Effect of cold stress on immunity in rats.

An increase in the morbidity of upper respiratory tract infections and the attack and exacerbation of autoimmune diseases has been observed to occur in the few days following sudden environmental temperature decreases, but the mechanisms for these phenomena are not well understood. To determine the effect of a sudden ambient temperature drop on the levels of stress hormones and T-lymphocyte cytokines in the plasma, the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression of immunocompetent cells in rat spleens and the levels of regulatory T (Treg) cells in the peripheral blood, Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups of different ambient temperatures (20, 4 and -12°C). In each group, there were four observation time-points (1, 12, 24 and 48 h).

Effects of rhein on intestinal epithelial tight junction in IgA nephropathy.

Aim: To investigate the effects of rhein on intestinal epithelial tight junction proteins in rats with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Methods: Twenty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (7 per group): Control, IgAN, Rhein-treated, and Rhein-prevented. Bovine serum albumin, lipopolysaccharide and CCl4 were used to establish the rat model of IgA nephropathy.

Protection of rhein on IgA nephropathy mediated by inhibition of fibronectin expression in rats.

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of rhein on IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in the rat model.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight female sprague dawley rats were divided randomly into four groups, namely control, IgAN, rhein-prevented and rhein-treated. The pathologic changes on renal tissue were observed by the H and E, staining and the amount of urinary red blood cells and 24-h urinary protein excretion were measured.

c-Jun N-terminal kinase is required for thermotherapy-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells.

Aim: To investigate the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in thermotherapy-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

Methods: Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were cultured in vitro. Following thermotherapy at 43°C for 0, 0.

[Experimental study on recombinant Bla g 2(rBla g 2) in the treatment of allergic asthma in mice].

Objective: To study the therapeutic effect on murine allergic asthma with recombinant Bla g 2 (rBla g 2) allergen and its possible mechanism.

Methods: Eighteen BALB/C mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (group A), asthma model group (group B), and recombinant protein rBlag2 treatment group (group C). Mice in groups B and C were subcutaneously immunized weekly with rBla g 2 (50 mg) formulated in Al (OH)3 adjuvant for three weeks.

[Influence of induced nitric oxide synthase expression on apoptosis of thymocyte in burn rats].

Objective: To investigate the influence of induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression on apoptosis of thymocyte in burn rats, and to explore the relationship between NO and pathological lesion of the thymus gland in burn rats.

Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were enrolled in the study and randomized into control( C, n = 8,without treatment) , burn ( B, n = 24) , and S-methylisothiourea( SMT, n = 24) groups. Equal amount of isotonic saline solution and SMT(7.

[Ultrastructural changes in the midgut epithelium of Ixodes sinensis after infesting the rabbits immunized by purified ixodic protein].

Objective: To observe the ultrastructural changes in the midgut epithelium of Ixodes sinensis after infesting rabbits immunized with Mr 105000 purified tick antigen.

Methods: New Zealand rabbits were inoculated with Mr 105000 purified antigen by means of mutiple intradermal injection in foot pad, groin and back. Each immunized rabbit was infested by 30 female Ixodes sinensis.