Protective effect of Rhodiola extract against cisplatin-induced damage to TM4 sertoli cells in mice / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the preventive effect of Rhodiola extract on cisplatin (cDDP)-induced testicular toxicity in mouse TM4 Sertoli cell line and its possible mechanism in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We treated mouse TM4 Sertoli cells with Rhodiola extract and/or cDDP. Then we detected the proliferation of the TM4 cells by MTT assay, observed their morphological changes, and determined the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in the cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MTT assay showed that Rhodiola extract at the concentration of 0.0125-2.5 mg/L significantly inhibited the cDDP-induced decrease in the proliferation of the TM4 cells (P < 0.01) and improved their morphological changes. Anti-oxidation test exhibited a dramatically increased level of MDA in the TM4 cells treated with cDDP at 0.0147 g/L as compared with the normal control cells ([3.63 +/- 0.02] vs [2.15 +/- 0.02] nmol/mg prot, P < 0.01) and decreased levels of T-SOD ([6.57 +/- 0.05] vs [10.86 +/- 0.02] U/mg prot, P < 0.01) and GSH ([1.42 +/- 0.06] vs [2.59 +/- 0.05] mg/g prot, P < 0.01). Rhodiola extract at 0.1 mg/L significantly reduced the MDA content ([1.94 +/- 0.00] nmol/mg prot, P < 0.01) and the activity of T-SOD ([8.50 +/- 0.02] U/mg prot, P < 0.01) and GSH ([2.41 +/- 0.04] mg/g prot, P < 0.01) in the TM4 cells treated with cDDP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rhodiola extract can significantly inhibit cDDP-induced damage to TM4 cells in mice, which may be associated with its antioxidant activity.</p>

A peroxisome proliferator response elements regulatory system in xenopus oocytes and its application / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a kind of ligand-activated transcription factors binding to peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE), a specific recognition site. It is thought to play a critical role in glucose and lipid metabolism and in inflammation control. The aim of this study was to establish a new cellular model for the quick screening of lipid-lowering drugs, which may be effective as PPAR-gamma ligands on the PPRE-mediated pathway regulatory system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two plasmids were constructed: pXOE-PPARgamma, in which the human PPARgamma gene was in the downstream of TFIIIA gene promoter, and pLXRN-PPRE-d2EGFP, in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene was subcloned into PPRE. The xenopus oocytes were injected with these two plasmids, and consequently treated with prostaglandin E1, pioglitazone, and different kinds of lipid-lowering drugs. After 3 days, the oocytes were observed under a fluorescence microscope. To confirm the drug action,we injected pXOE-PPARgamma plasmid into the oocytes, which then treated with prostaglandin E1 and Hawthorn flavonoids. The mass of expressed lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the cells was determined by enzyme labeling linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of EGFP was only induced by prostagalandin E1, pioglitazone, Hawthorn flavonoids. A concentration-response relationship was seen between expressed EGFP and Hawthorn flavonoids. The levels of LPL in both Hawthorn flavonoids groups and PPARgamma ligand prostagalandin E1 group injected with pXOE-PPARgamma plasmid increased significantly (< 0.001) compared with controls, and a concentration-response relationship was observed between LPL mass and Hawthorn flavonoids.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is possible to establish a PPRE regulatory EGFP reporter system in xenopus oocytes to monitor the activity of PPARgamma ligand. Hawthorn flavonoids can increase the expression of gene downsteam of PPRE by effect on the PPRE pathway regulatory system.</p>

Effect of curcumin on the gene expression of low density lipoprotein receptors / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the molecular mechanisms and effective target points of lipid-lowering drug, Rhizoma Curcumae Longae, and study the effect of curcumin on the expression of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in macrophages in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Macrophages in mice were treated with curcumin, which was purified from the ethanolly extraction of Rhizoma Curcumae Longae for 24 h. The LDL receptors expressed in the macrophages were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and assay of DiI labeled LDL uptake by flow cytometer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was found for the first time that 10 micromol/L-50 micromol/L curcumin could obviously up-regulate the expression of LDL receptor in macrophages in mice, and a dose-effect relationship was demonstrated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>One of the lipid-lowering mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine, Rhizoma Curcumae Longae, was completed by the effect of curcumin through the up-regulation of the expression of LDL receptor.</p>

Effect of embedding thread at Shenshu (BL 23) on clinical pain of postmenopausal osteoporosis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of embedding thread at Shenshu (BL 23) on clinical pain of postmenopausal osteoporosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six cases were randomly divided into an embedding thread group, an embedding thread plus Leli group and a Leli group. The pain of the patient before treatment, 3 months and 6 months after treatment were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was significant difference before and after treatment in the score of pain in both the embedding thread group and the embedding thread plus Leli group (P < 0.001), with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05); there was no significant difference before and after treatment in the score of pain in the Leli group (P > 0.05), but with significant differences as compared with other two groups (both P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Embedding thread at Shenshu (BL 23) has very obvious therapeutic effect on clinical pain of postmenopausal osteoporosis, and oral administration of Leli capsule has no significantly therapeutic effect on clinical pain of postmenopausal osteoporosis.</p>

The protection of seed oil of Hippophae rharmnoides on ischemic cerebral infarction in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protection of seed oil of Hippophae rhamnoides on ischemic cerebral infarction in rats and the mechanism of the action.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Focal cerebral ischemia model was made by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) in rats. Behavior obstacles of rats were observed. Cerebral infarction volume was determined by Megnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seed oil of Hippophae rhamnides 0.7 and 0.35 g.kg-1 could markedly reduce infarction volume after occlusion of middle cerebral artery in rats and also could ameliorate the behavior obstacles of rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results suggested that seed oil of Hippophae rhamnoides had distinct protection to ischemic cerebral infarction in rats.</p>