Effect of Xiangsha Liu Junzitang on dyHDL in Hyperlipidemia Rats with Spleen Deficiency / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To observe the changes of dysfunctional high density lipoprotein cholesterol (dyHDL) and the intervention effect of Xiangsha Liu Junzitang in rats with spleen deficiency and hyperlipidemia, and reveal the effect and mechanism of Xiangsha Liu Junzitang on dyHDL in rats with spleen-deficiency hyperlipidemia. Method: Seventy-five SPF SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, high fat group, spleen deficiency and high fat group, Xiangsha Liu Junzitang low and high dose groups (5.67, 11.34 g·kg-1). In the spleen deficiency and high fat group, as well as Xiangsha Liu Junzitang low and high dose groups, composite method of improper diet and exhaustive swimming was used for 15 days for modeling. After modeling for 15 days, normal group was fed with basic diet, while the high-fat group, spleen-deficiency and high-fat group, the Xiangsha Liu Junzitang low and high dose groups were fed with high-fat diet. After 12 weeks, the Xiangsha Liu Junzitang low dose and high dose groups received corresponding dosage of drugs, while normal group, high fat group and spleen deficiency high fat group received corresponding volume of normal saline. After 4 weeks, the contents of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer, while D-xylose excretion rate was measured by phloroglucinol method. The morphological changes of liver cells were observed by hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining. The level of PON1, apoA1 and SAA in plasma were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Paraoxonase 1(PON1), apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) and serum amyloid protein A (SAA) gene expression in rats liver were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Result: As compared with normal group, the serum TC, TG, and LDL-C levels were significantly increased in the high-fat group and spleen-deficiency high-fat group (PPPPPPD-xylose excretion rate was significantly decreased in the spleen-deficiency and high-fat group (PPPPPPPPConclusion: The lipid disorder in hyperlipidemia rats was aggravated by the spleen deficiency, but was corrected after intervention with Xiangsha Liu Junzitang. and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the expression of dyHDL-related genes and protein.

Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis of trophoblasts in intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-induced trophoblast apoptosis in the development of intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy (ICP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty pregnant women with ICP and 20 normal pregnant women undergoing cesarean section were enrolled in this study. The number of placenta syncytial knots in these women was determined using HE staining. The mRNA expressions of GRP78, CHOP, caspase-3, and caspase-7 were detected using RT-PCR in the placental tissues of the women and also in HTR-8/SVneo cells treated with different doses of deoxycholic acid (DCA). Caspase-3 and caspase-7 activities were also detected in DCA-treated HTR-8/SVneo cells using commercial assay kits, and the presence of apoptotic bodies in the cells were detected with electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with normal placental tissues, the placenta from women with ICP showed significantly increased syncytial knots (P<0.01) and obviously enhanced mRNA expressions of GRP78, CHOP, caspase-3, and caspase-7 (P<0.05). In HTR-8/SVneo cells treated with different doses of DCA (0, 10, 50, and 100 µmol/L), the mRNA expressions of GRP78, CHOP, caspase-3 and caspase-7 were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05) and the protein levels of GRP78 and CHOP were also increased dose-dependently. Treatment with DCA at 50 µmol/L for 24 h significantly upregulated caspase-3 and caspase-7 activity in the cells (P<0.05), and the cells treated with 50 µmol/L DCA for 12 h showed the presence of apoptotic bodies.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The activation of ERS and enhanced apoptosis of the trophoblasts occur in the placenta of women with ICP. DCA can significantly increase the expressions of ERS markers and thus lead to trophoblast apoptosis, suggesting that ERS-induced trophoblasts apoptosis may play a key role in the development of ICP.</p>

Expectant therapy versus curettage for retained products of conception after second trimester termination of pregnancy: analysis of outcomes and complications / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the prognosis and complications of expectant therapy and curettage for retained product of conception (RPOC) after second trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 270 patients with RPOC following second trimester TOP in Nanfang Hospital between January, 2014 and December, 2015 were included in this study. The duration of vaginal bleeding time and menstruation recovery interval were compared between patients receiving expectant therapy and curettage for RPOC, and binary logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors for complications in bivariate and multivariate analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The duration of vaginal bleeding time was significantly longer in expectant therapy group than in curettage group (P=0.005), while the menstruation recovery interval did not differ significantly between the two groups. The incidence of vaginal bleeding time for over 42 days was significantly higher in curettage group than in expectant therapy group (P=0.040), and the incidence of a menstruation recovery interval beyond 60 days was comparable between them. The incidence of complications was significantly higher in curettage group than in expectant therapy group either with adjustment of age, gravidity, parity, history of uterine surgery status, gestational age, type of indications, regimens for TOP and induction-abortion interval (OR=18.26 [95% CI: 3.57-93.42], P<0.001) or without adjustment (OR=10.60, [95% CI: 2.36-47.66], P=0.002).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Expectant therapy and curettage for RPOC after second trimester TOP have comparable prognosis, but curettage is associated with a significantly higher rate of complications.</p>

Prokaryotic expression and identification of HPV16 E7 protein / 病毒学报

HPV16 E7 fusion protein was expressed in E. coli BL21, and its applied value for HPV was evaluated. HPV16 E7 gene was amplified by PCR, and cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pGEX6p-1. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21, and HPV16 E7 fusion was expressed through IPTG induction. The expressed product was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, subsequently purified according to Glutathione Sepharose 4B purification procedure. An indirect ELISA with the purified fusion protein as the coating antigen was then established to detect E7 serum antibodies from mice immunized with recombinant Listeria monocytogenes delivering HPV16 E7. The results demonstrated that the soluble fusion protein was highly expressed at 25 degrees C after induction with 0.5 mM IPTG. Furthermore, the result of Western blot analysis showed that the fusion protein had good specific reaction with an anti-E7 monoclonal antibody. Indirect ELISA result confirmed that the fusion protein could detect the serum antibodies against E7 with a titer of 1:200. The expressed GST-E7 fusion protein was immunocompetent, which was useful in the research of E7 biological function and therapeutic vaccine.

Rapid detection of chromosome number aberration in spontaneously aborted fetuses using fluorescence in situ hybridization / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the diagnosis of common chromosome number aberration in spontaneously aborted fetuses.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A total of 100 spontaneously aborted fetuses were analyzed by G-banding and by FISH to test chromosome number aberration mainly for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y, and the results of FISH test was assessed according to those by G-banding test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FISH results were well consistent with those by G-banding test. FISH test identified trisomy in 32 samples and polyploidy in 7 samples. Two samples with cell culture failure were found to have trisomy 16 by FISH. Discrepancies in the results between the two tests occurred in 3 samples, but the results of FISH were verified by other methods. Kappa test between FISH technology and G-banding showed a good consistency between FISH and karyotyping (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FISH is an effective and rapid method for detecting chromosome number aberration in spontaneously aborted fetuses, and the combination of FISH and karyotyping provides more reliable diagnostic evidence.</p>

Evaluations of pre-thromboembolic state in patients undergoing total abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influences of total abdominal and laparoscopically hysterectomy on coagulation and fibrinolytic functions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples were taken from 20 patients without high-risk factor of thrombosis before and after total abdominal and laparoscopically hysterectomy. The values of PT, APTT, FG, D-Dimer and AT-III were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The values of PT and AT-III significantly decreased while D-Dimer significantly increased after the operations. These changes were more obvious in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. No significant changes in APTT or FG were noted after hysterectomy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Patients undergoing hysterectomy are at risk of developing thromboembolism, but the laparoscopic approach can significantly lower this risk as compared with abdominal hysterectomy.</p>

Differential expression of adrenomedullin in the placentas of women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies in late term / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the differential expression of adrenomedullin (ADM) in the placentas of women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies, and explore the importance of ADM and its signal pathway in the development of preeclampsia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten pregnant women complicated with preeclampsia during the late term(>or=35 wk) were selected for this study along with 7 normal control pregnant women (>or=39 wk). The total RNA was extracted and sections of fresh placental tissues were prepared, and ADM expressions at mRNA and protein levels in women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies were determined by Northern blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT AND CONCLUSION</b>At both mRNA and protein levels, the expression of ADM in the placentas of preeclamptic women was significantly reduced obviously as compared with that of the normal control (P<0.05), suggesting that ADM expression reduction in preeclamptic placenta might be associated with the development of preeclampsia.</p>