Objective: To develop and utilize the bee plants and bee products in Changbai Mountain area,the representative area of alpine plants in northeast China featuring abundant resources of bee plants. Method:The pollen of bee plants was observed and studied by LM and SEM. Result:The pollen is morphologically oblate, suboblate, spheroidal and prolate. The external sculpture is commonly reticulate, striate and echinulate.Conclusion:Plant pollen identification criteria have been furnished for the development of bee plant resources as well as the inspection of bee products in Changbai Mountain area.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effects of salidroside on injury induced by hypoxia/hypoglycemia in cultured SH-SY5Y cell.

METHODApoptosis and intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) were measured by flow cytometry, morphological changes and neuronal necrosis were observed with fluorescence microscope, and the lactic dehydrogenate (LDH) release was measured by LDH kits.

RESULTHypoxia/hypoglycemia cultures for 2 hours induced neuronal apoptosis and necrosis. They were 18.59% (P < 0.01) and 4.94% (P < 0.01) respectively. There were morphological changes including chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and formed apoptotic bodies after exposed to hypoxia/hypoglycemia for 2, 4, 6, 12 hours. After 2 hours of hypoxia/hypoglycemia, neuronal [Ca2+]i and the release of LDH were significantly increased. They were 8.46 nmol/L (P < 0.01) and 16.59% (P < 0.01) respectively. The effects were enhanced with the extending time of hypoxia/hypoglycemia. Salidroside might have significantly decreased the percentage of neuronal apoptosis and necrosis, reduced neuronal [Ca2+]i and the release of LDH. The effects of salidroside were strengthened with the increasing of Salidroside dosage.

CONCLUSIONSalidroside has effect of anti-neuronal apoptosis. This effect might be related to its function of decreasing intracellular free calcium concentration.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Neurons ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Phenols ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhodiola ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FoxP3~+regulatory T cells (Treg)and the expression of the functional protein,FoxP3,in patients with active tuberculosis and the relationship between Treg and the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.Methods Forty-five patients with active tuberculosis(including 25 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 tuberculous lymphadenitis), 20 healthy controls,20 recovered tuberculosis patients and 6 patients with reactive hyperplasia in cer- vical lymph node were enrolled.The frequency of CD4~+ CD25~+ FoxP3~+ Treg in the peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry.FoxP3 mRNA expression was determined by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and the expression of FoxP3 protein in lymphoid tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry.Results The frequency of natural Treg in the peripheral blood from the patients with active tuberculosis was 2.91%?0.23%,which was signifi- cantly higher than that of healthy control group(1.22%?0.18%)and recovered tuberculosis patients(1.50%?0.17%,P

Objective To study the epidemiological characteristics of abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism in in-patients with ischemic stroke. Methods A total number of 771 in-patients with ischemic stroke, hospitalized in the Department of Neurology/Endocrinology from Changzhou No.2 Hospital from April 2007 to April 2008 were enrolled in this study. After identifying the condition of glucose metabolism, all diagnosis-undetermined patients received oral glucose tolerance test. Results Among in-patients with ischemic stroke, 41.8% of the patients were finally diagnosed as diabetes, with 23.4% classified as 'impaired glucose tolerance'. The prevalence of 'abnormal glucose metabolism' was 65.2% in total. If diabetes in the in-patients with ischemic stroke was diagnosed only by fast plasma glucose instead of oral glucose tolerance test, 58.5% diabetic patients would have been misdiagnosed. Abnormal lipid metabolism existed in inpatients with cerebral ischemic stroke were noticed. These abnormalities of lipid metabolism were mainly consisting of increased triglyceride and decreased HDL-C cholesterol. Conclusion The majority of in-patients with ischemic stroke appeared to have had abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. It seemed necessary to promptly and correctly diagnose these patients with abnormal glucose metabolism by oral glucose tolerance test to reduce the chances of developing the recurrence of stroke.

OBJECTIVETo study the expressions of tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3(TNFAIP3) and mammary serine protease inhibitor (Maspin) in the radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and explore the differences in radiosensitivity and radioresistance,the relation with the occurrence and development of radioresistance.

METHODSThe TNFAIP3 and Maspin mRNA expressions were detected by using TNFAIP3 and Maspin multi-point labeled DIG probes in situ hybridization.

RESULTSIn radiosensitivity and radioresistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma,the moderately and strongly positive TNFAIP3 mRNA expression rates were 27.50% and 48.33% (P=0.037), and the moderately and strongly positive Maspin mRNA expression rates were 67.50% and 46.67% (P=0.040). In the radioresistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma,TNFAIP3 mRNA moderately and strongly positive expressions were positively correlated with TNM stage (P=0.005). In distant metastasis and no distant metastasis (70.00% and 37.50%, P=0.018), the expression rates had statistical significance. The Maspin mRNA moderately and strongly positive expressions were positively correlated with TNM stage (P=0.039) and T stage (P=0.021). In distant metastasis and no distant metastasis (65.00% and 37.50%, P=0.044), the expression rates had statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONTNFAIP3 may be involved in the development of radioresistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma,and Maspin may be related with the invasion and metastasis of radioresistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Carcinoma ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Nuclear Proteins ; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3

BACKGROUNDDiabetic nephropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to explore whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation could attenuate diabetic nephropathy in experimental diabetic rats.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg). Diabetic rats were randomized to four groups: diabetes control group (DC), ciclosporin A group (CsA), MSC group, and MSC + CsA group (MSCA). Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured, identified and labeled by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in vitro. Then they were transplanted to diabetic rats via introcardiac infusion. Ciclosporin A was administered daily at 5 mg/kg. At 1, 2, 4, 8 weeks after transplantation, random blood glucose, urine albumin/creatinine ratio (Alb/Cr), endogenous creatinine clearance rate and renal mass index were tested. Renal morphology and labeled cells were examined.

RESULTSCultured MSCs expressed mesenchymal cell phenotype, and could be multidifferentiated to osteogenic and adipogenic cells. Labeled MSCs could be detected in the kidney of nephropathic rats, mainly in renal interstitium, but they did not propagate after engrafting in kidney. Over the course of the experiment, MSCA group showed a significant decrease in blood glucose compared with MSC group, CsA group and DC group (P < 0.05, respectively). The Alb/Cr in MSCA group and MSC group were significantly lower than CsA group and DC group (P < 0.05). And the Alb/Cr in MSCA group showed a significant decrease compared with MSC group (0.74 vs 0.84, P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in renal mass index between the MSCA group and DC group (5.66 vs 6.37, P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in creatinine clearance rate among 4 groups (P > 0.05). Treatment with MSC + CsA significantly ameliorated the morphology of diabetic kidney.

CONCLUSIONMSC could mildly ameliorate diabetic nephropathy by decreasing blood glucose, Alb/Cr ratio and renal mass index.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; blood ; metabolism ; therapy ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Microscopy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This study investigated the expression of lung surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C, and their modulating factors TTF-1 and PLAGL2 in the fetal lung of rats with fetal growth restriction (FGR). The rat FGR model was established by prenatal hypoxia in the first stage of pregnancy, 180 rats for experiment served as hypoxia group, and 197 healthy rats served as normal control group. The FGR incidence in hypoxia was compared with that in normal control group. The histological changes in the fetal lung were observed under the light microscope and electronic microscope in two groups. The SP-B, SP-C, TTF-1 and PLAGL2 proteins were determined in the fetal lung of two groups immunohistochemically. The expression levels of SP-B, SP-C, TTF-1 and PLAGL2 protein and mRNA in the fetal lung of two groups were detected by using Western blotting and RT-PCR respectively. The FGR rat model was successfully established by using hypoxia. Pathologically the fetal lung developed slowly, and the expression levels of SP-B, SP-C, TTF-1 and PLAGL2 protein and mRNA in the fetal lung were significantly reduced in hypoxia group as compared with those in normal control group. It was suggested that maternal hypoxia in the first stage of pregnancy could induce FGR, and reduce the expression of SP-B and SP-C, resulting in the disorder of fetal lung development and maturation.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Lung ; embryology ; metabolism ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the quality difference between Coptis chinensis planted with ecological techniques and shelf planted Coptis chinensis.

METHODSUltraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, alcohol extract mensuration, moisture mensuration, and ash mensuration were used to determine the contents of total alkaloids, alcohol extract, water, and total ash of Coptis chinensis, which were planted in shelf, Rhus chinensis wood, M mulbery wood, corn wood, Magnolia officinalis wood, fruiter wood, shading net, and firry wood, respectively.

RESULTSThe contents of total alkaloids and alcohol extract of Coptis chinensis Table planted with ecological techniques were higher than those of Coptis chinensis planted in shelf. The contents of water and total ash were less than 12% and 5%, respectively, which met the provisions of the pharmacopoeia.

CONCLUSIONThe quality of Coptis chinensis planted with ecological techniques is similar to that of Coptis chinensis planted in shelf. These ecological techniques for Coptis chinensis have become mature and practical.

Agriculture ; methods ; Alkaloids ; analysis ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Coptis ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Ecosystem ; Forestry ; methods ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Water ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo track the translocation of water soluble taurine multi-wall carbon nanotubes (14C-tau-MWCNTs) in lungs of the Kunming mice and evaluate the acute lung toxicity of intratracheally instilled tau-MWCNTs in Kunming mice.

METHODSHealthy adult Kunming mice were randomly grouped by their body weight (5 mice in each group). The lungs of mice were intratracheally instilled with 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg of water soluble tau-MWCNTs and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as negative control. After exposure of 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, the blood and lung tissue were collected. Blood were assessed by using biochemical biomarkers of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Lung tissues were assessed by histopathology. The intratracheal instillation of 14C-tau-MWCNTs was conducted in the same way, after 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 days, 14C-activity of the samples was counted in several organs, tissues, blood and feces etc.

RESULTS14C-activities were detected only in lungs, and with the exposure time proceeding the radioactivity descending from (80 +/- 7.7)% of the 1st day to (22 +/- 6.9)% of the 28th day. Activity of all groups of ALP and LDH went to the highest level on the 7th day postexposure, and back to the control level on the 28th day post-exposure, but LDH of 1 mg/kg group[(14.18 +/- 1.70) micromol x s(-1) x L(-1)] was still higher than that of control [(10.95 +/- 3.51) micromol x s(-1) x L(-1)] after 28 days' exposure. There was no significant changes observed in the activity of ACE. Histopathology found that lungs of all groups presented significant increase in pulmonary inflammation, lung cell proliferation. Many tau-MWCNTs were clearly found in some alveolar macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONIntratracheal instillation of water soluble tau-MWCNTs could induce slight bio-effects on lungs of Kunming mice.

Animals ; Instillation, Drug ; Lung ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; Taurine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Trachea

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors associated with the occurrence of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted in 26 recipients who developed TRAS and 40 concurrent renal recipients without TRAS. We also conducted a nested case-control study in 14 patients with TRAS (TRAS-SD group) and another 14 non-TRAS recipients who received the allograft from the same donor (non-TRAS-SD group).

RESULTSCompared with those in the concurrent recipients without TRAS, acute rejection (AR) occurred at a significantly higher incidence (P=0.004) and the warm ischemia time (WIT) was significantly longer (P=0.015) and the level of high?density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL--C) significantly lower (P=0.009) in the recipients with TRAS. Logistic regression analysis suggested that AR (P=0.007) and prolonged WIT (P=0.046) were risk factors of TRAS while HDL-C (P=0.022) was the protective factor against TRAS. In recent years early diagnosis of TRAS had been made in increasing cases, the interval from transplantation to TRAS diagnosis became shortened steadily, and the recipients tended to have higher estimated glomerular filtration rate at the time of TRAS diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONApart from the surgical technique, AR and prolonged WIT are also risk factors of TRAS while a high HDL-C level is the protective factor against TRAS. The improvement of the diagnostic accuracy by ultrasound is the primary factor contributing to the increased rate of early TRAS diagnosis in recent years.