Effect and Mechanism of Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang on Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the effects of Banxia Baizhu Tianmatang （BBTT） on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein-E knockout （ApoE^-/-） mice induced by high fat diet. Method:The atherosclerosis model of ApoE^-/- mice was established with high-fat diet， and BBTT was used for intervention. The pathological changes of aorta after atherosclerosis were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， oil red O and Masson staining. The changes of serum total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） and low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α</italic> （TNF-<italic>α</italic>）， interleukin-6 （IL-6） and oxidized low density lipoprotein （ox-LDL） were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Total tissue proteins were extracted， quantified by protein quantification （BCA） method， and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） protein was detected by Western blot. Thiobarbituric acid （TBA） method was used to detect the change of malondialdehyde （MDA） content. The change of superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity was detected by 2-（2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl）-3-（4-nitrophenyl）-5-（2，4-disulfobenzene）-2H tetrazole monosodium salt （WST-8） method. Result:Compared with the control group， there was a large amount of lipid accumulation in the blood vessels of the model group， the serum levels of TG， TC， HDL-C and LDL-C significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， the expression of MMP-9 protein in the blood vessels significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-<italic>α</italic> in the serum increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， the SOD activity was significantly reduced （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the levels of MDA and ox-LDL expression increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the treatment with BBTT could inhibit the accumulation of lipids in blood vessels， the TG levels were reduced in the high and medium dose groups of BBTT （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， high， medium and low dose groups significantly reduced the levels of LDL-C in serum （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the expression of MMP-9 protein in blood vessels （<italic>P</italic><0.05） and IL-6 in serum （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the high-dose group down-regulated the expression of TNF-<italic>α</italic> in serum （<italic>P</italic><0.01） and ox-LDL （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， both the high and medium-dose groups increased the level of MDA （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01） and the activity of SOD （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Conclusion:BBTT has a certain intervention effect on the formation of atherosclerosis aortic plaque in ApoE^-/- mice， and its mechanism may be associated with reducing the TG and LDL-C levels， lowering blood lipid， down-regulating MMP-9 protein， protecting blood vessels from inflammatory damage， reducing ox-LDL and MDA levels， and improving SOD activity to play an antioxidant role.

Construction of Tn5 transposon insertion mutants of Ralstonia solanacearum isolated from Pogostemon cablin / 中国中药杂志

Ralstonia solanacearum strain PRS-84 used in this study was isolated from diseased Pogostemon cablin plants in our previous study.The competent cells of R.solanacearum strain PRS-84 were transformed by electroporation with Tn5 transposon and then were plated on TTC agar plates containing kanamycin to select for kanamycin-resistant colonies.The detection of kanamycin-resistant gene in kanamycin-resistant colonies was performed by PCR.Further,the flanking fragments of Tn5 transposon insertion site in the mutants were amplified by inverse PCR,and the flanking fragments were sequenced and analyzed.The results indicated that the kanamycin-resistant colonies were obtained in the transformation experiment of R.solanacearum strain PRS-84 by electroporation with Tn5 transposon.A specific band of approximately 700 bp was amplified by PCR from kanamycin-resistant colonies.The flanking sequences of Tn5 transposon insertion site in the transformants were obtained by inverse PCR.After sequencing and sequence analysis of Tn5 transposon insertion site in mutants,we preliminarily speculated that the Tn5 transposon inserted in the typ A gene,rec O gene and gid A gene in three mutants,respectively.A random mutagenesis system of R.solanacearum strain PRS-84 by electroporation with Tn5 transposon has been established,and the Tn5 insertion mutants have been obtained.This study might facilitate the creation of mutant library and the discovery of the virulence gene of R.solanacearum isolated from P.cablin.

Hypouricemic and nephroprotective effects of total flavonoids from the residue of supercritical CO[2] extraction of Humulus lupulus in potassium oxonate-induced mice

Total flavonoids of Humulus lupulus [TFHL] were prepared using ethanol extraction, liquid-liquid partition and purification with polyamide resin. Different dose of TFHL were orally administered to normal and hyperuricemic mice for 7 days. The xanthine oxidase [XOD] inhibitory activity and hypouricemic effects of TFHL on potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice were examined. The TFHL showed very potent XOD inhibitory activity with IC[50]=66.8 micro g/mL. At a single oral dose of 100mg/kg TFHL, the serum uric acid levels of hyperuricemic mice significantly decreased [P<0.01] compared with a hyperuricemic control group, and the XOD activity was inhibited by 22%. Moreover, TFHL has a protective role against potassium oxonate-induced renal damage in mice. The results suggested that TFHL could be used as a promising drug or ingredient for treatment of hyperuricemia and gout

Combined Toxicity of an Environmental Remediation Residue, Magnetite Fe3O4 Nanoparticles/Cr(VI) Adduct / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This paper aims to elucidate the combined toxicity of magnetite nanoparticles/Chromium [MNPs/Cr(VI)] adducts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HEK293 cell was exposed to either Cr(VI) or MNPs, or their adducts MNPs/Cr(VI). The cytotoxicity was evaluated by assessing the cell viability, apoptosis, oxidative stress induction, and cellular uptake.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The toxicity of formed adducts is significantly reduced when compared to Cr(VI) anions. We found that the cellular uptake of MNPs/Cr(VI) adduct was rare, only few particles were endocytosed from the extracellular fluid and not accumulated in the cell nucleus. On the other hand, the Cr(VI) anions entered cells, generated oxidative stress, induced cell apoptosis, and caused cytotoxicity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results showed minor effects of the nanoadducts on the tested cells and supported that magnetite nanoparticles could be implemented in the wastewater treatment process in which advantageous properties outweigh the risks.</p>

Hematopoietic potential of Flk-1(+) populations in mouse embryonic AGM region / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study aimed to investigate the expression of Flk-1 on distinct hematopoietic precursor cells in E10.5 mouse AGM region. By flow cytometry, we found that < 10% of Flk-1(+) cells of E10.5 AGM region co-expressed CD41 and CD45/Ter119. Then, E10.5 AGM cells were fractionated into two subsets, the CD31(+)CD45(-)Ter119(-)Flk-1(+)CD41(+) cells (R1, putative immature hematopoietic cells) and the CD31(+)CD45(-)Ter119(-)Flk-1(+)CD41(-) cells (R2, putative endothelial cells), followed by methylcellulose-based CFU-C assay and OP9-based stromal co-culture to examine their myeloid or/and lymphoid potential in vitro. The results showed that only R1 cells could give rise to typical hematopoietic colonies in CFU-C assay. In contrast, after co-cultured with OP9 for 7-9 days, both subsets could generate abundant hematopoietic progenitor cells (CD45(+)c-Kit(+)), myeloid cells (Gr-1(+)/Mac-1(+)), erythroid cells (Ter119(+)), and B lymphocytes (CD19(+)). It is concluded that both maturing CD41(+)CD45(-) hematopoietic percursor cells and homogenic endothelial cells express Flk-1 in E10.5 AGM region. It requires further functional assay in vivo to clarify whether the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their precursors retain Flk-1 expression at this developmental stage.

Influence of various forms of psychological intervention on psychological stress, mental state and treatment process of outpatients / 中国实用护理杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of various forms of psychological intervention on psychological stress,mental state and treatment process of out- patients. Methods 198 outpatients from February 2010 to July 2011 were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group with 99 cases in each group.The control group received conventional treatment and care.The observation group was given multiple forms of psychological intervention on the basis of conventional treatment and care.Both groups were taken with Zung Anxiety Rating Scale (SAS)and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)to measure the psychological stress and the degree of anxiety before and after treatment.The total efficiencies of various disorders for the two groups before and after the diagnosis and treatment were compared. ResultsThere were no significant differences in SAS score and HAMA scores before psychological intervention.After the intervention,the SAS score and HAMA score in the control group were significantly higher than the observation group.The total effective rate after a course of treatment in the observation group was 90.6％.The total efficiency in the control group was 78.8％,which was significantly lower than that of the observation group. ConclusionsThe multiple forms of psychological intervention can reduce the mental stress,ease the patients' emotional state and improve the patients' therapy effect at the same period for out-patients.

Analyzing hematopoietic development of mouse embryonic AGM region by tissue culture / 中国实验血液学杂志

To analyze hematopoietic kinetics of mouse embryonic aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region, an in vitro tissue culture method was developed in this study, partly based on previous reports. After 2 days of tissue culture, a significant number of erythro myeloid progenitors, as quantitated by colony forming assay was detected in the AGM region. Moreover, the cells from cultured E10.5 AGM region could generate 10.8 ± 3.5 colony-forming unit in spleen (CFU-S) per tissue on average. Transplantation of cultured E10.5-E11.0 AGM cells resulted in efficient (85.7% repopulated) and long-term (> 4 months) reconstitution of lethally irradiated adult recipients with remarkable chimerism [(51.12 ± 21.17)%]. The multilineage contribution of donor cells was validated by significant engraftment of myeloid and/or lymphoid cells in peripheral blood, bone marrow, spleen and thymus of recipients. Taken together, the tissue culture method can enable us to manipulate the AGM region in vitro, fulfilling a systematic evaluation of developmental kinetics of various hematopoietic precursor cells, particularly HSC, in normal and mutant mid-gestation mouse embryos.

Association of Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 with Characteristics of Vulnerable Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaques

PURPOSE: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an inflammatory enzyme expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. We investigated the association of circulating Lp-PLA2 with characteristics of vulnerable coronary atherosclerotic plaques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 113 patients with either unstable angina (UA, n=59) and stable angina (SA, n=54) by coronary angiography. Thirty-six healthy subjects served as controls. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to evaluate the characteristics of coronary atherosclerotic plaque, and serum Lp-PLA2 concentration was measured as well. RESULTS: Lp-PLA2 concentration was significantly higher in both UA and SA patients [(396+/-36) microg/L and (321+/-39) microg/L, respectively] compared with the controls [(127+/-49) microg/L, p<0.01], and higher in UA than SA group. IVUS findings showed that remodeling index (RI) (0.91+/-0.15 vs. 0.85+/-0.11, p=0.005) and eccentricity index (EI) (0.73+/-0.16 vs. 0.65+/-0.22, p=0.039) were larger in UA than in SA group, and fibrous caps were thicker in SA than UA group [(0.91+/-0.23) mm vs. (0.63+/-0.21) mm, p=0.032]. Moreover, Lp-PLA2 correlated positively with EI (r=0.439, p<0.01) and RI (r=0.592, p<0.05) in UA group. There was an inverse relationship between Lp-PLA2 and fibrous cap thickness in both UA (r=-0.587, p<0.001) and SA (r=-0.318, p<0.05) groups. The independent risk factors in UA group were Lp-PLA2 (OR=1.055, 95% CI: 1.03-1.08, p=0.013), LDL-cholesterol (OR=0.032, 95% CI: 0.00-0.05, p=0.041) and fibrous cap thickness (OR=0.008, 95% CI: 0.00-0.45, p=0.019). Lp-PLA2 was strongly associated with both EI and fibrous cap thickness in both groups. CONCLUSION: Serum level of Lp-PLA2 is associated with both eccentricity index and fibrous cap thickness in both UA and SA groups. Elevated levels of circulating Lp-PLA2 might to be a strong risk factor and more serious for unstable angina than stable angina.

Clarification of lymphoid potential in mouse E8.5 embryos by OP9/OP9-DL1 coculture / 中国实验血液学杂志

The anatomical location of lymphocyte ontogeny in the developing mouse embryo remains controversial. To define the site that can generate lymphocytes de novo, the intraembryonic splanchnopleura (SP) and extraembryonic yolk sac (YS) at 8.5 days postcoitum, when systemic circulation is not established, were investigated. The results indicated that in standard colony forming assay, the cells from both splanchnopleura and yolk sac formed typical myeloerythroid colonies, but their types were distinct. When cocultured with the OP9, the splanchnopleura produced B cells expressing B220, CD19 and surface IgM. Using a three-step culture protocols with the OP9 expressing Delta-like 1 as feeders, the splanchnopleura produced immature T precursor cells (CD44-/CD25+) and more mature single positive T cells (CD4+/CD8-) after 16 days of incubation. However, the yolk sac failed to generate B and T lymphocytes under identical conditions. It is concluded that prior to linked embryonic circulation, the splanchnopleura other than the yolk sac had robust lymphoid potential in vitro. In the future, more reliable evidence from novel model animals will ultimately delineate the embryonic origin of lymphocytes in vivo.

Anti-human Cytomegalovirus Activity of Hot Water Extract from Sasa senanensis Rehder / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

<i>Objective</i>: Anti-Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity of Kumazasa (<i>Sasa senanensis</i> Rehder) extract were investigated in the human embryonic lung (HEL) fibroblast cell.<br> <i>Method</i>: This study examined the effect of hot water extract from <i>Sasa senanensis </i>Rehder on HCMV replication, viral-specific major immediate early (IE) gene expression, and protein synthesis.<br> <i>Results</i>: Treatment of HCMV-infected HEL cells with that <i>Sasa senanensis</i> Rehder extract inhibited the cytopathic effect and viral production in a dose-dependent manner. Further, real-time RT-PCR assay and Western blotting analysis revealed that <i>Sasa senanensis</i> Rehder extract decreased expression of the HCMV IE gene in virus-infected HEL cell.<br> <i>Conclusion</i>: These results suggest that <i>Sasa senanensis</i> Rehder extract have anti-HCMV activity by inhibitting of IE gene expression.<br>

Two mutations of the KRT6A gene in Chinese patients with pachyonychia congenita type I / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the gene mutation in a Chinese pedigree and one sporadic case with pachyonychia congenita type I(PC-1), as well as to explore the relationship between the genotype and phenotype.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The whole coding region of the KRT16 and KRT6A genes were amplified by long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Six patients with PC-1 were studied, five of them were from a pedigree and the other one was sporadic. One unaffected member in the pedigree and 100 unrelated healthy individuals were also studied in order to exclude polymorphism. PCR products were directly sequenced to detect the mutation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No mutations in the KRT16 gene were observed. All patients harbored a mutation in the KRT6A gene. All five patients in the pedigree had a mutation at codon 465 (TAC to CAC) which substitutes tyrosine (Y) by histidine (H). In the sporadic patient, codon 171 (AAC) was mutated to GAC, which changes the asparagines (N) to aspartic acid (D). No such mutations were found in the unaffected member of the pedigree and the 100 unrelated controls. The mutation of Y465H is located at the end of 2B and N171D at the beginning of 1A domain of KRT6A, both are hotspots for pathogenic keratin mutations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mutations Y465H and N171D of the KRT16A gene were detected in the pedigree and the sporadic case respectively. The Y465H mutation was a novel mutation, and the N171D mutation was reported recently.</p>

Investigations and analysis of traumatic condition of Longnan area in Wenchuan earthquake / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate and analyze the traumatic conditions of Longnan area of Gansu in Wenchuan earthquake, and to explore the measures coping with unexpected disasters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A sample survey including questionnaire survey, interviews and other methods was adopted to investigate the conditions of affected population of Longnan area in earthquake, especially on the traumatic conditions, the injured causes, treatment methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the sample survey of a total of 1652 earthquake casualties, the dead were 16 and the patients with extremities fractures were 750 (45.4%). Organized and timely rescue of the wounded could reduce the complications and the mortality .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Strengthening the prevention and treatment of earthquake trauma can effectively decrease the death rate and disabled rate.</p>

Clinical comparison between micro-endoscopic discectomy (MED) and open discectomy for treatment of lumbar disc herniation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare between micro-endoscopic discectom) (MED) and open decompression discectomy, and assess the clinical value of MED.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundreds and sixty-one cases who suffered from lumbar disc herniation had a retrospective study. One hundred and twenty-one of 261 patients were treated with MED including 72 male and 52 female with an average age of 37.6 years ranging 26 to 63, the segment of herniated discs were at L4.5 in 66 and at L5S1 in 58. The other 137 patients were treated with decompression by fenestration and discectomy including 66 male and 71 female with an average age of 44.5 years ranging 25 to 71, the segment of herniated discs were at L4.5 in 64 and at L5S1 in 73. MED was performed via a scopes. Open decompression discectomy was performed decompression by fenestration and discectomy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MED group were followed up for 14.5 months on average, the operative time was (85 +/- 15) minutes and blood loss was (50 +/- 10) ml, time of laying in bed after operation was (50 +/- 8) hours. Open decompression group were followed up for 15.5 months on average, operative time was (60 +/- 15) minutes and blood loss was (80 +/- 20) ml, time of laying bed after operation was (150 +/- 24) hours. MED group needed significantly less narcotic medication after operation than open decompression group. According to modified Macnab criteria, the results were excellent in 94, good in 25, fair in 5 in MED group and excellent in 101, good in 28, fair in 8 in open decompression group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As compared with open decompression group, MED offers a similar short-term clinical outcome, but with smaller incision, less tissue trauma and quicker recovery.</p>

Effects of prenatal stress on kinetic properties of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channel in freshly isolated offspring rat hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of prenatal stress (PNS) on kinetic properties of high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca(2+) channel in freshly isolated offspring rat hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The pregnant rats were exposed to restraint stress, and the hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons were freshly isolated from the offspring rats to record voltage-gate Ca(2+) channel currents in these neurons using whole-cell configuration of patch-clamp technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PNS significantly increased HVA calcium current density and integral current but did not alter the steady-state activation and steady-state inactivation properties of HVA Ca(2+) channel in the offspring rat CA3 neurons. The maximal HVA calcium current density was -40.89-/+0.31 pA/pF in the control group (n=10) and -49.44-/+0.37 pA/pF in PNS group (n=8, P<0.01). The maximal integral current of the HVA Ca(2+) channel was 106.81-/+4.20 nA*ms in the control group (n=10) and 133.49-/+2.59 nA*ms in the PNS group (n=8, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Maternal exposure to stress during the critical phase of pregnancy may result in long-lasting effects on the ion channels of the hippocampal neurons in the offspring rats.</p>

Gender-dependent difference of NF-kappaB expression in the hippocampus of prenatally stressed offspring rats / 生理学报

In this study, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to determine whether the expression of NF-kappaB in the hippocampus of prenatally stressed offspring rats is gender-dependent. The results were as follows: In the female offspring rats, the expressions of p65 in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in mid-term stress (MS) and late-term stress (LS) groups were significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.01). There was a significant difference between MS and LS groups (P<0.01). The expressions of p50 in all regions of hippocampus in MS and LS groups were significantly more than that in the control group (P<0.01). A significant difference was also present between MS and LS groups (P<0.01). In the male offspring rats, the expressions of p65 in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in MS and LS groups were evidently more than that in the control group (P<0.01). There was a significant difference between MS and LS groups (P<0.01). The expressions of p50 in all regions of hippocampus in MS and LS groups were significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was also a significant difference in p65 expression between MS and LS groups (P<0.01). In addition, in the control group the expressions of p65 in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of female offspring rats were significantly more than that of male ones (P<0.01). However, in LS group the expressions of p65 in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of female offspring rats were significantly less than that of male ones (P<0.01). Moreover, there was no significant difference in p65 expression between female and male offspring rats in MS group. In the control group the gender difference in the expression of p50 was only observed in hippocampal CA1 (P<0.01). The expressions of p50 in all regions of hippocampus of female offspring rats were significantly more than that of male ones in LS group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in p50 expression between female and male offspring rats in MS group. The results of Western blot were similar to those of immunohistochemical study. These results indicate that prenatal stress in different gestational periods significantly affects the expressions of p65 and p50 in hippocampus, and this effect is gender-dependent. This may be one of the mechanisms underlying the gender difference in the ability of learning and memory of the prenatally stressed offspring rats.