Objective To establish a tandem affinity purification(TAP) system of innate immune-regulatory protein PKR and analyze PKR function, for the future screen and identification of novel PKR-interaction proteins. Methods PKR gene was amplified by PCR, and then cloned into a mammalian expression vector pcTAP-A. Recombinant pcTAP-PKR was transfected into PKR knock-down(PKRkd) HeLa cells by LipofectAMINE 2000,and the PKR overexpressed HeLa cells were harvested for mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK) activation analysis. Cell extracts of PKR overexpressed cells were purified using TAP kit and examined by Western blot. Results Cal modulin resin(CBP) and streptavidin resin(SBP) tagged PKR was detected in PKRkd HeLa cells as early as 24 h upon transfection with pcTAP-PKR, and its expression decreased at later time points. The overexpression of PKR was autophosphorylated, and thus involved in the regulation of MAPK actviation. After small-scale TAP kit purification, PKR protein was detectable by Western blot. Conclusion We have successfully established a TAP system that over-expresses functional PKR, providing a useful tool for the future study on the identification of PKR interacting proteins.

Objective To explore the effect of excessive fluoride on expression of mRNA and protein of Wnt3a and β-catenin in rats' osteoblasts and its correlation with pathogenic mechanism of fluorosis.Methods Thirty-six healthy SD rats,weighting 100-120 g and according to body mass,were randomly divided into three groups(twelve in each group).The rats of control were fed wich tap water(fluoride ＜ 1 mg/L) and the experimental rats were exposed to NaF(low-fluoride group:5 mg/L,high-fluoride group:50 mg/L) added to the drinking water to establish the chronic fluorosis model.After fed for eight morth,all rats were killed and metaphysic of femoral was collected.Rat dental fluorosis was observed and bone fluorine was detected by ashing-fluorin ion selective electrode method.The content of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b(TRACP 5b) in rats' serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The morphologic changes of the bone were observed by microscopy.The expression of mRNA and protein of Wnt3a and β-catenin in osteoblasts of rats was analyzed with gray scale by hybridization in situ and immunohistochemistry methods,respectively.Results Detection rate of dental fluorosis,fluoride contents of urine and bone were significantly increased [control group:0.0％,(1.26 + 0.17)mg/L,(305.58 ± 91.26)mg/kg; low-fluoride group:66.7％,(2.06 ± 0.64)mg/L,(632.33 ±123.21)mg/kg; high-fluoride group:91.7％,(7.69 ± 1.96)mg/L,(1088.75 ± 156.16) mg/kg] in the rats treated with fluoride,the difference between groups was statistically significant(χ2 =21.6; F =36.57,467.02; all P ＜0.05).The contents of BALP and TRACP-5b in rats' serum were significantly different between groups(F =89.57,7.68; all P ＜ 0.05).Compared with control group[(16.24 + 1.57)U/L],the contents of BALP in rats' serum of the low-fluoride and high-fluoride groups[(31.47 ± 5.30) and (54.61 ± 2.27)U/L] were increased gradually(all P ＜0.05).Compared with the low-fluoride group,the value in the high-fluoride group decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).The contents of TRACP-5b in rats' serum of low-fluoride group[(3.45 ± 1.85)U/L] were elevated significantly(all P ＜ 0.05) compared with the control group[(1.26 ± 0.23)U/L] and the high-fluoride group[(2.74 ± 1.85)U/L].The bone cortices were thickened and the bone trabecula was broadened,arranged closely together in chronic fluorosis rats with significant difference compared with the control group.In the low-fluoride and high-fluoride groups,the expression levels of Wnt3a and β-catenin mRNA (low-fluoride group:132.87 ± 5.72 and 132.57 ± 9.56; highfluoride group:135.60 ± 6.64 and 137.87 ± 9.16) were markedly elevated with significant difference,respectively (F =12.47,5.96; all P ＜ 0.05) compared with those in control groups(119.86 ± 5.04 and 120.58 ± 7.84) by hybridization in situ(P ＜ 0.05),but there was no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05) of the level of Wnt3a and β-catenin mRNA between low-fluoride and high-fluoride groups.In the low-fluoride and high-fluoride groups,the protein expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin (low-fluoride group:137.50 ± 4.32 and 140.85 + 3.54; high-fluoride group:142.65 ± 11.84 and 152.52 ± 4.64) were markedly elevated with significant difference,respectively (F =10.07,53.82; all P ＜ 0.05) compared with those in control group (124.01 ± 2.63 and 126.75 ± 4.65) by immunohistochemistry(all P＜ 0.05),Wnt3a protein production in the low-fluoride group was increased without statistical significance compared with the high-fluoride group (P ＞ 0.05).But the protein production of β-catenin in the lowfluoride group was elevated with significant difference compared with the high-fluoride group(P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA and protein production of Wnt3a were positively correlated with the mRNA and protein production of β-catenin (r =0.731,0.658; all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Rat bone tissue lesions caused by excessive fluoride may be associated with an increased expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin mRNA and protein in osteoblasts.In chronic fluorosis,fluoride stimulates the overexpression of Wnt3a and β-catenin in the Wnt signal transduction pathway,enhances bone osteogenesis and causes skeletal fluorosis.

Although previous reports showed drug-eluting stent (DES) could effectively inhibit neointima formation, in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains an important obstacle. The purpose of this study was to investigate different effects of paclitaxel on proliferation and cell cycle regulators between vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and vascular endothelial cells (VECs) of rats in vitro. The cultured VSMCs and VECs of rats from the same tissues were examined by using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and Western blotting in control and paclitaxel-treated groups. The results showed paclitaxel could effectively inhibit proliferation of VSMCs and VECs. However, as compared with VECs, proliferation of VSMCs in paclitaxel-treated group decreased less rapidly. The percentage of cells in G0-G1 and G2-M phases was reduced, and that in S phase increased after treatment for 72 h. The expression of cyclin D1 and B1, p27 and PCNA in VSMCs of paclitaxel-treated group was up-regulated, but that of p21 down-regulated as compared with VECs. It is concluded that there are significant differences in the expression of cell cycle regulators and proliferation rate between paclitaxel-treated VSMCs and paclitaxel-treated VECs, suggesting that the G1-S checkpoint regulated by paclitaxel may play a critical role in the development of complications of DES, which provides new strategies for treatments of ISR.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of mRNA and protein expression of CaN in the bone of rats with chronic fluorosis, and the mechanism of skeletal fluorosis.

METHODSThirty-six SD rats were divided into three groups (12 in each group, half male and half female selected according to body weight): control, low-dose and high-dose fluorosis groups. Controls were fed tap water (NaF < 0.5 mg/L), experimental animals in the low- or high-dose groups were fed water containing NaF of 5.0 and 50.0 mg/L, respectively. The rats were sacrificed after 6 months of treatment with fluoride. The serum was kept for testing bone metabolic marker bone gla protein (BGP) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the protein and mRNA levels of CaN in distal femur of the rats with chronic flurosis were assessed by immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization.

RESULTSThe levels of BGP (1.99 ± 0.62, 2.38 ± 0.16)µg/L in the low- or high-dose fluorosis groups were higher than that in the control group (0.15 ± 0.03) µg/L; and the high fluorosis group showed higher level than the low fluorosis group (all P < 0.05). Compared to the control group (131.11 ± 1.95, 111.82 ± 2.39), the protein and mRNA levels of CaN were higher in the low- or high-dose fluorosis groups (142.69 ± 1.17, 157.54 ± 1.88 and 121.28 ± 3.27, 134.63 ± 3.19, respectively), and the high fluorosis group showed higher levels than the low fluorosis group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBGP content could be used as a bone metabolic index in endemic fluorosis disease. Fluoride might up-regulate the mRNA and protein expression of CaN, and the changes in CaN level may be involved in the increase of the bone turnover and could be one of the pathogenetic factors in fluorosis.

Animals ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Calcineurin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Fluoride Poisoning ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fluorides ; metabolism ; urine ; Fluorosis, Dental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Osteoblasts ; metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; blood ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Fluoride ; poisoning

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of balance acupuncture predominantly by puncturing Jiaji points (EX-B2) from C4 to T1and from T12 to L1in treating hemiplegic balance disturbance after cerebral stroke. Method A total of 180 hemiplegia patients were randomized into 3 groups, 60 cases in balance acupuncture group, 60 cases in ordinary acupuncture group, and 60 cases in basic control group. After 1-month treatment and 3 months after the treatment, the motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment, FMA), balance function (Berg Balance Scale, BBS; Timed Up and Go Test, TUGT), and activities of daily living (ADL) (Barthel Index, BI) were observed.Result After 1-month treatment and 3 months after the treatment, limb function, balance ability and ADL were significantly different from those before the treatment in balance acupuncture group (P<0.01); after 1-month treatment, limb function in balance acupuncture group was significantly different from that in basic control group (P<0.05), and the differences were more statistically significant in comparing the rest indexes between the two groups (P<0.01); there were significant differences between ordinary acupuncture group and basic control group (P<0.05). Three months after the treatment, there was a significant difference in comparing balance function between balance acupuncture group and basic control group (P<0.05), and the differences were more statistically significant in comparing the rest indexes between the two groups (P<0.01), there was no significant difference in comparing balance function between ordinary acupuncture group and basic control group (P>0.05).Conclusion In combination with basic treatment, balance acupuncture works better than ordinary acupuncture and basic control in improving limb function, ADL and balance function of hemiplegia patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigated the effects of bisoprolol pretreatment on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

METHODSCultured H9c2 cells were exposed to hypoxia for 6 h followed by reoxygenation for 2 h with or without pretreatments with bisoprolol or bisoprolol + LY294002. The cell survival was measured by MTT assay, and the cell apoptosis and levels of radical oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated with flow cytometry. The protein levels of phosphyorylated AKT and phosphorylated GSK3β in the cells were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control cells, the cells exposed to H/R injury showed significantly decreased cell survival and increased cell apoptosis and ROS production; pretreatment of the cells with bisoprolol significantly decreased the cell apoptotic rates and ROS production and obviously enhanced the cell survival and protein levels of p-AKT and p-GSK3β in the exposed cells. The protective effect of bsioprolol against H/R-induced cell injury was significantly attenuated by LY294002.

CONCLUSIONBisoprolol can protect H9c2 cells against H/R-induced injury and oxidative stress by activating PI3K/AKT/Gsk-3β pathway to increase the phosphorylation of AKT and GSK3β and reduce ROS production.

Although previous reports showed drug-eluting stent (DES) could effectively inhibit neointima formation, in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains an important obstacle. The purpose of this study was to investigate different effects of paclitaxel on proliferation and cell cycle regulators between vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and vascular endothelial cells (VECs) of rats in vitro. The cultured VSMCs and VECs of rats from the same tissues were examined by using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and Western blotting in control and paclitaxel-treated groups. The results showed paclitaxel could effectively inhibit proliferation of VSMCs and VECs. However, as compared with VECs, proliferation of VSMCs in paclitaxel-treated group decreased less rapidly. The percentage of cells in G0-G1 and G2-M phases was reduced, and that in S phase increased after treatment for 72 h. The expression of cyclin D1 and B1, p27 and PCNA in VSMCs of paclitaxel-treated group was up-regulated, but that of p21 down-regulated as compared with VECs. It is concluded that there are significant differences in the expression of cell cycle regulators and proliferation rate between paclitaxel-treated VSMCs and paclitaxel-treated VECs, suggesting that the G1-S checkpoint regulated by paclitaxel may play a critical role in the development of complications of DES, which provides new strategies for treatments of ISR.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin B1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Tubulin Modulators ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo provide right time points in selection of right aged animals and the normal physiological data of TX mice.

METHODS7-12 months old TX and DL mice were studied, each group contained 3 female and 3 male mice of TX or DL mice. The concentration of copper in the serum, dry tissues (liver, brain and kidney), together with copper biochemistry indexes were measured. The liver histopathology was observed under light microscopy and electron microscope.

RESULTSTransaminase increased significantly only in 10 and 11-month- old (AST(TX10) = 218.3 U/L, AST(TX11) = 197.5 U/L, AST(DL10) = 171.5 U/L, AST(DL11) = 165.0 U/L, P(10) less than 0.001, P(11) = 0.022), but the copper concentration of liver, brain and kidney was significantly increased during 7-12 month old (the average concentration of copper, Liver(TX) = (750.0 +/- 85.5) mg/kg, Brain(TX) = (39.7 +/- 2.2)mg/kg, Kidney(TX) = (29.8 +/- 5.0) mg/kg, Liver(DL) = (11.6 +/- 1.5) mg/kg, Brain(DL) = (16.8 +/- 0.9) mg/kg, Kidney(DL) = (14.2 +/- 1.0) mg/kg, t = 21.16, 23.60, 7.47, for all these organs P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTX mice is a suitable model of liver disease with natural recovery, so selecting animal model of suitable time point is very important.

Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Brain ; metabolism ; Ceruloplasmin ; metabolism ; Copper ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Time Factors

China still has more than 30,000 patients of advanced schistosomiasis while new cases being reported consistently. D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product. As ascites being the dominating symptom in advanced schistosomiasis, the present study aimed to explore a prediction model of ascites with D-dimer and other clinical easy-achievable indicators. A case-control study nested in a prospective cohort was conducted in schistosomiasis-endemic area of southern China. A total of 291 patients of advanced schistosomiasis were first investigated in 2013 and further followed in 2014. Information on clinical history, physical examination, and abdominal ultrasonography, including the symptom of ascites was repeatedly collected. Result showed 44 patients having ascites. Most of the patients' ascites were confined in the kidney area with median area of 20 mm². The level of plasma D-dimer and pertinent liver function indicators were measured at the initial investigation in 2013. Compared with those without ascites, cases with ascites had significantly higher levels of D-dimer (0.71±2.44 μg/L vs 0.48±2.12 μg/L, P=0.005), as well ALB (44.5 vs 46.2, g/L) and Type IV collagen (50.04 vs 44.50 μg/L). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses indicated a moderate predictive value of D-dimer by its own area under curve (AUC) of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.54–0.73) and the cutoff value as 0.81 μg/L. Dichotomized by the cutoff level, D-dimer along with other categorical variables generated a prediction model with AUC of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.68–0.89). Risks of patients with specific characteristics in the prediction model were summarized. Our study suggests that the plasma D-dimer level is a reliable predictor for incident ascites in advanced schistosomiasis japonica patients.
Area Under Curve ; Ascites* ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Collagen Type IV ; Fibrin ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Physical Examination ; Plasma* ; Prospective Studies* ; ROC Curve ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis japonica* ; Schistosomiasis* ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of ischemic postconditioning (IP) against different degrees of testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rabbits.

METHODSForty-two white male rabbits were equally randomized into 7 groups: a control, 3 IR (R1, R2 and R3), and 3 IP (P1, P2 and P3) groups. Testicular models of different degrees of ischemia were established in the IR and IP groups. Before reperfusion, ultrasonography showed homogeneous echoes with slightly decreased blood flow in R1 and P1, heterogeneous echoes with obviously decreased blood flow in R2 and P2, lamellar or fragmental low echo areas absent of blood flow signals in R3 and P3. Then the IR groups were directly subjected to perfusion, and the IP groups to 3 episodes of 30-second reperfusion followed by 30-second ischemia. All the groups underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) before reperfusion and, after 3 days, examined for the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and histology, and observed for the pathological changes of the testicular tissue.

RESULTSBefore reperfusion, no significant differences were found in the CEUS parameters beta, time-to- peak (TTP), peak-base intensity (PBD) and half of declining time (DT/2) between R1 and P1, R2 and P2, and R3 and P3 (P>0.05). There were remarkable differences in MDA and SOD between R1 and P1, and R2 and P2 (P<0.05), but not between R3 and P3 (P >0.05). Johnson's score, apoptosis index and ultrastructure showed marked differences between R1 and P1 (P<0.05) but not between R2 and P2, and R3 and P3 (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONIP can attenuate IR-induced testis injury, but the effect varies with the degree of ischemia, and its pathological manifestation differs from the biochemical one.

Animals ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; Superoxide Dismutase ; analysis ; Testis ; pathology