Diagnosis and treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine / 中西医结合学报

Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19), it has rapidly spread to 187 countries, causing serious harm to the health of people and a huge social burden. However, currently, drugs specifically approved for clinical use are not available, except for vaccines against COVID-19 that are being evaluated. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is capable of performing syndrome differentiation and treatment according to the clinical manifestations of patients, and has a better ability of epidemic prevention and control. The authors comprehensively analyzed the etiology and pathogenesis of COVID-19 based on the theory of TCM, and discussed its syndrome differentiation, treatment and prevention measures so as to provide strategies and reference for the prevention and treatment with TCM.

Application of urinary proteomics in early diagnosis of bladder urothelial carcinoma / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the difference in urinary proteome between patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) and healthy volunteers and to provide a basis for the early diagnosis of BUC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The urine samples from BUC patients and healthy volunteers (controls) were treated by 25% ethanol precipitation and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), and the obtained urinary proteins were subjected to Coomassie brilliant blue staining and analysis by PDQuest 8.0 (2-DE image analysis software); the differentially expressed proteins were sequenced by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry and identified using the Swiss-Prot database; the differential expression of these proteins was verified by western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>High-resolution and high-reproducibility 2-DE images were obtained from the urine samples of BUC patients and controls, with 789 ± 18 and 762 ± 14 protein spots, respectively. Compared with the control group, the BUC grouP had significantly decreased expression of 6 protein spots and significantly increased expression of 11 protein spots. The mass spectrometry revealed five proteins with increased expression in the BUC group, including fibrinogen, lactate dehydrogenase B, apolipoprotein A1, clusterin, and haptoglobin, and the results were confirmed by western blot.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is significant difference in urinary proteome between BUC patients and healthy volunteers; the identification of differentially expressed proteins in urine lays the foundation for identifying potential molecular markers in early diagnosis of BUC.</p>

The effect of suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides on interferon-γ and phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 4 expression of silica-induced pulmonary inflammation in mice / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides (Sup ODN) on interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (pSTAT4) expression of Silica-induced pulmonary inflammation in Mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, normal control group, silicious group, suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides (Sup ODN) group, control oligodeoxynucleotides (Con ODN) group. Except the normal control group injected normal saline, the rest groups were induced by the intratracheal instillation of 0.1 ml (5 g/L) of sterilized silica suspension. Sup ODN group and Con ODN group were treated by i.p. injection of 0.3 ml (1mg/mL) of suppressive or control ODN 3 h before silica administration. After 7 days, the animals were killed and levels of IFN-γ were detected by ELISA. The pathologic changes in lung tissues of mice were observed with HE staining. Expressions of IFN-γ and pSTAT4 in lung tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry and quantified by Image-Pro Plus 7.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HE staining showed that the lung tissue of silicious group were damaged seriously than Sup ODN group. Compared with the normal control group (serum: (280.1±41.3) pg/ml, lung tissue: (0.249±0.373), IFN-γ increased in silicious group (serum: (886.3±81.7) pg/ml, lung tissue: (0.270±0.300) (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group and Con ODN group [(894.5±91.6) pg/ml], IFN-γ in the serum of Sup ODN group decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Compared with the silicious group , IFN-γ in lung tissue decreased in Sup ODN group (0.241±0.250) (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group (0.279±0.353), pSTAT4 in lung tissue increased significantly in silicious group (0.313±0.231) (P < 0.01). Compared with the silicious group, pSTAT4 in lung tissue decreased significantly in Sup ODN group (0.269±0.523) (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sup ODN attained protective effect on Silica treated mice by suppressing expression of IFN-γ and pSTAT4.</p>

Effects of Gymnadenia conopse alcohol extract on early protein profiles in lung tissue of rats exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the early expression differences of lung tissue proteins in rats exposed to silica using comparative proteomics method, to explore the effects of Chinese traditional medicine (Gymnadenia conopse alcohol extract, GcAE) on silicosis (50 mg/ml).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into silica-treated group and GcAE-treated group, four rats a group. The rats were exposed to silica by intratracheal (IT) instillation of 1 ml silica suspension for 24 h. After exposure, the rats in GcAE-treated group were intragastric administration with 0.8 ml GcAE (0.8 ml/100 g a day) and the rats in silica-treated group were intragastric administration with 2 ml sterilized saline a day for 14 days. Then all rats were sacrificed and lung tissues were collected. The total proteins were separated by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and the differentially expressed proteins were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Western blotting was used to validate the expression of certain candidate proteins in lung tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Obvious pathological changes of lung could be observed in silica-treated group, such as the thicken of interalveolar septum, which was infiltrated with lymphocytes, macrophages and a few neutrophils with the proliferation of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. The accumulation of collagen, the destruction of alveolus structure and the more dotted fibrosis or granuloma could also be found. However, the pathological changes of lung in GcAE-treated group were lighter than those of silica-treated group. Thirty three differentially expressed proteins were identified, including cathepsin D precursor, peroxiredoxin-1 (Prx-1) and SEC14-like protein 3. Compared with silica-treated group, cathepsin D precursor and Prx-1 were significantly downregulated in GcAE-treated group, and SEC14-like protein 3 was significantly upregulated (P < 0.01). The results of western blot indicated that the expression level of Prx-1 in GcAE-treated group was 0.26 ± 0.02, which was significantly lower than that (0.35 ± 0.04) in silica-treated group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GcAE may inhibit the progress of silicosis in the early period and cathepsin D precursor, SEC14-like protein 3 and Prx-1 may participate in this process.</p>

The effects of complement C3f segment on expression and secretion of collagen I, III and transforming growth factor-beta1 in human embryonic lung fibroblast / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of complement fragment C3f on expression and secretion of collagen I, III and transforming growth factor( TGF)-beta1 in human embryonic lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MRC-5 cells were cultured with C3f (the synthetic 17 peptides fragments of complement C3). The extracellular and intracellular expression levels of type I, III collagens and TGF-beta1 in MRC-5 cultures were detected by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression levels of type I, III collagen and TGF-beta1 in the supernatant of MRC-5 cultures decreased significantly with the concentrations of C3f as compared with controls (P < 0.05). Also the expression level of TGF-beta1 in MRC-5 cytoplasm reduced significantly as compared with controls (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results of present in vitro study showed that the complement fragment C3f could reduce the formation of TGF-beta1 and type I, III collagens in MRC-5 cells, and inhibit the lung tissue fibrosis.</p>

Correlation analysis between the exposure levels and the serum protein fingerprints in population exposure to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between the exposure levels and serum protein fingerprints in population exposed to silica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Liquid chip time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology was used to investigate the serum profiles in control group (30 cases), group exposed to silica (30 cases), silicosis group (I stage, 25 cases) and suspected silicosis group (30 cases), and screen the differential expression proteins. The correlation between the levels of the differential expression proteins and the exposure levels was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Five differential expression proteins were found among 4 groups, the expression of 5081 and 5066 proteins was upregulated, and the expression of 3954, 2021 and 1777 proteins was downregulated. There was no the correlation between the exposure levels and the peak with M/Z among those proteins.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>the results of present investigation indicated there was no correlation between the exposure levels and protein/peptide peak.</p>

Primary study on changes of serum proteomics in rabbit superior mesenteric artery occlusion shock / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explor the changes of serum proteomics in rabbits superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) shock as well as its possible effect in SMAO shock.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SMAO shock model in rabbits were induced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, serum samples were obtained from rabbits before and after SMAO shock, proteins in samples were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE), spots in the 2-DE map were detected and evaluated by PDQuest software 8.0. The spots with different expression level were subjected to matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS) for identification, the protein database was searched to further characterized the differential proteins.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>19 differential protein spots were screened out in the 2-DE maps, 11 proteins were up-regulated and 8 proteins were down-regulated in SMAO shock rabbits' s serum. 4 of the 19 differential protein spots were selected for MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS study, and 2 of the 4 differential protein spots were identified satisfactoryly as paraoxonase and haptoglobin, which content were increased in rabbits' s serum after SMAO shock.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum proteomics of rabbit change remarkablely before and after SMAO shock, paraoxonase and haptoglobin may be associated with the compensation after SMAO shock.</p>

The study of the differential gene expression profiles related to toxic effects in rats exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the differential gene expression profiles related to toxic effects in rats exposed to silica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats exposed to SiO2 (50 mg/ml) and 1 ml normal saline by intratracheal injection served as the exposure and control groups, on the 14th day after exposure all rats were executed and the rat lung tissues were obtained. The differential gene expression profiles in the lung tissues of rats exposed to silica were detected using confocal fiber beads gene chip technique, and the differential expression profiling data were analyzed using the database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery (DAVID) bioinformation analysis tool.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of present study indicated that 1567 genes with differential expression were identified in 22107 genes of rat lung tissues in exposure group, including 765 up-regulated genes and 802 down-regulated genes as compared to control group. In the 461 genes related to toxic effects, 285 genes were up-regulated and 176 genes were down-regulated in exposure group. The trends of up-regulation of HMOX1 and SOD2 genes in RT-PCR assay were similar to those in gene chip technique.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A large number of genes related to toxic effects in the rats with silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis appeared up-regulation or down-regulation. There may be a complex gene regulation network in the pulmonary fibrosis induced by SiO2, and the toxicological mechanism is an important part in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.</p>

Screening and identification of differential expression genes related to stress fracture by cDNA microarray assay / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the differentially expressed genes between the Stress fracture (SF) cases and controls.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total RNA was extracted and purified from peripheral blood sample of 3 SF cases and 3 controls who conducted a 1:1 matched case-control study, then used for Human Genome Array analysis. The hybridization data were analyzed using SAM software. Parts of these genes were analyzed and identified by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Upregulated and downregulated genes were 22 and 1, respectively. Thus the highest ratio and most significant cytokine was tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 10c (TNFRSF10C). The result of real-time PCR shows that TNFRSF10C was over-expressed in 3 cases and low-expressed in 1 case.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Obvious difference exists in gene expression between SF cases and controls, showing there may be a lot of genes involving in the occurrence and development of SF. Meanwhile, the identification of the specific genes is helpful for biomechanics study, early diagnosis and screening of SF.</p>

Differential analysis of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis profiles in lung tissue of rats exposed to silica early / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the differences of lung tissue proteins in rats exposed to silica early by using comparative proteomics method and investigate the related mechanism with the occurrence and development of silicosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and silica-treated group. The animal model was established by intratracheal (IT) instillation with silica suspension. On the 14th day after establishment of animal model, rats were sacrificed and lung tissues were collected. The total proteins were separated by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and the differentially expressed proteins were identified by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). In addition, Western blotting was performed to verify the expression of certain candidate protein.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eleven differential expression protein spots were tested by MALDI-TOF-MS, and six proteins were identified. The levels of cathepsin D precursor, peroxiredoxin-1 (Prx-1), heat shock cognate 71 000 protein (HSP7C), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A3 (hnRNPA3) and fatty acid-binding protein (epidermal, E-FABP) were up-regulated in silica-treated group with the optical density (A) values. These values were 116.50+/-12.56, 148.75+/-22.40; 40.00+/-1.63, 66.00+/-13.93; 51.25+/-7.37, 92.75+/-8.69; 83.00+/-6.48, 122.75+/-24.62; 50.75+/-6.50, 93.50+/-23.10 and 100.25+/-19.99, 142.50+/-21.21 respectively. The statistical difference was observed as compared with control group (t=-2.51, -3.71, -7.28, -3.12, -3.56 and -2.90, P<0.05). However, SEC14-like protein 3 with the A values 153.00+/-11.28, 109.75+/-18.32 was down-regulated (t=4.02, P<0.01). Western blotting showed that in the expression of Prx-1 was higher in silica-treated group (0.61+/-0.05) than that in the control (0.35+/-0.05) (t=-7.24, P<0.01) when calculating the semi-quantification of this protein using ratio of optical density.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>2-DE pattern of lung tissue from rats exposed to silica has been established and six differentially expressed proteins have been identified. Our study is of help for further research of the mechanisms of silicosis.</p>

Dynamic changes of surfactant protein-D and Clara cell protein expressions in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of silica-treated rats / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the dynamic changes of surfactant protein-D (SP-D) and Clara cell protein (CC16) expressions in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of silica-treated rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>80 rats were randomly divided into the control group and the silica group. The silicotic animal model was established by direct tracheal instillation of silica suspension into rat lungs surgically. On 7, 14, 21, 28 and 60 d after establishment of the animal model, eight rats in each group were sacrificed and lung tissue and BALF were collected. Lung tissue chip microarray was made in different time points after the silica was injected. Expressions of SP-D and CC16 on tissue microarray were detected with immunohistochemistry and quantified by Image-Pro Plus Version 4.5 for Windows(TM); The SP-D and CC16 levels of BALF were detected with western blot and quantified by Quantity One Version 4.6.2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SP-D expressed very little in alveolar type II and Clara cell intracytoplasmic of control group while its expression significantly increased after 7 d in silica group (P < 0.01) and it reached the peak on the 14 d, after this SP-D expression decreased gradually. CC16 was expressed strongly in intracytoplasmic and it expressed little in nucleus of Clara cell by bronchioles of control while it significantly decreased after 7 d in silica group (P < 0.01), and CC16 expression decreased gradually with the exposed silica time, which was correlated negatively among them (r(s) = -0.967, P < 0.01). On 7 d and 28 d, the SP-D levels of BALF in silica group were significantly higher than control (P < 0.01). Furthermore the SP-D levels of BALF on 28 d was significantly elevated than that on 7 d in silica group (P < 0.01). On 7 d and 28 d, the CC16 levels of BALF in silica group were significantly lower than control (P < 0.01). Moreover, CC16 levels of BALF on 28 d was significantly decreased than that on 7 d in silica group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The dynamic changes of SP-D and CC16 protein expressed in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid could be induced by silica exposure and are related with the silica exposure time.</p>

The study on differential gene expression profiling in pulmonary tissue of rats exposed to silica early / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the differential gene expression profiling of rats exposed to silica using the normal rats as control.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Animal models were established using intratracheal injection of the lung and 22 107 genes were screened in the differential expression profiling of silicosis by using oligonucleotide bead array. Differential expression profiling data were analyzed by using DAVID bioinformation software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 1567 differentially expressed genes were identified in lungs of silica exposed rats including 765 up-regulated genes and 802 down-regulated genes as compared to the normal controls. Among 406 annotated genes in KEGG pathways, 204 genes and 11 pathways were up-regulated as well as 202 genes and 3 pathways were down-regulated in silica exposed rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All 1567 genes are involved in the formation of silicosis. The differential gene expression profile of silicosis describes the general changes in the gene expressions in silicosis at transcriptional level. Further analysis of the identified genes might help reveal the molecular mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis induced by silica.</p>

The proteomics research on relational expressed serum proteins among the recovered SARS patients complicating avascular necrosis of femoral head / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To seek differentially expressed serum proteins in recovered SARS patients complicating avascular necrosis of femoral head (AVNFH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>2-DE and MALDI-TOF MS were used to study the comparative serum proteomics among female SARS AVNFH group, female SARS non-AVNFH group and female healthy group. ELISA method was used to detect serum amyloid P component in individual serum; specificity and sensitivity of serum amyloid P component were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Average protein points on 2-DE of 3 groups were 632 +/- 28, 671 +/- 55, 688 +/- 42 respectively, and the matching rate of protein points was ranged from 85% to 95%; eighteen differentially expressed proteins were discovered including transthyretin, serpin peptidase inhibitor, alpha-1-antitrypsin precursor, serum amyloid P components, etc. Compared to healthy group and SARS non-AVNFH group, transthyretin, C4B3, fibrinogen gamma, apolipoprotein L, apolipoprotein A-IV precursor, albumin and prealbumin showed lower expression, inversely serpin peptidase inhibitor, alpha-1-antitrypsin precursor and serum amyloid P components showed higher expression in serum in the SARS AVNFH necrosis group. The serum amyloid P component in 3 groups were 0.54 +/- 0.30 ng/ml, 0.83 +/- 0.39 ng/ml, 1.21 +/- 0.29 ng/ml respectively. The areas under the ROC curve on serum amyloid P component was 0.854, the specificity was 77.8% and the sensitivity was 85.2%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were differentially expressed serum proteins in three groups. Serum amyloid P components might be one of the potential biomarkers in serum of recovered SARS patients complicating avascular necrosis of femoral head.</p>

Changes of Clara cell protein and surfactant protein-D in serum of patients with silicosis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore changes of Clara cell protein (CC16) and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) in the serum of patients with silicosis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The concentrations of CC16 and SP-D were measured in the serum by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The subjects consisted of 30 healthy volunteers and 90 silica-exposed workers including silica-exposed group, the silicosis of suspects group (0(+)) and the silicosis phase I group, 30 subjects each groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentrations of CC16 in the serum was significantly decreased in silica-exposed workers compared to controls (P < 0.01); The concentrations of CC16 in the serum were higher in lifelong nonsmokers than the current smokers in control subjects (P < 0.05), but they were no differences between lifelong nonsmokers and current smokers of 90 silica-exposed workers. Compared with control subjects, the levels of SP-D in the serum of silicosis suspects (0(+)) and silicosis phase I groups were significantly elevated (P < 0.01, respectively), which were also higher than silica-exposed group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), Discriminant equations set by CC16 and SP-D were used in diagnosis of silicosis, and the rate of accuracy in healthy volunteers, the silica-exposed group and the silicosis phase I group were 86.7%, 86.7% and 76.7%, respectively, The total rate of correct classification hit 84.2%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The serum CC16 of long-term silica-exposed workers is decreased, and SP-D is increased gradually.</p>

Utilizing 2-DE and MALDI-TOF MS/MS to screen differentially expressed serum proteins of silicosis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) images and seek differentially expressed serum proteins for understanding the pathogenesis of silicosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>2-DE and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS/MS) were used to screen differentially expressed serum proteins among silica-exposed population, suspect of silicosis (0+), phase one (I) group with silicosis and control group(non silica exposure).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complement C4, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein and alpha-1-antitrypsin were significantly highly expressed in suspect of silicosis (0+) group(P < 0.01), but lowly in other groups. Inversely, serotransferrin was significantly down-regulated only in suspect of silicosis (0+) group(P < 0.01). Plasma glutathione peroxidase, tetranectin, apolipoprotein A-I and transthyretin were equally expressed in the serum of control group and silica-exposed population group, but decreased in the suspect of silicosis (0+) and phase (I) group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Complement C4, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, serotransferrin, plasma glutathione peroxidase, tetranectin, apolipoprotein A-I and transthyretin are differentially expressed in the silica-exposed group and phase (I) group with silicosis, and the result should be validated by other biochemical technologies.</p>

Effects of taurine on type I and III collagen expression in rats lung exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of taurine in diet on the expression of type I and III collagen and collagen ratio at different time points in rats lung by image process technology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: the saline instilled with a control diet (the saline treated group); silica instilled with a control diet (the silica treated group); and silica instilled with a diet containing 2.5% taurine (the taurine treated group). Animal models were established by the direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs exposed surgically. The taurine concentration of serum was analyzed by means of HPLC. Paraffin embedded lung sections were stained with Sirius red. Polarization microscopy and Image Pro Plus Version 4.5 for windows were used for detecting type I and III collagen.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentration of taurine in serum of the taurine treated group was significantly elevated compared to the saline treated and silica treated group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Sirius red polarization microscopy showed that type I and III collagen positive area percentage were elevated in the silica treated rats compared with the saline treated group. On the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th day after silica instillation type I collagen positive area percentage was increased by 3.84, 3.77, 3.73, 9.83 respectively (P < 0.01), and type III collagen positive area percentage were elevated by a little in the silica treated rats compared with saline treated group. The taurine treatment significantly decreased elevation of silica type I collagen positive area percentage of lung by 2.39, 1.62, 7.13 at the 7th, 21st, 28th day respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and type III collagen positive area percentage of lung by 2.62 at the 28th day (P < 0.05) compared with the silica treated group. The ratio of type I to III collagen was increased from the 7th day to 28th day after silica instillation, and reached 1.87 at the 28th day with the maximal ratio in the silica-treated group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment with taurine can effectively attenuate type I and III collagen expression in the rat lung induced by silica particles at different time points in our study.</p>

Expression of FasL and apoptosis in pulmonary tissue of rats exposed to silica at different time / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the change of the expression of the FasL receptor and apoptosis in the pathology of silicosis of the rats exposed to silica and their roles.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-six wistar rats were randomizedly divided into the control group and the experimental group. The silicotic animal model was established by the direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs surgically. The control rats underwent directly tracheal instillation of saline into lungs surgically. Eight rats from each group were sacrificed at different days. The expression of FasL receptor in the tissue of the model rats was detected by tissuechip microarray and immunohistochemistry and the cell apoptosis induced by silica was determined by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling method. The integral optical density of positive cells were quantitatively analyzed using Image-Pro Plus Version 4.5 for windows.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of FasL in the lung tissue of the model rats on the 7th, the 14th, the 21st, and the 28th day was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05), and peaked at the 14th day after exposure to silica. Apoptotic cells in the lung tissue of the model rats on the 1st, the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th, the 21st, and the 28th day were significantly more than those in the control group, and peaked at the 7th and the 14th day after exposure to silica.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Silica can lead to apoptosis in lung tissues. FasL is expressed in all kinds of cells in the pulmonary tissues of the rats exposed to silica and leads to apoptosis. From the 7th day to 14th day, inflammatory cells dominate in apoptotic cells.</p>

Effects of taurine on the expression of nitric oxide synthase in lung of rats exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of taurine in diet on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat lung induced by silica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were established by direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs exposed surgically, and the animals of taurine-treated group were silica-instilled with a diet containing taurine. The taurine concentration of serum was analyzed by means of HPLC. The expression of iNOS protein in paraffin-embedded lung sections with Streptavidin/peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray was measured by Image-Pro Plus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentration of taurine in serum of taurine-treated group was significantly higher than those in saline-treated and silica-treated groups (P < 0.05). The activities of total NOS and iNOS in BALF supernatant and iNOS positive area percentage of rat lung in silica-treated group were at the peak on 14th day, which were 1.84 U/ml, 1.12 U/ml and 5.42% more respectively than those in saline-treated group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between taurine-treated group and silica-treated group in total NOS and iNOS activities of BALF supernatant, and iNOS positive area of the lung (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment with taurine hardly influences on the increase in expression of nitric oxide synthase in rat lung induced by silica dust.</p>

The expression of lung nitric oxide synthase in rat exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the time-effect of silica on the expression of lung tissue nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in early inflammatory damage stage of silicotic rat.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Animal models were established by direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs. Total NOS and induced NOS (iNOS) activities in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assayed. The expression of iNOS protein in paraffin-embedded lung sections with Streptavidin/peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry were measured by tissue microarray and Image-Pro Plus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Most of the expression of iNOS was in the cytoplasm of macrophages and neutrophils. iNOS integrated optical density (IOD) of lung tissue increased 1.47 x 10(5) and 2.73 x 10(5) more respectively in silicatreated rats 3, 7 days after exposure than in control rats (P < 0.05), and decreased 1.11 x 10(5) more 28 days after exposure (P < 0.01). The activities of iNOS in BALF increased by 0.86, 1.89 and 0.92 U/ml respectively 3, 7, 14 days after exposure (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The activities of total NOS in BALF increased by 1.43, 2.05, 2.61 and 2.19 U/ml respectively 1, 3, 7, 14 days after exposure (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After silica instillation, the iNOS-positive cells in rat lung tissue were mostly macrophages and neutrophils. There is a parabolic changing trend in the level of expression of lung iNOS during 1 - 28 day exposure to silica.</p>

Effect of niacin on nitric oxide synthase expression in rat lung exposed to silica / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of niacin supplemented in diet on temporal expression of nitric oxide synthase in rat lung exposed to silica by tissue array technology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: saline-treated group, silica-treated group, niacin-treated group. There are 48 animals in each group. Animal models were established by direct tracheal instillation of silica into the rat lungs. Plasma level of niacin was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The expression of iNOS protein in the paraffin-embedded lung sections was measured with streptavidin/peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray and quantified by Image-Pro Plus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Plasma level of niacin in niacin-treated group were significantly elevated by 5.946 4, 17.422 0, 21.398 0, 16.091 0, 4.414 3 and 7.130 5 mg/L at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after instillation of silica, as compared to control and silica-treated groups. Seven days after instillation of silica, iNOS integrated optical density (IOD) of the lung, total NOS and iNOS activities in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) supernatant in silica-treated group significantly elevated by 273 421, 2.61 kU/L and 1.89 kU/L, respectively, in the saline-treated group, with statistical significance. Niacin treatment could significantly decrease silica-elevated iNOS integrated optical density (IOD) of the lung, total NOS and iNOS activities in BALF supernatant by 248.292, 1.50 kU/L and 0.91 kU/L in the silica-treated group, respectively, with statistical significance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is suggested that treatment with niacin could effectively attenuate the over expression of nitric oxide synthase in the rat lung induced by silica particles in our study.</p>