AIM: To research the development of the content of total saponin in Platycodon grandifloeum(Jacq.) A.DC.and Platycodon grandifloeum(Jacq.) A.DC.var.Hort so that the best harvest time was found. METHODS: Using the methods of cluster analysis and according to the examination method ruled in the 2005 version 〈The People's Republic of China Prarmacopoeia〉,the content of total saponin in Platycodon grandiflorum in different harvest time was compared. RESULTS: Platycodon grandifloeum(Jacq.) A.DC and Platycodongrandifloeum(Jacq.) A.DC.var.Hort respectively on September 20,September 30 are the largest yield and the largest content of total saponin in root,that time is the best harvest time. CONCLUSION: The method is simple,accurate and reliable.

BACKGROUND: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been proved to be related to the occurrence of diabetes, dilated cardiomyopathy and neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, it is closely associated with osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of ER stress on the chondrocyte viability as well as the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis in rats. METHODS: Rat chondrocytes were isolated and cultured, and the ER stress in the rat chondrocytes was by 10 mg/L tunicamycin. The expression levels of ER stress markers C/EBP-homologous protein and 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein were detected by western blot assay, and the proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes were detected by cell counting kit-8 assay and AnnexinV-FITC flow cytometry, respectively. In the in vivo experiment, 15 Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and subjected to anterior cruciate ligament transection and medial meniscectomy to establish an animal model of osteoarthritis. Tunicamycin, tauroursodeoxycholic acid and PBS (blank control group) were respectively injected into the articular cavity, and then the progression of osteoarthritis was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining at 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After addition of tunicamycin, the expression levels of C/EBP-homologous protein and 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein were significantly upregulated, the viability of chondrocytes was decreased gradually, while the apoptotic rate was increased significantly. Results from gross observation and hematoxylin-eosin staining suggested that tunicamycin promoted the progression of osteoarthritis and tauroursodeoxycholic acid delayed the deterioration of cartilage in the rats. These findings indicate that ER stress results in the decreased chondrocyte viability and increased apoptosis, which may be an important pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Additionally, tauroursodeoxycholic acid can effectively alleviate osteoarthritis induced by ER stress.

Objective To explore the application value of magnetic resonance molecular functional imaging diffusion weighted imaging(DWI) in the identification of pancreatic carcinoma and mass-type pancreatitis of animal model.Methods Each 8 cases of laboratory pancreatic head transplantation tumor model,chronic mass-type pancreatitis model and normal rabbits were selected and performed the MR DWI molecular functional imaging,the b values were 333,667,1 000 s/mm2 respectively.The apparent diffusion coefficients(ADC) of pancreatic carcinoma model,mass-type pancreatitis model and normal pancreas under different b values were observed.Then the change situation of ADC values of pancreatic carcinoma model,mass-type pancreatitis model and normal pancreas under different b values and difference of ADC(DADC) was analyzed.Moreover the differences in molecular diffusion,tissue perfusion among various groups were observed.Results Throughout the study period,the mortality rate of pancreatic head transplantation tumor model was 50%;the mass-type pancreatitis model and 8 normal rabbits were normally survival.The ADC value of pancreatic carcinoma under the same b value was significantly lower than that of chronic inflammation and normal pancreas area.The ADC value in each group was decreased with the increase of b value,and there was significant difference in ADC value when the b value was 333 s/mm2(F=6.662,P=0.014),in the pairwise comparison among groups,the difference between pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis (t=6.773,P=0.003) and between pancreatic cancer and normal pancreas(t=5.883,P=0.016) had statistical significance (P<0.05).The b value was increased,DADC was smaller,the difference change of DADC between pancreatic cancer area and chronic pancreatitis mass area,between pancreatic cancer area and normal pancreatic head area had statistical significance (P<0.05).Conclusion Rationally selecting the molecular functional imaging DWI technology of b value can better distinguish pancreatic cancer from mass-type pancreatitis,which may be promoted and applied in the evaluation of animal pancreatic head cancer model.

The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of two different modes of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in developing rat hearts. Postnatal male sprague-Dawley rats (n=72) were divided randomly into 3 groups: intermittent hypoxia at 3 000 m (IHH3000) group, intermittent hypoxia at 5 000 m (IHH5000) group and control group. The isolated hearts were perfused in the Langendorff apparatus, undergoing 30 min of global ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion. Cardiac function, coronary flow and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were recorded at 5 min before ischemia and 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 min during reperfusion, respectively. The heart weight was measured at the end of the experiment. The results showed that: (1) There was no difference in body weight gaining between IHH3000 and control groups. The gain of body weight in IHH5000 group was much lower than that in IHH3000 and control groups (P<0.01). (2) Compared with that in the control group, the recovery of cardiac function in IHH3000 group was enhanced at 60 min after ischemia/reperfusion, coronary flow was increased, and LDH activity was decreased (P<0.05), meaning a cardioprotective effect occurred. There was no significant difference in heart weight between IHH3000 and control groups. In addition, cardiac function restored better in IHH3000 group after 42 d of hypoxic exposure than that after 28 d of hypoxic exposure (P<0.05). (3) Compared with that in the control group, the recovery of cardiac function in IHH5000 group was lower, coronary flow was decreased, and LDH activity was increased (P<0.05). There was a hypertrophy in the right ventricle in IHH5000 group. All changes indicated definitely that a detrimental effect developed in IHH5000 group. The results suggest that proper IHH can protect developing rat hearts against ischemia/reperfusion injury while this effect could be affected by the modes of intermittent hypoxic exposure.
Animals ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Hypoxia ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Protective Agents ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of Compound Xuanju Capsule (CXC) on autoimmune prostatitis in rat models.

METHODSSixty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal number: blank control, low-concentration purified prostate protein (low-conc PPP), low-conc PPP + CXC treatment, high-concentration PPP (hi-con PPP), and hi-conc PPP + CXC treatment. Autoimmune prostatitis models were established by intragastric administration of PPP solution at 15 mg/ml (low concentration) and 80 mg/ml, respectively. At 30 days after modeling, the rats in the blank control and low-conc and hi-conc PPP model groups were treated with normal saline, and those in the other two groups with CXC at a daily dose of 0.068 g/ml. At 30, 45, and 60 days, all the animals were sacrificed for observation of pathological changes in the prostate tissue and determination of the levels of IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-alpha in the serum.

RESULTSCompared with the PPP models, the hi-conc PPP + CXC group showed significantly reduced levels of IL-8 and TNF-alpha in the serum at 45 days ([148.54 +/- 17.23] and [62.14 +/- 5.59] pg/ml vs [100.77 +/- 11.08] and [32.63 +/- 2.91] pg/ml, P < 0.05) and at 60 days ([143.69 +/- 17.28] and [59.38 +/- 5.50] pg/mlvs [95.77 +/-10.53] and [29.63 +/- 2.66] pg/ml, P < 0.05), and so did the low-cone PPP + CXC group at 45 days ([128.47 +/- 12.21] and [40.43 +/- 3.64] pg/ml vs [111.76 +/- 10.07] and [35.44 +/- 3.17] pg/ml, P < 0.05) and at 60 days ([131.07 +/- 10.93] and [43.34 +/- 3.91] pg/ml vs [97.46 +/- 8.75] and [30.44 +/- 2.75] pg/ml, P < 0.05). The serum level of IL-10 was remarkably elevated in the hi-cone PPP + CXC group as compared with that of the PPP models at 45 and 60 days ([189.14 +/- 16.78] and [184.14 +/- 15.89] pg/ml vs [230.48 +/- 29.96] and [248.48 +/- 31.03] pg/ml, P < 0.05), and so was it in low-cone PPP + CXC group ([223.14 +/- 17.87] and [224.14 +/- 17.93] pg/ml vs [231.42 +/- 23.18] and [249.42 +/- 24.97] pg/ml, P < 0.05). Pathological examination revealed morphological damages to the prostate tissue and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the model rats, but no obvious changes in the normal controls. At 15 days of treatment, the rats in the PPP + CXC group showed enlarged prostate glandular cavity, mild proliferation of epithelial cells, no obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells in the interstitial tissue, and a few visible fibrous tissues under the light microscope.

CONCLUSIONCompound Xuanju Capsule is efficacious on autoimmune prostatis in rats by reducing inflammatory changes in the prostate tissue and improving the expression of inflammatory factors.

Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Capsules ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Prostatic Secretory Proteins ; Prostatitis ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo establish a rat model of autoimmune prostatitis using purified prostatic proteins (PPP).

METHODSThirty-six male Wistar rats were randomized into three groups of equal number to receive intramuscular injection of normal saline (normal control group) and PPP at 15 mg/ml (low-concentration group) and 80 mg/ml (high-concentration group). At 4 weeks after modeling, the rats were sacrificed for HE staining of the prostate tissue and examination of the inflammatory factors IL-8 and IL-10 in the serum, immunoglobulins IgA and IgM, and regulatory T cells Th1/Th2.

RESULTSThree rats died in the high-concentration PPP group but none in the low-concentration PPP and normal control groups. Gross observation of the prostate showed increased volume and hard texture of the prostate in the two PPP groups, but no significant change in the normal controls. Pathological examination exhibited morphological damage to the prostatic tissue and inflammatory cellular infiltration in the experimental rats. The serum level of IL-8 was significantly higher in the low- and high-concentration PPP groups ([129.07 +/- 11.48] and [147.58 +/- 17.70] pg/ml) than in the control ([94.12 +/- 7.04] pg/ml) (P < 0.05), while that of IL-10 was remarkably lower in the former two groups ([227.14 +/- 18.19] and [187.14 +/- 16.32] pg/ml) than in the latter ([252.48 +/- 21.72] pg/ml, P < 0.05). The serum level of IgA was markedly elevated in the low- and high-concentration PPP groups as compared with that in the control ([0.25 +/- 0.37] and [0.31 +/- 0.42] vs [0.19 +/- 0.14] mg/ml, P < 0.05), and so was that of IgM ([0.23 +/- 0.41] and [0.34 +/- 0.58 ] vs [0.17 +/- 0.33] mg/ml, P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the levels of regulatory T cells Th1/Th2.

CONCLUSIONBoth low and high concentrations of purified prostatic proteins can be used for the construction of autoimmune prostatitis models in rats, while low concentration is preferable for its advantages of lower mortality of the rats and inducement of more consistent manifestations of autoimmune prostatitis.

Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Prostatic Secretory Proteins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Prostatitis ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of post-treatment PSA kinetics on the prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 114 cases of locally advanced PCa treated by maximal androgen blockade (MAB) combined with brachytherapy, and analyzed the association of the changes in PSA kinetics with the prognosis of the patients.

RESULTSThe median survival time of the patients was 81 (15 - 144) months, with 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of 91. 23%, 78.07% and 68.42% , respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that the baseline PSA level, PSA nadir, the time of PSA decreasing to nadir, PSA doubling time, and the extent of PSA declining were all predictive factors for the survival time of the PCa patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PSA nadir, the time of PSA decreasing to nadir, and the extent of PSA declining were three independent prognostic factors, which prolonged the long-term survival of the patients by 1.7, 3.2 and 6.8 times, respectively.

CONCLUSIONFor locally advanced PCa treated by MAB combined with brachytherapy, PSA nadir <1 micro g/L, the time to nadir <3 months, and the extent of PSA declining >96% are independent prognostic factors.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgens ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Brachytherapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To evaluate the application of phase-contrast (PC) cine MR imaging in monitoring the changes of cranial hemodynamics after trauma.Methods The 2D PC cine MR imaging was performed on 40 patients with cerebral trauma,admitted to our hospital from September 2010 to December 2010 and considered to have changes of cranial hcmodynamics,and 40 healthy volunteers; and the mean flow velocity,peak systolic velocity and time-averaged mean velocity of cranial segment in the jugular vein,carotid artery and vertebral artery were compared.Results The bilateral mean flow velocity in the jugular vein of patient group was significantly higher than that in the healthy volunteers (P＜0.05); and no significant differences were noted in the peak systolic velocity and time-averaged mean velocity of eranial segment in the jugular vein between the 2 groups (P＞0.05).And no obvious differences in the mean flow velocity,peak systolic velocity and time-averaged mean velocity of cranial segment in the carotid artery and vertebral artery were noted between the 2 groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion The 2D PC cine MR imaging can quantitatively monitor the changes of cranial hemodynamic after trauma in prophase,providing evidence for clinical treatment.

OBJECTIVETo determine the Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway in different human prostate cancer cell lines and explore its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human prostate cancer.

METHODSWe detected the expressions of beta-catenin, t-GSK3beta and p-GSK3beta in several prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, C4, C4-2, C4-2B, IF11, IA8, PC-3 and DU145) with different characteristics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by Western blotting.

RESULTSThere were remarkable differences in the expressions of beta-catenin and p-GSK3beta among the cell lines, with beta-catenin and p-GSK3beta highly expressed in LNCaP, C4, C4-2, C4-2B, IF11 and IA8, lowly expressed in PC-3 and DU145, but no difference was observed in the expressions of t-GSK3beta in all the cell lines.

CONCLUSIONThere are differences in the state of the Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway among the cell lines with different characters of EMT.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the possible mechanisms of spermatogenic arrest in severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia induced by supernumerary, ring-neocentric 13q12.3 --> 13q22 chromosome and reciprocal deletion.

METHODSWe performed a genomic-wide high-density oaCGH analysis for a case of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia with abnormal chromosome 13 to characterize the breakpoints of the chromosome involved or the gene deletion caused by the rearrangement. We also conducted a fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis on the germ cells using probes of 13q14/13qter to observe the pairing condition of homologous chromosome 13.

RESULTSWe identified by oaCGH analysis a microdeletion of 4 consecutive probes (A_16_P19757882, A_16_P02744617, A_14_ P108858 and A_16_P02744687 at chr13q12.3: 27979261 --> 28039191) with 59.93 kb between the FLT1 and POMP genes, with no annotated genes in the deleted region. The signals of 13q14 and 13qter were separated from each other in 90% of all the primary spermatocytes examined, indicating the unpairing of homologous chromosome 13 or synapse failure.

CONCLUSIONChromosomal rearrangement-induced spermatogenesis failure is caused by the unpairing of the homologous chromosomes involved in the first meiotic division of germ cells.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; genetics ; Azoospermia ; congenital ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Breakpoints ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Humans ; Male ; Meiosis ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics