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 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 correlation of the changes in CD8(+)CD28(-) T cell percentage with platelet (PLT) and D-dimer (D-D) levels in patients with multiple injuries (MI).

METHODSTwenty-six patients with MI, 31 with a single injury (SI group) and 26 healthy individuals were examined for peripheral blood CD8(+)CD28(-) T cells and intracellular transformation growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) contents using flow cytometry at 24, 48, and 72 h after the injuries. PLT and D-dimer levels were compared among the 3 groups.

RESULTSCD8(+)CD28(-) T cells, TGF-β1 and IL-10 were significantly higher in MI group than in SI group and healthy control group (P<0.05) without significant differences between the latter 2 groups. The levels of PLT and D-D differed significantly among the 3 groups, the highest in MI group and the lowest in the control group. In MI group, CD8(+)CD28(-) T cells, TGF-β1 and IL-10 significantly increased at 48 h after the injury (P<0.05) but decreased significantly at 72 h (P<0.05) compared with the measurements at 24 h. The levels of PLT and D-D trended to decrease with time after the injuries and showed significant differences among the 3 groups at any of the 3 time points (P<0.05). CD8(+)CD28(-) T cells, TGF-β1 and IL-10 were all positively correlated with the levels of PLT and D-D in MI patients (r>0.70, P<0.05 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSIONIn MI patients, CD8(+)CD28(-) T cell percentage and their cytokines tend to increase early after the injury but decrease significantly at 72 h in close relation with the changes of the coagulation function following the injuries.

CD28 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD8 Antigens ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Multiple Trauma ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

NDRG2, one of the new N-Myc downstream-regulated gene (NDRG) gene families, is believed to be involved in cell growth event. However, the exact function is still unknown. Identification of the tissue or cell types expressing this gene in vivo will provide clues in clarifying its physiological roles. Using RT-PCR and Western blot, we analyzed the expression level of NDRG2 mRNA and protein in human fetal tissues from different gestational ages. The anti-NDRG2 monoclonal antibody, which has been proved to react specifically with NDRG2 protein, was further used to analyze the cellular location of NDRG2 protein in various human fetal tissues by immunohistochemistry. We found that NDRG2 expression was developmentally dynamic, being generally lower in the early stages of development and markedly increasing during the later stages. NDRG2 mRNA and protein distribution were generally consistent in heart and lung. One of the differences was that NDRG2 protein appeared later than mRNA in kidney. Another unmatched expression was found in liver. NDRG2 mRNA appeared later than protein in liver. In human fetal tissues at sixteen and twenty-eight weeks of gestation, NDRG2 protein immunoreactions could be seen in epithelium of small intestine, epithelium of large intestine, superficial layer of epidermis, whisker follicles, epithelium of small bronchus, hepatocytes, cardiac myocytes, thymus corpuscles and epithelium of renal tubule, and the immunoreactions in those tissues from twenty-eight weeks of gestation was stronger than that from sixteen weeks of gestation. In the present study, we demonstrate the expression pattern and cellular location of NDRG2 protein in a large set of human fetal tissues. This is the first demonstration of NDRG2 protein expression in human fetal tissues. Taken together, the results suggest that NDRG2 protein found in a variety of tissues is not a tissue-specific protein, and may play important roles in histogenesis and organogenesis.
Fetus ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tissue Distribution ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism