OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of triptolide (TPL) on the renal tissue of diabetic rats and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (as the normal group), the diabetic model group (the model group), the low dose TPL treatment group (the low dose TPL group, TPL 0.2 mg/kg by gastrogavage), the high dose TPL treatment group (the high dose TPL group, TPL 0.4 mg/kg by gastrogavage). Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal group and the model group. Five rats were randomly selected from each group at week 4, 8, and 12 of the experiment to detect body weight, kidney weight, 24 h urinary albumin (24 h UAL), plasma glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), total triglyeride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), white blood cell (WBC), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The mRNA and protein expression of regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the renal tissue was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The renal tissue was pathologically stained by HE, PAS, and Masson staining. The glomerular and renal tubular interstitial lesions were observed at each time point. The glomerular sclerosis index (GSI) was observed by PAS staining, and the renal interstitial filrosis index (RIFI) was calcutated.

RESULTSCompared with the same group at week 4, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 significantly decreased in two TPL groups (P <0.01). Compared with the same group at week 8, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 also significantly decreased in the two TPL groups (P <0. 05, P <0.01). Compared with the normal group, body weight and the kidney weight obviously decreased at week 4, 8, and 12 in the model group (P <0. 01); 24 h UAL, FBG, TG, TC, HbA1c, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI were obviously elevated (P <0.01). Compared with the model group, 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI also decreased in the two TPL treatment groups (P <0.01). Compared with the low dose TPL group, they were attenuated in the high dose TPL group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONTPL could not only inhibit the over-expression of RANTES, but also improve the glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis in the renal tissue of diabetic rats.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL5 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; Kidney Tubules ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats

Objective To study the significance of the sample S/Co ratio when using a domestic reagent for anti-hepatitis C virus(HCV)antibody detection and to explore the procedure and standard of anti-HCV antibody diagnosis by using this domestic reagent.Methods Anti-HCV antibody was detected in 295 000 blood donors by a domestic anti-HCV reagent with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method and the reactive samples were tested again by ortho anti-HCV antibody reagent.The samples which anti-HCV antibodies were determined as positive by ortho anti-HCV rea- gent were examined by recombinant immunoblot assay(RIBA)reagent and 106 samples of them were also tested for HCV RNA.Results Six hundred and eighty-one samples were reactive in 295 000 samples screened by the domestic ELISA reagent,the reactive ratio was 0.23 %.Among the reactive samples screened by the domestic ELISA reagent,367 samples were determined as positive by ortho anti-HCV reagent while 66.2% of them showed a S/Co ratio≥3.8.The consistency rate between positive results determined by the domestic reagent and RIBA reagent respectively was 53.8%.For the samples showing S/Co ratio≥3.8 by ortho anti-HCV reagent,94.2% had a S/Co ratio≥8.0 when using the domestic ELISA reagent,while the percentage of samples showing S/Co ratio

In vivo fluorescence molecular imaging plays a more and more important role in the observation of diseases, drug research and biology research because of its low cost, simplicity and no ionizing radiation to biological tissue. Herein, the most important parts of the optical fluorescence molecular imaging and their advances are summarized, including fluorescent molecular probes, imaging systems and reconstruction algorithms. The application and development trend of this technology are also introduced in this paper.
Algorithms ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Molecular Imaging ; methods

To investigate the molecular genetics basis for one para-Bombay phenotype, the red blood cell phenotype of the proband was characterized by standard serological techniques. Exon 6 and 7 of ABO gene, the entire coding region of FUT1 gene and FUT2 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction from genomic DNA of the proband respectively. The PCR products were purified by agarose gels and directly sequenced. The PCR-SSP and genescan were performed to confirm the mutations detected by sequencing. The results showed that the proband ABO genotype was A(102)A(102). Two heterozygous mutations of FUT1 gene, an A to G transition at position 682 and AG deletion at position 547-552 were detected in the proband. A682G could cause transition of Met-->Val at amino acid position 228, AG deletion at position 547-552 caused a reading frame shift and a premature stop codon. The FUT2 genotype was heterozygous for a functional allele Se(357) and a weakly functional allele Se(357), 385 (T/T homozygous at position 357 and A/T heterozygous at 385 position). It is concluded that the compound heterozygous mutation--a novel A682G missense mutation and a 547-552 del AG is the molecular mechanism of this para-Bombay phenotype.
ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Fucosyltransferases ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Sequence Deletion

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Spearmint oil on inflammation, oxidative alteration and Nrf2 expression in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).

METHODSCOPD model was induced by intratracheal instillation of Klebsiella pneumonia and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 12 weeks in rats, and COPD rats were treated with Spearmint oil for 3 weeks. After COPD was induced, the pathological changes, changes in leucocyte number in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), MDA in lung homogenate and Nrf2 expression were observed. The effects of Spearmint oil on these changes were determined.

RESULTSpearmint oil 100 mg*kg(-1)significantly reduced leucocyte numbers in BALF, and attenuated bronchiolitis, pulmonary interstitial inflammation and inflammation cell infiltration. Spearmint oil 30-300 mg*kg(-1)decreased the destruction of pulmonary alveolus and the thickness of bronchioles walls, and inhibited goblet cell proliferation. Spearmint oil significantly reduced MDA in lung homogenate, and decreased the expression of Nrf2 protein in lung tissues.

CONCLUSIONSpearmint oil has protective effect on lung injury in COPD rats, since it improves pulmonary inflammation,oxidative alteration, and enhances Nrf2 protein expression.

Animals ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the distribution of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in rats' respiratory tract. To study the influence of LPS and Eucalyptus globulus oil on the distribution of TMR4.

METHODThe Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally instilled with lipopolysaccharide (LPS,2 mg x kg(-1) per day) for two days to induce acute lung injury. The rats were sacrificed at 72 hours after LPS instillation. Lung morphology was studied. Leukocytes in Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured and TLR4 were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTThe result of immunohistochemistry showed that TLR4 distributed widely in common rats' respiratory tract. In the group of acute lung injury, the number of leucocyte in BALF was increased apparently, the inflammation in bronchus and bronchioles was more apparently than that of the control group in morphology. And the expression of TLR4 was reinforced in main bronchus and bronchioles. In the group of E. globules oil (300 mg x kg(-1)), the leucocyte number was decreased apparently in BALF, the inflammation was lightened and the expression of TLR4 decreased as compared with the group of models.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TLR4 distributes widely in rats' respiratory tract. The stimulation of LPS can reinforce the expression of TLR4. The E. globules oil can reduce the increase of TLR4 induced by LPS in bronchioles.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Bronchi ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Eucalyptus ; chemistry ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Oils, Volatile ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

This study was aimed to investigate the distribution of rare blood group in Zhejiang Han population. The H(-) (H system), GPA(-) and s(-) (MNS), Rhnull, Rhmod, D--, CCDEE, CCdEE (variations of Rh), GPC(-) (Gerbich), i(+) (I), Lu(b-) (Lutheran), Js(b-) and k(-) (Kell), Fy(a-) (Duffy), Ok(a-) (Ok), Di(b-) (Diego) phenotypes were screened by serological or molecular methods. Jk (a-b-) phenotype was detected by urea hemolytic test. The results showed that one Di (a+b-) individual was found in 1618 blood donors, three Fy (a-b+) individuals in 1007 donors and one CCdEE individual in 633 Rh negative donors. No Jk (a-b-), H(-), GPA(-), s(-), GPC(-), i(+) (adult), Lu(b-), k(-), Js(b-), Lu(b-) and Ok(a-) phenotypes were found in this large scale survey. It is concluded that Di (a+b-), Fy (a-b+), CCdEE phenotypes are confirmed in the blood donors and this study provides the distribution data of erythrocyte rare blood group in Zhejiang Han population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Blood Group Antigens ; genetics ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; methods ; Erythrocytes ; immunology ; Humans ; Molecular Biology ; Phenotype

This study was purposed to investigate the molecular basis for RhD negative phenotype in Yiwu population in Zhejiang Province of China. The RhD negative samples were screened by saline agglutination test in blood donors. Some real RhD negative and RhDel phenotypes were identified using anti-human globulin test and absorbtion elution test. Ten exons of RHD gene in these samples were amplified by PCR-SSP, and positive exons were DNA sequenced. The results indicated that 30 real RhD negative and 8 RhDel phenotypes were identified in 38 initial RhD negative samples. Ten exons were complete negative in 28 real RhD negative samples and only exon 1, 2 and 10 were positive in 2 real RhD negative samples amplified by PCR. All 10 exons in 8 RbDel samples were positive and a DNA variant (1227G > A) was found in 8 RhDel samples. It is concluded that all exons are absence in most real RhD negative phenotypes, and the partial exons absence is also found in some real negative phenotypes among Yiwu population in Zhejiang province of China. The G to A mutation at position 1227 is found in all RhDel phenotypes.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Exons ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo probe into the molecular genetics basis for para-Bombay phenotype.

METHODSRed blood cell phenotype of the proband was characterized by serological techniques. Exons 6 and 7 of ABO gene, the entire coding region of alpha(1,2) fucosyltransferase (FUT1) gene and FUT2 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from genomic DNA of the proband respectively. The PCR products were excised and purified from agarose gels and were directly sequenced.

RESULTSAG at 547-552 deletion homozygous allele was found in the proband, which caused a reading frame shift and a premature stop codon. Parents of proband were heterozygous carriers.

CONCLUSIONTwo base deletion at position 547-552 of alpha (1,2) fucosyltransferase gene may cause para-Bombay phenotype.

ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Fucosyltransferases ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular genetic basis for p phenotype.

METHODSRed blood cell phenotype of the proband was characterized by standard serological technique. Exon 3 of the alpha (1,4) galactosyltransferase gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from genomic DNA of the proband. The amplified PCR products were excised and purified from agarose gels and direct sequenced.

RESULTSHomozygous single nucleotide G deletion at position 300 or 301 was found in the proband, which caused a reading frame shift at codon 101,resulting in a premature stop at codon 113. Parents of the proband were heterozygous carriers.

CONCLUSIONA novel single guanosine deletion at position 300 or 301 of alpha (1,4) galactosyltransferase gene was determined, which may be one facet of the molecular basis for p phenotype.

Galactosyltransferases ; genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Male ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide