Microbial cell wall sorption and Fe-Mn binding in rhizosphere contribute to the obstruction of cadmium from soil to rice.

Screening high-tolerant microorganisms to cadmium (Cd) and revealing their bio-obstruction mechanism could be significant for Cd regulation from farmland to the food chain. We examined the tolerance and bio-removal efficiency of Cd ions of two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas putida 23483 and Bacillus sp. GY16, and measured the accumulation of Cd ions in rice tissues and its different chemical forms in soil. The results showed that the two strains had high tolerance to Cd, but the removal efficiency was decreased successively with increasing Cd concentrations (0.05 to 5 mg kg-1). Cell-sorption accounted for the major proportion of Cd removal compared with excreta binding in both strains, which was conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetics. At the subcellular level, Cd was mostly taken up by the cell mantle and cell wall, and only a small amount entered into the cytomembrane and cytoplasmic with time progressed (0 to 24 h) in each concentration. The cell mantle and cell wall sorption decreased with increasing Cd concentration, especially in the cytomembrane and cytoplasmic. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) analysis verified that Cd ions were attached to the cell surface, and the functional groups of C-H, C-N, C=O, N-H, and O-H in the cell surface may participate in cell-sorption process tested by the FTIR analysis. Furthermore, inoculation of the two strains significantly decreased Cd accumulation in rice straw and grain but increased in the root, increased Cd enrichment ratio in root from soil, decreased Cd translocation ratio from root to straw and grain, and increased the Cd concentrations of Fe-Mn binding form and residual form in rhizosphere soil. This study highlights that the two strains mainly removed Cd ions in solution through biosorption and passivated soil Cd as Fe-Mn combined form ascribe to its characteristics of manganese-oxidizing, eventually achieving bio-obstruction of Cd from soil to rice grain.

The Effects of Patchouli Alcohol on Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome are Correlated with Phenotypic Plasticity in Myenteric Neurons and the Targeted Regulation of Myosin Va.

Patchouli alcohol (PA) has been widely used for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) in traditional Chinese medicine, and the related mechanism remains to be fully understood. Our previous study has indicated that PA significantly reduced visceral sensitivity and defecation area in IBS-D rats. In this study, we prepared an IBS-D rat model and observed the dynamic intestinal motility and colonic longitudinal muscle and myenteric plexus (LMMP) neurons, as well as their subtypes at D14, D21, and D28. After PA administration, we observed the effects on the changes in intestinal motility, colonic LMMP neurons, and LMMP Myosin Va in IBS-D rats and their co-localization with inhibitory neurotransmitter-related proteins. The results indicated that PA treatment could alleviate IBS-D symptoms, regulate the abnormal expression of LMMP neurons, increase Myosin Va expression, up-regulate co-localization levels of Myosin Va with neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and promote co-localization levels of Myosin Va with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). In conclusion, this study demonstrated the neuropathic alterations in the colon of chronic restraint stress-induced IBS-D rat model. PA reversed the neuropathological alteration by affecting the transport process of nNOS and VIP vesicles via Myosin Va and the function of LMMP inhibitory neurons, and these effects were related to the mechanism of enteric nervous system (ENS) remodeling.

Low-Dose Cyclophosphamide Induces Nerve Injury and Functional Overactivity in the Urinary Bladder of Rats.

Aim: This research aimed to investigate the neurotoxicity of low-dose cyclophosphamide (CYP) on the urinary bladder of rats by in vivo and in vitro studies. Methods: To establish CYP-induced cystitis rat model, rats were treated with three intraperitoneal injections of CYP (25 mg/kg) in a week. During treatment, the up-down method was used to assess the mechanical withdrawal threshold. On day 8, urodynamic test and bladder smooth muscle contractility study, including the contraction of bladder strips to electrical field stimulation (EFS, 2-64 Hz), carbachol (CCh, 10-8-10-5 M) and KCl (120 mM), were performed to evaluate the function of bladder function. Body weight and bladder weight were also recorded. Morphometric analysis using an optical microscope and transmission electron microscope was performed to observe the changes of microstructure and submicrostructure of the bladder. The major pelvic neurons were isolated and treated with acrolein (the main CYP metabolite) to assess apoptosis in vitro. RT-PCR assays were used to quantify the mRNA expression levels of Nlrp6, Asc, Casp11 and Casp1 in bladder tissues and primary neurons. Results: After CYP injections, the body weights decreased, but the bladder weights increased in the model group. The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the cystitis model remained at a low level. The morphometric analysis suggested bladder inflammation and neuroinflammation in the bladder of the cystitis rat model. Urodynamic test revealed that, the amplitude, the pressure baseline, the peak pressure and pressure threshold of model rats significantly increased after CYP treatment. The muscle strips of model rats exhibited significantly higher contractility caused by EFS and CCh than the controls. Apoptotic cells appeared at the highest concentration group (100 µM acrolein) after 6 h of acrolein incubation in apoptosis assay of primary neurons. The mRNA expression levels of Nlrp6 and Casp11 were significantly increased in the cystitis rat model and in the acrolein-treated neurons. Conclusions: Low-dose CYP treatment was confirmed to induce nerve injury, which leading to bladder pain and overactive bladder in female rats, and the up-regulation of Nlrp6 and Casp11 may contribute to these pathological changes.

Isolation and Culture of Primary Neurons and Glia from Adult Rat Urinary Bladder.

The lower urinary tract has two main functions, namely, periodic urine storage and micturition; these functions are mediated through central and peripheral neuroregulation. Although extensive research on the lower urinary tract nervous system has been conducted, most studies have focused on primary culture. This protocol introduces a method for the isolation and culture of bladder neurons and glia from Sprague-Dawley rats. In this method, the neurons and glia were incubated in a 37 °C, 5% CO2 incubator for 5-7 days. As a result, they grew into mature shapes suitable for related subsequent immunofluorescence experiments. Cells were morphologically observed using an optical microscope. Neurons, synaptic vesicles, and glia were identified by ß-III-tubulin and MAP-2, Synapsin-1, and GFAP staining, respectively. Meanwhile, immunocytochemistry was performed on several neurotransmitter-related proteins, such as choline acetyltransferase, DYNLL2, and SLC17A9.

Roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, improves hyperoxia-induced lung injury via anti-inflammation.

Roflumilast is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) and can suppress the hydrolysis of cAMP in inflammatory cells, conferring anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of roflumilast on hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (HALI) in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into: control group; HALI group; 2.5 mg/kg roflumilast group; and 5 mg/kg roflumilast group. Rats were pressurized to 250 kPa with pure oxygen to induce lung injury. In the roflumilast groups, rats were orally administered with roflumilast at 2.5 or 5 mg/kg once before hyperoxia exposure and once daily for two days after exposure. Rats were sacrificed 72 hours after hyperoxia exposure. The lung tissues were collected for the detection of lung water content, inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB/p-NF-κB protein expression, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was harvested for the measurement of protein concentration and lactate dehydrogenase activity. Results showed roflumilast at different doses could significantly reduce lung edema, improve lung pathology and reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the lung. The protective effects seemed to be related to the dose of roflumilast. Our study indicates roflumilast has the potential as a medication for the treatment of HALI.

[Spectral Distribution and Pollution Characteristics of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in the Air of an Office Building Clustered Area].

To evaluate the pollution level, congener distribution, and human exposure of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the atmosphere of Beijing's office buildings, outdoor air samples (particles+gas) were collected from a typical scientific area and PBDEs concentrations were quantified using GC-MS. The results showed that the mass concentrations of PBDEs in the gas phase, PM2.5, and PM10 were 2.3-78.6 pg·m-3, 14.4-335.3 pg·m-3, and 11.6-431.7 pg·m-3, respectively, and the annual average mass concentrations were 21.7 pg·m-3, 96.9 pg·m-3, and 149.3 pg·m-3, respectively. BDE-209 was the predominant congener in particulates, accounting for 50% of the total concentration. The mass concentration of PBDEs in the particles decreased in the following order:autumn > winter > summer > spring, with an obvious change in winter and stability in summer. Tri-BDEs mainly existed in the gas phase, and the proportion of PBDEs in the particle phase increased with bromine number. Source analysis indicated that BDE-209 degradation was an important source of other PBDEs in the air. Exposure risk analysis showed that the respiratory intake of children and adults was 18.6 pg·(kg·d)-1 and 7.1 pg·(kg·d)-1, respectively, which is far below the recommended lowest observed adverse effect level of 1 mg·(kg·d)-1. Similarly, the carcinogenic risk values of BDE-209 for children and adults were 2.3×10-9 and 3.7×10-9, respectively, which were much smaller than the carcinogenic risk limit of 10-6, indicating that there was no health hazard from PBDEs in the atmosphere.

Suo Quan Wan Protects Mouse From Early Diabetic Bladder Dysfunction by Mediating Motor Protein Myosin Va and Transporter Protein SLC17A9.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Suo Quan Wan (SQW), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, on the overactive bladder (OAB) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mouse models, particularly on its function of mediating the gene and protein expression levels of myosin Va and SLC17A9. Materials and Methods: After 4 weeks high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, C57BL/6J mice were injected with streptozotocin (100 mg/kg) for four times. After 3 weeks, the diabetic mice were treated with SQW for another 3 weeks. Voided stain on paper assay, fasting blood glucose (FBG) test, and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were conducted. Urodynamic test, tension test [α,ß-methylene ATP, electrical-field stimulation (EFS), KCl, and carbachol] and histomorphometry were also performed. Western blot analysis and qPCR assays were used to quantify the expression levels of myosin Va and SLC17A9. Results: The diabetic mice exhibited decreased weight but increased water intake, urine production, FBG, and OGTT. No significant changes were observed after 3 weeks SQW treatment. Urodynamic test indicated that the non-voiding contraction (NVC) frequency, maximum bladder capacity (MBC), residual volume (RV), and bladder compliance (BC) were remarkably increased in the diabetic mice, whereas the voided efficiency (VE) was decreased as a feature of overactivity. Compared with the model mice, SQW treatment significantly improved urodynamic urination with decreased NVC, MBC, RV, and BC, and increased VE. Histomorphometry results showed that the bladder wall of the diabetic mice thickened, and SQW effectively attenuated the pathological alterations. The contract responses of bladder strips to all stimulators were higher in the DSM strips of diabetic mice, whereas SQW treatment markedly decreased the contraction response for all stimuli. Moreover, the protein and gene expression levels of myosin Va and SLC17A9 were up-regulated in the bladders of diabetic mice, but SQW treatment restored such alterations. Conclusion: T2DM mice exhibited the early phase of diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) characterized by OAB and bladder dysfunction. SQW can improve the bladder storage and micturition of DBD mice by mediating the protein and gene expression levels of myosin Va and SLC17A9 in the bladder, instead of improving the blood glucose level.

Time-dependent functional, morphological, and molecular changes in diabetic bladder dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

AIM: Diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) is one of the most common and bothersome complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to investigate the functional, structural, and molecular changes of the bladder at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after DM induction by streptozotocin (STZ) in male C57BL/6 mice. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were injected with STZ (130 mg/kg). Then, diabetic general characteristics, cystometry test, histomorphometry, and contractile responses to α, ß-methylene ATP, KCl, electrical-field stimulation, carbachol were performed at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after induction. Finally, protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of myosin Va and SLC17A9 were quantified. RESULTS: DM mice exhibited lower body weight, voiding efficiency and higher water intake, urine production, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, bladder wall thickness, maximum bladder capacity, residual volume, bladder compliance. In particular, nonvoiding contractions has increased more than five times at 6 weeks. And the amplitudes of spontaneous activity, contractile responses to all stimulus was about two times higher at 6 weeks but cut almost in half at 12 weeks. The protein and mRNA expressions of myosin Va and SLC17A9 were about two times higher at 6 weeks, but myosin Va was reverted nearly 40% while SLC17A9 is still higher at 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: DBD transitioned from a compensated state to a decompensated state in STZ-induced DM mice at 9 to 12 weeks after DM induction. Our molecular data suggest that the transition may be closely related to the alterations of myosin Va and SLC17A9 expression levels in the bladder with time.

Effect of patchouli alcohol on Helicobacter pylori-induced neutrophil recruitment and activation.

Neutrophil infiltration typically occurs in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced acute gastritis; however, this immune response fails to eradicate H. pylori in vivo. Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are generated by neutrophils, cause severe damage to gastric mucosa. Patchouli alcohol (PA) has been reported to have effective anti-oxidative and anti-H. pylori activities, and we investigated its effects on H. pylori-induced neutrophil recruitment and activation in this research. In neutrophil recruitment experiment, H. pylori was injected into rat air pouch to explore the effects of PA (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) on acute inflammatory response. The results revealed that PA significantly reduced the weight of exudate and the number of neutrophils in the air pouch. Meanwhile, remarkable decrements in TNF-α and IL-8 levels in exudates were observed. In neutrophil activation experiment, rat neutrophils were isolated and activated by using 50 µg/mL H. pylori water-soluble surface protein with or without the treatment of PA (5, 10 or 20 µmol/L). Results indicated that PA not only significantly inhibited the production of ROS, but also reduced the gene and protein expressions of p22/p47-phoxes, and the binding of p22/p47-phoxes. Furthermore, the influence of PA on the neutrophil activation genes of H. pylori (h-nap and sabA) was investigated, and the results showed that expressions of h-nap and sabA were remarkably decreased after PA treatment. In conclusion, PA reduced the recruitment and activation of neutrophils induced by H. pylori, as shown by its inhibition of pro-inflammatory factor generation, p22/p47-phoxes function and H. pylori neutrophil activation-related gene expression.

Unraveling the Novel Protective Effect of Patchouli Alcohol Against Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastritis: Insights Into the Molecular Mechanism in vitro and in vivo.

Patchouli alcohol (PA), a natural tricyclic sesquiterpene extracted from Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. (Labiatae), has been found to exhibit anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of PA against H. pylori-induced gastritis in vitro and in vivo, and determined the underlying mechanism. In the in vivo experiment, a C57BL/6 mouse model of gastritis was established using H. pylori SS1, and treatments with standard triple therapy or 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg PA were performed for 2 weeks. Results indicated that PA effectively attenuated oxidative stress by decreasing contents of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and increasing levels of non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH), catalase and glutathione (GSH)/glutathione disulphide (GSSG). Additionally, treatment with PA significantly attenuated the secretions of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), keratinocyte chemoattractant and interleukin 6 (IL-6). PA (20 mg/kg) significantly protected the gastric mucosa from H. pylori-induced damage. In the in vitro experiment, GES-1 cells were cocultured with H. pylori NCTC11637 at MOI = 100:1 and treated with different doses of PA (5, 10, and 20 µg/ml). Results indicated that PA not only significantly increased the cell viability and decreased cellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, but also markedly elevated the mitochondrial membrane potential and remarkably attenuated GES-1 cellular apoptosis, thereby protecting gastric epithelial cells against injuries caused by H. pylori. PA also inhibited the secretions of pro-inflammatory factors, such as monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-6. Furthermore, after PA treatment, the combination of NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and cysteine-aspartic proteases 1 (CASPASE-1), the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins, such as thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), pro-CASPASE-1, cle-CASPASE-1, and NLRP3 and genes (NLRP3 and CASPASE1) were significantly decreased as compared to the model group. In conclusion, treatment with PA for 2 weeks exhibited highly efficient protective effect against H. pylori-induced gastritis and related damages. The underlying mechanism might involve antioxidant activity, inhibition of pro-inflammatory factor and regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome function. PA exerted anti-H. pylori and anti-gastritis effects and thus had the potential to be a promising candidate for treatment of H. pylori-related diseases.

[Persulfate Oxidation Effect of Soil Organic Pollutants by Natural Organic Matters].

This study explored the degradation effect and mechanism of persulfate oxidation activated by different macromolecular substances (polysaccharides, humic acid, and citric acid), combined with ferrous ions and different kinds of carbohydrate (monosaccharide, disaccharide, and polysaccharide). The results showed that the oxidation effects of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by different activation treatments were in the order:humic acid combined with ferrous ion > polysaccharide > citric acid chelated with iron > polysaccharide combined with ferrous ion > disaccharides > monosaccharide > CK. Among them, humic acid combined with ferrous ion-activated persulfate achieved the highest removal rates (up to 79.21% and 79.89%, respectively), and also showed the weakest pollutant content rebound phenomenon. For oxidation of high-ring PAHs, humic acid combined with ferrous ion treatment and polysaccharide activation showed great advantages, with degradation rates being 77.96% and 84.37%, much higher than other treatments. Humic acid combined with ferrous ion-activated persulfate result in the highest Eh of soil (up to 618-676 mV), and polysaccharide treatment was secondary, indicating that macromolecular materials exhibited great oxidation ability and can degrade soil organic pollutants efficiently.

Key Anti-Fibrosis Associated Long Noncoding RNAs Identified in Human Hepatic Stellate Cell via Transcriptome Sequencing Analysis.

Hepatic fibrosis is the main pathological basis for chronic cirrhosis, and activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary cells involved in liver fibrosis. Our study analyzed anti-fibrosis long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in activated human HSCs (hHSCs). We performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatics analysis to determine whether lncRNA expression profile changes between hHSCs activation and quiescence. Eight differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and three pairs of co-expression lncRNAs-mRNAs were verified by quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). A total of 34146 DE lncRNAs were identified in this study. Via gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses, we found several DE lncRNAs regulated hHSC activation by participating in DNA bending/packaging complex, growth factor binding and the Hippo signaling pathway (p < 0.05). With lncRNA-mRNA co-expression analysis, three lncRNAs were identified to be associated with connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and netrin-4 (NTN4). The quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) results of the eight DE lncRNAs and three pairs of co-expression lncRNAs-mRNAs were consistent with the RNA-seq data and previous reports. Several lncRNAs may serve as potential targets to reverse the progression of liver fibrosis. This study provides a first insight into lncRNA expression profile changes associated with activated human HSCs.

Inhibitory effects of patchouli alcohol on stress-induced diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

AIM: To elucidate the mechanism of patchouli alcohol (PA) in treatment of rat models of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). METHODS: We studied the effects of PA on colonic spontaneous motility using its cumulative log concentration (3 × 10-7 mol/L to 1 × 10-4 mol/L). We then determined the responses of the proximal and distal colon segments of rats to the following stimuli: (1) carbachol (1 × 10-9 mol/L to 1 × 10-5 mol/L); (2) neurotransmitter antagonists including Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (10 µmol/L) and (1R*, 2S*)-4-[2-Iodo-6-(methylamino)-9H-purin-9-yl]-2-(phosphonooxy)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-1-methanol dihydrogen phosphate ester tetraammonium salt (1 µmol/L); (3) agonist α,ß-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate trisodium salt (100 µmol/L); and (4) single KCl doses (120 mmol/L). The effects of blockers against antagonist responses were also assessed by pretreatment with PA (100 µmol/L) for 1 min. Electrical-field stimulation (40 V, 2-30 Hz, 0.5 ms pulse duration, and 10 s) was performed to observe nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmitter release in IBS-D rat colon. The ATP level of Kreb's solution was also determined. RESULTS: PA exerted a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the spontaneous contraction of the colonic longitudinal smooth muscle, and the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) was 41.9 µmol/L. In comparison with the KCl-treated IBS-D group, the contractile response (mg contractions) in the PA + KCl-treated IBS-D group (11.87 ± 3.34) was significantly decreased in the peak tension (P < 0.01). Compared with CCh-treated IBS-D rat colon, the cholinergic contractile response of IBS-D rat colonic smooth muscle (EC50 = 0.94 µmol/L) was significantly decreased by PA (EC50 = 37.43 µmol/L) (P < 0.05). Lack of nitrergic neurotransmitter release in stress-induced IBS-D rats showed contraction effects on colonic smooth muscle. Pretreatment with PA resulted in inhibitory effect on L-NAME-induced (10 µmol/L) contraction (P < 0.05). ATP might not be the main neurotransmitter involved in inhibitory effects of PA in the colonic relaxation of stress-induced IBS-D rats. CONCLUSION: PA application may serve as a new therapeutic approach for IBS-D.

Effect of the serum of rats treated with Suo Quan pill on embryonic stem cells.

Suo Quan pill(SQP), a well-known and classical traditional Chinese medicine compound, consists of three traditional Chinese medicine: Alpinia oxyphylla Miq., Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm., Dioscorea opposite. Its effect was summarized as supplementing kidney-yang and shrinkaging urination. This study evaluated the effects of the serum of rats treated with Suo Quan pill on embryonic stem cells(ES cells). Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis of ES cells were evaluated with flow cytometry. Nanog mRNA expression was verified by fluorescence quantitative PCR and Nanog protein in ES cells was determined by Western blot. The serum of SQP-treated rats not only promoted ES cells proliferation and Nanog expression in ES cells, but also inhibited H202 stimulated cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the serum of rats containing SQP affected the cell cycle distribution of ES cells, reducing the percentage of cells in G0/G1phase and increasing the percentage of cells in G2/M phase, increasing the proliferation index of ES cells. These results illustrate that the enhanced effect of SQP on ES cells proliferation is in part due to the increased expression of Nanog in ES cells, the accelerated cell cycle period and the inhibited apoptosis of ES cells.

[Mechanism of anti-Helicobacter pylori urease activity of patchouli alcohol].

To investigate the effect of patchouli alcohol on inhibiting Helicobater pylori urease activity, and its effect on expression levels of related genes, and lay the foundation for further research on the effect of patchouli alcohol on H. pylori colonization and infection. H. pyloriwas cultured and identified by gram staining, rapid urease test (RUT) and PCR method. Then agar dilution method was used to detect the bacterial survival after 1 h intervention by different concentrations of patchouli alcoholin the acidic (pH 5.3) and neutral (pH 7.0) conditions; berthelot method was used to detect urease activity and RT-qPCR method was used to detect the expression changes of ureA, ureB, ureE, ureH, ureI, and nixA related urease genes. The results showed that the survival rate of H. pyloriwas not significantly changed but the urease activity was obviously decreased after intervention by different concentrations of patchouli alcohol; meanwhile, the expression levels of ureA, ureB, ureE, ureH, ureI, and nixA were decreased to different degrees. Therefore, patchouli alcohol could inhibit H. pylori urease activity in both acidic and neutral conditions, and the mechanism may be related to down-regulation of urease gene expression.

Lymph node tuberculosis mimicking malignancy on 18F-FDG PET/CT in two patients: A case report.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) imaging, an established procedure for evaluation of malignancy, reports an increased 18F-FDG uptake in acute or chronic inflammatory condition. Lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB) is the most common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. However, the absence of clinical symptoms and bacteriological basis makes it difficult to diagnose. In the current case report, two patients with LNTB mimicking malignant lymphoma are presented by 18F-FDG PET/CT. The objective of the present report is to emphasize that LNTB should be considered as a noteworthy differential diagnosis in patients with enlarged lymph nodes, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic countries, and that lymph node biopsy serves a vital role in diagnosing LNTB.

Effect of Suo Quan Wan on the bladder function of aging rats based on the ß-adrenoceptor.

Suo Quan Wan (SQW) has been used to treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elderly patients for hundreds of years in China. ß-adrenoceptors (ß-ARs), particularly ß3-adrenoceptor (ß3-AR), was reported to be important in the bladder dysfunction of the elderly. The present study was conducted to explore the effect of ß-AR, and particularly the ß3-adrenoceptor, in aging rat bladder function in vitro and to test the therapeutic effect of SQW on LUTS in an aging rat model based on the ß3-adrenoceptor. Briefly, the bladder detrusor muscles of young (age, 3 months) and aging (age, 15 months) female rats were separated. A ß-AR non-selective agonist, isoprenaline (ISO), subtype ß3-AR agonist (BRL37344A) and ß3-AR antagonist (SR59230A) were used to define the tension change of detrusor muscles between young and aging rats in vitro. For blank controls, 12 young rats were marked, and 48 aging female rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: Model, SQW high, SQW middle and SQW low. Following oral administration of SQW for 6 weeks in aging rats, urodynamic and bladder detrusor tests were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SQW. The expression of ß3-AR mRNA was investigated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Using ISO and BRL37344A in vitro, maximum relaxation (Emax), intrinsic activity (IA), and log (50% effective concentration) (PD2) were significantly decreased in aging rats compared with that in young rats (P<0.05). Significant changes were also observed in the ß3-AR antagonist experiment, which blocked ISO-induced relaxation, with significant decreases observed in Emax, IA and PD2, and a significant increase observed in PA2 for the aging rats compared with the young controls (P<0.05). SQW was demonstrated to enhance bladder control, storage and contraction ability. Furthermore, SQW was able to increase the sensitivity and expression of ß3-AR in an aging rat. In conclusion, the decrease in ß3-AR sensitivity in aging rats and the expression resulted in bladder detrusor dysfunction. In addition, the therapeutic effect of SQW against LUTS relies on the former's effect on the urethral sphincter, bladder detrusor and ß3-AR.

Danshensu, a major water-soluble component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, enhances the radioresponse for Lewis Lung Carcinoma xenografts in mice.

The molecule 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxypropanoic acid (danshensu), a herbal preparation used in traditional Chinese medicine, has been found to possess potential antitumor and anti-angiogenesis effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of the combination of radiation therapy (RT) with danshensu in the treatment of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) xenografts, whilst exploring and evaluating the mechanism involved. In total, 8-week old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into 3 groups to receive: RT, RT + cisplatin and RT + danshensu, respectively, when LLC reached 100-150 mm3. Each group was divided into 7 subgroups according to the different irradiation doses that were administered. Tumor growth curves were created and the sensitization enhancement ratios of the drugs were calculated. The experiment was then repeated, and the 4 groups of tumor-bearing mice were treated with natural saline, danshensu, RT + danshensu and RT, respectively. The mice were sacrificed on day 7, and tumor tissue and blood were collected to determine microvessel density, the expression of proangiogenic factors, and the levels of blood thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1α. Tumor hypoxia was also detected using in vivo fluorescence imaging. With respect to LLC xenografts, treatment with danshensu + RT significantly enhanced the effects of tumor growth inhibition (P<0.05). Furthermore, tumor vasculature was remodeled and microcirculation was improved, which significantly reduced tumor hypoxia (P<0.05). The present study demonstrated that danshensu significantly enhanced the radioresponse of LLC xenografts in mice. The mechanism involved may be associated with the alleviation of tumor cell hypoxia following treatment with danshensu + RT, caused by the improvement of tumor microcirculation and the remodeling of tumor vasculature.

[Distribution and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Atmospheric Particulate Matter and Dust].

In order to study the concentration, distribution characteristics, and health risk assessment of toxic heavy metals, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ti, V, Cd, Cr, Co, Mo, and Ni, in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and dust, the PM and dust samples were collected in all four seasons in 2014 in Beijing using two high volume air samplers (Echo Tecora Inc., Italy) and a dust tank, respectively. Selected metals were quantified by ICP-MS. Annual average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were 153.40 µg·m-3 and 232.93 µg·m-3, which were five and three times higher than the Ambient Air Quality Standard values (GB 3095-2012), respectively. The average PM2.5/PM10 was 0.74, implying that PM2.5 predominated the particulate matter concentrations. The results of backward trajectory analysis suggested that exogenous particles originated from the northwest, north-northeast, southeast, and southeast-northwest during winter, spring, summer, and autumn, respectively. The order of annual average concentrations of selected metals in PM2.5 and PM10 was Ti > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni > V > Cd > Mo > Co. The sum of the concentrations of Ti, Mn, Pb, Cu, and Cr accounted for 91.93% and 92.49% of the total concentration of target metals in PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. The metal content of dust followed the order of Ti > Mn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > V > Co > Mo > Cd and Ti (2561.48 µg·g-1) accounted for 72.57% of the total metal content of dust. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Ni were 4.03, 2.49, 1.33, and 0.43, which represented the states of heavily to extremely contaminated, moderately to heavily contaminated, moderately contaminated and uncontaminated to moderately contaminated, respectively, indicating that dust in the target area included significant amounts of Cd, Pb, and Cu. The health risk assessment suggested that non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of selected metals in PM10 and dust were within safe limits, but their long-term impact cannot be ignored.

[Effects of Suoquan Wan and Shenqi Wan on Urethra Function and ß-AR Function of Detrusor in Natural Aged Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Suoquan Wan(SQW) and Jinkui Shenqi Wan(JKSQW) on urethra function and ß6-AR function of detrusor in natural aged rats. METHODS: young rats(3 months) and Aged rats(15 months) were chosen. Young rats were chosen as control, aged rats were randomly divided into three groups: model, JKSQW and SQW groups, 12 rats in each group. JKSQW and SQW were given the appropriate concentration once a day for six weeks. The effects of SQW and JKSQW on relaxation function of bladder detrusor was investigated, and their effects on bladder induced by ß3-AR agonist and ß3-AR agonist were further studied. Then, their effects on pressure of urethra were observed. RESULTS: Compared with the young group, detrusor compliance of natural aged model rats was increased, Emax and IA of agonist of ß3-AR including BRL37344 and ISO were decreased(P <0. 01), while PA2 of antagonist of ß3-AR were increased(P <0. 05). Compared with model group, SQW and JKSQW decreased the bladder compliance(P <0. 05), and increased Emax, IA and PD2 due to sensitivity of detrusor to agonist of ß3-AR and ß3-AR including BRL37344 and ISO(P <0. 05 or P < 0. 01) ,while decreased PA2 of antagonist of ß3-AR(P <0. 05). MUCP, MUP and FUL of aged rats were lower than those of normal rats. But SQW and JKSQW increased MUCP and MUP, and JKSQW increased FUL of aged rats(P <0. 05 or P <0. 01). CONCLUSION: SQW and JKSQW can remarkably adjust ß3-AR function on the detrusor and improve the closure ability of bladder detrusor of the natural aged rats.