[Abstract] Objective: To prepare GNS (gold nanostars) loading photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) and to investigate its photodynamic effects on lung cancerA549 cells. Methods: GNS was firstly modified by SH-PEG-NH2 and then mixed with Ce6 and shaken overnight to prepare GNS-PEG@Ce6, which had photodynamic therapy effects. The characterization, morphology and encapsulation rate were detected. The difference between the phagocytosis of Ce6 and GNS-PEG@Ce6 by A549 cells were observed with a Leical TCS SP8 confocal laser scanning microscope. MTT assay was used to examine the inhibitory effect of GNS-PEG@Ce6 on the proliferation of A549 cells while FCM was used to detect the effect of probe GNS-PEG@Ce6 on the apoptosis ofA549 cells. Results: The particle size of the GNS-PEG@Ce6 was about 100 nm. The prepared GNS-PEG@Ce6 nanoparticles exhibited good dispersion and stability and the encapsulation rate of Ce6 was about 50%. GNS-PEG@Ce6 entered the cells by endocytosis and mainly distributed in the cytoplasm; compared with Ce6, GNS-PEG@Ce6 could enter the cells more effectively. The proliferation-suppression effect of GNS-PEG@Ce6 on A549 cells was significantly stronger than that of Ce6 (P<0.05). The results of flow cytometry showed that the probe exhibited strong apoptotic effect on A549 cells. Conclusion: GNS, as the drug carrier, could effectively increase the Ce6 uptake efficacy in A549 cells, thus further enhancing the killing effects of Ce6 on lung cancerA549 cells.

AIM:To investigate the protective effect of lycopene on primary mouse cerebrocortical neurons ex -posed to tert-butyl hydroperoxide ( t-BHP) and its mechanisms of in vitro.METHODS:Primary cerebrocortical neurons of newborn C57 mice were extracted and divided into normal group , t-BHP group, lycopene +t-BHP group and lycopene group.The neuronal damage was induced by t-BHP exposure for 24 h, and the cell viability was examined by MTT assay . ROS content was measured by flow cytometry , and the protein levels of Bax , Bcl-2, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and cyto-chrome C were examined by Western blot .RESULTS:The primary mouse cortical neurons expressed MAP-2 protein.Ly-copene at concentration of 4μmol/L reversed the decrease in cell viability .Flow cytometry revealed that lycopene treatment attenuated ROS content under the condition of t-BHP exposure.In addition, the protein level of Bcl-2 was increased, and the expression of Bax , cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome-C was suppressed in lycopene +t-BHP group.CONCLUSION:The protective effect of lycopene on cortical neurons with t-BHP-induced injury may be involved in the mechanism of neuro-nal antioxidative response by down-regulating caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway .

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of multidrug resistance gene 1(MDR1)C3435T polymorphism on the dose of analgesia agents(dezocine combined with sufentanil)after joint replacement. METHODS:300 patients receiving joint replace-ment were selected from Tianjin People's Hospital and Tianjin Port Hospital during Jan. 2014-Feb. 2016. They were given dezocine and sufentanil for postoperative analgesia. PCR-RFLP was used to determine MDR1 C3435T polymorphism;VAS scores,Ramesy scores,the dose of dezocine+sufentanil and the occurrence of ADR were compared among different genotypes. RESULTS:Among 300 patients,there were 100(33.3%),102(34.0%)and 98(32.7%)cases of MDR1 C3435T CC,CT and TT genotype,respec-tively,the frequencies of which were all in line with Hardy-Weinberg balance (P>0.05). There was no statistical significance in VAS scores and Ramesy scores among different genotypes 0,24,48 h after surgery(P>0.05). No excessive sedation was found. The dose of dezocine+sufentanil in CT and TT genotype were all significantly lower than CC genotype 0-24 h,>24-48 h after sur-gery,with statistical significance(P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in drug dose between CT and TT genotype during above periods (P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV),ADR in TT genotype were significantly lower than CC and CT genotypes,with statistical significance (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the incidence of PONV and ADR between CC genotype and CT genotype,and in the incidence of itch among different genotypes(P>0.05). CON-CLUSIONS:With similar sedation and analgesic effect,MDR1 mutant type have lower resistance to dezocine+sufentanil,and smaller drug dose is need,the incidence of ADR is lower. MDR1 genotype can be regarded as an important indicator of clinical in-dividualized treatment.

Day care is described in the paper in terms of its meaning and management.As to areas deserving attention given the initial success,the authors proposed to priortize medical insurance compensation policy,medical resource deployment,patient safety and follow-up for discharged patients.These efforts may further quality of care and patient satisfaction.

AIM:To screen and verify the effective ingredient of traditional Chines medicine (TCM) Q0409 in improving learning and memory ability of mice.METHODS:The mouse learning and memory impairment model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine.The mice in each group were given the corresponding drug by gavage at the same time for 14 d in succession.Morris water maze test was used to measure the learning and memory ability of the mice, and then the hippocampal tissue homogenate was taken to determine the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE).The animals were divided into 8 groups according to L8(27) orthogonal table.The variance analysis and factorial analysis were used to analyze the pharmacological effects of seven kinds of single herbal in TCM Q0409 and determine the screening ingredients.The animals were divided into 6 groups according to the results of the preliminary screening results, and further testing and validation of TCM Q0409 screening ingredients were performed to get the final simplified ingredients.RESULTS:Three medicinal herbs of Polygalae, Panax ginseng and Acori graminei rhizome were screened by the orthogonal results of Morris water maze test and the activity of AChE in mouse hippocampal tissues.The simplified ingredients of TCM Q0409 were obtained through the variance results of Morris water maze test and the activity of AChE in mouse hippocampal tissues.CONCLUSION:Polygala and ginseng were eventually determined as simplified ingredients of TCM Q0409 and it was verified that they improve the learning and memory ability of the mice with learning and memory impairment.

The sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1), which functions in maintaining the ratio of Na+ and H+ ions, is widely distributed in cell plasma membranes. It plays a prominent role in pH balancing, cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and migration. However, its exact subcellular location and biological functions in Toxoplasma gondii are largely unclear. In this study, we cloned the C-terminal sequence of T. gondii NHE1 (TgNHE1) incorporating the C-terminal peptide of NHE1 (C-NHE1) into the pGEX4T-1 expression plasmid. The peptide sequence was predicted to have good antigenicity based on the information obtained from an immune epitope database. After induction of heterologous gene expression with isopropyl-b-D-thiogalactoside, the recombinant C-NHE1 protein successfully expressed in a soluble form was purified by glutathione sepharose beads as an immunogen for production of a rabbit polyclonal antiserum. The specificity of this antiserum was confirmed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. The antiserum could reduce T. gondii invasion into host cells, indicated by the decreased TgNHE1 expression in T. gondii parasites that were pre-incubated with antiserum in the process of cell entry. Furthermore, the antiserum reduced the virulence of T. gondii parasites to host cells in vitro, possibly by blocking the release of Ca2+. In this regard, this antiserum has potential to be a valuable tool for further studies of TgNHE1.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Immune Sera/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins/immunology ; Sheep ; Sodium-Hydrogen Antiporter/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Toxoplasma/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Toxoplasmosis/parasitology/prevention & control

AIM: To observe the effects of berberine (Ber) on enterocyte apoptosis in septic mice and its pos-sible mechanism.METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice (8 ~10 weeks old) were randomly divided into sham group, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group, CLP +Ber group and sham +Ber group.The mice in CLP group underwent CLP ope-ration, and the mice in sham groups suffered a similar operation except the ligation and puncture.After the sham or CLP operation, the mice were administered intragastrically with distilled water or berberine (50 mg/kg) within 2 h.After 20 h, the mice were killed with excess pentobarbital sodium and the ileum tissues were removed.The histological changes of the intestine were observed and the enterocyte apoptosis was examined by determining the protein level of cleaved caspase-3. Furthermore, mitochondrial Bax, cytoplasm cytochrome C (Cyt C) and the total proteins of Bcl-2, Fas, FasL and Fas-as-sociated protein with death domain (FADD) were examined by Western blot.The mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) was measured by real-time PCR.RESULTS: The extensive ileum injuries, including remarkably increased leukocytes and necrosis of intestinal villus were observed 20 h after CLP.In CLP group, the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, cytoplasm Cyt C, as well as Fas, FasL were significantly increased, but the Bcl-2 level was decreased.Bax translocation into mitochondria was promoted.However, FADD was not changed significantly.The mRNA expression of TH and DBH was also increased sharply in CLP group.On the contrary, treatment with berberine made a considerable alleviating alteration in the ileum of the septic mice.CONCLUSION: Treatment with berberine pro-vides protective effects on intestinal injury in septic mice by reducing enterocyte apoptosis, and its possible mechanism may be involved in the inhibition of the endogenous and exogenous apoptosis pathways.

AIM:To observe the effect of B-HT933, a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist, on lipopolysaccha-ride ( LPS )-induced TNF-αproduction in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and to explore the underlying mechanisms . METHODS:The neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured .The localization of α2A-adrenoceptor in the cardiomyocytes was examined by immunofluorescence staining .The cardiomyocytes were exposed to LPS or/and B-HT933 for different time.The level of TNF-αin the supernatants and the mRNA expression of TNF-αwere detected by ELISA and real-time PCR, respectively.In addition, LPS-associated signal molecules in the cardiomyocytes were also examined by Western blotting.RESULTS: Immunofluorescence staining showed that α2A-adrenoceptors were localized in the cardiomyocytes . LPS stimulated TNF-αproduction in the cardiomyocytes in a dose and time-dependent manner .B-HT933 pretreatment sig-nificantly inhibited the expression of TNF-αat mRNA and protein levels in LPS-treated cardiomyocytes .Furthermore, LPS exposure induced IκBαand p38 phosphorylation in cardiomyocytes and only IκBαphosphorylation was prevented by B-HT933 treatment.CONCLUSION:α2A-adrenoceptors are present in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and its agonist B -HT933 inhibits LPS-induced TNF-αproduction in cardiomyocytes via suppressing IκBαphosphorylation .

AIM:To explore the preliminary mechanism of senegenin ( Sen) on inhibiting hypoxia/reoxygenation ( H/R)-induced apoptosis of primary cortical neurons .METHODS:The cultured cortical neurons were randomly divided in-to normal group (control group), model group (H/R group), Sen+H/R group and Sen group.Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the effect of Sen on H/R-induced cell apoptosis .The protein levels of JNK , p-JNK, c-Jun, p-c-Jun, Bcl-2 and Bax were assessed by Western blotting .RESULTS:The apoptotic rate in H/R group was obviously higher than that in control group (P<0.05), while the apoptotic rate in Sen +H/R group was obviously lower than that in H/R group (P<0.05), suggesting that the model of apoptosis was established successfully .The results of Western blotting showed that Sen increased the expression of JNK and c-Jun, inhibited the phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun (P<0.05), increased the protein level of Bcl-2 and inhibited the protein level of Bax in H/R treated primary cortical neurons (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Sen has a protective effect against H/R-induced neuronal apoptosis by increasing the expression of JNK and c-Jun, inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun, increasing the protein level of Bcl-2 and decreasing the protein level of Bax .

Objective To establish the CTRP4 transgenic mouse model and investigate the function of the novel adipocytokine CTRP4.Methods CTRP4 overexpressing vector in pCAGGS was firstly constructed and then microinjected into zygote to establish the founder transgenic mice .F1 heterozygotes were generated by founder mice mating with wildtype mice, and the CTRP4 transgenic homozygotes were generated by F 1 littermates.The genotype was confirmed by PCR and test cross method .The expression level of CTRP 4 in transgenic mice was detected by western blot .Result The human CTRP4 transgenic homozygote mice line was established , and the expression level of CTRP 4 was confirmed raletively high in detected tissues including heart , liver, brain and kidney . Conclusion The human CTRP4 transgenic mice was successfully established .