Objective: To observe the effects of sodium heparin and low molecular weight heparin on the release of plasma hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in senior coronary heart disease patients.Methods: Fifty-four senior patients with coronary heart disease were divided into three groups: intravenous sodium heparin, subcutaneous sodium heparin, and subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Plasma HGF and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured before and after injection.Results: Plasma HGF was increased rapidly and significantly after intravenous injection of sodium heparin, reaching its peak level (about 48 fold) after approximately 10 minutes. Plasma HGF was also increased rapidly and significantly after subcutaneous injection of sodium heparin and LMWH, reaching its peak level (about 4 and 5 fold in sodium heparin and LMWH respectively) after approximately 2-3 hours. Conclusion: The rise of plasma HGF after heparin treatment suggests that heparin has some other biological effects in addition to its anticoagulant property through HGF. By this mechanism, the administration of heparin may be of some importance in the reparation of cardio-vascular diseases.

Objective To observe the sub-chronic effects of low doses of arsenic poisoning in rabbits exposed to different periods on some of the serum enzymes and biochemical indicators, and to provide the basis for screening of meaningful hematologic indicators for early diagnosis of arsenic poisoning. Methods Twelve adult rabbits,weighing 2.0 - 3.5 kg, were randomly divided into four groups, 3 in each group, and they were fed with drinking water containing sodium arsenite 0(control),0.01,0.05,0.25 mg/L, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transacylase (y-GT), total protein(TP), albumin(ALB), globulin(GLP), and ALB/GLP of rabbit were measured by SYSMEX-180 automated biochemistry analyzer after 8 weeks and 12 weeks exposure. Results The results showed that ALT in 0.05 mg/Lgroup of 12 week[(60.00 ± 4.14)U/L]increased significantly compared with the control[(41.50 ± 2.12)U/L, P ＜0.05];AST in 0.25 mg/L group of 8 week and 12 week[(46.50 ± 3.21 ), (52.33 ± 3.81 )U/L]increased significantly compared with the control[(21.33 ± 3.53), (29.50 ± 3.23 )U/L, all P ＜ 0.05];ALP in 0.05 mg/L and 0.25 mg/L group of 12 week [(78.68 ± 4.85 ), ( 103.00 ± 7.83 ) U / L]increased significantly compared with the control [(45.50 ± 5.50)U/L, all P ＜ 0.05];γ-GT in 0.05 mg/L group of 12 week[(19.33 ± 7.50)U/L]increased significantly compared with the contro1[(8.50 ± 3.53)U/L, P＜ 0.05]. TP, ALB, GLP, ALB/GLP of different groups of 8 week and 12 week were not significantly different statistically(F= 0.77,0.02,0.16,3.14 and 0.51,0.29,0.41,0.52, all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Zero point zero five mg/L and higher doses of sub-chronic arsenic exposure has some major damage to the liver. Compared with other serum enzymes and the biochemical indexes, serum AST is a early sensitive indicator of liver injury of the arsenic poisoning.

Objective This study aims to explore the application value of tuberculosis T lymphocytes enzyme-linked immune SPOT test (T-SPOT.TB) on early diagnosis of tuberculosis.Methods The TB infection in 189 inpatients suspected tuberculosis in pneumology department of Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital was detected with T-SPOT.TB,fluorescence RQPCR,tuberculosis (TB-Ab)protein chip and PPD methods.Results The sensitivity of four methods was 91.54％ (119/130),73.85％(96/130),63.08％(82/130) and 57.69％ (75/130) respectively and the specificity of those was 89.83％ (53/59),86.44％(51/59),67.79％(40/59) and 66.10％(39/59),respectively.The sensitivity of T-SPOT.TB method was statistically higher than those of other three tests,respectively (P＜0.05).The specificity of T-SPOT.TB was significantly higher than those of TB-AB and PPD (P＜0.05),but there was no statistical difference between RQ-PCR and T-SPOT.TB (P＞0.05).The positive predictive values of T-SPOT.TB,fluorescent quantitative PCR,TB-Ab and PPD assays were 95.2％ (119/1250),92.3％ (96/104),81.2％ (82/101) and 78.9％ (75/95) respectively while the negative predictive values of those were 82.8％ (53/64),60％ (51/85),45.5％ (40/88) and 41.5％ (39/94),respectively.The false-positive rates (misdiagnosis rate) of four assays were 10.2％ (6/59),13.6％ (8/59),32.2％ (19/59) and 33.9％ (20/59) respectively and the false-negative rates (rates of missed diagnosis) of those were 8.5％ (11/130),26.2％ (34/130),36.9％ (48/130)and 42.3 ％ (55/130),respectively.The negative likelihood ratios of T SPOT.TB,fluorescent quantitative PCR,TB-Ab and PPD assays were 0.11,0.16,0.48 and 0.51 respectively,meanwhile the positive likelihood ratios of T-SPOT.TB,fluorescent quantitative PCR,TB-Ab andPPD assays were 9.0,5.4,2.0 and 1.7,respectively.What' s more,the diagnostic accordance rates of the four assays were 91.0％ (172 189),77.8％ (147 189).64.6％ (122/189) and 60.3％ (114/189),respectively.Conclusion T-SPOT.TB test is a more sensitive and specific method and of great significance to the early diagnosis of TB,which has more clinical value in different stages of tuberculosis diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the immunoregulatory effect and compare the different regula- tions of bone marrow mescnchymal stem cells(MSCs)derived from both lupus(NZBWF1/J)and normal(BALB/ c)mice on T lymphocytes in vitro.Methods MSCs from NZBWF1/J and BALB/c mice bone marrow were iso- lated and expanded,and identified by the surface phenotypes.CD3~+ T lymphocytes isolated by nylon wool columns were stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate(PMA)and co-cultured with or without the two strains of MSCs for 24 h.Intracellular eytokines of T cell,such as interferon(IFN)-?,interleukin(IL)-4,IL-12,IL-6, were analyzed by flow cytometry and quantification of transcription factors T-box expressed in T cells(T-bet) and GATA-binding protein 3(GATA-3)were detected by reverse transcriptase PCR(RT-PCR).T cell apop- tosis was assessed by flow cytometry using rhodamine123.Results The results showed that a decrease of CD3~+ T cell apoptosis was seen when NZBWF1/J MSCs or BALB/c MSCs were added to T cells stimulated by PMA(P＜0.05),and an increase of TH2 cytokines by NZBWF1/J MSCs and TH1 eytokines by BALB/c MSCs were observed in the CD3~+ T cells eo-cuhured with MSCs(P＜0.05).Conclusion It is suggested that the al- teration of T subsets caused by MSCs may interfere with the systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)development and normal MSCs may be effective in the improvement of SLE.NZBWF1/J MSCs have defective immunoregula- tory function when compared with MSCs from healthy mouse strains.

Objective To optimize the dry granules process of Typha Pollen. Methods The particle size and particle friability were selected as evaluation indexes. The inspect factors were water content, compression frequency, and granulation frequency. Influence of inspect factors on evaluation indexes was investigated by single factor test, the influence of inspect factors on OD value was investigated by Box-Behnken design, and response surface method was adopted to predict, analyze and choose optimal process. Results The optimal dry granulation technology was as follows: the water content was 35.0%; the frequency of tabletting was 27 Hz; the granulating frequency was 15 Hz. Conclusion The selected process is stable, feasible and reproducible, which can be used for granulation of Typha Pollen granules.

Objective: To explore the changes of inflammatory factors and related factors in the population with overweight combining abdominal obesity and high-normal blood pressure (BP). Method: Our research included in 2 groups: Group A: n=189 subjects with high-normal BP, overweight and abdominal obesity, their BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2, waist circumference (WC) ≥ 90 cm in male, WC ≥ 85 cm in female, SBP(120-139) mmHg or DBP (80-89) mmHg; Group B, n=87 healthy subjects with matched age, BMI < 24 kg/m2, BP < 120/80 mmHg as normal control. Blood lipids and other biochemical parameters were examined; serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICMA1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1), chemokines-1 (CXCL-1), CXCL-2 and oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were measured by ELISA. Results: Compared with Group B, Group A had increased TG, fasting blood glucose and non-HDL-C, all P<0.05; elevated serum levels of ICMA1 and MCP1, both P<0.05. Correlation analysis indicated that in Group A, ICMA1 was positively related to BMI, SBP, LDL-C and negatively related to age, which had gender difference; MCP1 was positively related to WC, SBP, LDL-C, non-HDL-C and negatively related to HDL-C, which also had gender difference; oxLDL was positively related to SBP, LDL-C; no evidence showed that CXCL-1 and CXCL-2 were related to obesity, BP and metabolic parameters; in Group B, no evidence showed that inflammatory factors were related to the other parameters. Linear regression analysis for inflammatory parameters found that after excluding other factors, in Group A, ICMA1 was positively related to BMI (t=2.901, P=0.005); in male gender, MCP1 was positively related to SBP (t=5.076, P=0.000), negatively related to DBP (t=-3.369, P=0.001). oxLDL was positively related to age (t=2.168, P=0.032) and LDL-C (t=2.146, P=0.034); CXCL-1 was negatively related to HDL-C (t=-2.013, P=0.047). Conclusion: The subjects with overweight abdominal obesity and high-normal BP were usually having abnormal metabolism of glucose and lipids, elevated serum levels of inflammatory parameters, blood levels of inflammatory factors were increasing with elevated BMI and SBP accordingly which implied the association with critical range of BP.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulation of different hypoxia on cell survival and autophagy.

METHODSPC12 cells were treated with different hypoxia. The cell survival was measured by MTT assay, expressions of LC3 and p62 were marked for autophagy detected by Western Blot, and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe cell viability was different under different hypoxia: moderate hypoxia promoted cell viability, and severe hypoxia caused a decrease in cell viability; autophagy marker molecules, p62 and LC3-II expressions were different: moderate hypoxia increased p62 and LC3-II expressions, in contrast, severe hypoxia led to the decrease of p62 and LC3-II expressions; compared to normoxia, moderate hypoxia did not change the levels of ROS, while severe hypoxia increased the levels; 3-MA, the inhibitor of autophagy, elevated the levels of ROS in the three oxygen concentrations, additionally, the increased amplitudes in the moderate and severe hypoxia groups were higher than that in the normoxia group.

CONCLUSIONModerate hypoxia promotes cell survival, severe hypoxia causes the cell death, and the autophagy activity may mediate the effects of different hypoxia.

Animals ; Autophagy ; physiology ; Cell Death ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Survival ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

The essence of endogenous turbidity in Chinese medicine (CM) is different from cream, fat, phlegm, retention, damp, toxicity, and stasis. Along with the development of modern scientific technologies and biology, researches on the essence of endogenous turbidity should keep pace with the time. Its material bases should be defined and new connotation endowed at the microscopic level. The essence of turbidity lies in abnormal functions of zang-fu organs. Sugar, fat, protein, and other nutrient substances cannot be properly decomposed, but into semi-finished products or intermediate metabolites. They are inactive and cannot participate in normal material syntheses and decomposition. They cannot be transformed to energy metabolism, but also cannot be synthesized as executive functioning of active proteins. If they cannot be degraded by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome into glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, and other basic nutrients to be used again, they will accumulate inside the human body and become endogenous turbidity. Therefore, endogenous turbidity is different from final metabolites such as urea, carbon dioxide, etc., which can transform vital qi. How to improve the function of zang-fu organs, enhance its degradation by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome is of great significance in normal operating of zang-fu organs and preventing the emergence and progress of related diseases.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of lycopene against cryopreservation injury of post-thawing human sperm and its mechanism.

METHODSSemen samples were collected from 25 volunteers, each sample equally divided into four parts to be cryopreserved with cryoprotectant only (Ly0 control) or cryoprotectant + lycopene at the concentrations of 2 (Ly2), 5 (Ly5), and 10 µmol/L (Ly10), respectively. Before and after thawing, the semen samples were subjected to computer-assisted semen analysis ( CASA) for sperm kinematics, flow cytometry for sperm apoptosis, thiobarbituric acid assay for malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and JC-1 fluorescent staining for the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

RESULTSAfter cryopreservation, sperm motility was markedly decreased in all the groups (P < 0.01). The rate of sperm apoptosis was significantly lower in the Ly5 group than in the Ly0 control ([25.68 ± 4.36]% vs [33.26 ± 4.78]%, P < 0.05), while sperm MMP remarkably higher in the former than in the latter ([66.18 ± 14.23]% vs [55.24 ± 12.31]%, P < 0.05). The Ly2, Ly5 and Ly10 groups showed no statistically significance differences in the MDA level from the Ly0 control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAddition of lycopene at a proper concentration to cryoprotectant may reduce oxidative damage to sperm mitochondria in the freezing-thawing process, attenuate oxidative stress injury induced by reactive oxygen species to sperm plasma membrane, and improve the anti-apoptosis ability of sperm.

Apoptosis ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Cryopreservation ; Cryoprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of AMPK agonist 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of U937 cells and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSU937 cells were cultured with different concentrations of AICAR for 24 h and 48 h. Cell proliferation was evaluated. Cell growth curve was analyzed by CCK-8; cell apoptosis was analyzed by cell morphology, Annexin V/7-AAD double labeling. The differentiation of U937 cells was evaluated by expression of CD11b. The Bcl-xL, Bax, Bim, caspase-3 mRNA expressions of U937 cells were determined by real time PCR.

RESULTSAICAR significantly inhibited the growth of U937 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner, with a 24 h IC50 value of 1.1 mmol/L and 48 h of 0.9 mmol/L. 1.0 mmol/L AICAR didn't induce differentiation of U937 cells with the increase of CD11b expression for 24 h (P > 0.05). The U937 cells apoptosis was confirmed by cell morphology and Annexin V/7-AAD labeling. AICAR induced apoptosis of U937 cells and the apoptosis rate was (6.81 ± 1.16)% at 1 mmol/L AICAR higher than control group (2.74 ± 0.32)% without AICAR for 24 h treatment (P < 0.05). The real time PCR assay revealed that as compared with control group, the expression of Bim and caspase-3 mRNA were increased, while Bcl-xL and Bax were unchanged on the AICAR treatment.

CONCLUSIONAICAR can effectively inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of U937 cells. However, it has no significant effect on differentiation of U937 cells. The mechanism may be related with up-regulating Bim and Caspase-3.

Aminoimidazole Carboxamide ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Ribonucleotides ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells