OBJECTIVETo explore lupus nephritis (LN) patients' monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and urinary IP-10 (ulP-10) levels, the correlation between each clinical activity index and rheumatism syndrome, thereby proving objective evidence for microscopic typing of rheumatism syndrome.

METHODSTotally 60 LN patients were assigned to the rheumatism group (31 cases) and the non-rheumatism group (29 cases). Besides, 20 healthy volunteers were recruited as the normal control group. Clinical data and renal pathology were collected, and urinary levels of MCP-1 and IP-10 detected by ELISA. The correlation between rheumatism syndrome and each activity index as well as manifestations of clinical activities was comprehensively analyzed. Results (1) Patients in the rheumatism group were more liable to occur fever, serositis, edema, and hypertension (P<0.05). (2) Compared with the non-rheumatism group, patients in the rheumatism group exhibited much higher levels of 24 h protein quantification and blood urea nitrogen, higher levels of uMCP-1 and ulP-10. Microscopic hematuria, anti-ds-DNA, anti-Sm, the positive rate of AnuA, scores of SLEDAI and BILAG were higher in the rheumatism group than in the non-rheumatism group (P<0.05). Levels of plasma albumin and complement C3 were lower in the rheumatism group than in the non-rheumatism group (P<0.05). (3) The average activity index (AI) of the renal pathology was higher in the rheumatism group than in the non-rheumatism group. The most frequent pathological type of rheumatism group was type IV of LN.

CONCLUSIONSMore severe renal damage and immune abnormality occurred in LN patients of rheumatism syndrome. Rheumatism syndrome is closely correlated to clinical activity indices.

Biomedical Research ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lupus Nephritis ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; Rheumatic Diseases ; epidemiology ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the hemodynamics and structural effect of rat endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) transplant on pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) induced by monocrotaline(MCT) in rats.Methods EPCs were identified and marked.Twenty-one days after injection of EPCs,the pulmonary hemodynamic parame- ters,average pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP),right heart index were determined.The vascular endothelial cells and pulmonary vascular structural changes were verified by fluoresccuse microscope.Results Compared with the model,EPCs treatment(n=10) decreased mPAP significantly (mPAP,EPCs:25.9?0.7 mmHg vs model group:29.3?2.2 mmHg,P

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; blood supply ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

Objective To determine the levels and significance of Krebs von den lungen-6(KL-6), pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A), SP-D and interleukin (IL)-6 in patients with connective tissue disease interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD). Methods The serum KL-6, SP-A, SP-D and IL-6 in all subjects were detected and the imaging and pulmonary function were recorded t test, χ2 test, non-parametric test, ANOVA and correlation analysis were used for data analysis. Results ① The levels of serum KL-6, SP-A, SP-D, IL-6 in the CTD-ILD group [551.4 (428.2, 883.5) U/ml, 938.4(435.2, 2324.7) pg/ml, 90.7 (80.7, 100.3) ng/ml and 30.4 (22.9, 41.7) pg/ml; P all<0.05] was significantly higher than that in the CTD group [192.9 (139.2, 266.2) U/ml; 458.0 (372.6, 529.0) pg/ml; 80.0 (71.2, 98.3) ng/ml; 18.6 (4.9, 31.0) pg/ml, Z=-5.383, -3.76, -2.123,-3.903, P all <0.05]; and higher than healthy controls (n=30) [183.2(141.9, 216.6) U/ml; 229.0(162.0, 248.0) pg/ml;50.8(26.1, 96.4) ng/ml;7.1(3.7, 8.7) pg/ml, Z=-5.801,-8.13, 2.272, 3.266;P all<0.05].②The levels of KL-6 in pulmonary HRCT for active ILD group was significantly higher than the non-active ILD group [998.5 (640.3, 1293.3) U/ml vs 565.0(434.0, 799.5) U/ml, Z=2.182, P=0.023], there was no statistical difference in the levels of SP-A, SP-D, IL-6 between the 2 groups. ③ Spearman correlation analysis showed that KL-6 was negatively correlated with forced vital capacity (FVC%);SP-D, IL-6 and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO %). ④ Logistic multiple regression analysis showed that KL-6 [OR=1.017, P=0.002, 95%CI (1.006, 1.028)], SP-A [OR=1.023, P=0.009, 95%CI (1.006, 1.041)], SP-D [OR=1.175, P=0.009, 95%CI (1.075, 1.264)], IL-6[OR=1.213, P=0.001, 95%CI(1.088, 1.354)] were the risk factors for ILD. Conclusion Serum KL-6, SP-A, SP-D and IL-6 are significantly increased and correlate with CTD-ILD. KL-6 is related to the pulmonary inflammatory disease and vital capacity, while SP-D and IL-6 are related to diffusion function.

Objective To investigate the effect of telmisartan on the oxidative stress induced by high glucose in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) in vitro.Methods HUVEC were cocultured with telmisartan (1?10~(-6) mol/L) and various concentration of glucose(5,30 mmol/L) for 0,12,24,36,48 h respectively. The level of MDA in the supernatants of cultured endothelial cells was measured by thiobarbituric acid test,SOD was determined by xanthine oxidase test.The protein expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors ? (PPAR-?) in HUVEC 24 h was assessed by Western blot after treatments.Results High glucose significantly increase the levels of MDA (before:1.2?0.06 vs after:1.6?0.1 mmol/mL,P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Liuweidihuang Pills in relieving cellphone electromagnetic radiation-induced histomorphological abnormality, oxidative injury, and cell apoptosis in the rat testis.

METHODSThirty adult male SD rats were equally randomized into a normal, a radiated, and a Liuweidihuang group, the animals in the latter two groups exposed to electromagnetic radiation of 900 MHz cellphone frequency 4 hours a day for 18 days. Meanwhile, the rats in the Liuweidihuang group were treated with the suspension of Liuweidihuang Pills at 1 ml/100 g body weight and the other rats intragastrically with the equal volume of purified water. Then all the rats were killed for observation of testicular histomorphology by routine HE staining, measurement of testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels by colorimetry, and determination of the expressions of bax and bcl-2 proteins in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the normal controls, the radiated rats showed obviously loose structure, reduced layers of spermatocytes, and cavitation in the seminiferous tubules. Significant increases were observed in the MDA level (P < 0.01) and bax expression (P < 0.01) but decreases in the GSH level (P < 0.01) and bcl-2 expression (P < 0.01) in the testis issue of the radiated rats. In comparison with the radiated rats, those of the Liuweidihuang group exhibited nearly normal testicular structure, significantly lower MDA level (P < 0.05), bax expression (P < 0.01), and bcl-2 expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLiuweidihuang Pills can improve cellphone electromagnetic radiation-induced histomorphological abnormality of the testis tissue and reduce its oxidative damage and cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cell Phone ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Spermatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Staining and Labeling ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of gastric dynamics by transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined general anesthesia when controlled hypotension dropped to 60% of the mean arterial prenssure (MAP) baseline, and to provide experimental evidence for organ protection in clinical controlled hypotension.

METHODSEighteen male beagles were randomly divided into three groups, the general anesthesia group (blank), the general anesthesia induced controlled hypotension group (control), and the general anesthesia combined TEAS induced controlled hypotension group (experiment), 6 in each group. Controlled hypotension was performed in the latter two groups with isoflurane inhalation and intravenous injection of sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was lowered to 60% of the MAP baseline and kept for 60 min. Controlled hypotension was not performed in Beagles of the control group. For Beagles in the experiment group, TEAS [2/100 Hz, (4 ± 1) mA] was applied to bilateral Hegu (LI4), Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) from stable physiological conditions to the end of maintaining stages. Changes of EGG frequencies and EGG amplitudes were monitored. Serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were also detected at corresponding time points during and after experiment.

RESULTSAs for the pressure control effect of TEAS combined general anesthesia in the controlled hypotension, during the process of controlled hypotension (T1-T4), MAP levels of two controlled pressure groups remained relatively stable, and were kept at 60% of the MAP baseline. When the blood pressure dropped to the target low MAP and maintained at 60 min (T1-T4), EGG amplitudes of Beagles in all the three groups showed decreasing tendency. But it was more obviously lower than its basic level in the control group (P <0.05), while it was not obviously decreased in the experiment group (P < 0.05). EGG frequencies of Beagles in all the three groups showed no obvious change during this stage. By the end of the MAP rising stage (T8), the EGG amplitude of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group and the blank group (P < 0.05), while it didn' t show any obvious increase in the control group. During this period, EGG frequencies of the two controlled hypotension groups decreased more than those of the blank group. Two h after rising blood pressure (at T9), EGG amplitudes and frequencies in the two controlled hypotension groups basically restored to their respective baselines and levels of the blank group at T9. At 2 h (T9) after controlled hypotension, serum levels of GAS and MTL were lower than those of basic levels in the two controlled hypotension groups (P <0.05). However, serum levels of GAS and MTL had an increasing trend in the two controlled hypotension groups at 24-72 h (T10-T12). Besides, the increasing speed and amplitude was better in experiment group than in the control group at T10-T12. However, there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 72 h (T12) serum levels of GAS and MTL had basically restored to their basic levels in the two controlled hypotension groups and that of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONEGG amplitudes could be effectively improved in TEAS combined general anesthesia for controlled hypotension at 60% of the MAP baseline, the recovery of the serum GAS level accelerated, gastric power improved and stomach protected.

