Carotid ultrasound examination is a very mature examination method, it is widely used in clinical diagnosis and health checkup. Carotid ultrasound examination plays an important role in the prediction of the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. However, there are still certain problems in the application of the examination in the domestic health checkup population, which mainly include that the method and the standard are not unified, and the reporting form is not standardized. Carotid ultrasound examination must be standardized as soon as possible.

Objective To observe the in vitro effect of leptin, alone or in combination with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on inducible nitric oxide (NO) and on inducible matrix metallo-proteinase-1 3 (MMP-13) in rabbit articular chondrocytes. Methods The chondrocytes from the articular cartilage of 2-month-old rabbits were cultivated and identified, and the second filial generation chondrocytes were cocultured on plates with different concentrations of leptin alone or in combination with TNF-α for 48 h or 96 h after 12 h starvation. The concentration of NO and MMP-13 was measured in the chondrocytes culture supernatant fluid. The results were statistically analyzed. Results There was no significant difference in the concentrations of NO between the different concentrations of leptin alone groups and the blank control group (P ＞ 0. 05). In combination with the same concentration of TNF-α (10 ng/mL), leptin could dose-dependently increase the concentration of NO in the chondrocytes culture supernatant fluid in vitro. There was significant value in average concentration of MMP-13 on the main effect of both time and dose (P ＜0. 05) . No MMP-13 was detected in the blank control group. Conclusion Leptin can induce MMP-13 and have synergistic induction effect on NO with TNF-α in rabbit articular chondrocytes in vitro.

Kenaf has a high content of gum that is difficult to remove. Traditional chemical degumming process causes serious environmental pollution. To solve the problem, we developed a new method to degum kenaf. We pretreated the kenaf with steam explosion followed by ultrasonic treatment. We chose the single factor tests to select the ultrasonic frequency, sodium hydroxide concentration and processing time. Combined with orthogonal tests, we found that the optimum conditions were as follows: ultrasonic frequency was 28 kHz, sodium hydroxide concentration was 2%, and processing time was 60 min. Under these conditions, the residual gum of kenaf fiber was 9.72% and the fineness was 139.45 N(m). Steam explosion combined with ultrasonic method is effective in degumming of kenaf.
Hibiscus ; Plant Gums ; isolation & purification ; Sodium Hydroxide ; chemistry ; Steam ; Ultrasonics

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cisplatin on outward delayed rectifier potassium currents (IKDR currents) in isolated spiral ganglion neurons cells and to analyze possible intracellular mechanism of this effects by using the patch-clamp technique. METHOD: The IKDR was recorded and measured before and after the application of 10 micromol/L cisplatin in external solution by using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. RESULT: Cisplatin could inhibit SGNs voltage-dependent potassium channels, the zero current potential and reversal potential of IKDR currents were both shift to polarizing directions by 10 micromol/L cisplatin. Moreover, the maximal magnitude of IKDR currents were decreased by 23.3% when giving the test pulse at +50 mV. Cisplatin's inhibition on IKDR has dose-dependence with cisplatin-concentration in extracellular fluid and the currents recovered completely after cisplatin being washed out. CONCLUSION This research explained the toxic mechanism of cisplatin through its action on keeping from spiral ganglion neuron's IKDR from the electrophysiological aspect and set a foundation for further research.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels ; drug effects ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spiral Ganglion ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE: To detect variation in cardiac function in heart failure rat model by echocardiography, and to explore the relationship between cardiac function and blood serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). METHODS: A total of 120 two-month-old male SD rats (body mass 200 approximately 220 g) were randomly assigned to 3 groups: an operation group (80 rats) had thoracotomy, with open pericardium and ligature of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery; a sham operation group (20 rats) had thoracotomy and open pericardium but no ligature of the artery; and a normal group (20 rats) had no treatment. We observed the general state of the rats every day after the operation, and we measured the rats' body mass the day before the operation and at the end of 6th week after the operation. To evaluate the change of heart function in heart failure rats, echocardiography was used to detect the level of BNP after the operation. RESULTS: The operation group that survived showed obvious objective sign of heart failure about 10 days after the surgery. Compared with the normal group and the sham operation group, left ventricle index in the operation group got higher, left ventricle posterior wall index and interventricular septum index got lower, fraction shortening and ejection fraction got lower(P<0.05). There was no difference in the left atrium index (P>0.05). The BNP level was significantly increased (P<0.05), which was inversely related to ejection fraction and fraction shortening (r=-0.927,r=-0.894,P<0.05, respectively). The BNP level also had a positive relationship with the left ventricle index(r=0.409,P<0.05). CONCLUSION Ligature of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery in rats can successfully create heart failure model. Echocardiography can well evaluate the heart function in heart failure rat models.
Animals ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

Magnetic chitosan (CS) nano-spheres were prepared by the modified suspension cross-linking technique. The results demonstrated that the magnetic drug nano-spheres are mainly spherical in form with a size of 200 to 800 nm, and show good magnetic responsivity. Here, Doxorubicin was used as exam drug. Glutaraldehyde connects Doxorubicin to CS by the chemical bond (-N = C-), and the drug content is in range of 1% to 15% (w/w). The chemical bond is broken depending on pH, so pH is the important factor for the release of doxorubicin. The doxorubicin release was 22.0%, 13.4%, and 4.1% in the space of 7d, when pH was 1, 2, 4. So the nano-spheres are pH-sensitive magnetic targeting drug micro-spheres.
Chitosan ; chemistry ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Drug Carriers ; chemical synthesis ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Magnetics ; Nanospheres ; chemistry

Objective To select a simple, stable and reliable mouse model of alcoholic liver disease. Methods The mouse models of alcoholic liver disease were induced by oral gavage ethanol or Lierber?DeCarli ethanol liquid diet for 8 weeks. The food intake and body weight were recorded. Pathological changes were examined using HE staining. Liver injury was assessed by the activities of serum ALT, AST, AKP and γ?GT, and serum and hepatic TC and TG. Results After modeling, both models showed significantly increased activities of serum ALT, AST, AKP, and contents of serum and hepatic TG (P<0?05), indicating the successful development of alcoholic steatohepatitis. However, oral ethanol gavage led to body weight loss and weak mental state. Ethanol liquid diet less affected the body weight and mental state. Ethanol liquid diet enhanced liver to?body weight ratio and serum TC, but oral gavage of ethanol did not. The changes of serum ALT, AST, serum and hepatic TG, and hepatic steatosis in the ethanol liquid diet models were more severe than those in the oral gavage ethanol models, suggesting that Lierber?DeCarli ethanol liquid diet led to more serious liver injury than oral gavage ethanol. Conclusions Lierber?DeCarli ethanol liquid diet model is better than oral gavage ethanol model, and is more suitable for studies on mechanisms and evaluation of hepato?protective drugs for alcoholic liver disease.

To detect furaltadone metabolite 3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidinone ( AMOZ ) in fish sample, an Eu3+ labeling time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay ( TRFIA ) was developed. The effects of experimental conditions including AMOZA-OVA concentration, dilution of antibody, and reaction time on the sensitivity of TRFIA were explored. The results showed that the optimized assay conditions were as follows:the AMOZA-OVA concentration was 0. 25 μg/mL; the antibody was diluted 5í104 folds, and the competitive reaction time was 50 min. Under optimal conditions, the method showed a detection limit of 0. 01 ng/mL, an IC50 of 0. 26 ng/mL and a linear range (IC20-IC80) of 0. 025-2. 83 ng/mL. The recoveries of AMOZ in fish at three spiked levels ranged from 78 . 0% to 86 . 0%, and the relative standard deviations were less than 15%. Good correlation between the ic-TRFIA and high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was obtained for spiked food samples. The proposed ic-TRFIA method was suited for the determination of AMOZ residue in food samples.

Due to the low molecular weight and simple structure, the production of specific antibodies against acrylamide is unavailable. In this study, a novel hapten was synthesized through the derivatization of acrylamide and 4-mercaptophenylacetic acid. The hapten was then coupled to carrier protein and used to immunize New Zealand rabbits. Polyclonal antibody which showed specific binding to the acrylamide derivative ( hapten) was obtained. The antibody was labeled with horseradish peroxidase ( HRP) and used to develop a direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( dc-ELISA) . The dc-ELISA was used to determine the content of acrylamide derivative, and then transferred to the content of acrylamide. The assay showed an IC50 value of 45. 49 μg/L, a limit of detection of 3. 0 μg/L and the linear range of 9. 2-195 μg/L for acrylamide. The recovery of acrylamide from spiked food sample was determined ranging from 83 . 6% to 112 . 7%. Good correlations between the results of dc-ELISA and standard HPLC-MS/MS were obtained. The proposed dc-ELISA is suitable for the determination of acrylamide in food samples.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of low dose ouabain on injury of cultured spiral ganglion neurons evoked by trophic factors deprived and to explore the mechanism. METHOD: Spiral ganglion neurons were cultured in vitro for 7 days, and then exposed to Neurobasal medium + B27 supplement, Neurobasal medium only or Neurobasal medium + 10 nmol/L ouabain, respectively. After 48 h exposed to different medium, spiral ganglion neurons were stained by FITC labeled Annexin-V and PI, then apoptosis index were calculated using fluorescent microscope and flow cytometry, respectively. In addition, spiral ganglion tissues were cultured for 48 h to evaluate dendrite growth of spiral ganglion neurons in each group. Immunocytochemistry were performed to detect the level of Bcl-2 in each group at 6 h and 12 h. RESULT: Spiral ganglion neurons exposed to Neurobasal medium +10 nmol/L ouabain have a similar apoptosis index compare with that of Neurobasal medium + B27 supplement, but a much lower apoptosis index than that of Neurobasal medium only. In addition, dendrite growth of spiral ganglion neurons exposed to Neurobasal medium +10 nmol/L ouabain was much longer than that of Neurobasal medium only. Bcl-2 level increased in spiral ganglion neurons exposed to Neurobasal medium + 10 nmol/L ouabain at 6 h. CONCLUSION Low dose of ouabain protects injury of spiral ganglion neurons evoked by trophic factors deprived in vitro. This effect may mediated by increasing the level of Bcl-2.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Ouabain ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spiral Ganglion ; drug effects ; pathology