OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of single herb pilose antler (PA) on the expression of Smad2 and Smad3 in the cartilage of osteoarthritis (OA) rats.

METHODSOne hundred 3-month old female healthy SD rats, (200 +/- 20) g, were recruited and routinely fed for 1 week. They were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the low dose PA group, the high dose PA group, the normal saline control group, the model group, and the normal control group, 20 in each group. The model was prepared using classic Hulth method except the normal control group. After 6-week modeling, the model was confirmed successful by pathologic observation. PA at 0.021 g/100 g and 0.084 g/1 00 g was given by gastrogavage to rats in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group respectively. Normal saline was administered to those in the normal saline control group. No treatment was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group. Bilateral knee cartilages were harvested at week 2,4, and 6. mRNA and protein expressions of Smad2 and Smad3 were detected by immunohistochemical assay, fluorescent quantitative PCR, and Western blot.

RESULTSOA model was successfully prepared by pathological observation. Results of immunohistochemical assay showed that Smad2 and Smad3 expressed extensively in the cartilage, and located inside the chondrocyte membrane. Compared with the model group, mRNA expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously increased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 2, 4, and 6, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the same group at week 4 after gastrogavage, mRNA expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously decreased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 6, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, protein expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously increased in the chondrocytes of the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 2 and 4, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Compared with the same group at week 2 after gastrogavage, protein expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously increased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 4, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Compared with the same group at week 4 after gastrogavage, protein expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously decreased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 6, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS(1) The pilose antler could repair cartilages by regulating mRNA and protein expressions of Smad2 and Smad3. (2) Up-regulating mRNA and protein expressions of Smad2 and Smad3 might be one of important mechanisms for the pathogenesis of OA.

Animals ; Antlers ; chemistry ; Cartilage ; cytology ; metabolism ; Chondrocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Osteoarthritis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smad2 Protein ; metabolism ; Smad3 Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of intrathecal injection of ginsenoside Rg1 at different doses on the changes of the behavior and the expressions of excitatory amino-acid transporter 1 (EAAT1), i. e., glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) in the spinal dorsal horn of the arthritis rats with chronic morphine tolerance, and further to explore its mechanisms for morphine tolerance.

METHODSAfter successful intrathecal injection, an adjuvant arthritis model was established in 36 healthy male SD rats. They were randomly divided into 6 groups, 6 in each group. They were intrathecally injected with 10 microL normal saline (Group NS), 10 microg morphine (Group M), 10 microg morphine + 50 microg ginsenoside Rg1 (Group MG50), 10 microg morphine +100 microg ginsenoside Rg1 (Group MG100), 10 microg morphine + 200 microg ginsenoside Rg1 (Group MG200), and 100 microg ginsenoside Rg1 (Group G100), respectively. The normal saline and morphine were intrathecally injected twice daily, while ginsenoside Rg1 at different doses was intrathecally injected once daily, for 7 successive days. Fifty percent mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was dynamically detected to evaluate their behaviors. The rats were sacrificed on day 7 after medication. The L3-L5 segment of the spinal cord was isolated for determining the expression of GLAST in the spinal dorsal horn using immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSThe PWT of Group M was significantly higher than that of Group NS on the 1st and 3rd day after medication (P < 0.05). But it was gradually shortened along with the increasing days of medication. There was no statistical difference between Group M and Group NS on the 7th day (P > 0.05), indicating the formation of morphine tolerance. The PWT of Group MG100 also showed a decreasing tendency, but obviously slower than that of Group M (P < 0.05). The PWT of Group G100 was higher than that of Group NS (P < 0.05). Compared with Group NS, the expression of GLAST in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in Group M was down-regulated (P < 0.01). Compared with Group M, the expression of GLAST in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in Group MG100 and Group G100 was up-regulated (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSingle application of ginsenoside Rg1 showed mild antinociceptive effect in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats. Intrathecal injection of 100 microg ginsenoside Rg1 could attenuate the formation of morphine tolerance. Its mechanisms might be correlated with up-regulating of the expression of GLAST.

Amino Acid Transport System X-AG ; metabolism ; Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Drug Tolerance ; Ginsenosides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Pain Measurement ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Abstract: Objective　In order to provide reference for emergency treatment of a sudden food poisoning incident, pathogen detection and drug resistance analysis were carried out. Methods　Diarrheal stool and surplus food samples were detected by GB 4789 and the isolates were identified by VITEK2 and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), at the same time, the bacterial drug sensitivity test was carried out by using the method of microbroth dilution, and the isolates from different sources were molecularly classified by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and the correlation between the strains was analyzed by BioNumerics software. Results　Totaly 13 leftovers and 3 diarrhea patients were isolated and identified, The total number of colonies and coliforms in 7 leftovers samples all exceeded the standard, and Citrobacter freundii was detected in 5 leftovers and 2 stools. The results of drug sensitivity test showed that seven strains of Citrobacter freundii were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, amikacin, cefotaxime and meropenem, but completely resistant to ampicillin, and there was no multiple drug resistance. The results of pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed that 7 strains of Citrobacter freundii had the same PFGE bands and 100% homology, showing the same clone. Conclusions　This food poisoning incident was caused by Citrobacter freundii. The pathogen of food poisoning can be quickly and accurately determined by MALDI-TOF MS, which is beneficial to the early diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. It is suggested to strengthen the corresponding management, improve food safety awareness and prevent similar incidents.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the parents' compliance in non-hospital settings during the operation of expressed breast milk bank.

METHODSIn September 2014, a questionnaire survey was carried out to investigate the parents' willingness about feeding the inpatient neonates with maternal expressed breast milk, to evaluate the effectiveness of the breast milk feeding supporting system, and to monitor the compliance in non-hospital settings during the delivery of maternal expressed breast milk. Improvements in education were made according to the results. A second survey was done in September 2015.

RESULTSA total of 340 questionnaires were sent out, and 338 usable questionnaires were returned. According to the time when the questionnaires were sent out, they were divided into two groups: 2014 group (n=229) and 2015 group (n=109). The age of most mothers was 20-30 years in the 2014 group and 30-40 years in the 2015 group. Most mothers delivered at the West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University in both groups, but the 2015 group had a significantly higher proportion than the 2014 group (74.3% vs 61.6%; P<0.05). Guidance was given to mothers in the presence of insufficient breast milk production in both groups, but the 2015 group had a significantly higher proportion than the 2014 group (91.7% vs 79.9%; P<0.05). Both groups had good family compliance in the collection, storage, and transport of breast milk. There were no significant differences in their compliance with washing hands, sterilizing instruments, and using a clean special refrigerator between the two groups. The expressed breast milk was transported strictly according to the procedure in both groups, but the 2015 group had a significantly higher proportion than the 2014 group (100% vs 87.1%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBefore and after improvements in the health education, most parents have good compliance in the collection, storage, and transport of breast milk.

Adult ; Biological Specimen Banks ; Breast Feeding ; Female ; Humans ; Milk, Human ; Parents

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; beta-Lactamases ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the essence of blood deficiency syndrome and the mechanism of the effects of siwutang based on the characteristic changes in metabolic profiles of C57 mice with blood deficiency induced by compound method of bleeding, starved feeding and exhausting before and after the treatment of Siwutang.

METHODThirty C57 mice were randomly divided into three groups of 10 animals: the control group and two blood deficiency model groups without or with siwutang treatment. The animals were sacrificed after induction by compound method of bleeding,starved feeding and exhausting for 10 days and the blood, spleen, thymus and bone marrow were obtained. The metabolic profiles of serum, aqueous and lipidic extracts of thymus, spleen and bone marrow were investigated using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The NMR spectra were integrated in segments of 0.01, normalized and then analyzed using SIMCA-P software to visualize the similarities and differences in metabolic profiles between these groups.

RESULTCompared with the control group, the model group contained different levels of lactate, choline, glucose, taurine, alanine, LDL, glycerin, UFA, creatinine, acetoacetate, glutamate and beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HB). In the Siwutang treated group, the above-mentioned changes were reversed.

CONCLUSIONThe disorder of energy metabolism, damage of lymphocyte, and disorder of immune function were observed in blood deficiency model by NMR-based-metabonomics method, and the Siwutang can improve these effects. Metabonomics may be a valuable tool in the pharmacological evaluation of siwutang.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Hemorrhage ; complications ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Metabolomics ; Mice ; Random Allocation ; Serum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo discover the characteristic changes of metabolic profiles in C57 mice with cyclophosphamide induced blood deficiency and the effect of Siwutang.

METHODAn integrated metabonomic study using high-resolution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been applied to investigate the metabolic profiles of serum, aqueous and lipidic extracts of thoracic gland, spleen, bone marrow obtained from control, model group (intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 250 mg x kg(-1)) and Siwutang treated model group. The NMR spectra were integrated in segments of 0.04 ppm and then analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) using SIMCA-P software to visualize the similarities and differences in metabolic profiles between these groups.

RESULTPCA result showed conspicuous difference in the metabolic profiles between groups. Compared with the control group, the model group contained lower concentration of lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, choline, glucose, and higher concentration of VLDL/LDL, leucine/isoleucine in serum. Lower concentration of taurine choline, Fbeta:RCH2CH2CO, Epi-coprostanol and lactate were found in both in thoracic gland extracts and spleen extracts. And in spleen extracts, we also found the lower concentration of 3-HB. In the extracts of bone marrow, the lower concentration of lactate, choline, glucosee were observed. When they were dosed with Siwutang 10 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 7 days, the effects above-mentioned were reversed.

CONCLUSIONThe injury established by injecting CTX is a kind of proper model to develop further metabonomics researches. The damage of mitochondria, disorder of energy metabolism and osmoregulation are observed in cyclophosphamide caused blood deficiency model by NMR-based-metabonomics method, and the Siwutang can improve these effects.

Anemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolomics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Paeonia ; Principal Component Analysis

Objective To explore effects of seasonal variation on blood lead in children.Methods Anodic stripping voltammetry(ASV) was used to detect blood lead level in children.The enrolled children were divided into 4 groups as follows:young children(ages 1 month to 3 years);preschool(ages 3 to 6 years);school(ages 6 to 12 years);teenagers(ages 12 to 18 years),and children′s blood lead level and lead poisoning rates were analyzed in the light of seasonality.Results Total 13 233 children were observed,aged from 1 month to 18 years old,8315 males,4918 females.The average blood lead levels were 60 ?g/L,the 5~(th) and 95~(th) percentage was 19,138 ?g/L.The rate of lead poisoning in children was 14.8%,with the majority of low-grade(?~2=116.3125 P

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical and pathological features and the diagnosis of childhood Alport syndrome (AS).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of 91 children with AS.

RESULTSHematuria was observed in all 91 patients, of whom 86 were accompanied with proteinuria. Sixty-one children with X-Linked AS (XL-AS) had positive family history. Renal biopsy was performed on 82 children. Mild to moderate mesangial proliferation was observed in 74 cases. Small amounts of immune complexes deposits in the glomerular mesangial area were observed in 48 cases. Glomerular basement membrane (GBM) attenuation, thickening and layering were observed in 53 cases by electron microscopy (EM). In 63 cases receiving renal tissue type IV collagen α3 and α5 chain immunofluorescence detection, 58 were diagnosed with AS, including 53 cases of XL-AS and 5 cases of autosomal recessive AS. In 91 cases of AS, 58 were diagnosed as AS by renal tissue type IV collagen α3 and α5 chain immunofluorescence, 21 were diagnosed by EM, one was diagnosed by skin biopsy, and 12 were diagnosed by gene detection. Six novel mutations of COL4A5 gene were found. Forty-five cases were misdiagnosed before the diagnosis of AS. Forty-one of the 45 cases received steroids and/or immunosuppressant therapy.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical manifestations and pathological changes are not specific in children with AS, resulting in a higher rate of misdiagnosis. Typical lesions of GBM under EM are only observed in a part of patients. There is a high novel mutation rate of COL4A5 in the detected AS children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Collagen Type IV ; genetics ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Nephritis, Hereditary ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is considered one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for the repair of brain injuries and plays an important role in various links of nerve repair. Recent studies have shown that MSC-derived exosomes may dominate the repair of brain injuries and help to promote angiogenesis, regulate immunity, inhibit apoptosis, and repair the nerves, and therefore, they have a great potential in the treatment of brain injuries in neonates. With reference to these studies, this article reviews the mechanism of action of exosomes in the repair of brain injuries and related prospects and challenges, in order to provide new directions for the treatment of brain injuries in neonates with stem cells.
Apoptosis ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Exosomes ; physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; prevention & control ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology