AIM: To investigate the antioxidant effect of hydralazine under hypoxia-induced damage on retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells and the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this effect.METHODS: Human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells were used to investigate the effect of hydralazine on oxidative stress, including tert-butyl hydroxyperoxide (t-BHP), H2O2, sodium azide (NaN3), and hypoxia induced cell damage. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay.RESULTS: When ARPE-19 cells were treated with oxidative stress induced by ROS, hydralazine showed concentration-dependent protection against t-BHP, H2O2 and hypoxia induced cell damage but not NaN3. Nitric oxide (NO) was not involved in this effect.CONCLUSION: Hydralazine showed antioxidant potential against oxidative stress induced damage in ARPE-19 cells. These effects might be caused through scavenger of ROS. Thus, hydralazine could be used for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Chlamydial infection in human urogenital tract induces inflammation and causes tissue damage and scarring. It is thought that cytokine production by the Chlamydia-infected cells plays a key role in chlamydial disease processes. Although many cytokines have been detected during chlamydial infection, little is known about the molecular mechanisms on how Chlamydia triggers and sustains the inflammatory cytokine cascades. In the current study, chlamydial infection of the human cervical epithelial cell line HeLa cells can induce the production of IL-8, IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-6. Using inhibitors for probing intracellular kinase signaling pathways required for the Chlamydia-induced cytokines, it was found that the Chlamydia-activated MAPK / P38 pathway is required for the chlamydial induction of IL-1α and IL-6 while both the Chlamydia-activated MAPK/ERK and MAPK/P38 pathways contribute to the production of IL-8.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rabbits

Objective To explore the family adaptability and cohesion in cerebral palsy children.Methods A total of 225 children were selected in two hospitals of Anhui province from May to November in 2014.Their parents or family primary caregivers were interviewed using Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale,Second Edition-Chinese version (FACESII-CV) and self-designed general information questionnaire.Results The actual family types of 225 cerebral palsy children families were:102 cases of intermediate type (45.3％),76 cases of extreme type (33.8％),47 cases of balance type (20.9％),while the ideal family types were:92 cases of intermediate type (40.9％),62 cases of extreme type (27.6％),71 cases of balance type (31.5％),it was significant between the actual and the ideal family types (x2=6.817,P＜0.05).The actual and ideal scores of family adaptability and cohesion scale were (64.09 ± 12.23) points,(43.28 ± 9.91) points and (73.91 ± 9.31) points,(52.73 ± 7.16) points,respectively,the difference was significant (t=-9.049,-10.976,P＜0.01).The scores in the family which the mother had a higher culture degree (F=7.075,8.499,P＜0.01),the cerebral palsy children did not live with grandparents (t=5.925,4.138,P＜0.05),the one-child family (t=5.370,4.652,P＜0.05) were higher.Conclusions The relationship between family members are estranged in most cerebral palsy children families,the ability of family coping with stuff is low and the family function is poor,in addition,the family adaptability and cohesion are mainly affected by the mother's culture degree,whether live with grandparents,the number of children.All above these are need to be intervented early to improve family function.

Objective To explore the features of high-frequency ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).Methods The CEUS data and ultrasound data of 147 PTMCS which were reconfirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively,and the CEUS and ultrasonic characteristics of them were summarized.Results Among 147 nodules,144 (97.9％) nodules were hypoechoic,and 3 nodules were isoechoic.Vague edge was found in 136(92.5％) PTMCs,and 126(85.7％) PTMCs were irregular in shape.Totally 92(62.6％) PTMCs were A/T ＞ 1,microcalcifications were found in 81 (55.1％) PTMCs.Besides,26(74.2％) PTMCs were found microcalcification in 35 PTMCs combined with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT),while 55 (49.1％) PTMCs were found microcalcification in 112 PTMCs combined with HT.There were significant differences between them (P ＜ 0.05).The blood distribution of 129 (87.8％) nodules was type Ⅱ.The contrast-enhanced pattern of 147 (100.0％) PTMCs showed in-homogeneous enhancement in 144 (97.9％) nodules,hypoenhancement in 136(92.5％) nodules,and all the nodules without amicula.Conclusions The typical PTMCs are hypoechoic,irregular shapeand vague edge,usually were found as A/T ＞ 1,microcalcification,and type Ⅱ blood distribution.With the method of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography,these nodules usually without amicula showed inhomogeneous and hypoenhancement.The incidence of microcalcification is more common when patients with Hashimoto's disease coexisting PTMC.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can cause variable movement disorders, including parkinsonism. HIV-related parkinsonism usually responds well to highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), suggesting a possible reversible dysfunction of the dopaminergic system. We report the case of a 42-year-old man who presented with rapidly progressive symmetric parkinsonism, cognitive decline, and loss of postural reflex as the initial manifestation of HIV infection. A significant improvement of his parkinsonism after HAART demonstrates a potentially reversible dopaminergic system dysfunction secondary to HIV infection. A normal 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT image after HAART treatment paralleled the clinical improvement in extrapyramidal symptoms. Early identification of HIV-related parkinsonism, especially in patients with symmetrical akinetic-rigidity and early loss of posture reflex, is important for its potential reversibility with HAART therapy.

Aim To investigate the effect of ligustrazine on pulmonary arterial pressure,thromboxane A2(TXA2) and prostacyclin(PGI2) in chronic hypoxic hypercapnic rats.Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into control group(A), hypoxic hypercapnic group(B) and hypoxic hypercapnia+ ligustrazine (lig) group (C) .Results The mPAP in group B was significantly higher than that in group A(P0.05) ; The specific value of WA/TA(vessel wall area/total area) and SMC (the density of medial smooth muscle cells) were significantly higher in group B than that in group A(P0.05).Conclusion Ligustrazine can inhibit pulmonary hypertension and structural remodeling of pulmonary artery in chronic hypoxic hypercapnic rats by inhibiting synthesis of TXA2.

The paper reported an investigation of the pharmacokinetics of SN-38 (7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin) in rats and the tissue distribution in mice after injection of irinotecan hydrochloride nanoparticles (CPT-11) via tail veins. An LC-MS/MS method was established to determine the concentrations of SN-38 in whole blood of rats and in different tissues of mice. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of SN-38 were compared after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs and CPT-11 solution. Compared with irinotecan solution, the elimination half-life of SN-38 was prolonged from 2.17 h to 2.67 h after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs, but its AUC had little change. After the injection of CPT-11 NPs in mice, over time, the concentrations of CPT-11-metabolized SN-38 in CPT-11 NPs were significantly higher in the whole blood, colon and lungs than those in CPT-11 solution, followed by in the spleen and liver, but those in the heart and brain had no change. However, the amount of SN-38 in the kidneys was reduced with time. CPT-11 NPs could prolong SN-38's (one of its metabolites) blood circulation time in rats and significantly increased the concentration of CPT-11-metabolized SN-38 in the whole blood, colon and lungs of mice. CPT-11 NPs made SN-38 efficiently target-bind to the colon and lungs of mice.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacokinetics ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Colon ; metabolism ; Half-Life ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lung ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nanoparticles ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tissue Distribution

The paper is aimed to study the difference in yield and quality at different harvest time and determine the optimum harvest of planting Gentiana in Ludian traditional harvest period. The authors analyzed the variation in fresh weight, dry weight, dry discount rate, length, diameter, volume and the content of gentiopicroside, loganin acid, alcohol-soluble extract and total ash and made a comprehensive appraisal of yield, appearance quality and intrinsic quality by gray relational distance ideal Comprehensive Evaluation method. The results showed that there is a big difference in yield and quality both 2-year-old and 3-year-old Gentiana harvested in traditional harvest period and the comprehensive evaluation more better when harvested more later. It can be seen, Gentiana harvested the later had a better yield and quality in Ludian traditional harvest period. The harvest of Gentiana can be appropriate delayed depending on the particular circumstances of production.
Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Quality Control ; Time Factors

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of proliferation effect induced by (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 on retinal pigmented epithelial cells(ARPE-19).METHODS: Human retinal pigmented epithelial cells(ARPE-19) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the effect of (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 on cell growth,and their mechanisms of proliferative action by using ERK、 AKT、PI3K、Protein kinase C (PKC)and Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors.RESULTS: (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 dose-dependently increased ARPE-19 cell proliferation,but not on HUVECs. When treated with proliferative inhibitors,H7(5μmol/L)、hypericin(20μmol/L)、PD98059(2μmol/L)、LY294002(50μmol/L)、SH-5 (10μmol/L) and L-NAME (100μmol/L),the proliferative effect was reduced by H7、hypericin、PD98059 and LY294002,but not by SH-5 and L-NAME.CONCLUSION: (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 can induce cell proliferation through MAPK and PI3K dependent pathway. KEYWORDS: age-related macular degeneration; (R,R)-XY-10; (S,S)-XY-10; ARPE-19 cells; human umbilical vein endothelial cells; proliferation