Cisplatin-resistance induces lung squamous carcinoma cell growth by nicotine-mediated α7nAchR/HDAC1/Cyclin D1/pRb cell cycle activation.

The majority of adenocarcinoma lung cancer is found in nonsmokers. A history of tobacco use is more common in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The aim of this study is to identify the cisplatin (CDDP)-resistance that promotes lung squamous carcinoma cell growth through nicotine-mediated HDAC1/7nAchR/E2F/pRb cell cycle activation. Squamous cell carcinoma (NCI-H520 and NCI-H157) cells were examined after cisplatin and nicotine treatment by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay, cell migration assay, immunofluorescence staining, western blot analysis, and immunoprecipitation analysis. Consequently, CDDP is released from DNA and Rb phosphorylated pRb as a result of nicotine-induced cancer cell proliferation through 7nAchR, which then triggers the opening of the HDAC1 cell cycle. The cell cycle is stopped when CDDP adducts are present. Nicotine exerts cancer cytoprotective effects by allowing HDAC1 repair mechanisms to re-establish E2F promoting DNA stimulation cell cycle integrity in the cytosol and preventing potential CDDP and HDAC1 suppressed in the nuclear. Concentration expression of nicotine causes squamous carcinoma cell carcinogens to emerge from inflammation. COX2, NF-KB, and NOS2 increase as a result of nicotine-induced squamous carcinoma cell inflammation. Nicotine enhanced the cell growth-related proteins such as α7nAchR, EGFR, HDAC1, Cyclin D, Cyclin E, E2F, Rb, and pRb by western blot analysis. It also induced cancer cell inflammation and growth. As a result, we suggest that nicotine will increase the therapeutic resistance effects of CDDP. This has the potential to interact with nicotine through α7nAchR receptors and HDAC1/Cyclin D/E2F/pRb potentially resulting in CDDP therapy resistance, as well as cell cycle-induced cancer cell growth.

Impact of bentonite on greenhouse gas emissions during pig manure composting and its subsequent application.

Additives were widely investigated to retain the nutrients and mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) during manure composting. However, the sustained effects of additives on the GHGs emissions following incorporation of composts to soil were scarcely explored. This study evaluated the effects of bentonite added at the beginning of pig manure composting on the GHGs emissions during two successive processes, i.e., composting and soil incubation amended with composting products. Addition of bentonite did not hinder the composting process and alter the total CO2 emission. On the other hand, reduction by about 17% and 29% for CH4 and N2O emission, respectively, was achieved in the presence of bentonite during composting. Incorporation of the final composting products to soil enhanced significantly the soil C and N of various forms, and gas emissions of CO2 and N2O. However, no significant differences were observed between bentonite-manure co-compost and manure-only compost application except for the N2O emission. Compared to the manure-only compost, compost amended with bentonite reduced N2O loss by around 6.8%, but not statistically significant. This study confirmed that addition of bentonite at the composting stage can mitigate the GHGs emission considering both composting and compost application stages, with all reductions occurring at the composting stage.

Aristolochic Acid Induces Chronic Kidney Disease in ACE Knockout Mice.

BACKGROUND: Aristolochic acid I (AAI) is an extract from Chinese herbs that causes progressive interstitial nephritis. The aim of this research is to know whether chymases play the crucial role in AAI-induced nephropathy. METHODS: The mice were treated with AAI via intraperitoneal injection and the accumulated AAI dosages are 30 mg/kg of body weight for two, four, six, and eight weeks. The animals were sacrificed after another two or four weeks for nephropathy development. Collection of blood, urine, and kidney samples for the further biochemical analysis, hematoxylin-eosin (H and E) and Masson's trichrome stained to detected pathologic, and MMP2 and MMP9 activity assays. RESULTS: After the treatment of AAI, of the mice, their body weights were decreased (P < 0.01), and concentration of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum (P < 0.01) and urine collection were increased (P < 0.01). In the renal tissue sections, high amount of inflammatory cells were found by H and E stain, and increased fibrosis in renal interstitial tissue were observed by Masson's trichrome stain. In mice kidney tissue, significantly increased chymase activity after treatment of AAI was found (P < 0.01), but ACE activity did not show significant changes. In ACE KO mice, increased MMP2 and decreased MMP9 activity were found in the AAI-treated mice compared with AAI-untreated control (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Moreover, it was also observed that the deficiency of ACE would accelerate the disease development of AAI-induced nephropathy. These results may help to know more information about the role of AAI-induced chronic kidney disease and can be applied in developing new drug targets for nephropathy.

Chlorella sp. Protective Effect on Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Toxicity in ICR Mice.

BACKGROUND: A Chlorella sp. (CLC) has a health supplement in health effects including an ability to treat cancer. The Chlorella sp. Ability to reduce acetaminophen-induced liver injury is still unknown. The hepatoprotective function of CLC was determined in an APAP-induced liver injury mouse model. METHODS: Male ICR mice were randomly divided into normal control, APAP, APAP + Sm (silymarin) and APAP + CLC (0.2%, 0.5% and 1%) groups. The glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), Albumin, and BUN plasma activities were detected using blood biochemistry assay. The hepatic tissue GOT, GPT, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were also detected. Lipid peroxidation, MDA, protein expression levels were examined. RESULTS: The results showed that the 1% CLC supplementation group and Silymarin (Sm) could significantly alleviate increased serum GOT, GPT and BUN, and the decreased serum Albumin. At the same time, the increased hepatic tissue GOT and GPT activities were alleviated as well as MDA. Enhanced SOD and CAT protein expression levels were increased in APAP-induced liver injury. Lipofuscin and hepatic veins cups disappeared in the Sm and 1% CLC supplementation groups shown with H&E staining. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, CLC probably could develop hepatoprotective products against chemical-induced liver damage.

Combination of exercise training and resveratrol attenuates obese sarcopenia in skeletal muscle atrophy.

Obese sarcopenia is a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with increases in adipocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of combination of exercise training and resveratrol on the pathological pathway from obesity to sarcopenia, and potential therapy for skeletal muscle declines in physical function. Two animal models were experimented: (1) C57BL/6J male mice were fed either a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to induce obesity and resveratrol (low-, middle-, and high-dose) for 4 weeks. (2) senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice with sarcopenia were used. Skeletal muscle function of SAMP8 mice expressed an age-associated decline. In SAMP8 mice, resveratrol (150 mg/Kg BW, daily) was administered by oral gavage two times a week for 1 month of the experimental period. Exercise training based on adaptations in the muscle is training twice a week for 4 weeks. SAMP8 mouse skeletal muscle in each group was analyzed by H and E staining, transferase dUTP nick end labeling, and Western blot analysis. Mitochondrial function expression, apoptosis and relative hypertrophy signaling in HFD-induced obesity mice and SAMP8 mice were determined by Western blot analysis. Results of the present study indicate that effect of resveratrol on skeletal muscles of HFD-induced obesity mice is linked to an increase in Bcl-2 and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/AKT expressions. On the other hand, resveratrol, and its combination with exercise training, attenuate the aging-related mitochondrial dysfunction involving Bad, caspase 3, and interleukin-6 expressions in SAMP8 mice. Combination of exercise training and resveratrol induced hypertrophy in skeletal muscles of sarcopenia SAMP8 mice. Therefore, we suggest combination of exercise training and resveratrol as a therapeutic potential in obese sarcopenia.

[Advances in the clinical research on acupuncture in treatment of respiratory diseases].

This article reviews the clinical studies on acupuncture in the treatment of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and acute exacerbation and stable phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in China over the past 10 years, and the results suggest that acupuncture has a good clinical effect. At present, there are still several problems in related clinical studies, including lacking of standard operation procedure for acupuncture, unreasonable design of control group, and low quality of clinical research. Therefore, in the future, top-level design should be standardized and large-sample multicenter clinical studies should be conducted to provide stronger evidence of evidence-based medicine for acupuncture in the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Association of Kidney Function Tests with a Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in Community-Dwelling Individuals with a Normal or Mildly Decreased Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate.

Background and objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Previous studies reported controversial results about the independence of CKD as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. In this study, we tried to determine whether the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and other renal function tests are independent factors associated with arterial stiffness in community-dwelling individuals with a normal (≥90) or slightly decreased eGFR (60-90). Materials and Methods: Data of 164 community individuals were analyzed, and demographic information, related disease history, atherosclerosis risk factors, certain laboratory tests, the estimated eGFR, and urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) were recorded for each individual. Results: The age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), hypertension (HTN), and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) significantly differed between individuals with a normal and those with a slightly decreased eGFR. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c), and the eGFR significantly differed between the high- and low-CAVI groups and were also significantly correlated with the CAVI. The relationship between the eGFR and CAVI was shown to be independent of other atherosclerosis risk factors in a multiple linear regression model. Conclusions: We concluded that evaluations of the eGFR, HTN, body-mass index, and SBP can be used in a model for arterial stiffness risk assessments for community-dwelling individuals with a normal or slightly decreased eGFR.

Spatiotemporal patterns of the trade-off and synergy relationship among ecosystem services in Poyang Lake Region, China.

Poyang Lake region is the largest freshwater lake impacted area in China. Quantitative analysis of trade-off and synergy in ecosystem service is of great significance for realizing regional sustainable development. Based on multi-source data of remote sensing, soil, meteorology and DEM, we quantitatively measured food supply service, soil conservation service and water yield service in Poyang Lake region from 2005 to 2015, and analyzed their spatiotemporal patterns and evolution characteristics. The spatial and temporal characteristics of trade-off and synergy between services on the scale of 1 km×1 km were analyzed by using correlation analysis, hot spot analysis and spatial mapping method. The differences of ecosystem services and their relationships in the perspective of land use were studied. The results showed that food supply service increased, soil conservation service decreased, and water yield service increased first and then decreased during the study period. In terms of spatial distribution, food supply service presented "low-high-low-high" in the northwest-southeast direction, soil conservation service was concentrated in high and low values, and water yield service was high in south and low in north. There were trade-off relationships between food supply and soil conservation, and between food supply and water yield. There was synergistic relationship between soil conservation and water yield. Moreover, the relationship between food supply and soil conservation showed a spatial pattern of synergy in northern but trade-off in southern region. There was a clear spatial trade-off between food supply and water yield, and from north to south the relationship between soil conservation and water yield existed synergy-tradeoff-synergy differentiation, like a "sandwich". Among different land use types, there was a significant synergy between cultivated land and food supply, garden land and soil conservation, water area and water yield, but trade-off relationships between construction land and three services. The relationship between food supply and soil conservation and water yield was mainly trade-off in different land use types. The relationship between soil conservation and water yield was synergy in cultivated land, garden land, grassland and construction land, but was trade-off in water and unused land. The hot spots of multiple ecosystem services in the Poyang Lake region were mainly in the eastern and sou-thern plain areas, with a decreasing trend.

Activation of IGF-I Survival Signaling and Its Compensative Inhibition of the Cardiac Apoptosis on Carotid Arteries Balloon-Injured Rat Hearts.

In this study, a rat carotid balloon injury-animal model was used to elucidate the temporal relation of hypertrophy in the progression of cardiac damage and the role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I survival pathway on course of the cardiac damage. Rats were subjected to carotid balloon-injury and examined at different time points. We further studied the heart-weight/body-weight-ratio, histology and protein expression to understand the pathological events associated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) induced damages. Protein expression analysis showed increased levels of IGF-I signaling pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway after 2 h and after 2 d of carotid balloon injury. On the other hand, apoptosis signaling pathways were enhanced after 14 d of carotid balloon injury. According to the results, rat carotid balloon injury significantly induced IGF-I survival signaling and compensated hypertrophy pathway during the initial period of injury however after 14 d the proteins involved in apoptotic cell death were elevated and the proteins of the survival pathway and compensatory hypertrophy were significantly reduced.

[Bayesian geostatistical prediction of soil organic carbon contents of solonchak soils in nor-thern Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China.] / 塔里木盆地北缘盐土有机碳含量的贝叶斯地统计预测.

Accurate prediction of soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution is crucial for soil resources utilization and conservation, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem health. In this study, we selected a 1300 m×1700 m solonchak sampling area in northern Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China, and collected a total of 144 soil samples (5-10 cm). The objectives of this study were to build a Baye-sian geostatistical model to predict SOC content, and to assess the performance of the Bayesian model for the prediction of SOC content by comparing with other three geostatistical approaches [ordinary kriging (OK), sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS), and inverse distance weighting (IDW)]. In the study area, soil organic carbon contents ranged from 1.59 to 9.30 g·kg-1 with a mean of 4.36 g·kg-1 and a standard deviation of 1.62 g·kg-1. Sample semivariogram was best fitted by an exponential model with the ratio of nugget to sill being 0.57. By using the Bayesian geostatistical approach, we generated the SOC content map, and obtained the prediction variance, upper 95% and lower 95% of SOC contents, which were then used to evaluate the prediction uncertainty. Bayesian geostatistical approach performed better than that of the OK, SGS and IDW, demonstrating the advantages of Bayesian approach in SOC prediction.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Enhances Cardiac Fibrosis Effects on the Aging Rat Hearts.

BACKGROUND: Examining aging rats exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) engenders changes in left ventricular remodeling due to age- or disease-dependent alterations. METHODS: Rats were placed in whole-body exposure chambers and exposed to 10 cigarettes. Filtered air was introduced into the chamber at a low rate. Rats were exposed to SHS for 30 min, twice a day, 5 days per week for 1 month. After 4 weeks SHS exposure, rats were sacrificed for morphological study with trichome staining and left ventricular remodeling related protein analysis using western blot. RESULTS: Characteristic fibrotic morphology in the left ventricle increased significantly with aging and exposure to SHS. Exposure to SHS elevated TGFß1/p-Smad2/3/CTGF and MMP2/MMP9 protein expression levels (p < 0.05). No significant differences in FGF-2 and UPA protein expression were noted as a result of SHS exposure. However, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 protein expression were suppressed by SHS exposure. We also observed increased TGFß1/p-Smad2/3/CTGF (p < 0.01), FGF-2/UPA (p < 0.05) and decreased TIMPs protein expression levels. Corresponding MMP2 and MMP9 upregulation occurred with aging and exposure to SHS. TGFß1/p-Smad2/3/CTGF and FGF-2/UPA protein expression from SHS exposure were higher than that from aging. In contrast, MMP2 and MMP9 were increased in aging rats compared with SHS exposed rats (p < 0.05); however, TIMP-1 (p < 0.01), TIMP-2 (p < 0.01) and TIMP-3 (p < 0.05) were decreased. TIMP-4 protein expression levels were decreased compared with SHS exposed rats (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Aging and SHS exposure in rats will produce elevated fibrosis. Exposure to SHS will accelerate aging and left ventricular fibrosis.

[Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials for Acupuncture Treatment of Pneumoconiosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture therapy in improving pulmonary functions and clinical symptoms of pneumoconiosis patients. METHODS: A total of 120 pneumoconiosis patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group (n=59) and control group (n = 61). The patients of the control group were ordered to take Acetylcysteine capsule (200 mg/time, t.i.d.) for 12 consecutive weeks and the patients of the acupuncture group received both acupuncture (twice a week) and Acetylcysteine capsule for 12 consecutive weeks. The used acupoints were Baihui (GV 20), Tanzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), and bilateral Kongzui (LU 6), Taiyuan (LU 9), Yuji (LU 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Feishu (BL 13), Xinshu (BL 15), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Geshu (BL 17) and stimulated by needle-twirling reducing or reinforcing techniques. The pulmonary functions including spirometric forced vital capacity(FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1), FEV 1/FVC, and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were detected by using a Medgraphics Cardio 2 Combined VO 2/ECG Exercise System. The severity of cough and shortness of breath (SOB) was detected by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the patient's health status was assessed using Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT score, 0-40 points). RESULTS: Compared with pretreatment in the same one group, FE1 level and FEV 1/FVC after 12 weeks' treatment were obviously increased in both the control and acupuncture groups (P<0.05), while the CAT scores at the 12th week, the cough and SOB scores at the 6th, 12th and 16th week after the treatment were decreased notably in both groups (P<0.05), and the cough and SOB scores of the acupuncture group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). No significant changes were found in the FVC and DLCO levels in both groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture therapy can improve symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, as well as pulmonary functions in pneumoconiosis patients.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Reduced the Compensatory Effects of IGF-I Growth Signaling in the Aging Rat Hearts.

BACKGROUND: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Aging is a physiological process that involves progressive impairment of normal heart functions due to increased vulnerability to damage. This study examines secondhand smoke exposure in aging rats to determine the age-related death-survival balance. METHODS: Rats were placed into a SHS exposure chamber and exposed to smog. Old age male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 10 cigarettes for 30 min, day and night, continuing for one week. After 4 weeks the rats underwent morphological and functional studies. Left ventricular sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histopathological examination. TUNEL detected apoptosis cells and protein expression related death and survival pathway were analyzed using western blot. RESULTS: Death receptor-dependent apoptosis upregulation pathways and the mitochondria apoptosis proteins were apparent in young SHS exposure and old age rats. These biological markers were enhanced in aging SHS-exposed rats. The survival pathway was found to exhibit compensation only in young SHS-exposed rats, but not in the aging rats. Further decrease in the activity of this pathway was observed in aging SHS-exposed rats. TUNEL apoptotic positive cells were increased in young SHS-exposed rats, and in aging rats with or without SHS-exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Aging reduces IGF-I compensated signaling with accelerated cardiac apoptotic effects from second-hand smoke.

Silymarin Accelerates Liver Regeneration after Partial Hepatectomy.

Partial hepatectomy (PHx) is a liver regeneration physiological response induced to maintain homeostasis. Liver regeneration evolved presumably to protect wild animals from catastrophic liver loss caused by toxins or tissue injury. Silymarin (Sm) ability to stimulate liver regeneration has been an object of curiosity for many years. Silymarin has been investigated for use as an antioxidant and anticarcinogen. However, its use as a supportive treatment for liver damage is elusive. In this study, we fed silymarin (Sm, 25 mg/kg) to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 7 weeks. Surgical 2/3 PHx was then conducted on the rats at 6 hrs, 24 hrs, and 72 hrs. Western blot and RT-PCR were conducted to detect the cell cycle activities and silymarin effects on hepatic regeneration. The results showed that silymarin enhanced liver regeneration by accelerating the cell cycle in PHx liver. Silymarin led to increased G1 phase (cyclin D1/pRb), S phase (cyclin E/E2F), G2 phase (cyclin B), and M phase (cyclin A) protein and mRNA at 6 hrs, 24 hrs, and 72 hrs PHx. HGF, TGFα, and TGFß1 growth factor expressions were also enhanced. We suggest that silymarin plays a crucial role in accelerated liver regeneration after PHx.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Liver Fibrosis from Ethanol Administration following Partial Hepatectomy.

The aim of this study was to establish the effective hepatoprotective properties of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) in fibrotic rat liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PHx). Fibrosis was induced in rats by ethanol (EtOH, 5 ml/kg) administration for 6, 24, 72, and 168 h. The rats were then fed four TCMs (1 g/kg/day, Codonopsis pilosula (CP), Salvia miltorrhiza Bunge (SMB), Bupleurum kasi (BK), and Elephantopus scaber L (ESL)) to Spraque-Dawley rats for 6, 24, 72 and 168 h, respectively. Surgical 70% cirrhotic fibrosis PHx was then conducted at 6, 24, 72, and 168 h. The effects on liver regeneration were examined to estimate and measure hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, and retinoblastoma protein (pRb) protein expression using Western blotting analysis. Cyclin D1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 mRNA by Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were analyzed in cirrhotic fibrosis rats. Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, pRb and E2F mRNA expression levels were determined in fibrotic rats following PHx using RT-PCR. We found elevated glutamyl oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamyl pyrubic transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gammaglutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), glutathione (GSH), nonprotein sulfhydryl (NPSH) and total bilirubin in serum after 6 h EtOH administration. These levels were progressively decreased over 168 h. Total protein and albumin were reduced in serum after 6 h administration and then progressively increased. In contrast, tissues disorder histology and morphology were determined in liver sections. After rats were fed TCMs we found that SMB extraction not only induced HGF, FAK, Cyclin D1, and pRb protein expression and Cyclin D1 mRNA increases, but also reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 after 24 and 72 h post injury. In the cell cycle S phase the Cyclin E protein expression was increased by ESL. CP induced TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 mRNA increases in fibrotic rats. We detected liver regeneration in fibrotic rats. We also found that the liver regeneration index increased from 6 to 168 h post PHx. After 168 h fibrotic liver regeneration rats exhibited reduced TGF-ß1 mRNA expression and enhanced Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, pRb and E2F mRNA expression. TCMs play a crucial role in the early mediating process in fibrotic rat liver regeneration after PHx.

Secondhand smoke exposure toxicity accelerates age-related cardiac disease in old hamsters.

BACKGROUND: Aging is associated with physiological or pathological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) cardiac changes. Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with pathological LVH. The action mechanism in cardiac concentric hypertrophy from SHS exposure is understood, but the transition contributed from SHS exposure is not. To determine whether exposure to SHS has an impact on age-induced LVH we examined young and old hamsters that underwent SHS exposure in a chamber for 30 mins. METHODS: Morphological and histological studies were then conducted using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining. Echocardiographic analysis was used to determine left ventricular wall thickness and function. LVH related protein expression levels were detected by western blot analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that both young and aged hamsters exposed to SHS exhibited increased heart weights and left ventricular weights, left ventricular posterior wall thickness and intraventricular septum systolic and diastolic pressure also increased. However, left ventricular function systolic and diastolic pressure deteriorated. H&E and Masson's trichrome staining results showed LV papillary muscles were ruptured, resulting in lower cardiac function at the myocardial level. LV muscle fiber arrangement was disordered and collagen accumulation occurred. Concentric LVH related protein molecular markers increased only in young hamsters exposed to SHS. However, this declined with hamster age. By contrast, eccentric LVH related proteins increased in aging hamsters exposed the SHS. Pro-inflammatory proteins, IL-6, TNF-α, JAK1, STAT3, and SIRTI expression increased in aging hamsters exposed to SHS. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that SHS exposure induces a pro-inflammatory response that results in concentric transition to aging eccentric LVH.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Aging-related Cardiac Disease.

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is increased the risk of heart disease included atherosclerosis and coronary disease. Aging is a physiology process involving progressive impairment of normal heart functions, due to an increasing vulnerability, which reduces the ability of survive. However, it is not clear pathological condition in aging exposure to SHS. The aim of this study was to examine SHS exposure in aging-related disease. The rats were placed in SHS exposure chamber and exposed to 10 cigarettes for 30 min, twice a day, 5 days/ one week for 1 month. After 4 weeks secondhand smoke exposure, rats left ventricular (LV) underwent morphological and function study with echocardiography. Histopathology of left ventricular sections were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin staining and related left ventricular hypertrophy protein expression levels by Western blot analysis. After 4 weeks SHS exposure, LV weight showed significant increased. On the other hand, from echocardiography result, we found EF (%) and FS (%) were apparently decreased in aging SHS exposure. IVS, LVID and LVPW at diastolic diameters were increased in aging SHS exposure. However, in aging systolic diameters always preserved. Here we did not show that. Moreover, we observed enlargement morphology of the LV and LV well thickness of increase. In addition, we found LV hypertrophy marker protein, calcineurin/NFATc4, was only increased in aging and aging SHS exposure. Our study suggests that SHS exposure and aging will altercate left ventricular hypertrophy.

[Estimation of soil organic carbon density and storage in Zhejiang Province of East China by using 1:50000 soil database].

As an important component of the carbon pool of terrestrial ecosystem, soil carbon pool plays a key role in the studies of greenhouse effect and global change. By using a 1:50000 soil database, the organic carbon density in the 0-100 cm layer of 277 soil species in Zhejiang Province was estimated, and the soil organic carbon (SOC) density and storage in the whole Province as well as the spatial distribution of the SOC density and storage in the main soil types of the Province were analyzed. In the whole Province, the SOC density ranged from 5 kg.m-2 to 10 kg.m-2. Among the main soil types in the Province, humic mountain yellow soil had the highest SOC density (52.80 kg.m-2), whereas fluvio-sand ridge soil had the lowest one (1.82 kg.m-2). Red soil and paddy soil had the largest SOC storages, with the sum accounting for 63.8% of the total SOC storage in the Province. The total area of the soils in the Province was 100784.19 km2, the estimated SOC storage was 875. 42 x 10(6) t, and the estimated SOC density was averagely 8.69 kg.m-2. The analysis with the superposition digital elevation model showed that the SOC density presented an obvious variation trend with the changes of elevation, slope gradient, and aspect.

The Effect of Elephantopus scaber L. on Liver Regeneration after Partial Hepatectomy.

Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PHx) is a physiological response for maintaining homeostasis. The aim of this study is to investigate effects of Elephantopus scaber L.- (ESL-) induced liver regeneration on growth factors (HGF and IGF-1), cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis suppressed. In this study, we fed five Chinese medicinal herbs (1 g/kg/day), Codonopsis pilosula (CP, Dangshen), Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SMB, Danshen,), Bupleurum kasi (BK, Chaihu), Elephantopus scaber L. (ESL, Teng-Khia-U), and Silymarin (Sm, 25 mg/kg) for 7 days to male Spraue-Dawley rats. Then surgical 2/3 PHx was conducted and liver regeneration mechanisms were estimated on the following 24 hrs and 72 hrs. The activities of growth factors (HGF and IGF-I) and cell cycle proteins were measured by Western blot and RT-PCR. Histological analysis and apoptosis were detected by H&E stain and TUNEL. The results showed that extraction of Elephantopus scaber L. (ESL) and Silymarin (Sm, positive control) were increased protein expression levels of HGF and IGF-1 which leads into cell cycle. These results suggest that the ESL plays a crucial role in cell cycle-induced liver regeneration and apoptosis. These results suggested that the ESL plays a crucial role in cell cycle-induced liver regeneration and suppressed hepatocytes apoptosis.

Pro-inflammation and pro-fibrosis factors were highly induction in heart tissues of carotid arteries balloon-injured animal model.

To investigate the changes of cardiomyocyte inflammation and fibrosis factors in heart of carotid artery balloon injury inflammatory rat model. Using rat carotid artery balloon injury model to detect left ventricular characteristics at 2 h, 2 days and 14 days after surgery using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) gross stain, Masson's trichome stain and Western blot analysis for inflammatory and fibrosis-induced factors, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), JNK1, P38α, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), SP1 and transforming growth factor ß (TGFß) protein expressions. The rat carotid arteries were injured after 2 h, 2 days and 14 days. Balloon-angioplasty to H&E stain results showed the increasing trend of left ventricular wall at 2 h and 2 days; then, the left ventricular wall became thinner, and the left ventricular chamber became enlarged and dilated after 14 days of carotid artery balloon injury. In addition, the Masson's trichome stain results showed that the left ventricular section has fibrosis-related blue staining (collagen) at 2 and 14 days after rat carotid artery balloon injury, and became even more severe at 14 days. Furthermore, we observed the protein expression level changs, which include TNFα, JNK1, P38α, CTGF, SP1 and TGFß using Western blotting assay. All proteins were induced at 2 h, 2 days and then reached the maximal level at 14 days. The vessel inflammation was associated with cardiac inflammatory and fibrosis effects during or after carotid artery balloon injury.