OBJECTIVETo study the effects of low concentration dopamine(DA) on hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in cultured rat cardiomyocytes as well as the possible molecular mechanisms.

METHODSCultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into the following groups: control group (control), hydrogen peroxide group (H2O2), pretreated with low concentration dopamine ( DA + H2O2), dopamine receptor l(DR1) antagonist group (DR1 + DA + H2O2), dopamine receptor 2(DR2) antagonist group (DR2 + DA + H2O2). The cell apoptosis was then assessed by MTT and flow cytometry. The cellular ultrastructure changes were observed by transmission electron micro- scope. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH )and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in cell medium was analyzed by colorimetry. The protein expressions of Cytochrone c, Caspase 3 and Caspase 9 were obtained by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with hydrogen peroxide group, low concentration dopamine(10 µmol/L) decreased the apoptosis rate and the expression of protein of apoptosis related protein, enhanced SOD activity, decreased LDH activity. DR1 antagonist SCH-23390 treatment inhibited dopamine induced cardiac protective effect. DR2 antagonist haloperido treatment had no changes compared with dopamine group.

CONCLUSIONAbove findings indicate that low concentration dopanine inhibits apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, which is partly associated with the activation of DR1.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Benzazepines ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dopamine ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Dopamine D1 ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

This study is to investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Uygur medicine bugloss (BTF) on rats with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and to explore the mechanisms by which it acts. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in rats was occluded for 30 min followed by 4 h reperfusion. Meanwhile, BTF dissolved in saline was administered intraperitoneally at dosage of 10, 30 and 50 mg x kg(-1). Electrocardiograph, infarction index, serum myocardial enzymes and heart function were determined to evaluate the effect of BTF. Some other observations were carried out to explore whether inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis is involved in the mechanisms underlying BTF. Our results showed that in ischemia/reperfusion injured rats BTF could dose-dependently reduce myocardial infarction index and myocardial enzyme leakage, and enhance heart function, indicating that it possesses significant cardio protection. ELISA analysis showed that BTF could decrease the content of myocardial inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Western-blotting confirmed that BTF could increase the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and reduce the expression of proapoptosis protein Bax. Further more, the phosphorylation level of PI3K and Akt was upregulated by BTF treatment. BTF can protect rat against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Anti-inflammation and inhibition of apoptosis through upregulating PI3K/Akt signal pathway may contribute to the protective effect of BTF.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Boraginaceae ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heart ; Interleukin-6 ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Myocardium ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; Protective Agents ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

Introduction：Neonatal tetanus is a major cause of neonatal mortality in many developing countries and remains a major public health problem. This study aimed to determine risk factors associated with neonatal tetanus in Wenzhou, China.Methodology：Medical records of neonatal tetanus cases from 17 hospitals over a 13-year period (2000–2012) were reviewed for potential risk factors. Controls were selected from neonates with diseases other than tetanus who were admitted to the same facility during the same period. The potential risk factors of the neonatal tetanus group were compared with the control group using univariate analysis and an unconditional logistic regression model.Results：A total of 246 neonates with tetanus and 257 controls were included in this study. Univariate analysis showed that having untrained birth attendants, home delivery, an unsterile method of delivery and being a migrant to Wenzhou were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of having an untrained birth attendant, home delivery and an unsterile method of delivery were significantly higher in the tetanus group than the control group (odds ratio: 1371.0; 95% confidence interval: 206.0, 9123.5).Conclusion：This study identified that the main risks of neonatal tetanus in cases from Wenzhou were having an untrained birth attendant, home delivery and an unsterile method of delivery. Preventive measures directed to these risk factors may reduce the occurrence of neonatal tetanus in the studied area.

eiving Solifenacin 5.8% compared to those recei-ving Tolterodine 10.4%(P<0.05). Conclusion Solifenacin could be the safer and effective drug in the treatment of OAB patients with main complaints of urinary urgency and urgy incontinence.

OBJECTIVETo study the ultrasonographic and morphologic features of intestinal lymphoma.

METHODSThe ultrasonographic and morphologic features of 19 patients with intestinal lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS All the patients were confirmed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by endoscopy or pathology. Of these 19 cases,the involved locations included ileum(n=14),duodenum(n=3),and ileocecum(n=2). The main sonographic types included mass type(n=12),bowel wall thickening type(n=1),and nonspecific signs(n=6). The mass type was characterized by solid and cystic-solid hypoechoic(including marked hypoechoic)foci,with well-defined margin,and rich blood signals were visible in large masses. The bowel wall thickening type was characterized by the thicking of bowel walls,showing hypoechoic(including marked hypoechoic),along with posterior acoustic enhancement. The nonspecific signs included e.g. dilatation of intestine and mesenteric lymph node enlargement. Morphologically,the tumor was featured by intestinal mass in intestinal mucosa or the circumferential thickening of intestinal wall.

CONCLUSIONSmall intestinal lymphoma has typical ultrasonographic features,and ultrasonography can provide useful information in the diagnosis of small intestinal lymphoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Intestine, Small ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lymphoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo find out the rate of repeated induced abortion among unmarried abortion women and to study the relevant risk factors.

METHODSFrom July to September 2005, we used the method of hospital based descriptive epidemiological study to investigate 2295 abortion women below 25 years of age in Beijing, Shanghai and Zhengzhou. Case-control study was used as the method. We considered the women with history of repeated abortion as case group (736 women) and considered the women without history of repeated abortion as control group (1559 women).

RESULTSThe mean age of respondents was 21.92 years with minimal age as 15 years. 17.2 % aborted women aged below 20 years with 32. 1% of them were ever having a history of previous induced abortion. Among 736 women with repeated abortion, 75.3 % of them had one time of induced abortion previously, 18.1% having two times, 4.2% having 3 times, 13 women having 4 times and 4 women having 5 times and one even with the maximum of having 8 times of previous abortion. In comparison with control group, the case group had higher rate among women whose first sex was below 18 years (16.2% vs. 9.4% , P<0.01). There were higher rates of women under following conditions: having exposed to sexual behavior for more than 3 years (33.6% vs. 6.6 % , P<0.01), having cohabited with male partner for over 1 year (64.6% vs. 23.9%, P <0.01), having regular sexual life (48.5 % vs. 37. 1%, P < 0.05), having multiple sexual partners (36.0% vs. 15.0%,P<0.01) having unwanted sex (6.0% vs. 3.9%, P<0.05), whose current pregnancy resulted from contraceptive failure (39.3% vs. 31.6%, P< 0.01), having a history of high-risk abortion (30.8% vs. 3.1%, P< 0.01) etc. In comparison with the control group, the case group showed higher rates of male partners not supporting this induced abortion, male partner not participating in decision-making on abortion and male partner not accompanying the female partners to seek for abortion service (rates of the three major factors in case group and in control group were 10.3% vs. 5.9%, P< 0.01, 30.3% vs. 24.0%, and 27.5% vs. 23.5%, P<0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe rate of repeated induced abortion among unmarried abortion women was relatively high. The risk factors for females would include: younger age of sex debut, longer duration from the beginning of first sex to the current abortion, cohabitation, regular sexual life, multiple sexual partners, unwanted sex, contraceptive failure and high risk induced abortion. Meanwhile, unmarried but repeated abortion was related to the differences of gender between males and females and male partner's concern on induced abortion.

Abortion, Induced ; statistics & numerical data ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy in Adolescence ; Pregnancy, Unwanted ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Sexual Behavior ; Single Person ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of incorporating three different zinc oxide (ZnO) on the antibacterial activity of composite resin.

METHODSThe minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of nano-ZnO, tetrapod-like zinc oxide whiskers (T-ZnOw), micro-ZnO against Streptococcus mutans were examined by the broth dilution test. Then the three different ZnO were added to the powder of one kind of bicomponent self-cured composite resin at 5% respectively, and the antibacterial activities of the resin specimens were evaluated using the membrane covering method before and after 3-month accelerating aging.

RESULTSThe MIC values of the three different ZnO against Streptococcus mutans were 78.13, 312.50 and 1 250.00 microg/mL respectively and the MBC values were 156.25, 625.00, 1,250.00 microg/mL respectively. The antibacterial ratios of the resin specimens incorporating with 5% of the three different ZnO were (93.58+/-5.95)%, (89.42+/-4.11)% and (78.97+/-3.90)% respectively, while after 3-month accelerating aging those were (89.01+/-7.91)%, (84.63+/-4.72)% and (72.27+/-3.89)%.

CONCLUSIONThe three different ZnO could improve the antibacterial activity of the composite resin. The nano-ZnO exhibit the strongest antibacterial activity, while the micro-ZnO weakest. The T-ZnOw presents comparatively strong antibacterial activity although with smaller specific surface area.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Composite Resins ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Streptococcus mutans ; Zinc Oxide

Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; blood ; drug therapy

Objective To explore the effects of Sishen Pills on Ghrelin-CaM-MLCK signaling pathway with sinuses ventriculi in diarrhea rats of yang deficieney of spleen and kidney; To discuss its mechanism of action. Methods A model rats with diarrhea model of yang deficieney of spleen and kidney was established by treated with intragastric administration of adenine and Senna water decoction to replicate. 72 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive medicine group, Sishen Pills high-, medium- and low-dose groups, with 12 rats in each group. Each medication group was given relevant medicine for gavage, for 14 days. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of Ghrelin and GHSR, CaM, and MLCK protein in the sinuses ventriculi. Results In the model group, Ghrelin, GHSR, CaM and MLCK protein expressions of the sinuses ventriculi significantly increased (P<0.01). In each medication group, protein expression of the indexes was lower than the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The Sishen Pills high-dose group was particularly obvious. Conclusion The effect of Sishen Pills on diarrhea model rats of yang deficieney of spleen and kidney may be associated with regulation of index protein expression in Ghrelin-CaM-MLCK signaling pathway.

AIMTo investigate the effect of cold, partial sleep deprivation, partial sleep deprivation plus cold on blood routine parameters and erythrocyte sedimentation rate of mice.

METHODSTwenty-four Mus musculus mice were divided into four groups (n=6) randomly: (1) control, (2) cold group: mice were treated with (10 +/- 2) degrees C cold stimulation for four hours per day, (3) partial sleep deprivation group: mice were deprived sleep from 18:00 to 9:00 next day, (4) partial sleep deprivation plus cold group: mice were treated with cold stimulation based on partial sleep deprivation. After four days treatment, the mice were sacrificed and the blood was collected to detect the blood routine parameters and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

RESULTSCompared with the control, cold stimulation would increase the contents and proportion of lymphocyte significantly. Partial sleep deprivation would decrease the white blood cell contents, lymphocyte contents and lymphocyte proportion significantly. After treated with cold stimulation plus partial sleep deprivation, the white blood cell and lymphocyte contents decreased and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased evidently compared with other three groups.

CONCLUSIONPartial sleep deprivation could inhibit immune function of the mice. When the mice were treated with cold stimulation plus partial sleep deprivation, the immune function of the mice would be inhibited further more and at the same time the erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased significantly.

Animals ; Blood Sedimentation ; Cold Temperature ; adverse effects ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation ; Sleep Deprivation ; blood ; physiopathology ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology