The metabonomics method was used to study the intervention effect of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill" on the changes in serum endogenous metabolites in spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea rats before and after processing, screen out differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and explore the metabolic patterns related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and the processing synergy mechanism of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill". Efforts were made to detect SOD and MDA of each group, test rat serum metabolic fingerprints in different stages by using GC-MS, analyze by PCA and PLS-DA methods and screen out potential biomarks through VIP and t test. The results revealed that "Ershen pill" could enhance the level of SOD and decrease the level of MDA and identified 10 differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea. Compared with the model group, all of metabolites recovered to varying levels after being intervened with "Ershen pill", with the best effect shown in the "Ershen pill" IV group (salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus + bran-roasted Myristicae Semen). It is speculated that that Psoraleae Fructus and Semen Myristicae in "Ershen pill" show a synergistic effect by inhibiting peroxide, improving aglucolipid, amino acids and energy metabolism, with multiple target sites.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Myristicaceae ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism

By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), an open reading frame of pathogenesis-related protein 1 (PR1) was isolated from Panax notoginseng and named as PnPR1. Molecular and bioinformatic analyses of PnPR1 revealed that an open reading frame of 501 bp was predicted to encode a 166-amino acid protein with a deduced molecular mass of 18.1 kD. Homology analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequence of PR1 protein of Panax notoginseng had a high similarity with other higher plants had the same conservative structure domain of cysteine-rich secretory protein (CAP). The recombinant expressed plasmid pET28a(+)-PnPR1 was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. The expression conditions were optimized by induction at different times, different temperatures, different IPTG concentrations and different giving times. The optimum expression condition was 0.4 mmol.L-1 IPTG at 28 degrees C for 20 h. The successful expression of PnPR1 provides some basis for protein purification and preparation of the monoclonal antibody.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment

The incidence of infertility is on the rise worldwide. Statistically, infertility affects approximately 15% of couples and 50% of males, which can be attributed to the decreased sperm quantity and quality and consequently male eugenesis induced by such esoteric factors as quickened pace of life, polluted environment, unhealthy behaviors, and so on. With the establishment and development of the free radical theory, active oxygen-mediated oxidative stress has been found to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. This review presents an overview of the esoteric factors responsible for sperm oxidative stress.
Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; pathology

In recent years, the prevention and cure of infectious bursal disease (IBD) have become more and more difficult due to the emergence of very virulent strains of infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) and the variant strains of IBDV. In this research, the hybridoma cell lines which secretes anti-idiotypic antibodies against anti-IBDV IgG were established. According to the Jerne's theory of immune network, the use of the anti-idiotypic antibodies as a vaccine will be a new method for the prevention of IBD. In this study, the SPF chickens were inoculated with the IBDV- SD strain, and the bursal was obtained from the died chickens. The bursal was then homogenized and frozen-thawed 3 cycles, and the virus samples were prepared by cane sugar density gradient centrifugation and dialysis. Typical IBDV particles were observed under an electron microscope, and the concentration of the virus protein measured by ultraviolet absorbance spectrophotometry was 10.8 mg/mL. SPF chickens were immunized with the virus and the highly immunized sera were prepared and purified by Sulfuric acid ammonia salt out and Sephadex G-25 chromatography. Then, Balb/C mice of six or eight weeks old were immunized interapertoneally(I. P.) with purified antibodies to IBDV at regular intervals. SP2/0 myeloma cells were fused with the spleencytes from the immunized mice at a ratio of 10:1, in 50% polyethylene glycol (1540) and were then cultured in HAT until all the SP2/0 cells died. The hybridoma cells were selected by ELISA and the highly positive holes were cloned 3 times with the method of limited dilution. Two strains (2B6 strain,5F4 strain) of hybridoma cells were obtained, which were shown by ELISA to steadily secrete anti-IBDV idiotypic antibodies. The chromosome number of the two hybridoma cells were about 88 - 106, 95 in average, and the antibodies secreted belonged to the types of IgG1 and Kappa. Balb/c mice of 3 months old were inoculated I.P. with about 10(7) hybridoma cells per capita, and the ascites were collected 12 days later and the titre of anti-IBDV idiotypic antibodies measured by ELISA was 1 :25600 (for 2B6) and 1:12800 (for 5F4) . The ascites containing the anti-IBDV idiotypic antibodies were emulsified with complete or incomplete Freund's adjuvants, and the anti-IBDV idiotypic antibody vaccine was obtained. SPF and common Jingbai chickens were immunized with the vaccine obtained. The immunized chickens with the vaccine were inoculated with IBDV-SD strain at a dose of 2000 ELD50 after twoimmunizations. All the 10 SPF chickens in the non-immunized group were sick, and 8 of them died; and 5 out of the 50 SPF chickens immunized group got sick and 2 died. All the 10 common Jingbai chickens in the control group were sick, and 6 died; 7 of the 30 immunized common Jingbai chickens got sick and only 1 died. Chi2 analysis showed that the difference between the immunized and the non-immunized groups in both the SPF and the common Jingbai chickens were significant (P < 0.01). Our result indicated that the anti-IBDV idiotypic antibody vaccine well protected chickens and had a great potential in both research and clinical application.
Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Birnaviridae Infections ; immunology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chickens ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hybridomas ; immunology ; metabolism ; Infectious bursal disease virus ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spleen ; cytology ; Viral Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for real-time recording the oxygen consumption of mice under normobaric hypoxia.

METHODSThe experimental apparatus was made up of animal container, filling water control system, electronic balance, hose, a computer with weight recording software, etc. The working principle was that the oxygen consumed by animal was replaced by water filling which was controlled by the pneumatic and hydraulic actuator. The water was weighted by an electronic balance and the weight signal was recorded into excel file at the same time. The accuracy and precision of the apparatus were detected by a 10 ml syringe. The oxygen consumption characteristics of 6 acute repetitive hypoxia mice and 6 normal mice were observed.

RESULTSThe P value for the paired t test was 1 and the CV value was 4%. The survival time and total oxygen consumption of acute repetitive hypoxia mice were both significantly increased compared to normal mice (P < 0.05), which were (58.8 +/- 6.8) min and (46.0 +/- 8.7) min respectively for the survival time and (85.1 +/- 8.5) ml and (73.6 +/- 5.4) ml respectively for total oxygen consumption.

CONCLUSIONThe hypoxia tolerance of the acute repetitive hypoxia mice can significantly improved by taking more oxygen in the animal cabin. The accuracy and precision of the apparatus are high and it can be used for the determination of oxygen consumption in hypoxia research.

Animals ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Mice ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; instrumentation ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology

The way of life and mode of thinking of mankind is being changed by modern biological technology. It may be come true again that coexist and evolution of man and nature because the development of modern biological technology, but it also cannot avoid produce some new problem which made people have a think deeply to biological warfare, ethics and morals, law, society, food safety, production of industry and agriculture, energy resources, environment.
Agriculture ; methods ; Animals ; Bioethics ; Biological Warfare ; prevention & control ; Biotechnology ; trends ; Environment ; Food Technology ; Humans ; Industry ; methods ; Nature

OBJECTIVEHigh altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a life-threatening disease, has no biological markers used for the routine prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to identify serum proteins differentially expressed in patients with HAPE for discovering essential biomarkers.

METHODSA complete serum proteomic analysis was performed on 10 HAPE patients and on 10 high altitude and 11 sea level healthy people as control using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and peptide mass fingerprinting. Finally, two most significantly changed proteins were validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSEight protein spots stained with differential intensity, respresenting 5 distinct proteins were identified in patients compared with healthy controls through analysis of these composite gels. Among them, four proteins, namely alpha 1-antitrypsin(alpha1-AT), Haptoglobin(Hp), apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1) and Complement C3 increased remarkably, while one protein, apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) decreased significantly. The variation of alpha1-AT and Haptoglobin, as detected by ELISA, was consistent with the results from proteomic analysis.

CONCLUSIONSIt is well known that Hp, alpha1-AT and complement C3 are associated with inflammation and apoA-1 and apoA-IV play important roles in lipid absorption, transport and metabolism. Therefore, the significant expression changes of Hp, alpha1-AT and complement C3 and apoA-1 and apoA-IV between HAPE patients and their corresponding healthy controls highlight the role of inflammatory response system and lipid metabolism system in the pathophysiology of HAPE.

Altitude ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Peptide Mapping ; Proteome ; Pulmonary Edema ; blood ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the biomechanical characteristics of the decellularized laryngeal scaffold.

METHODSTen Chinese adult dogs were randomly divided into two groups: perfusion group (n = 5) and control group (n = 5). The acellular larynx scaffold was obtained from dogs through cranial thyroid arteries perfusion with detergents. Comparative examinations were performed by the macroscopic view, histological view (hematoxylin and eosin stain, Alcian blue stain and Masson stain), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and biomechanical properties between perfusion group and control group.

RESULTSMacroscopic view showed that the decellularized laryngeal scaffold appeared pale asphyxia. HE stain indicated that there were little acellular traces of muscle and mucosa. Alcian blue stain, Masson stain and scanning electron microscope (SEM) suggested that there were no obvious changes about glycosaminoglycan and collagen. The compressive modulus of thyroid cartilage was (1.06 ± 0.07) MPa (x(-) ± s) in experimental groups and (1.15 ± 0.11) MPa in control group, showing no significant difference (t = 1.424, P > 0.05), neither in compressive modulus of annular cartilage (1.68 ± 0.11) MPa in experimental groups and (1.67 ± 0.09) MPa in control group (t = 0.185, P > 0.05). The tensile strength of thyroid cartilage between experimental (5.74 ± 0.88) MPa and control groups (6.18 ± 1.33) MPa did not have the statistical significance (t = 0.627, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that perfusion method can construct a perfect biomechanical acellular larynx scaffold which could be a better selection for laryngeal reconstruction with tissue engineering method.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cartilage, Articular ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Larynx, Artificial ; Stents ; Tensile Strength ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of preterm rats exposed to 60% O2 and to elucidate the relationship between the changes of FABP4 expression and the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

METHODSHyperoxic lung injury was induced by exposing to 60% O2 in Spraque-Dawley rats within 6 hours after birth. Rats exposed to air were used as the control group. The lungs from groups aged postnatal days 3, 7 and 14 were removed and dissected from the main bronchi for analysis. Eight rats of each group were used to assess expression of FABP4 in lungs by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Lung FABP4 mRNA levels were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The levels of FABP4 in BALF were measured using ELISA.

RESULTSFABP4 immunoreactivity was detected in the majority of alveolar macrophages, bronchial epithelial cells and endothelial cells. FABP4 protein levels in lung tissues in the hyperoxic exposure group increased significantly compared with the control group on days 3, 7 and 14 after birth (P<0.05), and FABP4 mRNA levels in lung tissues also increased significantly in the hyperoxic exposure group compared with the control group on days 7 and 14 after birth (P<0.05). The hyperoxic exposure group demonstrated increased FABP4 levels in BALF compared with the control group on days 7 and 14 after birth (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFABP4 levels increase in preterm rat lungs after hyperoxic lung injury, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of BPD.

Animals ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; etiology ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Female ; Hyperoxia ; metabolism ; Lung ; chemistry ; Lung Injury ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; physiology

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the pathoanatomize histological and biochemical characteristics of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by use of old dogs with spontaneous BPH as animal models.

METHODSOld dogs aged 6 to 13 years were recruited after anus check, B-ultrasonic examination by recta spy and measurement under surgical exploration. Ten dogs with notable prostatic hyperplasia were used as models, and 6 with non-hyperplasia prostate as control. Serum testosterone (T), estrogen (E2), ACP and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) were analyzed, and prostates were checked histologically.

RESULTSProstate volume of the BPH group was significantly bigger than those of the control group, (14.7 +/- 2.3) and (13.8 +/- 1.9) cm3 vs (8.4 +/- 1.0) and (8.4 +/- 1.9) cm3, P < 0.01. Serum T [(14.3 +/- 2.9) vs (16.4 +/- 4.0) nmol/L] and E2 [(137.6 +/- 70.8) vs (164.4 +/- 82.0) pmol/L] were not different between the two groups (P > 0.05). ACP of the BPH group was higher than that of the control group [(6.63 +/- 2.76) vs (4.92 +/- 2.19) U/L], but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was significant difference between the BPH group and the control group in PSA level [(5.6 +/- 0.78) vs (3.1 +/- 0.54) microgram/L, P < 0.01]. The tissue slides of the BPH prostates showed hyperplasia with raised height of epithelium, and many long and offsetting mammillae in the gland cavity due to epithelium hyperplasia.

CONCLUSIONOld dogs with spontaneous BPH are useful animal models for the etiological and pharmacological researches of human BPH.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dog Diseases ; pathology ; Dogs ; Male ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; veterinary