Acupuncture Points ; Anesthesia ; methods ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Arteries ; Dogs ; Gastrins ; Hypotension, Controlled ; Male ; Motilin ; Nitroprusside ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

The study is to develop a method to determine 3 batches leaves of Nauclea officinalis and stems of N. officinalis by HPLC. The differences between strictosamide contents and fingerprints was compared, then chromatographic peak of fingerprints was validated with the assistance of LC-MS. The strictosamide contents in stems of N. officinalis were higher than leaves of N. officinalis. The main chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis and stems of N. officinalis were alkaloid which revealed by LC-MS. There are 7 chemical compositions were same between them, but the chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis is more than stems of N. officinalis. This provides a scientific basis for the development of the potential medicinal value of leaves of N. officinalis and the sustainable utilization of N. officinalis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rubiaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mRNA expressions of the TNF adapter proteins, including TNF receptor-associated death domain protein (TRADD), Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD), receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP-1) and TNF receptor-associated factor-2 (TRAF-2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of lupus nephritis (LN) patients of various TCM asthenia syndromes. Methods Fifty-one inpatients with LN were differentiated according to TCM syndrome differentiation, 13 cases of yin-deficiency with inner heat syndrome (A); 26 cases of both qi-yin deficiency syndrome (B), 12 cases of Pi-Shen yang-deficiency syndrome (C). Peripheral venous blood samples from the 51 LN patients and 17 healthy subjects were collected to separate PBMCs. The mRNA expressions of TNF adapter molecules (TRADD, FADD, RIP-1 and TRAF-2), as well as Caspase-3 and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and the differences among them were compared.

RESULTS(1) As compared with the healthy subjects, expression of TRADD mRNA in patients of syndrome A, B and C was lowered to 0.54, 0.32, and 0.38-fold, respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), showing insignificant difference among the three syndromes; (2) FADD mRNA lowered to 0.79, 0.62, and 0.72-fold respectively, only with significance shown in syndrome B (P < 0.05); (3) RIP-1 mRNA lowered to 0.79, 0.50, and 0.60-fold respectively with significance shown in syndrome B and C (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and insignificant difference was shown among the three syndromes; (4) TRAF-2 lowered to 0.70, 0.52, and 0.50-fold respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P = 0.07), significance shown in syndrome B and C (P < 0.01), but with insignificant difference among the three; (5) Caspase-3 elevated in all patients of the three syndromes (all P < 0.01); (6) IL-1beta in syndrome A was apparently lower ed to the normal range and also lower than that in the other two syndromes (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExpressions of TRADD, FADD, RIP-1 and TRAF-2 mRNA decreased in all the patients of various TCM asthenia syndromes, the decrement in patients of syndrome B and C was lesser than that in syndrome A. These abnormal low expressions of signal proteins might be the substantial bases for asthenia syndromes of LN patients, and the apoptotic signal mediated by them may involve in the formation of asthenia syndrome in LN.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Lupus Nephritis ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; TNF Receptor-Associated Death Domain Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; blood ; Yin Deficiency ; blood ; Young Adult

Objective:To observe the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) in rabbits with atherosclerosis.Methods:Thirty-six male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and a simvastatin group according to the random number table method,with 9 rabbits in each group.Rabbits in the model group,the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the simvastatin group were modeled by high fat feeding method which took 12 weeks.After verification of the successful model,rabbits in the normal group were not treated,in the model group were bundled,in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group were treated with herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion,and those in the simvastatin group were treated with simvastatin,all for a total of 4 weeks.At the end of the experiment,the aorta and liver were observed for pathological changes;serum and liver were used to detect lipid levels;Western blot (WB) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect LXRα protein and mRNA expression levels,respectively.Results:Compared with the normal group,the structure of aorta was disordered,the wall was rough and thick,the intima was unsmooth,and the vascular smooth muscle cells were arranged closely and disorderly in the model group,which was consistent with the characteristics of the rabbit model of aortic atherosclerosis.Compared with the model group,the aortic structure was clear,the degree of hepatocyte degeneration was reduced,the serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly decreased (all P＜0.01),the high-density lipoprotein level was elevated (P＜0.01),and the total liver cholesterol was decreased significantly (P＜0.01) in the rabbits of the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the simvastatin group;compared with the model group,the protein (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05) and mRNA (P＜0.01) expressions of rabbit LXRα in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the simvastatin group were increased.Conclusion:Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can improve the aortic and hepatic lesions,regulate blood lipid and liver lipid levels,increase the expression of liver cholesterol reverse transport nuclear receptor LXRα,promote reverse cholesterol transport in the rabbits with aortic atherosclerosis,therefore produces an antiatherogenic effect.