OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin (MT) in depression rats model induced by chronic stress, so as to explore the biological mechanism of EA for depression.

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 8 cases in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with normal diet for 21 days without any treatment. In the model and EA group, rat model was established by chronic unpredictable stress combined with solitarily feeding method, and rats in the EA group was treated with EA at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Yintang" (GV 29) 1 h before stress stimulation everyday, 2 Hz in frequency and intensity was favorable with the head of rat slightly shivering. The needles were retained for 20 min, once a day for totally 21 days. After EA treatment, open-field experiment was adopted to observe the behavioral improvement; the rats temperatures were monitored at six time points (2:00, 6:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, 22:00) and orbital blood sampling was collected. The level of serum MT was tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The circadian rhythm changes of temperature and serum MT in each group were compared.

RESULTSThe numbers of horizontal movement and vertical movement in the model group were obviously lower than those in the control group (both P < 0.05), while those in the EA group were significantly improved compared with those in the model group (both P < 0.01). The circadian rhythm of temperature and MT disappeared in the model group, which was improved into normal level after EA treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture has regulation effects on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin in depression rat model induced by chronic stress.

Animals ; Circadian Rhythm ; Depression ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Male ; Melatonin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlationship between clinical and histopathological results of adrenocortical hyperplasia,adenoma and adenocarcinoma in the adrenocortical glomerular,fascicular and reticular zones. MethodsA total number of 167 702 surgical specimens were collected by the Department of pathology at the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from 1993 -2008.Of these,there were 631 adrenocortical specimens.Statistic analysis was done with Run test,t or t'test and x2 test on data in the aspects of proportion rate,mean age,sex proportion and relationship between clinical and pathological results of adrenocortical diseases.ResultsThe total number of adrenal diseases and adrenocortical diseases were 910 cases (0.54％) and 631 cases (0.38％),respectively.The number of adrenocortical glomerular,fascicular,reticular diseases were 310 cases (49.13％),319 cases (50.55％) and 2 cases (0.32％),respectively.The rate of adrenal diseases and adrenocortical diseases specimens did not change during the 16 year study period.The trend in proportion of hyperplasia,adenoma,adenocarcinoma in adrenocortical glomerular,fascicular and reticular zones did not change as well.The proportion pattern showed that there were more cases of adenoma than of hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma.The functional diseases of adrenocortical glomerular,fascicular and reticular zone (90.97％,79.00％,100.00％ ) were higher than nonfunctional diseases in the corresponding zones (9.03％,21.00％,0％ ) and both were higher in female patients.The mean age of nonfunctional patients with adenoma,glomerular zone adenocarcinoma and hyperplasia,adenoma of fascicular zone was higher than that in functional diseases.Interestingly,the mean age of glomerular zone adenocarcinoma patients (62.7 yrs) was higher than that in hyperplasia patients (47.8 yrs) and in adenoma patients (44.8 yrs).The mean and male diagnostic ages of adenocarcinoma of fascicular (44.3 yrs,50.0 yra) were higher than that in adenoma (44.0 yrs,49.1 yrs) and hyperplasia (41.5 yrs,40.9 yrs) respectively.But the female mean diagnostic age of fascicular adenocarcinoma (38.7 yrs) was lower than that in adenoma (42.4 yrs) and hyperplasia (41.9 yrs) respectively and the lowest average age was for nonfunctional adenocarcinoma (34.4 yrs).The diameters of the functional and nonfunctional adenocarcinoma were large (4.3 cm and 4.0 cm in glomerular zone,7.1 cm and 8.0 cm in fascicular zone).The carcinoma cells were in serious atyrpia,haemorrhage,necrosis and capsular or vascular infiltration.The rates of functional hyperplasia,adenoma with hypertension in Conn,Cushing or adrenogenital syndrome of adrenocortical glomerular,fascicular,reticular zone were higher than that without hypertension,but their tumor diameters were similar.The diameters of functional adenoma in glomerular or fascicularer ( 1.7 cm,2.3 cm ) were lower than that of nonfunctional adenoma (2.3 cm,2.4 cm ) and the diameters of glomerular tumors were smaller than that of fascicular tumors.Nonfunctional adenoma ( 2.5 cm,2.0 cm ) of glomerular or fascicular by check up finding were bigger than that of non-endocrine adenoma ( 2.5 cm,2.3cm).There were seven cases with adrenogenital syndrome (2 male cases,5 female cases ),among these,there were 4 fascicularer adenoma cases,1 adenocarcinoma case,1 network hyperplasia case and 1 adenoma case.ConclusionsGenetic abnormality plays an important role in pathogenesis of adrenocortical disease and environment had less influence.Radiological examinations (CT and MRI) of adrenocortical diseases are the first choice and have important roles in evaluating tumor characteristics.There is close relationship between clinical manifestation and pathology.However,the exact diagnosis of definite type of disease and nature of tumor needs to be made by pathologic examination.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in rats with pulmonary damage induced by paraquat (PQ).

METHODSFifty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into the control group (normal saline), the PQ-treatment groups (4 groups) and the PDTC treatment groups (4 groups). Except the rats in the control group, the rats in the PQ group were gavaged only with 40 mg/kg PQ, and PDTC group with 40 mg/kg PQ plus immediate injection 120 mg/kg PDTC (i.p). On the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and 28th day after treatments, one group rats of each treatments were sacrificed and lung and blood samples were collected. The level of TGF-beta(1) protein in the plasma, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta(1), MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were evaluated using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, while pathological changes of lung were examined under optical microscope and electrical microscope.

RESULTSThe TGF-beta(1) protein, TGF-beta(1) and MMP-2 mRNA expression were increased significantly in the earlier stage and then decreased after PQ administration (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the mRNA level of TIMP-1 was augmented continuously (P < 0.01) throughout the study compared to the control group. In comparison with the PQ group, in the PDTC treatment group, the TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression on the 3rd and the 14th day, 0.54 +/- 0.08 and 0.72 +/- 0.04 respectively, the MMP-2 mRNA expression on the 7th and 14th day, 1.62 +/- 0.50 and 1.97 +/- 0.34 respective-ly, and the TIMP-1 mRNA on the 7th and 21st day, 1.79 +/- 0.21 and 2.00 +/- 0.34 respectively, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPDTC could attenuate paraquat-induced up-regulation of TGF-beta(1) and its mRNA expression, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA levels, which indicates that PDTC may exert its protective effects on paraquat-induced pulmonary damage by alleviating the earlier inflammation damage and adjust-ing the balance between MMPs and TIMPs. However, further studies are still warranted to investigate and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this complicated process.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pyrrolidines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify the expression characteristics of the 1700001022RIK (RIKEN cDNA 1700001022) gene in mice and explore its function by bioinformatic analysis.

METHODSUsing the expression profile of gene microarray, we detected the expression of a new testis-specific gene, 1700001022RIK, in mice. We analyzed its expression characteristics in the testis tissue and their changes in different developmental stages of the testis by RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. We performed bioinformatic analysis using a bioinformatic software.

RESULTSThe 1700001022RIK gene was specifically expressed in the mouse testis in an age-dependent manner, most highly in the adult mice. The 1700001022RIK protein was mainly expressed in the spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids of the adult mice. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the 1700001022RIK protein amino acid sequence had a high similarity in human and mice, which indicated that this gene was highly conserved in mammals.

CONCLUSION1700001022RIK is a testis-specific gene mainly expressed in the spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids of seminiferous tubules, which might be involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression ; Genomics ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Chaperones ; genetics ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatids ; Spermatocytes ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics ; Spermatogonia ; Testis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 subunit (CHRNA7) gene and schizophrenia.

METHODSThe three polymorphisms rs2337980, rs1909884, rs883473 in CHRNA7 gene were detected based on PCR and polyacrylamide gel microarray in 129 schizophrenic trios. The results of genotyping were analyzed by haplotype relative risk analysis based on haplotype(HHRR), transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) and hyplotype analysis.

RESULTS(1)The HHRR analysis suggested that there was significant differences in rs2337980 allele frequencies between schizophrenia group and dummy control group(P= 0.017); (2)In TDT test, there may be transmission disequilibrium between rs2337980 and schizophrenia, the heterozygous parents excessively transferred the C allele to patients (P= 0.021); (3)The haplotype between rs2337980 and rs1909884 as well as the hyplotype among rs2337980, rs1909884 and rs883473 may have significant association with schizophrenia (global P= 0.034; global P= 0.027), the T-C and T-C-T hyplotype may have transmission disequilibrium with schizophrenia.

CONCLUSIONThere may be association between CHRNA7 gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia, the variant allele T in rs2337980 may have a protective effect to schizophrenia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; genetics ; Schizophrenia ; genetics ; Young Adult ; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

OBJECTIVETo investigate the contents changes of potential biomarkers of patients infected with influenza A (H1N1) virus of different Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome types.

METHODSEighty-two patients with influenza A (H1N1) virus were differentiated as three syndrome types, i. e., wind-heat invading weifen syndrome (51 cases), heat-toxicity attacking Fei syndrome (22 cases), and superficies tightened by wind cold syndrome (9 cases) according to Chinese medicine syndrome typing. According to patients' willingness and clinical conditions, they were treated by three therapeutic schedules, i. e., herbal therapy, symptomatic treatment, and antiviral therapy. The changes of potential biomarkers contents were detected in the serum of patients of various syndrome types before and after treatment. Results There was no statistical difference in the potential biomarkers contents correlated to symptoms of fever, inflammation and cough, such as PGG2, 20-COOH-LTB4, homocystein, and so on in the serum of patients of various syndrome types before treatment (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in the potential biomarkers such as 20-OH-LTE4, LTA4, and linolenic acid, etc. between superficies tightened by wind cold syndrome and wind-heat invading weifen syndrome (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the potential biomarkers such as PGF1alpha, prostanoic acid, and etc. between superficies tightened by wind cold syndrome and heat-toxicity attacking Fei syndrome (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Statistical difference existed in other indices other than dUTP; 5,10-methylene-THF and PGF1alpha in wind-heat invading weifen syndrome and superficies tightened by wind cold syndrome; prostanoic acid, homocysteine, and glucose in superficies tightened by wind cold syndrome when compared with before treatment in the same group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The changing tendency of potential biomarkers among different syndrome types was identical. Of them, the change of 6-keto-PGF1alpha content was the most obviously of all indices.

CONCLUSIONThere was difference in the contents of potential biomarkers of patients infected with influenza A (H1N1) virus of different syndrome types, and our study provided experimental data support for the objectiveness of CM syndrome differentiation from the perspective of metabolic substances.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

AIM: To investigate therapeutic efficiency of amniotic extraction on dry eye in rabbit model induced by topical benzalkonium chloride (BAC).
METHODS: Totally 26 rabbits (26 right eyes) with dry eye model were studied and divided into two groups:group A (control group with PBS eye drops, n = 13) and group B ( amniotic extraction group, n = 13). Another two rabbits were chosen as normal control. The SchirmerⅠ tests ( S Ⅰ t) and corneal fluorescein staining ( FL) were made, and the tear total protein content, amylase activity, lactoferrin, lysozyme contents, goblet cell density were performed in two groups before treatment and 1, 2, 4 and 8 wk after treatment.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in SIT, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density among different groups at different time points (P<0. 05). But, there was no significant differences in SⅠt, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups before treatment (P>0. 05). After 8wks' treatment with PBS, the mean differences of the group A showed great changes in SⅠt, lysozyme and goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P < 0. 05); but there was no significant differences in FL scores compared with those before treatment (P>0. 05). As for group B, 8wks after treatment, there were statistical changes in SⅠt, FL, lysozyme (P<0. 05); but there was no significant differences in goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P > 0. 05). It was evident that statistical differences were observed in S Ⅰ t, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups at each time point (P<0. 05). However, there were no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity at different time points (P>0. 05). Meanwhile there was no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups before treatment ( P > 0. 05 ). But there were significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups after 4 and 8 wks'treatment (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: Amniotic extraction has significant therapeutic effect on the dry eye in rabbit model.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Tangshen Recipe (TR) on the homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism of patients with diabetic nephropathy.

METHODS64 patients with diabetic nephropathy were randomly assigned to two groups, 32 in each. Those in the Western medicine treatment group (Group A) received insulin and orally took anti-diabetic drugs, while those in the TR group (Group B) received insulin and orally took TR (consisting of astragalus, raw rehmannia root, sanchi root, euonymus branchlet, rhubarb, bitter orange, and dogwood fruit, etc. 4 g/package). Six months was taken as one therapeutic course. Another 48 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group. Eight intermediate metabolites of the homocysteine metabolism in plasma were quantitated before treatment, three months and six months after treatment. The in vivo changes of each metabolite after treatment were analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, contents of cysteine (Cys), Hcy, s-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and SAH significantly increased in Group A and B before treatment. Contents of methionine (Met), glutathione (GSH), and Cys-gly decreased significantly, showing statistical difference (P<0.05). Patients' in vivo contents of Cys, Hcy, SAM, and SAH significantly decreased, while contents of Met, GSH, and Cys-gly significantly increased after three and six months of treatment when compared with before treatment in the same group (all P<0.05). No statistical difference existed in contents of SAH, SAM, and GSH of Group A and B after six months of treatment when compared with the healthy control group (P>0.05). No adverse reaction occurred in Group A and B.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment of insulin and TR showed similar favorable effect to Western medicine in treatment of diabetic nephropathy. It could improve in vivo hypomethylation and oxidative stress.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Dipeptides ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the efficacy of integration of metabolism images into multimodal neuronavigation for frameless stereotactic biopsy.

METHODSFrom January to December 2012, 32 patients with brain lesions underwent frameless stereotactic biopsy guided by positron emission tomograph (PET) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS)-based multimodal neuronavigation and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI). The cohort consisted of 16 male and 16 female patients, with a mean age of 45 years (range: 7 - 62 years). Biopsy targets were identified according to PET and (1)H-MRS. Biopsy was performed with Varioguide frameless biopsy system. Diagnostic yield and complications were assessed.

RESULTSMetabolism images-based multimodal neuronavigation and iMRI were successfully implemented in all cases. iMRI confirmed accuracy of biopsy targets. All the specimens obtained pathological diagnosis, the diagnostic yield was 100%. In 1 patient, iMRI found small hematoma (< 5 ml), surgical evacuation wasn't needed with intraoperative complication rate 3.1%. With the help of multimodal neuronavigation, no patients had new or worsened neurologic deficits.

CONCLUSIONSIntegration of metabolism images into multimodal neuronavigation provide not only anatomical, but also metabolic and functional information for frameless stereotaxy, increasing diagnostic yield and avoiding postoperative neurologic deficits.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biopsy ; methods ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuronavigation ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Stereotaxic Techniques ; Young Adult

A comprehensive HPLC-DAD-MS method was developed to study the chemical components of semi-bionic extract of Coptis-Evodia herb couple. The extract was isolated on a Hypersil BDS C18 column (4.6 mm x 200 mm, 5 microm) using acetonitrile-ammonium formic buffer as mobile phase by gradient elution. Detection was performed on DAD and MS equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source by full scan and product full scan on positive mode. The chromatogram of Coptis-Evodia showed seventeen main peaks, eight of which were from Evodia while the others were from Coptis. By comparison of the retention time, the on-line UV spectra and MS spectra, four peaks were identified as jatrorrhizine, hydroxevodiamine, palmatine and berberine, and three peaks were deduced as epiberberine, columbamine and coptisine. In addition, berberine and palmatine were quantitatively determined. No new component was created in the semi-bionic extract of the herb couple, yet the solubilities of berberine and palmatine decreased.
Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Berberine Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Evodia ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization