OBJECTIVETo investigate the neuroprotective potential of lycopene on oxidative stress and neurobehavioral abnormalities in rotenone induced Parkinson' disease (PD).

METHODSForty adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): control, lycopene (10 mg/kg body weight, orally), rotenone (3 mg/kg bw, intraperitoneally) and rotenone plus lycopene, which were sacrificed for 5 weeks. The spectrophotometry was used to determine the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in substantia nigra and right striatum. At the same time, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), alpha-synuclein (alpha-SYN) and microtubule-associated protein 3 light chain (LC3-B) positive neurons were estimated by immunohistochemistry. We also examined neurobehavioral abnormalities by WT-200 water maze.

RESULTSRotenone administration increased the MDA levels and significantly decreased the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT. However, lycopene administration to the rotenone treated animals increased the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT when compared to rotenone treated animals in substantia nigra and right striatum. The cognitive and motor deficits in rotenone administered animals, which were reversed on lycopene treatment. Along with this, the number of TH decreased, alpha-SYN increased and LC3-B positive neurons increased in rotenone administered animals, which were reversed on lycopene treatment.

CONCLUSIONCollectively, these observations provide an evidence for beneficial effect of lycopene supplementation in rotenone-induced PD and suggest therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases involving accentuated oxidative stress.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Brain ; drug effects ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Parkinson Disease ; metabolism ; Rotenone ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) exposure on the behaviors and hippocampal oxidative stress and ATPase in rats and the molecular mechanism of neurobehavioral toxicity of B[a]P.

METHODSA total of 120 male SD rats (21 days old) were randomly and equally assigned to five groups: blank control group, vegetable oil (solvent control) group, and 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg B[a]P exposure groups. The rats in B[a]P exposure groups were injected intraperitoneally with B[a]P once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. Then, Morris water maze and shuttle box were used to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of rats; colorimetric assay was used to measure the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase and the content of malonaldehyde (MDA) in the hippocampus; the concentration of Ca(2+) in the hippocampus was measured by fluorescent labeling.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group and solvent control group, the B[a]P exposure groups exhibited significant increases in escape latency, active avoidance response latency, and passive avoidance response latency and significant decreases in number of platform crossings and active avoidance response frequency in the last test (P < 0.05 for all comparisons), with a dose-effect relationship. In addition, the B[a]P exposure groups had significantly lower activities of SOD, Na(+)/K(+)-AT-Pase, and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase and significantly higher MDA level and Ca(2+) concentration than the blank control group and solvent control group (P < 0.05 for all comparisons), with a dose-effect relationship.

CONCLUSIONThe neurobehavioral toxicity of B[a]P may be related to increased oxidative stress and decreased activities of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase in the hippocampus of rats.

Animals ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of endemic fluoride poisoning caused by coal burning on the oxidative stress in rat testis.

METHODSTotally 40 male SD rats were equally randomized into four groups control group, low fluorosis group, middle fluorosis group, and high fluorosis group. Rats in all three fluorosis groups were fed with corn dried by burning coal obtained from endemic fluorosis areas with high fluoride, and thus the animal models of fluorosis were established. After 120 and 180 days, all the rats were sacrificed. Testis tissues were stained with hematoxylin eosin and observed under light microscope. The malonaldehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total nitric oxide synthase (TNOS), and inducible nitric oxidase synthase (iNOS) were measured by biochemical methods in the testis tissues. The content of NaF in testis was measured by fluorine selective electrode.

RESULTSThe rat fluorosis models were successfully established. The fluoride content in testis was significantly increased in all the fluorosis groups(P<0.01). Testicular structures were damaged in all of fluoride groups. The TNOS, iNOS activities, and MDA content of each fluoride group were significantly higher than that of the control group on day 120 and 180 (P<0.05 or 0.01 ). The TNOS, iNOS activities, and MDA content significantly increased in a dose dependent manner (P<0.05 or 0.01). The SOD activities significantly decreased in all the fluoride groups (P<0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEndemic fluoride poisoning caused by coal burning can cause disorders in the oxidative system and antioxidative system in rat testis. The oxidative stress may play an important role in the fluorides induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

Animals ; Coal ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fluoride Poisoning ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUNDCoronary artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) and late stent thrombosis remain as important complications of stenting. The inflammation reactions to sirolimus and paclitaxel-eluting stents were investigated in a swine stenosis model induced by interleukin (IL)-1β.

METHODSMini pigs (n = 12; 2-3 months old and weighing 25-30 kg) were subjected to thoracotomy. Segments (10 mm) of the mid left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery were exposed and aseptically wrapped with a cotton mesh soaked with IL-1β (5 µg). After 2 weeks, the animals were anesthetized and quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA) was performed. The stenosis sites were randomized into three groups for stent insertion: a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) group (Firebird(TM), n = 7), a paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) group (TAXUS(TM), n = 9), and a bare-metal stent (BMS) group (YINYITM, Dalian Yinyi Biomaterials Development Co., Ltd, China, n = 8). The three different stents were randomly implanted into stenosis segments. Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), P-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was determined by reverse transcription-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSQCA showed severe stenosis in IL-1β treated segments. The SES and PES groups showed lower 1-month angiographic late lumen loss (LLL) within the stent and the lesion compared with BMS (P < 0.05) by follow-up QCA. The SES showed lower LLL than that of PES in reducing 1-month inflammation lesions in pigs by follow-up QCA ((0.15 ± 0.06) mm vs. (0.33 ± 0.01) mm, P < 0.0001). The neointimal hyperplasia areas in SES and PES showed lower than those of BMS (SES (11.6 ± 1.7) mm(2), PES (27.2 ± 1.6) mm(2) vs. BMS (76.2 ± 1.3) mm(2), P < 0.0001). The mRNA expression of MCP-1 by RT-PCR in SES and PES showed lower than that of BMS at 30 days after stenting (SES 0.20 ± 0.03, PES 0.48 ± 0.49 vs. BMS 0.58 ± 0.07, P < 0.05). Levels of VCAM-1 in SES were significantly lower than those of PES and BMS (SES 0.35 ± 0.08 vs. PES 0.65 ± 0.13, BMS 0.70 ± 0.06, P < 0.05). Histochemical immunostaining of vessel walls showed lower inflammatory chemokine MCP-1 expression in the SES and PES groups compared with BMS.

CONCLUSIONSESs were superior in reducing 1-month angiographic LLL in inflammation lesions in pigs, strongly suggesting that SESs can suppress inflammatory reactions in ISR at multiple points.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Coronary Restenosis ; prevention & control ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Inflammation ; prevention & control ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Male ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the patients with bone injury in Wenchuan earthquake.

METHODSFrom May 12th to June 15th 2008 the data of 1410 patients with bone injury in Wenchuan earthquake were analyzed to evaluate clinical intervention and remedy-managing experience.

RESULTSThe 1410 patients average age was from 4 to 103 years old. And 744 cases (52.7%) suffered from blunt injuries, 379 cases (26.9%) from buried injuries, 287 cases (20.4%) from falling injuries; And 1317 cases were with fracture, 93 with limbs soft tissue injuries; 261 patients combined with other parts of injuries including 45 cases with paralysis; 66 cases were with crush syndrome, 25 with gas gangrene, 76 with acute kidney failure, 26 with multiple organ failure. And 912 operations were performed including 402 fracture fixation, 224 debridement, 152 debridement and suture, 85 amputation, 29 implant skin, 8 fixation of joint dislocation, 5 surgical flaps transplantation, 4 nerve and tendon suture, 2 arthroscopes, 1 joint replacement. Among the 66 crush syndrome patients, 49 accepted continuous renal replacement therapy, in which 9 cases were bleeding from named arteries and 20 blood vessels were getting embolism. Among the 1410 cases, 1 died from multiple organ failure.

CONCLUSIONSAmong the patients with bone injury in Wenchuan earthquake, the elderly patients are more than the youth; The injuries are always combined with other complications; Opened injuries are polluted severely; It is difficult to deal with the crush syndrome; Paraplegia cases are less, but the amputees are more.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Earthquakes ; Female ; First Aid ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Wounds and Injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects on allografts and the possible mechanism of adeno-associated heme-oxygenase-1 (AdHO-1) gene therapy against chronic rejection injury.

METHODSEx vivo AdHO-1 gene therapy was performed in vascular and renal transplantation models. The structure and function, the expression of therapeutic genes and proteins, and the immune modulation were analyzed.

RESULTSAdHO-1 gene therapy protected renal transplant against chronic rejection, but the effect was not as remarkable as that in vascular transplant. The transfected empty vehicle aggravated chronic rejection damage in renal transplantation. AdHO-1 decreased the infiltration of macrophages and CD4(+) T cells.

CONCLUSIONSAdHO-1 gene therapy can lessen damage of chronic rejection in allografts. It plays roles by protecting transplants, down-regulating immune response and inducing immune deviation.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; transplantation ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Chronic Disease ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; Graft Rejection ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Macrophages ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of PEG-IFNalpha-2b (Peg-Intron) with IFNalpha-2b (Intron A) in treating HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODSTwo hundred thirty chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients eligible to the following criteria were enrolled into this study: HBsAg and HBeAg(Abbott kit) positive for at least 6 months, serum HBV DNA > or =10(5) copies/ml (real time PCR, LLQ <10(3) copies/ml) and ALT > or =2 x ULN. After 1:1 randomization, the patients received PegIntron (group A: 1.0 microg/kg body weight, SC, once a week) or Intron A (group B: 3 MIU SC, three times a week) for 24 weeks, and followed up for 24 weeks.

RESULTS(1) In groups A and B, respectively, 80.87% and 83.48% were males; their median ages were 31.0 and 32.0 years old; their median body weights were 65.6 and 65.5 kg; mean serum HBV DNA loads were 8.06 log10 and 7.99 log10; their mean ALT values were 4.17 x ULN and 3.77 x ULN. All of the above parameters between the two groups had no statistically significance differences. (2) At the end of treatment and after follow-up, compared to the Intron A group, the PegIntron group showed better response (including complete and partial response rate, HBV DNA undetectable rate, HBeAg seroconversion rate), but the differences of all of them had no statistical significance. The rate of HBeAg loss was higher in patients receiving PegIntron after follow-up (P = 0.0424). (Table 2) (3) PegIntron and Intron A reduced serum HBV DAN persistently during the therapy. Mean reduction at the end of the treatment was much higher in the PegIntron group than in the Intron group (2.22 log10 copies/ml vs 1.66 log10 copies/ml, P = 0.0283). (4) The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs) in the PegIntron group was similar to that of the Intron A group (94.78% vs 95.65%). The AEs associated with PegIntron administration were similar in nature to those with Interon A, such as influenza-like symptoms, fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, etc and the differences of their incidences had no statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONSThe efficacy and safety of PEG-IFNalpha-2b treatment for CHB patients seems to be better than that of IFNalpha-2b; however, further studies are needed to confirm it.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Recombinant Proteins

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical results for reconstruction of periprosthetic fractures of hip with cortical bone plates allografts by deep-freezing and ethylene oxide treatment.

METHODSSeven patients with periprosthetic fractures of hip underwent cortical bone plates allografts by deep-freezing at -70 degrees C after being treatment of 48 degrees C ethylene oxide. And evaluate clinical outcome by examining T lymphocytes, Harris scores, X-rays photograph, and bone scintigraphy.

RESULTSThere were not activity of immune rejection and infection in all patients. Harris scores of patients increased 21, 32, 40, 40 scores at 3, 6, 12, 24 months after surgery. T-lymphocytes, antibody and immunocomplex in blood was normal postoperation. X-ray film indicated that fracture was healed at 3 months and there was partially bone conjunction between allograft strut and host bone. There was incorporation of 85% allograft strut to host bone, and 15% allograft strut was partially absorbed at 12 months after surgery. The size of femur of host was added 3 mm to 5 mm, averaged 4.3 mm at 12 months postoperation. Density of 80% allograft plates was as same as host bone after remodeling and the absorbtion of 10% allograft plates stopped at 24 months after surgery. There was thick of nuclein in the area of allograft cortical bone plates by bone scintigraphy examination at 3 months postoperation, and the thick of nuclein was stronger at 6, and 12 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONAllograft cortical bone plates by deep frozen at -70 degrees C after being treatment of 48 degrees C ethylene oxide is suitable for mechanical fixation and biological bone transplantation, and it can increase bone reservation, augment strength of femur once the allograft strut incorporates to host bone, and avoid removing metal implant in second operation when being applied into reconstruction femoral fracture in joint replacement.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; adverse effects ; Bone Plates ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Fractures ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous