Objective To observe the effects of chronic arsenic exposure on estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated gene 9 (Ebag9) and estrogen-responsive finger protein (efp) mRNA expression in female rat' s myocardium.Methods Fifty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups according to arsenic (As2O3) concentrations in drinking-water:0.00(control),0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L groups and RT-PCR was used to detect Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression of myocardium at the 32 weeks of experiment.Results Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression levels in 0.00,0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L groups were respectively as follows:0.54 ±0.14,0.52 ± 0.10,0.48 ± 0.24,0.58 ± 0.13,0.45 ± 0.19 and 0.85 ± 0.14,0.86 ± 0.12,0.87 ± 0.09,0.99 ±0.10,0.86 ± 0.19.Compared to the control group,Ebag9 mRNA level of the 0.20 mg/L group was increased,and decreased in other groups,but the difference between two groups was not significant(all P ＞ 0.05).Compared to control group,the efp mRNA level of 0.20 mg/L group increased significantly(P ＜ 0.05),and showed increased tendency in other arsenic groups,but the difference between two groups was not significant (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Ebag9 and efp mRNA expression have changed in myocardium of rats exposed to chronic arsenic.Arsenic may has endocrine disruptor effect to female rat's myocardium.

A total of 152 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from the barks of Eucommia ulmoides in three regions (Lueyang country, Zunyi country, Cili country). Based on morphological characteristics and analysis of ITS sequences, these strains were identified into 8 genera. Thereinto Phomopsis, Diaporthe and Alternaria were common genera to Eucommia barks from different sites. But the dominant genus was different: Alternaria was the dominant genus in the barks from Cili country, and Phomopsis was the dominant genus from Zunyi country, then Diaporthe was the one from Lueyang country. According to the similarity coefficient, the composition of the endophytic fungi was distinctly different between the barks from three sites. The diversity and species richness in Lueyang country and Cili country were found higher than those in Zunyi country. The evenness of endophytic fungi was 0.936 5 in Lueyang county, which was higher than 0.737 1 or 0.641 0 in Cili county or Zunyi county, respectively. After phylogenic analysis and calculating the genetic distances of typical strains belong to Phomopsis and its perfect stage--Diaporthe, there was very high genetic diversity in the two genera from our study. In conclusion, the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi were significant different in Eucommia barks from the three habitats.
DNA, Fungal ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes ; classification ; physiology ; Eucommiaceae ; microbiology ; Fungi ; classification ; genetics ; physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Bark ; microbiology

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins ; Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Checkpoint Kinase 2 ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Grading ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To study the effects of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B)decoy oligodeoxynucleotide(ODN)on the preeclamptic umbilical serum induced expression of precollagen Ⅰ,Ⅲ mRNA and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)in cultured human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMC).Methods Primary cultured HUASMC of normal pregnancy were divided into four groups: group A(HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of normal pregnancy);group B(HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of preeclampsia);group C(HUASMC were transfected with NF-?B cis decoy ODN 48 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia);group D(HUASMC were transfected with NF-?B scramble ODN 24 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia).NF-?B cis decoy ODN and NF-?B scramble ODN were transfected with cationic lipofectamine to the latter two groups,respectively.The proliferation of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and the apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The expression levels of precollagen Ⅰ,Ⅲ mRNA were detected by RT-PCR,the expression levels of TNF-? were detected by western blot.Results(1)The proliferation of group B(0.19?0.02)and group D(0.18?0.03)was significantly increased as compared with those of group A(0.11?0.02)and group C(0.14?20.02)(P0.05).(5)The expression of TNF-? of group B(0.74?0.11),group C(0.36?0.09)and group D(0.79?0.12)were significantly higher than that of group A(0.15?0.03)(P0.05).Conclusions NF-?B cis decoy ODN could down-regulate the proliferation,as well as the expression levels of precollagen and TNF-? of HUASMC induced by umbilical serum of preeclampsia.NF-?B may play an important role in the pathogenesis of placental artery abnormalities in preeclampsia.

AIM To observe the clinical effects of Gushen Antai Pills (Polygoni multiflori Radix,Rehmanniae Radix,Cistanches Herba,etc.) combined with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in treating women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) due to coagulation disorder (prethrombotic state,PTS).METHODS One hundred and twenty-six cases of RSA patients in PTS were randomly assigned to observation group and control group for the treatment of either LMWH combined with Gushen Antai Pills or LMWH.The trial went on during the first twenty weeks of pregnancy.Investigations on total treatment efficiency,coagulation-fibrinolysis indicator levels before and after treatment were conducted,and results of follow-ups were compared as well.RESULTS The total effective rate of 73.0％ in the control group and 87.3％ in the observation group displayed a significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Although the levels of fibrinogen (FIB),D-dimer (D-D) and plasminogen activator inhibitorl (PAIl) were significantly improved (P ＜ 0.05) after the treatment,the observation group was found to be significantly better in performance than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The live birth rate of 69.8％ in the control group and 85.7％ in the observation group also showed to be a significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION Gushen Antai Pills combined with LMWH can improve the thrombotic state and bring forth a higher live birth rate in patients with RSA.

Objective To study the influence of arsenic exposure on menstruation.Methods A cluster sampling method was applied to select the subjects of women aged 10 to 65 from Linhe,Hangjinhouqi and Wuyuan counties in Inner Mongolia in 2004.Drinking water samples were collected to detect arsenic levels,and menstrual related situation was surveyed.The subjects were divided into four groups according to drinking water arsenic concentration:control(≤0.01 mg/L),low(＞ 0.01-0.10 mg/L),moderate(＞ 0.10-0.20 mg/L) and high(＞ 0.20mag/L).Results A total of 602 women were surveyed.There were 83 subjects exposed to arsenic before menarche and their menarche age was (14.37 ± 1.54) years old.There were 90 people exposed to arsenic before menopause and the menopause age was (48.13-0.41) years old.The age of menarche and menopause were positively related to the years of arsenic exposure,and correlation coefficients were 0.268 and 0.278 (all P ＜ 0.05).Compared to control group(14.0％,16/112),menstrual abnormality rate decreased in low(12.1％,21/173) and high dose groups(10.2％,19/186),while increased in the moderate dose group(18.2％,16/88),but the differences were not statistically significant(x2 =3.664,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Long-term arsenic exposure delays the menarche and menopause age,suggesting that arsenic has certain endocrine disruption or estrogen-like effects.

OBJECTIVETo explore the better therapy in the treatment of ganglion.

METHODSNinety cases of ganglion were randomized into a two-way quintuple puncture group, a common quintuple puncture group and a fire needling group, 30 cases in each one. In the two-way quintuple puncture group, the "9-in-1" multiple penetrating needling technique was used. In the common quintuple puncture group, the traditional "5-in-1" multiple penetrating needling technique was applied. In the fire needling group, the traditional multiple fire needling technique was adopted. The treatment was given once a day, 3 treatments made one session and the efficacy was analyzed statistically after 1 session treatment in the three groups.

RESULTSAll of the three therapeutic methods achieved the efficacy on ganglion. The curative rate was 96. 7% (29/30) in the two-way quintuple puncture group, which was better obviously than 66.7% (20/30) in the common quintuple puncture group and 60. 0% (18/30) in the fire needling group (both P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONThe two-way quintuple puncture technique achieves the remarkably superior efficacy on ganglion as compared with the common quintuple puncture technique and fire needling technique.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Ganglion Cysts ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) and hydrocolloid occlusive dressings in the acceleration of epithelialization in excised burn-wounds in rats.

METHODSEach of the anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats (n=28) was subjected to a third-degree burn that covered approximately 10% of the total body surface area. Rats were assigned into four groups: Group I (no irrigation), Group II (irrigation with physiologic saline), Group III (irrigation with EOW) and Group IV (hydrocolloid occlusive dressing after EOW irrigation). Wounds were observed macroscopically until complete epithelialization was present, then the epithelialized wounds were examined microscopically.

RESULTSHealing of the burn wounds was the fastest in Group IV treated with hydrocolloid occlusive dressing together with EOW. Although extensive regenerative epidermis was seen in each Group, the proliferations of lymphocytes and macrophages associated with dense collagen deposition were more extensive in Group II, III and IV than in Group I. These findings were particularly evident in Group III and IV.

CONCLUSIONSWound Healing may be accelerated by applying a hydrocolloid occlusive dressing on burn surfaces after they are cleaned with EOW.

Animals ; Burns ; therapy ; Colloids ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Occlusive Dressings ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Water ; administration & dosage ; Wound Healing

Drug delivery system (DDS) is a novel approach to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumors nowadays. This work was designed to investigate a new micellar delivery system for in vitro reversal of resistant ovarian tumor cells, based on a nonionic triblock copolymer Pluronic P105 and paclitaxel (PTX). The PTX-loaded polymeric micelles (P105/PTX) were prepared by thin film-hydration methods. Based on the results of single factor experiments, the P105/PTX micelle formulation was optimized by employing the central composite design-response surface methodology. The physico-chemical properties of the P105/PTX micelles were characterized, including micelle size, drug loading coefficient, in vitro release behavior, etc. The cytotoxicity of the P105/PTX micelles was assessed against human ovarian tumor cell line, SKOV-3/PTX, by a standard 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl (MTT) assay. In order to understand the possible mechanism of Pluronic effects in resistant tumor cells, cellular uptake study of micellar PTX or Rhodamine-123 (R-123) was also carried out. The results showed that the micelle size was about 24 nm with drug loading coefficient of 1.1% and PTX concentration of 700 microg x mL(-1). The cumulative release amount of PTX from the P105/PTX micelles was only 45.4% in 6 h (P < 0.05) and 79.6% in 24 h, whereas Taxol injection in 6 h released 95.2% PTX. The IC50 values of the P105/PTX micelles and Taxol injection against SKOV-3/PTX were 1.14 and 5.11 microg x mL(-1), and resistance reversion index (RRI) was 9.65 and 2.15, respectively. The micellar PTX or R-123 exhibited a significant increase in cellular uptake in resistant SKOV-3/PTX cells compared with free PTX or R-123. These results indicated that PTX could effectively be solubilized by Pluronic P105 block copolymers via thin film-hydration process and formulation optimization, producing nano-scale polymeric micelles with sustained release property in vitro. The P105/PTX micelles were effectively able to reverse resistance to PTX in SKOV-3/PTX tumor cells compared with Taxol injection or free PTX solution, and the enhanced cytotoxicity in the resistant SKOV-3/PTX cell was related to the improved cellular uptake of PTX by Pluronic P105 copolymers.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Excipients ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Micelles ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Particle Size ; Poloxamer ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of short-term intensive therapy on blood glucose control, BETA-cell function, and blood lipid levels in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODSOut-patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled for intensive treatment with sulfonylureas and metformin for 12 weeks, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated.

RESULTSAfter the intensive treatment, FPG, 2 hPG, and HbA1c decreased significantly (P<0.01); HOMA-IR decreased and HOMA-B increased significantly (P<0.01), and TG, CHOL, LDL decreased significantly (P<0.01) after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONShort-term intensive treatment with glimepiride combined with metformin is safe and effective in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients with HbA1c>9%.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metformin ; therapeutic use ; Sulfonylurea Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome