OBJECTIVETo observe protective effects of Schisandra extract (SE) on embryotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of early pregnant rats exposed to Benzo[a]pyrene (Bap).

METHODSPregnant rat model was prepared using periodic screening cage method. Totally 50 female pregnant SD rats were divided into five groups by randomized block design according to the weight, i.e., the BaP model group, the low dose SE group, the middle dose SE group, the high dose SE group, the normal control group, 10 rats in each group. Rats in the BaP model group were administered with BaP at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in low, middle, and high dose SE groups were administered by gastrogavage with BaP (at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg) plus SE at a daily dose of 40, 200, and 1 000 mg/kg, respectively. Equal volume of olive oil was administered to rats in the normal control group by gastrogavage. All medication was performed for 8 successive days. Changes of rat body weight in each period were observed. The uterus embryonic total quality and ovary quality were measured, and organ index calculated. The number of corpus luteum, the number of embryo implantation, and the number of absorbed embryo were statistically calculated respectively. The implantation rate and the absorbed embryos rate were calculated. Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin β (β-HCG) and progesterone (PROG) were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the weight of 9-day pregnant rats, the number of embryo implantation, the uterus embryonic total index, ovary index, serum levels of β-HCG and PROG all decreased in the Bap model group with significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the Bap model group, body weight, the uterus embryonic total index, and the PROG level increased in 3 dose SE groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Ovary index and serum β-HCG increased in middle and high dose SE groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The number of implantation obviously increased in the high dose SE groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSE could reduce the embryotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of early pregnant rats exposed to Benzo[a]pyrene.

Animals ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Embryo Implantation ; drug effects ; Female ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Uterus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Syk on the VEGF-C expression in breast cancer.

METHODSImmunohistochemical EnVision method was used to detect the protein expression of Syk, NFκB and VEGF-C in breast carcinoma; and the relationship between protein expression of Syk, NFκB, VEGF-C and lymph node metastasis was analysed. MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1(-)-Syk, and the effect of Syk gene on the VEGF-C and NFκB expression was determined.

RESULTSIn the lymph node metastatic group, a lower expression rate of Syk and higher expression rate of VEGF-C and NFκB were detected as compared to the non-metastatic group. The expression of Syk was negatively associated with NFκB (r = -0.448, P = 0.002) and VEGF-C (r = -0.620, P = 0.000) expression, and VEGF-C was associated with the nuclear expression of NFκB (r = 0.310, P = 0.036). Compared with the non-transfected cells, the pcDNA3.1(-)-Syk transfected MDA-MB-231 cells showed significantly lower transcriptional level of VEGF-C mRNA, expression level of VEGF-C protein and NFκB activity (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSyk may play an important role in the lymph node metastasis of breast cancer. It may down-regulate the expression of VEGF-C by inhibiting the activity of NFκB, which thus suppresses lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Syk Kinase ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective: To observe the impact of vareniline tartrate on vascular endothelial function and inlfammatory factor releasing in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with nicotine dependence after smoking withdrawal treatment.
Methods: We recruited the in-hospital ACS patients who were smoking ≥10 cigarettes/day for more than 10 years with at least moderate nicotine dependence, and randomly divided them into 2 groups: Varenicline group, the patients received oral medication for 2 weeks and Self withdrawal group, the patients without medication assistance.n=52 in each group. All patients received (10-30) min daily mission and consulting for quit smoking for 2 weeks. The basic information was recorded and blood levels of NO, IL-6 and ET-1 were compared before and after withdrawal treatment.
Results: Compared with they were before, after 2 weeks withdrawal treatment, in Varenicline group, blood levels of ET-1 decreased as (33.950 ± 1.439) ng/L vs (170.198 ± 12.602) ng/L and IL-6 decreased as (0.103 ± 0.020) ng/L vs (0.307 ± 0.051) ng/L; in Self withdrawal group, ET-1 decreased as (60.795 ±7 .036) ng/L vs (170.511 ± 12.374) ng/L, all P<0.05; while NO levels were similar,P>0.05. After treatment, ET-1 level in Varenicline group (33.950 ± 1.439) ng/L was lower than Self withdrawal group (60.795 ± 7.036) ng/L and IL-6 level in Varenicline group (0.103 ± 0.020) ng/L was also lower than Self withdrawal group (0.258 ± 0.042) ng/L, allP<0.05; while NO levels were similar between 2 groups,P>0.05.
Conclusion: Compared with self withdrawal, varenicline tartrate may effectively inhibit inlfammatory factor releasing in ACS patients with nicotine dependence, and therefore improve the vascular endothelial function.

Objective To explore the clinical value and typing characteristic of prenatal ultrasonography for fetal cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung(CAML).Methods Ultrasonographic features and typing of fetal CAML in 41 cases detected by prenatal ultrasonography were analyzed retrospectively.All cases were followed up until to the induction of labor or birth.Results (1)Site of tumor: in the 41 cases,there were 22 cases on the left side,15 on the right side and 4 on bilateral.(2)Typing diagnosis of prenatal ultrasonography: three cases were CAML type Ⅰ,14 were type Ⅱ,and 24 cases were type Ⅲ.(3)Pathology diagnosis: thirty two cases were induced abortion.CAML was confirmed in 29 cases by autopsy and the classifications were consistent with the prenatal diagnosis of ultrasonography.Three pulmonary sequestration cases were prenatally misdiagnosed as CAML type Ⅲ by ultrasonography.(4)The other nine cases were followed up to birth.Three masses decreased gradually and then disappeared.Six newborns were confirmed as CAML by CT.Their typings were consistent with the postnatal diagnosis.(5)The diagnostic accuracy rate of prenatal ultrasonography for CAML was 92.7%(38/41).Its misdiagnostic rate was 7.3%(3/41).Conclusions Prenatal ultrasonography has a high accuracy rate for the diagnosis and classification of CAML and is the first choice to detect CAML early in pregnancy.It has an important clinical value.Pulmonary sequestration should be distinguished from CAML type Ⅲ because they tend to be confused.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus subtle adjustment manipulation of the cervical spine for peripheral facial paralysis.Methods: A total of 60 patients with peripheral facial paralysis who met the screening criteria were selected and divided into two groups according to the method of random number table, with 30 cases in each group. The patients in the acupuncture plus tuina group received routine treatment of acupuncture and subtle adjustment manipulation of the cervical spine, while the patients in the acupuncture group only received the same acupuncture treatment. Assessment of peripheral facial paralysis with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine was adopted for rehabilitation assessment. Results: The total effective rate of the acupuncture plus tuina group was 93.3％, while that of the acupuncture group was 70.0％, and there was a significant between-group difference (P<0.05). After treatment, the total scores of rehabilitation assessment in both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (both P<0.05), and the score of the acupuncture plus tuina group was significantly higher than that of the acupuncture group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The treatment of acupuncture plus subtle adjustment manipulation of the cervical spine can improve the function of facial muscles in patients with peripheral facial paralysis, and its clinical efficacy is better than that of the acupuncture treatment alone.

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with acute hydrogen chloride gas poisoning.

METHODSWhen the patients were admitted or on the secondary day, the percentages of total T-cell lymphocyte subsets (CD(3)(+)CD(19)(-)), CD(4)(+)T cells (CD(3)(+)CD(4)(+)), CD(8)(+)T cells (CD(3)(+)CD(8)(+)), B cells (CD(3)(-)CD(19)(+)) and NK cells (CD(3)(-)CD(16)(+)CD(56)(+)), and the ration of CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) in 37 cases with acute hydrogen chloride gas poisoning and 49 healthy controls were detected with flow cytometer.

RESULTSThe total T-cell percentage and total CD(4)(+)T cell percentage in 37 cases were significantly lower than those in 47 controls (P < 0.05). The percentages of NK cells and B lymphocytes in 37 cases significantly increased, as compared with controls (P < 0.05). The ration of CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) in 37 cases significantly decreased, as compared with controls (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe lymphocyte subsets in the patients with acute hydrogen chloride gas poisoning changed, which could influence the immune function of patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gas Poisoning ; blood ; Humans ; Hydrochloric Acid ; poisoning ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the roles of macrophage inflammatory protein-1?(MIP-1?)in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE)of newborn infarnts.Methods Serum samples were obtained in 24,72 h and 7 d after birth respectively from 34 newborn infants with HIE,and 20 newborn infants without HIE as control group.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method was used to determine the serum concentrations of MIP-1?.Results Levels of MIP-1? in newborn infants with HIE [(12.47?2.51)ng/L]were significantly higher than that of newborn infants without HIE [(8.63?2.63)ng/L](P0.05).Conclusions MIP-1? are involved in HIE of neonates,and the more severe damage,the higher levels in serum,which suggests that,as an inflammatory mediator,the MIP-1? may play an important role in involvement of brain hypoxic-ischemic damage.

By non-steady method,the effective diffusivity of ferrous sulphate within alginate calcium gel entrapped without bacteria was measured.Meanwhile the oxidation ability of entrapped bacteria was analyzed.Experimental results showed that the effective diffusion coefficient of ferrous sulphate decreased with the increase of alginate concentration,the optimum alginate concentration is 2%(W/V).The effect of calcium chloride on the effective diffusivity was neglectable.The incubation of ferrooxidans would pass through 10 hours,and the diffusion coefficient within gel entrapped Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cells was less remarkably than that of ferrous sulphate without entrapped cells.For the entrapped cells,the absolute oxidation time was shortest and the rate change was fastest with the initial Fe concentration 5g/L.The absolute oxidation time was same when the initial Fe concentration was 8g/L and 10g/L.

CTB protein possessed mucosal adjuvant immunoactivity. The CTB gene was amplified by PCR method from a strain V. cholerae. The nucleotide sequence of CTB gene was 375 bp and shared 96.0%~99.2% homology with other 6 CTB genes. The recombinant plasmid pTWIN1-CTB transformed E. coli strain BL21(DE3) expressed with 0.8 mmol/L IPTG. The molecular weight of expression products was identical with expectative weight by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The CTB fusion proteins mainly assembled inclusion bodies and the outputs of proteins were approximately 20% of the total bacterial proteins. The CTB proteins possessed mucosal immunoactivity by GM1-ELISA assay.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of CKJ Recipe (consisting of Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharide, amygdaloside, and gypenosides) containing serum on the activation of rat primary hepatic stellate cells (rHSCs) and to explore its pharmacological mechanism.

METHODSrHSCs were isolated form liver and cultured for four days. Then they were divided into the normal control group, the model group, and the CKJ group. rHSCs in the model group and the CKJ group were treated with 2.5 ng/mL transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in serum-free DMEM for 24 h. Serum free DMEM (containing no TGF-beta1) was taken as the control for the normal control group. rHSCs in the CKJ group were treated with 5% CKJ-containing serum for 24 h. rHSCs in the other two groups were treated with 5% blank serum for 24 h.The protein expression level of a smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was determined using high throughput screening (HCS) and Western blot. mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, collagen I (Col-I), platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGF-betaR), TGF-beta1, transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-betaR1), and transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGF-beta R2) were detected using quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-betaR1, and TGF-betaR2 significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta R2 significantly decreased in the CKJ group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCKJ containing serum could inhibit the protein expression level of o-SMA, which was probably related with inhibiting TGF-beta1 and its related receptors.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism