Objective To investigate the possible pathway of FITC-dextran to the cochlea after post-aural injection.Methods The FITC-dextran(weight between 3 000~5 000) was chosen as a tracer in this study.A total of 200 suckling mice were randomly divided into four groups, with 50 in each group.Each animal was then administered with FITC-dextran or dextran via either post-auricular or intra-muscular injection, to a total dose of 20 μl (5 mg/ml).Samples were obtained at 0, 1/12, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 3, 5, 7, 12, and 24 hours after adminstmiceion, and the confocal technique was used to observe the distribution of the tracer.Taking into consideration the influence of spontaneous fluorescence, the fluorescence intensity ratio of the experimental and control groups was used as the final statistical data.Results FITC-dextran injected intramuscularly group: The fluorescence signal can be detected in the sigmoid sinus(SS) 3h after management, while in endolymphatic sac and cochlea at 12 h.FITC-dextran injected post-aurally group: After administration, an obvious fluorescence signal could be observed in the sigmoid sinus and endolymphatic sac immediately, cochlea at 30 min.The signal of the sigmoid sinus, endolymphatic sac and cochlea gradually increased successively, peaked at 5~15 min, 30 min and 60 min, and then decreased gradually.At 12 h, another small increases appeared, and the signal could not be detected at 24 h.Conclusion Compared with intramuscularly application, post-auricular injection can allow the drug to directly reach the endolymph.It is possible that the tracer first gathered in the SS via local blood circulation or infiltration, then entered the ES via micro-circulation around, and eventually arrived at the cochlea.

Objective To investigate the physicochemical properties and immunobiological activity of a polysaccharide (RAP-B-l) from stems of Rubus amabilis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of endovascular stent with or without coil graft on intracranial wide-necked aneurysms. Methods12 cases with intracranial wide-necked aneurysms, among whom, 10 cases were treated with stents and coils, 2 C4 aneurysms were treated with graft stent, were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsOf the 10 cases who were treated with stents and coils, 8 patients were completely occluded and other 2 patients were incompletely (>95%) occluded. 2 cases accepted graft stent were obliterated. Follow-up with angiography in 10 patients for 3～12 months revealed that all the aneurysms were completely occluded. 1 patient among them died. ConclusionEndovascular stent with or without coil graft is effective on intracranial wide-necked aneurysms.

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of repeated gonadotropic stimulations on the developmental potential and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) expression of mouse oocytes.

METHODSFemale Kunming mice were treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for 3 times, and the control mice were treated with normal saline. The two groups of mice were both stimulated subsequently to obtain the mature oocytes. Immunocytochemical staining was employed to evaluate GDF-9 expression in the oocytes. The oocytes were then inseminated and cultured till the formation of blastocysts to compare the cleavage rate and blastocyst formation rate between the groups.

RESULTSA total of 253 mature oocytes were obtained in the repeated stimulation group, with a mean of 11.5 oocytes from each mouse; 521 mature oocytes were obtained in the control group with a significantly greater mean number of 32.6 from each mouse (P<0.05). The average optical density and integrated optical density for GDF-9 expression were significantly lower in the oocytes in repeated stimulation group than in the control group (P<0.05 and 0.01, respectively). After insemination, the cleavage rate were comparable between repeated stimulation group and the control group (85.6% vs 88.8%), but the blastocyst formation rate was significantly lower in repeated stimulation group (20.8% vs 35.2%, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONRepeated gonadal stimulation decreases the developmental potential of mouse oocytes possibly due to reduced GDF-9 expression.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Gonadotropins ; pharmacology ; Growth Differentiation Factor 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Oocytes ; cytology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Ovulation Induction ; adverse effects ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Lianggesan on the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) in rats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury and explore the possible mechanisms of the therapeutic effects.

METHODSEndotoxemia was induced in Wistar rats by intravenous injection of LPS (5 mg/kg). The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, namely the control group, acute lung injury group (LPS group), 3 Lianggesan groups treated at different doses, and LPS+DEX treatment group. Each group, except for the control group, was further divided into 5 subgroups and examined at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 h after LPS injection. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of STAT1 and p-STAT1 in the lung tissue.

RESULTSIn LPS group, the expression of STAT1 began to increase at 1 h following LPS injection, reaching the peak level at 4 h; the peak expression of p-STAT1 occurred at 2 h after LPS administration (P<0.01). Compared with LPS group, the 3 Lianggesan groups and DEX group showed significantly decreased expressions of STAT1 and p-STAT1 at 2, 4 and 8 h after LPS injection (P<0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAbnormal expression of STAT1 occurs in the lung tissue in the event of ALI. Lianggesan can relieve LPS-induced acute lung injury in rats by decreasing the expression of STAT1 and p-STAT1.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo test whether nuclear factor kappa B plays an important role in the apoptosis-inhibitory effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) P22(e) protein.

METHODSHepG2 cells were transfected with recombination plasmid pEGFP-HBVP22(e). The Act-D and TNF alpha were used to induce apoptosis. NF-kappa B inhibitor ALLN were used to inhibit the signaling pathway. The activation of NF-kappa B was EMSA, and the nulear translocation of NF-kappa B was determined by immuno-staining.

RESULTSLaser scanning confocal microscopy and EMSA indicated that HBV P22(e) protein enhanced the nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B after apoptosis induction. ALLN treatment inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B, and blocked the apoptosis-inhibiting effect of HBV P22(e) protein.

CONCLUSIONThis study indicates that HBV P22(e) protein inhibits apoptosis of hepatocyte via the NF-kappa B signaling pathway.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Leupeptins ; pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transfection ; Viral Core Proteins ; metabolism

AIM: To establish a more comprehensive and suitable procedure for the quality control of Semen Cassiae which can be used to supplement the evaluation procedure adopted by the Pharmacopoeia of the Peoples Republic of China. METHODS: A HPLC assay-based comprehensive quality evaluation procedure for Semen Cassiae using three bioactive compounds including anthraquinones and naphthopyrones, i.e., chrysophanol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), rubrofusarin-6-O-β-D-gentiobioside (2) and toralactone-9-O-β-D-gentiobioside (3) as the index components was established. The resultant data were further analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and data distribution methods using software SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: Sixty-six batches of Semen Cassiae obtained from various regions of China were analyzed with the procedure. Based on the test results of these batches, the content limits of the three bioactive compounds in Semen Cassiae were proposed. CONCLUSION The procedure established herein is more comprehensive and appropriate for the quality evaluation of Semen Cassiae commercially available in China, and can be used as a useful supplement to the current official method in China for the quality evaluation of Semen Cassiae.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cinnamomum aromaticum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; economics ; standards ; Principal Component Analysis ; Quality Control ; Software

OBJECTIVETo investigate subtype and genetic analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1).

METHODSDNA sequences were amplified by nested-PCR from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from 100 HIV-1 patients from Guangdong Province. The C2 to V3 region of the envelope glycoprotein gp120 of HIV-1 was sequenced directly. The analysis of the gene-based phylogenetic tree and variation of amino acid were carried out by using Wisconsin software package or genetics computer group (GCG).

RESULTSDNA fragments were amplified from 75 PBMC samples by using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequence analysis showed that there were 3 HIV-1 subtypes or circulating recombinant forms (CRF): CRF01-AE (n = 44), CRF-BC (n = 27) and B' (n = 4).

CONCLUSIONSThree HIV-1 subtypes or circulating recombinant forms: CRF01-AE, CRF-BC and B' might be circulating in Guangdong Province. Findings from this study suggested that several subtypes might exist in Guangdong Province and the epidemic situation of AIDS be serious. It should be a challenge for Guangdong Province in treating patients, preventing and controlling AIDS in the future.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; blood ; epidemiology ; virology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Base Sequence ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; Female ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein Isoforms

Objective To explore the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)in rat hearts with experimental autoimmune myocarditis(EAM)and the possible mechanism of resveratrol's therapeutic effect.Methods Experimental myocarditis model was established by using porcine myocardial immunoglobulin. Twenty-four male 6-week-old Lewis rats were randomly divided into control group(Con),EAM model group(MC) and resveratrol treatment group(MC+ Res).All the rats were detected and compared in the cardiac function according to echocardiographic analysis,and the expression of MIF was detected by Western blot.The degree of myocardial injury was detected by HE staining and the degree of macrophage infiltration in the myocardium was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results In control group,there was no significant inflammatory infiltration or myocardial injury in the myocardium.Heavy local infiltration of macrophages,and dissolved and fractured myocardial fibers were observed in model group.Resveratrol significantly decreased macrophage density and myocardial injury in the heart(P＜ 0.05).Compared with those in control group,LVEDs were significantly increased(P＜0.01)while LVEF and LVFS were markedly decreased in model group(P＜0.01).Compared with model group,LVEDs were significantly decreased(P＜0.05)while LVEF and LVFS were markedly increased in resveratrol group(P＜0.05).The protein expression of MIF was markedly increased in rats of model group(P＜0.01),but was decreased in resveratrol group compared with model groups(P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Increased expression of MIF may be involved in the pathogenesis of EAM.The therapeutic effect of resveratrol on EAM may be associated with down-regulated MIF expression and decreased macrophage infiltration.