Objective To explore the value of Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2) on the diagnosis of neonatal septicemia especially for the early diagnosis.Methods Twenty-two newborns with septicemia were divided into 2 groups according to the time of onset:early-onset group(n=12) and late-onset group(n=10).Another 14 non-infectious newborns were collected as control group.The TLR2 mRNA in peripheral blood was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction,and mononuclear cells were isolated by the density gradient centrifuga-tion;the C reaction protein(CRP) was detected,and the co-relationship of the indexes was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results 1.The level of CRP in early-onset group were(157.89?32.96) ng?L-1,and(89.78?16.24) ng?L-1 in late-onset group,and there was significant difference between both groups(P=0.001);(6.91?1.20) ng?L-1 in control group,which was significantly lower than that in early-onset group and late-onset group(P=0.000,0.001).2.The expression of TLR2 mRNA in early-onset group and late-onset group was(57.38?10.72)?1012 copies?L-1and(32.74?4.65) ?1012 copies?L-1,which was significantly higher than that in control group[(4.12?0.68) ?1012 copies?L-1].3.CRP is positively correlated with TLR2 mRNA(C=0.972,P=0.000).Conclusions TLR2 expression is proven to be related to both the level of CRP and the stage of onset and may play a key role in the pathogenesis of neonatal septicemia.Detection for TLR2 may assist the earlier diagnose of atypical neonatal septicemia.

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a common clinical disease causing vision loss. Risk factors such as diabetes, atherosclerosis are closely associated with RVO. Xuesaitong injection is used extensively in clinical treatment of RVO, however the mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of Xuesaitong injection on RVO rat model. Using a compound-target network of Xuesaitong on anti-RVO constructed by literature mining, we aim to elucidate the multi-compound, multi-target effect of Xuesaitong injection. Fifteen potential targets of Xuesaitong injection associated with inflammation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and coagulation were identified in this study. VEGF, IL-1beta and IL-6, three important targets in the compound-target network were further experimentally validated. This study provided experimental evidence for Xuesaitong injection being effective in treating RVO and a network view on its anti-RVO mode of action through a multi-compound and multiple-target mechanism.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retinal Vein Occlusion ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore potency material bases of Xuebijing (XBJ) formula, and to analyze its effects at the molecular network level.

METHODSTotally 16 sepsis-related targets were selected and classified into three categories such as inflammation, immune, and coagulation referring to biological roles. Then molecular database of chemical compositions in XBJ formula were constructed to explore mutual actions with inflammation, immune, and coagulation targets.

RESULTSDanshen root and safflower, with more effector molecules with immune and coagulation targets, have extensive anticoagulation and anti-inflammation effects. The former 10 molecules with better mutual actions with sepsis targets were sequenced as tryptophane, danshensu, gallic acid, salvianolic acid D, protocatechuic acid, salvianolic acid A, danshensu C, vanillic acid, rosmarinic acid, phenylalanine. There existed two phenomena in XBJ formula as follows. One component had stronger actions with multi-targets, for example, danshensu had actions with 13 targets. Meanwhile, different components acted on the same target protein, for example, 8 molecules acted with MD-2.

CONCLUSIONXBJ formula had certain potential synergistic effects with sepsis targets, which could provide certain referential roles for findina new type anti-septic drugs.

Caffeic Acids ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gallic Acid ; Hydroxybenzoates ; Inflammation ; Lactates ; Sepsis ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hydrodynamics-mediated RNAi for Mfn2 gene expression in liver and the levels of blood sugar and fat in mice.

METHODSFifty-six male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group (NC, n = 8), negative control group (HK, n = 24) and transfection group (Mfn2, n = 24) according to random digits table. 1.5 ml plasmid (negative control or Mfn2 shRNA, 75mug for each mouse) diluted into phosphate buffered solution (PBS) was injected into the HK and Mfn2 groups mice via hydrodynamic intravascular injection. Mfn2 mRNA and protein expression in hepatic tissue was detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot 24 hours, 72 hours and 120 hours respectively after injection. At the same time, the levels of fasted blood sugar (FBS) and triglyceride (TG) were measured.

RESULTSCompared with HK mice, the expressions of Mfn2 mRNA (1.00+/-0.03 vs 1.14+/-0.07, t = 4.027, P = 0.007; 1.01+/-0.053 vs 1.18+/-0.07, t = 4.234, P = 0.006) and protein (7.81+/-0.80 vs 8.01+/-0.08, t = 2.941, P = 0.042; 8.05+/-0.15 vs 8.56+/-0.014, t = 4.883, P = 0.039) decreased markedly in Mfn2 mice in 72 and 120 hours after injection. In the fasting state, in 24 hours after injection, FBS in Mfn2 group was significantly lower than that in HK group [(2.65+/-0.70 vs 5.28+/-0.82) mmol/L, t = 6.879, P value less than 0.01] and TG was also significantly higher than that in HK group [(1.96+/-0.32 vs 1.12+/-0.16) mmol/L, t = -6.711, P value less than 0.01]. No statistical differences found between the NC and HK groups for FBS and TG (F = 1.412, P = 0.26; F = 2.711, P = 0.14). The plasma glucose level in Mfn2 mice was significantly higher than that in HK mice [(7.23+/-0.82 vs 5.18+/-0.69) mmol/L, t = 2.050, P value less than 0.01; (7.00+/-0.67 vs 6.05+/-0.76) mmol/L, t = 3.57, P = 0.023] in 72 and 120 hours after injection. However, no differences found between the two groups for blood TG [(1.53+/-0.27 vs 1.37+/-0.18) mmol/L, t = 0.160, P = 0.23; (1.84+/-0.30 vs 1.52+/-0.37) mmol/L, t = 0.330, P = 0.503].

CONCLUSIONThe data indicate that hydrodynamics- mediated RNAi for Mfn2 gene can effectively inhibit the expression of target gene in mice liver in 72 and 120 hours after shRNA administration, and the inhibition of hepatic Mfn2 can induce glycometabolic and fat metabolic disorder.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Hydrodynamics ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

Adult ; Choristoma ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Cyst ; Neck ; pathology ; Thymus Gland ; pathology

Objective To explore the reliability of relevant electrocardiogram(ECG) indexes in evaluating isoprenaline(ISO)-induced rat acute ischemic myocardial injury and provide reference for future scientific applications of these models. Methods Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly equally assigned to ten groups according to their body weight: 5,10,20,40,80,160,320,640, 1280 and 2560 μg/kg dose groups. All rats were tail intravenously given corresponding doses of saline diluted isoprenaline according to their body weight. Standard limb Ⅰ , Ⅱ, Ⅲ-lead ECG of all rats were recorded before, immediately after and 1,24,and 72 hour after injection, respectively.Changes of heart rate, T-wave amplitude of Ⅱ -lead and Q-T interval were measured. Results Significant differences were found in heart rates, T-wave amplitudes and Q-T intervals at different time points(F = 15.03,11.28,13.64, all P ＜ 0.01 ), while differences among the ten ISO-dose groups were statistically insignificant (F= 1.45, 1.17,1.09, all P ＞ 0.05). No interaction between observation time and ISO dose was observed on heart rates, T-wave amplitudes and Q-T intervals(F= 0.79,0.82,0.59, all P ＞ 0.05). Immediately after injection of ISO, the heart rates were significantly increased compared with that of pre-injection in all groups(all P ＜ 0.05), of which 320 and 640μg/kg dose groups increased most significantly [(550 ± 47), (521 ± 43)times/min]. T-waves decreased significantly compared with that of pre-injection (all P ＜ 0.01 ), and 20 μg/kg dose and above groups decreased particularly evident, and partly inverted. Q-T intervals of rats in each group were significantly shorter than that of pre-injection(all P ＜ 0.01 ), and 320, 640, 1280 μg/kg groups shortened more pronounced[(0.070 ± 0.006),(0.072 ± 0.005), (0.068 ± 0.005)ms]. One hour after injection, the heart rate of rats in each group decreased,except 320 and 640 μg/kg dose groups[(518 ± 43), (487 ± 36)times/min], which were still higher than that of pre-treatment[(450 ± 40), (448 ± 51 )times/min, all P ＜ 0.05], the rest groups no longer had significant differences (all P ＞ 0.05). ECG T-wave in each group was significantly recovered compared with that of instantly medication (all P＜0.05), and 40 μg/kg dose and above groups recovered more than a big margin, but there were still differences compared with that of pre-treatment (P ＜0.05), while T-waves of 40 μg/kg dose and below groups had returned to the level of pre-treatment. Q-T interval in each group had varying degrees of recovery, except 1280 and 2560 μg/kg dose groups[(0.080 ± 0.004), (0.076 ± 0.011 )ms]which were still less than that of pre-treatment[(0.086 ± 0.007),(0.085 ± 0.006)ms, all P ＜ 0.05], other groups had no significant difference compared with that of pre-treatment (all P ＞ 0.05). Twenty-four hours after injection of ISO, the heart rates of 1280 and 2560 μg/kg dose groups [(389 ± 31 ), (398 ± 23)times/min]decreased significantly compared with that of pre-treatment[(427 ± 43), (438 ±26)times/min, all P ＜ 0.05], while other groups had returned to the level of pre-treatment. Seventy-two hours after injection of ISO, the heart rates, T-wave amplitudes and Q-T intervals of all doses groups had returned to the level of pre-treatment (all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions There has no significant ST segment in the electrocardiogram of rat.Isoprenaline has an exact effect on shortening Q-T interval. T-wave amplitude and Q-T interval can be used as reliable indexes of ECG for assessment of this animal model.

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of short-term occupational lead exposure on the inflammatory response system in blood among workers.

METHODSA total of 255 lead-exposed workers (length of service ≤1 year) at an electronics factory in Dongguan, China (exposure group), as well as 205 managers without any occupational exposure at another factory (control group), were included in the study. Occupational physical examination was done to get peripheral blood counts. The blood lead levels of workers were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The relationship between blood lead and peripheral hemogram was analyzed using SPSS software.

RESULTSThe exposure group had blood lead levels of 0.07∼1.70 µmol/L, falling within the normal range. The leukocyte count, percentage of granulocytes, and absolute value of granulocytes were significantly higher in the exposure group than in the control group, and the results remained unchanged after adjustment for age and sex (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in red blood cell count and hemoglobin value between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONShort-term occupational lead exposure may increase the counts of inflammatory cells in blood, but it has little effect on red blood cells and hemoglobin.

Adult ; Blood Cell Count ; China ; Electronics ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; blood ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Young Adult

A poly-?-glutamic acid producing strain--BLN-2, was isolated from the soybean products. According to the biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA, the strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Using soybeans as culture, the solid-state fermentation conditions of BLN-2 have been studied. The results showed that the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources of BLN-2 were glucose, fructose, NaNO3 and KNO3, respectively. The orthrogonal experiments showed, when the final concentration of the fructose which was added to the soybean culture was 0.5%, the glucose, NaNO3 and KNO3 final concentraion were 2.0%, the production of ?-PGA was the highest--89.05 g/kg. It is 48.42% higher than other comparable soybean medium under the same conditions.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents in the root of Angelica dahurica.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and identified by column chromatography and 1H, 13C NMR data.

RESULTEleven compounds were isolated and identified.

CONCLUSIONSix compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Adenine ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Adenosine ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Angelica ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Water

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of effective part of Gastrodia elata.

METHODThe constituens were isolated by column chromatographies with silica gel and ODS, and identified by NMR, MS spectra.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated and identified.

CONCLUSIONThree compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sulfides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification