[Exendin-4 protected murine MIN6 pancreatic beta-cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis via down-regulation of NF-kappaB-iNOS-NO pathway].

To explore the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist--Exendin-4 (Ex-4) on murine MIN6 pancreatic beta-cells apoptosis induced by oxidative stress, the morphological changes of cell damage were evaluated by epifluorescence microscopy after staining with AO-EB. The percentage of cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometric assay after Annexin-V-FITC-PI staining. Nitric oxide level was measured by Griess reagent assay.

Ginsenoside Rg1 delays tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced premature senescence in human WI-38 diploid fibroblast cells.

Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP), an analog of hydroperoxide, induced characteristic changes of senescence in human diploid fibroblasts WI-38 cells. It was reported that ginsenoside Rg1, an active ingredient of ginseng, ameliorated learning deficits in aged rats. The present study was aimed to investigate whether ginsenoside Rg1 can delay the premature senescence of WI-38 cells induced by t-BHP and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Involvement of calpain and p25 of CDK5 pathway in ginsenoside Rb1's attenuation of beta-amyloid peptide25-35-induced tau hyperphosphorylation in cortical neurons.

Increasing evidence have shown that beta-amyloid (Abeta) induced hyperphosphorylation of tau, which eventually resulted in the disruption of microtubule (MT) integrity. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) and its activator p35 are required for neurite outgrowth. The cleavage of p35 to p25, mediated by calpain and calcium, caused CDK5 dislocation and subsequently p25/CDK5-induced tau hyperphosphorylation, which disrupted the cytoskeleton and resulted in neuronal death.

[Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract preconditioning on discordant cardiac xenografts].

Objective: To investigate the effect of ginkgo biloba extract (ginaton) preconditioning on discordant cardiac xenografts from guinea pig to rat, and explore its mechanism.

Methods: Cervical cardiac transplantation model was established in the rats,which were divided into 4 groups Group 1 (cobra venom factor ( CVF) pretreatment, n = 10]; Group 2 (CVF + ginaton, n = 5) ; Group 3 Ccyclosporine (CsA); Group 4 (CVF + CsA + ginaton, n = 8]. The survival time and histopathology after xenograft were observed and expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) CD68 and CD57 were detected.

Portal vein embolization induces compensatory hypertrophy of remnant liver.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different portal vein branch embolization agents in inducing compensatory hypertrophy of the remnant liver and to offer a theoretic basis for clinical portal vein branch embolization.

Methods: Forty-one adult dogs were included in the experiment and divided into four groups. Five dogs served as a control group, 12 as a gelfoam group, 12 as a coil-gelfoam group and 12 as an absolute ethanol group.

[Ginsenoside Rbl attenuates beta-amyloid peptide25-35 -induced tau hyperphosphorylation in cortical neurons].

Aim: To explore the effect and the possible mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 on beta-amyloid peptide (beta-AP)(25-35) -induced tau protein hyperphosphorylation in cortical neurons.

Methods: Western blotting and immunocytochemical staining were used to detect tau phosphorylation level, total tau and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) in cortical neurons.

Results: After exposure to beta-AP(25-35) (20 micromol x L(-1)) for 12 h, the levels of tau protein phosphorylation in the sites of Ser 396, Ser 199/202, Thr 231 and total tau were raised.

[Ginsenoside Rb1 attenuates okadaic acid-induced Tau protein hyperphosphorylation in rat hippocampal neurons].

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on okadaic acid (OA)-induced Tau hyperphosphorylation in hippocampal neurons of Sparague-Dawley rat and to explore its possible mechanism. Animals were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 received dimethysulphoxide (DMSO) injection (vehicle group), group 2 only received OA injection (OA group), group 3 was pretreated with Rb1 and then received OA injection (Rb1 pretreatment group), and the group 4 was an intact control group.

[Expression of antigen CD40 and survivin gene and their clinical implications in acute myeloid leukemia].

Objective: To evaluate the expressions of CD40 antigen and anti-apoptosis gene survivin in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and their clinical significance.

Methods: By using flow cytometry (FCM) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), CD40 antigen and anti-apoptosis gene survivin mRNA were studied in 48 AML cases and their association with the clinical features of AML was analysed.

Results: (1) In the 48 AML cases, positive expression of CD40 antigen was found in 25 cases (52.

Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates dopamine-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by suppressing oxidative stress.

In Parkinson's disease, neuroprotective therapy to rescue dopamine neurons has been proposed. Ginsenoside Rg1, one of the biologically active ingredients of ginseng, may be a candidate neuroprotective drug. In the present study, the mechanism underlying the neuroprotection provided by ginsenosde Rg1 was studied against apoptosis induced by exogenous dopamine in PC12 cells.