The effect of Lycii Cortex on the PCOS rat model and the mechanism of action were investigated in the present study. The PCOS rat model was induced with Poretsky methods. Then the rats were randomly divided into four groups: the model group, melbine group (0.45 g x kg(-1)), low (2.5 g x kg(-1) and high (10 g x kg(-1)) dosage group of Lycii Cortex. The animals were orally administrated with the drugs for 14 days. In addition, another control group was added in this study. The rats were weighted before and after drug treatment. After 14 days treatment, oestrous cycle of rats were detected; blood serum was separated to determine T and FINS and rat's uteri were isolated. The mRNA and protein (total and phosphorylated) expressions of PI3K and PKB in uteri were measured with Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Compared with the control rats, the body weight gain and serum level of T and FINS were significantly increased. While, the mRNA and protein (phosphorylated) levels of PI3K and PKB were markedly decreased in PCOS group. Lycii Cortex treatment significantly decreased the body weight gain and serum level of T and FINS in a dose-dependant manner. It also markedly increased the mRNA and protein (phosphorylated) expressions of PI3K and PKB. Meanwhile, the melbine treatment also showed the curative effect. Lycii Cortex can relieve the symptoms of PCOS and the mechanism might be related to PI3K/PKB pathway.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To investigate that p53 expression in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and its effects on CD4+ T lymphocytes from active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods Human FLS was transfected with p53siRNA and cocultured with CD4+ T lymphocytes from active RA patients. The expression of osteoprotegerin and IL-6 secretion was detected in the transfected FLS. In addition, the expressions of IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-4 and CD25 as well as mRNA levels of IFN-γ RORγt, IL-17 and Foxp3 in cocuhured CD4+ T lymphocytes were also measured. Results IL-6 secretion decreased in p53-inhibited FLS while osteopro-tegerin expression was not altered, p53-inhibited FLS could significantly increase IL-17 and IFN-γ expres-sions. It also upregulated Foxp3 expression though had no effect on CD4+CD25high T lymphocytes. Conclusion p53 expression in FLS regulates Th1 and Th17 cells of RA patients, and therefore participate in the pathogenesis of RA.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,minimal invasive operation technique and perioperative management of lateral ventrieular tumors.Methods The clinical characteristics,image diagnosis,surgical approaches and postoperative management and surgical outcomes of 65 consecutive cases of lateral ventricular tumors were retrospectively analyzed.Results In our series,total resection was achieved in 54 cases,and subtotal resection was achieved in 11 cases.Lateral ventricular tumors were mostly found in male and in the left side.Headache caused by increased intracranial pressure was the most common clinical symptom.Ependymocytoma and astrocytic glioma are the most common pathologic diagnosis.Postoperative complications included fever (26 cases),hydrocephalus (9 cases),intraventricular hematoma (7 cases) of which 2 cases were evacuated by craniotomy,epilepsy (7 cases),wound infection (3 cases).Postoperative death was happened in 3 cases.Two of them died of respiratory failure due to postoperative epilepsy.Conclusion Early discovery of lateral ventricle tumors,meticulous operation,subtle micromanipulation and right postoperative treatment are the criticality to improve the rate of total resection of lateral ventricle tumors through microsurgical treatment and reduce postoperative complications and mortality.

Objective Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays an important role in mediating pulmonary infiltration of neutrophils .The aim of the study was to observe the expression of ICAM-1 and its potential regulators MK 2/HuR in pulmonary micro-vascular endothelial cells ( PMVEC ) in mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome ( ARDS) induced by lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) . Methods Ten 6-8 weeks old healthy C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into an LPS and a control group of equal number , the former injected intraperitoneally with LPS diluted in 100 μL PBS while the latter with PBS only , both at 5 mg per kg of the body weight .At 24 hours after injection , all the mice were sacrificed .Real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expressions of HuR and ICAM-1 in the PMVECs, Western bolt employed to detect the protein expressions of MK2, HuR and ICAM-1, and flow cytometry adopted to measure the ICAM-1 expression on the surface of the PMVECs and pulmonary infiltration of neutrophils . Results The W/D ratio in the lung tissue of the mice was significantly lower in the LPS than in the control group (3.61 ±0.28 vs 6.16 ±0.40, P<0.05), while the rate of neutrophil infiltration markedly higher in the former than in the latter ([13.92 ±3.23]%vs [3.24 ±1.24]%, P<0.05).The mRNA and protein expressions of ICAM-1 in the PMVECs were significantly elevated in the LPS group as compared with that in the control (P<0.05), and so was the mRNA expression of HuR (P<0.05).No remarkable changes were observed in the expressions of total MK 2 and HuR proteins, but phosphorylated MK2 (p-MK2) and cytoplasmic HuR were increased in the LPS-stimulated mice. Conclusion Specific blockage or reduction of the HuR expression in PMVECs may lower the expression of ICAM-1, reduce neutrophil infiltration , and lessen pathophysiological changes in mice with ARDS .

Objective To study the effect of motor imagery therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation treatment on walking ability in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.Methods Eighty patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were randomly divided into a treatment group (40 cases) and a control group (40 cases).All the patients in both groups were given basic medication and conventional rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the patients in treatment group were given motor imagery therapy.The 10 m maximum walking speed (10 m MWS),stride length,cadence,Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (lower limb) (FMA-L) and Holden's functional ambulation classification (FAC) were used to evaluate walking ability before the beginning of training and at the end of six weeks of training.Results Before intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of all the assessment (P ＞0.05).At the end of training,all measurements in both groups [the treatment group:10 m MWS (0.53 ± 0.20)m/s,stride length (78.91 ± 20.46) cm,cadence (78.10 ± 12.03) min,FMA-L (24.13 ±5.77),FAC (3.60±1.01);the control group:10 m M WS (0.42 ±0.15)m/s,stride length (69.75 ± 18.31)cm,cadence (71.14±9.29)/min,FMA-L (20.65 ±4.70),FAC (2.93 ±0.89)] were significantly better than those before training (P ＜ 0.05),and the improvements in treatment group were significantly better than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Motor imagery therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation treatment can distinctly improve the walking ability in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.

