Hepatotoxicity and gene expression down-regulation of CYP isozymes caused by renal ischemia/reperfusion in the rat.

Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) occurs in many clinical scenarios, including trauma, elective surgery, and transplantation. Events initiated by this process can lead to inflammation in the kidneys, culminating in local injury as well as distant organ dysfunction. The objectives of this study were to investigate the changes in the functions of the liver and the regulation of gene expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes after renal I/R.

Effects of rifampin on CYP2E1-dependent hepatotoxicity of isoniazid in rats.

Isoniazid and rifampin are first line drugs used to prevent and treat tuberculosis. The effects of rifampin co-administration on isoniazid-induced oxidative stress were investigated by the determination of the changes in hepatic metabolizing enzymes and DNA damage. Rats were treated with isoniazid alone (100 mg/kg, i.

CCK-8S inhibited the NMDA-activated current of cultured hippocampal neuron under normal and ethanol exposure conditions.

Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to study the modulatory effect of Cholecystokin-8S (CCK-8S), a neuropeptide, on NMDA-activated current (I(NMDA)) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons under condition of normal and ethanol exposure. Our study showed that CCK-8S inhibited I(NMDA) in a non-concentration and non-competition dependent manner. Ethanol significantly inhibited I(NMDA), and CCK-8S further inhibited I(NMDA).

Molecular mechanism of hepatic stellate cell activation and antifibrotic therapeutic strategies.

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the dominant event in liver fibrosis. The early events in the organization of HSC activation have been termed initiation. Initiation encompasses rapid changes in gene expression and phenotype that render the cells responsive to cytokines and other local stimuli.

Protective effects of ligustrazine on cisplatin-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and nephrotoxicity in rats.

Cisplatin is an effective agent against various solid tumors. However, its nephrotoxicity been reported to be a dose-limiting factor for treating various types of tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effects of ligustrazine on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through tissue oxidant/antioxidant parameters, light microscopic evaluation, and tubular apoptosis in rats.

Growth retardation of fetal rats exposed to nicotine in utero: possible involvement of CYP1A1, CYP2E1, and P-glycoprotein.

To elucidate the possible metabolic mechanism of intrauterine growth retardation induced by nicotine, this study determines the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on fetal development and cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), CYP2E1, and P-glycoprotein (Pgp) expression in maternal liver and placenta. Pregnant rats were given 1.0 mg/kg nicotine subcutaneously twice a day from gestational day (GD) 8 to GD 15, 18, or 21.

[Primary culture of the cells from Oncomelania hupensis liver].

Objective: To develop a method for primary culture of cells from Oncomelania hupensis liver, and to observe the distribution of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the cultured cells.

Methods: O. hupensis was anatomized to separate the liver.

Changes of multiple biotransformation phase I and phase II enzyme activities in human fetal adrenals during fetal development.

Aim: Fetal adrenal, which synthesizes steroid hormones, is critical to fetal growth and development. Our recent research showed that some xenobiotics could interfere with steroidogenesis and induce intrauterine growth retardation in rats. The study on the characteristics of biotransformation enzymes in fetal adrenals still seems to be important with respect to possible significance in xenobiotic-induced fetal development toxicity.

Protection by and anti-oxidant mechanism of berberine against rat liver fibrosis induced by multiple hepatotoxic factors.

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of berberine, an alkaloid extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine coptis, on rat liver fibrosis induced by multiple hepatotoxic factors. 2.

Effects of liver fibrosis on verapamil pharmacokinetics in rats.

1. Liver fibrosis is the compensatory state of cirrhosis. In the long asymptomatic period, it is imperative to select a proper dosing regimen for drugs that are applicable to hepatic fibrosis owing to altered pharmacokinetics and bioavailability.

Nicotine-induced prenatal overexposure to maternal glucocorticoid and intrauterine growth retardation in rat.

Overexposure to glucocorticoid during fetal development can result in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) as well as other diseases after birth. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of glucocorticoid disturbance-mediated nicotine-induced IUGR after chronic prenatal exposure. Nicotine at 1.

Comparison of the Addition of Siberian Ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) Versus Fluoxetine to Lithium for the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Adolescents: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common, recurrent, and often life-long major psychiatric condition characterized by manic, depressive, and mixed episodes. Without treatment, there is substantial risk for morbidity and mortality, making BD a considerable public health problem.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness and tolerability of Acanthopanax senficosus (A senficosus)-an herb that is derived from eleutherosides and polysaccharides found in the plant's root- versus fluoxetine added to lithium in the treatment of BD in adolescents.

Differential effects of dihydropyridine calcium antagonists on doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

The aim of this study was to compare the roles of dihydropyridine calcium antagonists nifedipine, nitrendipine, amlodipine on doxorubicin (DXR)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats using biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical approaches. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five experimental groups: control; DXR; DXR+nifedipine (15 mg/kg); DXR+nitrendipine (10 mg/kg); DXR+amlodipine (5 mg/kg). Results showed that treatment with DXR alone caused significant changes in the levels of urinary protein, serum creatinine (SCr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

Modulatory effect of CCK-8S on GABA-induced depolarization from rat dorsal root ganglion.

CCK is a brain-gut peptide that is abundantly distributed in both gastrointestinal tract and mammalian brain. The sulfated octapeptide fragment of cholecystokinin (CCK-8S) has been shown to be involved in numerous physiological functions such as behavior, anxiety, learning/memory processes and neuropathic pain. CCK-8S is one of the strongest endogenous anti-opioid substances and suppresses opioid peptides-mediated 'pre-synaptic inhibition' of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release.

Influences of 3-methylcholanthrene, phenobarbital and dexamethasone on xenobiotic metabolizing-related cytochrome P450 enzymes and steroidogenesis in human fetal adrenal cortical cells.

Aim: To explore the influence and possible mechanism of xenobiotics on adrenal steroidogenesis during fetal development.

Methods: Primary human fetal adrenal cortical cells were prepared, cultured and treated with 3-methylcholanthrene, phenobarbital and dexamethasone. The activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase, benzphetamine, aminopyrine and erythromycin N-demethylases were measured by enzyme assays.

[Inhibitory effect of bladder cancer related protein gene on HeLa cell proliferation].

Background & Objective: Bladder cancer related protein (BLCAP) gene was found downregulated most in primary cervical cancer tissues using oncogene/tumor suppressor gene microarray screening in our previous study, therefore this study was to explore the possible correlation between BLCAP gene and cervical cancer.

Methods: BLCAP expression was investigated in 54 cervical cancer and 25 normal tissues by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Full length of BLCAP cDNA was cloned into pLXSN expression vector and stably transfected into cervical cancer cell line HeLa cells.

Association of Fas-670 gene polymorphism with inflammatory bowel disease in Chinese patients.

Aim: Recent studies suggest that Fas-mediated apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It has been hypothesized that either increased apoptosis of intestinal epithelium or decreased apoptosis of lamina propria lymphocytes may induce inflammation of gut. The aim of this study was to determine whether the Fas gene promoter polymorphism at position-670 was associated with IBD in Chinese patients.

Construction of a eukaryotic expression system of HSP65 gene from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and anti-HSP65 IgG produced in mice.

The purpose of this study was to express the HSP65 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in eukaryotic cells and study its primary immune effect in animals. The HSP65 gene was amplified from the H37Rv strain of M. tuberculosis by PCR and then inserted into the expression plasmid pcDNA3.

Effect of interleukin-10 and platelet-derived growth factor on expressions of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 in rat fibrotic liver and cultured hepatic stellate cells.

Aim: To examine the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in rat fibrotic liver and in normal rat hepatic stellate cells, and to investigate the changes in their expressions in response to treatment with interleukin-10 (IL-10) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

Methods: Rat models of CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis were established and the liver tissues were sampled from the rats with or without IL-10 treatment, and also from the control rats. The expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in liver tissues were detected by S-P immunohistochemistry, and their expression intensities were evaluated in different groups.

NOD2 3020insC frameshift mutation is not associated with inflammatory bowel disease in Chinese patients of Han nationality.

Aim: An insertion mutation at nucleotide 3020 (3020insC) in the Caspase recruitment domain gene (CARD15), originally reported as NOD2, is strongly associated with Crohn's disease. The C-insertion mutation at nucleotide 3020 (3020inC) in the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) region results in a frameshift in the 10(th) LRR followed by a premature stop codon. This truncation mutation is responsible for the inability to activate nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

[Preliminary study on primary culture of cells from Oncomelania hupensis].

Objective: To study the primary culture of cells from Oncomelania hupensis.

Methods: After washed in the sterile solution with antibiotic, the Oncomelania hupensis snails and their eggs were dissected. The soft tissue, liver, mantle and the embryo were collected and torn up respectively.

[Effect of acryl thiourea on liver pathologic changes in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum].

Objective: To observe the effect of acryl thiourea, an inhibitor of phenol oxidase, on pathological changes in the liver of mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum.

Methods: From day 22 to day 42 postinfection with cercariae, the mice of the acryl thiourea group were each injected i.p.

[Dynamic changes in amino acid and glucose in culture medium with adult Schistosoma japonicum].

Objective: To observe the dynamic changes in the contents of amino acid(AA), glucose(Gluc) and triglyceride(TG) in the culture medium containing adult Schistosoma japonicum.

Methods: The contents of AA, Gluc and TG in the culture medium during the incubation period for d0 to 6 d were detected by amino acid automatic analyzer and automatic biochemical analyzer.

Results: The contents of Arg, Thr, Met, and Lys and Gluc were reduced, Asp and Ala increased apparently.

Phylogenetic relationships among members of the genus Phlebovirus (Bunyaviridae) based on partial M segment sequence analyses.

Viruses in the Phlebovirus genus of the family Bunyaviridae cause clinical syndromes ranging from a short, self-limiting febrile illness to fatal haemorrhagic fever. The genus currently consists of 68 antigenically distinct virus serotypes, most of which have not been genetically characterized. RT-PCR with four 'cocktail' primers was performed to amplify a region of the M segment of the genome of 24 phleboviruses included in the sandfly fever Naples, sandfly fever Sicilian and Punta Toro serocomplexes.

[Studies on nano-particle sols of hydroxyaptite and titanium dioxide for haemo-compatibility].

A biological evaluation is conducted for two types of nano-particle sols, hydroxyaptite(HAP) and titanium dioxide(TiO2). The results show that HAP sol significnatly prolongs the bleeding time and coagulation time of mice as well as the prothrombin time(PT) and partial thromboplastin time(PTT) of rats while TiO2 sol exhibits no such effects. Neither HAP sol nor TiO2 sol instigated in-vitro hemolysis of rabbit erythrocyte.