Objective:To investigate the effect of sesamin on mast cell activation and its inflammatory mediator release,as well as its possible mechanisms of action.Methods:HCM-1 cells were activation by stimulation with 10 μg/ml anti-DNP IgE for 6 h and challenge with 100 ng/ml DNP-HAS for 10 min.Sesamin was administration at the concentration of 25,50 and 100 μg/L prior to DNP-HAS challenge,subsequently the effect of sesamin on mast cell degranulation was investigated by light microscope,and histamine release and expression of cytokines such as TNF-α IL-6,IL-1β,IL-8 of mast cells after sesamin treatment were investigated by ELISA.Western blot was used to determine the effect of sesamin on FcεRI downstream signaling including Lyn,Syk and PKCα activation,and IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB activation.Results:DNP-HAS significantly increased mast cell degranulation,histamine release and those cytokines expression,enhanced Lyn,Syk,PKCα,IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB activation(P<0.05). Sesamin(50,100 μg/L) significantly decreased mast cell degranulation,histamine release and cytokines expression (TNF-α,IL-4,IL-1β,and IL-8),reduced activity of Lyn,Syk,kinases and PKCα and IκBα phosphorylation,and inhibited NF-κB activation(P<0.05).Conclusion: Sesamin suppresses mast cell activation and inflammatory mediators release through inhibition of PKCα/NF-κB signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo observe the microstructure of the cell membrane of epileptic neurons using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

METHODSModel of epileptic neurons was established by subjecting the neurons culture for 14 days in vitro to magnesium-free media treatment for 3 h. Patch clamp technique was applied to record the electrophysiological activity of the epileptic neurons. AFM was performed to observe and measure the microstructure of the cell membrane of the epileptic neuron.

RESULTSAfter a 3-hour treatment with magnesium-free media, the epileptic neurons displayed sustained epileptiform discharge, which continued after the neurons were returned to normal medium culture on day 14. Under AFM scanning size of 80 microm x 80 microm and 2 microm x 2 microm, no obvious difference in the morphology of the cell membrane was noted between epileptic and normal neurons; under the scanning size of 500 nm x 500 nm, small pits occurred in the cell membrane in both groups, but no significant difference was found in the dimension of the pits between the two groups (the diameter and depth of the pits was 114.86-/+9.33 nm and 5.71-/+0.69 nm in epileptic neurons, and 116.4-/+9.13 nm and 5.69-/+0.71 nm in the control neurons, respectively, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAFM provides a new method for observing neuronal membrane microstructure at nanometer resolutions. No significant alterations occur in the membrane of the neurons after a 3-hour magnesium-free media treatment.

Cell Membrane ; ultrastructure ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Epilepsy ; pathology ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Magnesium ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Neurons ; ultrastructure ; Patch-Clamp Techniques

Sepsis is the systemic inflammatory respond syndrome and autoimmunity injury caused by pathogenic microorganism or any other immunogenicity.Mitochondria,an important organelle,which has an essential role in cellular growth,metabolism,occurrence and development of disease by generating ATP following the oxidative phosphorylation from glycolysis.There had been some progresses on the research of sepsis in several decades.A number of studies had shown that the degree of mitochondrial dysfunction was related to the eventual outcome of sepsis.microRNA are endogenous small noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene and bio-protein expression,and then adjust mitochondrial oxidative stress,has important influence on the process of sepsis and prognosis.Here,a current review of how microRNA impinge on mitochondrial dysfunction in sepsis was performed.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship among non-acoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), high sensitivity reactive C protein (hsCRP) and insulin resistance. METHODS: Workers of an enterprise in Changsha for health examination in Second Xiangya Hospital from October to December, 2006, NAFLD group (243 patients) and a control group without fatty liver disease (361 patients) were randomly drawn. Questionnaire, physical examination, fasting plasma glucose, serum lipid-profile, alanine aminotransferase (ALT),blood uric acid, and abdominal ultrasonographic examination were undertaken in the 2 groups. RESULTS: The moderate NAFLD group had significantly higher hsCRP concentration and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as compared with the mild NAFLD group (P<0.01). The patients with insulin resistance had significantly higher hsCRP concentration and ALT level compared with NAFLD patients without insulin resistance (P<0.05). The NAFLD patients were divided into 2 groups (low and high) according to the hsCRP concentration (<1 mg/L or > or = 1 mg/L). Compared with the low concentration group, the odds ratio of the high concentration group for prevalence of NAFLD was 5.937(P<0.001). Multi-factor logistic regression analysis demonstrated that NAFLD was independently correlated with hsCRP or HOMA-IR after adjustment for sex, age and metabolic components (OR=2.044, 7.896,P<0.01). CONCLUSION NAFLD is closely correlated with hsCRP and HOMA-IR. Insulin resistance and elevated hsCRP concentration are the independent risk factors for the presence of NAFLD.
Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; China ; epidemiology ; Fatty Liver ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors

Objective To evaluate the antibody titer distributions after primary vaccination by different sequential schedules of Sabin strain-based inactivated poliovirus vaccine(sIPV) and bivalent oral attenuated live poliomyelitis vaccine against types 1 and 3 (bOPV) in Drug Candy(DC) form or liquid dosage form. Methods Eligible infants of 2 months old selected in Liuzhou were assigned randomly in a ratio of 1:1:1:1 to 4 groups as following: sIPV+2bOPV(DC), sIPV+2bOPV(liquid), 2sIPV+bOPV(DC), 2sIPV+bOPV(liquid), and were vaccinated at 0, 28, 56 days. Polio neutralizing antibody titers against poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3 were tested prior to Dose 1 and at 28 days after Dose 3. Results The antibody titer distribution for type 1 was statistically different between sIPV+2bOPV(DC) and sIPV+2bOPV(liquid) (Z=-2.589, P=0.010) while no significant differences were detected between the two groups for type 2(Z=-0.331, P=0.741) and type 3(Z=-1.556, P=0.120). There were no significant differences between 2sIPV +bOPV(DC) and 2sIPV+bOPV(liquid) for the distributions(All P>0.05) (type 1: Z=-1.249, P=0.212; type 2: Z=-1.658, P=0.097; type 3: Z=-1.436, P=0.151). In the same dosage forms with different sequential schedules, the antibody titer distributions were significantly different between 2 doses sIPV and 1 dose sIPV groups(All P<0.05)(sIPV+2bOPV(liquid) vs 2sIPV+bOPV(liquid): type 1: Z=-2.766, P=0.006; type 2: Z=-9.137, P<0.001; type 3: Z=-5.529, P<0.001. sIPV+2bOPV(DC) vs 2sIPV+bOPV(DC): type 1: Z=-3.748, P<0.001; type 2: Z=-7.660, P<0.001; type 3: Z=-6.030, P<0.001). Conclusions Different dosage forms have similar immune effects, so appropriate dosage forms should be selected for vaccination according to the effectiveness, characteristics of subjects and the population density. In the case of sufficient supply of sIPV, 2 doses sIPV sequential program should be the first choice to complete the primary immunization.

Interleukin 8 (IL8) is an important chemokine that elicits host immune response against tuberculosis (TB). However, whether there is an association between IL8 gene polymorphism and TB susceptibility in the Chinese population is unknown. IL8 gene was amplified and sequenced to search for nucleotide polymorphisms among the Chinese population. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, selected, and analyzed in a cohort of 438 patients with TB and 536 healthy controls. Allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic analysis demonstrated that the distribution of the four IL8 SNPs between patients with TB and healthy controls was not significantly different (P>0.05). The four IL8 SNPs detected in this study were not associated with TB susceptibility in the Chinese population. Secretion of IL8 by peripheral blood cells was greatly stimulated upon exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis whole cell extract, but such enhanced secretion was not associated with the IL8 rs4073 alleles.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Tuberculosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of Tojapride, a Chinese herbal formula extract, on strengthening the barrier function of esophageal epithelium in rats with reflux esophagitis (RE). METHODS: Ten out of 85 SD rats were randomly selected as the sham group (n10), and 75 rats were developed a reflux esophagitis model (RE) by the esophageal and duodenal side-to-side anastomosis. Fifty successful modeling rats were divided into different medicated groups through a random number table including the model, low-, medium-, and high-dose of Tojapride as well as omeprazole groups (n10). Three doses of Tojapride [5.73, 11.46, 22.92 g/(kg•d)] and omeprazole [4.17 mg/(kg•d)] were administrated intragastrically twice daily for 3 weeks. And the rats in the sham and model groups were administered 10 mL/kg distilled water. Gastric fluid was collected and the supernatant was kept to measure for volume, pH value and acidity. Esophageal tissues were isolated to monitor the morphological changes through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and esophageal epithelial ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells p65 (NF-KBp65), κB kinase beta (IKKß), occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the esophageal tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: The gastric pH value in the model group was significantly lower than the sham group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, gastric pH value in the omeprazole and medium-dose of Tojapride groups were significantly higher (P<0.05). A large area of ulceration was found on the esophageal mucosa from the model rats, while varying degrees of congestion and partially visible erosion was observed in the remaining groups. Remarkable increase in cell gap width and decrease in desmosome count was seen in RE rats and the effect was reversed by Tojapride treatment. Compared with the sham group, the IKKß levels were significantly higher in the model group (P<0.05). However, the IKKß levels were down-regulated after treatment by all doses of Tojapride (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The occluding and ZO-1 levels decreased in the model group compared with the sham group (Ps0.01 or Ps0.05), while both indices were significantly up-regulated in the Tojapride-treated groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Tojapride could improve the pathological conditions of esophageal epithelium in RE rats. The underlying mechanisms may involve in down-regulating the IKKß expression and elevating ZO-1 and occludin expression, thereby alleviating the inflammation of the esophagus and strengthening the barrier function of the esophageal epithelium.

To illuminate the similarities and differences between wild and cultivated Sarcandra glabra (S. glabra), we performed a comprehensively study on 26 batches of cultivated S. glabra and 2 batches of wild S. glabra. Chemical constituents and distribution characteristics of roots, stems and leaves in both wild and cultivated S. glabra were investigated through UHPLC-TOF-MS method. The result revealed that there were significant differences between roots, stems and leaves in S. glabra. And the chemical contents in the root part were less or even absence than those in leaf and stem, which suggested the root organ could be excluded as medicine. Meanwhile, the chemical contents of stems and leaves in cultivated S. glabra was sightly higher than that of wild samples. Therefore, cultivated S. glabra may have a high potential for substitution of wild S. glabra without affecting its pharmaceutical properties. In summary, our study could provide important information to the molecular basis for quality control of S. glabra.