharmacodynamic material basis research on the decoction.

OBJECTIVE To explore the neuro-protective effects of saffron (Crocus satius L.) on chronic focal cerebral ischemia in rats.METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:sham control group,MCAO group,edaravone group and saffron 30,100,300 mg·kg-1groups.Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO).Saffron was administered orally by once daily from 2 h to 42 d after ischemia. At 42 d after cerebral ischemia, neurological deficit score, spontaneous activity test,elevated plus maze test,marble burying test and novel objective recognition test were used to evaluate the effects of saffron on the behevioural change. Infarct volume, survival neuron density, activated astrocyte number, and the thickness of glial scar were also detected. GFAP expression and inflammatory cytokine contents in ischemic peripheral region were detected by Western blot and ELISA,separately.RESULTS Saffron(100,300 mg·kg-1)improved the body weight decrease, neurological deficit and spontaneous activity. Saffron (30-300 mg·kg- 1) increased the traveled distance ratio and total time in open arm, decreased the buried marble number, which indicated that saffron could ameliorate anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Saffron (100, 300 mg·kg-1)improved the learning and memory function,which manifested by increased discrimination ratio(DR)and discrim-ination index (DI) in T2test. The results of toluidine blue found saffron treatment (100, 300 mg·kg-1) decreased the infarct volume and increased the neuron density in cortex and hippocampal.The activated astrocyte number,the thickness of glial scar and GFAP expression in ischemic peripheral region decreased after saffron. Saffron (100, 300 mg·kg-1) decreased the contents of IL-6 and IL-1β, increased the content of IL-10 in ischemic peripheral region.CONCLUSION Saffron exerted neuro-protective effects on chronic focal cerebral ischemia,which could be related with inhibiting the activation of astrocyte and glial scar,following with the decrease of inflammatory reaction.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) in preventing postoperative peritoneal adhesions in rats and explore the mechanisms.

METHODSSixty SD rats were randomized into 4 equal groups, including a blank control group, adhesion model group, and high-, moderate-, and low-dose STS-treated groups, and were subjected to injuries of the parietal peritoneum and cecum to induce peritoneal adhesions, followed by intraperitoneal administration of saline and STS at the doses of 20, 10, and 5 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days, respectively. Another 15 untreated rats served as the blank control group. The adhesion scores in each group were recorded after the treatments; the activity of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) in peritoneal lavage fluid was measured, tPA/PAI-1 protein ratio in the peritoneal tissue was determined by ELISA, and the expressions of TGF-β1 and collagen I were detected by immunohistochemistry. The anastomotic healing model was used to assess the impact of STS on wound healing.

RESULTSIntraperitoneal administration of STS effectively prevented peritoneal adhesion without affecting anastomotic healing in the rats. Compared with the adhesion model group, the STS-treated groups showed increased peritoneal lavage fluid tPA activity and tPA/PAI-1 ratio in the ischemic tissues with lowered TGF-β1 and collagen I expressions in the ischemic tissues.

CONCLUSIONSIntraperitoneal administration of STS can prevent peritoneal adhesion and enhance local fibrinolysis in rats, and these effects may be mediated by TGF-β signaling pathway.

Animals ; Cecum ; injuries ; pathology ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Fibrinolysis ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Peritoneum ; injuries ; pathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; metabolism ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Adhesions ; prevention & control ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo prove analgesia and sedative effect of adjuvant anesthesia with magnetic auricular point-sticking on abdominal gynecological operation and its effect on postoperative recovery of body function.

METHODSNinety-two patients with abdominal gynecological operation were randomly divided into 3 groups. The auricular point-sticking group (APS group, n=31) was pasted and pressed by plasters with magnetic beads at bilateral Shenmen, Pizhixia (subcortex), Zigong (uterus) and Penqiang (pelvic cavity), etc. the night before operation. The placebo group (n=31) was pasted by plasters without magnetic beads. The blank group (n=30) was given no intervention. The mental and gastrointestinal functional changes before and 3 days after the operation were observed.

RESULTSAs compared with those in the control group and the blank group, the postoperative score of Self rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was less (25.5 +/- 0.81 vs. 28.9 +/- 3.19, 28.3 +/- 2.36, both P < 0.01), with lower-dose of Innovar [(2.5 + 1.1) mL vs. (3.4 + 1.8) mL, (3.2 + 1.6) mL, both P < 0.05], earlier exsufflation after the operation [(34.2 + 12.1) h vs. (46.3 + 10.9) h, (43.2 + 14.8) h, both P < 0.01] and higher level serum of beta-endorphin before and after the operation in the APS group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe magnetic auricular point-sticking has sedative, analgesic and function-regulating effects on the abdominal gynecological operation.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adjuvants, Anesthesia ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain, Postoperative ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Postoperative Period ; Recovery of Function ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the vulnerability to floods in Guangdong province at district level.

METHODSData were collected from the sixth census, the 2010 Statistical Yearbook of Guangdong, the 2010 Health Statistics Yearbook of Guangdong and China Disease Prevention and Control information systems, etc. The weight of each indicator was determined based on subjective method and objective method respectively; and finally the results of the two methods were compared.

RESULTS13 indicators were selected for the assessment of vulnerability to floods, including 6 sensitivity indicators, 5 adaptability indicators and 2 exposure indicators. Indicators with large weight (subjective weight/objective weight) were the proportion of population older than 65 years old (0.31/0.30), the proportion of population older than 65 years old (0.16/0.23), infant mortality rate (0.18/0.20), the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (0.33/0.21), the proportion of illiterate in the population older than 15 years old (0.19/0.28), history frequency of floods (0.75/0.75). The mean vulnerability index (VI) calculated by subjective method was 0.35 with the standard deviation of 0.10; the mean vulnerability index calculated by objective method was 0.31 with the standard deviation of 0.08. The two weighting methods showed consistent results of vulnerability index (ICC = 0.975, P < 0.01). VI of most districts dropped in the interval of 0.30 - 0.39. Districts with subjective VI > 0.50 or objective VI > 0.40 should pay more attention to floods, including parts of the coastal areas, Beijiang River Basin, the eastern tributary area of Dongjiang River and the northern part of Pearl River Delta. Dapu district of Meizhou (0.55/0.45), Dianbai district and Maogang district of Maoming (0.54/0.48) were most vulnerable. Districts of Heyuan, Dongguan, Zhaoqing and Huizhou were less vulnerable, Yuancheng district of Heyuan showed least vulnerable to floods (0.15/0.12) followed by Dongguan (0.18/0.16), Duanzhou district (0.18/0.16) and Guangning (0.17/0.15) district of Zhaoqing. The score of indicators differed among different level of vulnerability (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDifferent regions of Guangdong province showed different vulnerability to floods, vulnerable areas should be priority in the prevention and control of floods.

China ; Climate ; Demography ; Disasters ; Floods ; Humans ; Risk Assessment ; Rivers

The Qinba areas, located in the Central China, represent 317000 km2, cover 6 provinces. The major mountain of Qinba areas, the Qinling, separates China North and South. This region is one of the areas with the most bio?diversity and ecological importance in China and globally, and considered as natural gene bank and bio-resource bank. Qinba mountain areas, together with the Alps in Europe and the Rocky Mountains in North America, are known as the"Three sisters of the earth"by the geological and biological circles. Most of the lands in this region are protected as national park, natural reserve, water resource protection area, etc. These areas have well preserved ecosystem and breeding and habitat area for many endangered species of plants and animals, inculding Panda. In this region, there are more than 4000 species of higher plants, about 2000 species of medicinal plants and animals, 200 species of wild ornamental plants and 180 species of economic fungi with edible and medicinal value in those areas. Medicinal plant cultivation, eco-agricul?ture and ecotourism are the major industries in this region. The State Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecological Environment of Qinba Areas, located in Hanzhong, the central city of Qinba, is focusing on pan-regional biological resources research and rational utilization, ecological protection, and comprehensive and coordinated regional development.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (CPPD-CDD).

METHODSThe clinical and pathologic profiles were retrospectively analysed in 20 cases of CPPD-CDD.

RESULTSCPPD-CDD was far more common in women, most frequently involving joints, especially the knees and presenting with various arthrisis. Abnormally calcified and the articular damages were characteristic features by imageing. Histologically, multifocal indigo granular calcinosis was seen in synovium and sometimes appeared as needle-shaped or rhomboid crystals, which characterized the CPPD.

CONCLUSIONSThough clinical symptoms of CPPD are quite variable, the definite diagnosis can be made by the abnormal calcification and joint damage radiographically and the indigo CPPD crystals histopathologically.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chondrocalcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Synovial Membrane ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To establish UV spectrophotometry and HPLC methods for content determinations of total flavonoids and puerarin from Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Thomsonii Radix; To compare the ultrasonic method at room temperature, conventional refluxing method and ultrasonic method at heating conditions at the aspect of content determinations. Methods The content determinations of total flavonoids was determined by UV spectrophotometry at 250 nm; the content of puerarin was determined by HPLC with octadecylsilane-bonded silica gel as the stationary phase, a mixture of methanol and water (25:75) as the mobile phase, 256 nm as the detection wavelength, 1.0 mL/min as the flow rate. Results Contents of total flavonoids in Puerariae Lobatae Radix by ultrasonic method at room temperature, conventional refluxing method and ultrasonic method were15.09%, 14.48%, and 12.71% (n=3), respectively. The contents of puerarin were 4.37%, 4.09%, and 3.80% (n=3), respectively. Contents of total flavonoids in Puerariae Thomsonii Radix were 2.09%, 2.23%, and 2.17% (n=3), respectively. The contents of puerarin were 0.50%, 0.53%, and 0.52% (n=3), respectively. Conclusion Ultrasonic method at room temperature can replace conventional refluxing method for content determinations of total flavonoids and puerarin from Puerariae Lobatae Radix, and ultrasonic method at heating conditions also can replace conventional refluxing method for content determinations of total flavonoids puerarin from Puerariae Thomsonii Radix. Puerarin contents from Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Thomsonii Radix in South Anhui Province are all in line with the Pharmacopoeia standards.