Objective: To investigate the protective effect of remifentanil preconditioning on liver ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats. Methods: Forty-eight healthy adult SD rats, weighing 200-300 g, were divided into 4 groups: ischemic reperfusion group(I/R), ischemic preconditioning group(IPC), sham operation group(Sham), and remifentanil preconditioning group(RPC). The RPC group was further subdivided into 3 subgroups according to the dose of remifentanil: 0.2 μg·kg-1·min-1 (RPC1 group), 1 μg·kg-1·min-1 (RPC2 group), and 10 μg·kg-1·min-1 (RPC3 group). All rats except for those in the sham group were subjected to ischemia for 45 min and followed by reperfusion for 2 hours. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and liver homogenate levels of MDA, SOD were determined. H-E staining was used to observe the hepatic histopathological changes and TUNEL staining was used to examine hepatocyte apoptosis. Results: In I/R and RPC1 group, serum ALT and AST were significantly increased; hepatic homogenate MDA content was increased and SOD content was decreased, accompanied by aggravated pathological injury; TUNEL staining showed large amount of apoptotic cells. Compared with I/R and RPC1 groups, serum ALT and AST levels in IPC, RPC2, and RPC3 groups were significantly decreased after liver ischemia and reperfusion, accompanied by decreased homogenate MDA level, increased SOD level, and improved pathological injury. TUNEL staining showed much less apoptotic hepatocytes in IPC, RPC2, and RPC3 groups compared with I/R and RPC1 groups. No obvious changes in histopathology or in other parameters were observed in the sham group. Conclusion: Pre-treatment with remifentanil, like ischemic precondition, can protect liver from ischemia and reperfusion injury.

Objective: To investigate the changes of toll-like receptor 4 expression and its downstream cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β in the spinal cord in rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) models, and to discuss the potential target for treatment of neuropathic pain. Methods: Neuropathic pain was produced by CCI of right sciatic nerve as described previously. On the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th day after surgery, the expression of TLR4 mRNA and protein in L4-L6 was assessed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively; the distribution of TLR4 in the spinal cord was detected by immunofluorescence. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β in the spinal cord were detected by ELISA. Thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were assessed with paw withdrawal latency to radiant heat and von Frey filaments. Rats receive sham operation served as controls. Results: The mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were induced in animals after CCI. The paw withdrawal latency (PWL) and paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) of right paw were decreased after CCI (P<0.05), and the expression of TLR4 mRNA and protein was significantly increased (P<0.05); the levels of TNF-α and IL-β in SF were also significantly increased after CCI compared with that in the sham control (P<0.05). Conclusion: CCI-induced toll-like receptor 4 activation may increase the expression of cytokines and subsequently decrease pain threshold, indicating that TLR4 might be a potential target for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Andrology and gynecology have a similar or the same theoretical basis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Andrology has a history of less than 3 decades in China, while TCM gynecology has developed for over a thousand years. The development of andrology could be greatly promoted with the guidance of the theories and prescriptions of gynecology.
Andrology ; China ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Apoptosis ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Genes, Retinoblastoma ; genetics ; Genes, erbB-1 ; genetics ; Genes, p53 ; genetics ; Glioma ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Growth Protein 1 ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of paeoniflorin on the pharmacokinetics of glycyrrhizic acid and its active metabolite glycyrrhetinic acid after oral administration. METHODS: After the administration of glycyrrhizic acid alone or with paeoniflorin, blood samples were collected, and the plasma concentration-time profiles of glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid were established. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and analyzed with Topfit 2.0 software. RESULTS: When glycyrrhizic acid was co-administered with paeoniflorin, the ρmax and AUC of glycyrrhizic acid decreased to 9% and 33% of those of glycyrrhizic acid administered alone, respectively; the tmax prolonged markedly, CL increased, and Vd became larger. For glycyrrhetinic acid, only the t1/2 prolonged significantly while other PK parameters had little change. CONCLUSION: Paeoniflorin dramatically inhibits the absorption rate and extent of glycyrrhizic acid in rats when simultaneously orally administered, but has only small effect on the absorption of glycyrrhetinic acid. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Objective To observe the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor κβ ligand(RANKL) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κβ (RANK) in bone tissue of rats with chronic fluorosis and to explore the relation between OPG/RANKL/RANK system and bone damage in chronic fluoride poisoning rat and the antagonism effects of Danlan Xianpeng capsule. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into six groups according to body weight (equal male and female in each group): fluorosis group, high dose drug group, medium dose drug group, low dose drug group, control group, borax group(positive control), 12 rats in each group. The control group drank tap water and the remaining 5 experimental groups consumed 50 mg/L fluoride water, and high, medium and low doses drug group took Danlan Xianpeng capsule at doses of 0.8,0.4,0.2 g/kg,borax group took borax at dose of 0.8 g/kg. OPG, RANKL, RANK protein in rat tibial metaphysis was detected by immunohistochemistry at the 6 month. Results Compared with the control group(173.79 ± 5.23, 174.17 ± 5.01,155.63 ± 7.11), the expressions of OPG, RANKL were increased and the expression of RANK was decreased in fluorosis group(156.83 ± 5.80, 157.74 ± 6.70, 173.92 ± 4.37), the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05). Compared with the fluorosis group, the expression of OPG and RANKL were decreased and the expression of RANK was increased in high-dose drug group, middle-dose drug group(169.67±5.07, 168.08 ± 5.05,162.12 ± 4.24, 170.78 ± 5.01, 168.41 ± 7.19, 166.69 ± 5.78, all P ＜ 0.05). Compared with the borax group (167.27 ± 4.08, 167.85 ± 5.01, 166.14 ± 3.95), the expression of OPG and RANKL was increased in the low-dose drug group (163.40 ± 4.11, 159.49 ± 5.78), the expression of RANK was increased in the high-dose drug group (162.12 ± 4.24) and decreased in the low-dose drug group(171.54 ± 8.06), the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions Chronic fluoride poisoning can cause increased bone turnover and enhance the activity of osteoelastic absorption by increasing RANKL. Danlan Xianpeng capsule can affect bone remodeling through the OPG/RANKL/RANK system, and antagonises bone damage caused by fluoride.

The microstructure of cationic cyclopeptide (TD-34) treated Caco-2 cell membrane was observed, and we discussed the relationship between membrane structure and insulin transmembrane permeability. Atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to observe living cell membrane in air condition and tapping mode. Results showed that the surface of Caco-2 cell membrane treated with TD-34 lost its smoothness and nearly doubled its roughness. Apparent permeability coefficients (P(app)) of insulin in Caco-2 cell monolayers increased 2.5 times. In conclusion, AFM can be used to observe microstructure of cationic cyclopeptide treated cell membrane and cationic cyclopeptide enhanced insulin delivery across Caco-2 cell membrane by increasing membrane fluidity.
Caco-2 Cells ; Cations ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; drug effects ; Humans ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Membrane Fluidity ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Peptides, Cyclic ; pharmacology

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the levels of ghrelin, adiponectin, leptin and true insulin in human milk from mothers with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and to assess the effects of these parameters on infant growth. Methods Fifty-two GDM mothers and their healthy infants (GDM group) and 49 non-GDM mothers and their healthy infants (control group) were enrolled from Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital and Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2010 to August 2010. The levels of ghrelin, adiponectin, leptin and true insulin in colostrum and human milk 90 days postpartum (mature milk) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Infant weight, length and head circumference at birth and at 90 days old were measured. The two-sample t-test, sum-rank test and Spearman correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results Compared with the control group, ghrelin was significantly lower in human milk from GDM mothers both in colostrum [136.7 (102.7-181.4) vs 175.4 (137.5-235.0) ng/L, t= -2.737] and mature milk [111.8 (77.5-184.2) vs 210.9 (147.3-381.9) ng/L, t= -3.268]. Adiponectin was also significantly lower in human milk from GDM mothers both in colostrum [21.7 (14.6-51.8) vs 57.0 (23.1-113.9)μg/L, t=-2.858] and mature milk [11.7 (8.4-14.4) vs 15.1 (11.9-18.5)μg/L, t=-2.625], however, true insulin level was higher in colostrum [22.8 (13.4-50.2) vs 20.4 (7.8-30.8) mU/L, t=-2.007] and mature milk [33.6 (22.5-54.1) vs 23.5 (13.5-31.6) mU/L, t=-2.009]. The differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). (2) In the colostrums of the GDM group, true insulin level was negatively associated with ghrelin (r=-0.342), but positively associated with adiponectin (r=0.305). In the control group, the level of true insulin in mature milk was positive associated with leptin in colostrums( r=0.456)and mature milk(r=0.629). The differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). (3) In the GDM group, adiponectin level in colostrum was negatively associated with neonatal birth weight (r= - 0.323, P=0.025); the leptin/adiponectin ratio was negatively associated with neonatal birth weight (r= -0.403, P=0.005) and head circumference (r= -0.327, P=0.039) at birth. Adiponectin level in mature milk was negatively associated with infant length 90 days postpartum (r=-0.406, P=0.040). In the control group, the leptin/adiponectin ratio in colostrum was negatively associated with neonatal head circumference at birth (r= -0.370, P=0.024). Adiponectin level in mature milk was positively associated with infant weight 90 days postpartum (r=0.432, P=0.007). Conclusion Women with GDM have different levels of ghrelin, adiponectin and true insulin in their milk from the normal controls, which may affect infant growth.

BACKGROUND:Drug treatment for senile dementia has unsatisfactory outcomes although to a certain extent it can reduce and delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Stem cel transplantation is a new attempt for the treatment of senile dementia.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation on the behavior of senile dementia rats.
METHODS: Rat models of senile dementia were made in 20 Sprague-Dawley rats that were given continuous 60-day gavage of aluminium chloride solution. Then, model rats were randomized into model group treated with normal saline injection and experimental group treated with hippocampal injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels, respectively. Another 10 rats undergoing normal feeding served as control group. Learning and memory ability of rats were tested by Morris water maze, and superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde content in brain tissues of rats were measured by colorimetric method at 4 weeks after cel transplantation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group, the escape latency was shortened and the cross-platform frequency was increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05), and moreover, significantly elevated superoxide dismutase activity and reduced malondialdehyde content in the brain tissues of rats were found in the experimental group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation contributes to behavior improvement in senile dementia rats by improving the learning and memory ability.