OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether auraptene (AUR) exerts a protective effect on acute diquat (DQ)-induced liver injury in mice and explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Forty SPF-grade healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group (Control group), DQ poisoning model group (DQ group), AUR treatment group (DQ+AUR group), and AUR control group (AUR group), with 10 mice in each group. The DQ poisoning model was established via a single intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg DQ aqueous solution (0.5 mL); Control group and AUR group received an equal volume of pure water intraperitoneally. Four hours post-modeling, DQ+AUR group and AUR group were administered 0.5 mg/kg AUR aqueous solution (0.2 mL) by gavage once daily for 7 consecutive days, while Control group and DQ group received pure water. Blood and liver tissues were collected after anesthesia on day 7. Liver ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatic glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were detected using WST-1, thiobarbituric acid (TBA), and enzymatic reaction methods, respectively. Protein expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), and activated caspase-9 in liver tissues was analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Transmission electron microscopy revealed that mitochondria in the Control group exhibited mild swelling, uneven distribution of matrix, and a small number of cristae fractures. In the AUR group, mitochondria showed mild swelling, with no obvious disruption of cristae structure. In the DQ group, mitochondria demonstrated marked swelling and increased volume, matrix dissolution, loss and fragmentation of cristae, and extensive vacuolization. In contrast, the DQ+AUR group showed significantly reduced mitochondrial swelling, volume increase, matrix dissolution, cristae loss and fragmentation, and vacuolization compared to the DQ group. Compared with the DQ group, the DQ+AUR group exhibited significantly lower serum AST levels (U/L: 173.45±23.60 vs. 255.33±41.51), ALT levels (U/L: 51.77±21.63 vs. 100.70±32.35), and hepatic MDA levels (μmol/g: 12.40±2.76 vs. 19.74±4.10), along with higher hepatic GSH levels (mmol/g: 37.65±14.95 vs. 20.58±8.52) and SOD levels (kU/g: 124.10±33.77 vs. 82.81±22.00), the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Western blotting showed upregulated Nrf2 expression (Nrf2/β-actin: 0.87±0.37 vs. 0.53±0.22) and HO-1 expression (HO-1/β-actin: 1.06±0.22 vs. 0.49±0.08), and downregulated Keap1 expression (Keap1/β-actin: 0.82±0.12 vs. 1.52±0.76) and activated caspase-9 expression (activated caspase-9/β-actin: 1.16±0.28 vs. 1.71±0.30) in the DQ+AUR group compared to the DQ group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION AUR attenuates DQ-induced acute liver injury in mice by activating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Liver/pathology* ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/drug therapy* ; Diquat/poisoning* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Apoptosis ; Coumarins

Objective　Endoplasmic reticulum stress may be involved in the menstrual process, but the detailed mechanism is unclear. This article is to explore the effect of progesterone replantation at different periods on the endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced autophagy and apoptosis in mice during menstruation.　Methods　Mice were divided into 12h replantation group, 16h replantation group and the withdrawal group according to random number table, with 10 mice in each group. 12h (12h replantation group) and 16h (16h replantation group) after the withdrawal of progesterone, replanted respectively with progesterone tube, and withdrawal group were not replanted. Mice in each group were sacrificed 24h after the withdrawal of progesterone and were collected bilateral uterine horns. The expression and localization of t-PERK, p-PERK, t-eIF2α, p-eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP and Caspase12 mRNA and proteins in mouse endometrial tissues were detected by qPCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry.　Results　At the mRNA level, the PERK and eIF2α(1.000 ± 0.000) of the 12h replantation group were significantly higher than those of the 16h replantation group (0.450 ± 0.049, 0.330 ± 0.015) and the withdrawal group (0.260 ± 0.233, 0.195 ± 0.014). The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), and the 16h replantation group was higher than the withdrawal group (P<0.05). At the protein level, p-PERK / t-PERK (0.606 ± 0.051) and p-eIF2α / t-eIF2α (0.795 ± 0.074) in 12h replantation group were significantly higher than those in 16h replantation group (0.367 ± 0.019, 0.503 ± 0.038) and withdrawal group (0.243 ± 0.020, 0.293 ± 0.020). The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) and the 16h replantation group was significantly higher than the withdrawal group. At the mRNA and protein levels, ATF4 of 12h replantation group were higher than 16h replantation group and the withdrawal group (P <0.05) , and the 16h replantation group was higher than the withdrawal group. The proteins of p-PERK, p-eIF2α and ATF4 are mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of decidual stromal cells which located at the junction of basal layer and decidualized stromal cells. At mRNA and protein levels, the expression levels of CHOP and Caspase12 in 12h replantation group were significantly lower than those in 16h replantation group , were also lower than the withdrawal group, and the 16h replantation group was lower than the withdrawal group (P<0.05). The proteins of CHOP and Caspase12 are mainly localized in cytoplasm of adequately decidualized stromal cells and the glandular epithelium cells.　Conclusion　Replantation of progesterone before the critical period of menstruation (12h) can effectively block the onset of menstruation in mice, which may be achieved by maintaining the expression of PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signal and blocking the expression of apoptotic signaling pathway members CHOP and Caspase 12 in endometrial stromal cells. And this effect can only be partially achieved by progesterone replantationing after the critical period of menstruation (16h).

Objectiye To reveal epidemiology of malignant tumor in Quanzhou area of Fujian province. Methods Medical record of adults who received health check-up between 2006 and 2010 was collected to estimate the incidence of malignant tumor. Chi-square test was used for data analyses.Results Nearly 12 323 individuals received an annual health check-up during 2006 and 2010,177 of whom were found to have malignant tumors. The identification rate of malignant tumors was 2. 87‰ per year, and the most commonly seen cancer included liver cancer ( 42. 93% ), lung cancer ( 20. 90% ), oesophageal cancer (9. 03% ), cervical cancer ( 8.47% ) and gastric cancer (6. 78% ). Those of 60 to 70 years old showed the highest incidence of cancer. Conclusion Annual health check-up may be helpful to identify early-stage malignant tumors.

Clinical data of 23 elderly patients with rectal cancer undergoing trans-sphincteric local resection(TSLR, Mason's operation)were retrospectively analyzed. All the 23 patients were followed-up for three to seven years after operation, 18 with normal or good fecal continence(78%), five just in fair condition(22%)and none in fecal incontinence. Three-year survival was 83 percent(19/23)and 5-year survival was 78 percent(18/23)for them. It is suggested that TSLR is a safe, feasible and effective treatment for middle and low rectal cancer in the elderly with a long term survival and satisfactory quality of life.