Objective To analyse the differential expression of miRNAs in the brain of offsprings of hypothyroid and normal rats,and to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of hypothyroidism on brain development in the offspring.Methods Forty-eight female Wistar rats were assigned to (1) control group (n =24),and (2) hypothyroid group after complete thyroidectomy (n =24).Serum TSH and Total thyroxine (T4) were measured one month after the surgery.Brain samples of fetal or postnatal rats were obtained during four different developmental stages:embryonic days (E) 13,E17,postnatal days (P) 0 and P7.The hippocampus and cortex were separated on P7.MiRNAs were isolated from tissues and two samples were used at each time point studied to reduce the influence of individual differences.The brain samples were detected by Gene Chip miRNA arrays (Affymetrix).Results In the brain tissues of fetal or neonatal rats of maternal hypothyroid rats,two miRNAs (mir-206,-324-5p) on E13,three miRNAs (mir-34c,-204,-194) in cortex on P7,and five miRNAs (mir-146b,-532-5p,-384-5p,-215,-212) in hippocampus on P7 were up-regulated by over 2 folds.Five miRNAs (mir-200b,-200c,-217,-672,-139-5p) on E17,one miRNA (mir-376-3p) on P0,and four miRNA (mir-672,-204,-335,-376-3p) in hippocampus on P7 were decreased by 50％ or more.Conclusion The miRNA expression profiles in the rat brain of offspring with maternal hypothyroidism are characterized by miRNA arrays.The identification of a subset of brain expressed miRNAs in the brain may explain the brain development abnormalities resulting from maternal hypothyroidism.

Gymnastics ; physiology ; Humans ; Workload

Chinese patent medicine with double identity was a special phenomenon, and many preparations not only were prescription drugs but also over the counter ( OTC) drugs, which brought a lot of trouble. Based on statistics of list of OTC medicines of CFDA, related varieties, route of administration and functions of these drugs were searched. The causes of insufficient were analyzed and the potential risk was investigated. To ensure the safety of drug usage for the patient, risk management system should be set up by improving the technical requirements for registration, improving the drug labels and manuals, playing the role of pharmacists in pharmacy services and raising awareness of doctor and patient for these drugs.
China ; Humans ; Nonprescription Drugs ; adverse effects ; Risk Management

Advances in mechanism and application of the heating effect in breeding of microorganism are reviewed in this paper. Heat produces mutagenesis effect and screening effect. Heating mutagenesis effect is occurred through the substitution of G-C base pair induced by heat, and heating screening effect produces higher forward mutation rate induced by other mutagens.

Objective To observe the influence of triglyceride(TG),hemoglobin(HGB),total bilirubin(TBIL)and rheumatoid factor(RF)on the results of two kinds of D-dimer detection reagent assay.Methods Five samples were prepared into series with 2,4,6,8 and 10 mmol/L triglyceride by adding fat emulsion.Five samples were prepared into series with 1,2,3,4 and 5 g/L of hemolysis degree by adding hemoglobin solution.Five samples were prepared into series with 20,40,60,80 and 100μmol/L total bilirubin by adding bilirubin standard preparation.Ten samples were prepared into rheumatoid factor levels be-tween 0~150 IU/L by adding rheumatoid factor standard solution.Simultaneously with D-dimer detection reagent and D-di-mer HS detection reagent for testing,each sample was measured two times and the results averaged.Results When TG≤2 mmol/L,the D-dimer reagents without interference,and TG≥4 mmol/L,the D-dimer reagents due to “SD baseline data out of range”couldn’t be detected.TG≤10 mmol/L,for D-dimer HS reagents was without interference.When HGB≥1 g/L, the D-dimer reagents due to“SD baseline data out of range”couldn’t be detected.HGB≤4 g/L,for D-dimer HS reagents was without interference.When hemoglobin levels was equal to 5 g/L,the D-dimer HS reagents test results false increased about 30.4%.With total bilirubin concentration increases,D-dimer and D-dimer HS reagents test results were false increase, showed amplitude by a power law,and the two reagents increased consistency.Preparation a series of pooled plasma of rheu-matoid factor levels in 0~150 IU/L,D-dimer test results reagent falsely elevated levels of rheumatoid factor with a linear correlation (Y=59.31X+50.43,R2=0.998).When RF≤150 IU/L,the D-dimer HS reagents was without interference. Conclusion Triglyceride,hemoglobin,total bilirubin and rheumatoid factor may interfere D-dimer testing process,icterus and severe hemolysis will interfere D-dimer HS testing process.D-dimer HS reagents against interfere exceed D-dimer rea-gents.When D-dimer test results does not match with clinicians determine,the influence ofinterfering substances should be considered.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of sesamin (Ses) on pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats with monocrotaline ( MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH).

METHODTotally 48 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed adaptively for one week and then divided into the normal control group, the MCT group, the MCT +Ses (50 mg x kg(-1)) group and the MCT + Ses (100 mg x kg(-1)) group, with 12 rats in each group. The PH rat model was induced through the subcutaneous injection with MCT(60 mg x kg(-1)). After the administration for four weeks, efforts were made to measure the right ventricular systolic pressure( RVSP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) through right jugular vein catheterization, and isolate right ventricle( RV) and left ventricle( LV) +septum (S) and measure their length to calculate RV/ ( LV + S) and ratio of RV to tibial length. Pathologic changes in arterioles were observed by HE staining. Masson's trichrome stain was used to demonstrate changes in collagen deposition of arterioles. The alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression in pulmonary arteries was measured by immunohistochemisty. The total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in pulmonary arteries were determined by the colorimetric method. The protein expressions of collagen I, NOX2 and NOX4 were analyzed by Real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTAfter the administration for 4 weeks, Ses could attenuate RVSP and mPAP induced by MCT, RV/ (LV + S) and ratio of RV to Tibial length, alpha-SMA and collagen I expressions and remodeling of pulmonary vessels and right ventricle. Meanwhile, Ses could obviously inhibit the expressions of NOX2, NOX4 and MDA content and increase T-AOC.

CONCLUSIONSesamin could ameliorate pulmonary vascular remodeling induced by monocrotaline in PH rats. Its mechanism may be related to expressions of NOX2 and NOX4 expression and reduction in oxidative stress injury.

Animals ; Dioxoles ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; Lung ; blood supply ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Monocrotaline ; adverse effects ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Remodeling ; drug effects

Objective To study the mechanism of p55 inducing cell apoptosis, the 180 bp fragment of Puma promoter was cloned into the pGL3-basic luciferase reporter vector. The biological activity of Pumareporter plasmid was verified by cell transfection. Methods The target fragments of Puma were amplified by RT-PCR method and the fragments were inserted into the pGL3-basic luciferase reporter vector. The acquired Puma-Luc plasmid was transfected into H1299 cell line and detected its activity. Results Sequencing indicated that the amplified Puma promoter is correct. Dual-luciferase Reporter Assay showed the Puma-Luc constructs have promoter activity. Conclusion The cloning of human Puma gene promoter and the construction of its reporter vector were successful. This study will lay the foundation for further research on the function of p53 inducing apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway.

Litsea cubeba is one of aromatic medicinal plant belonging to family Lauraceae. The roots, stems and fruits of L. cubeba have been widely applied as folk medicines in some districts in China for relieving rheumatism and cold, regulating Qi (meridian) to alleviate pain. Previous studies revealed that this species contains major alkaloids, in specific aporphines, and minor flavonoids, lignans as well. Related pharmacological investigations demonstrated its activities and clinical applications on cardiovascular diseases, anti-cancer, against rheumatoid arthritis, relieving asthma and anti-allergic effects, as anti-oxidants, and so on. As an effort for further exploration of this bioactive ingredients and potential drug development, this paper summarizes most phytochemical and pharmacological results. Further, future prospects are also included.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Litsea ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of 1,4-benzoquinone (1,4-BQ) on proliferation of human bone marrow haematopoietic stem cells (hBM-HSCs) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs).

METHODSThe bone marrow samples were collected from a healthy donor. Methylcellulose semi-solid culture medium was used to culture the mononuclear cells of bone marrow in different culture systems. Colony-forming unit (CFU) assay was utilized to evaluate the proliferation of hBM-HSCs exposed to 1,4-BQ at the doses of 10, 25, 50 and 100 µmol/L and to observe the influence of 1,4-BQ on the Colony-forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E)/Burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E), Colony-forming unit-granulocyte, macrophage (CFU-GM), Colony-forming unit-granulocyte, erythroid, macrophage, megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM) in hBM-MSCs. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of hBM-MSCs exposed to 1,4-BQ at the doses of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 µmol/L for 24 h, respectively, after hBM-MSCs were isolated, cultured and expanded.

RESULTSThe results of CFU assay indicated that numbers of CFU-E/BFU-E, CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM in 25, 50 and 100 µmol/L groups significantly decreased, as compared with control group (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the 10 µmol/L group and the control group. The results of MTT assay showed that the cellular viability of hBM-MSCs exposed to 1,4-BQ at the doses of 50 ∼ 200 µmol/L for 24 h significantly decreased in a dose-depended manner. When the exposure dose was higher than 200 µmol/L, the cellular viability of hBM-MSCs was lower than 5% which was significantly lower than that of control group (P < 0.05). When the exposure dose was lower than 25 µmol/L, there was no significant difference of cellular viability between exposure group and control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results of the present study demonstrated that 1,4-BQ could inhibit the colony forming of hBM-HSCs and the relative viability of hBM-MSCs in vitro. The hematotoxicity induced by 1,4-BQ may be related to inhibiting the proliferation capacity of hBM-HSCs.

Benzoquinones ; toxicity ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology

It was estimated that about 428 species of genus Corydalis are distributed all worldwide, with about 298, especially 10 groups and 219 species being uniquely spread in China. The genus Corydalis have been widely employed as folk medicines in China, especially as traditional Tibetan medicines, for treatment of fever, hepatitis, edema, gastritis, cholecystitis, hypertension and other diseases. The phytochemical studies revealed that isoquinoline alkaloids are its major bioactive ingredients. The extensive biological researches suggested its pharmacological activities and clinic applications against cardiovascular diseases and central nervous system, antibacterial activities, analgesic effects, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation and anti-injury for hepatocyte, and so on. As an effort in promoting the research of pharmacodynamic ingredients, this article presents an overview focusing on the distribution, phytochemical and pharmacological results of Corydalis species that have been applied in traditional Tibetan medicinal, hopefully to provide a reference for the new Tibetan medicine development from Corydalis plant resource.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; classification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Phytotherapy