Archives ; Humans ; Occupational Health

Animals ; Oocytes ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; physiology ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X ; physiology ; Xenopus laevis

Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health Services

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Rhizoma Coptidis and Cortex Phellodendri,which has a long medical history in China.Recent studies have indicated that berberine has multiple pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory,anti-microorganisms,anti-cancer,cardiac protection,glucose lowering,regulating lipid metabolism and immune suppression.Berberine has been used for the treatment of intestinal infectious diseases for many years.With the continuous progress of the research,it is reported that berberine has many new clinical applications,including treatment of the cardiovascular disease,metabolic syndrome and its complications,cancers,abdominal adhesions and chlamydia trachomatis infection.This review is intended to introduce the role of berberine in various aspects of pharmacological effects,molecular mechanisms and clinical applications.

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of moxibustion at abdominal acupoints for slow transit constipation (STC) due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney. Methods: A total of 52 cases with slow transit constipation in conformity with the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into a control group and an observation group according to their visit order and random digital table, 26 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received routine nursing guide. Besides the same routine nursing guide, patients in the observation group received moxibustion at the abdominal acupoints, once every day. The course of the treatment was 4 weeks in the two groups, and the 3-month follow-up was given after the course was finished, for comparing the clinical symptoms, results of colon transit tests, scores of depression/anxiety scale and nursing satisfaction. Results: The total effective rate was 92.3% in the observation group and 69.2% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups. After the treatment and during the follow-up checks, the scores of Chinese medical symptoms in the two groups were remarkably decreased than those before the treatment (all P<0.01); the scores of the observation group were obviously lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01). The discharge rates of the markers in the two groups were remarkably increased than those at the same time period before the treatment; moreover, the discharge rates of the markers at various time periods were remarkably better in the observation group than those in the control group (P<0.01). SDS and SAS scores were remarkably decreased after the treatment in the two groups (P<0.01). In comparison of SDS score between the two groups after the treatment, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). In comparison of SAS score between the two groups after the treatment, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The nursing satisfaction was 96.2% in the observation group after the treatment, obviously better than that in the control group (73.1%). The recurrence rate was 8.3% in the observation group, remarkably lower than that in the control group (33.3%). Conclusion: Moxibustion at the abdominal acupoints plus routine nursing can remarkably improve the colon transit functions and anxious and depressive emotion in patients with STC, and the therapeutic effects are remarkable. Not only the clinical satisfaction is higher, but the recurrence rate is obviously lower than that of routine nursing.

BackgroundReactive oxygen intermediate products lead to the oxidative injury of cells.Retinal pigment epithelial(RPE) cells produce lots of reactive oxygen intermediate products during the swallow of out disc,but how this procedure cause the persistent oxidative injury of RPE cells is poorly understood.Objective The present study was to evaluate the effect of non-lethal H2 O2 -induced persistent oxidative injury on RPE barrier in vitro.MethodsARPE-19 cell links were inoculated on 96 well plate at the density of 8×104 cells/L and the cell climbing slice of 24 well at the density of 4× 104 cells/L.The cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium,and the cells cultured for 24 hours in free-serum medium were used in the experiment.0-0.6 mmol/L of H2O2 were added into the medium.Cellular viability was assessed using 3- ( 4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl ) -5- ( 3-carboxymethoxyphenyl ) -2- ( 4-sulfophenyl ) 2H-tetrazolium(MTS) assays.Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) was used to detect cell monolayer forming time after cultureinTrsnswellchamber.Thepermeabilityof cellmonolayer was examinedbyrhodamine isothiocyanate-dextran transepithelial flux,and immunofluorescence was used to investigate the distribution of the junction protein zonula occludens (ZO-1).ResultsThe total difference was found in the cell vitality(A490) among the different concentrations of H2 O2 ( F =991.501,P =0.000 ).Compared with 0 mmoL/L H2 O2 group,the A490 values was gradually lowed from 0.20 mmol/L H2O2 group to 0.60 mmol/L H2O2 group (P ＜ 0.05 ).H2O2 at the concentrations of ＞0.20 mmol/L lowed the viability of RPE cells.The TER value was ( 24.9 ± 1.3 ) Ω · cm2 in 11 days,( 17.8± 1.4)Ω · cm2 in 7 days after inoculation on transwell chamber,showing a significant difference between them (t=5.228,P=0.014).RPE formed the stable tight junction on day 15 with the TER value (25.9±0.9 ) Ω · cm2.The leakage amount ( relative fluorescence intensity ) of the dextran was 255.39 ± 16.44 in non-H2 O2 control group,exhibiting a significant lowing in comparison with free-cell blank group (433.08±51.53)( t =12.515,P =0.006 ),and that of H2 O2 group was significant increased in comparison with non-H2 O2 control group ( t =14.412,P=0.005).Immunofluyorescence assay showed intact intercellular ZO-1 junction in non-H2O2 control group,but the breakage of ZO-1 junction was seen in H2O2 group.ConclusionsThe results indicate that non-lethal H2O2 can destroy RPE barrier and further lead to the persistent oxidative injury of RPE cells.

The paper is aimed to study the difference in yield and quality at different harvest time and determine the optimum harvest of planting Gentiana in Ludian traditional harvest period. The authors analyzed the variation in fresh weight, dry weight, dry discount rate, length, diameter, volume and the content of gentiopicroside, loganin acid, alcohol-soluble extract and total ash and made a comprehensive appraisal of yield, appearance quality and intrinsic quality by gray relational distance ideal Comprehensive Evaluation method. The results showed that there is a big difference in yield and quality both 2-year-old and 3-year-old Gentiana harvested in traditional harvest period and the comprehensive evaluation more better when harvested more later. It can be seen, Gentiana harvested the later had a better yield and quality in Ludian traditional harvest period. The harvest of Gentiana can be appropriate delayed depending on the particular circumstances of production.
Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Quality Control ; Time Factors

The Bcl-2 family of proteins play a central role in the control of apoptosis, a fundamental process for both human health and disease, by mitochondrial pathway. PUMA(p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis protein) is one of BH3-only members of Bcl-2 family , its function is to promote cell apoptosis. To obtain BH3 death domain peptide of PUMA and detect its biological activity, the synthesized double-stranded oligomeric nucleotide encoding PUMA-BH3 peptide was cloned into expression vector pTYB2,thus generating a construct of pTYB2-PUMA-BH3 which expressed PUMA-BH3-intein-chitin binding domain fusion protein. Then the recombinant plasmid was transformed into E.coli BL-21 (DE3) and fusion protein was expressed under induction by IPTG. The soluble PUMA-BH3 peptide was purified from chitin affinity chromatography by DTT reduction. Through measuring mitochondria viability(MTT),mitochondria permeability transition(MPT) and the translocation of cytochrome c(Cyt c ) assayed by western blotting, the biological pro-apoptotic activity of PUMA-BH3 peptide was studied. The PUMA-BH3 peptide has the effects on decreasing the mitochondria viability remarkably , inducing mitochondrial swelling and promoting Cyt c releasing from isolated mitochodria . Mitochondrial swelling and the release of Cyt c induced by PUMA-BH3 peptide concerned with the opening of MPT,which can be improved by cyclosporine A(CsA).These results indicated that recombinant PUMA-BH3 peptide might possess pro-apoptosis activity and paved a reasonable way for the study of new apoptosis regulators.

Objective To study the correlation between the coagulation factor Ⅶ (F Ⅶ) and progressive hemorrhage after brain contusion in mice and provide the experimental evidence for the clinical application of recombinant human FⅦa.Methods Twelve male BALB/c mice were given liposomeencapsulated FⅦsiRNA via tail vein at doses of 1,3,5 and 10 mg/kg with 3 mice per dosage.The other 3 mice received equivalent volume of normal saline as controls.Two days after the injection,mice blood sampling was used to detect FⅦ mRNA expression in liver using real-time PCR,level of plasma FⅦ using ELISA method,and activity of plasma FⅦ using chromogenic substrate assay.The optimal dose at which F Ⅶ expression was inhibited was determined.Thirty BALB/c male mice were assigned to two groups (n =15 per group) according to the random number table:FⅦ-suppressing group,mice were injected with FⅦsiRNA at the optimal dose and control group,mice were injected with same volume of negative control vector.The model of brain contusion was established in both groups.Volume of hemorrhage following brain contusion was measured at 3,24 and 72 h postinjury,and hematoma volume at 24 and 48 h postinjury.Results Liposome-encapsulated siRNA delivery down-regulated FⅦ expression in the mouse liver.Level and activity of plasma FⅦ were also reduced significantly.The optimal siRNA dose was 3 mg/kg.At 3,24 and 72 h postinjury,relative volume of brain hemorrhage in FⅦ-suppressing group was 1.46 ± 0.10,1.82 ± 0.23 and 2.28 ± 0.15 respectively,significantly higher than that in control group (1.00 ± 0.25,1.20 ± 0.31 and 1.20 ± 0.22 respectively) (P ＜ 0.05).At 24 and 48 h postinju-ry,volume of hematoma in FⅦ-suppressing group was (6.7 ± 1.5)mm3 and (9.8 ± 1.0) mm3,significantly higher than that in control group [(5.2 ± 1.2) mm3 and (5.5 ± 1.5) mm3] (P ＜0.01).Conclusions Level of FⅦ in vivo relates closely to the progressive hemorrhage of brain contusion in mice.Administration of FⅦ is effective to reduce the incidence of progressive hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The study of cell transplantation to repair injured cardiac muscle and improve cardiac function of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has become a hotspot in recent years. However, the effect of cardiac electrophysiology following transplantation is still unknown.OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of ailogenic implanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on cardiac function, structure and electrophysiology of rabbits with DCM.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized controlled animal trial was performed at Electrophysiology Laboratory of Institute of Pediatrics, Chongqing Medical University between January 2004 and May 2006.MATERIALS: Forty-three New Zealand whiterabbits, weighing 3.0-3.5 kg, irrespective of gender, were selected. Adriamycin was produced by Haizheng Medical Products Company of Zhejiang Province, China, No. 050307. The Ultrasonograph SSD-5000 came from Aloka, Japan, and RM6240 multiplying channel electrophysiolograph of Chengdu Instrument Company was applied.METHODS: All animals were randomized into normal group (n=12), cell transplantation group (n=13), and DCM model group (n=13). Except the normal group, adriamycin was applied to create rabbit DCM model, I mg/kg, twice a week for successive 8 weeks. Bone marrow solution was harvested from the remaining 5 rabbits, and MSCs were isolated, amplified and purified using attachment method. Three weeks after modeling, the MSCs were transplanted into left ventricle anterior wall at four sites in cell transplantation group, model group was injected with matching DMEM/FI2 medium, while the normal group was not given any treatment.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At four weeks postoperatively, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, end systolic dimension,left ventricular ejection fraction, and shortening fraction were monitored by ultrasonograph; the value for monophasic action potential amplitude (MAPA) and the maximum velocity in 0 phase (V,,~), the value for 50% monophasic action potential durations (MAPDs0) and 90% monophasic action potential durations (MAPDg0) were detected by electrophysiolograph. In addition, the cardiac tissues harvested from implanted region were observed by light microscope and electron microscope, and also the expression of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and connexin 43 (Cx43) was detected through immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Of 43 rabbits, 9 rabbits each of the transplantation group died of the acute or chronic toxic effects of Adriamycin, finally, 25 rabbits were included in final analysis. Compared with model group, the end systolic dimension was diminished, and the left ventricular ejection fraction and shortening fraction in cell transplantation group were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05). The MAPDs0 and MAPDgo in cell transplantation group prolonged significantly compared with model group (P ＜ 0.05). In model group,cardiac myocytes appeared mitochondria swelling and hyperplasia, and their sarcomere had different lengths, arranged unevenly,accompanied by abnormal contraction bands. In addition, myolysis was found in parts of myocardium under electron microscope.However, the structural abnormalities in the cell implantation group were less than the DCM model group, and the implanted MSCs could express cTnT and Cx43.CONCLUSION: Allogenic MSCs transplantation can improve cardiac function, lessen structural abnormalities and may inhibit the progression of electrophysiology derangement.