OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Tongxinluo (TXL) on myocardial inflammatory reaction and expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in rats with myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODSThe rat MI model was established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Experimental rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the sham operated group, the MI control group and the TXL group (treated by 2.0 g/ kg/day). Conditions of inflammatory cellular infiltration in the infarcted and non-infarcted zone were observed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after MI with histopathological methods, and the expression of TNF-alpha was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSObvious inflammatory cellular infiltration revealed in both infarcted and non-infarcted zone of model rats at 1-2 weeks after MI, it faded away gradually 4 weeks after MI, while the TNF-alpha expression increased continuously after MI. Compared with the MI control, the infiltration was milder and TNF-alpha expression was lower in the TXL group.

CONCLUSIONTXL displays its anti-inflammatory action by way of attenuating the myocardial inflammatory reaction and suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha in MI rats.

Acute-Phase Reaction ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; drug therapy ; Myocarditis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) of fibroblast-like synovial cells in improved adjuvant-induced animal (AIA) model for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to provide evidence for DDR2's antagonist use clinically.

METHODSAIA was modified by administrating 0.1 mL of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, mixed with 5 mg Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine/mL) into rats' right hind paws and 0.125 mL tumor necrosis factor-alpha (2 U/mL) into right ankles and subpatellar fatty tissue. The expression of DDR2 in fibroblast-like synovial cells was assessed using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence histochemistry, and in situ hybridization methods. Levels of anti-collagen II antibody were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSGiven the terms mentioned above, we found a more practical rat model, apparently decreasing immunization time (average 3-5 days). DDR2 can be detected upon the 15th day of immunization; expression gradually increased with time going on, and reaching a peak 35 days after immunization before gradually decreasing. Serum anti-collagen II antibody showed similar expression patterns as DDR2, but reached peak later than DDR2, about 40 days after immunization.

CONCLUSIONRegular expression of DDR2 in animal models infers its important role in the pathological process of RA.

Animals ; Antibodies ; blood ; Arthritis, Experimental ; etiology ; metabolism ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; BCG Vaccine ; Collagen Type II ; immunology ; Discoidin Domain Receptors ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Receptors, Mitogen ; metabolism ; Synovial Fluid ; cytology ; metabolism

The traditional Chinese medicine of Radix Hedysari plays an important role in invigorating gas for as-cending, benefiting blood for promoting production of fluid, and promoting circulation for removing obstruction in collaterals, which is consistent with the principle of treatment for osteoporosis. This study is designed to investigate the bioactive components on increasing peak bone mass (PBM) by exploring the spectrum-effect relationship between chromatography fingerprints and effect. Multiple indicators are selected to evaluate the pharmacological activity. In fingerprints, 21 common peaks are obtained, five of which are identified. Furthermore, gray relational analysis (GRA) is a quantitative method of gray system theory and is used to describe the correlation degree of common peaks and pharmacological activities with relational value. 21 components are then divided into three different regions, of which ononin and calycosin play an extremely significant role in increasing PBM. In addition, factor analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) are used to screen the optimal producing area for Radix Hedysari. This provides a comprehensive and efficient method to improve the quality evaluation of Radix Hedysari, confirming the bioactive components for PBM-enhancement and further develop its medicinal value.

Objective: To observe the inhibitory effect of scopolamine(Spm) and chlopromazine (Clo) on withdrawal syndromes in morphine dependent rats. Methods: The intensity of withdrawal syndromes on the model of morphine dependent rats was recorded after single or muiltiple subcutaneous administration(sc) of Spm and Clo at different doses. Results: Withdrawal syndromes were markedly decreased when single Spm 1 mg/kg and Clo 0.5 mg/kg combined with morphine were injected (P<0.05). Spm+Clo(sc) had much stronger effects on inhibiting withdrawal syndromes after intraperitoneal (ip) naloxone in morphine dependent rats (P<0.01). Conclusion: Spm can act on Ach-receptor and relieve morphine withdrawal syndromes. Clo may have a synergistic action with Spm via α2-receptor in the locus coeruleus of the rat brain stem.

Objective: To observe the inhibitory effect of scopolamine(Spm) and chlopromazine (Clo) on withdrawal syndromes in morphine dependent rats. Methods: The intensity of withdrawal syndromes on the model of morphine dependent rats was recorded after single or muiltiple subcutaneous administration(sc) of Spm and Clo at different doses. Results: Withdrawal syndromes were markedly decreased when single Spm 1 mg/kg and Clo 0.5 mg/kg combined with morphine were injected (P<0.05). Spm+Clo(sc) had much stronger effects on inhibiting withdrawal syndromes after intraperitoneal (ip) naloxone in morphine dependent rats (P<0.01). Conclusion: Spm can act on Ach-receptor and relieve morphine withdrawal syndromes. Clo may have a synergistic action with Spm via α2-receptor in the locus coeruleus of the rat brain stem.

Objective To evaluate serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) before and after lung transplantation for diagnosing acute rejection. Methods Biotin-streptavidin time resolved fluoroimmunoassay (BSA-TRFIA) was used to detect the concentration of serum sICAM-1 before and after lung transplantation in 26 patients. All patients were divided into stable lung transplantation group (n =16), acute rejection group (n =4) and infected group (n =6). The serum level of sICAM-1 in those groups was compared with that of the control group ( n = 30 ) by the non-parametric rank sum test ( KruskalWallis H test). Results No significant difference was found for serum sICAM-1 among the three groups and the control group before operation: (357.07 ± 220.01 ), ( 396. 18 ± 136.25 ), (468.95 ± 85.48 ) μg/L vs(348.63 ±69. 12) μg/L, H=6. 0436, P ＞0.05. However, when rejection and infection happened after operation, the serum sICAM-1 increased in the acute rejection group (455.53 ± 126.51 μg/L) and decreased in the infection group (146.43 ± 327.11 μg/L), and the level in the stable transplantation group was (274.23 ± 157.53 ) μg/L (H = 21. 8994, P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion Serum sICAM-1 level might be a potential marker to differentiate acute rejection from infection after lung transplantation.

Child ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Fibroma, Ossifying ; diagnosis ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo compare the antioxidant active components from two species of chamomile-matricaria and Roman chamomile produced in Xinjiang.

METHODThe TLC-bioautography was used, with 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical as the experimental model. The peak areas of various antioxidant components were obtained by TLC-scanning for analyzing antioxidant active components contained in volatile oil extracts and flavone extracts from the two species of chamomiles. The total peak area was taken as the indicator for comparing the antioxidant capacities of the two types of extracts, and comparing them with the total antioxidant activity of flavone extracts of the two species of chamomiles.

RESULTSAccording to the result of TLC-bioautography in volatile oil extracts from the two species of chamomiles, volatile oil extracts from chamomile showed four white antioxidant spots, including en-yne-dicycloether, and volatile oil extracts from Roman chamomile showed only one white antioxidant spot. The TLC-scanning result showed that the peak area of antioxidant spots of volatile oil extracts from chamomile was significantly larger than that of volatile oil extracts from Roman chamomile. According to the test on the antioxidant activity of the two species of chamomiles with ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, the concentration of chamomile after scavenging 50% of DPPH radicals was 0.66 g x L(-1), whereas the figure for Roman chamomile was 0.33 g x L(-1). According to the result of TLC-bioautography in flavone extracts from the two species of chamomiles, flavone extracts from chamomile showed seven yellowish antioxidant spots, including apigenin and apigenin-7-glucoside, and flavone extracts of Roman chamomile showed eight yellowish antioxidant spots, including apigenin and apigenin-7-glucoside. The TLC-scanning results showed that the peak area of antioxidant spots of flavone extracts from Roman chamomile was significantly larger than that of flavone extracts from chamomile.

CONCLUSIONVolatile oil extracts from the two species of chamomiles have significant difference in the antioxidant activity in TLC-bioautography. Specifically, the antioxidant activity of volatile oil extracts from chamomile is stronger than volatile oil extracts from Roman chamomile; the known antioxidant active components in volatile oil extracts from chamomile is en-yne-dicycloether, while all of the other three antioxidant active components as well as antioxidant active components in volatile oil extracts from Roman chamomile are unknown components and remain to be further determined. Considering the significant difference in the number of antioxidant active spots in volatile oil extracts from the two species of chamomiles, the result can be applied to distinguish the two species of chamomiles. The antioxidant activity determination result for flavone extracts from two species of chamomiles was consistent with the result of TLC-bioautography, showing that flavone extracts from chamomile and Roman chamomile are more antioxidant active, while that of Roman chamomile is stronger than chamomile. Flavone extracts from both of the two species of chamomiles contain apigenin and pigenin-7-glucoside, which are known, while all of the other five antioxidant active components contained in flavone extracts from chamomile and the other six antioxidant active components contained in flavone extracts from Roman chamomile are unknown and remain to be further identified. The method lays a foundation for further identification of antioxidant active components contained in chamomile.

Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Biphenyl Compounds ; metabolism ; Chamaemelum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; methods ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Matricaria ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Picrates ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo establish the median values for second trimester biomarkers in Weihai region, and to assess its value for improving the performance and efficiency of prenatal screening.

METHODSMaternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (Free beta-hCG) were determined for 24 400 pregnant women at 105 to 146 gestational days. A regression equation was derived after adjusting for different gestational ages. The median values were further adjusted with body weight.

RESULTSThe median values of AFP and Free beta-hCG were respectively 6% and 24% higher than those embedded in a 2T software. After adjusting with gestational age and weight, there is a significant difference in multiple of the median (MoM) of serum biomarkers between local population and that embedded in the 2T model.

CONCLUSIONTo establish the median values for different gestational ages for local region may help to improve the efficiency of prenatal screening.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; blood ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentiation of bone marrow stem cells in transplanted livers and its impact on the long-term survival of rats with orthotopic liver transplantation.

METHODSTwenty-four female recipient rats with orthotopic liver transplantation were randomized into blank-control group, D-hanks solution group, bone marrow stem cells group with postoperative infusion of stem cells, and the pathological changes of the liver grafts and survival time of the rats were observed. The differentiation of the bone marrow stem cells were assessed 60 days after transplantation using in situ hybridization histochemistry for Sry gene and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn rats with postoperative infusion of bone marrow stem cells through the portal vein, the median long-term graft survival time exceeded 180 days, significantly longer than that in the other two groups (P<0.05), and no obvious evidence of acute rejection was observed with positive Sry expression and AFP expression.

CONCLUSIONInfusion of bone marrow stem cells through the portal vein following liver transplantation may alleviate acute graft rejection and promote long-term liver graft survival and AFP expression.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Transplantation ; Portal Vein ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar