Inhibitory Effect of CCK-8 on Methamphetamine-Induced Apoptosis.

Objectives: To investigate the inhibitory effect of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) binding to cholecystokinin 2 receptor (CCK2R) on methamphetamine (METH)-induced neuronal apoptosis, and to explore the signal transduction mechanism of β-arrestin 2 in CCK-8 inhibiting METH-induced neuronal apoptosis.

Methods: SH-SY5Y cell line was cultured, and HEK293-CCK1R and HEK293-CCK2R cell line were constructed by lentivirus transfection. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knockdown the expression of β-arrestin 2.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Sedative-Hypnotics and Opioid Painkillers at High-Frequency Exposure.

Drug poisoning has a high incidence and serious consequences in medical institutions; its epidemiological characteristics also directly affect the changes in national laws and policies and the implementation of local management policies. Chinese statistics on drug-related abnormal death cases generally come from judicial appraisal centers and medical units. However, due to differences in work content and professional restrictions, there are differences in information management forms, which makes it difficult for appraisers to conduct a professional and systematic analysis of drug-related cases.

Analysis of Five Mushroom Toxins in Blood by UPLC-HRMS.

Objectives: To develop a method for the simultaneous and rapid detection of five mushroom toxins (α-amanitin, phallacidin, muscimol, muscarine and psilocin) in blood by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS).

Methods: The blood samples were precipitated with acetonitrile-water solution(∶=3∶1) and PAX powder, then separated on ACQUITY Premier C column, eluted gradient. Five kinds of mushroom toxins were monitored by FullMS-ddMS/positive ion scanning mode, and qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted according to the accurate mass numbers of primary and secondary fragment ions.

STX2 Promotes Trophoblast Growth, Migration, and Invasion Through Activation of the PI3K-AKT Pathway in Preeclampsia.

Objectives: Abnormal trophoblast behaviors during pregnancy contribute to the development of preeclampsia (PE). Syntaxin2 (STX2) has been shown to be a crucial epithelial mediator in numerous diseases. However, the functions of STX2 and the mechanisms underlying its role in PE remain largely unknown.

[Inhibition of SCD1 Activity Blocks Cell Cycle Progression and Impairs Proliferation in Breast Cancer Cells].

Objective: To investigate the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) in breast cancer cell lines. To analyze the effect of inhibiting SCD1 activity on the proliferation and cell cycle of MCF-7 breast cancer cell and its mechanism.

Methods: The expression of SCD1 protein were detected by Western blot techniques in breast cancer cell lines and humanskin fibroblasts.

Prostaglandin E restrains human Treg cell differentiation via E prostanoid receptor 2-protein kinase A signaling.

Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) belong to a class of immunosuppressive cells that control the pathological changes of autoimmunity and inflammation. Prostaglandin E (PGE) is a potent lipid mediator of immune inflammation including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that exerts its effects via four subtypes of G-protein-coupled receptors (EP1-4). The ability of PGE to regulate human Treg differentiation has not yet been reported.

[Effect of metformin on insulin resistance during catch-up growth in mice with fetal growth restriction].

Objective: To study the efficacy of metformin intervention on insulin resistance during catch-up growth in mice with fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Methods: Mouse models of FGR were established by low protein diet feeding of the pregnant mice. Both the newborn female mice with FGR and normal control (NC) mice were randomized for feeding with a standard diet (SF) or a high-fat diet (HF) after weaning and treatment with gavage of either metformin or normal saline.

Clinical value of dual-energy spectral imaging with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction for reducing contrast medium dose in CT portal venography: in comparison with standard 120-kVp imaging protocol.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of dual-energy spectral CT with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR) for reducing contrast medium dose in CT portal venography (CTPV).

Methods: This prospective study was institutional review board-approved, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. 50 patients undergoing abdominal CT were randomized to 2 groups: Group A (n = 25), using spectral CT and 350 mgI kg(-1) contrast injection protocol; Group B (n = 25), using standard 120 kVp and 500 mgI kg(-1) contrast.

[Nitric oxide mediated TNF-α, IL-1β gene expression in liver induced by crush injury of rat's soft tissues].

Objective: To explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the gene expression of hepatic TNF-α and IL-1β by crush injury of rat's soft tissues.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into sham group, crush group, crush+aminoguanidine (AG) group, and crush+L-arginine (L-Arg) group. Activities of ALT and AST as well as NO level in serum were measured.

Restraint stress aggravates rat kidney injury caused by a crush injury through endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Background: The present study aimed to determine whether restraint stress aggravates kidney injury caused by a crush injury through endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS).

Methods: In this study, Sprague-Dawley rat restraint stress, crush injury, and stressful injury models consisting of restraint stress and crush injury were established. An ERS inhibitor, Salubrinal (Sal), was administered intraperitoneally 30 minutes before induction of daily injury in the stressful injury group.

Cholecystokinin receptor-1 mediates the inhibitory effects of exogenous cholecystokinin octapeptide on cellular morphine dependence.

Background: Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), the most potent endogenous anti-opioid peptide, has been shown to regulate the processes of morphine dependence. In our previous study, we found that exogenous CCK-8 attenuated naloxone induced withdrawal symptoms. To investigate the precise effect of exogenous CCK-8 and the role of cholecystokinin (CCK) 1 and/or 2 receptors in morphine dependence, a SH-SY5Y cell model was employed, in which the μ-opioid receptor, CCK1/2 receptors, and endogenous CCK are co-expressed.

Hypomethylation of proximal CpG motif of interleukin-10 promoter regulates its expression in human rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: The promoter of human interleukin-10 (IL10), a cytokine crucial for suppressing inflammation and regulating immune responses, contains an interspecies-conserved sequence with CpG motifs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether methylation of CpG motifs could regulate the expression of IL10 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was conducted to identify the interspecies-conserved sequence in human, macaque and mouse IL10 genes.

Cholecystokinin octapeptide inhibits immunoglobulin G1 production of lipopolysaccharide-activated B cells.

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) is a typical brain-gut peptide that exerts a variety of physiological actions in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. Our laboratory has previously reported that CCK-8 produces immunoregulatory action through activating CCK receptor (CCK1R/CCK2R) expression on immune cell surfaces. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CCK-8 on immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated B cells in vitro.

[Genetic polymorphisms of nine non-DNA combined index system short tandem repeat loci in Hebei Han population and application in paternity testing].

Objective: To investigate the polymorphisms of 9 non-DNA combined index system (CODIS) short tandem repeats (STRs), i.e., D7S3048, D8S1132, D11S2368, D2S1772, D6S1043, D13S325, D12S391, GATA198B05, D18S1364 in Hebei Han population, and evaluate the usage of them in paternity testing.

Construction and characterization of calreticulin-HBsAg fusion gene recombinant adenovirus expression vector.

Aim: To generate recombinant adenoviral vector containing calreticulin (CRT)-hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) fusion gene for developing a safe, effective and HBsAg-specific therapeutic vaccine.

Methods: CRT and HBsAg gene were fused using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), endonuclease digestion and ligation methods. The fusion gene was cloned into pENTR/D-TOPO transfer vector after the base pairs of DNA (CACC) sequence was added to the 5' end.

[Heat sensitive moxibustion for treatment of nerve root cervical spondylosis].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of heat sensitive moxibustion treatment for nerve root cervical spondylosis.

Methods: One hundred and sixty cases were randomly divided into a heat sensitive moxibustion group (n = 54), a traditional hanging moxibustion group (n = 53) and an acupuncture group (n = 53). In heat sensitive moxibustion group, heat sensitive points were explored among acupoints on neck and nucha, lateral part of forearm and crus, etc.

[Effect on mRNA and secretion levels of proinflammatory cytokines in DC infected by SARS-CoV N gene recombinant adenovirus].

Objective: To investigate the exact mechanism of SARS-CoV pathogenesis at the protein level.

Method: Under the condition of the establishment of dendrtic cells (DC) culture method, we used recombinant adenovirus to infect mature DC to make clear the development changes in mRNA levels and secreted protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha by using RT-PCR and ELISA.

Result: We found that mRNA levels and secreted protein levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in DC had increased gradually after rAd-N infection during first 24 h compared with the control DC infected by rAd-LacZ (P < 0.

[Methylation status of the IL-10 gene promoter in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rheumatoid arthritis patients].

Interleukin 10(IL-10), as an immunoregulatory cytokine, plays an important role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IL-10 gene silencing is associated with the chromatin remodeling in differentiated Th1 and Th2 cells. To explore the relationship between IL-10 promoter methylation and gene silencing in the pathogenesis of RA, IL-10 mRNA, protein expression and promoter methylation status were analyzed in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 34 RA patients and 30 healthy controls by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), respectively.

[Cholecystokinin octapeptide augments expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines in mice challenged by lipopolysaccharide].

Objective: To observe the effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged mice.

Methods: Kunming mice were randomly assigned into four groups (each n=7): (1) Intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg), and the times of peak level of IL-4 and IL-6 expression in serum and lung tissue were noted at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 12 hours after challenge. (2) Control group ( intraperitoneal injection of normal saline 0.

Screening for glutamate-induced and dexamethasone-downregulated epilepsy-related genes in rats by mRNA differential display.

Background: It is known that excessive release of glutamate can induce excitotoxicity in neurons and lead to seizure. Dexamethasone has anti-seizure function. The aim of this study was to investigate glutamate-dexamethasone interaction in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, identify differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of glutamate-induced epileptic rats by mRNA differential display, and observe the effects of dexamethasone on these genes expression.

Effect of cholecystokinin octapeptide on diacylglycerol-PKC signaling pathway in rat pulmonary interstitial macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide.

Aim: To investigate the effect of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on the diacylglycerol-protein kinase C (DAG-PKC) signaling pathway in rat pulmonary interstitial macrophages (PIM) stimulated by lipopolysaccaride (LPS).

Methods: The PIM from rat lung tissues were isolated using the collagenase digestion method combined with alveolar lavage and pulmonary vessel perfusion. DAG content and PKC activity were measured by radioenzymatic assay.