Objective To investigate the morphologic abnormalities of myenteric plexus in diabetic rats and to explore the mechanism of its effect on gastrointestinal motility.Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into diabetic group and control group.Gastrointestinal transit time was measured and histologic changes of cholinergic and nitriergic nerves in ileum myenteric plexus were observed with enzy- matic histochemistry.Results Four months after the establishment of the diabetic rats model,gastroin- testinal transit time was found delayed comparing with control group,the density of cholinergic neurons in the ileum myenteric plexus was decreased (P＜0.01) and the densities of nitriergic ganglions and neurons were significantly increased comparing with control group (P＜0.05 and P＜0.01).Conclu- sion Decrease of cholinergic nerves and increase of nitriergic nerves in the myenteric plexus of intestine is one of the mechanisms of delay gastrointestinal transit time in diabetic rats.

AIMTo investigate the effect of acute exhaustive exercise on gastrointestinal motility and its enteric nervous mechanisms.

METHODS24 rats were randomly divided into control group (C) and acute exhaustive exercise group (AEE). The rate of gastrointestinal transit was measured and histologic changes of nitriergic nerves in ileum myenteric plexus were observed with enzymatic histochemical and image analytic technique.

RESULTSIn the rats of AEE group, the rate of gastrointestinal transit was delayed comparing with C group (P < 0.05), the numbers of nitrergic neurons and expression levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the ileum myenteric plexus significantly increased comparing with C group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt is possible that increase of nitrergic neurons and expression levels of NOS in the myenteric plexus of small intestine are one of the mechanisms of delay of gastrointestinal transit rate in acute exhaustive exercise rats.

Animals ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; physiology ; Gastrointestinal Transit ; physiology ; Ileum ; innervation ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Myenteric Plexus ; metabolism ; Nitrergic Neurons ; cytology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether SC-435, a new ileal apical sodium-codependent bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor, can alter the gastrointestinal motility in guinea pigs. METHODS: Sixty guinea pigs received regular diet or IBAT inhibitor (SC-435) diet for 2, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. At the end of the feeding period, the gallbladder motility was assessed and then four bipolar silver electrodes were implanted on the antrum, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Seven days later, migrating motor complex (MMC) was recorded and the total bile acid pool size was measured according to the isotope dilution principle in the meantime. RESULTS: After feeding SC435, the gallbladder motility was declined in the 4-week group and the 8-week group. The bile acid pool size decreased by 17.11% (P <0.05) in the 4-week group and 48.35% (P < 0.05) in the 8-week group. The places of origin of MMC were changed where antral origins (37%) and duodenal origins (46%) decreased whereas jejunal origins (17%) increased. The MMC cycle period was prolonged in the duodenum (1.16 times in the 4-week group, P < 0.05; 1.38 times in the 8-week group, P < 0.05) whereas MMC amplitude fell in the duodenum (10.58% in the 4-week group, P <0.05; 49.17% in the 8-week group, P <0.05). There were not significant differences in all parameters of MMC between the control group and the 2-week group in guinea pigs. CONCLUSION The IBAT inhibitor (SC-435) reduces the bile acid pool size and inhibits the MMC cycle activity. MMC is related to the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids, which is consistent with the changes of the bile acid pool size in guinea pigs.
Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Cyclic N-Oxides ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gallbladder ; physiology ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Guinea Pigs ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; drug effects ; Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Random Allocation ; Symporters ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Tropanes ; pharmacology

Thirty SHRs were obtained randomly to hypertension, model group, captopril group and Qingre jiangya capsule group. Ten Wistar rats were used as control group. The hippocampus tissue was removed to explore the damage of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and the protective effect of Qingre jiangya capsule after continuously administered for 14 days. And then the data were processed by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The research results revealed captopril group was significantly different from the other three groups. The classification of other three groups is also very clear after captopril group removed. This suggested that Qingre jiangya capsule could improve the overall metabolism compared with captopril. Four metabolites were identified: dimethylglycine, glycerophosphocholine, aldosterone and noradrenaline. Hypertension hippocampus damage may mainly be expressed in tyrosine metabolism, aldosterone-regulated sodium, vascular smooth muscle contraction reabsorption, and Qingre jiangya capsule could reverse the hippocampus tissue damage of SHR.
Animals ; Capsules ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo assess the co-morbidity of anxiety and depression in hospitalized patients and to analyze the degree of symptoms and the influential factors.

METHODSThirty patients with malignant tumor were injected with thymosin alpha 1 subcutaneously at the dose of 1.6 mg q.d. for the first month and q.o.d. for the following month. The number of T cell subgroups and the activity of NK cell in peripheral blood were detected and the quality of life of the patients were evaluated before treatment and at the end of treatment.

RESULT(1) About 39.9 % of the patients presented the symptoms of anxiety and depression and out of them 6.7 % were taken psychotropic medication. (2) Stepwise Logistic Regression showed that the factors related to anxiety and depression could be classified into four categories: economic factor, sleeping status, cognition of disease, the other factors such as course of disease and the environment of hospital. (3) Data analysis of oncology patients showed that the cognition of disease would be an important factor, which would affect anxiety and depression status.

CONCLUSIONMultiple factors can affect anxiety and depression symptoms of inpatients. The results suggest that psychological intervention such as cognitive therapy should be considered in clinical practice.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anxiety ; etiology ; therapy ; Depressive Disorder ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychotherapy

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism and significance of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of neonates infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

METHODSEighty-four HBsAg-positive and HBeAg-negative mothers and their newborns were recruited in this study. Sixteen hepatitis B virus markers (HBVM)-negative mothers and their neonates were served as control. All these cases had no symptoms of hepatitis, serious pregnancy complications and preexisting disease. Age, gestational age and the method of delivery were matched in two groups (P > 0.05). Five ml blood samples were taken from the peripheral vein of the pregnant women before delivery and from neonates within 24 hours after birth, before inoculation of HBV vaccine (HBVac). Serum and PBMC were isolated from 2 ml and 3 ml samples respectively. The sera, PBMC and the last supernatant of PBMC washing were stored at -80 degrees C. HBVM of neonates were detected by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HBV DNA in serum, PBMC and the last supernatant of PBMC washing of mothers and neonates were detected by using a nested-polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR). Two pairs of oligonucleotide primers, the outer primer pair for first PCR and inner primer pair for second PCR, designed according to region S of HBV genome were synthesized at Shanghai Cell Biology Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The neonates who were HBV DNA positive in PBMC but HBsAg and HBV DNA negative in serum were followed up for one year, HBsAb in serum and HBV DNA in PBMC were observed in the neonates.

RESULTS(1) The positive rate of HBV DNA in 84 serum and PBMC of mothers were 53.57% and 40.48%, respectively (chi(2) = 2.891, P > 0.05). All the results were weakly positive. (2) Twenty-four (28.57%) newborns in the study group were infected, including 7 who were only HBV DNA positive in serum, 11 only HBV DNA positive in PBMC and 6 in both, all the results were weakly positive. HBsAg was negative in all the newborns. None of the neonates in control group was infected with HBV. There was significant difference between the two groups (chi(2) = 4.55, P < 0.05). (3) Of all the study cases, 11 (13.10%) neonates were HBV DNA weakly positive in PBMC but HBsAg and HBV DNA negative in serum. Of their mothers, 5 were only HBV DNA positive in serum, 2 only positive in PBMC and 4 positive in both serum and PBMC. Seven of the 11 neonates were followed up for one year and at the end of follow-up, 4 were HBsAb positive and HBV DNA negative in PBMC; 3 were HBsAb negative, and among the 3 cases HBV DNA in 2 was still positive in PBMC, HBsAg and HBV DNA in serum were negative in all the 7 neonates.

CONCLUSION(1) HBV DNA positivity either in serum or in PBMC in mothers can result in infection of PBMC with HBV in their neonates. (2) PBMC infection with HBV can exist for a long time in neonates while HBsAg and HBV DNA are negative in serum, and may result in vaccination failure in neonates.

Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; virology ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVESto verify the feasibility and reliability of the electronic version of Chinese SF-36 based on the Quality-of-Life-Recorder.

DESIGNA crossover randomized controlled trial, comparing a paper-based and an electronic version of the Chinese SF-36, was conducted. According to generated random numbers, interviewees were asked to fill out either the electronic version or the paper version first. The second version was filled in after a pause of at least 10 min.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTSOne group of 100 medical students at the School of Medicine of Zhejiang University and the other group of 50 outpatients at a clinic for general practice in Hangzhou City (China) were eventually recruited in this study.

RESULTSThe acceptance of the electronic version was good (60% of medical students and 84% of outpatients preferred the electronic version). At the level of eight-scale scores, the mean-difference for each scale (except for general health) between the two versions was less than 5%. At the level of 36 questions, the percentage of "exact agreement" ranged within 64%-99%; the percentage of "global agreement" ranged within 72%-99%; 77% of the kappa coefficients demonstrated "good/excellent agreement" and 23% of the kappa coefficients demonstrated "medium agreement".

CONCLUSIONThis study, for the first time, can provide empirical basis for the confirmation of the feasibility and reliability of the electronic version of the Chinese SF-36 and may provide an impulse towards widespread deployment of the Quality-of-Life-Recorder in Chinese populations.

Adult ; China ; Cross-Over Studies ; Electronics ; instrumentation ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo sequence the gene encoding glutamate rich protein (GLURP) and identify the genotypes of geographically different Plasmodium falciparum (P. f) isolates from China.

METHODSThe gene of R2 repeat region of GLURP was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction and cloned into T-vector. The nucleotide sequence of GLURP gene was determined by automatic sequencer (Dideoxy termination method) and analyzed by DNA Star software.

RESULTSAt least 7 different GLURP genotypes ranging from 600 bp to 1,500 bp were found in Yunnan and Hainan provinces. R2 region of GLURP gene consisted of several repeat units. Each repeat unit was composed of 19-20 residues which were shown to be highly conserved. GLURP gene was also size polymorphic due to differences in the number of repeat units, whereas the repeat sequence was conserved. Sequence analysis showed that DNA sequences and deduced amino acid sequences were highly homologous among the geographically dispersed isolates or various isolates from the same geographical region. No obvious differences were found in the GLURP gene sequences among geographically different isolates.

CONCLUSIONGLURP gene is highly structure conserved and size polymorphic, and so is useful in searching for malaria vaccine candidate antigen and developing a genotyping method for malaria research.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genotype ; Geography ; Malaria ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Malaria Vaccines ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmodium falciparum ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Protozoan Proteins ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress on aldosterone (Aldo)-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells. Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP, a hallmark of ER-associated apoptosis) were used to evaluate ER stress. Western blotting and real-time PCR were used to analyze indicators of ER molecule. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with different concentrations of Aldo for different durations. Aldo promoted apoptosis of HUVECs and induced ER stress, as evidenced by increased expression of GRP78 and CHOP. siRNA knockdown of CHOP attenuated Aldo-mediated apoptosis. These results indicate that ER stress may be involved in Aldo-induced apoptosis of HUVECs.
Aldosterone ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; biosynthesis

Objective To investigate the cell morphology and expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter(5-HTT) in hippocampal CA1 region of depression rats induced by adolescent and post-adult stress,and to observe the inter-vention effect of modified Sini San (MSS). Methods One hundred and thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,JSS group,and fluoxetine group,33 rats in each group. And then the rats in each group were randomly subdivided into adolescent group, adult group, post-adult group acaccording to the age day, 11 rats in each subgroup. Age day 44,56 and 78 were used as the sampling time points for adolescent group,adult group,post-adult group respectively. Chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)rat model was used. From day 21 to 44 and from day 57 to 78, the rats were modeled and given medication, but from day 44 to 55, the rats were fed normally. The rat general condition and body mass of various groups were observed,the cell morphology of hippocampal CA1 region was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining , and the distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5-HTT)positive cells in CA1 region of hippocampus was observed by immunohistochemical staining. Results The general condition of the rats at different age stages in the model group was poor,while that in MSS group and fluoxetine group was improved obviously. The body mass of rats at different age stages in the model group was obviously decreased (P<0.01 compared with the blank group). After adulthood stage,the body mass of rats in model group, MSS group, and fluoxetine group was lower than that of the blank group(P < 0.01), but there was no difference between the 3 groups (P > 0.05). In aspect of cell morphological manifestation in hippocampal CA1 region, rats in the adolescent model group had more deeply-staining atrophy neurons, with unclear hyperchromatic nucleus and cytoplasm. The morphological manifestations in modeled rats at adult stage and post-adulthood stage showed progressive aggravation,manifested as a large amount of neurons stained deeply with unclear nucleus and cytoplasm, and a small amount of glial cells proliferated. Compared with the model group at the same stage,the neuronal atrophy and deeply staining decreased in fluoxetine group and MSS group. The average optical density value of 5-HTT expression in the model group was decreased significantly at the adult stage and after adulthood stage(P<0.05 or P<0.01 compared with the blank group). Compared with the model group, the average optical density value of 5-HTT expression in MSS group after adulthood stage, and in the fluoxetine group at the adult stage and after adulthood stage were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Rats suffering CUMS in adolescence presents depressive behavior, and post-adult stimulation can aggravates depression. 5-HTT expression in hippocampus may be an important pathway for MSS to achieve the therapeutic efficacy.