OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of component I from agkistrodon acutus venomon (AAVC-I) the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and to elucidate the possible anti-angiogenic mechanism of AAVC-I.

METHODSThe effect of AAVC-I on the migration of HUVECs which was cultivated in vitro and treated with AAVC-1 at four concentrations: 0, 20, 40, 80 microg/ml, was observed by methods of scratch wound-healing and Transwell assay. The expression level of mRNA and protein of P-selectin and intercellular cell adhension molecule-I (ICAM-1) were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot assay.

RESULTSCompared with the blank group, the migration ability of HUVECs in each AAVE-I treated group was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, and the expression level of the mRNA and protein of P-selectin and ICAM-1 were decreased.

CONCLUSIONAAVC-I inhibits the migration of endothelial cell, which is acted by down-regulation of the expression content of mRNA and protein of P-selectin and ICAM-1.

Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Crotalid Venoms ; pharmacology ; Down-Regulation ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger

Objective To observe changes of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) in umbilical vein blood between male and female neonates, and assess the effect of serum LH, FSH and T on fetal growth.Methods Umbilical vein blood was obtained from 130 neonates (64 females and 66 males) in the second hospital of changshu city. According to birth weight, 130 neonates were divided into 3 groups: macrosomia (n=28), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (n=31) and normal neonates (n=71). The serum levels of LH, FSH and T were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results 1.The levels of LH, FSH and T in umbilical vein blood were significantly higher in male neonates than those in females (P

OBJECTIVETo develop a virulent heat-evil-induced thrombosis animal model, and provide a rational animal model for pathogeny and pathogenesis research of thrombosis-related diseases, anti-thrombosis activity screening and pre-clinical studies of CAHT formula.

METHODSD rats were pretreated with carrageenin (Ca) intraperitoneal injection, followed by intravenous injection of endotoxin (LPS from E. coli O111:B4) 50 microg x kg(-1) 16 h later. Thrombosis in rat tails were observed during 12-24 h after injection of LPS. The inflammatory mechanism of this model were investigated by analyzing serum level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF 1alpha, CD11b/CD18 expression of white blood cells (WBC) and P-selectin expression of vessel walls.

RESULTIn LPS/Ca model group, thrombosis can be clearly observed in the distal part of rat tails after 12-24 h of LPS/Ca treatment. High level of TNF-alpha and IL-6 can be measured in serum. The expression of CD11b/CD18 in WBC and P-selectin in vessel endothelium significantly increased and the number of WBC in peripheral blood markedly decreased shortly after LPS/Ca treatment. The adherence of white blood cells to vessel endothelium which can be seen by microscope mainly contributed to the decrease of WBC. The results indicated that there was obvious inflammation after treatment with LPS/Ca, suggesting that inflammation was the key mechanism for this model.

CONCLUSIONThis model was developed through treatment of LPS in combination with Ca, of which LPS is considered to be an exotic virulent heat-evil in TCM, while the inflammatory molecules produced in this model, such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, CD11b/CD18 and P-selectin belong to internal virulent heat-evils, so this animal model consists of pathogeny and pathogenesis of virulent heat-evils. virulent heat-evil.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha ; blood ; Animals ; CD11b Antigen ; metabolism ; CD18 Antigens ; metabolism ; Carrageenan ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endotoxins ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Leukocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo analyze and predict the structure and function of mosquito densovirus (MDV) nostructual protein1 (NS1).

METHODSUsing different bioinformatics software, the EXPASY pmtparam tool, ClustalX1.83, Bioedit, MEGA3.1, ScanProsite, and Motifscan, respectively to comparatively analyze and predict the physic-chemical parameters, homology, evolutionary relation, secondary structure and main functional motifs of NS1.

RESULTSMDV NS1 protein was a unstable hydrophilic protein and the amino acid sequence was highly conserved which had a relatively closer evolutionary distance with infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV). MDV NS1 has a specific domain of superfamily 3 helicase of small DNA viruses. This domain contains the NTP-binding region with a metal ion-dependent ATPase activity. A virus replication roller rolling-circle replication(RCR) initiation domain was found near the N terminal of this protein. This protien has the biological function of single stranded incision enzyme.

CONCLUSIONThe bioinformatics prediction results suggest that MDV NS1 protein plays a key role in viral replication, packaging, and the other stages of viral life.

Animals ; Computational Biology ; Culicidae ; virology ; Densovirus ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics

Aim To investigate the effect of hypercholesterolemia on L-type Ca2+(ICa-L) current and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in single ventricular myocytes of hypercholesterolemic rats.Methods 12 male wistar rats were randomly divided into two dietary groups:a group fed a normal diet(n=6)and a group fed high-cholesterol diet(n=6) for 4 weeks,respectively. The level of serum lipid was examined.Zymolytic method was used to isolate single ventricular myocytes from hypercholesterolemic and normal rats,which were loaded with Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent indicator Fluo-3/AM.[Ca2+]i represented by fluorescent intensity(FI)was measured by laser scanning confocal microscope.Whole cell patch clamp technique was used to record ICa-L.Results There was no significant influence exhibited on TG level.However, the serum total cholesterol(TC)level of hypercholesterolemic rats was much higher than that of model control group; at the test potential of 0 mV, ICa-L decreased from(-8.56?1.29)pA/pF(Control)to(-5.24?0.90) pA/pF(HC)(n=6 in each group,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the difference in the CD4+T lymphocytes activation between long term non progressors (LTNP) and typical progressors (TP) of HIV-1 infected patients.

METHODSTwenty-four HIV-1 infected patients and 15 heathy control adults were tested and flow cytometry was used to detect the activation marker CD38 and CD4 count in blood samples taken from the patients and control. bDNA method was used to test the virus load in the plasma of patients.

RESULTSThe activation of CD4+T cells was positively correlated with virus load and negatively correlated with CD4 counts. Compared with normal controls, the activation of CD4+T cells was obviously increased in TP patients but not obviously changed in LTNP patients.

CONCLUSIONCompared with healthy controls, the activation of CD4+T cells in LTNP did not obviously increase. This maybe partially accounts for LTNP patients keeping a good state for a long time.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; analysis ; Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; HIV Infections ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Time Factors ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of auricular acupoint (AA) in the treatment of analgesia during perioperative period in total hip arthroplasty.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to August 2010, 60 patients with late osteonecrosis of the femoral head were treated by total hip arthroplasty and randomly divided into auricular acupuncture (AA) group and control group, 30 patients in each group. There were 11 males and 19 females in the AA group,with an average age of (60.93 +/- 5.90) years; the patients were treated with auricular acupuncture on the point of Shenmen, Subcortex, Kidney and hip joint for four times a week. There were 12 males and 18 females in control group, with an average age of (59.87 +/- 6.21) years; while the patients without auricular acupuncture. VAS score was used to evaluat the degree of pain; Harris score was used to evaluat the function of hip joint. All patients received patient controlled analgesia pump (PCA) for 48 hours after surgery (400 ml liquids were in PCA pump, including 800 mg tramadol and 0.8 mg fentanyl). The dosage of liquids and adverse reaction of PCA pump in different time were recorded.

RESULTSThe VAS score on the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th day separately was (3.61 +/- 0.29), (3.59 +/- 0.30), (2.97 +/- 0.26), (2.29 +/- 0.45), and lower than control group, which separately was (4.19 +/- 0.28), (4.00 +/- 0.31), (3.15 +/- 0.29), (2.83 +/- 0.31). The dosage of PCA in AA group separately was (72.27 +/- 8.06), (60.40 +/- 8.16), (44.13 +/- 4.75), (40.40 +/- 3.69), and less than control group, which was (86.27 +/- 8.51), (73.87 +/- 8.32), (54.53 +/- 5.20), (44.67 +/- 6.31) on the time of 0-12, 12-24, 24-36 h and 36-48 h after surgery. During the using of PCA, nausea and vomiting occurred in 5 cases, less than control group (21 cases). Harris score in AA group (78.90 +/- 5.14) was higher than control group (73.37 +/- 5.99) 2 weeks after operation.

CONCLUSIONAuricular acupuncture can reduce postoperative pain, reduce the usage of analgesic and complications, such as nausea and vomiting, improve the function of hip joint after operation.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Aged ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management ; Pain, Postoperative ; therapy ; Perioperative Period

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cinobufagin on nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway of liver cancer cell line HepG2.

METHODSDual-luciferase cis-reporting system was used to detect the relative value of pNF-kappaB-TA-luc upon tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulation of NF-kappaB pathway. Western blotting was used to detect the protein level of NF-kappaB p65, and RT-PCR was used to detect the gene transcription level of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a target downstream gene of NF-kappaB.

RESULTSAt the concentration of 0.25 and 0.5 microg/ml, cinobufagin significantly lowered the relative value of luciferase (P<0.05). The results of Western blotting showed that cinobufagin significantly suppressed the protein expression of NF-kappaB p65. The transcription level of ICAM-1 was reduced by different doses of cinobufagin.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-cancer effect of cinobufagin may be related to its activity in inhibiting the activation of NF-kappaB pathway.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Bufanolides ; pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess bone health in epileptic children who have been treated with topiramate (TPM) or carbamazepine (CBZ).

METHODSSixty-three epileptic children who received TPM or CBZ treatment and 36 eileptic children who did not receive any drug treatment (control group) were enrolled. Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar vertebrae (L1-L4) and radius-ulna was evaluated by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method. Biochemical indices of bone metabolism, including serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase contents were measured.

RESULTSThe serum calcium content was higher in the TPM group (2.41+/-0.17 mmol/L), but it was lower in the CBZ group (2.15+/-0.26 mmol/L) than that (2.26+/-0.11 mmol/L) in the control group (p<0.05). The serum phosphorus content in both the TPM (1.55+/-0.17 mmol/L) and the CBZ groups (1.52+/-0.26 mmol/L) was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.70+/-0.30 mmol/L) (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the serum content of alkaline phosphatase between three groups. BMD was significantly reduced in both the TPM and the CBZ groups when compared to the control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTPM and CBZ may result in alterations in serum contents of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase as well as BMD reduction.

Adolescent ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Anticonvulsants ; adverse effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Calcium ; blood ; Carbamazepine ; adverse effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Fructose ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphorus ; blood

AIMTo investigate the inhibitory effect of egg white lysozyme (LZM) on ceftazidime (CFT)-induced release of endotoxin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

METHODSP. aeruginosa PAO1 was inoculated in nutrition broth or diluted rabbit blood free of antibiotics in the presence or absence of LZM and incubated at 37 degrees C on a water bath shaker. beta-Lactam antibiotic, CFT, was added to cultures at 3.5 h (nutrition broth culture) or 5 h (diluted rabbit blood culture) after inoculation. After 3 h of CFT treatment, the supernatants from different bacterial cultures were prepared by centrifuge and the concentrations of endotoxin in the supernatants were measured. The bacterial supernatants were also added to a murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 or intravenously injected into carrageenin-sensitized mice. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in RAW 264.7 supernatants or in mouse sera were tested.

RESULTSCFT treatment alone obviously inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa PAO1 accompanied by strong and rapid bacteriolysis and released relatively high concentration of endotoxin from bacteria both in nutrition broth and in diluted rabbit blood cultures. The bacterial supernatant from CFT treatment alone yielded high concentrations of TNF alpha both in RAW 264.7 cells and in mice and high level of NO in RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment with the combination of LZM and CFT evidently blocked the lysis of bacteria and reduced the release of endotoxin without decreasing bactericidal activity of CFT. TNF alpha and NO productivity of the supernatants prepared from the LZM/CFT combinative treated bacterial cultures were significantly decreased both in RAW 264.7 cells and in mice indicating that the inflammatory activity was reduced.

CONCLUSIONLZM can effectively prevent CFT-induced bacteriolysis, endotoxin release and subsequent proinflammatory factor production but without decreasing bactericidal activity of CFT, resulting in the disassociation of bactericidal activity and bacteriolysis. Thus, LZM might be important for preventing endotoxemia in Gram-negative sepsis with the treatment of antibiotics.

Animals ; Bacteriolysis ; drug effects ; Ceftazidime ; pharmacology ; Egg White ; analysis ; Endotoxins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Muramidase ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism