Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfate protects myocardium against paraquat-induced toxicity through activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway in rats.

OBJECTIVE:: To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfate (STS) on paraquat (PQ)-induced myocardial injuries in a rat model. METHODS:: Healthy adult Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control, PQ, and PQ + STS groups. PQ group was given a single intragastric administration of PQ (80 mg/kg). PQ + STS group was intraperitoneally injected with STS (1 ml/kg) at 30 min following PQ exposure. Rats in control and PQ groups were injected with equal amount of saline. After 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, rats were killed, and the apoptosis of myocardial cells was detected. Myocardial expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was measured. The activity of the nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway was assessed by Western blot. RESULTS:: The apoptotic cells in PQ group were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner compared with the control group ( p < 0.01). The rats in PQ group exhibited significantly lower Bcl-2 expression, but notably higher Bax expression at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after PQ exposure ( p < 0.05 or 0.01). STS intervention markedly reduced the proportion of apoptotic myocardial cells, increased Bcl-2 expression, and decreased Bax expression at 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment ( p < 0.05 or 0.01). The expression of phosphorylated Nrf2 and heme oxygenase 1 in PQ + STS group was significantly increased compared with PQ and control groups ( p < 0.05 or 0.01). CONCLUSION:: STS effectively inhibits PQ-induced myocardial cell apoptosis in rats via modulating the Nrf2 pathway, suggesting its potential as a promising therapeutic agent for PQ-induced myocardium damage.

[Clinical abservations of pulmonary surfactant' s autologous transfusion in massive lung lavage].

Objective: Investigate the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion effect on the recovery of respiratory function in patients with whole lung lavage, to provide theoretical basis for the clinical application. Methods: We taken 30 patients of pneumoconiosis treated by whole lung lavage as the subjects. We extracted the pulmonary surfactant from lavage fluid, after single postoperative lung lavage for the first time; after one weeks when the second times of lung lavage were performed to the other side of the lung of patients, we put PS into the right side. We taken the patients the second times of lung lavage who were put PS into the right side as returning group, the first times of lung lavage who were not put PS into as on returning group. We observed indi-cators, such as expiratory resistance, respiratory work, lung compliance, airway pressure, PO(2), the pulmonary function recovery time and other indicators, comparing with the changes of pulmonary function before lung la-vage for the first time and at 0、60、90、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion. Results: Com-pared with the no returning group, the expiratory resistance of the returning group decreased significantly at 90 min、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion; the respiratory work and airway pressure of the re-turning group decreased significantly at 60、90、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion, there was statistically significant in the difference between different groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the no returning group, the lung compliance and the PO(2) of the returning group increased significantly at 60 min、90 min、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion, there was statistically significant in the difference between different groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). The lung function recovery time of returning group was (155.7 ± 35.2) min, the lung function recovery time of no returning group was (183.71±41.81) min, there was statistical-ly significant in the difference between different groups (P<0.05). Compared with the no returning, there were not statistically significant in the difference of the Heart rate、the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure about the returning at 60、90、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion.There was no ad-verse reactions such as pulmonary infection, pulmonary infection and so on. Conclusion: The pulmonary surfac-tant autotransfusion may reduce expiratory resistance, work of breathing, airway pressure; improve lung compliance, alveolar ventilation function; increase oxygen partial pressure and decrease the surgery recovery time in patients with pneumoconiosis.

A comparative cytogenetic study of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) autotetraploid restorers and hybrids.

We studied pollen fertility, seed set and cytogenetic characteristics of restorer lines and F1 hybrids of autotetraploid rice. T4002, T4063, T461A x T4002 and T461A x T4063 showed significantly higher pollen fertility and seed set than T4132 and T461A x T4132. Meiotic pairing configurations of T4002, T4063, T4132, T461A x T4002, T461A x T4063 and T461A x T4132 were 0.051 + 19.96II (9.89 rod + 10.07 ring) + 0.01III + + 2.00IV, 0.11I + 19.17II (8.90 rod + 10.37 ring) + 0.09III + 2.26IV + 0.01VI, 1.34I + 9.46II (4.50 rod + 4.96 ring) + 0.80III + 6.02IV + 0.09VI + 0.09VIII, 0.02I + 14.36II (6.44 rod + 7.91 ring) + 0.01III + 4.80IV + 0.01VIII, 0.06I + 17.67II (11.01 rod + 6.67 ring) + 0.06III + 3.10IV + 0.01VI and 1.11I + 11.31II (5.80 rod + 5.51 ring) + 0.41III + 5.63IV + 0.03VI + 0.03VIII, respectively. Configuration 16II + 4IV and 12II + 6IV occurred in the highest frequency among the autotetraploid restorers and hybrids. Meiotic chromosome behaviors were less abnormal in the tetraploids with high seed set than those with low seed set. The hybrids had fewer frequencies of bivalents, univalents, trivalents and multivalents than the restorers, but higher frequency of quatrivalents than the restorers at MI. The frequency of univalents at MI had the most impact on pollen fertility and seed set, i.e., pollen fertility decreased with the increase of univalents. The secondary impact factors were trivalents and multivalents, and bivalents and quatrivalents had no effect on pollen fertility and seed set. The correlative relationship between pollen fertility and cytogenetic behaviors could be utilized to improve seed set in autotetraploidy breeding.

Effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae on growth and metal uptake by four plant species in copper mine tailings.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in encouraging revegetation of copper (Cu) mine tailings. Two native plant species, Coreopsis drummondii and Pteris vittata, together with a turf grass, Lolium perenne and a leguminous plant Trifolium repens associated with and without AMF Glomus mosseae were grown in Cu mine tailings to assess mycorrhizal effects on plant growth, mineral nutrition and metal uptake. Results indicated that symbiotic associations were successfully established between G. mosseae and all plants tested, and mycorrhizal colonization markedly increased plant dry matter yield except for L. perenne. The beneficial impacts of mycorrhizal colonization on plant growth could be largely explained by both improved P nutrition and decreased shoot Cu, As and Cd concentrations. The experiment provided evidence for the potential use of local plant species in combination with AMF for ecological restoration of metalliferous mine tailings.

Encoded chemical synthesis coupled to screening: "Pot Assay".

A variety of screening methodologies is available to identify lead compounds. Screening methods that would permit the direct use of libraries made via the Radiofrequency Encoded Combinatorial chemistry paradigm (each individual small molecule in the library is presented separately on an individual encoded support) have the potential to diminish burdensome steps in this process. Here we report on our studies leading to such a direct method, which we have termed a Pot Assay. Pot Assay is a multiplex assay, which simultaneously measures specific binding of a number of ligands to at least one target. Pot Assay uses specific radiofrequency signals to decode compounds that are high affinity binders. We validated this approach by evaluating the interaction of biotin and its analogs with labeled streptavidin. This report introduces Pot Assay as a rapid, simple, sensitive and accurate format for identifying active members of libraries synthesized on solid supports. The success of this study demonstrates the power of coupling Radiofrequency Encoded Combinatorial chemistry and screening. This assay format may be applied to a wide range of screens that are based on binding events: ligand/receptor, inhibitor/enzyme, antigen/antibody, protein/protein, DNA/protein, and RNA/DNA.