[Effect of Qidan Granule on PMC Derived Peptide Content and Structure of Hippocampal CA1 Region in Microwave Radiated Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protection of high intensity microwave radiation on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) activity and hippocampal CA1 structure in rats and the protectiveeffect of Qindan Granule (QG) on radiation injured rats. METHODS: Totally 48 Wistar rats were randomlydivided into 8 groups, i.e., the normal control group, post-radiation day 1, 7, and 10 groups, 7 and 10days prevention groups, day 7 and 10 treatment groups, 6 in each group. Rats in prevention groups wererespectively administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4. 75 g crude drugs) for 7 days and 10 days bygastrogavage and then microwave radiation. Then preventive effect for radiation injury was statisticallycalculated with the normal control group and the post-radiation day 1 group. Rats in treatment groupswere firstly irradiated, and then administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4.75 g crude drugs). Finally preventive effect for radiation injury was statistically calculated with the normal control group, post-radiation day 7 and 10 groups. Contents of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), beta endorphin (beta-EP), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were detected. Morphological changes and structure of hippocampal CA1 region were observed under light microscope. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly decreased in each radiation group. Serum contents of ACTH and beta-EP significantly increased in post-radiation day 1 and 7 groups (P < 0.05). Compared with radiation groups, beta-EP content in serum and pituitary significantly increased, and serum ACTH content significantly decreased in prevention groups (P < 0.05). Pituitary contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly increased in prevention groups. Serum contents of ACTH, beta-EP, and HSP70 were significantly lower in day 7 treatment group than post-radiation day 7 group (P < 0.05). Morphological results showed that pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region arranged in disorder, with swollen cells, shrunken and condensed nucleus, dark dyeing cytoplasm, unclear structure. Vessels in partial regions were dilated with static blood; tissues were swollen and sparse. In prevention and treatment groups pathological damage of hippocampal CA1 region was obviously attenuated; neurons were arranged more regularly; swollen, pycnotic, or deleted neuron number were decreased; vascular dilatation and congestion was lessened. CONCLUSION: QG could affect HPAA function and activity of high intensity microwave radiated rats, showing certain preventive and therapeutic effects of microwave radiated rats by adjusting synthesis and release of partial bioactive peptides and hormones in HPAA, improving pathological injury in hippocampal CA1 region.

XPG rs873601 G>A contributes to uterine leiomyoma susceptibility in a Southern Chinese population.

XPG gene contributes to DNA repair defects and genomic instability, which may lead to the initiation of uterine leiomyoma. We hypothesized that genetic variants of XPG gene may alter the carriers' susceptibility to leiomyoma. The association between five potential functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), i.e. rs2094258 C>T, rs751402 C>T, rs2296147 T>C, rs1047768 T>C, rs873601 G>A, and uterine leiomyoma risk in Chinese, was investigated in this case-control study, which included 398 incident leiomyoma cases and 733 controls. We found that rs873601 was significantly associated with tumor risk in a recessive genetic model after being adjusting for age and menopause. When compared with rs873601 GG/GA genotypes, the AA genotype had an increased leiomyoma risk (adjusted OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.16-2.18, P=0.004; Bonferroni adjusted P=0.040). Furthermore, stratified analysis revealed that the association between the rs873601 AA genotype and leiomyoma risk was more evident among subjects younger than 40 years old (adjusted OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.06-2.35, P=0.023) and patients who had more than three myomas (adjusted OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.24-3.41, P=0.006). Yet, no significant association between the other four polymorphisms and leiomyoma risk was observed. To sum up, the present study reported on the association between XPG gene polymorphisms and myoma risk. The observed data indicated that SNP rs873601 G>A contributes to uterine leiomyoma susceptibility in a Southern Chinese population.