A batch laboratory test was conducted to examine the effect of biological reductive dechlorination of 2,4-Dichlorophenol(2,4-DCP) by the addition of zero-valent iron(Fe0) in the anaerobic system, through inoculating the anaerobic mixed microorganism acclimated for two months. Meanwhile, several factors that affected "Fe0+ microbe" system were also being discussed. The results showed that, "Fe0+ microbe" system accelerated the biological dechlorination of 2,4-DCP effectively compared to the individual use. The opti-mum quantity of added Fe0 and inoculation was 0.5 g/L and 376.2 mgVSS/L in the combined system respec-tively. It showed the most effective transformation efficiency for 2,4-DCP when initial pH=8.0, whereas it become weaker when initial pH are keeping in acid condition. There existed a proportion between quantity of added Fe0 and inoculation. It enhanced degradable effect of 2,4-dichlorophenol when increased the quan-tity of inoculation at suitable ranges, which generated more enzyme or enzymatic series degraded pollutant.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Danshen root compound (DSC) on blood lipid and bone biomechanics in mice with hyperlipemia-induced osteoporosis.

METHODSForty Kunming mice were randomized into 5 equal groups, and were given intragastric administration with distilled water (control), lipid emulsion (LE) at the daily dose of 5 ml/kg, LE plus simvastatin, LE plus DSC at 5.0 g/kg (DSC-L group), and LE plus DSC at 10.0 g/kg (DSC-H group), respectively. Serum TC, TG, and HDL-c levels and left femur hydroxyproline, calcium and phosphate contents were measured in the rats, with the right femur taken for bone biomechanical test.

RESULTSCompared with those in the control group, serum TC, LDL-c and AI of the mice increased and HDL-c, Hyp and bone calcium decreased significantly (P<0.01) with lowered bone biomechanical properties. Compared with those of the LE model group, AI decreased and HDL-c increased significantly in DSC-L and DSC-H groups (P<0.01), and the bone biomechanics in DSC-H group was improved.

CONCLUSIONLong-term intragastric administration of lipid emulsion causes lipid metabolic disorder and induces osteoporosis due to hyperlipemia in mice. DSC can significantly increase HDL-c and partially prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis in mice.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Phenanthrolines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Yiqi Huoxue Recipe (WYHR) on the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in retinal degeneration slow (RDS) mice, and to investigate its molecular mechanisms.

METHODSRDS mice were randomly divided into the model group and the Chinese medicine group,and C57BL/6J mice were selected as the normal control group. Each group consisted of 4 female mice and 2 male mice. Mice in the Chinese medicine group were administered with WYHR (10 mg/g) by gastrogavage since mating. Baby mice drunk WYHR decoction instead of drinking water once they were born. The offspring were administrated with low dose WYHR decoction by gastrogavage from the 7th postnatal day, and the dose was increased to that for adult mice from the 21st postnatal day. Physiological saline was administrated to mice in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. At 18, 28 and 48 postnatal days, electroretinogram (ERG) was used to evaluate the retina functional variation, and the apoptotic rate of photoreceptor cells was determined by TUNEL staining. HE staining was performed. The number of photoreceptor cells of the outer nuclear layer was calculated. Furthermore, effect of WYHR on Rhodopsin and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression was examined using immunochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude, as well as the bFGF expression sharply increased in the Max-ERG of the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) at 18 postnatal days. At 28 and 48 postnatal days, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude sharply increased, photoreceptor cell layer numbers of the outer nuclear layer obviously increased, the apoptosis rate of retinal photoreceptor cells obviously decreased, expressions of Rhodopsin and bFGF in the Chinese medicine group significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWYHR could effectively inhibit the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in RDS mice, which might be attributed to up-regulating bFGF expression.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Retinal Degeneration ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the preventive effects of a compound Danshen preparation (DSC) on long-term gastric lipid emulsion administration-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats.

METHODSTwenty-seven 3-month-old SD rats were randomized equally into 3 groups and subjected to daily intragastric administration for 20 weeks of distilled water (control), lipid emulsion at 5 ml/kg (model group), and lipid emulsion plus DSC at 5.0 g/kg (DSC treatment group). After blood glucose (BG) determination, the rats were sacrificed for measurement of serum TC, TG, HDL-c, AST, and ALT, and the liver was weighed and pathologically examined.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the rats in the model group showed significantly increased BG, TC, LDL-c, arteriosclerosis index (AI), AST, ALT, liver weight, and liver index (P<0.01) and decreased HDL-c (P<0.01), while TG remained unchanged. Fatty degeneration, hydropic degeneration and necrosis with inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the liver of the rats in the model group. Compared with the model group, the rats in DSC groups showed decreased BG, AI (P<0.01), liver weight, liver index, AST, and ALT (P<0.05) and increased HDL-c, with milder pathological changes in the liver.

CONCLUSIONSLong-term gastric perfusion of lipid emulsion causes lipid metabolic disorder and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rats characterized by increased TC and decreased HDL-c. DSC can significantly increase HDL-c and provide partial protection of the liver against the damages by the lipid emulsion.

Animals ; Drug Administration Routes ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Emulsions ; Fatty Liver ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Female ; Lipids ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Male ; Phenanthrolines ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Time Factors

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnostic Errors ; Enteritis ; diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; diagnosis ; Female ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies