Objective To design and manufacture a hypobaric cabin simulator for experimental animals.Methods The simulator was composed of a fully transparent working chamber,an electrical chamber,a pressure control component and a program control component,which had its body made of polymethyl methacrylate plastics,the hatch made of metal plate and support by reinforced metal bar.The air inside chamber was exhausted by the diaphragm vacuum pump,the air inflow was controlled by proportional valve,and the inner pressure and the speed of rise and decline were exactly controlled by the balance of inflow and exhaust.Results The new type of hypobaric cabin simulator had the characteristics of accurate pressure control,low fluctuation range and controllable up and down time,low noise as well as adaptable air exchange rate.Conclusion The new type of hypobaric cabin simulator matches the national standard for experimental animals,and can be used in making the animal model of high altitude diseases.

Objective To investigate the role of increased microRNA-21 (miR-21) in the development of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis secondary to aristolochic acid induced acute kidney injury.Methods C57BL/6J male mice were intraperitoneally injected with aristolochic acid at a dose of 10 mg/kg.Blood samples and kidneys were harvested at day 1,3,7,14,28 after aristolochic acid treatment.To assess the role of miR-21 in aristolochic acid induced acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease progression,mice were intravenously injected with anti-miR-21 or anti-scramble (10 mg/kg) at 1 h before aristolochic acid dosing,as well as d5 and d10 after aristolochic acid dosing.Results Increased serum creatinine and severe kidney injury were found at d3 after aristolochic acid treatment.Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis was developed at d14 after aristolochic acid treatment.Protein expression of α-SMA,vimentin and collagen Ⅰ were significantly up-regulated at d7 and peaked at d14 (P ＜ 0.01),while protein abundance of E-Cadherin decreased at d14 and lasted until d28 (P ＜ 0.01).The abundance of miR-21 increased at d7 after aristolochic acid dosing,peaking at d14 and thereafter maintaining at a high level.Anti-miR-21 intervention relieved renal injury with reduced serum creatinine (P ＜ 0.05) and attenuation of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.Besides,the protein expression of α-SMA,vimentin,and collagen Ⅰ/Ⅳ was all down-regulated after anti-miR-21 treatment (P ＜ 0.05).PTEN was up-regulated and the ratio of its downstream genes p-AKT/AKT was decreased.(P ＜ 0.05) Conclusions A single high dose of aristolochic acid leads to acute kidney injury and the development of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis secondary to AKI.Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis could be partially reversed by inhibiting miR-21 via PTEN/p-AKT pathway.

Objective: To compare the baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with intracranial arterial occlusion caused by embolic stroke of undetermined source and cardiogenic stroke. Methods: Retrospective analysis was made on ESUS and CS patients in registration databases who received thrombectomy in two stroke centers, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Lishui Central Hospital, Zhejiang University from November 2012 to April 2019. T-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the measurement data, χ2 test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the counting data, and the independent prognostic risk factors were analyzed by Logistic regression. Results: In all, 117 participants were eventually enrolled, including 30 (25.6%) with ESUS and 87 (74.4%) with CS. Compared with the CS group, the ESUS group was significantly younger (mean ages, 64 years vs 75 years, P=0.003) with lower median baseline NIHSS scores (12 vs. 15, P=0.020), lower median NIHSS scores at 24 h (10 vs 12, P=0.033) and lower median MRS scores at 90 days (2 vs 4, P=0.015). The rates of successful recanalization were similar. Logistic regression analysis showed hypertension (OR=0.264, 95%CI 0.099-0.704, P=0.008) and baseline NIHSS scores (OR=0.758, 95%CI 0.673-0.853, P=0.000) were independent risk factors affecting prognoses. Conclusion: Compared with CS, ESUS patients are relatively younger and have milder neurological dysfunction at onset and better prognoses; however, both groups have high mortality rates. The successful recanalization rates for mechanical thrombectomy are similar. The baseline NIHSS score and hypertension are independent prognostic risk factors.

Three osmotolerant yeasts were isolated from three batches of "swollen can" soy sauce produced by a Guangdong condiment plant. These strains grew faster in the media containing 50%～60% glucose or 15% NaCl than in common yeast media. The three yeasts were identified as Pichia etchellsii by using morphological characteristics, physiological and biochemical tests.

This study focused on the intestinal absorption of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) to reveal the scientific connotation of the compatibility of TCM pairs. The single pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) was used in rats to compare the absorption of single extracts from Puerariae Lobatae Radix, single extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, combined extracts from Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma mixture in rats. The content of puerarin, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Re and ginsenoside Rb1 in liquid were tested by HPLC. The speed constant (Ka) and apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) were calculated and compared. Specifically, the order of puerarin Ka and Papp values from high to low was Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix mixture > single extracts from Puerariae Lobatae Radix > combined extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix; the order of ginsenosides Ka and Papp values from high to low was Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix mixture > single extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma > combined extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix. The combined administration of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix may improve the absorption in the intestinal tract.
Animals ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacokinetics ; Intestinal Absorption ; Isoflavones ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome

OBJECTIVETo search for an effective therapy for patients with optic atrophy to improve the visual function.

METHODSThirty-eight cases (fifty-four affected eyes) of optic atrophy were treated with acupuncture, local points combined with points selected acording to syndrome differentiation were used, Jingming (BL 1), Cuanzhu (BL 2), and Fengchi (GB 20) were selected as main points, the therapeutic effects were evaluated after 2 courses of treatment, and variation of the indexes in patients such as vision, visual field and visual evoked potential were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 83.3%, the vision, visual acuity, and the amplitude of P100-wave were obviously improved after treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can improve the visual function of patients with optic atrophy, and can be a effective therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Atrophy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Vision, Ocular ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the molecular mechanisms linking intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to adult type 2 diabetes mellitus, the effect of IUGR on the hepatic post-receptor insulin-signaling pathway was investigated in the adult offspring.

METHODSThe IUGR model was prepared by maternal protein-malnutrition. Western blotting analysis was undertaken to assess hepatic expression of insulin receptor substrate (IRS-2), phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K), protein kinase B (PKB), phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3 in 8-week-old male IUGR rats.

RESULTSThe basal levels of PI-3K protein decreased in IUGR rats compared with normal controls (p<0.01), whereas GSK-3beta protein level significantly increased in IUGR rats (p<0.01). Both PKB and phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 protein levels significantly decreased in the liver of IUGR rats compared with normal controls (p<0.01)). After insulin administration, phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 significantly increased to 182% of basal level in control rats(p<0.01); However, phosphorylation of PKB which responded to insulin was markedly blunted in IUGR rats compared with controls and only increased to 123% of basal level (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe level of PI-3K and PKB and phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 expression decreased in the liver of IUGR rats, whereas the levels of GSK-3beta protein increased. It may contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in the IUGR rats.

Animals ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; analysis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; analysis ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; analysis ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and other lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were obtained from 64 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma (case group) and analyzed by flow cytometry. The ratios of CD4+CD25+Treg T cells and other T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood were compared with those from 33 healthy controls (control group).

RESULTSThe percentages of CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ were (66.5±11.0)% and (37.7±10.6)% respectively in the peripheral blood of the case group, which were significantly lower than those [(72.0±6.0)% and (42.0±6.4)%] in the control group (t=-3.2,-2.4; P=0.020, 0.015, respectively). The ratio of CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells in case group (10.5±4.0)% was significantly higher than that [(8.4±3.5)%] in the control group (t=-2.2, P=0.013). CD4+/CD8+ value of case group (1.4±0.8) was significantly lower than that (1.8±0.7) in control group(t=-2.2, P=0.029). CD3+CD8+, CD8+CD28-, and CD8+CD28+ showed no significant differences (all P>0.05). Smoking, differentiation grade, and size of the tumor showed no association with the function damage of T lymphocyte subsets, while the carcino-embryonic antigen level did.

CONCLUSIONSIn patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma, Treg increases and CD4+/CD8+ decreases, suggesting remarkably suppressed immune functions. However, more research is warranted to validate the association of T cells subset dysfunction with smoking, differentiation grade, and size of tumor.

Adenocarcinoma ; immunology ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP)procedures preserving different gastric volume on blood glucose of rats with non-obese type 2 diabetes.

METHODSA total of 36 Goto-Kakizaki rats randomly underwent one of the following procedures: gastric bypass with different types of anastomosis including the Roux-en-Y of total stomach excision(n=12), the Roux-en-Y of partial stomach excision(n=12) and the Roux-en-Y of stomach preservation(n=12). Rats were observed for 24 weeks after surgery. Body weight, food intake and fasting blood glucose level were tested at 0(preoperative), 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 weeks. Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) level was measured at 0, 12, 24 weeks and glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in conscious rats before (baseline) and then 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. Change of blood glucose over time was depicted. Area under curve(AUC) of glucose tolerance were calculated.

RESULTSCompared with preoperative levels, the weight and food intake of all the rats were significantly decreased at 1 week after surgery(P<0.01). At 3 weeks after operation, the weight and food intake were significantly increased compared with 1 week after operation in the Roux-en-Y of partial stomach excision and the Roux-en-Y of stomach retention(P<0.01). In the Roux-en-Y of total stomach excision, the weight and food intake were significantly lower compared with other two groups(P<0.05). At 24 weeks after operation, the levels of fasting blood glucose were (7.3 ± 1.5), (7.5 ± 2.0) and (8.3 ± 1.3) mmol/L, which were lower than the preoperative levels [(13.2 ± 1.6), (13.6 ± 2.5) and (12.9 ± 2.0) mmol/L, P<0.01] in the three groups. There were no significant differences among the three groups(P>0.05). At 24 weeks after operation, the HbA1c levels were(6.3 ± 1.3)%, (6.4 ± 2.0)% and (7.0 ± 1.3)%, which were lower than the preoperative level[(10.2 ± 2.6)%, (9.6 ± 2.5) and (9.9 ± 2.0)%, P<0.01]. There were no significant differences among the three groups(P>0.05). The trend of the glucose tolerance test and AUC were similar in the three groups after operation.

CONCLUSIONRoux-en-Y gastric bypass in non-obese diabetic rats is effective in terms of glucose control and the efficacy of gastric bypass has no obvious association with the stomach volume.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; surgery ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastric Bypass ; methods ; Male ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) caused by malnutrition during pregnancy on the acetylation of histone H3 and expression of histonedeacetylase1(HDAC1) in the hepar of the adult offspring and to explore the relationship between them.

METHODSMale 8-week-old offspring from maternal protein-malnutrition dams were studied. The expression of HDAC1 mRNA in the hepar was measured by fluorescent quantization RT-PCR. The levels of hepatic nuclear HDAC1 protein and acetylation of histone H3/K9 were assessed by Western blot.

RESULTSThe hepatic HDAC1 mRNA expression in IUGR rats was reduced to 54% of that of normal control rats (t=2.042, p<0.05). A decline in nuclear expression of HDAC1 protein (438 +/- 47) was also noted when compared with normal controls (1,128 +/- 110) (t=2.179, p<0.05). In contrast, the percentage of acetylated histone H3/K9 in IUGR rats (17.3 +/- 1.6%) increased significantly compared with that of normal control rats (10.5 +/- 1.2%) (t=3.597, p<0.01). The level of acetylated histone H3/K9 was negatively correlated with the HDAC1 protein concentration (r=-0.781, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIncreased hepatic acetylation of histone H3 in the IUGR offspring might be caused by decreased HDAC1 expression in nuclear protein. This may contribute to the transcription change of some genes in the hepar.

Acetylation ; Animals ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; metabolism ; Histone Deacetylase 1 ; analysis ; genetics ; Histones ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar