Background
Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common disease of urology, of which the pathogenesis and therapy remain to be further elucidated. Quercetin has been ...reported to improve the symptoms of CP/CPPS patients. We aimed to verify the therapeutic effect of quercetin on CP/CPPS and identify the mechanism responsible for it.
Methods
A novel CP/CPPS model induced with Complete Freund Adjuvant in Sprague Dawley rats was established and the prostates and blood specimens were harvested for further measurement after oral administration of quercetin for 4 weeks.
Results
Increased prostate index and infiltration of lymphocytes, up‐regulated expression of IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐6, IL‐17A, MCP1, and TNFα, decreased T‐SOD, CAT, GSH‐PX, and increased MDA, enhanced phosphorylation of NF‐κB, P38, ERK1/2, and SAPK/JNK were detected in CP/CPPS rat model. Quercetin was identified to ameliorate the histo‐pathologic changes, decrease the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐6, IL‐17A, MCP1, and TNFα, improve anti‐oxidant capacity, and suppress the phosphorylation of NF‐κB and MAPKs.
Conclusions
Quercetin has specific protective effect on CP/CPPS, which is mediated by anti‐inflammation, anti‐oxidation, and at least partly through NF‐κB and MAPK signaling pathways.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Previous studies showed that acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), the active ingredient in the natural Chinese medicine Boswellia, can stimulate sciatic nerve injury repair via promoting ...Schwann cell proliferation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we performed genomic sequencing in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury after gastric AKBA administration for 30 days. We found that the phagosome pathway was related to AKBA treatment, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the neurotrophic factor signaling pathway was also highly up-regulated. We further investigated gene and protein expression changes in the phagosome pathway and neurotrophic factor signaling pathway. Myeloperoxidase expression in the phagosome pathway was markedly decreased, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, and nerve growth factor receptor expression levels in the neurotrophic factor signaling pathway were greatly increased. Additionally, expression levels of the inflammatory factors CD68, interleukin-1β, pro-interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α were also decreased. Myelin basic protein- and β3-tubulin-positive expression as well as the axon diameter-to-total nerve diameter ratio in the injured sciatic nerve were also increased. These findings suggest that, at the molecular level, AKBA can increase neurotrophic factor expression through inhibiting myeloperoxidase expression and reducing inflammatory reactions, which could promote myelin sheath and axon regeneration in the injured sciatic nerve.
Mecobalamin is commonly used in the adjuvant intervention of various peripheral nerve injuries. Actin cytoskeleton plays a role in the regeneration of myelin and axon. Therefore, the purpose of this ...study was to explore the possibility of mecobalamin regulating actin cytoskeleton in repairing nerve injury. In this study, a crush injury on the right sciatic nerve of two groups of rats (12 in each group) was established. The control group was only given normal saline (i.g.), and the intervention group was given mecobalamin 1 mg/kg (i.g.). The rats were sacrificed on 28th day and the injured nerves were collected for proteomics. The result shows that regulation of actin cytoskeleton pathway changed significantly. The expression of protein Vav1 was verified by Western blot and immunofluorescence. In the intervention group, the nerve fiber structure was complete, the axons were dense and symmetrical, and the myelin sheath was compact and uniform in thickness. The positive rate of myelin basic protein and betaIII-tubulin was higher than that in the control group. The findings of the study show that mecobalamin regulates the actin cytoskeleton in the repair of nerve damage and upregulates Vav1 in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton pathway.
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DOBA, FSPLJ, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Recent studies have identified olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells （OE-MSCs） as a new type of resident stem cell in the olfactory lamina propria. However, it remains unclear whether OE-MSCs possess ...any immunoregulatory functions. In this study, we found that mouse OE-MSCs expressed higher transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin-10 levels than bone marrow-derived MSCs. In culture, OE-MSCs exerted their immunosuppressive capacity via directly suppressing effector T-cell proliferation and increasing regulatory T （Treg） cell expansion. In mice with collagen-induced arthritis, adoptive transfer of OE-MSCs markedly suppressed arthritis onset and disease severity, which was accompanied by increased Treg cells and reduced Th1/Th17 cell responses in vivo. Taken together, our findings identified a novel function of OE-MSCs in regulating T-cell responses, indicating that OE-MSCs may represent a new cell therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
A 48-year-old woman was admitted with 15-mo history of abdominal pain, diarrhea and hematochezia, and 5-mo history of defecation difficulty. She had been successively admitted to nine hospitals, with ...an initial diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease with stenotic sigmoid colon. Findings from computed tomography virtual colonoscopy, radiography with meglumine diatrizoate, endoscopic balloon dilatation, metallic stent implantation and later overall colonoscopy, coupled with the newfound knowledge of compound Qingdai pill-taking, led to a subsequent diagnosis of ischemic or toxic bowel disease with sigmoid colon stenosis. The patient was successfully treated by laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy, and postoperative pathological examination revealed ischemic or toxic injury of the sigmoid colon, providing a final diagnosis of druginduced sigmoid colon stenosis. This case highlights that adequate awareness of drug-induced colon stenosis has a decisive role in avoiding misdiagnosis and mistreatment. The diagnostic and therapeutic experiences learnt from this case suggest that endoscopic balloon expansion and colonic metallic stent implantation as bridge treatments were demonstrated as crucial for the differential diagnosis of benign colonic stenosis. Skillful surgical technique and appropriate perioperative management helped to ensure the safety of our patient in subsequent surgery after long-term use of glucocorticoids.
Aim： CYP2J3 in myocardium metabolizes arachidonic acid to 4 regioisomeric epoxyeicosatrienoic acids （EETs）, which have diverse biological activities in rat heart. In this study we examined whether ...CYP2J3 was involved in cardioprotective effects of ophiopogonin D （OPD）, a steroidal glycoside isolated from Chinese herb Radix ophiopogonis. Methods： Rat cardiomyoblast cell line （H9c2 cells） was tested. Intracellular Ca2＋ concentrations （Ca2＋i） were measured using Fluo-4/ AM. The expression of calcium-regulating molecules and ER stress signaling molecules was measured with qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Cell apoptosis was quantified with Hoechst 33258 staining and TUNEL assay. The level of 14,15-DHET, a stable metabolite of 14,15-EET, was assessed with ELISA.Results： Angiotensin II （10-6 moVL） significantly decreased the expression of calcium-regulating molecules （SERCA2a, PLB, RyR2 and FKBP12.6）, and elevated Ca2＋i in H9c2 cells. Furthermore, angiotensin II markedly increased the expression of ER stress signaling molecules （GRP78, CHOP, p-JNK and cleaved caspase-12） and ER stress-mediated apoptosis. OPD （100, 250 and 500 nmol/L） dose-dependently increased CYP2J3 expression and 14,15-DHET levels in normal H9c2 cells. Pretreatment of H9c2 cells with OPD suppressed angiotensin II-induced abnormalities in Ca2＋ homeostasis, ER stress responses and apoptosis. Overexpression of CYP2J3 or addition of exogenous 14,15-EET also prevented angiotensin II-induced abnormalities in Ca2＋ homeostasis, whereas transfection with CYP2J3 siRNA diminished the effects of OPD on Ca2＋ homeostasis. Furthermore, the intracellular Ca2＋ chelator BAPTA suppressed angiotensin II-induced ER stress responses and apoptosis in H9c2 cells. Conclusion： OPD is a novel CYP2J3 inducer that may offer a therapeutic benefit in treatment of cardiovascular diseases related to disturbance of Ca2＋ homeostasis and ER stress.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Aim： Pregnane X receptor （PXR） is a nuclear receptor that regulates a number of genes encoding drug metabolism enzymes and transporters and plays a key role in xeno- and endobiotic detoxification. ...Ginkgolide B has shown to increase the activity of PXR. Here we examined whether ginkgolide B activated PXR and attenuated xenobiotic-induced injuries in endothelial cells. Methods： Human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs） were treated with ginkgolide B. The expression of PXR, CYP3A4, MDR1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and caspase-3 were quantified with qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Cell apoptosis was analyzed with flow cytometry. Fluorescently labeled human acute monocytic leukemia cells （THP-1 cells） were used to examine cell adhesion. Results： Ginkgolide B （30-300 pmol/L） did not change the mRNA and protein levels of PXR in the cells, but dose-dependently increased nuclear translocation of PXR protein. Ginkgolide B increased the expression of CYP3A4 and MDR1 in the cells, which was partially reversed by pretreatment with the selective PXR signaling antagonist sulforaphane, or transfection with PXR siRNA. Functionally, ginkgolide B dose-dependently attenuated doxorubicin- or staurosporine-induced apoptosis, which was reversed by transfection with PXR siRNA. Moreover, ginkgolide B suppressed TNF-a-induced THP-1 cell adhesion and TNF-α-induced expression of vascular adhesion molecule 1 （VCAM-1） and E-selectin in the cells, which was also reversed by transfection with PXR siRNA. Conclusion： Ginkgolide B exerts anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects on endothelial cells via PXR activation, suggesting that a PXR-mediated endothelial detoxiflcation program may be important for protecting endothelial cells from xeno- and endobiotic-induced injuries.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The tropopause height and the atmospheric boundarylayer （PBL） height as well as the variation of inversion layer above the floating ice surface are presented using GPS （global position system ） ...radiosonde sounding data and relevant data obtained by Chinas fourth arctic scientific expedition team over the central Arctic Ocean （86°-88°N, 144°-170°W） during the summer of 2010. The tropopause height is from 9.8 to 10.5 km, with a temperature range between -52.2 and -54.10C in the central Arctic Ocean. Two zones of maximum wind （over 12 m/s） are found in the wind profile, namely, low- and upper-level jets, located in the middle troposphere and the tropopause, respectively. The wind direction has a marked variation point in the two jets from the southeast to the southwest. The average PBL height determined by two methods is 341 and 453 m respectively. These two methods can both be used when the inversion layer is very low, but the results vary significantly when the inversion layer is very high. A significant logarithmic relationship exists between the PBL height and the inversion intensity, with a correlation coefficient of 0.66, indicating that the more intense the temperature inversion is, the lower the boundary layer will be. The observation results obviously differ from those of the third arctic expedition zone （800-85° N）. The PBL height and the inversion layer thickness are much lower than those at 870-88° N, but the inversion temperature is more intense, meaning a strong ice- atmosphere interaction in the sea near the North Pole. The PBL structure is related to the weather system and the sea ice concentration, which affects the observation station.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Abstract
We used the Chinese skink Eumeces chinensis as a model animal to study the effects of tail loss on reproductive investment and offspring traits. A total of 147 wild-captured adult females ...were divided into four groups according to their tail conditions. Tail breaks occurred most frequently in the proximal portion of the tail and least frequently in the distal portion, with the middle portion in between. This finding suggests that tail breaks occurring in nature often entails substantial energetic costs in E. chinensis where the tail is a major site of energy storage. The proportion of females that laid eggs was higher in females with intact or completely regenerated tails than in those with broken tails. Following whole-tail autotomy, the clutch size was reduced by 17%, and the clutch mass was reduced by 14%. Females undergoing substantial tail autotomy reduced reproductive investment, and they did so by reducing the number but not the size of eggs produced. None of the egg and hatchling traits was affected by tail loss. Comparing our data with those reported for other oviparous and viviparous skinks allows us to draw two general conclusions: one is that fecundity (clutch or litter size) is affected by tail loss in all species so far studied, whereas offspring size is affected by tail loss in some species, but not in others; the other is that the reduction in fecundity following tail loss is more evident in species lacking abdominal fat bodies Current Zoology 58 (2): 228–235, 2012.
We used the Chinese skink Eumeces chinensis as a model animal to study the effects of tail loss on reproductive in- vestment and offspring traits. A total of 147 wild-captured adult females were ...divided into four groups according to their tail con- ditions. Tail breaks occurred most frequently in the proximal portion of the tail and least frequently in the distal portion, with the middle portion in between. This finding suggests that tail breaks occurring in nature often entails substantial energetic costs in E. chinensis where the tail is a major site of energy storage. The proportion of females that laid eggs was higher in females with in- tact or completely regenerated tails than in those with broken tails. Following whole-tail autotomy, the clutch size was reduced by 17%, and the clutch mass was reduced by 14%. Females undergoing substantial tail autotomy reduced reproductive investment, and they did so by reducing the number but not the size of eggs produced. None of the egg and hatchling traits was affe
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