Objective To explore the influence of the lactation exposure to fluoxetine on offspring's behavior and serotonin transporter (SERT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH). Methods Six SD pregnant rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=3 each group). Experimental maternal rats were intraperitoneally injected with fluoxetine at a dose of 12 mg/kg from postnatal day 5 to 21. The control group were injected with the same amount of normal saline. In infancy, the offspring's weight, hair length, eye opening and auditory development were measured. The free suspension test and bur?ied food pellets test were applied to evaluate the offspring's behaviors. After postnatal day 21, all the offspring were wean. At early childhood (P35d) and adulthood (P75d), 6 offspring rats from each group were executed to examine SERT and TPH in the prefrontal cortex by immunohistochemistry. Results The offspring's weight of experimental group was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). The sensitivity of auditory in experimental group was significantly higher than control group (P<0.01). The time of free suspension in experimental group significantly was decreased comparing to control group (P<0.01). The SERT and TPH in prefrontal cortex was significantly lower in experimental group than those in control group either at childhood (P35d) or at adulthood (P75d) (P<0.05). Conclusion Lactation exposure to fluoxetine re?sults in offspring's abnormal development and behaviors through down-regulation of SERT and TPH in the prefrontal cor?tex.

Objective To investigate the impact of aging and vascular endothelial function on arterial stiff- ness in patients with isolated systolic hypertension.Methods Patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH,n=75)age-matched healthy subjects(n=30)and young healthy subjects(n=50)were submitted to deter- mination of aortic pulse wave velocity(baPWV)and vascular endothelial function evaluated by flow-mediated dila- tion(FMD).Results baPWV was progresively decreased(ISH:2459.2?436.8 vs elderly healthy:2097.2? 315.7 vs young healthy:1619.7?214.2 cm/s,P

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shoutai Pill (STP) containing serum on bioactivity behaviors of trophoblast cells in spontaneous abortion (SA) patients such as cell proliferation, invasion, migration and secretion.

METHODSTrophoblast cells in artificial abortion in normal pregnancy and SA patients were isolated and cultured in vitro, which were then treated with STP containing serum at various concentrations (5%, 10%, 20%, respectively). Blank serum was taken as the normal control group and dydrogesterone containing serum as the dydrogesterone control group. The proliferation, cycle distribution, invasion and migration capacity, and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (p-HCG) level were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetry, flow cytometry (FCM), Transwell experiments, and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the activity of cell proliferation obviously decreased, ratios of apoptotic cells (SubGO/G1) and G2/M phase were obviously elevated, S phase cell ratio was obviously reduced (all P < 0.05). Transwell experiments indicated invasion and migration capacity obviously decreased, secreted beta-HCG level were obviously reduced after 72-h intervention (P < 0.05). Compared with the SA group, the activity of cell proliferation obviously increased, ratios of apoptotic cells and G2/M phase were obviously reduced, S phase cell ratio was obviously elevated, invasion and migration capacity were obviously enhanced, secreted beta-HCG level were obviously elevated after 72-h intervention in the dydrogesterone control group and each STP containing serum group (all P < 0.05). The activity of trophoblastic cell proliferation, S phase cell ratio, invasion and migration capacity, and secreted beta-HCG level were strengthened along with increased STP containing serum. Besides, the effects of 20% STP containing serum group were significantly superior to those of the dydrogesterone control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTP containing serum could dose-dependently enhance the proliferative activity of trophoblastic cells, invasion and migration capacity, secretion of beta-HCG, and reduce the apoptosis of trophoblast cells, which might be one of mechanisms for STP preventing and treating SA.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Dydrogesterone ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblasts ; drug effects

Neurovascular unit (NVU) concept proposed for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) provides a new target, i.e., we should target as an integrity including neurons, glia, and microcirculation, thus supplementing limitations of previous treatment targeting neurons or blood vessels alone. Meanwhile, many clinical trials have failed after NVU protection against AIS drug research has developed at home and abroad. Chinese medicine has multi-component, multi-target, and overall regulation advantages, and is in line with clinical requirement for overall treatment targeting multiple targets of NVU. Currently clinical studies of Chinese medicine treatment of AIS targeting NVU are few. Standardized and systematic clinical efficacy evaluation is lack. Clinical studies for improving AIS-NVU injured blood markers by Chinese medicine are rarer. We hope to pave the way for performing clinical studies on Chinese medicine treatment of AIS targeting NVU.
Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Neurons ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Stroke ; drug therapy

Plasma obestatin level was determined in patients with impaired glucose regulation and type 2 diabetes mellitus.The plasma obestatin levels in patients of both groups were significantly decreased as compared with that in controls.Plasma obestatin level was negatively correlated with body mass index,HbA_(1C),waist-to-hip ratio,plasma insulin and HOMA-IR.Obestatin level seems to be related with metabolic disorder.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) in neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs).

METHODSMouse ESCs were incubated in the ESC conditioned medium, and the formation of embryonic bodies (EBs) were induced in bacteriological dishes using high-concentration all-trans retinoic acid (RA). The EBs were seeded on different matrixes (gelatin, fibronectin, and laminin/poly-L-ornithine) to test their impact on neural differentiation of the ESCs using immunofluorescence assay. The effect of laminin/poly-L-ornithine on the growth of neurites was evaluated with fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTSHigh-concentration RA activated and accelerated the differentiation of ESCs toward nestin-positive neural progenitor cells. Fibronectin supplement in the matrix dose-dependently promoted ESC differentiation into neural progenitor cells, while laminin/poly-L-ornithine increased the growth of the neurites and induced the maturation of the differentiated neural cells.

CONCLUSIONECM plays an important role in neural differentiation of mouse ESCs, and application of FN produces the most conspicuous effect during the differentiation of the ESCs into the neural progenitor cells;laminin/poly-L-ornithine is the most effective during their differentiation into neural cells.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Extracellular Matrix ; physiology ; Fibronectins ; pharmacology ; Laminin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of abdominal obesity and to explore the associated risk factors in rural communities from Hanzhong area,Shaanxi province,and to providc baseline data for further targeted intervention programs.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among all the participants with questionnaires,interview and physical examination.Nine townships were selected in Hanzhong area,followed by one village randomly chosen from the selected township,using the stratified random sampling method.Results There were 3030 participants in this survey,among which 3021 samples were valid,including 1048 males and 1973 females.The overall prevalence rate of abdominal obesity was 38.9％(standardized rate as 33.4％ ) in rural communities of Hanzhong,and the prevalence rate on males abdominal obesity(35.0％ ) was significantly lower than that of females (40.9％).It was found that following factors as:being male,married,having more household wealth,frequent consumption of fried food,non-engagement of agricultural labor work,being nonsmoker or ex-smoker,spending longer time on watching-TV etc.were positively associated with the biggerr odds of having abdominal obesity when using the logistic regression analysis.Meanwhile,data from this study indicated that fctors as:at younger age,frequent participation in agricultural labor,under artificial feeding,with more years of education,less frequency of pregnancy etc.were negatively related to the prevalence of female abdominal obesity.Conclusion The prevalence rate of abdominal obesity in Hanzhong area,Shaanxi province was significantly higher than the national average level which called for the development of related intervention programs to prevent chronic diseases associated with gender related-obesity in Hanzhong.

OBJECTIVETo detect the distribution of fimA genotype of P. gingivalis in periodontally healthy adults and chronic periodontitis patients, and to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of fimA genotype of P. gingivalis and periodontal health status.

METHODSSubgingival plaque samples were collected from 136 periodontally healthy adults and 115 chronic periodontitis patients. The occurrence of P. gingivalis was determined by P. gingivalis 16S rRNA PCR. Distribution of fimA genotype was assessed in P. gingivalis positive samples by PCR using primers pairs homologous to the different fimA genes.

RESULTSP. gingivalis was detected in 22.1% of the healthy subjects and 81.7% of chronic periodontitis patients. A single fimA genotype was detected in most subgingival plaque samples. In P. gingivalis-positive healthy adults, the most prevalent fimA genotype of P. gingivalis was type I fimA. In contrast, a majority of chronic periodontitis patients carried type II fimA, followed by IV fimA and I b fimA. The univariate analysis illustrated that chronic periodontitis was associated with occurrences of type I fimA (OR = 0.97), I b (OR =13.26), II (OR = 36.62), III (OR = 4.57), IV (OR = 22.86), and V (OR = 1.19).

CONCLUSIONII fimA genotype of P. gingivalis followed by IV and I b were an important virulence factor that may account for the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis, suggesting an increased pathogenic potential of these types.

Adult ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Plaque ; Female ; Fimbriae Proteins ; Genotype ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prevalence ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of H. actinomycetemcomitans in Chinese chronic periodontitis (CP) patients and periodontally healthy adults.

METHODS116 chronic periodontitis patients and 111 periodontally healthy adults were included. In each CP patient, subgingival plaque samples were collected from two sites of different molars with the greatest probing depth (PD) and one periodontally healthy site (PD < or =3 mm). The samples of periodontally healthy adults were obtained from the mesio-buccal site of one first upper molar. Bacteria DNA were extracted for detection of H. actinomycetemcomitans by 16S rRNA PCR.

RESULTSThe prevalence for H. actinomycetemcomitans of diseased sites (33.62%) was significantly higher than that of healthy sites from CP patients (0.86%) and the periodontally sites (0.90%) (P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed between male and female CP patients (P > 0.05). A decreasing trend of H. actinomycetemcomitans was observed as the age increased. And the pocket depth and clinical attachment losswas associated with the occurrence of H. actinomycetemcomitans in a positive mode. And H. actinomycetemcomitans was more often detected in the bleeding sites on probing.

CONCLUSIONH. actinomycetemcomitans was more frequently detected in periodontitis sites than periodontally healthy sites. For CP patients, a higher prevalence was associated with the seriously involved sites than those moderate and mild implicated sites. H. actinomycetemcomitans is considered to be the one of the periopathogens involved in the etiology of chronic periodontitis.

Adult ; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Chronic Periodontitis ; DNA, Bacterial ; Dental Plaque ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the proliferation and migration of human ovarian cancer cells (CAOV-3) after knocking down COX-2 gene by RNA interference.

METHODSThe recombinant plasmid of pGenesil-1-siRNA-COX-2 was constructed and transfected into CAOV-3 cells. The transcription of COX-2 gene was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the protein expression of COX-2 was determined by Western blotting . MTT assay was used to investigate the proliferation of the transfected CAOV-3 cells, and the cell migration was evaluated using a transwell migration assay.

RESULTSCOX-2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced after pGenesil-1-siRNA-COX-2 transfection into CAOV-3 cells, which showed obvious reduction in the cell proliferation and migration.

CONCLUSIONRNA interference allows obvious COX-2 gene knocking down in human ovarian cancer cells to result in lowered cell growth rate and migration ability. COX-2 gene may become a new therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics