Adolescent ; Athletes ; Cortisone ; blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective To investigate the effects of Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine on immunological function and clinical character in elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodsA total of 100 elderly patients with stable COPD were randomly divided into immunotherapy group (group A, n= 50) and non-immunotherapy group (group B, n= 50), and normal control group (group C, n = 50). The levels of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3+ , CD4+, CD8+ , CD4+/CD8+ ratio), natural killer cells (NK cells), immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) and cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a) were measured respectively before and after therapy. Group A and B were followed up for 1 year, then the times of acute outbreak and hospitalization of patients in the two groups were also compared. Results The levels of CD4 + ,CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cells in group A, B were significantly lower before therapy (P＜0. 05～0. 01＝, and the levels of IL-6, IL -8, TNF-a and IgA were significantly higher than in group C (P＜0. 01＝. After treatment with Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine in group A, the levels of CD4+ , CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cells were significantly higher (P＜0. 05-0. 01＝ and IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a and IgA were significantly lower than before treatment (all P＜0. 01＝. These levels showed no significant changes in group B after treatment (P＞0. 05). After 1-year follow-up, the times of acute outbreak and hospitalization on patients were statistically lower in group A than in group B (P＜ 0. 01 ).ConclusionsMycobacterium vaccae vaccine can improve cellular immunity function and reduce the times of acute outbreak and hospitalization in patients with stable COPD, so it has a higher clinical application value.

Objective： To investigate the effect of oxLDL and VitE on the expression of CD40 and CD40 ligand(CD40L) in cultured human monoc ytes. Methods： The expression of CD40 and CD40L on monocytes su rface were measured by indirect immunorescence technique in combination with flo w cytometry. Results： Low concentration of oxLDL（≤200 μg/L） significantly increased the expression of CD40 and CD40L in a dose and time dep endent manner. High concentration (>200 μg/L）of oxLDL markedly reduced the exp ression of CD40 and CD40L. When VitE was added, it significantly reduced the ex pression of CD40 and CD40L on monocytes surface induced by oxLDL in a dose-depe ndent manner. Conclusion：It is an important mechanism that the high expression of CD40 and CD40L induced by oxLDL may be contributed to the for mation of atherosclerosis. Antioxidan VitE can partially inhibit the high expres sion of CD40 and CD40L on monocytes surface induced by oxLDL.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of TGF-beta on the expression of connexin43 (Cx43) and Cx43-mediated gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in rat Leydig cells, and investigate the association of its effects on Leydig cells with its ability of changing GJIC.

METHODSPrimarily cultured purified Leydig cells were divided into a blank control group, a positive control group (treated with the GJIC inhibitor Carbenoxolone), and four TGF-beta1 groups (treated with TGF-beta1 at the concentration of 1, 2, 5 and 10 ng/ml, respectively, for 20 hours). The localization and expression of Cx43 were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot, and the changes in GJIC analyzed by FRAP assay.

RESULTSCx43 was expressed as scattered bright spots in the cytoplasm and membrane of Leydig cells. TGF-beta1 significantly elevated the expression of Cx43 in the cytoplasm, but caused no evident change in the membrane. Western blot showed an evident increase in the phosphorylation of Cx43 with the increased concentration of TGF-beta1 as compared with that of the blank control group (P < 0.05). After 20 hours of treatment with TGF-beta1 at 5 ng/ml, the fluorescence intensity of Leydig cells was markedly reduced (P < 0.01), with a mean fluorescence recovery rate of merely (43.58 +/- 1.87)%.

CONCLUSIONTGF-beta1 could significantly down-regulate GJIC between adjacent Leydig cells, and this inhibitory effect may be achieved by promoting the expression of Cx43 in the cytoplasm and elevating the phosphorylation of Cx43.

Animals ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Leydig Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVESTo study the expression of Smad1 and Smad5 in the testis of infertile rats with adenine-modeled kidney-yang deficiency and the pathological mechanism of infertility with kidney-yang deficiency, attempting to obtain experimental evidence for the prevention and treatment of male infertility.

METHODSForty-eight 60 d male SD rats were divided randomly into 6 groups with 8 in each: 7 d, 14 d and 21 d kidney-yang deficiency groups, and 7 d, 14 d and 21 d control groups. The experimental rats had been fed with adenine (300 mg/kg) and the expression levels of Smad1 and Smad5 were measured with immunohistochemical SABC method at the 7th, 14th and 21st day.

RESULTSSmad1 immunoreactivity was mainly located in the spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids, and the reactive substance distributed in cytoplasm with negative nuclei. Sertoli cells and Leydig cells were negative. Compared with the control, the expression level of Smad1 was decreased significantly at the 21st day (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference at the 7th and 14th day (P > 0.05). Smad5 immunoreactivity was mainly located in the spermatogonia and spermatocytes, and the reactive substance distributed in cytoplasm with negative nuclei. Compared with the control, the expression level of Smad5 was not significantly different at the 7th day (P > 0.05). The expression of Smad5 was negative at the 14th and the 21st day.

CONCLUSIONThe weaker expression of Smad1 and no expression of Smad5 may be one of the pathological mechanisms of infertility with adenine-modeled kidney-yang deficiency.

Animals ; Infertility, Male ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smad1 Protein ; biosynthesis ; Smad5 Protein ; biosynthesis ; Testis ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective: To investigate the changes of myo cardial contractile function during myocardial stunning in calcium overload rats and the protective effects of tetrandrine. Methods: Forty-six rats were randomized into control, myocardial ischemia, myocardial stunning, low and high dose of tetrandrine groups. Another 10 rats were used to identify the calcium overload. vitamin D3 (0.3 million Unit/kg) and nicotinic acid were adm inistered. After 16 d when calcium overload occured, left anterior descending ar tery was ligated. Twenty minutes of myocardial ischemia followed by 60 min of re perfusion was induced. The contractile function parameters were determined dynam ically. At the end of experiment, myocardial cytosolic ［Ca2+］i was deter mined in various groups. In tetrandrine groups, tetrandrine (62.2 or 93.6 μmol/ kg ) was administered by gastrogavage daily.After 16 d, the rats undergone the e xperiments mentioned above. Results: Sixteen days after vitamin D3 , nicotinic acid were given, ［Ca2+］i increased by 2.6 folds (146.8±10.8 ) vs (368.5±22.6) nmol/L, (P<0.01). Whereas, ［Ca2+］i in tetrand rine groups were (210.8±16.4) and (198.6±15.3) nmol/L, which were significantl y lower than that of calcium overload group. Twenty minutes of myocardial ische mia resulted in the decrease of dp/dtmax and Vmax in all groups with the most si gnificant in stunning and calcium overload groups. The contractile function rest ored gradually after reperfusion. At all time points, dp/dtmax and Vmax in both tetrandrine groups were higher than those in both stunning and calcium overload groups. And effect with higher dose of tetrandrine were more significant than in low dose of tetrandrine. After 60 min of reperfusion, dp/dtmax in stunning, cal cium overload, low and high dose of tetrandrine groups were 49.7%, 51.5%, 71.0% and 83.4% of that in control, respectively， and Vmax were 55.0%, 49.8%, 73.9% and 77.5% of that in control, respectively. Conclusion: T he myocardial contractile function in vitamin D3-induced calcium overload gro up is impaired. On basis of myocardiocyte calcium overload, transient ischemia l eads to myocardial stunning. At the stage of ischemia, the impaired degree of my ocardial contractile function is similar to that in stunning group, suggesting a t this stage the effect of ischemia on myocardial function is greater than that of calcium overload. Tetrandrine chronically improves the myocardial function in Vitamin D3-induced calcium overload rats.

Objective： To investigate the effect of c ytokines (IFN-γ，TNF and IL-1) on the expression of CD40 and CD40 ligand (CD4 0L) in monocytes/macrophages. Methods： The mRNA expression of C D40 and CD40L was measured by RT-PCR and the CD40，CD40L expression on the mono cytes/macrophages were detected by flow cytometric analysis. Results： IFN-γ，TNF and IL-1 could not only significantly up-regulate the mRNA levels of CD40 and CD40L in cultured monocytes/macrophages, but also increase t he expression of CD40 and CD40L. Antioxidant VitE could reduce the expression o f CD40 and CD40L induced by IFN-γ，TNF and IL-1. Conclusion： IFN-γ，TNF and IL-1 can stimulate high expression of CD40 and CD40L . Antio xidant VitE can partially inhibit the expression of CD40 and CD40L induced by cy tokines in cultured monocytes/macrophages.

Objective: To investigate the effects of hyaluroni dase (HAase) and hyaluronan (HA) on proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and its mechanism. Methods: The cultured bovine aortic endothel ial cells (BAEC) were treated with HAase or HA. Cell proliferation rate was dete cted by MTT assay. The expression of CD44 and DNA content of the cells were meas ured by flow cytometry (FCM). Results: HAase (50 μg/ml) stimula ted cell proliferation ［(50.10±1.23）% vs control, P<0.01］, incre ased S phase cell rate and induced the expression of CD44, but HA (100 μg/ml) i nhibited cell proliferation and the expression of CD44. Conclusion: HAase may degrade antiangiogenic HA of extracellular matrix, which may stim ulate proliferation of endothelial cells and enhance the curative effect of grow th factors to myocardial ischemia.

Objective: To determine the eff ect of probucol on adhesion of human monocytic line THP-1 induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Methods: THP-1 cells were induced by oxLDL in vitro. The CD11b, CD54 expressions and adhesion to human umbilic al vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were measured after treatment with probucol at different concentrations by flow cytometry and β-nitrophenyl N-acetyl-β-D -glucosminide test. Results: Probucol inhibited the adhesion of oxLDL-induced THP-1 cells to HUVEC and down regulated the expression of CD11b in a dose dependent manner (P<0.01), but there was no inhibition on exp ression of CD54. Conclusion: Probucol can inhibit adhesion and a ggregation of monocyte-macrophages to endothelium in circulation, and may have anti-inflammatory action.

Objective: To observe the effect of L-carniti ne (L-CN) in the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). Meth ods: Fifty-six cases of chronic CHF randomly received routine treatment (Digitalis, diuretics, vasodilator, ACEI or βblocker) or L-CN (3.0 g/d ,V D×10 d) with routine therapy. Results: The treatment efficiency of L-CN group and control group were 89.3% and 60.7% (P<0.01), respect ively. No adverse reactions related to the drug were observed. Conclusio n: L-CN with routine therapy might be a safe way to the treat CHF.