AIM: To study the effects of Radix Saposhnikoviae(RL) and Feutus Trbuli(FI) used singly and combinedly on antagonizing type Ⅰ allergy,such as passive cutaneous anaphylaxis(PCA),released model from mast cell granules,Schulz-Dale respond. METHODS: Mouse and rat models mainly induced by IgE were used in experiments. RESULTS: RL and FI used singly and combinedly could significantly inhibit PCA of same species of mice,the degranulation of mast cells of skull in rats and Schulz-Dale response. CONCLUSION: Both RL and FI respectively have antagonistic effect on type Ⅰ allergy and RL in combination with FI will possess more satisactory effect

The structural protein VP6 of rotavirus form the middle layer of the triple-layered viral capsid, playing a key role in the organization of the virion. The gene of structural protein 6 of rotavirus strain TB-Chen isolated from a clinic sample was amplified using PCR from the reverse transcription product of RV genome RNA, using pET as expression vector, a recombinant plasmid pET-VP6 containing coding sequence of VP6 protein was constructed. The results showed that the VP6 was highly efficiently expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells which were transformed with the recombinant plasmid pET-VP6.The expressed VP6 protein possessed 27.4% of total cells protein, with an approximately 45kDa of molecular weight, and could be recognized by guinea pig anti-SA11 antibody on Western blot. The results obtained provide important basis for further study on structure and function of the VP6 protein.

Objective To identify the different proteins of pancreatic cancer with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) ,so as to provide some clues for understanding the molecular mechanisms of DM in the development .of pancreatic cancer. Methods Samples were divided into pancreatic cancer with or without DM and their normal adjacent tissue with 5 each. The protein expression profiles were analyzed using 2-DE in combination with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS. Western blot was used to verify the expression of a candidate protein CapG. Results Seven proteins were obviously up-regulated in pancreatic cancer with DM(P＜0.05). These proteins were involved in cell motility, metabolism, oxidative stress, etc. Additionally, CapG implicated a functional contribution of cancer invasion and metastasis. Conclusion The results also provide evidence to support the hypothesis that DM plays an important role in the development of pancreatic cancer.

Objective: To establish the optimum preparation process for Xuesaitong Dropping Pills(total saponin of Radix Notoginseng). Methods: On the basis of orthogonal design, preparation conditions were selected among sort of polyglycol (as substance), consumption of polyglycol and processing temperature of usoline (as cooling agent). Results: Under the condition of using polyglycol 6000, and processing temperature at 10～15 ?C , the quality of Xuesaitong Dropping Pills is good.

The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of chemokine CCL20 in development of CD4(+)CD25(+) thymocytes by means of fetal thymus organ culture. Fetal mouse thymus lobes were removed at the fetus age of 14.5 days and cultured in complete RPMI 1640 with 20% FBS in vitro. Phenotypes of the thymocytes were analyzed by FACS and the number of cells per lobe was counted. The results revealed that from day 14.5 to day 19, the absolute and relative numbers of the CD4(+)CD25(+) thymocytes varied similarly as their development as in vitro culture at 6 days. Data showed that during the 6 days in vitro culture the CD4(+)CD25(+) cell percentage out of CD4(+) cells was 58.29%, 12.14%, 6.08%, 17.78%, 9.06%, 4.04% and the CD4(+)CD25(+) cell percentage out of CD25(+) cells was 3.75%, 10.81%, 17.20%, 51.93%, 61.64%, 80.06%. All these data indicated similar characters to their development in vivo. Moreover, at interference with CCL20, the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in thymocytes significantly decreased at the 3 and 6 days from 3.24+/-0.18 and 3.96+/-0.24 to 1.27+/-0.11 (p<0.001) and 1.76+/-0.22 (p<0.001) respectively. It is concluded that the development of CD4(+)CD25(+) thymocytes is similar both in vitro and in vivo, interfering with CCL20 significantly downregulate the expression of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells. The above data may help to understand the development of naturally arising CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells.
Animals ; Chemokine CCL20 ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Culture Techniques ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; drug effects ; Thymus Gland ; cytology ; embryology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of selenium on rat hippocampal neurons against ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, IR group and selenium-treated group, and in the latter two groups, cerebral IR injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion; Na2SeO3 treatment was administer in selenium-treated group. At 14 days after reperfusion, the brain tissues were harvested from the rats and hippocampal neuron injuries were observed by TUNEL and Methylene Blue staining. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampal tissues were measured by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with IR group, the rats in selenium-treated group showed no significant increase in the expression of m-NGF (P>0.05), but pro-NGF expression was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the hippocampal tissue. Na2SeO3 treatment significantly inhibited the expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β and decreased the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons following cerebral IR injury (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSelenium produces antiapoptotic effect to protect the hippocampal neurons following cerebral IR injury possibly not by increasing the level of m-NGF but by decreasing the expressions of the inflammatory factors.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sodium Selenite ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate if CYP3A5 is involved in drug resistances mechanisms of acute leukemia.

METHODSBy using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and MTT assay, CYP3A5 mRNA and protein were detected in leukemia cell lines and acute leukemia patients, meanwhile transcriptional regulation of CYP3A5 induced by daunorubicin was observed. A pcDNA3-CYP3A5 reconstituted plasmid and its stably transfected cell line HL-60/CYP3A5 were both established.

RESULTSCYP3A5 mRNA was detected in K562 and U937 cells, whose IC(50) values of daunorubicin were 2.1-fold higher than those of NB4 and HL-60 cells. Bone marrow CYP3A5 positive blast cell percentage at the time of diagnosis in primary drug resistance group (17.2%) was significantly higher than that of continuous complete remission (CCR) group (0.4%) and secondary drug resistance group (5.4%). In their first complete remission of the early relapsed group, the positive rate had been 23.9% as compared with that of CCR group (1.3%). Daunorubicin increased CYP3A5 mRNA level in K562/A02 and activated its transcription in HL-60/ADR. HL-60/CYP3A5 cell was significantly resistant to daunorubicin and vincristine than HL-60 cells did (3.0 and 4.0 times, respectively).

CONCLUSIONCYP3A5 expressed in leukemia cells may cause in situ metabolization of many kinds of anticancer drugs, thus led to drug resistance.

Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; physiology ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

This study was to investigate the effect of phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHI) on drug resistance and sensitivity on K562/A02 cell line to adriamycin (ADM) and to elucidate the possible mechanisms. The inhibition rates of ADM and PHI + ADM on growth of K562/A02 cell line were measured by MTT assay, and K562/A02 cell resistant multiple was calculated. The apoptosis rate of K562/A02 cell line, the changes of intracellular ADM concentrations and MRP1 protein level were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Intracellular reoxidized GSH level was determined by spectrometric enzyme assay and MRP1 mRNA was assayed by semiquantitative RT-PCR before and after using PHI. The results indicated that the survival rate of K562/A02 cell line decreased with the increasing concentration of PHI. Apoptosis rate increased after treatment in combination with two above drugs, the changes of drug resistance multiple and intracellular ADM level had statistical significance between K562/A02 and K562 cells (p < 0.05), when the concentration of PHI was more than 20 micromol/L. Intracellular GSH level in K562/A02 cell line reduced 5% when 1 microg/ml ADM was used alone, and it increased slightly at first, then decreased when more than 10 micromol/L PHI was used. When more than 20 micromol/L PHI was used in combination with 1 microg/ml ADM, intracellular GSH level in K562/A02 cell line decreased progressively with increasing the concentration of PHI. The expressions of MRP1 mRNA and protein had no statistical significance between K562/A02 and K562 cells (p > 0.05) after or before PHI was used. It is concluded that the cyto-toxicity of PHI to K562/A02 cell line does not associate with the depletion of the intracellular GSH. PHI not only enhances the sensitivity of K562/A02 cell line to ADM, but also partially reverses effect of K562/A02 cell resistance to ADM. ADM combined with PHI can diminish side effect and dosage of ADM.
Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; Isothiocyanates ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells

Objective To investigate the acute effect of local vibration stimulus with low frequency on hand control ability, flexibility, grip strength, and muscle EMG activity. Methods 10 subjects in this study held a vibrator for 20 seconds with isometric contraction at the vibration frequency of 12.5 Hz (vibration group, VIB) or with only isometric contraction (control group, CON). The same procedure measurement, including control ability, flexibility, grip strength, and muscle activity, were recorded both at pre-stimulus (pre-test) and 60-second after stimulus (post-test), respectively. Paired-t test was used to compare the values between pre-test and post-test and the changing rate between groups. Results The control ability and flexibility in pre-post test showed significant improvement after VIB intervention in VIB (P＜0.05). The changing rate of grip strength and EMG in VIB was significantly higher than those in CON (P＜0.05). Conclusions Acute local vibration stimulus with low frequency can be used to improve the hand control ability and flexibility for those who need better hand functional ability in the future.

Objective To investigate the effects of Tai Chi Chuan combined with vibration training on the excitability of α-motorneuron pool and γ-reflex arc. Methods 55 healthy college students were divided into Tai Chi Chuan + vibration training (TAV) group, Tai Chi Chuan training (TAI) group, vibration training (VB) group, and control group (CON) for 8 weeks with 3 times training per week. Each time at pre-and post-training, H-reflex and M-wave were recorded by electrical stimulus induced on soleus muscle. T-reflex was also collected by knocking on the Achill tendon. Results After 8-week training, the ratios of Hmax/Mmax and T-reflex/Mmax in VB group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the ratio of T-reflex/Mmax in TAV group was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the change percentage of T-reflex/Mmax was significantly higher than that in VB group (P<0.05). Conclusions Although the vibration training could decrease the resting excitability of α-motorneuron pool, the Tai Chi Chuan combined with vibration training could give the muscle spindle stronger excitement so as to further induce the high excitability of γ-reflex arc. It indicated that the Tai Chi Chuan combined with vibration training is feasible since the neural adaptation around peripheral neuron system could be induced after such kind of training.