To analyze the specific mechanism of Jinxueyuan granules, the relationship between the Jinxueyuan granules increased the saliva secretion of xerostomia model SD rats and excitement of receptors were studied in this experiment. In the study, three groups of xerostomia model rats were successfully established by using M-receptor blockers-4-diphenyl-acetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine (4-DAMP) and atropine, or adrenergic receptor blocker phentolamine; after the modeling, the medicine Jinxueyuan granules were gavaged. According to the clinical dose of Jinxueyuan granules and SD rats body surface area, the rats in atropine group were divided three dose groups respectively, namely low, medium and high dose of Jinxueyuan granules groups. The 4-DAMP group and phentolamine group were gavaged medium dose of Jinxueyuan granules. And the amount of salivary secretion for 150 minutes in all groups continuously were measured, and the effect of Jinxueyuan granules increased salivation and the relationship between characteristics and the receptors were observed; and submandibular gland tissue of the rats was isolated, then the effect of Jinxueyuan Granules for expression of the water channel protein aquaporin-5 (AQP5) in submandibular gland cells was analyzed by the Western blot technology. It was found that the saliva secretion of Jinxueyuan Granules groups was increased significantly, and compared with the saline control group, phentolamine group, 4-DAMP group and atropine group, difference was significant, P < 0.05. There was no significant difference between the low-dose of Jinxueyuan granules group and the saline group, but the medium dose of Jinxueyuan granules group had a significant difference, compared with the saline group (P < 0.05). In the time distribution of increasing saliva secretion, there was a significant difference between the saline and Jinxueyuan granules group in the saliva secretion (P < 0.05). After administration of Jinxueyuan granules, the expression of AQP5 protein in the submandibular gland cells expressing of treatment groups was increased, and compared with the blocker groups, there was a significant difference, P < 0.05. Except the atropine group, there was no significant difference in Jinxueyuan granules relieving the inhibition induced by blocks in phentolamine group and 4-DAMP group, compared with the saline group. Compared the AQP5 expression in three blockers groups, there was no significant difference in the efficacy of Jinxueyuan granules between phentolamine group and 4-DAMP group; but there was a significant difference between the atropine group and other groups (P < 0.05). Therefore, it was considered that the mechanism of Jinxueyuan granules increasing saliva secretion (effectiveness of nourishing Yin and generating body fluid ) possibly through the pathway mediated by muscarinic M receptor, especially M3 receptor, or adrenergic receptor, and increased expression of salivary gland AQP5 membrane, and then stimulate saliva production.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Saliva ; secretion ; Salivary Glands ; drug effects ; secretion ; Xerostomia ; drug therapy ; metabolism

AlM: To investigate the clinical effect of preserved amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment to conjunctival rupture, dehiscence and socket contracture after hydroxyapatite ( HA) orbital implantation.
METHODS: ln 16 cases of conjunctival rupture and socket contracture after HA orbital implantation, conjunctival tension was release by operation and preserved amniotic membrane was transplanted on conjunctival scleral exposure area.
RESULTS:ln all cases, conjunctiva healing, completely cover the sclera and conjunctiva socket recover ideal depth after operation in 15 cases, 1 case was fail.
CONCLUSlON: Preserved amniotic membrane transplantation is an effective method to treat conjunctival dehiscence and keeping the ideal conjunctival socket depth after orbital implantation.

To explore new agents of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives with more potent antiepileptic activity, a series of 4-(2-acetoxybenzoylamino) butyramide derivatives were designed and synthesized. All of the novel compounds (5a-51) were synthesized from GABA as starting material, and their structures were confirmed with IR, 1H NMR, EI-MS and elemental analysis. Preliminary pharmacological test in vitro showed that all target compounds displayed strong antiepileptic activities and were worth for further study. The structure-activity relationship of 4-(2-acetoxybenzoylamino) butyramide derivatives was also discussed preliminarily.

Objective To investigate the value of high-frequency ultrasound in diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma by comparative analysis of high-frequency ultrasound and spiral CT imaging results. Methods The imaging results of patients with thyroid carcinoma proved by postoperative pathology or biopsy results were reviewed.High-frequency ultrasound and spiral CT were used to examine the 35 patients in The Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University between 2007 and 2009. Results Diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma by application of Highfrequency ultrasound were 27 cases, diagnosis rate was 77.1%(27/35);by spiral CT were 25 cases, diagnosis rate was 71.4% (25/35);comparison of the two methods showed no significant difference (x2= 0.3, P ＞ 0.05). Combined application of high-frequency ultrasound and spiral CT diagnosed 33 patients with thyroid carcinoma, diagnosis rate was 94.3%(33/35), which was significantly higher than that of high-frequency ultrasound alone or that of spiral CT alone(compared with high-frequency ultrasound, x2 = 4.2, P ＜ 0.05;and spiral CT, x2 = 6.4, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Combined application of high-frequency ultrasound and spiral CT can improve the diagnosis rate of thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differences in the expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin between high-risk prostate cancer and low- and medium-risk prostate cancer, and analyze their correlation with the age, serum PSA level, and Gleason score of the patients.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 42 cases of prostate cancer, which were divided into a low- and medium-risk group (group A, n = 15) and a high-risk group (group B, n = 27). We measured the expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin by immunohistochemical staining, compared their differences between the two groups, and analyzed their correlation with the age, serum PSA level, and Gleason score of the patients.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of E-cadherin was significantly higher in group A than in B (6.1 +/- 0.51 vs 4.2 +/- 0.37, P < 0.01), and so was its positive rate (73.3% vs 25.9%, P < 0.05). The positive rate of E-cadherin was also markedly higher in the patients with serum PSA < 20 microg/L than in those with serum PSA > or = 20 microg/L (66.7% vs 29.6%, P < 0.05), and so was it in the patients with the Gleason score 5-7 than in those with 8-10 (60.9% vs 21.1%, P < 0.05). On the contrary, the N-cadherin expression was significantly lower in group A than in B (3.7 +/- 0.32 vs 7.5 +/- 0.58, P < 0.01), and so was its positive rate (13.3% vs 59.3%, P < 0.01). The positive rate of N-cadherin was also remarkably lower in the patients with the Gleason score 5-7 than in those with 8-10 (26.1% vs 63.2%, P < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the N-cadherin expression between the patients with serum PSA < 20 microg/L and those with serum PSA > or = 20 microg/L (P > 0.05), nor in the expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin between the patients aged > or = 70 years and those aged < 70 years (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin are significantly different between high-risk prostate cancer and low- and medium-risk prostate cancer, which suggests that both may correlate with the invasion and metastasis of prostate cancer as well as with the serum PSA level and Gleason score of the patients.

Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To observe the effect of Liuwei Dihuang decoction on brain development of intrauterine growth retardation rats,and to demonstrate the relationship between brain and kidney in TCM.Methods: Animals were divided into 4 groups at random: normal group,model group,Huangqi(HQ) and Liuwei Dihuang(LD) treated groups.The IUGR model was established by passive smoking.On the 19th day of pregnancy,all rats were killed;the total numbers of embryos,the lively,dead and absorbed embryos were counted.The body and brain weight of lively embryos were scaled respectively,then microstructure and apoptosis in brain were observed.Results: Passive smoking can result in the number of dead and absorbed embryos increases.Compared with normal group,the number of apoptotic cells of model group increased.Compared with model group,in Huangqi and Liuwei Dihuang treated groups,the number of dead and absorbed embryos decreased apparently,body and brain weight increased obviously,the number of apoptotic cells reduced significantly(P

Heterotrimeric G proteins are classes of signal-transducing proteins that bind to guanine nucleotides and possess GTP hydrolase activity. G proteins are composed of three subunits α, β, and γ, and are considered as the "molecular switch" in the GPCR signaling pathway. The abnormal activation of G protein is strongly related to diseases such as uveal melanoma, asthma, et al., making directly targeting G protein as an promising strategy for combating diseases. In this review, the classification and physiological functions of G protein are briefly described, and the research progress of G proteins in diseases, G protein modulators are reviewed.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tetramethyl pyrazine (TMP) on the cytokines and inflammatory mediators in the serum and the synovial fluid of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA)rats, and further to investigate its possible mechanisms for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSType II CIA rat model was established. Rats in the TMP group were administered with TMP at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, once daily. Dexamethasone at 2.0 mg/kg was intramuscularly injected to those in the Dexamethasone treated group, once daily. Normal saline at 2 mL/kg was given to those in the normal control group and the model group, once daily. All medication was started from the 7th day, lasting to the 35th day. CIA rats' foot swelling degree was observed. Contents of serum IL-1, IL-6, IL-2, NO and PGE2in the synovial fluid were detected by radioimmunoassay and nitrate reduction method.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the foot swelling obviously increased, contents of NO and PGE2 in the synovial fluid were obviously elevated in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the foot swelling could be obviously inhibited by 100 mg/kg TMP and Dexamethasone; serum levels of IL-1 and IL-6 obviously decreased, serum IL-2 level obviously increased, contents of NO and PGE, decreased (P < 0.01). TMP 50 mg/kg could obviously inhibit the foot swelling of CIA rats (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in other indices (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTMP at 100 mg/kg showed obvious inhibition on CIA rats. Its inhibitory effect might be correlated to inhibiting activities of endogenous cytokines and the generation of inflammatory mediators in inflammation local regions, improving contents of anti-inflammation cytokines, and inducing the balance of the inflammatory cytokine network.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; blood ; metabolism ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Female ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe present study was undertaken to design antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) of glial glutamate transporter-la (GLT-1a) and to evaluate the effectiveness of the designed AS-ODNs on the expression of GLT-1a.

METHODSFive sequences of GLT-1a AS-ODNs were designed according to the C terminus specific sequences of GLT-1a mRNA using antisense design software of IDT Com- pany. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the inhibition effects of the five GLT-1a AS-ODNs on the expression of GLT-la.

RESULTSThe sequence of GLT-1a AS-ODNs with sequence of 5'-GGTTCTTCCTCAACACTGCA-3' could specifically inhibit the expression of GLT-1a in the hippocampal CA1 subfield of rats, while it had no effect on the expression of GLT-1b. This sequence showed similar inhibition on the expression of GLT-la in sham and ceftriaxone (Cef)-treated rats. It could also significantly inhibit the cerebral ischemic preconditioning (CIP)-induced up-regulation in the expression of GLT-1a. The magnitude of the inhibition in sham, Cef- or CIP-treated rats was similar by more than 60%.

CONCLUSIONFrom the designed five sequences of GLT-1a AS-ODNs, we obtained an effective sequence which can specifically inhibit the expression of GLT-1a.

Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; metabolism ; Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVEEffects of ginsenoside Rb1, Rg1 and Re on neurotrophic factor signal transduction pathway using liposome-mediated transfection of eukaryotic cells approach.

METHODThe injury model was established by treating SH-SY5Y cells with 0.6 mmol x L(-1) of corticosterone (CORT) by 24 h. SH-SY5Y cell were pretreated with CORT for 30 min followed by co-treated with 120,60 and 20 micromol x L(-1) of Rb1, 120, 80 and 40 micromol x L(-1) of Rg1 and 120, 80 and 40 micromol x L(-1) of Re for 24 h. Cells viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit (CCK) assay. CREB expressing Luciferase reporter gene was constructed and transfected with plasmid containing hRaf, hcAMP, hAkt, hCaMK gene into human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells using liposornal transfection reagent lipofection 2000. The expression of CREB before and after it addion of Rb1, Rg1 and Re was examined by Luc assay system and Western blotting.

RESULTCompared with normal control group, CORT significantly decreased the viability of SH-SY5Y cells to 67.21% (P < 0.01). CCK results show that Rb1 (60 micromol x L(-1)), Rg1 (80 micromol x L(-1)) and Re (80 micromol x L(-1)) on SH-SY5Y cells have significant protective effect (P < 0.01). Lucassay and Western blotting results show that the gene and protein levels of CREB increased significantly through the pathway of Raf and Akt with Rb1 and Rg1 (P < 0.01), Re can increase significantly the gene and protein levels of CREB through the pathway of Raf and CaMK II.

CONCLUSIONRb1, Rg1 and Re protects SH-SY5Y cells from CORT-induced damage and the neuroprotective mechanism may be associated with the Raf-CREB, Akt-CREB and CaMK II -CREB pathways.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Genes, Reporter ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Panax ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; raf Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism