Body fat of 12 male adults were measured by water displacement me-thod(density method) at every morning for 5 successive days. The standard deviation of single observation was 0.29kg calculated by mean residual lung volume method. It was significantly lower than the value (0.5kg) calculated by the ordinary method (p

Objective To explore the possible mechanism and protective effect of Xuebijing injection (血必净注射液)and dexamethasone on rats with paraquat-induced chronic pulmonary injury.Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups:normal group(n=5),model group(n=5), treatment groups(n=20).In the normal group,normal saline was used,while in the other groups,20% paraquat 80 mg/kg was injected peritoneally for poisoning.After 2 hours of intoxication,low dose Xuebijing injection(1.25 g/kg),high dose Xuebijing injection(2.50 g/kg),dexamethasone(25 mg/kg),high dose Xuebijing injection combined with dexamethasone(combined group)respectively were administered into the four different treatment groups,equal amount of normal saline was given to the normal and model groups,and the treatment continued for 4 days.At 28 days after paraquat injection,5 rats in each group were killed respectively,serum transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)and hydroxyproline(HYP)level in the lung homogenate were measured,and pulmonary coefficient and histological changes were observed.Results In the treatment groups,the levels of serum TGF-?1 and lung tissue HYP,pulmonary coefficient were leas than those of model group,and among the treatment groups,combined group had the best results(all P

Three butylphthalide derivatives were isolated from the Rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong using a series of isolation and purification approaches including macroporous resin, ODS-A column, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. These structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic data (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS and NMR) and identified as (3Z,3aE)-(6R,7R,2'S)-6-hydroxy-7-(2-carboxyl-2-hydroxyethylthio)-3-(2-hydroxybutylidene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-phthalide (1), (3Z,3aZ)-3-butylidene-6,7-dihydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-phthalide 7-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-fructo-furanoside (2) and 3-(3-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-butylidene)-7-hydroxy-phthalide (3).

The cDNA encoding human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 165 (VEGF165) was amplified using RT-PCR from human tonsil tissue and cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+). The recombinant plasmid pcDNA/V was transferred into 293 cells mediated by liposome and the cells stably expressing VEGF were selected under the pressure of G418. ELISA and Western blotting demonstrated that the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA/V was successfully constructed and its corresponding protein could be expressed efficiently in vitro. Chick Charioallantoic Membrane (CAM) bioassay showed that recombinant protein has biological activity of hVEGF. Model rats with acute myocardial ischemia were used to further study the expression of VEGFin vivo. The model rats were divided randomly into three groups: control group, pcDNA3.1 (+) group and pcDNA/V group. 50microL naked plasmid DNA or saline was intramyocardially injected at three sites into the border zone of infarction. The hearts of rats were excised and fixed histologically, then the infarction sizes were studied by immunohistochemical staining and electron microscope after four weeks. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF appeared to be negative in control and pcDNA3.1 (+) groups. In pcDNA/V group, myocardial cells in infarction border zone showed positive staining for VEGF in cytoplasm. Ultrastructural anaylsis showed that there were visible hyperplasia of vascular endothilium in pcDNA/V group. The control and pcDNA3.1 (+) groups showed less capillary hyperplasia. In this study, VEGF165 gene was successfully cloned and its protein expressed in vitro and in vivo was of bioactivity, which provides a basis for the further study of biological functions of human VEGF.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Chickens ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; blood supply ; Disease Models, Animal ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To discover the treatment rules of rhinitis and its complications with or without Chinese and Western drugs using the text mining technology. Methods The treatment rules of rhinitis and its complication were discovered using Chinese text words, data cleaning, word frequency and correlation analysis respectively with CNKI-covered papers and doctors-patients interactive forum data as the sources. Results The rhinitis received Western drug therapy, traditional Chinese medicine therapy, traditional Chinese medicine preparation therapy and non-drug therapy respectively . Xanthium was often used as a folk prescription for rhinitis, Jade Screen Powder was used as an important traditional Chinese medicine reparation for rhinitis, acu-puncture and massage were used as non-drug therapies for rhinitis, immune therapy and desensitization therapy were recommended, normal saline was usually used as an adju-vant therapy. Combined traditional Chinese medicine and Western drug therapy was advised at present. The incidence of nasosinusitis was the highest, followed by that of trachi-tis, pharyngitis, tympanitis, pneumonia, etc. Their symp-toms were different and were thus treated with different drugs. Conclusion The treatment rules of rhinitis and its complication can provide reference for drug selection and basic research, verify the usability of medical network da-ta and the feasibility of text mining.

This study discusses the effects of Shenlian extracts (SL) on M1 macrophages in atherosclerosis. The MTT assay was used to detect the growth inhibition rates of RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with murine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce M1 macrophages. The different concentrations of SL extracts (high-dose 50 mg x L(-1), moderate-dose 25 mg x L(-1), low-dose 12.5 mg x L(-1)) were added. The CD86 of M1 macrophages in cell membrane was measured by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of iNOS and TNF-alpha gene was detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). And the supernatants were collected, the content of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were detected with ELISA kits. The results of this experiment show that the expression of the cell membrane molecule CD86, iNOS and TNF-alpha gene, the content of IL-6 and TNF-alpha was obviously increased in M1 macrophages by IFN-gamma and LPS. The different doses of SL extract could reduce the expression of the above indicators. The above experimental results demonstrate that IFN-gamma combined LPS can induce RAW264.7 cell to type into M1 macrophages, and SL extracts can inhibit M1 macrophages.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Shape ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; immunology ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVESeveral cryoprotectants were employed to study the protective effect on the freeze-drying process of the oleanolic acid-loaded nanosuspensions (OLA-LS) in order to select the optimum formulation.

METHODThe protective effect was evaluated by measuring the mean particle size of samples before and after freeze-drying process.

RESULTSucrose with the concentration of 10% was selected as the optimum cryoprotectant. The average size of excellent sample was 236.3 nm (versus 211.2 nm of fresh one), and a much higher polydispersity index of 0.242 (versus 0.180).

CONCLUSIONThe optimum lyophilized powder could be obtained with suitable type of cryoprotectant with appropriate concentration and proper freeze-drying conditions.

Cryoprotective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Stability ; Freeze Drying ; methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Oleanolic Acid ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Solubility ; drug effects ; Sucrose ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Suspensions

OBJECTIVETo observe the association between adiponectin and small dense low-density lipoprotein (sLDL-c) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Furthermore, we sought to determine the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs1501299 (+276G/T), rs266729 (-11365C/G) and the incidence of CAD.

METHODSConsecutive subjects with chest discomfort were examined by coronary angiography and divided into non-CAD [n = 250, 147 male, mean age (60.26 ± 7.52) years] and CAD [n = 267, 153 male, mean age (60.79 ± 9.63) years] groups. Blood samples were collected from all participants following an overnight fasting for at least 12 hours. Plasma adiponectin levels were measured by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum levels of sLDL-C and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were determined by ELISA. Genotypes in rs1501299 and rs266729 of the adiponectin were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS1. The adiponectin levels were significantly lower [(306.17 ± 74.52) mg/L vs. (321.78 ± 86.28) mg/L], whereas sLDL-C and ox-LDL levels were significantly higher [(276.30 ± 45.55) ng/L vs. (249.00 ± 32.02) ng/L and (545.06 ± 115.46) µg/L vs. (497.74 ± 106.09) µg/L, P < 0.05] in CAD group than non-CAD group. 2. Adiponectin level was negatively associated with sLDL-C, whereas sLDL-C positively correlated with ox-LDL in all subjects. 3. Genotype distribution and allele frequencies of rs1501299 and rs266729 were similar between CAD and non-CAD subjects and not related to the serum levels of adiponectin, sLDL-C and ox-LDL.

CONCLUSIONSReduced adiponectin and increased sLDL-C were independent risk factors for coronary artery disease. Genetic polymorphisms in rs1501299 and rs266729 were not linked with coronary artery disease.

Adiponectin ; blood ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors

Objective:To study the expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in simple and radiation-combined wound healing and their effects on the healing process and tissue remodeling. Methods: A rat model of radiation-combined wound healing was used. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed which enabled the detection of MMP1 and TIMP1 expression in the healing process. Ultrastructural changes were observed with transmission EM. Results: The wound healing process was impaired and delayed. In rats receiving 25 Gy of gamma ray locally the irradiated wounds healed 6 days later than non-irradiated controls. The following changes in MMP1 and TIMP1 expression were found: (1) In the early inflammatory phase and in the period of granulation tissue formation, MMP1 expression in the newly-formed epidermis of irradiated wounds approximated that in the controls. Later, the epidermal expression of MMP1 in radiation wounds was comparatively increased with the delay of the healing process.On days 3 to 14 after wounding, TIMP1 was weakly positive in the proliferating keratinocytes of control wounds and became negative after epidermal covering, whereas no or only slight epidermal expression was detected in radiation wounds before epidermal covering.(2)MMP1 and TIMP　1 expression in radiation wounds was markedlydecreased in fibroblasts　, endotheliocytes and macrophages as compared with the controls. The expression phase was prolonged due to the delay of the healing process.Conclusions:The reduced expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in granulation tissue retards such important processes as cell migration, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, thus retarding the healing process. The expression of MMP1 in the newly-formed epidermis may help the process of reepithelialization,but in the late healing period, overexpression of MMP1 and decreased expression of TIMP1 in the epidermis may hinder the establishment of basal membrane and the formation of granulation tissue, and thus affect the matrix remodeling process.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 proteins, and apoptosis in radiation compound wound healing of rats.

METHODSApoptosis, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were estimated by in situ terminal labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTS(1) Changes of the apoptosis in wound healing showed three typical characteristics: early occurrence, high frequency and delayed disappearance after radiation to rats when compared with those of simple wound group, which might be an important reason for radiation-induced delayed wound healing. (2) The expression of Bax protein increased evidently with the increment of apoptosis and showed a good corresponding relationship with the apoptotic frequency in the process of wound healing. While the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased obviously as the apoptosis reached a maximum and showed increasing tendency up to normal level when the apoptosis decreased distinctively.

CONCLUSIONSBax and Bcl-2 proteins play an important role in the apoptotic regulation of radiation compound wound healing in rats.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Female ; Gamma Rays ; Immunohistochemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Skin ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Wound Healing ; genetics ; radiation effects ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein