Objective To observe the morphological and functional changes of different lung cells in hyperoxia environment.Methods Type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells (AECⅡ) and lung fibroblasts (LFs) of fetal rats with 18 days old were isolated and culturedin vitro, and divided into air group (placed in an atmospheric incubator, and culturing with oxygen volume fraction of 0.21) and hyperoxia group (placed in a high oxygen culture chamber, and culturing with oxygen volume fraction of 0.90). Morphological changes of two kinds of cells were observed under microscope. Cell migration was observed by scratch test. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in cells were detected by flow cytometry.Results After 8 hours of hyperoxia, the volume of AECⅡincreased and the cells were loosely arranged; the clearance of LFs cells was increased and arranged in disorder. Scratch test showed that, compared with air group, the immigration rate of AECⅡ was inhibited at 6 hours hyperoxia [migration rate: (38.67±1.15)％ vs. (58.67±2.31)％,P < 0.01], the immigration rate of LFs was promoted at 12 hours after hyperoxia [migration rate:(55.37±1.50)％ vs. (46.90±1.20)％,P < 0.01]. With the increase of hyperoxia time, intracellular ROS contents of two cells were gradually increased, which were significantly higher than those of the air group (fluorescence intensity:130.67±4.04 vs. 54.67±2.51, 85.00±2.00 vs. 60.33±1.52, bothP < 0.01). Both two kinds of cells showed apoptosis after exposure to high oxygen, the apoptosis rate of AECⅡ at 2 hour exposure were significantly higher than that of air group [(1.93±0.28)％ vs. (1.07±0.11)％,P < 0.05], the apoptosis rate of LFs at 6 hour exposure was significantly higher than that of air group [(1.66±0.09)％ vs. (1.46±0.09)％,P < 0.05].Conclusion High concentration of oxygen can cause poor growth of lung cells, reduce AEC Ⅱ migration level and increase LFs migration, and the production of intracellular ROS eventually leads to apoptosis of lung cells.

The content of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of Panax notoginseng in different productive area was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. HPLC analysis was made on a C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm,5 microm) with acetonitrile and water containing 4.1 g x L(-1) sodium acetate as mobile phase. The detection wavelength was 254 nm. The HPLC method showed good linearity within the range of 0.01 - 1.03 g x L(-1). The average recovery of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng was 101.7% (RSD 1.1%, n = 3) and 97.3% (RSD 0.38%, n = 3), respectively. The contents of GABA in the samples of different productive areas were not significant different, and the average contents of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng were 0.49% and 0.53%. This method was simple and reliable, and it was suitable for the determination of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of P. notoginseng.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo make full use of the plant resources of Panax notoginseng, nutritional compositions and mineral elements were analyzed in aerial part of P. notoginseng from different areas in Yunnan.

METHODUsing the national standard method, water, ash, crude fat, crude fiber, crude protein and mineral elements were determined in aerial part of P. notoginseng from different growing areas.

RESULTResults showed that there were higher contents of crude fiber and crude protein, and lower content of crude fat in the stems and flowers of P. notoginseng. Meanwhile, a large number of mineral elements were determined in two locations of P. notoginseng, and the contents of Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca and Mg were obvious higher among these mineral elements.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that the stems and flowers of P. notoginseng were nutritious and suggested that the aerial part may be utilized as new resources foods.

Flowers ; chemistry ; Nutritive Value ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Trace Elements ; analysis

Abortion, Spontaneous ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Pregnancy ; Uterine Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermatitis, Occupational ; diagnosis ; Eye Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Trichloroethylene ; poisoning ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study changes of left ventricular remodeling (LVR) in hypertension patients with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) of phlegm-dampness syndrome (PDS).

METHODSDoppler ultrasonography data of CAS were observed in 223 hypertension patients with CAS (as the hypertension group, including 119 patients of the PDS group and 104 of the non-PDS group), 81 CAS patients with non-hypertension, and 19 non-hypertension non-CAS patients (as the control group). The difference in the degree of LVR was compared among the above groups.

RESULTSThe left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), inter ventricular septum thickness (IVS), E/A were higher in the hypertension group than in the non-hypertension group (P < 0.05). The left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), stroke volume (SV) were higher in the soft plaque hypertension group and the soft plaque non-hypertension group than in the hard plaque group, the thickening intimal group, and the normal intimal group (P < 0.01 , P < 0.05). The LVEDD, LVESD, and SV were higher, and the ejection fraction (EF) was lower in the PDS hypertension group than in the non-PDS hypertension group (all P < 0.05). Of them, LVEDD, LVESD, and SV were higher in the soft plaque group than in the hard plaque group (P < 0.01), the thickening intimal group (P < 0.01) and the normal intimal group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in PDS hypertension between the soft plaque group and the hard plaque group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe hypertension patients with CAS of PDS might be correlated to LVR, and LVR was more obviously in the soft plaque patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Ventricular Remodeling

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Male

The study investigated the effects of red clover extract (RCE) on mouse T macrophages and lymphocytes in vitro. The cell toxic effect of RCE was estimated by MTT assay. Multiple-fluorescence staining plus flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of RCE on CD69/CD25/CD71 expression of mouse T lymphocytes stimulated by Con A; CFDA-SE staining plus flow cytometry were used to analyze the effect of RCE on proliferation of T lymphocytes activated by Con A; The effect of RCE on nitric oxide (NO) secretion of mouse macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h was assayed by Griess reagent system. We found that RCE had potent anti-inflammatory effects on mice. RCE had little cell toxic effect on mouse lymphocytes and macrophages. RCE strongly inhibited the excessive production of inflammatory mediators (NO, CD69, CD25, CD71), in a dose-dependent manner, like cyclosporine A injection. RCE could inhibit proliferation of CD3+ T lymphocytes. These data suggested that RCE might exhibit anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the activation and proliferation of mouse lymphocytes and the NO secretion of mouse macrophages.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; metabolism ; CD3 Complex ; analysis ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Lectins, C-Type ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Macrophages ; cytology ; secretion ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nitric Oxide ; secretion ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Receptors, Transferrin ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Trifolium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Ganhuang Injection (GHI) on reject reaction of xenograft.

METHODSRT-PCR technique was used to detect the activated relevant gene expression in porcine endothelial cells (PEC), and 51Cr releasing method was used to test the killing and adhesion action of NK cells.

RESULTSThe normal human serum and human NK-92 cell could up-regulate the mRNA expressions of E-selectin and IL-1 alpha gene in PEC, showing the PEC activating action, GHI could inhibit these activated gene expressions. Cyto-toxic experiment showed that GHI could also inhibit the cytotoxicity of NK cell on PEC dose-dependently, which was in accord with its inhibition on adhesive action of NK on PEC.

CONCLUSIONGHI could inhibit not only the PEC activation in hyperacute rejection, but also the function of NK cells in delayed xenograft rejection.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; E-Selectin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship among oxygen concentration, quorum sensing system, type secretion system, and biofilm production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

METHODSA total of 23 clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cultured at different levels of environmental oxygen for three days. Then biofilm mass and alginate were quantified. The expression levels of LasI and RhlI were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The secretion of exoenzyme S was examined by Western blot.

RESULTSBoth the biofilm mass (R=0.455, P=0.000) and alginate (R=0.367, P=0.000) were positively correlated with oxygen concentration. Real time PCR showed that the expression levels of LasI and RhlI were not significantly correlated with oxygen concentration (R=0.025, P=0.794; R=-0.044, P=0.653), the production of biofilm (R=0.001, P=0.990; R=0.011, P=0.909), or alginate(R=0.029, P=0.770; R=0.193, P=0.064). Western blot showed that the optimal oxygen concentration range for exoenzyme S secretion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ranged 10% to 30%.

CONCLUSIONSHyperoxia can promote the production of biofilm and alginate by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Las/Rhl system may not participate in biofilm production at the early stage due to the low bacteria amount. The increased production of biofilm may inhibit the expression of Type Secretion system and thus inhibit bacterial virulence.

Alginates ; metabolism ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; metabolism ; physiology ; Quorum Sensing ; drug effects ; physiology