OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effects of puerarin on the levels of transforming growth beta1 (TGF-beta1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in rats with alcoholic injury liver, and to probe into the prevention and cure mechanism of puerarin on alcoholic liver injury.

METHODSeventy five SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group 10 rats. model group 20 rats (alcohol etc mixed liquor twice per day), control group 15 rats (alcohol etc mixed liquor + complex biejia ruangan pian 1 g kg(-1) d(-1)), puerarin high dose group 15 rats (alcohol etc mixed liquor + puerarin tablet 1.5 g kg(-1) d(-1)), puerarin low dose group 15 rats (alcohol etc mixed liquor + puerarin pill 0.75 g kg(-1) d(-1)). After 8 weeks. femoral vein blood of the rats were taken out in all rats and then rats were sacrificed to obtain liver samples. Samples were collected to observe pathological change and to detect expression of TGF-beta1, and alpha-SMA in liver tissue.

RESULTPathological change and hepatic fibrosis integration of liver tissue in model group were significantly changed compared with other group (P<0.05). Meanwhile the level of TGF-beta1 and alpha-SMA in both high and low dose puerarin groups were significantly decreased compared with model group (P<0.01). Furthermore the level of alpha-SMA of puerarin high dose group were significantly decreased compared with control group (P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between puerarin low dose group and model group.

CONCLUSIONThere was an ascend in the level of TGF-beta1 and alpha-SMA expression in rats with alcoholic injury liver, and puerarin has regulatory effects on the expression of TGF-beta1 and alpha-SMA.

Actins ; metabolism ; Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo compare the mandibular indices differences between periodontitis and non-periodontitis subjects by digital panoramic tomograms in order to find a simple and effective method to evaluate the density of alveolar bone and study the relativity between local bone loss and systemic bone loss.

METHODSStandard digital panoramic tomograms of sixty periodontitis subjects and sixty non-periodontitis subjects were taken. Density and height cortical width (CW) and panoramic mandibular index (PMI) of alveolar bone were measured on the digital panoramic tomograms. SPSS 12.0 was used for statistics analyses.

RESULTSThe periodontitis subjects had lower height of alveolar bone (8.76 mm vs. 11.85 mm, P=0.000), lower density of alveolar bone (106.08 vs. 113.33, P=0.034), thinner cortical width (3.80 mm vs. 4.27 mm, P=0.008), while the difference of PMI between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). The relativity between both density and height of alveolar bone with CW was significant (P<0.05), but not significant with PMI (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe optical method is a simple and effective method to measure the density of the alveolar bone. Compared with the non-periodontitis subjects, the periodontitis subjects not only have alveolar bone changed significantly but also have thinner cortical width.

Alveolar Bone Loss ; Bone and Bones ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Periodontitis ; Radiography, Panoramic

Objective To construct RhoA siRNA plasmid expression vector.Methods According to the computer aided design,RhoA-specific siRNA gene was synthesized and cloned into the RNAi-Ready Pgenesil-1 Vector.The constructed RhoA-RNAi plasmid were transfected into human HEPG2 cell.Western blot was used to detect the effect of RhoA-RNAi plasmid.Results The recombinant was cloned and the se- quence was obtained.RhoA-RNAi plasmid can down-regulate the expression of RhoA in human hepatocel- lular carcinoma cell line HEPG2.Conclusion Successfully cloning the recombinant makes it possible for searching new mechanism of RhoA in hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of 36-hour sleep deprivation (SD) on the brain electrophysiological indicators of visuo-motor coupling in young soldiers.

METHODSDuring the 36-hour SD, 10 healthy young soldiers were tested on visuospatial rotation tasks by event-related potentials system before and after SD. The incubation period and amplitude of P500 as well as their error number and reaction time were measured.

RESULTSCompared with subjects in SD 0-hour,subjects in SD 36-hour had significantly increased error rate [(9.7 ± 3.9)% vs. (18.3 ± 4.5)%, P<0.05] and significantly increased reaction time [(632.5 ± 53.6) ms vs. (693.6 ± 65.7) ms, P < 0.05]. Subjects in SD 36-hour showed significantly reduced amplitudes than those in SD 0-hour [(8.7 ± 2.3) ΜV vs. (5.2 ± 1.6) ΜV, P < 0.05]. Additionally, subjects in SD 36-hour showed significantly increased P500 latencies than did those in SD 0-hour [(489.6 ± 42.6) ms vs .(530.2 ± 51.9) ms, P < 0.05]. Compared with subjects in SD 0-hour, the deficit was an absence of a mental rotation function SD 36-hour in subjects.

CONCLUSIONSThe 36-hour SD in young soldiers can harm the processing mechanism of visuo-motor coupling in a certain extent. SD can affect the fixed position ability of visual space cognition in young soldiers.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Evoked Potentials ; Feedback, Sensory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Reaction Time ; Sleep Deprivation ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Systematical studies are lacking on the influencing factors and mechanisms of the heparin enhanced sperm capacitation, although many studies have shown that heparin enhanced sperm capacitation. The effect of heparin concentration and exposure time, incubation temperature and co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells or cumulus cells on goat sperm capacitation were investigated in this study. The motility, membrane and acrosome integrity and capacitated percentage of goat spermatozoa were assessed after different heparin treatments, and rates of fertilization and embryo cleavage were compared after in vitro insemination of oocytes with spermatozoa capacitated by different heparin treatments. The major results are summarized as follows: 1) When spermatozoa were capacitated with heparin at 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 microg/mL for 45 min, 50 and 100 microg/mL heparin treatments produced the highest capacitated percentages of 55% and 56%, respectively, but the percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in the 100 microg/mL heparin treatment decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in comparison with that in the control group, indicating that the optimal heparin concentration for goat sperm capacitation would be 50 microg/mL. 2) Capacitated percentage of spermatozoa increased with extension of treatment time when goat sperm were treated with 50 microg/mL heparin for 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 or 120 min. Although heparin treatments for 45 to 120 min did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in capacitated sperm percentages, sperm motility and membrane integrity decreased significantly when treated with heparin for 120 min. This suggested that the optimal exposure time of heparin at 50 microg/mL for goat sperm capacitation would be 45 to 60 min. 3) Significantly higher capacitated percentages of spermatozoa were obtained when goat sperm were treated at 42 and 38.5 degrees C than at 15 and 37 degrees C, but sperm motility and acrosome integrity were significantly lower when spermatozoa were treated at 42 degrees C than they were treated at other temperatures. Temperature of 38.5 degrees C would, therefore, be the optimal temperature for goat sperm capacitation. 4) The capacitated percentage of spermatozoa was significantly higher when goat sperm were co-cultured with oviductal epithelial cells than when treated with heparin alone or co-cultured with cumulus cells, but sperm motility and membrane and acrosome integrity did not differ significantly among the three treatments. Rates of fertilization (91.3%) and cleavage (72.2%) were significantly higher in the oviductal epithelial cell co-culture group than those in the heparin alone group. This indicated that co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells significantly enhanced goat sperm capacitation by heparin treatment.
Acrosome Reaction ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Coculture Techniques ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Fallopian Tubes ; cytology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Goats ; Heparin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Sperm Capacitation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the causes of the formation of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas and the therapeutic effect of detachable balloon and/or coil embolization and the prevention of its complications.

METHODSFrom October, 1992 to March, 2002, 17 patients with traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas were treated with detachable balloon and/or coil embolization in our hospital. The clinical data and imaging features of CT, MR and selective angiogram of these patients were analyzed.

RESULTSOne week after treatment with embolization, the clinical symptoms of the 17 patients were remitted, and optic cacophony, nystagmus, exophthalmos and dropsy of conjunctiva disappeared. Two patients manifested surgical complications, one patient died. Sixteen patients survived. They were all followed up for more than 2 years, which showed one patient had handicap in movement, and in one patient the signs and symptoms of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas reoccurred 2 months after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe detachable balloon and/or coil embolization is safe and reliable. It is a good method to treat traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Balloon Occlusion ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; China ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Sampling Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds, Penetrating ; complications

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the possibility and efficacy of vasoligation and deferent vein ligation in treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH).

METHODS40 male pooches were divided into A, B, C and D groups randomly. Each group has 10 pooches group A and B were made into the model of BPH. Two years later, the pooches in group A and C accepted the operation of vasoligation and deferent vein ligation on both sides. Group B and D only accepted the operation of dissection and relieving its deferent duct. Then continuing to feed the 40 pooches after the operation, they were killed another two years later. After taking out their prostates and calculating their volume and weight, the sections of the prostates were checked by microscope to observe their histology and pathology changes.

RESULTSThere were significant differences of weight and volume as well as the changes of histology and pathology between group A and group C (P < 0.01). It was the same with group B and D (hyperplasia changes).

CONCLUSIONSVasoligation and deferent vein ligation before benign prostatic hyperplasia at pooches grow-up stage can reduce the extent of BPH at old age, and treatment after benign prostatic hyperplasia can make prostatic tissue appear different degrees of atrophy.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Ligation ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Vasectomy

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of action of Tougu Xiaotong Capsule (透骨消痛胶囊, TGXTC) ex vivo in suppressing chondrocyte (CD) apoptosis induced by sodium nitroprussiate (SNP).

METHODSThirty New Zealand rabbits, 2 months old, were randomized by lottery into five groups, six in each: the blank group treated with saline, the positive control group treated with Zhuanggu Guanjie Pill (壮骨关节丸, 70 mg/kg), and the three experimental groups, EGA, EGB, and EGC, treated with low dose (35 mg/kg), moderate dose (70 mg/kg), and high dose (140 mg/kg) of TGXTC, respectively. All treatments were administered via gastrogavage twice a day for 3 days. Arterial blood was collected from the abdominal aorta and drug or drug metabolites-containing serum was prepared. CDs obtained from knee joints of 16 four-week-old New Zealand rabbits were cultured to the third passage and confirmed by toluidine blue staining. SNP of various final concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mmol/L) was used to induce CD apoptosis, and the dosage-effect relationship of SNP in inducing CD apoptosis was determined. Serum samples from the blank, control, and three dosages of TGXTC-treated rabbits were tested in the CD culture in the presence of SNP. Cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33342 staining, viability of CDs was quantified by MTT, CD apoptosis rate was determined by annexin V-FITC/PI staining, levels of p53 and Bcl-2 mRNA expression in CDs were determined with RT-PCR, and contents of caspase-3 and caspase-9 proteins were determined by colorimetry.

RESULTSCD apoptosis was induced by SNP at all concentrations tested and in a dose-dependent manner. The SNP concentration of 1 mmol/L and treatment duration of 24 h appeared to be optimal and were selected for the study. Serum samples from the positive control rabbits and from the two higher doses of TGXTC-treated rabbits showed reduction of SNP-induced CD apoptosis, decrease in p53 mRNA expression, inhibition of catalytic activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and increase in Bcl-2 mRNA expression when compared with the serum from the blank group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTGXTC-containing sera antagonized SNP-induced CD apoptosis and the molecular basis for the action was associated with up-regulation of Bcl-2, down-regulation of p53 expression, and inhibition of caspase-3 and caspase-9 catalytic activities.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Biocatalysis ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Nitroprusside ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Reproducibility of Results ; Serum ; chemistry ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of forkhead box O4 (FOXO4) on the senescence of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs). The hUC-MSCs were induced to senescence by natural passage, and FOXO4 expression was inhibited by lentiviral shRNA transfection. The hallmark of cell senescence was analyzed by β-galactosidase staining, and the cell viability was assayed by CCK-8 method. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the apoptosis of hUC-MSCs. The expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, FOXO4, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and cleaved Caspase-3 were detected by qPCR and Western blot. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect FOXO4 expression. The amount of IL-6 secreted by hUC-MSCs was detected by ELISA. The results showed that, compared with the passage 1, senescent hUC-MSCs showed up-regulated expression levels of Bax and FOXO4, down-regulated expression levels of Bcl-2 and cleaved Caspase-3, and increased IL-6 mRNA expression and secretion. FOXO4 inhibition in senescent hUC-MSCs promoted cell apoptosis, reduced cell viability, and inhibited the mRNA expression and secretion of IL-6. These results suggest that FOXO4 maintains viability and function of senescent hUC-MSCs by repressing their apoptosis response, thus accelerating senescence of the whole cell colony.
Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; Cell Survival ; Cellular Senescence ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Transcription Factors ; Umbilical Cord

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical effect of mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF) in the treatment of children with global developmental delay (GDD). METHODS: A prospective clinical trial was conducted in 60 children with GDD who were treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between July 2016 and July 2017. These children were randomly divided into two groups: conventional rehabilitation treatment and mNGF treatment group ( RESULTS: Before treatment and after 1.5 months of treatment, there was no significant difference in the developmental quotient (DQ) of each functional area of the Gesell Developmental Scale between the mNGF treatment and conventional rehabilitation treatment groups ( CONCLUSIONS In children with GDD, routine rehabilitation training combined with mNGF therapy can significantly improve their cognitive, motor, and social abilities.
Animals ; Epilepsy ; Mice ; Prospective Studies ; Social Skills