Background Age-related cataract is the leading cause of visual impairment worldwide.To seek the effective prevention and drugs for management of cataract is important.Naphthalene-induced cataract of rat is an ideal animal model for the research of human age-related cataract,and aspirin has been proven to inhibit the development of human age-related cataract.ObjectiveThe present study is to investigate the role of aspirin on naphthalene-induced cataract.Methods Forty-five 150-160 g female SD rats were divided into three groups randomly.Naphthalene was orally taken with 0.5mg/kg per day for 3 days and then 1mg/kg per day for 70 days,and then 100mg/kg of aspirin was given per day for 70 days following four-day washout period in group A.In group B,the animals was given orally only naphthalene at the same way.No any intervention was used in group C.Naphthalene-induced cataract was examined under the slim lamp every week.The experimental animals were sacrificed and lenses were obtained in 70 days.α-Crystalline was extracted from lens homogenate and purified and identified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC),2-dimentional electrophoresis gel and Western blot.Different abilities of α-crystalline to protect β low crystalline from aggregation were observed using ultraviolet spectrophotometer.Results Naphthalene-induced cataract formed at the third week in only naphthalene group but at the sixth week in naphthalene+aspirin group under the slim lamp.No significant difference was found in the degree of lenses opacity in the second week among these three groups(F=0.032,P=0.969).However,a statistically significant difference was seen in the degree of lenses opacity in the fourth,sixth,eighth and tenth week among these three groups(F= 5031.130,P=0.000;F=115964.000,P=0.000;F=169846.500,P=0.000;F= 195431.200,P=0.000).Themolecular chaperone-like activity was significantly higher than that of the naphthalene-induced group.Conclusion Aspirin delays the progression of lens opacification through protecting α-crystalline molecular chaperone-like activity.

Purpose To prepare a novel fusion protein of CREKA and tTF as a universal carrier targeting to cancer,and to analyze its activities.Methods CREKA and tTF gene were acquired by PCR,and inserted into plasmid pET22b(+)to construct recombinant plasmid CREKA/tTF/pET22b(+),and the fusion gene was expressed in E.coli BL21.The fusion protein Wag purified through Nickel-affinity chromatography column.After purifying,the fusion protein was refold by subsequent dialysis.The activities of the fusion proteins were measured by coagulation timing and quantitative fluorescence test in vitro.Results The recombinant plasmid CREKA/tTF/pET22b(+)with correct sequence was obtained.The fusion protein was highly expressed in E.coli BL21.The coagulation of the fusion protein Was determined by the coagulation test.And the capability of the fusion protein effectively binding to clotted plasma proteins is identified in quantitative fluorescence test.Conclusion The recombinant plasmid CREKA/tTF/pET22b(+)with correct sequence was built.The fusion protein CREKA/tTF with both TF and CREKA activity was successfully obtained.

Objective To examine the effect of Pu-Erh tea extract(PTE) on genes expression of lipogenesis in white adipose tissue of rats fed high fat diet.Method Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=10):the control group(basal diet);the high fat group(high fat diet);the PTE group(high fat diet + Pu-Erh tea extract).Body weight and adipose tissue were measured.Expression of genes regulating lipid metabolism was assessed in adipose tissue.Results PTE supplementation prevented diet-induced increases in body weight and adipose tissue.Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1(DGAT1),stearoyl-CoA desalurase-1(SCD1) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c(SREBP-1c) mRNA levels were markedly decreased in adipose tissue of rats fed PTE.Conclusion This study shows for the first time that Pu-Erh tea extract prevents diet-induced obesity,and this effect is partly mediated via a direct influence on adipose tissue.

Traditional processes are mostly adopted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation production and the quality of products is mostly controlled by terminal. Potential problems of the production in the process are unpredictable and is relied on experience in most cases. Therefore, it is hard to find the key points affecting the preparation process and quality control. A pattern of research and development of traditional Chinese medicine preparation process based on the idea of Quality by Design (QbD) was proposed after introducing the latest research achievement. Basic theories of micromeritics and rheology were used to characterize the physical property of TCM raw material. TCM preparation process was designed in a more scientific and rational way by studying the correlation among enhancing physical property of raw material, preparation process and product quality of preparation. So factors affecting the quality of TCM production would be found out and problems that might occur in the pilot process could be predicted. It would be a foundation for the R&D and production of TCM preparation as well as support for the "process control" of TCMIs gradually realized in the future.
Drug Compounding ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; trends ; Quality Control ; Research ; standards ; trends ; Research Design ; standards ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints on the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling substances phospholipase C gamma-1 (PLC gamma-1), protein kinase C (PKC) and c-myc in gastric mucosal cells. METHODS: Sixty rats were randomly divided into normal group, stomach meridian group, gallbladder meridian group, stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group. Water-immersion and restrained stress methods were adopted for inducing gastric mucosal injury in the rats. Gastric mucosal cells were separated by using pronase digestion method, and incubated by PD153035, a EGFR inhibitor, and 100 ml/L serum. The expression of PLC gamma-1 in the gastric mucosal cells was tested by enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the expression of PKC by isotope incorporate assay and the expression of c-myc by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In gastric mucosal cells, weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the normal group, and relatively strong expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group, among which, the expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc in the stomach meridian group were the strongest, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group (P<0.01). Relative weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and the gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The serum derived from the rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints can activate the EGFR singling pathway, and this provides an evidence for the theory of "relative particularity between meridians and viscera" in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To investigate the expression and distribution of the downstream substrate of extracellular regulated protein kinase(ERK1/2) pathway, ternary complex factor phospho-Elk-1, in rat brains with chronic fluorosis, and reveal the mechanism of the impaired learning and memory ability caused by chronic fluorosis. Methods Seventy-two SD rats, weighing 100 - 120 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups, 24 in each group (half male and half female). The rats in control group were fed with tap water (fluoride < 0.5 mg/L); low- and high-dose fluoride groups were fed with tap water with different concentrations of NaF(5.0,50.0 mg/L F-, respectively). After 6 months, body weight was weighed, dental fluorosis was determined by observation and urinary fluoride and bone fluoride were detected by fluorine ion-selective electrode; the learning ability of rats was measured by navigation test of Morris water maze, and memory ability by spatial probe test in Morris water maze; the expression and distribution of phospho-Elk-1 in different brain regions were detected by immunohistochemistry method. Results In low- and high-fluoride groups, the body weight of rat[(449.2 ± 77.1), (312.8 ± 89.7)g] was significantly decreased than that of control [(635.5 ± 76.2 )g, all P< 0.05], the varying degrees of dental fluorosis were observed(x2 = 7.83, P<0.05), urinary fluoride[(2.56 ±0.91),(5.73 ±3.14)mg/L] and bone fluoride[(709.2 ± 37.4) ,(1306.3 ± 102.4) mg/kg] were significantly higher than those in controls[(0.92 ± 0.30)mg/L,(348.5 ± 89.2)mg/kg, all P< 0.05]. The escape latency of low- and high-fluoride groups[ (7.4 ± 4.1), (12.2 ± 5.7)s] was longer than that of control [(4.8 ± 2.7 )s, all P < 0.05] and the escape latency in high-fluoride group was significantly longer than that in other groups (all P < 0.05); in spatial probe test, the time of first crossing platform was longer in rats with fluorosis [(4.18 ± 1.10),(5.89 ± 0.56)s] as compared to control[(1.17 ± 0.75)s, all P< 0.05]. Expressions of phospho-Elk-1 in the hippocampus CA1(167.4 ± 8.3,163.2 ± 9.4), CA2(175.7 ± 5.0,183.3 ± 4.2), CA3(165.2 ± 11.6,162.9 ± 4.4), CA4(168.7± 6.9,169.5 ±5.3), fascia dentate (185.2 ±4.0,193.1 ±6.1) and caudate putamen( 181.4 ± 3.8, 179.8 ± 5.5) in low- and high-fluoride groups were higher than those of controls(142.4 ± 8.1,144.9 ± 8.4,143.6 ± 5.8, 116.8 ± 9.1,140.2 ± 7.8,163.1 ± 13.1, all P< 0.05). Conclusion Chronic fluorosis can cause increased expression of phospho-Elk-1 in the hippocampus and caudate putamen region of rat brains, which might be related to the mechanisms of decreased learning and memory ability of rats overexposed to fluoride.

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangmen (ST 31) on cell proliferation and cell apoptosis of gastric mucosa in rats with stress ulcer, investigatethe mechanism of moxibustion in promoting the repair of gastric mucosal injury at cellular and molecular levels. Methods: Sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: the restraint control group, model group, moxibustion on acupoints group and moxibustion on non-acupoints group. Water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) was used to copy the stress ulcer model of rats, radio-immunoassay was used to detect the content of transforming growth factor (TGF-α), and S-P immunohistochemical assay was adopted to determine the HSP70 expression, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cell apoptosis index in gastric mucosa. Results: For the WRS-induced gastric ulcer model of rat,the gastric mucosal injury (gastric ulcer index, UI) was increased, the content of TGF-α was decreased, PCNA was also decreased, HSP70 expression and cell apoptosis index were all increased (P＜0.01). Moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangrnen (ST 31) could decrease UI, increase the content of TGF-α, promote the expression of PCNA and HSP70,decrease cell apoptosis index in gastric mucosa, with significant differences when compared with the model group and control group (P＜0.01). Conclusions: Moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangmen (ST 31) had protective effect on the gastric mucosa of stress ulcer, its mechanism may be promoting the TGF-α synthesis, stimulating cell proliferation in gastric mucosa and inhibiting cell apoptosis in gastric mucosa, and this process is related to the moxibustion-induced HSP70 expression.

Objective:To observe the effects of moxibustion pretreatment on Glutathione Peroxidase(GSH-Px),Superoxide Dismutase(SOD),and Malondialchehyche(MDA)in gastric mucosa of rats with stress ulcer,and to investigate the mechanism of moxibustion pretreatment preventing the oxidized injury of gastric mucosa.Methods:Forty-eight healthy SD rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups,namely control group,model group,acupoint moxibustion group,and non-acupoint moxibustion group.The ulcer model was developed by restraint and water immersion stress,Ulcer index(UI)was calculated with Guth method,and the contents of GSH-Px,and MDA and SOD activity in the gastric tissues were measured with chromatometry method.Results:Compared those in the model group and nonacupoint moxibustion group,moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36)could decrease the UI(P<0.01)and MDA(P<0.05)contents,and increase the activity of GSH-Px(P<0.01)and SOD(P<0.05).Conclusion:Pretreatment of moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36)could promote the recovery of gastric injury in rats induced by restraint and water immersion stress by enhancing the activity of GSH-Px and SOD,and lower MDA content.

Objective To explore the feasibility of constructing tissue engineered porcine corneal stroma with skin fibroblasts in vivo.Methods Skin fibroblasts were isolated from embryonic porcine,cultured and expanded in vitro.Cells were labeled with green fluorescence protein(GFP) gene by retro-viral infection.Cells at passage 3 were seeded on polyglycolic acid(PGA) non-woven fibers to form a cell-scaffold complex.The complexes were then implanted into porcines' corneal stroma after culturing in vitro for 1 week.Engineered stroma was observed continuously and harvested after 8 weeks for gross and histological evaluation.PGA with corneal stromal cells was served as control. Results The engineered tissue in the stroma gradually became transparent over a period of 8 weeks,showing no difference with the control group.Histologically,the engineered stromal lamellar was relatively regular and similar to the control.The implanted cells were confirmed by GFP expression under fluorescent microscope.By transmission electron microscopy examination, no significant difference in the diameter of collagen fiber was observed between the engineered stroma and normal stroma. Conclusion Tissue engineered corneal stroma may be formed with skin fibroblasts in porcine corneal microenvironment.

Objective To observe the changes of respiratory and hemodynamic functions in children with different age undergoing laparoscopic Nissen's fundoplication(LNF). Methods Thirty-three children with LNF were divided into three groups according to the age: group Ⅰ,1 to 12 months,n=13;group Ⅱ,1 to 3 years old,n=10;and group Ⅲ,4 to 7 years,n=10.Heart rate(HR),mean arterial pressure,Ppeak,compliance of the respiratory system(CRS) and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure(PETCO2) were recorded 5 min before pneumoperitoneum(T0),10 min(T1),60 min(T2) after pneumoperitoneum and 10 min after deflation(T3),and parameters of blood gas analysis such as PaCO2 were measured at the same time. Results Compared with those at T0,HR,Ppeak,PETCO2 and the difference between PaCO2 and PETCO2(Pa-ETCO2)were significantly increased at T1 and T2,while CRS was significantly decreased.The most significant changes were found in group Ⅰ. Conclusion The changes of respiratory and hemodynamic functions are observed in children undergoing LNF,and anesthesia management should be enhanced for those within 1 to 12 months old who experience the most significant changes.