Objective To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7(MMP7)in paraquat(PQ)?induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Methods Forty?eight SD rats were randomly divided into the control group and the pulmonary fibrosis model group(PQ model group),each group of twenty?four rats. Rats in the PQ model group received single intraperitoneal injection of 4 mg/mL PQ dilute solution and the control group were in?traperitoneal injected with the same dose of saline. Eight rats of each group were sacrificed on day 7,day14 and day 28 respectively. The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed and the hydroxyproline(HYP)content in lung tissues was determined. The severity of pulmonary fibrosis was observed. The expressions of MMP7 in lungs were observed by immunohistochemistry. Results The observation of general state of the experimental animals showed that except one rat died at day 28 d,all other rats survived to the end point of observation. After intraperitoneal injection with PQ,the weight of rats in the PQ model group gradually declined,and then increased around day 14,yet still much lower than that in the control group at day 28(P<0.05). After intraperitoneal injection with PQ,the pulmonary index in the model group increased gradually and then decreased after reach?ing the peak on day 14. The content of HYP in rat lung tissues in the PQ model group was remarkably higher than in the control group at day 7,day 14,and day 28,with statistical significance(P<0.01). In the PQ model group,the content of HYP was significantly up?regulated with the extension of infected time and reached the peak value at day 28. The results of HE staining showed significant pulmonary alveolitis at day 7,hyperplasia of abundant collagen fibers in alveolar septum at day 14,and obvious pulmonary fibrosis and collapse of alveolar structure on day 28 in the lung tissues of the PQ model group. A weak expression of MMP7 was measured in the lung tissues in the control group and the expression of MMP7 was higher in the PQ model group than in the control group at day 7,day 14,and day 28,with statistical significance(P<0.05). Conclusion Paraquat poison?ing was mainly manifested in inflammatory reactions of lung tissues in the early stage together with increase of fibroblasts and mainly in fibrosis in the late stage. The expression of MMP7was increased along with the severity of pulmonary alveolitis or fibrosis and showed significant changes compared to the control group at day 28 after poisoning,indicating that MMP7may be the marker of paraquat?induced pulmonary fibrosis.

AIM: To study the action of NF-?B p65 in tubule-interstitium in rats with active Heymann nephritis(AHN). METHODS: Twenty female Wistar rats in 6-8 weeks of age were divided into two groups. The nephritis was induced with Fx1A/CFA by subcutaneous injection and with CFA as control. After rats were killed, the activation of NF-?B p65 in renal tissue was observed by immune histochemistry. RESULTS: The lesion score of renal interstitium and activation of NF-?B p65 of renal tubule in rats with AHN was higher than those of control group(P

To explore the risk factors of acute kidney injury(AKI)in adult primary nephrotic syndrome(PNS). Totally 185 patients with PNS were divided into AKI group(=51)and non-AKI group(=134).The demographic data and clinical and histological features at admission were compared between the two groups.The independent risk factors for AKI were evaluated by Logistics regression analysis. In 51 PNS patients with AKI,the common pathological types of AKI included minor glomerular abnormalities(29.4%),IgA nephropathy(25.5%),and membranous nephropathy(17.6%).The incidences of renal tubular casts and epithelial vacuoles in the AKI group were significantly higher than those in the non-AKI group(=0.004,=0.030).Males were more likely to suffer from AKI than females(=0.000).Patients in AKI group had significantly lower albumin level(=0.015)and higher levels of random urine protein,serum creatinine,uric acid,urea nitrogen,and triglyceride than non-AKI group(=0.030,=0.000,=0.000,=0.000,and =0.006),and polyserous and oliguria occurred more often in the AKI group(=0.000,=0.002).The AKI group had significantly higher incidences of high blood pressure and infections(=0.035,=0.000).Multivariate logistics regression analysis showed albumin(<25 g/L),serum creatinine(>96 μmol/L),urea nitrogen(≥6.8 mmol/L),uric acid(≥400 μmol/L),diabetes,infection,and renal tubular casts were the independent risk factors for AKI. AKI complicating PNS is associated with a variety of factors.Its independent risk factors include the levles of albumin,serum creatinine,urea nitrogen,and uric acid,diabetes,infections,and renal tubular casts.
Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Adult ; Creatinine ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; complications ; Risk Factors

Background Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) can quantitatively analyze some ocular parameters in vivo.Although human ocular parameters have been obtained by SD-OCT,few studies were performed in animal experiment.Objective This study was to investigate the anterior and posterior segment parameters of C57BL/6 mice and pigmented rabbits using SD-OCT in vivo.Methods Some anterior and posterior segment ocular parameters,including the central corneal thickness (CCT),anterior chamber depth (ACD),white-to-white (WTW),optic nerve head (ONH) depth/width and retinal thickness,were measured in 8 eyes of 4 health SPF C57BL/6 mice and 12 eyes of 6 health SPF pigmented rabbits using SD-OCT.Results For C57BL/6 mice,Cornea,iris,lens in pupil area were clearly exhibited by SD-OCT.Mean CCT,ACD and WTW were (96±9)μm,(460±8) μm and (2.86 ± 0.41) mm pre-mydriasis,respectively,the corresponding values of post-mydriasis were (96±8) μm,(356±20)μm and (2.87±0.62)mm.There were no statistical differences of CCT and WTW between pre-and post-mydriasis (t =0.478,P =0.647 ; t =-0.737,P =0.485).ACD of post-mydriasis was significantly shallower than that of baseline (t =-13.022,P＜0.001).For the pigmented rabbits,the thickness of corneal thinnest point,retinal thickness,ONH depth and width were (370 ± 10) μm,(175 ± 4) μm,(1.35 ± 0.51) mm and (4.52±0.82) mm,respectively.Conclusions As a non-contact and non-invasive technology,SD-OCT can provide not only high resolution cross-sectional ocular images,but also high precise quantitative parameters for both C57BL/6 mouse and pigmented rabbit in vivo.

Coptidis Rhizoma and Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix represent hot Chinese medicine and cold Chinese medicine respectively. The purpose of this study is to observe the differentiation effect of Coptidis Rhizoma and Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix on lewis lung cancer and compare effect of hot Chinese medicine and cold Chinese medicine on tumor progression. In this study, the rat serum containing Coptidis Rhizoma or Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix was prepared to treat lewis lung cancer cells in vitro, and effects of the serum containing Coptidis Rhizoma or Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix on cell differentiation, proliferation, adhesion, succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity and gap-junction intercellular communication (GJIC) were investigated. In vivo, the subcutaneous implant model and pulmonary metastasis model of lewis lung cancer were established. Tumor bearing mice were taken water decoction of coptis chinensis or aconite by intragastric administration bid for four weeks, and the influences of coptis chinensis and aconite on tumor progression were evaluated by body temperature, blood oxygen saturation, red cell ATPase, blood rheology, intratumor hypoxia, capillary permeability and GJIC. The results showed that the serum containing aconite could induce cell differentiation, inhibit cell proliferation and migration, promote SDH activity and GJIC in lewis lung cancer cells. The serum containing Coptidis Rhizoma increased cell adhesion and decreased SDH activity and GJIC without cell differentiation although it also suppressed cell proliferation. Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix water decoction could keep body temperature, blood oxygen saturation, red cell ATPase and blood rheology, and improve intratumor hypoxia, capillary permeability and GJIC in tumor bearing mice, which led to slower tumor growth and less metastasis. Coptidis Rhizoma water decoction decreased body temperature, blood oxygen saturation, red cell ATPase, blood rheology and GJIC, and promoted intratumor hypoxia and capillary permeability, which resulted to more tumor metastasis although it also prevented tumor growth. These results suggested that the hot Chinese medicine could induce tumor cell differentiation and prevent tumor poison invagination, which is better for tumor treatment than cold Chinese medicine.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rats ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

The eight heavy metals and two essential constitutes of safflowers planted in linzhi which lies in Southern Tibet were analyzed by ICP-MS and by HPLC respectively. Heavy metals of safflower in the region were at the lower level and the essential constitutes were at the higher level. The better quality of safflower here was assisted by the excellent climate in tibet.
Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Tibet

Objective To investigate the effect of shRNA-mediated down-regulation of the receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) gene on the chemotherapeutic sensitivities in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.Methods The shRNA recombinant plasmid targeting to human RACK1 gene was designed and transferred into A549 cells by lipofectin technique.The protein level of RACK1 was measured by Western blot to confirm the function of shRNA plasmid.Drug sensitivities of A549 cells to cisplatin,gemcitabine,pemetrexed and paclitaxel were analyzed by MTT assay.The protein expression of LRP and MRP were detected by Western blot.Results After 24 hours transfection,the relative expression quantity of RACK1 protein in RACK1-shRNA group was 0.267± 0.470,which was significantly lower than that in vector-shRNA group (0.821±0.109) and control group (0.842±0.060) (F =54.438,P ＜ 0.05).The results of MTT showed that the growth of A549 cells in the RACK1-shRNA group was markedly inhibited.The sensitivities of A549 cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel were significantly enhanced compared with that in the vector-shRNA group and control group (P ＜ 0.05).The relative expression quantity of LRP and MRP protein in RACK1-shRNA group were 0.163±0.056 and 0.246±0.050,which were lower than that in vector-shRNA group and control group (F LRP =19.430,F MRP =61.548,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Targeted gene silencing of RACK1 improves the sensitivity of A549 cells to the ascisplatin and paclitaxel medicines,which might be achieved through down-regulation of the expression of LRP and MRP.

Background Whether ocular anterior and posterior chamber exist a blood-aqueous barrier is in controversy.Conventional method can not offer a good evidence because it is unable to detect the aqueous component in the posterior chamber.Objective This study was to investigate the distribution of Gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acids(Gd-DTPA)after peripheral iridectomy with magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in rabbit.Methods Monocular peripheral iridectomy was performed on the right eyes in 8 clean New Zealand white rabbits and the fellow eyes were as controls.0.2 ml/kg(0.5 mol/L)Gd-DTPA,a tracer of MRI,was injected into ear vein in vivo to scan the eyes with MRI for the observation of the permeability and distribution.The signal enhanced ratio of interest region associated with time were analyzed.Results The signal in ciliary body of both eyes showed an immediately sharp enhancement within 10 minutes following the injection of Gd-DTPA with a peak intensity at 30-40 minutes,and then the intensity was gradually weaken over time.The signal was stronger in the operative eyes than that in the fellow eyes.The signal in the posterior chamber was gradually increased after operation,however,that in posterior chamber of the control eyes was lower.The interest regions of Gd-DTPA were ciliary,anterior chamber and posterior chamber,and the enhanced signal intensities were consisted in the posterior chamber after operation.However,the increase of the signal was not seen in the posterior chamber in the control eyes.Conclusions The pathway of plasma protein entering into the anterior chamber is very different from that of aqueous secretion.There exists a barrier between the anterior and posterior chamber which might be an integral part of the blood-ocular barrier.

Objective To investigate the apoptosis of T lymphocytes,the expression of Bcl-2, Fas on the peripheral blood T lymphocytes in end stage renal disease patients;and to explore the characteristics of Th1 /Th2 profile and the influence of dialysis membranes with different permeability on the apoptosis of T lymphocytes of maintenance hemodialysis patients.Methods The study included 10 non-dialyszed (ND)patients,45 maintenance hemodialysis patients with cellulose acetate (CA) membranes(13),low-flux polusulfone(PS-LF) membranes(16),high-flux polusulfone (PS-HF) membranes (16) and 8 healthy volunteers (C).The apoptosis of T lymphocytes,expression of Bcl-2,Fas on peripheral blood T lymphocytes cultured with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation for 24 hours were measured by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical.ELISA was performed for detecting the levels of IFN-?and IL-4 in culture supematants.Results In ESRD patients,the apoptosis of T lymphocytes was greater than that of group C.Group CA was greater than group PS-HF and group PS-LF (P＜0.05).The expression of Bcl-2 on T lymphocytes in ESRD patients was lower than that of group C (P＜0.05).There was negative correlation between the T lymphocytes apoptosis and Bcl-2. The expression of Fas on T lymphocytes in ESRD patients was greater than that of group C (P＜0.05), and it was positive correlated with T lymphocytes apoptosis.The level of IFN-?of ESRD patients was decreased significantly compared with that in group C (P＜0.05),and there was negative correlation between T lymphocytes apoptosis and IFN-?.IL-4 was increased in ESRD patients (P＜0.05) and it was positive correlated with T lymphocytes apoptosis.Conclusions The accelerated apoptosis of T lymphocytes in ESRD patients may be related to the expression of Bcl-2 and Fas of T lymphocytes.ESRD patients show a suppressed secretion of IFN-?and an increased secretion of IL-4. T lymphocytes apoptosis of maintenance hemodialysis patients is influenced not only by the biocompatibility but also by the permeability of the dialysis membrane.

?AlM:To study the relationship between blood lead level and abnormal eye blinking in children.
? METHODS: The patients with chief complaint of frequent eye blinking, whose diagnosis of abnormal eye blinking, were randomized to experimental group. The patients in this group carried out vision and the slit-lamp examination, detected corneal fluorescein staining and tear break-up time, and improved the level of blood lead and trace elements examination. The patients in control group with chief complaint of health physical examination in our hospital, excepted of blood lead level, the other body check results were normal and were divided into boys group and girls group according to the gender. The changes of the experimental group and control group in blood lead level were compared.
?RESULTS: Totally 371 cases ( male:295 cases; female:76 cases) with mean age was 6. 56±2. 41 years and 6. 08±2. 82 years respectively were in experimental groupe. ln control group, there were 300 cases ( male: 186 cases;female:114 cases) with mean age was 6. 99±3. 01 years and 6. 56±2. 80 years respectively. The average of blood lead level of boys in experimental group was 63. 82 ±24. 56μg/L and 53. 98±15. 42μg/L in control group. The average of blood lead level in experimental group was higher than that in control group. The difference between of the two group was statistically significant (χ2=16. 96, P<0. 01 ). The average of blood lead level of girls in experimental group was 56. 96±16. 69μg/L and 48. 18±12. 35μg/L in control group. There was no difference between of the two group (χ2=5. 77, P=0. 56). ln control group, the average of blood lead level with <3 years, 3~6 years and >6 years children were 48. 73±11. 67μg/L, 51. 39 ± 14. 87μg/L, 52. 98 ± 14. 45μg/L respectively. ln expirement group, the results were 56. 57±17. 89μg/L, 59. 92±18. 46μg/L and 67. 00±32. 55μg/L in <3, 3~6 and >6 children, respectively. There was no significant difference with <3 years (χ2=3. 54, P=0. 17). The difference with 3~6 years and >6 years children were statistically significant (χ2 = 9. 62, P = 0. 008 ) and (χ2 = 19. 22, P = 0. 000 ) respectively. The blood lead level were divided into three grades: <50μg/L, 50 ~100μg/L, >100μg/L, and relative risk (RR) were 0. 65, 1. 22, and 10. 11 respectively.
?CONCLUSlON: Blood lead level of experimental group is higher than that of control group. The relationship between blood lead level and abnormal eye blinking in children is positive correlation.