OBJECTIVETo study the protection effects and the mechanisms of Huoxue Anxin Recipe (HAR) on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rats.

METHODSThe AMI Wistar rat model was prepared by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. By taking elantan long as the positive control drug, HAR was extracted from Chinese herbs by modern pharmacological methods and composed according to theories of Chinese medicine (CM). The medication time started from the day of modeling to the 21st day of the modeling. The heart function, the morphological changes of the heart, changes in the mRNA and protein levels of toll like receptor 4 nuclear factor kappa B tumor necrosis factor alpha (TLR4-NFkappaB-TNFalpha) pathway were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operation group, the ejection fraction (EF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) significantly decreased (P < 0.01), the left ventricular intemal dimension end-diastolic (LVIDd) and left ventricular internal dimension end-systolic (LVIDs) significantly increased (P < 0.01), the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4-NFkappaB-TNFalpha channel significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.01). The infarction in the front wall of the left ventricle was obviously seen, accompanied with severe inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition in model group. Compared with the model group, the EF and FS significantly increased, LVIDd and LVIDs significantly decreased in the positive control group, the high and low dose HAR groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The infracted area of the front wall of the left ventricle was obviously contracted. The inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition were obviously alleviated. In the high and low dose HAR groups, the mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4-NFkappaB-TNFalpha significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), but no inhibition was found in the positive control group.

CONCLUSIONSHAR could significantly improve the morphological structures and functional abnormality induced by myocardial ischemia in AMI rats. Its effects was correlated with inhibiting TLR4-NFkappaB-TNFalpha pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Myocardial Ischemia ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yixintai Granule (YG) on mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla of chronic heart failure (CHF) rabbits.

METHODSCHF rat model was established by ear marginal vein injection of adriamycin. Successfully modeled rabbits were divided into the model group, the high (8.4 g/kg), middle (4.2 g/kg), and low dose (2.1 g/kg) YG group, and the Furosemide group (2 mg/kg). Besides, a normal control group was set up. Equal volume of physiological saline was administered to rabbits of the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. YG at different doses was administered to rabbits of the 3 YG groups by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks, once per day. After treatment the urine volume and pathomorphological changes of renal medulla tissue were observed. mRNA and its protein expression levels of AQP2 were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the urine volume decreased significantly, mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 increased significantly in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the urine volume increased significantly, and mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 decreased significantly in all medicated groups (all P < 0.01). Compared with the low dose YG group, the urine volume significantly increased and the mRNA expression level of renal medulla AQP2 significantly decreased in the middle and high dose YG groups (all P < 0.01). The expression level of AQP2 protein significantly decreased in the high dose YG group (P < 0.01). Pathological changes of the renal medulla was the most obviously seen in the model group. But they were alleviated to various degrees in all medicated groups. They were more obviously attenuated in the middle and high dose YG groups.

CONCLUSIONYG could improve CHF possibly through down-regulating mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla, and elevating the urine volume.

Animals ; Aquaporin 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) gene polymorphism and aerobic endurance.

METHODSThe (CA)n repeats polymorphism genotypes in HSL intro 6 of 123 outstanding long distance runners and 127 controls of Han nationality in northern China were analyzed by PCR and Fluorescence labeled STR-genescan. Repeat polymorphisms were grouped according to segmentation point and alleles were divided into long or short chains. Chi-square test was used to analyze the frequency difference of allelic and genotypic between athlete and control groups.

RESULTS(CA) n repeats polymorphism in HSL gene was total of 9 different repeat number of alleles, which composed of 25 different genotypes. The chi-square test result showed that when compared short and long chain alleles split by 4, there was a significant difference (P <0.05) of genotype distribution in 5/10 km group compared with control. Compared the rest groups with control, there was no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONCompared short and long chain alleles split by 4, the LL genotype of (CA)n of HSL was associated with aerobic endurance and it might be a molecular marker of elite 5/10 km long distance runners.

Alleles ; China ; Ethnic Groups ; Genotype ; Humans ; Physical Endurance ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sterol Esterase ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) in low-dose chest CT (80 kV) examination in children.Methods Forty-four children who had post-operation scoliosis and received low dose chest CT scans were included.The fix tube voltage was 80 kV,fix current was 50 mA.Images were reconstructed with MBIR (observation group).The pre-operation scan were used 120 kV and 50 mA for acquisition,and images were reconstructed with filtered back-projection (FBP) mehed (control group).The subjective quality of the images was independently evaluated by two radiologists.Objective noises in the muscle and lung field were measured,the SNR,CNR were calculated,and the CTDIvol was record.Results The subjective noise score in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05).Objective noise reduced about 40.36％,SNR increased 72.37％,CNR increased 78.69％,CTDIvol decreased by 66.52％,all of which had statistical difference between both groups (all P＜0.001).Conclusion Low-dose chest CT (80 kV) examination in children can meet the requirements of diagnosis for children.

80 mL/ min were 12 cases;minor lesion group(50

OBJECTIVE: To determine the allelic frequency distribution and genetic parameters of nine non-CODIS DNA index systems of the short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D2S1772, D6S1043, D7S3048, D8S1132, D11S2368, D12S391, D13S325, D18S1364, and GATA198B05). METHODS: A total of 353 blood samples were collected, extracted, amplified, and analyzed from unrelated healthy individuals of Han nationality in Hunan Province, China. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen alleles were observed in the population with corresponding allelic frequencies ranged from 0.001 0 to 0.323 0. For all the nine non-CODIS STR loci, the observed genotypic data showed no significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The Ho, He, PIC, DP, and PE of the studied non-CODIS STR loci ranged from 0.1080 to 0.1950, 0.8050 to 0.8920, 0.7700 to 0.8600, 0.9250 to 0.9660 and 0.6070 to 0.7800, respectively. CONCLUSION Nine non-CODIS STR loci have high degrees of polymorphisms, which may be useful in individual forensic identification and parentage testing in forensic practice.
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; China ; Ethnicity/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of dutasteride inhibiting fertility by studying its effects on the expressions of the epididymal epithelial junction proteins Claudin1 and β-catenin in rats.

METHODSSixteen 3-month-old SD male rats were equally divided into an experimental and a negative control group to be treated intragastrically with dutasteride at 40 mg/kg per day and the same dose of solvent, respectively, for 14 consecutive days. Then, the sperm motility and morphology of the rats were detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis, the serum levels of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) measured by ELISA, changes in the tight junction of epididymal cells observed under the transmission electron microscope, the protein and gene expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, and the conception rate of the mated female rats calculated.

RESULTSDutasteride significantly suppressed the serum DHT level, sperm motility, and fertility of the rats (P <0.05). Interspaces between epididymal epithelial cell tight junctions were observed, the volume of epididymal fluid obviously increased, and the expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin gene and protein remarkably downregulated in the experimental rats (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONDutasteride can significantly inhibit the fertility of male rats by reducing the serum DHT level, suppressing Claudin1 and β-catenin expressions, and damaging epididymal epithelial cell junctions.

Animals ; Azasteroids ; pharmacology ; Claudin-1 ; metabolism ; Dihydrotestosterone ; blood ; Dutasteride ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood ; Urological Agents ; pharmacology ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo investigate the current status of Kaschin-Beck disease in Shandong province, and to provide a scientific basis for decision-making in controlling the disease. Methods According to the National Monitoring Program of Kaschin-Beck disease requirements, historical serious villages of Kaschin-Beck disease in Qingzhou of Shandong province were selected annually; children aged 7 to 16 were chosen to receive clinical examination and children aged 7 to 12 were taken X-ray examination. Clinical and X-ray diagnosis was carried out according to the Diagnostic Criteria of Kashin Beck Disease(GB 16003-1995). Results From 1996 to 2010, in 53 diseased villages, three thousand three hundred and eighteen school children aged 7 to 16 were clinically diagnosed, and child Kaschin-Beck disease of degree Ⅰ and above were not detected; three thousand and ninety-one school children aged 7 to 12 were examined by X-ray, forty cases were found positive, and the total positive rate was 1.29％(40/3091 ). The year with the highest positive rate was 2002, and the rate was 3.49％(13/372) ; the positive rate was 0 in 1996 and 2008. The difference of the X-ray positive rate between each year was statistically significant(x2 =31.54, P ＜ 0.01 ). ConclusionsChild Kashin-Beck disease in Qingzhou is basically under control.Since etiology of Kashin-Beck disease is still unclear, surveillance of the disease still needs to be strengthened.

The peeled stem of Syringa pinnatifolia is a Mongolia folk medicine, mainly distributed in Helan mountain, inner Mongolia and Ningxia provinces of China. It has been used for the treatment of cardiopalmus, angina pectoris, and cardiopulmonary diseases for a long history. Contemporary research revealed the presence of major lignans, sesquitepenes, and essential oils, and showed myocardial ischemia related diseases. This review summarizes the plant origins, taxonomic disputes, phytochemical and pharmacological research progress, hopefully to provide reference for full medicinal utilization, clarification of biological effective substance, and drug development.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Molecular Structure ; Syringa ; chemistry

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene against liver oxidative stress injury in mice due to dichlorvos poisoning.Methods Experiment 1: 12 male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into three groups, with 4 mice in each group: control group, green fluorescent protein lentivirus control group (Lv-GFP group), and recombinant PON1 lentivirus group (Lv-PON1 group). 2×107 TU of Lv-GFP or Lv-PON1 was transfected via tail vein, while normal saline was given to those in control group. Blood was collected on 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 days via fundus venous plexus for the assay of serum PON1 activity. PON1 mRNA and protein expression levels were respectively determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot on the 3rd post-lentivirus transfection day. Experiment 2: according to the random number table method, another 96 male Balb/c mice were divided into four groups of 24 mice in each control group, dichlorvos group, Lv-GFP intervention group, and Lv-PON1 intervention group. Lv-GFP or Lv-PON1 was transfected via tail vein followed by intraperitoneal injection of dichlorvos 9 mg/kg, while those in control group were given normal saline. Six mice in each group were sacrificed respectively at 6, 12, 24, 48 hours, and liver tissue was collected. PON1 mRNA and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mRNA expression levels were determined by RT-PCR, and PON1 protein level was determined by Western Blot. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in the liver tissue were determined by chemical colorimetry. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured by double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results Experiment 1: after Lv-PON1 was transfected to normal mice, PON1 activity in serum gradually increased and maintained a high level on 3rd day, while that of the control group and Lv-GFP group showed a normal low level. On the 3rd post-lentivirus transfection day, PON1 mRNA and PON1 protein expressions in liver were significantly higher than those of control group and Lv-GFP group. Experiment 2: compared with control group, the mice in dichlorvos group showed significant decreases in PON1 mRNA, PON1 protein, Nrf2 mRNA as well as GSH, SOD, CAT levels at 6 hours [PON1 mRNA (gray value):0.237±0.075 vs. 0.674±0.011, PON1 protein (gray value): 0.602±0.086 vs. 0.998±0.124, Nrf2 mRNA (gray value): 0.089±0.012 vs. 0.126±0.010, GSH (mg/g): 3.84±0.33 vs. 5.52±0.40, SOD (μg/g): 0.383±0.040 vs. 0.564±0.052, CAT (ng/g): 7.32±1.28 vs. 12.46±1.54, allP< 0.05], and remarkable increase in MDA content (nmol/g: 7.78±0.41 vs. 2.34±0.25,P< 0.05). With the extension of time, PON1 mRNA, PON1 protein, Nrf2 mRNA and GSH, SOD, CAT levels gradually increased, MDA content gradually decreased, Nrf2 mRNA expression level had risen to the level of control group at 24 hours (0.133±0.019 vs. 0.126±0.009,P> 0.05), and it was higher than that of the control group at 48 hours (0.206±0.028 vs. 0.124±0.010,P< 0.05). Compared with that of the dichlorvos group, Lv-PON1 intervention group showed a significant increase in PON1 mRNA, PON1 protein, Nrf2 mRNA and GSH, SOD, CAT levels [PON1 mRNA (gray value): 0.726±0.021 vs. 0.237±0.075, PON1 protein (gray value): 0.739±0.050 vs. 0.602±0.086, Nrf2 mRNA (gray value): 0.158±0.007 vs. 0.089±0.012, GSH (mg/g): 4.30±0.22 vs. 3.84±0.33, SOD (μg/g): 0.454±0.062 vs. 0.383±0.040, CAT (ng/g): 8.98±1.02 vs. 7.32±1.28, allP< 0.05], and a decrease in MDA content (nmol/g: 6.56±0.44 vs. 7.78±0.41,P< 0.05).Conclusion Regulation of PON1 gene can reduce MDA content, enhance SOD and CAT activities, increase GSH content, and it may also up-regulate Nrf2 mRNA expression to play a protective effect against oxidative stress of liver injury induced by dichlorvos poisoning.