Objective To study the effect of hypothyroidism on oxidative stress status in developing rat brain and to further explore the mechanism of impaired brain development caused by hypothyroidism. Methods Perinatal hypothyroidism was induced by administering propylthiouracil(PTU) solution to the dams by gavage.The oxidative stress indexes were measured in brain homogenate of normal and hypothyroid pups which were sacrificed on the 21st d after birth. Results As compared to the control,the following indexes were found to be increased in the hypothyroid group: protein carbonyl contents,thiobarbital acid reactive substances,reduced glutathione,total antioxidative capacity,activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase(P0.05). Conclusion Hypothyroidism during rat brain development may cause oxidative stress,which may be related to the brain damage caused by hypothyroidism.

Objective To investigate the effects of epalrestat on oxidative and carbonyl stress in streptozocin-induced diabetic rat kidneys, and to also explore their reno -protecting mechanisms in diabetic rats.Methods Rats were randomly divided into three sub-groups:normal control (group A),diabetic con-trol (group B) and diabetic with epalrestat (group C). Blood glucose, blood lipid, HbA1C, kidney to body weight ratio and urinary protein excretion were measured after 12 weeks.Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, total sulfhydryl group and protein carbonyl levels in renal tissue were also determined .Results Compared to group A , kidney to body weight ratio , urinary protein excretion , MDA, and protein carbonyl levels in group B were significantly higher , while SOD and GSH-Px activities and total sulfhydryl group level were significantly lower than those in group A.Kidney to body weight ratio , urinary protein excretion , MDA, and protein carbonyl level in group C were significantly lower than those in group B .SOD and GSH-Px activity in group C were higher than those in group B .Conclusion Epalrestat can prevent renal hypertrophy and decrease urinary protein excretion in diabetic rats .The renoprotective effects of this drug may be related to his ability to inhibit oxi-dative and carbonyl stress .

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Tangmaikang on oxidative and carbonyl stress in streptozocin-induced diabetic rat kidneys,and to also explore their reno- protecting mechanisms in diabetic rats.MethodsRats were randomly divided into three sub-groups:normal control (group A),diabetic control (group B) and diabetic with Tangmaikang (group C).Blood glucose,blood lipid,HbAlC,kidney to body weight ratio and urinary protein excretion were measured after 12 weeks.Malonyldialdehyde (MDA)level,superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity,glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity,total sulfhydryl group and protein carbonyl levels in renal tissue were also determined.ResultsCompared to group A,kidney to body weight ratio,urinary protein excretion,MDA,and protein carbonyl levels in group B were significantly higher,while SOD and GSH-Px activities and total sulfhydryl group level were significantly lower than those in group A.Kidney to body weight ratio,urinary protein excretion,MDA,and protein carbonyl level in group C were significantly lower than those in group B.SOD and GSH-Px activity in group C were higher than those in group B.ConclusionTangmaikang can prevent renal hypertrophy and decrease urinary protein excretion in diabetic rats.The renoprotective effects of this drug may be related to his ability to inhibit oxidative and carbonyl stress.

Rat's adrenal medulla(AT group)or adrenal medulla soaked with monosialogan-glioside(AGT group)were transplanted into the head of striatum of rat model of Parkinsonism.Apomorphine induced greater improverment in rotational behavior in AGT group than in AT group with significant difference.Immunocytochemical staining with Chromagranin A showed that a lot of positively stained cells were distributed in the graft area and some cells developed process in AGT group. Our results showed that the monosialoganglioside had effects of increasing the survival of chromaffin cells and inducing the cells to develop processes.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the mechanism of gambogenic acid (GNA) in inducing the apoptosis of melanoma B16 cells.

METHODThe inhibitory effect of GNA on the proliferation of B16 cells was measured by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The effect of GNA on B16 cells was detected by the Hoechst 33258 staining. The transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultra-structure changes of B16 cells. The changes in PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, p-mTOR, PTEN proteins were detected by the Western blotting to discuss the molecular mechanism of GNA in inducing the apoptosis of B16 cells.

RESULTGNA showed a significant inhibitory effect in the growth and proliferation of melanoma B16 cells. The cell viability remarkably decreased with the increase of GNA concentration and the extension of the action time. The results of the Hoechst 33258 staining showed that cells processed with GNA demonstrated apparent apoptotic characteristics. Under the transmission electron microscope, B16 cells, after being treated with GNA, showed obvious morphological changes of apoptosis. The Western blot showed a time-dependent reduction in the p-PI3K and p-Akt protein expressions, with no change in p-PI3K and p-Akt protein expression quantities. The p-mTOR protein expression decreased with the extension of time, where as the PTEN protein expression showed a time-dependent increase.

CONCLUSIONGNA could inhibit the proliferation of melanoma B16 cells and induce their apoptosis within certain time and concentration ranges. Its mechanism in inducing the cell apoptosis may be related to PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Terpenes ; pharmacology ; Xanthenes ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

Animals ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; HIV ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; immunology ; virology ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the effect of a novel isoflavone compound(F11) on the plasma lipid and cholesterol of the ovarectomied rat.Methods Female SD rats at age of 3 months old were randomly divided into 6 groups,that is,sham operation group(Sham),normal saline group(2 ml/d),estradiol group(E2,50 ?g?kg-1?d-1),and 3 F11 groups(15,50,150 mg?kg-1?d-1).Besides the Sham group,the ovary of the rats from other groups were resected,and received the injection as above mentioned.All rats were killed 10 weeks later,and their plasma lipid,total cholesterol,LDL,HDL,and body weight and uterine weight were measured.Results The plasma lipid,total cholesterol,LDL,HDL were significantly different in normal saline group and 4 treatment group(P

Objective To investigate the prevalence of adult epileptic patients with interictal depression symptoms(IDs) and identify early predictors of IDs. Methods Adult patients with epilepsy were recruited ( n =110,45 females and 65 males) ,age between 16 and 67 years ( median 24 years). The sociodemographic and clinical factors of patients were recorded. Hamilton Depression Scale ( HAMD ) were applied to evaluate interictal symptoms of depression ( at least 72 hours after the last epileptic seizure). According to HAMD score,the epileptic patients were divided into IDs ( ≥8 ) and non-IDs(＜8) groups. The sociodemographic and clinical factors were compared between the two groups to identify the prevalence and early predictors of IDs in adult epileptic patients.Results The prevalence of IDs in adult patients with epilepsy was 38.2% ,49.0% in active epilepsy and 12.1 %in seizure freedom. 30.0% ,5.5% ,and 2.7% were experiencing mild-to-moderate (HAMD score≥8),moderateto-severe ( ≥ 18 ) and severe ( ≥25 ) depression. 42 patients who met the HAMD score≥8 were classified as IDs group,and the remaining 68 patients were classified as non-IDs group. With multiple stepwise backward logistic regreasion, independent predictors of IDs were epileptic seizures ( OR = 8. 845, P = 0. 003 ); symptomatic or cryprogenic epilepsy ( OR = 3.132, P = 0. 045 ); prolonged duration of illness ( OR = 1. 106, P = 0.004 ) and employment status (OR =0. 154, P=0.001 ). There were no relationship between seizure frequency and severity of IDs ( Kruskal-Wallis test, x2 = 4.5, P = 0. 104). Conclusion IDs is a frequent psychiatric comorbidity in adult patients with epilepsy. The prevalence of IDs is higher in those with active epilepsy compared with those in seizure freedom and most of them are mild-to-moderate. Epileptic seizure, symptomatic or cryprogenic epilepsy, prolonged duration of illness and employment status are independent predictors of IDs, but seizure frequency has nothing to do with the IDs severity of patients.

Objective To assess the neuropsychological characteristics in active epileptic patients and investigate itsrisk factors. Methods Ninety adult epileptic patients included 60 active epileptic patients (two or more unprovoked seizures within 12 months) and 30 age-, sex-, education-, course of disease- and seizure type-matched seizure-free subjects (without epileptic seizure for at least 1 year) . The neuropsychological tests including trail making test,digit symbol test, verbal fluency test,digit span test and hamilton depression scale( HAMD) ,were used to detect mental and motor speed, attention, language, working memory and depression symptoms respectively. The neuropsychological tests were compared between active and seizure-free epileptic patients and identified the risk factors of neuropsychological deficits in active epileptic patients. Results Compared to seizure-free subjects, active epileptic patients had significantly worse scores in digit symbol test, verbal fluency test, digit span test ((47.45 ±18. 812) vs(56.40 ±13. 631), (25. 25 ±8. 163) vs(30.40 ±8. 414), (10. 39 ±2. 228) vs( 11. 80 ± 2.074) respectively) ; more time to accomplish the trail making test A and B((64. 35 ±31.710) vs( 45. 47 ± 16. 309) , ( 133. 18 ± 47. 331 ) vs ( 98. 00 ± 35. 003 ) respectively) ; and higher scores in depressive symptoms ((9.12 ±6.219)vs(3.77 ±3.997) ,all P<0.05). Within active epileptic group,significant predictors of neuropsychological deficits were identified in a stepwise linear regression analysis: advancing age was significantly negatively correlated with digit symbol test(β = -0. 468, P = 0. 000) , digit span test (β = -0. 439, P = 0. 000), trail making test A (β =0.365, P = 0.003) and B(β = 0.346, P=0.002) ; higher scores on depressive symptoms was significantly negatively correlated with digit symbol test (β = -0.244, P = 0.015) ; mental work,high-education level and monotherapy were positively correlated with some of the cognitive function subscales. Conclusion This study suggests that active epilepsy can have a direct adverse effect on cognition and depression symptoms. Multi-drug therapy, severity of depression symptoms, advancing age, low-education level and non-mental work are the predictors of neuropsychological impairment in active epilepsy. In addition, good seizure control even after 1 year can have a beneficial impact on cognitive and depression prognosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of triiodothyronine on the expression of alpha subunit of C protein Co (Coa) gene in cultured rat cerebral cortex neurons. Methods Primary cultured neurons of rat were prepared from the cerebral cortex at embryonic day 19. The neurons were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum. After 7 days, the neurons were cultured in different media; DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum (group A), DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum stripped of thyroid hormone (group B), 0.5nmol/L T3-containing DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum stripped of thyroid hormone (group C) , 5nmol/L T3-containing DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum stripped of thyroid hormone (group D) and 50nmol/L T3-containing DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum stripped of thyroid hormone (group E). The neurons were cultured for another 7 days and total RNA was extracted. Goa mRNA leves were measured by competitive RT-PCR. Results As compared with group A, Coa mRNA leves in group B, D and E were low (P 0.05). Conclusion T, has dual effects on the expression of Coa gene in cultured rat cerebral cortex neurons. T3 down-regulated Coa mRNA in cultured neuron. However, in the absence of T3, Goa mRNA was also very low. Thyroid hormone may exert their action on brain development by regulating the the expression of Goa gene.