The effects of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on type 1 diabetes mellitus were investigated. The mRNA expressions of Th1/Th2 cytokines of pancrease and ultrastructure of islet were studied.Ultrastructure of islets was well protected in APS group;the mRNA expressions of Th1 cytokines were downregulated and those of Th2 cytokines were upregulated in APS group.APS may correct the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines.

The objectives of this study are to prepare resveratrol loaded mixed micelles composed of poloxamer 403 and poloxamer 407, and optimize the formulation in order to achieve higher drug solubility and sustained drug release. Firstly, a thin-film hydration method was utilized to prepare the micelles. By using drug-loading, encapsulation yield and particle size of the micelles as criteria, influence of three variables, namely poloxamer 407 mass fraction, amount of water and feeding of resveratrol, on the quality of the micelles was optimized with a central composite design method. Steady fluorescence measurement was carried out to evaluate the critical micelle concentration of the carriers. Micelle stability upon dilution with simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid was investigated. The in vitro release of resveratrol from the mixed micelles was monitored by dialysis method. It was observed that the particle size of the optimized micelle formulation was 24 nm, with drug-loading 11.78%, and encapsulation yield 82.51%. The mixed micelles increased the solubility of resveratrol for about 197 times. Moreover, the mixed micelles had a low critical micelle concentration of 0.05 mg · mL(-1) in water and no apparent changes in particle size and drug content were observed upon micelles dilution, indicating improved kinetic stability. Resveratrol was released from the micelles in a controlled manner for over 20 h, and the release process can be well described by Higuchi equation. Therefore, resveratrol-loaded poloxamer 403/407 mixed micelles could improve the solubility of resveratrol significantly and sustained drug release behavior can be achieved.
Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Fluorescence ; Kinetics ; Micelles ; Particle Size ; Poloxamer ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Stilbenes ; chemistry ; Water

Objective To compare the effects of different maternal rats food restriction on newborn rats.Methods Pregnant rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:3 model groups and control group.The model groups were given middling food restriction throughout pregnancy,severe food restriction from pregnant day 14,severe food restriction from pregnant day 7,respectively.Effects of maternal rats food restriction on newborn rats in growth,main organs weight,and small for gestational age(SGA) occurrence were compared.And his-(tiocyte) morphology of cerebra and stomach were observed.Results The weight,height,trail length,and weight of cerebra,heart,lung,(liver),stomach,spleen,and kidney of newborn rats in model groups were significantly different from those in control group(all P

Objective To develop a multi-channel dry type biochemistry sensor with a compact structure and high measurement accuracy.Methods The principle of double beam compensation based on reference LED was applied to improve the measurement accuracy.The complex splitting system was replaced by MXN fiber bundle and free-form surface lens to make the instrument more compact and lightweight.Use of the adaptive amplification photoelectric detection improved the measurement accuracy while simplifying the process.Results and Conclusion It has been proved by experiments that this sensor has the advantages of high measurement accuracy, little interference and compact construction. This sensor may well meet the requirements of dry type biochemistry analysis.

Objective This objective of the study was to analyze the factors related to being recaptured and condom use among low-fee female sex workers (FSWs) to provide reference in developing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) intervention strategy. Methods Physical examination certificates were designed by Zhongshan County Center for Disease Control and Prevention to record HIV and syphilis test results for low-fee FSWs from 2013 to 2015. Low-fee FSWs were asked to show physical examination certificates in the next intervention and test. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with being captured with physical examination certificates. Generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze factors associated with condom use with clients. Results A total of 220 low-fee FSWs were recruited by using physical examination certificates and received 389 interviews from 2013 to 2015. The proportions of HIV positive and syphilis positive were 4.2% (9/213) and 30.0% (64/213) respectively among those who had HIV and syphilis test. Results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that low-fee FSWs who had been FSWs for more than 4 years (OR=2.95, 95% CI：1.35-6.45), and worked in the local county in the past 30 days (OR=11.74, 95% CI: 5.26-26.20), were more likely to be captured with physical examination certificates. Results of generalized linear mixed model showed that those who were captured at least once (OR=3.33, 95% CI: 1.34-8.27), had junior middle school education and above (OR=22.79, 95% CI: 3.75-138.57), had high HIV knowledge (OR=3.57, 95% CI: 1.52-8.38), and charged more than 30 yuan for vaginal sex (OR=30.68, 95% CI: 12.57-74.90), were more likely to use condom consistently. Conclusions Physical examination certificates could be used for low-fee FSWs surveillance and intervention and tracking their HIV and syphilis status. The intervention strategy should take these into consideration.

OBJECTIVEThe mechanism of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) remains unclear and effective treatment approach is limited for this disorder. Many studies have shown that tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) plays an important role in nervous system. This study investigated the effect of tPA in HIBD in neonatal rats.

METHODSSeven-day-old Wistar rat pups were used for the Rice-Vannucci model of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Brain samples were collected 1, 4, and 24 hrs after HI. FITC-Dextran was injected into the left ventricle of pups after HI to observe reperfusion defects of the neonatal brain. RT-PCR and tPA zymogram were used to detect the expression and activity of tPA. Double immunostaining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and DAPI staining were used to detect the expression of integrin GPIIb and fibrin and neuronal apoptosis.

RESULTSFITC-Dextran perfusion analysis indicated there was obvious infarct area in the neonatal brain and the expression of integrin GPIIb and fibrin increased significantly 1 hr after HI compared with the contralateral side. The infarct area decreased and the expression of integrin GPIIb and fibrin were reduced 4 hrs after HI. The expression and activity of tPA increased significantly in neonatal rats after HI, and peaked at 4 hrs after HI. The number of apoptotic neural cells increased progressively with the prolonged reperfusion time following HI.

CONCLUSIONSThe increase of tPA in the acute phase after HIBD may be helpful to clot dissolving, but it induces neuronal apoptosis and aggravates brain injury.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; Fibrin ; analysis ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; analysis ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of the chloride channel dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) on the cytoskeleton of Sertoli cells in the mouse.

METHODSTM4 Sertoli cells were cultured and treated with CFTR(inh)-172 at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L for 48 hours. Then the cytotoxicity of CFT(inh)-172 was assessed by CCK-8 assay, the expressions of F-actin and Ac-tub in the TM4 Sertoli cells detected by immunofluorescence assay, and those of N-cadherin, vimentin and vinculin determined by qPCR.

RESULTSCFTR(inh)-172 produced cytotoxicity to the TM4 Sertoli cells at the concentration of 20 μmol/L. The expressions of F-actin and Ac-tub were decreased gradually in the TM4 Sertoli cells with the prolonging of treatment time and increasing concentration of CFTR(inh)-172 (P < 0.05). The results of qPCR showed that different concentrations of CFTR(inh)-172 worked no significant influence on the mRNA expressions of N-cadherin, vimentin and vinculin in the Sertoli cells.

CONCLUSIONThe CFTR chloride channel plays an important role in maintaining the normal cytoskeleton of Sertoli cells. The reduced function and expression of the CFTR chloride channel may affect the function of Sertoli cells and consequently spermatogenesis of the testis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Chloride Channels ; physiology ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cytoskeleton ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; Thiazolidines ; pharmacology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo Recipe (WYHZTLR) on the proportion of T helper 17 cells (Thl7)/regulatory T cells (Treg), and serum levels of IL-17 and IL-10 in peripheral blood of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with yang qi insufficiency and turbidity induced collaterals blockage syndrome (YQITICBS).

METHODSTotally 82 SSc patients were randomly assigned to the Western medicine group (as the control group) and the integrated Chinese and Western medicine group (as the treatment group), 41 cases in each group. All patients took methotrexate (MTX) tablet and prednisone tablet. Patients in the treatment group additionally took WYHZTLR. The treatment course for all was six consecutive months. Besides, another 70 healthy volunteers were recruited as a healthy control group (as the healthy group). Percentages of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IL-17, IL-10, von Willebrand factor (vWF), aminoterminal propeptide of type l procollagen (PIIINP), and cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen ( I CTP) were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The correlations between Th17/Treg and levels of vWF, PIIINP, I CTP, skin score, and disease activity index were observed by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of Th17 in peripheral blood, ratios of Th17/Treg, and the serum level of IL-17 were significantly higher, but the percentage of Treg and the serum level of IL-10 were significantly lower in SSc patients, when compared with those of the healthy group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the same group before treatment, the percentage of Thl7, ratios of Thl7/Treg, and levels of IL-17, vWF, and PIIINP all decreased in the two groups after treatment (P <0.05, P <0.01), but the percentage of Treg and the IL-10 level increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Meanwhile,the level of I CTP was higher in the treatment group after treatment (P <0. 05). The improvement of all indices except the percentage of Th17 was more obvious in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). The ratio of Th17/Treg was positively correlated with levels of vWF, PIIINP, skin score, and disease activity index before and after treatment respectively (P <0. 01), but with no obvious correlation with the level of I CTP (P >0. 05).

CONCLUSIONWYHZTLR could achieve its therapeutic effect on SSc patients by regulating Th17/Treg imbalance, lowering levels of vWF and PIIINP, and elevating the level of I CTP.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-17 ; Methotrexate ; Peptide Fragments ; Procollagen ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; drug therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadotropins ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Sex Factors ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yishen Tiaojing Recipe (YSTJR) on sex gland and kidney in nephropathy patients with hypogonadism induced by Tripterygium glycosides (TG).

METHODSFifty-eight women patients with chronic glomerular disease were assigned to two groups, the 34 patients in the treated group were given TP 20 mg three times a day plus YSTJR, one dose daily, while the 24 in the control group were given TP 20 mg three times a day alone. The course of treatment lasted for 3 months. Serum levels of estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteotrophic hormone (LH), as well as urinary protein and red blood cell (RBC) count in urine were determined before and after treatment.

RESULTSLevel of E2 decreased, FSH and LH increased in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05), while those indexes unchanged in the treated group. Quantity of urinary protein decreased in both two groups after treatment (P < 0.05), but the decrement was more significant in the treated group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Differences of all the above-mentioned indexes between the two groups after treatment were significant (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYSTJR could prevent the injury of TP on sex gland in women patients with nephropathy, and is benificial for the treatment of primary chronic renal glomerular diseases.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Glomerulonephritis ; drug therapy ; Glycosides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; blood ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry