Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase: activity inhibition and protein overexpression in rotenone models for Parkinson's disease.

Rotenone, a widely used pesticide and an environmental risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), induces nigrostriatal injury, Lewy body-like inclusions, and Parkinsonian symptoms in rat models for PD. Our previous data indicated that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) overexpression and glycolytic inhibition were co-current in rotenone-induced PC12 (rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells) cell death. However, whether GAPDH overexpression plays any role in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in vivo remains unknown. In this study, we have found that GAPDH overexpression and GAPDH-positive Lewy body-like aggregates in nigral dopaminergic neurons while nigral GAPDH glycolytic activity decreases in rotenone-based PD animal models. Furthermore, GAPDH knockdown reduces rotenone toxicity significantly in PC12. These in vitro and in vivo data suggest that GAPDH contributes to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, possibly representing a new molecular target for neuroprotective strategies and alternative therapies for PD.

[Clinical observation on diabetic nephropathy treated with alcohol of Abelmoschus manihot].

Sixty-eight cases of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) complicated with nephropathy were randomly divided into two groups: treated group, 35 cases treated with alcohol extraction of Abelmoschus manihot, Gliclazide and Captopril tablets; control group, 33 cases treated with Gliclazide and Captopril tablets, over a period of 8 weeks. The total effective rate in treated and control group were 83.87% and 31.03%(P < 0.01), urinary micro-albumin were 31.7 mg/L and 76.3 mg/L (P < 0.05), proteinuria were 0.41 g/24h and 0.77 g/24h (P < 0.01), blood beta 2-microglobulin were 3317.8 ng/ml and 3473.1 ng/ml (P < 0.05), urinary beta 2-microglobulin were 367.2 ng/ml and 641.5 ng/ml (P < 0.01), urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) were 26.3 u/L and 66.7 u/L (P < 0.01), plasma lipid peroxide (LPO) were 6.13 nmol/L and 8.78 nmol/L (P < 0.05), and plasma superoxide anion were 8.36 kcpm and 10.42 kcpm respectively (P < 0.05). It was suggested that Abemoschus manihot alcohol extraction could eliminate oxygen free radicals, alleviate renal tubular-interstitial diseases, improve renal function and reduce proteinuria.

[Relationship between apo-protein in renal disease patients with diagnosis and TCM syndrome differentiation].

UNLABELLED: The relationship between the level of apo-protein in 132 renal disease patients with diagnosis and TCM Syndrome Differentiation was analysed. The serum apo-protein level of 132 patients group and 135 healthy adults group were monitored with radioimmunodiffusion assay. The patients were divided into three groups. Spleen Qi and Kidney Qi Deficiency (SQKQD), both Qi and Yin Deficiency (QYD), and the Liver Yin and Kidney Yin Deficiency (LYKYD) group. All patients were divided into with-Dampness and without-Dampness group according to their clinical symptoms and signs. Comparison was also made between different groups. RESULTS: Renal diseases including nephrotic syndrome, chronic nephritis, chronic renal failure and patients with SQKQD, QYD, LYKYD, the levels of apo-B and apo-B/apo-A-I were higher than that of normal (P < 0.01) in various degree, while the level of apo-A-I, was not changed or lower than the normal. In TCM Syndrome differentiation, apo-B and apo-B/apo-A-I in the SQKQD group were higher than those in QYD and LYKYD group (P < 0.05). Moreover, these two values in cases with Dampness were much higher than those without Dampness (P < 0.01). Therefore, it is important to treat this secondary abnormality of lipid metabolism for reducing the further deterioration of renal diseases. When primary renal disease was treated, elimination and removal the dampness might reduce the further damage of hyperlipidemia in renal diseases.

[Relation between dampness-heat syndrome of glomerulonephritis and sialic acid and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG)].

Plasmic and urinary sialic acid and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) of 87 glomerulonephritic patients with and without Dampness-Heat Syndrome were measured, and the influence of clearing up Dampness-Heat therapy on above-mentioned parameters was investigated. The results showed that Psa, Usa and UNAG of Dampness-Heat Syndrome were significantly higher than those of non-Dampness-Heat Syndrome (P < 0.05-0.01). The further analysis indicated that the patients with acute onset of chronic nephritis manifested as Dampness-Heat, showed marked positive correlation between Usa and UNAG as well as between UNAG and proteinuria respectively (r = 0.75 and 0.722, P < 0.001). With the treatment of Abelmoschus manihot which could remove the Dampness-Heat, the amount of proteinuria, Usa and UNAG were all significantly decreased (P < 0.05-0.001). It suggested that Usa and UNAG might be as diagnostic and curative parameters of Dampness-Heat of glomerulonephritis.

[Clinical and experimental studies on sanpin therapy for chronic cervical diseases].

Chronic cervical diseases belong to the category of precancerous diseases whose treatment is important in preventing cervical cancer. 135 cases were treated with Sanpin preparations therapy after exclusion of heart, liver, kidney and cancerous diseases. After the treatment of 2-3 months, 133 cases were cured. Two cases have not finished their treatment courses and so have been excluded from the study. Among them, 110 have been followed up for 1 to 11 years. All of the patients with pretreatmental hypertrophic cervices had normal sizes after the treatment. The cure rate of cervical erosion was 83.81% and the cure rate of cervical neoplasms was 91.84%. The basic studies of toxicology, pharmacology, pharmacochemistry and genetic toxicology of the Sanpin pills and rods have been done. Results showed that this therapy was safe so long as its indications and contraindications were handled correctly and the drug was given routinely. This therapy is simple, economical, safe and effective. After short training, it can be applied in county and township hospitals.

[Pathogenic factor (Dampness-heat) of glomerulopathy].

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) induced by chronic serum sickness in rabbits coincide with the human chronic progressive glomerulonephritis resulted from repeated infection, which is similar to pathologic changes of Dampness-Heat Syndrome. The experimental model of MsPGN was treated by Abelmoschus manihot. which could remove the Dampness-Heat. The amount of proteinuria in treating and control group were 62.68mg/24hr and 121.94mg/24hr respectively (P < 0.05), the number of cells in glomeruli were 61.54 and 80.39 respectively (P < 0.01), and diameters of glomeruli were 102.43 microns and 121.13 microns respectively (P < 0.01). It suggested that the drug could alleviate circulating immune complex (CIC) mediated renal injury.