Objective To determine the cardiac structure and function by transthoracic highfrequency ultrasonography in Wistar rats, and to explore the patterns of age-related changes.Methods Male Wistar rats aged 1, 2, 5, 12, and 20 months (n= 12 each group) underwent transthoracic echocardiographic analysis to examine the parameters of cardiac structure and function.Finally, the rats were sacrificed and the left ventricles were weighed. Results The left atrial dimension (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), interventricular septum thickness at diastole (IVSD), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWd) and left ventricular mass (LVM) increased with age (all P ＜ 0.05 ) . There was a positive relationship between echocardiographic value and the autopsy weight LVM (r=0. 78, P＜0.01). There were no statistical significances in ejection fraction and fractional shortening among groups (all P＞0.05). Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) prolonged with age (P＜0. 01). After 2 month-old, tissue Doppler imaging Ea gradually decreased with age, Aa tended to increase with age. Ea/Aa ratio was more than 1 value in 1-, 2- and 5-months-old group, and it was less than 1 value in 12-, and 20-month-old group.Multivariate analysis showed that age was the influence factor of LAD, LVEDd and Ea. Conclusions Transthoracic high-frequency ultrasonography can be used to evaluate cardiac structure and function in rats; In aged rats, the wall-thickness, LAD and LVEDd are significantly increased. There is no significant change in systolic function, but diastolic function is decreased.

In this study, the regulatory effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), as well as the role of interferon γ (IFN-γ), has been discussed using both in vitro and in vivo animal models. ESCC murine model was established according to the standard operating procedures (SOP) of Animal Experiment Center of Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The expression of PD-L1 in esophageal tissues of murine models was analyzed using the microarray assay. Then, the results were verified by qRT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, the molecular mechanism was explored in KYSE180 and KYSE510 ESCC cells in vitro. The results showed that CGA could suppress the expression of PD-L1 in tumor tissues in murine models significantly, rather than the expression in KYSE180 and KYSE510 ESCC cells in vitro. However, after the pretreatment of IFN-γ, the expression of PD-L1 was significantly increased, then it was down-regulated by CGA in both dose- and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, the expression of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), an upstream regulatory factor of PD-L1, was suppressed by CGA in both KYSE180 and KYSE510 pretreated with IFN-γ, which was consistent with the expression of PD-L1. These results indicate that CGA down-regulates the expression of PD-L1 in ESCC via IFN-γ-IRF1 signaling pathway, providing the molecular theoretical basis for exploration of new treatment of ESCC.

Objective To investigate the effect of 1 800 MHz electromagnetic radiation on activity of SOD and GSH－Px in the skin tissues of SD rats.Methods A total of 98 healthy SD rats with SPF level,aged 4 weeks, were randomly divided into radiation group and control group.The radiation group was totally exposed under 1 800 MHz electromagnetic wave with seven different power density of radiation of 0.1 mW/cm2,0.3 mW/cm2,0.5 mW/cm2 , 0.7 mW/cm2, 0.9 mW/cm2, 1.0 mW/cm2and 1.2 mW/cm2respectively.It lasted 21 days and for a period of 12 hours a day. After radiation,the activity of SOD and GSH－Px in the skin tissues were detected by enzyme marker. Results In radiation group,the activity of SOD and GSH－Px in the skin tissues of SD rats were decreased under 0.3 mW/cm2and 0.5 mW/cm21 800 MHz electromagnetic wave. Compared with the control group, there was a significantly difference in radiation group (P＜0.05) .While under other four 1 800 MHz electromagnetic waves, the activity of GSH－Px and SOD in the skin tissues showed no statistical difference between the two groups (P＞0.05) . Under 1 mW/cm21 800 MHz electromagnetic wave, the activity of GSH－Px showed no statistical difference between two groups (P＞0.05) . Conclusion The power density of 0.3 mW/cm2and 0.5 mW/cm21 800 MHz electromagnetic wave can reduce the activity of GSH－Px and SOD in the skin tissues of rats.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of T-614 in treating rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods Two hundred and eighty patients with active RA were randomly allocated to 3 groups:T-614 50 mg each day,25 mg each day or placebo.Clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed at baseline,2,4,6,12, 18 and 24 weeks.Results The ACR response rate was significantly higher in the T-614 treatment group com- pared with the placebo group during the first 6 weeks.After 24 weeks,25 mg/d,50 mg/d dosage group and the placebo group showed 39.1%,61.3% and 24.2% in ACR20,23.9%,31.2% and 7.4% in ACR50 respectively.A time-response in ACR response after 24 weeks was observed,with clear superiority of the 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d dosage groups compared to the placebo,and 50 mg/d dosage group compared to 25 mg/d dosage group(P

Objective To study the level of serum lipids and body-fat content of high-fat diet induced pbesity rats(DIO).explore the relationship between intracellular caleium and ventrieufar arrhythmia.Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were divided into control group(15)and experiment group(45),high-fat diet was administrated for 12 weeks to established obesity model,15 rats were selected into obesity group according to their body weight gain.The standard 2-lead electrocardiograph was used to detect the incidence and scores of arrhythmia induced by barium chloride(BaCl2,0.1 mg/kg)for 1 hour on every 8 rats from different groups respectively.Body-fat content.the level of serum total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipopmtein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipopmtein cholesterol (HDL-C)were measured.The epididymal(EP),retroperitoneal (RE) and mesenteric(ME)white adipose pads was measured to obtain the body fat content.Single ventricular myrocytes of rats were isolated by enzymatic dissociation.The confocal laser scanning microscope was used to record basic intraceUular calcium level([Ca2+]i).Results The body-fat content in obesity group[(7.71±0.74)%] was significantly higher than control group[(4.69±0.37)%](t＝3.650,P＜0.05).The level of serum TC,TGand LDL-C were significantly higher(t＝3.801,2.778,3.536.P＜0.05) in obesity group[(1.26±0.04),(0.58±0.10),(0.51±0.04)mmol/L]than those in control group[(0.92±0.08),(0.29+0.03),(0.31±0.04) mmol/L].The level of serum HDL-C wa8 decreased gradually from control group[(0.53±0.05)mmol/L] toobesity group[(0.52±0.02)mmol/L],but there waft no significant difference between them(t＝0.186,P＞0.05).The incidence of arrhythmia induced by BaCl2(0.1 mg/kg)in obesity group was significantly higher than controlgroup(X2＝5.333,P＜0.05),and the scores of arrhythmla was increased in obesity group(2.5±0.6)too.The fluorescence intensity standing for[Ca2+]i was increased significantly(t＝2.409,P＜0.05)from obesity group(247.96±20.03)to control group (174.25±23.13).Conclusion As the free cytosolic calcium begin to accumulate,the arrhythmia morbidity is increased in obesity rats.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Bushen Wenyang Huayu Recipe (BWHR) on hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), proline hydroxylase2 (PHD2), von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL) suppressor gene expressions in endometriosis (EM) rats with Shen yang deficiency blood stasis syndrome (SYDBSS), and to explore the pathogenesis of EM and the mechanism of BWHR for treating EM.

METHODSTotally 50 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the blank control group, the sham-operation group, the model group, the Chinese medicine (CM) group, and the Western medicine (WM) group, 10 in each group. Rats in the blank control group and the sham-operation group were fed routinely. Rats in the rest 3 groups received 30-day "extended refrigerator freezing and ice water immersion" and combined with " autotransplantation" to establish EM rat model with SYDBSS. One Milliliter BWHR at 3.33 g/mL was administered to rats in the CM group by gastrogavage. Gestrinone at the daily dose of 0. 5 mg/kg was administered to rats in the WM group by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the model group, the blank control group, and the sham-operation group. The size and morphology of ectopic foci in rats were observed after 4 weeks of medication. Expressions of serum CA125, plasma cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were detected by radioimmunoassay. Morphological changes of eutopic endometrium and ectopic tissue were observed under the optical microscope by HE staining. Protein expressions and contents of HIF-lα, PHD2, and VHL were detected by immunohistochemical SABC method and Western blot. mRNA expressions of HIF-1α, PHD2, and VHL were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe ectopic foci grew significantly in the model group. Their volumes were obviously contracted after treated by CM and WM. Compared with the blank control group and the sham-operation group, serum CA125 and plasma cGMP obviously increased, cAMP obviously decreased (P < 0.05); expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all decreased (P < 0.05); mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, levels of CA125 and cGMP obviously decreased; cAMP levels obviously increased, expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all increased, mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all increased in the WM group and the CM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CM group, PHD2 protein contents were higher in the WM group (P < 0.05). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with PHD2 (r = -0.799, P = 0.00). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with VHL (r = -0. 625, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONSBWHR could effectively treat EM. Its mechanism might be associated with reducing contents of HIF-1α, serum CA125, and plasma cGMP, and up-regulating expressions of PHD2, VHL, and cAMP.

Animals ; Cyclic AMP ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endometriosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Proline ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the value of ratio of luteinizing hormone (LH) to folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) in diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) among women with ploycystic ovary (PCO) and to compare the difference of the diagnostic criteria between the Rotterdam Consensus and the Committee for Reproductive and Endocrine in Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.Methods By means of transvaginal Doppler ultrasound, 195 women with PCO were diagnosed in Nanfang Hospital of Reproductive Medicine Center and compare difference of multiple clinical indexes according to Rotterdam consensus and Japan consensus respectively. In the mean time, the ratio of LH/FSH, the level of LH, testosterone (T) and recevier operating characteristic (ROC) curve were explored to on the value of diagnosis of PCOS. Results By Rotterdam consensus, 144 women were diagnosed with PCOS and 51 women were non-PCOS, while 111 were identified as PCOS and 84 were non-PCOS according to Japan consensus. LH/FSH in PCOS and non-PCOS were 1.59 ±0. 84 and 0. 85 ±0. 47 respectively when based on Rotterdam consensus, and this ratio were 1.87 ± 0. 76 in PCOS and 0. 78 ± 0. 39 in non-PCOS based on Japan consensus. When using LH/FSH to diagnosis PCOS by Rotterdam consensus and Japan consensus,areas under ROC curve are 0. 786 and 0. 942, respectively. Conclusions The ratio of LH/FSH ≥ 1 provide the significant value in the diagnosis of PCOS. The criteria of the Committee for Reproductive and Endocrine in Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology is more suitable for Chinese patients.

OBJECTIVETo monitor the biological levels of environmental endocrine disruptors (EDs, phthalates and surfactants) in the umbilical cord blood and maternal blood of low-birth-weight infants.

METHODSAll 30 umbilical cord blood samples and 21 maternal blood samples were collected from low-birth-weight infants. The concentration of four kinds of phthalates (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, DEHP; mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, MEHP; di-ethyl phthalate, DEP; di-n-butyl phthalate, DBP) and two kinds of surfactants (4-nonylphenol, 4-NP; octylphenol, OP) in these blood samples were measured by using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTSThe mean birth weight and birth length of low-birth-weight infants were (2158.48 +/- 125.06) g and (45.36 +/- 2.52) cm, respectively. The concentrations of DEP, MEHP, DBP, DEHP, 4-NP and OP were 18.90, 11.87, 7.67, 8.84, 1.51 and 2. 86 mg/L in maternal blood, and the detective rates were 86.7%, 63.3%, 60.0%, 63.3%, 56.7% and 66.7%, respectively. In umbilical cord blood, the concentrations of those EDs were 11.92, 9.94, 5.71, 5.20, 1.12 and 1.19 mg/L; the detective rates were 86.7%, 63.3%, 60.0%, 63.3%, 56.7% and 66.7%. No matter in maternal blood or in umbilical cord blood, the contents and detective rates of phthalates were higher than the surfactants. The concentration of MEHP was higher than its primer, DEHP. The contents of the target EDs in umbilical cord blood were less than those in the matched maternal blood. The percentages were 47.82% -84.05%.

CONCLUSIONPeople could be exposed to EDs from embryo period. And this should be paid attention by the related departments.

Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; blood ; Endocrine Disruptors ; blood ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; blood ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers ; Surface-Active Agents

Australia ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Occupational Health ; Safety Management ; methods ; organization & administration

BACKGROUND:Hand-foot-mouth disease has become a major public health issue in children in China. In the present prospective study we investigated the clinical characteristics and emergency management of children with severe encephalitis associated with NPE caused by enterovirus 71. METHODS:The study was conducted in 2 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) over a 2-month period. Clinical records were reviewed of critically ill children with severe encephalitis associated with NPE caused by EV71 who were admitted to PICUs during the period of May to June 2008 in Fuyang. RESULTS:We reviewed the complete records of 36 children, of whom 23 (63.9％) were male and 13 (36.1％) female. Their age ranged from 4 to 48 months, with an average of 15.8 months. Al children except one were under 3 years of age. The overal mortality in these children was 19.4％. The average duration of critical life threatening signs and symptoms was 2.1 days (12 hours-5 days). Nervous system diseases included brainstem encephalitis in 27 children (75％), brainstem encephalitis associated with myelitis in 6 children (16.7％), and general encephalitis in 3 chidren (8.3％), respectively. In 12 patients of NPE (33.3％) pink or bloody bubble sputum and asymmetric pulmonary edema or hemorrhage was the primary manifestation but no typical exanthema was observed. Five children died of acute onset of NPE and / or pulmonary hemorrhage with rapid progression of cardiopulmonary failure within hours after admission. Therapeutic management consisted of mechanical ventilation and administration of mannitol, methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and vasoactive drugs, associated with the need of fluid volume resuscitation in 9 (25％) of the 36 children. CONCLUSIONS:In children less than 3 years of age found to be affected by severe EV71 encephalitis associated with NPE, one fifth may die. The major organ systems infected by severe EV71 include the central nervous system, the respiratory system, and the cardiovascular system. Early diagnosis and evaluation, respiratory support, treatment of intracranial hypertension, and mainttenance of function of the cardiovascular system are the most important therapeutic measures.