Animals ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Untranslated

Objective: To observe the effect of Z-ligustilide on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and to investigate the protection on endothelial cells injured by inflammatory cytokines and its mechanism. Methods: TNF-α (10 ng/mL) was added to in vitro cultured HUVEC to induce the cell injury. After co-incubated with the different concentration (5, 10, and 20 μmol/L) of Z-ligustilide for 24 h, the cell viability in each group was measured by MTT. The levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were assayed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting was used to detect the expression of NF-κB protein of cell in each group. Results: TNF-α could induce the obvious injury of HUVEC compared with the control group (P < 0.05, 0.01), and increase the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in HUVEC (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, Z-ligustilide could dose-dependently reduce the expression of ICAM-1 (P < 0.01) and VCAM-1 (P < 0.05) and obviously decrease the NF-κB expression (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Z-ligustilide could attenuate TNF-α-induced injury in HUVEC via suppressing the activation of NF-κB and inhibiting the excessive expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.

To investigate the effects of Tongxinluo capsule on sciatic nerve apoptosis in spontaneous type II diabetic KK/Upj-Ay mice, in order to explore its mechanism for improving diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). KK/Upj-Ay mice were selected as the DPN animal model and randomly divided into the model, Tongxinluo low, middle and high group (1, 2, 4 g x kg(-1)). C57BL/6 mice were selected as the control group. Mice were given intragastrically for 12 weeks. Paw withdrawal latency, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) were detected. Apoptotic rate were detected by FCM. Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression in sciatic nerve were examined by Real-time PCR and Western blot. p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK expression were examined by Western blot. In this study,the authors found that Tongxinluo capsule could increase paw withdrawal latency, MNCV and SNCV. Apoptotic rate of sciatic, the expression of Bax and caspase-3 were lower, while Bcl-2 expression was higher in Tongxinluo group than those in model mice. The expression of p-p38MAPK significantly decreased in Tongxinluo group. The results showed that Tongxinluo capsule has protective effects on diabetic peripheral neuropathy of mice via inhibiting cell apoptosis and suppressing the expression of p-p38MAPK.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Capsules ; administration & dosage ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Sciatic Nerve ; cytology ; drug effects

Objective To assess the biophysical characteristics of normal skin and inflammatory skin lesions in mild and moderate acne. Methods Seventy-five mild and moderate acne vulgaris patients were included in the study. One inflammatory lesion measuring 2.0 to 5.0 mm in diameter which occurred within 48 hours prior to the measurement was selected as the target lesion. Trans-epidermis water loss (TEWL), capacitance and a* value were measured in target lesions and lesion-adjacent normal skin. Sebum content immediately,1 and 4 (saturated) hours after face washing was also determined on target lesions and central forehead between the eyebrows. Sebum secretion rate (SSR) was calculated. Results The TEWL and SSR significantly increased in the lesion-adjacent normal skin with the increment of inflammatory lesion number (both P < 0.05), and increased in target lesions with the elevation of a* value (both P < 0.05). The target lesions exhibited a significantly higher TEWL but a lower saturated sebum content and SSR than the adjacent normal skin did (all P <0.05). Conclusions The severity of inflammatory lesions is correlated with the impaired barrier function and increased SSR in facial skin. Compared with the adjacent normal skin, inflammatory skin lesions have a reduced skin barrier function and SSR.

Cytomegalovirus Infections ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Skin Diseases ; etiology

China ; Health Facilities ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Occupational Health Services ; manpower

The nutritive value of different heat processed textured soybean proteins was measured by means of chemical and biologic methods. The experiment was divided into four groups (10 rats, each): (1) High heat treated textured soybean protein group; (2) Low heat treated textured soybean protein group; (3) Casein group; (4) Protein free group. The former three groups contained 10% protein, the latter contained less than 0.56% protein. The preperations were fed to 4 groups of weanling male rats for 4 weeks. The results showed that the body weight increments in the three groups were 146.4,158.1,188.7g; the protein effeciency ratio (PER) 2.17, 2.23, 2.74; the net protein ratio (NPR) 3.52, 3.51, 3.84; the true digestibility 84.5, 83.4, 95.8; the biological value 68.7, 64.6, 68.9 and net protein utilization 58.1, 54.0, and 66.1 respectively.Those results indicated that there was no significant difference between the high and low heat treated textured soybean protein.

Objective To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) gene-rs1007888 and the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods A total of 120 GDM pregnant women (GDM group) and 165 healthy pregnant women (control group) from Affiliated Hospital of Medical College,Qingdao University were recruited from June 2011 to July 2012.Their age,gestational week,height and weight were recorded.The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FIN) were determined.Body mass index (BMI),the hemeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and hemeostasis model assessment-β cell function (HOMA-β) were calculated.DNA was extracted from fasting blood samples.SNP of MIFrs1007888G/A was determined by DNA sequencing.The FBG,FIN,HOMA-IR and HOMA-β were compared between GDM group and the control group.They were also compared among pregnancies withdifferent genotypes.Results (1) GDM group had higher FBG,FIN and HOMA-IR levels,but lower HOMA-β than the control group (all P ＜ 0.05).(2) MIF-rs1007888 SNP genotype frequencies of GG,GA and AA were 37.5％,45.8％ and 16.7％,and the allelic frequencies of G and A were 60.4％,39.6％ in GDM group; However,in the control group,the frequencies of GG,GA and AA were 26.1％,54.5％ and 19.4％,and the allelic frequencies of G and A were 53.3％,46.7％,respectively.The distributions of MIF genotypes in GDM patients were significantly different from the healthy subjects (P ＜ 0.05).No significant difference of MIF-rs1007888 allele distributions was observed between GDM group and the control group (P ＞0.05).(3) The FBG,FIN and HOMA-IR in pregnant women with GG genotype were statistically higher than those with GA or AA genotypes,while HOMA-β was lower in women with GG genotype (all P ＜0.05).Conclusions The SNP of MIF rs-1007888 was related to the insulin resistance and pancreatic β cell function of pregnant women.GG genotype of MIF-rsl007888 might be a genetic susceptible factor in the pathogenesis of GDM.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of Smad7 and urokinase-type plas- minogen activator(uPA)co expression on CCl_4-induced rat liver fibrosis.Methods Forty SD rats were subcutaneously injectied of 40% CCl_4 every three days for 8 weeks.The rats were then divided into model group,AdSmad7/uPA group(injected with AdSmad7/uPA via tail vein),AdSmad7 group(injec- ted with AdSmad7 via tail vein)or AdGFP group(injected with AdGFP via tail vein).Ten healthy rats were served as control.The serum levels of procollagenⅢ(PCⅢ)and laminin(LN)were determined by radioimmunoassay,and the hydroxyproline level in liver tissues were examined by alkaline hydrolysis. The expressions of Smad7 and uPA in tissue were examined by immunohistochemistry and fibrosis area was stained with Sirius red.Results The expressions of Smad7 and uPA protein were significantly higher in AdSmad7/uPA group than that in AdGFP group after 3 days.Serum levels of ALT,AST,PCⅢand LN were significantly decreased in AdSmad7/uPA group compared to Smad7 and AdGFP groups (all P value

Methionine synthase (MS, EC2.1.1.13), a key enzyme in the folate metabolism area catalyzing methyl transfer from N5-methyltetrahydrofolate to homocysteine to give tetrahydrofolate and methionine, takes a core position in folate cycle, one-carbon-unit transfer and sculpture amino acid pathways. Cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase was purified from rat liver. The enzyme was purified 609-fold to near homogeneity by batch chromatography on DE-52, anion-exchange chromatography on Q Sepharose Fast Flow and CHT-I hydroxyapatite column and was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The enzyme activity was determined by spectrophotometric assay. In addition, the influencing factor and optimal reaction condition were performed. The steady state kinetic of rat liver methionine synthase was similar to that of other mammalian cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase which employed a Ping-Pong mechanism. The result indicated that cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase purified from rat liver is suitable for screening and studying methionine synthase specific inhibitors.