MiR-185-3p downregulates advanced glycosylation end product receptor expression and improves renal function in diabetic nephropathy mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the downregulation of AGER by miRNA-185-3p on renal function in diabetic nephropathy (DN) mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were divided into normal, model, NC, miR-185-3p mimic, si-AGER, and miR-185-3p mimic + si-AGER groups. Eight weeks following the establishment of the model, various indicators were assessed. RESULTS: Compared to control groups, miR-185-3p expression, body weight, superoxide dismutase (SOD) content, catalase (CAT) content, proliferation, S-phase ratios, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were significantly lower in all experimental groups, whilst AGER expression, water intake, food intake, urine volume, urine protein content, serum creatinine (Scr), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), MDA content, G0/G1 status, and rates of apoptosis were significantly higher (all p<0.05). Compared to the model group, miR-185-3p mimics, si-AGER, and miR-185-3p mimic + si-AGER groups had a significantly higher SOD content, CAT content, proliferation, S phase ratios, PCNA expression and lower AGER expression, water intake, food intake, urine output, urine protein, Scr, BUN, MDA content, G0/G1 ratios, and apoptosis rates (all p<0.05). In addition, the effects of the miR-185-3p mimics + si-AGER were superior to miR-185-3p mimics and si-AGER monotherapy groups (both p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MiR-185-3p inhibits AGER, downregulates AGER expression, and improves renal function in DN mice.

[Components of human placental extract and its protective effect to rat from D-GalN induced acute liver injury].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of human placental extracts (HPE) on the protection from acute liver injury (ALI) induced by D-GalN and analyze the components of HPE. Methods: (1)Fourty male mice were randomly divided into five groups (Blank, Model, MgIG, HPE and HPE+ MgIG) for the ALI model and treatments.The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were determined by biochemical assays.Nitric monoxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum and hepatic tissue were detected by assay kits.The extent of liver damage was evaluated by histological examination.(2)Relative molecular mass of HPE was determined by SDS-PAGE.(3) Component identification was performed by using LCMS-TOF.(4)Selected functional molecules in HPE were detected by protein array. Results: (1) A lower level of NO and MDA and a higher SOD and T-AOC were observed in rats treated with HPE compared to the non-treated rats in an acute liver failure disease model.(2) The size of HPE was about 1 200-4 600 by electrophores.(3) 7 peaks of HPE were identified, including uracil, hypoxanthine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, xanthine and thymine.(4) Comparable high concentrations of TGF-ß, IGF-1, IL-9, IL-29 and TNF-α of HPE were revealed by protein array. Conclusions: (1) HPE protects rat from liver damage induced by D-GalN. (2) HPE contains Uracil, hypoxanthine, xanthine, thymine, and functional proteins as TGF-ß, IGF-1, IL-9, IL-29 and TNF-α.

[Effects of gossypol acetic acid on the motility of rat oviduct smooth muscle].

The effects of gossypol acetic acid (GAA) on the contractile activity of rat oviduct smooth muscle were studied in vitro with an attempt to clarify its mechanism of action. The result showed that GAA apparently increased the contractile tension of oviduct smooth muscle. This effect was not the result of excitation of the alpha-adrenergic receptor, but due to promotion of PGs biosynthesis and release. It might also be related to an increase in Ca2+ influx in the tissue. The pharmacological effect of GAA was also shown to be relevant to sexual cycle. The action of increasing contractile tension by GAA on the estrus duct was much larger than that on the diestrus duct. In addition, the results indicate that PGE1 and PGE2 increased the contractile activity of oviduct, the action of PGE1 was more potent than that of PGE2, and this effect was found to be increased significantly by GAA.

Investigation of the amount of dissolved iron in food cooked in Chinese iron pots and estimation of daily iron intake.

The amount of dissolved iron in food cooked in Chinese iron pots and that in food cooked in aluminum, stainless steel, and clay pots were determined. It was found that the amount of dissolved iron in food cooked in Chinese iron pots was two to five times higher than that in food cooked in the other types of pots. According to the test results, the estimated increase in daily iron intake was about 14.5 mg for adults and 7.4 mg for children when Chinese iron pots were used.

[Effects of gossypol acetic acid on transport and development of fertilized eggs in rats].

The effects of gossypol acetic acid on the transport and development of fertilized eggs have been observed in rats. The results showed that gossypol acetic acid apparently delayed egg transport and retarded early development of the embryo in the oviduct. It is suggested that these two effects may be important causes of the antiimplantation action of gossypol.