Objective: To investigate the mechanism of cleft palate in mice induced by excessive all-trans retinoic acid (atRA). Methods: The pregnant mice were randomly divided into atRA-treated group (n=27) and control group (n=27). atRA-treated group was given by gavage a single dose of atRA (100 mg/kg) at 8: 00 AM on gestation day 10 (GD10) and the control group was given by gavage the isopyknic corn oil. At GD13-GD15, the fetal mice palate development was observed by HE staining. The mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal cell proliferation was detected by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry. The expressions of Smad2, phospho-Smad2 (p-Smad2), Smad4 and Smad7 in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme were analyzed by Western blotting. Results: At GD13-GD15, compared with the control, the ratio of BrdU-positive cells in the palatal mesenchyme of atRA-treated fetuses decreased significantly (P<0.05), especially at GD14, atRA inhibition rate was (65.4±1.7)%. Moreover, atRA decreased the levels of p-Smad2 and Smad4 in embryonic palate mesenchymal cells, whereas the expression of Smad7 was significantly increased at GD14 and GD15. Conclusions atRA may lead to cleft palate by inhibiting the activation of Smad signaling pathway and affecting the proliferation of palatal mesenchymal cells.

Objective To investigate the effect of preoperative carbohydrate fluid intake on postoperative insulin resistance and immune function.Methods Sixty elective gastroenteric tumor resection patients were randomly divided into test (n =30) and control (n =30) groups.Control group were fasted before surgery,while test group were given oral carbohydrate before surgery.The blood samples were collected to measure the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG),fasting insulin (FINS),and cellular immunity (CD3 +,CD4 +,CD8 +,and CD4 +/CD8 +) before operation and 1,3,7 day postoperation,respectively.Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was applied to assess the status of insulin resistance.Results Compared to preoperation,the levels of CD4 +,CD4 + / CD8 +,and HOMA-IR at 1 day postoperation in both control and test groups were significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05).Compared to test group,the levels of CD4 +,CD4 +/CD8 +,and HOMA-IR at 1,3 day postoperation in control group were significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05).At the seventh day after surgery,HOMA-IR levels in the test group were returned to the preoperative level (P ＞ 0.05),while the control group was still higher than before surgery (P ＜ 0.05).There were no differences in CD4 + and CD4+/CD8 + at seventh days after surgery between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Preoperative carbohydrate administration may shorten the insulin resistance duration after gastrointestinal cancer surgery,reduce the intensity of insulin resistance,and improve immune function.Thus contributes to the rehabilitation of patients.

Objective: To investigate the combined preventive effect of folic acid (FA) and vitamin B12 (VB12) on the developmental toxicity of alcohol. Methods: To build animal model with the developmental toxicity by giving 5g/kg bw alcohol (25% ethanol) intragastrically (IG) to ICR mice during gestational day (GD) 6-15. In addition to alcohol, three groups were given FA 60 mg/kg bw, VB12 1 mg/kg bw, FA 60 mg/kg bw + VB12 1 mg/kg bw respectively by IG during GD1-GD16. An alcohol model group and a negative control group were set. All dams were killed at GD18. Results: Compared to the alcohol model group, the pregnant mice of FA + VB12 combined intervention group put on more weight during pregnancy; the live fetal rate; the fetal weight, body length and tail length were all increased; the abnormal ossification rate of sternum, occipital bone, and four limbs dropped (P

Objective This study was designed to explore the effects of phytoestrogen genistein on proliferation of post-menopausal osteoblast and the likely molecular mechanisms. Methods Osteoblast cultures were prepared from the upper femur of postmenopausal patients. Osteoblast proliferation was determined by Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium(MTT)assay and cell cycle distribution by cytometry. The protein expressions of cyclin D and E were examined using Western-blot. Results Genistein (10~(-8) to 10~(-6) mol/L) stimulated cell viability of postmenopausal osteoblasts and increased the distribution ratio of the cells at the G2/M and S phases (P

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to explore the effects of zinc on bone development.

METHODSForelimbs of mice with 16 d gestation were cultured by a rotating device.

RESULTSContents of OC and (45)Ca and activities of AKP in the bone tissues cultured at zinc-deficiency media and at media with 120 micro mol/L of Zn(2+) decreased significantly. Synthesis of OC, absorption of calcium and activities of AKP in the bone tissues cultures at media with 45 and 70 micro mol/L of Zn(2+) increased significantly. Radiograph of bone tissues showed that length of long bone cultured at zinc-deficiency media and at media with 120 micro mol/L of Zn(2+) shortened and their density reduced, and those cultured at media with 45 and 70 micro mol/L of zinc increased, as compared with self-control bone. Histological analysis showed the death of bone cells and loss of stroma in the bone tissues cultured at media with 120 micro mol/L of Zn(2+), and active proliferation and differentiation of bone cells, and secretion and synthesis of osteoid increased in the bone tissues cultured at media with 45 and 70 micro mol/L of zinc.

CONCLUSIONSAdequate supplementation of zinc could promote formation and development of bone tissues and deficiency or excess of zinc could alter their growth and development and normal metabolism.

Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone Development ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Embryo, Mammalian ; drug effects ; physiology ; Extremities ; embryology ; Female ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Male ; Mice ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Zinc ; pharmacology

AIM: To observe the changes of interleukin-6(IL-6), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) in serum and lung at different time, and the effects of anisodamine (654-2) treatment in rats with oleic acid-induced ARDS. METHODS: The ARDS model induced by intravenous injection of oleic acid in the rat was used and levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-? in serum and lung tissue supernatant were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Levels of serum and lung tissue IL-6, IL-8, TNF-? in oleic acid type ARDS 4 h group were increased significantly. These cytokines in oleic acid type ARDS 8 h group were lower than that of ARDS 4 h group, but serum IL-6, TNF-? and lung tissue IL-6 were still higher than that of control group . In oleic acid type ARDS 16 h group, serum IL-6, TNF-? were lower than that of the ARDS 8 h group and serum TNF-? and lung tissue IL-6 were higher than that of control group. After 654-2 treatment, the levels of serum and lung tissue IL-6, TNF-? were decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-? might play important roles in the oleic acid-induced ARDS in the rat. 654-2 might alleviate ARDS by inhibiting excess production of IL-6 and TNF-?.

AIM: To observe the dynamic changes of interleukin-4(IL-4),IL-10,IL-12 in rat serum and lung tissues during acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: The ARDS model of rats was induced by intravenous injection of oleic acid. The levels of IL-4 ,IL-10,IL-12 in serum and the supernatant of lung tissues were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The Levels of serum and lung IL-10,IL-12 in ARDS rats were increased in 4 h ,8 h,16 h group compared with control group . The levels in IL-10 in serum in 16 h group and IL-10 in lung tissues of 8 h group were lower than that in 4 h group. The Levels of IL-4 in serum in 4 h, 8 h group were higher than that in control group , while IL-4 in 16 h group was lower than that in 8 h group. IL-4 of lung tissues in 4 h,8 h,16 h group were increased significantly,but in 16 h group were lower than that in 8 h group. The biggest changes of pulmonary coefficient and histopathology were observed at 4 h after injection of oleic acid. CONCLUSIONS: IL-4,IL-10 and IL-12 might play important roles in inflammatory reaction induced by oleic acid. The pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines produced successively during ARDS. The relationship between unbalanced cytokines and lung injury in ARDS needs to be further studied.

Objective To study the effects of dietary estrogens genistein(GS)and zearalenone(ZEA)on apoptosis in-duced by estrogen depletion in PEO4cells.Methods The monolayer ovarian cancer cell line PEO4cells were cultured in DMEM medium containing10%bovine serum.Before the addition of the testing compounds the cells were washed in phosphate-buffered saline and the medium was displaced with a phenol red-free DMEM medium containing5%dextral charcoal-stripped FBS and the cells were cultured for5days in order to exhaust the estrogen stored in the cells,and then cells were divided into5groups,including solvent control group,estrogen control group,anti-estrogen control group and2experimental groups.After treatment the apoptotic features of the cells were observed by cellular morphology,DNA fragmentation and location and height of cell hypodiploid were indicated by flow cytometry.Results The typical characteristics of apoptosis in PEO4cells were observed after estrogen deletion and then disappeared following exposure of the PEO4cells to32?10 -9 mol/L and96?10 -9 mol/L ZEA for72hrs.32?10 -6 mol/L and96?10 -6 mol/L GS could significantly aggravate apoptosis in PEO4cells.Conclusion Zearalenone is a kind of mycoestrogen that has estrogenic activity to inhibit apoptosis in PEO4cells.Genistein is a kind of phytoestrogen that has anti-estrogen activity(tamoxifen-like)to promote apoptosis in PEO4cells with the high doses range.

0.05, respectively), but those to noradrenaline (NA: 0.01?mol/L), histamine (His: 3?mol/L), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT: 0.1?mol/L), significantly reduced (P0.05, respectively). Under atropine or Ani pretreatment, the NA-, His- and 5-HT-elicited contractions in endothelium-denuded aorta were similar to those in endothelium-intact aorta. Conclusion Atropine and Ani can inhibit receptors-mediated constrictions of rabbit aortic vascular smooth muscle cells; the actions are endothelia independent.

8 ?mol/L)was markedly restrained. Zearalenone, like estradiol, could markedly increase the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The effects were time-dependent and dose-dependent. Conclusion: The tested phytoestrogens are biologically active, and they can differently affect the proliferation of human breast cancer cells in vitro. These data suggest that genistein may have preventive and therapeutic applications against breast tumors.