OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of Ginkgo biloba Tablet (GbT) on scavenger receptor A (SRA) of the aortic wall and changes of serum inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats, and to explore its new mechanism for fighting against atherosclerosis (AS).

METHODSTotally 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the GbT group, 15 rats in each group. Levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, blood calcium, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in all rats. The expression of SRA in the aortic wall of atherosclerotic rats was observed by immunohistochemical assay. The correlation between the expression of SRA and levels of in-flammatory factors was also observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously increased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C were significantly elevated (P < 0.01); neointimal areas were significantly thickened, increased intima percentage was significantly enlarged, narrowed lumen index was significantly reduced; levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously decreased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the GbT group. Aortic lumens were obviously narrower in the model group than in the GbT group (P < 0.05). SRA expressed at the aortic wall. The aforesaid 3 indices were significantly improved in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly decreased in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were positively correlated with the percentage of SRA positive expression area (r = 0.701, 0.604, 0.581, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum levels of inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats were elevated, and the expression of SRA in the aortic wall was enhanced. The expression of SRA was closely correlated with serum levels of inflammatory factors. GbT could decrease serum levels of inflammatory factors and inhibit the expression of SRA.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcium ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; metabolism ; Tablets ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

Objective To observe the expression of synaptotagmin I(syt I)protein in the prefrontal cortex of adult-onset hypothyroidism rats and the effects of replicated therapy in different doses of thyroid hormone on the syt I protein.Methods All 44 aduh male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups randomly according to their body mass:hypothyroidism group,routine dosage thyroxine treatment group,high dosage thyroxine treatment group and control group.The adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were replicated to the adult-onset hypothyroidism and treatment models with propyhhiouracil(PTU).The levels of serum T3,T4 were assayed by the radioimmunoassay method and the level of the syt I protein in the molecular layer,external granular layer,external pyramidal layer,internal granular layer and internal pyramidal layer in prefrontal cortex was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.Results In the hypothyroidism group,the levels of serum T3 and T4[(0.34±0.04),(43.01±2.95)nmol/L]were significantly lower than those in the control group[(0.65±0.15), (55.20±3.56)nmol/L, F value: 6.026,5.940,4.503,P<0.05 or <0.01 ], the levels of the syt I protein in the molecular layer(0.018±0.010), external granular layer (0.020±0.007), external pyramidal layer(0.013±0.008), internal granular layer(0.011±0.005), internal pyramidal layer(0.024±0.013) of prefrontal lobe were significantly lower compared to the control group[(0.028±0.010,0.031 ± 0.010,0.028 ± 0.010,0.022 ± 0.008,0.038 ± 0.013), F value: 5.697,8.965,14.668,13.597,6.807,P<0.05 or <0.01 ]. In the routine dosage of the thyroxine treatment group, the levels of serum T3,T4 [(0.63 ±0.05), (55.04 ± 3.77)nmol/L] were not significantly different compared to the control group(F value: 3.162,0.367,all P>0.05), and the level of the syt I protein in the molecular layer, external granular layer, external pyramidal layer, internal granular layer and internal pyramidal layer in prefrontal cortex showed a significant improvement of the syt I protein(0.027 ± 0.013,0.025 ± 0.009,0.022 ± 0.008,0.020 ± 0.010,0.033 ± 0.010), which were similar to that of the control group(F value: 0.094,2.208,2.467,0.350,0.693, all P>0.05). In the high dosage thyroxine thyroid hormone treatment group, the levels of serum T3 and T4[ (1.11 ± 0.10), (96.68 ± 6.42)nmoL/L] were higher than the control group(F value: 6.291,12.031, all P<0.01), the expression of the syt I protein(0.028 ± 0.008,0.031 ±0.011,0.026 ± 0.012,0.023 ± 0.011,0.038 ± 0.010) were not significantly different compare to the control group (F value: 0.001,0.019,0.111,0.061,0.001, all P>0.05). Conclusions The expression of the syt I protein in the prefrontal cortex of adult-onset hypothyroidism can be decreased, which can be reversed by routine dosage of thyroxine treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Delayed Graft Function ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Kidney Transplantation ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

This paper is to report the study of the metabolism of forscolin in plasma and liver microsomes for guiding clinical therapy. Forscolin was quantified by HPLC-MS/MS. The metabolic stability of forscolin in rat, Beagle dog, monkey and human plasma and liver microsomes, mediated enzymes of forscolin and its inhibition on cytochrome P450 isoforms in human liver microsomes were studied. Results showed that forscolin was not metabolized in plasma of the four species but metabolized in liver microsomes of the four species. The t1/2 of forscolin in rat, Beagle dog, monkey and human liver microsomes were (52.0 +/- 15.0), (51.2 +/- 5.9), (6.0 +/- 0.2) and (11.9 +/- 1.8) min; CL(int) were (75.6 +/- 18.7), (60.9 +/- 6.8), (513.8 +/- 14.3) and (176.2 +/- 25.6) mL x min(-1) x kg(-1); CL were (34.8 +/- 4.5), (23.3 +/- 1.0), (40.3 +/- 0.5) and (17.9 +/- 0.3) mL x min(-1) x kg(-1), respectively. Forscolin was metabolized by CYP3A4 in human liver microsomes. There was definite inhibition on CYP3A4 at the concentrations of forscolin between 0.1 ng x mL(-1) and 5 microg x mL(-1). Therefore, forscolin is rapidly excreted from liver microsomes. Attention should be paid to the drug interaction when forscolin was used along with other drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 in clinics.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coleus ; chemistry ; Colforsin ; blood ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; metabolism ; Dogs ; Humans ; Macaca ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Microsomes, Liver ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

To study the effect of dietary fatty acid on the colon tumorigenesis induced by methyl nitrosourea in rats, male SD rats were fed five semi-synthetic diets composed of different proportions of beef tallow, soybean oil, alkana oil, corn oil and fish oil for 180 days. The experimental groups were injected with a solution of methyl nitrosourea in phosphate buffer intraperitoneally once a week for six weeks. The control groups were injected with phosphate buffer solution only. The incidence of colon cancer, the avergage volume of the tumors, proliferation cell nuclear antigen, cell kinetics, membrane lipid fluidity, alkaline phosphatase activities and the content of prostaglandin E2 in colon mucosa and the fatty acid of testis pad fat were measured at the end of the experiment. The results showed that the incidence of colon cancer and the average volume of tumors in animals fed with diets composed mainly of beef tallow, soybean oil or alkana oil were significantly higher than those that were fed fish oil. The most effective anticancer diet in our study contained saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid of fish oil in the proportion of 13.9%, 16.4% and 68.8% respectively. Inhibition of colon tumorigenesis appeared to be related to the regulation of membrane lipid fluidity, and a decrease in the proliferation of cell nuclear antigen in colon cells. In addition, a decrease was noted in the number of cells in S phase and alkaline phosphatase activity, along with inhibition of arachidonic acid products and a corresponding decrease in the amount of prostaglandin E2.

The microsatellite (SSLP) marker RM262,which is tightly linked to the blast resistance gene Pi-d(t) in rice, provides means to conduct marker-aided selection in a rice breeding program. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of this marker to select the blast resistance gene, Pi-d(t), in two crosses for rice blast resistance breeding. The products with amplified the microsatellite primers were polymorphic between the three varietes examined. To examine the power of the identified microsatellite marker in predicting the Pi-d(t) locus, we determined the genotypes of the two F2 populations at the Pi-d(t) locus by performing progeny testing for the disease respones. The results indicated an accuracy of more than 98 % in identifying the resistant plants in both populations. Therefore the microsatellite marker can be utilized in marker-assisted selection and breeding for new varieties with blast resistance.

Objective:To study the application value of self-made endometrial sampler in the diagnosis of endometrial lesions.Methods:A total of 80 patients with endometrial lesions and indications for diagnostic curettage were enrolled in Department of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Jiading District from November 2014 to January 2016.All of patients were presenting for endometrial biopsy by self-made endometrial sampler before hysteroscopy and diagnostic curettage.The pathologic diagnostic accordance of the two groups were evaluated.Results:The coincidence rate of pathologic diagnosis between self-made endometrial sampler and hysteroscopic curettage was 87.84%.The pathological diagnosis results of the two groups were in good coherence (Kappa=0.75).No statistical significance of specimen satisfaction was found between two groups (P=0.276).The operation time in self-made endometrial sampler group was significantly shorter than that in hysteroscopic curettage group (P<0.01).Conclusions:The pathological results of self-made endometrial sampler is similar to hysteroscopic curettage.It suggests that self-made endometrial sampler is comparable for the diagnosis of endometrial lesions.

Purpose To investigate the relations of THEM4/Akt expression and extracellular matrix deposit in kidney of diabetic mice. Methods Diabetic mice models were successfully established by intraperitoneally injected STZ. Both normal control mice and diabetic mice were raised for 8 week until they were sacrificed. Western blot, immunohistochemistry and realtime PCR were used to detect the expression of THEM4, phospho-Akt (Ser 473), TGF-β1, a-SMA, Col Ш, FN protein and THEM4 mRNA in the kidneys of normal mice and diabetic mice. Results Compared to normal control mice, THEM4 expression decreased by 37.7％ followed by 3.66, 1.29 2.33, 1.99 and 2.82 times increased of phospho-Akt (Ser473), TGF-β1, a-SMA, Col Ш and FN in kidney of diabetes mellitus. Extracellular matrix accumulation was found in renal interstitial region of diabetic mice. Conclusion The decreased THEM4 might cause extracellular matrix deposit in kidney of diabetic mice by upregulating the phosphorylation of Akt and TGF-β1, α-SMA expression in diabetic mice.

Aim To investigate the effect of thioester-ase superfamily member 4(THEM4)expression on col-lagen secretion in human renal proximal tubular epithe-lial cells (HKC)treated with high glucose. Methods In order to examine the direct effect of THEM4 ex-pression vector on PI3K/ Akt pathway and collagen se-cretion,pYr-ads-4-THEM4 expression vector was con-structed and transfected into the HKC with lipo-fectamine 2000 in vitro. HKC cells were randomly di-vided into four groups:normal glucose group (Con-trol),high glucose group (HG),high glucose plus pYr-ads-4-THEM4 vector group (HG + THEM4 vec-tor) and high glucose plus pYr-adshuttle-4 vector group (HG + V vector). After 48 h with HG stimula-tion,the cells were collected for extraction of protein and phospho-Akt (Ser 473),THEM4,TGF-β1 andα-SMA protein expression were examined by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining respectively. Col Ⅰ and Col Ⅲ were detected using the competitive sandwich ELISA kit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results High glucose inhibited THEM4 expression,and induced increased phospho-Akt (Ser 473),TGF-β1,α-SMA and secreted ColⅠand secre-ted Col Ⅲ in HKC cells. Up-regulation of THEM4 re-versed high glucose-induced decreased THEM4,in-creased phospho-Akt (Ser 473),TGF-β1,α-SMA, secreted Col Ⅰ and secreted Col Ⅲ in HKC cells. Conclusion The up-regulation of THEM4 may de-crease Col Ⅰ and Col Ⅲ secretion by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt and down-regulating the expres-sion of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in high glucose-induced HKC cells.

Aim To observe the effect of thioesterase superfamily member 4 ( THEM4 ) expression on extra-cellular matrix ( ECM ) accumulation in the kidney of diabetic mice .Methods For in vivo vector delivery experiment , male CD1 mice were randomly divided in-to four groups: normal control mice ( Control group ) , diabetic mice ( DM group ) , diabetic mice receiving pYr-ads-4-THEM4 vector ( DM+THEM4 vector ) and diabetic mice receiving pYr-adshuttle-4 vector ( DM+V vector ) .pYr-ads-4-THEM4 vector or pYr-adshuttle-4 vector ( 1 mg · kg -1 ) were mixed with TransIT-EE Hydrodynamic Delivery Solution from Mirus Co .and injected into tail vein once a week for four weeks after STZ injection.Four weeks later, mice were sacrificed and Western blot , immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of phospho-Akt(Ser 473), THEM4, TGF-β1, α-SMA, Col Ⅲ, FN proteins and THEM4 mRNA in kidneys respectively . Results THEM4 decreased in kidney of diabetes mel-litus accompanied with increased phospho-Akt ( Ser 473), TGF-β1, α-SMA and ECM.The delivery of pYr-ads-4-THEM4 vector increased THEM4 expression and decreased phospho-Akt (Ser 473), TGF-β1, α-SMA and ECM deposit in kidneys of diabetic mice . Conclusion The up-regulation of THEM4 may pre-vent ECM deposit by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt and down-regulating the expression of TGF-β1 andα-SMA in kidneys of diabetic mice .