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Objective To investigate subacute exposure of airborne particulate matter (PM) on pregnancy and fetal development in female mice. Methods Forty female and forty male ICR adult mice group (A), small (B) , middle (C) , large (D) or overdose (E) PM challenge groups (n = 8 - 11), and were administered with 30 μl of phosphate buffered solution (A) or resuspended standard PM SRM 1649a at 0.09 (B), 0.52 (C), 1.85 (D) or 69.2 (E) μg/μl, once per trid from d 0 till d 19 of pregnancy via instillation onto the base of the tongue. Fetal mice were harvested by cesarean section at the time when spontaneous delivery occurred. Body weight of the pregnant mice, gestational days, intrauterine survival and growth, hepatic and pneumonic histopathological changes of the fetal mice were investigated. Lung/body and liver/body weight ratios were calculated. Expressions of mRNA and protein of CYP1A1 in the fetal lung and CYP1 A2 in the fetal liver were assayed. Results (1) All of the pregnant mice survived pregnancy throughout the entire experiment. Body weight of the pregnant mice was not significantly different among all the groups at gestational d 1 and 7 (P ＞ 0.05), but significantly lower in group E [(41.8 ± 5.8) and (48.9 ± 8.9) g] than in group A [(45.9 ± 1.8) and (56.2 ± 4.9) g] at gestational d 14 and 18 (P ＜0.05). The gestational days were significantly decreased in group E [(19.3 ± 1.3) d] when compared with group A [(20.5 ± 0.7) d; P ＜ 0.05] and were not significantly different among groups A, B, C and D (P ＞ 0.05). Lung/body and liver/body weight ratios of the fetal mice were significantly increased in group E [(1.21 ±0.18) and (4.68 ±0.21)%] as compared with groups A, B, C and D (P＜0.05). (2)Mortality rates of the fetuses were significantly higher in group E (23.0%) than in groups A (0.8%), B (0.9%), C (1.7%) and D (3.7%) (P ＜ 0.05), but were not significantly different among groups A,B, C and D (P ＞ 0.05) despite of an increasing tendency. (3) Pathological changes in the liver and lung of the fetuses were conspicuous in group E. The fetal liver injury was histopathologically evidenced by deranged tissue structure, degenerated parenchyma of hepatic cells, and mildly stained cytoplasm. Adipose degeneration was represented by clear-boundary intracytoplasmic vacuoles in most of the liver cells, and cell pyknosis with heavily stained cytoplasm was observed in some of the liver cells. Inflammatory cell infiltration and focal necrosis were occasionally found in the hepatic tissue. The fetal lung exhibited bronchiole with narrow lumina, vascular engorgement in the submucosal layer, interstitial and alveolar edema, thickened alveolar septum, granulocyte and lymphocyte infiltrations within the pulmonary alveoli and around the bronchioles. The above pathological changes were lesser in groups C and D, and were not or least found in groups A and B. (4) Protein expressions of CYP1A1 in the fetal lung and CYP1A2 in the fetal liver were significantly increased in group E (1.20 ± 0.40 and 2.55 ± 0.89) when compared with group A (0.77 ±0.36 and 2.08 ±0.31) (P ＜ 0.05). mRNA expressions of CYP1A1 in the fetal lung were significantly increased in groups C (0.36 ±0.12), D (0.41 ±0.08) and E (0.43 ±0.11) compared with group A (0.21 ±0.10), and significantly increased in groups D and E compared with group B (0.28 ±0.10,P＜0.05). mRNA expressions of CYP1 A2 in the fetal liver were significantly increased in groups C (0.37 ±0.13), D (0.36 ±0.14) and E (0.43 ±0.16) compared with group A (0.21 ±0.03), and significantly increased in group E compared with group B (0.24± 0.11, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions PM elicited embryotoxigenicity and resulted in adverse pregnancy outcomes in mice by intrauterine exposure of overdose PM. The expressions of cancer-related genes CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 were up-regulated in organs after the middle- and large-dose subacute exposure of PM, which may have a potential role on the future development.
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Objective To develop a rapid,sensitive,specific and accurate quantitative duplex real-time PCR assay for detection of Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella.Methods Two sets of specific primers and probes were selected according to Listeria monocytogencs hly gene and Shigella ipaH gene.The target hly and iPaH fragments were amplified by PCR,and used to construct recombinant pGEM-T-hly and pGEM-T-ipaH respectively.The two recombinant circular plasmid DNAs were linearized with EcoR I that did not cut within the target DNA fragment.The ten-fold dilutions of plasmid were subjected to the standard quantitation curve in duplex real-time PCR assay.Various genomic DNAs of Listeria innocua,Listeria weshimeri,Salmonella,Staphylococcus aureus,Bacillus subtilis,Escherichia coli and Proteus were used as negative controls to confirm the specificity of duplex real-time PCR assay.The assay was also used to detect Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella in artificially contaminated sterilized skim milk.Results The recombinant plasmids were constructed successfully,hly probe(rAM and TAMRA double labelled)and ipaH probe (HEX and TAMRA double labelled)were used to develop an optimized PCR successfuliv.Conclusion The selected primers and probes showed high specificity for these two target bacteria,the linear range of the assay was good(105-101 copies/μl,R2≥0.998)and sensitivity Was 10 copies/PCR.Following a DNA extraction method which combined EZ Spin Colum Genomic DNA Isolation Kit(BBI)/Phenol-chloroform,the sensitivity of assay Was 102CFU/ml for both Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella in artificially contaminated sterilized skim milk,which equivalents to 10 CFU/PCR.
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BACKGROUND: Orphanin, which was found in recent years, is an important bioactive polypeptide. Its extensive distribution in the central nervous system and peripheral tissue suggests a function of adjusting global behaviors.OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation of plasm orphanin level and monoamine neurotransmitters in patients with postpartum depression by determining the levels of orphanin and monoamine neurotransmitters such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine(DA) in patients.DESIGN: Case-control experiment taking diagnosis as evidence.SETTING: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changzheng Hospital and Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five healthy women and seventeen women patients with postpartum depression after delivery who came in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changzheng Hospital and Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA for further consultation during February 2002 to October 2004 were enrolled in this study, and served as control group and postpartum depression group, respectively. All the enrolled women, aged 21 to 43 years, with fair education levels, and voluntarily participated in this study. Women patients of 15 to 25 days after delivery suffered from the incipient postpartum depression with total scores of Edingburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) above 13. Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects.METHODS: The levels of orphanin and monoamine neurotransmitters in venous blood from 25 healthy women and 17 women patients with postpartum depression were determined. ① Sample collecting: Blood was taken from women in the postpartum depression group 2 weeks after onset, while from control group 35 days after delivery. ② Assay method:The level of orphanin was determined with radioimmunoassay (RIA). The reagent kit was provided by phoenix company (USA) and the procedure was strictly performed according to the instructions on the reagent kit. The levels of 5-HT and DA were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography or electrochemical detection method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Changes in the levels of orphanin as well as 5-HT and DA in postpartum depression group and control group. ② Correlation of the total scores of EPDS and the levels of orphanin in postpartum depression group.RESULTS: Twenty-five healthy women and seventeen women patients with postpartum depression after delivery all participated in the result analysis. ① The level of orphanin in the postpartum depression group[(27.39±6.04) ng/L] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(10.37±3.65) ng/L](P ＜ 0.01),the levels of 5-HT in the postpartum depression group [(0.93±0.21) μmol/L] was remarkably lower than that in the control group[(1.43±0.36) μmol/L](P ＜0.05) ,and the levels of DA in postpartum depression group[(2.15±0.41) μmol/L] was obviously lower than that in the control group [(3.64±0.72) μmol/L]( P ＜ 0.01). ②The level of orphanin was negatively correlated with those of 5-HT and DA in postpartum depression group(r = -0.601 , -0.593,P ＜ 0.05). ③ The total scores of EPDS were significantly positively correlated with the level of orphanin (r = 0.512, P ＜ 0.05), and negatively correlated with the levels of 5-HT and DA (r = -0.571,-0.526, P＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The level of orphanin in patients with postpartum depression is increased and is negatively correlated with the levels of 5-HT and DA, but positively correlated with the total scores of EPDS.
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BACKGROUND: Orphanin (OFQ) is associated with ischemia/hypoxia,which may play an important role in the production and development of fetal distress and neonatal asphyxia.OBJECTIVE: To observe the change of OFQ content in hypothalamus and peripheral blood of intrauterine ischemia/hypoxia fetal rats and analyze the role of OFQ in the perinatal ischemia/hypoxia.DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal trial.SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital of the Secon d Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from May 2002 to September 2003. A total of 12 Wistar female rats, with the mean body mass of 260 g were selected and fed routinely [provided by the experiment animal center of this university, number of certificate scxk(Hu)2002/0006].METHODS: The 12 female rats were randomized into three groups: control group, ischemia/hypoxia for 10 minutes group, ischemia/hypoxia for 20 minutes group with 4 rats in each group. Female rats in each group were pregnant. On day 21 of pregnancy, female rats in each group were cut the belly open, and the uterine vessels were incarcerated for 10 minutes in the ischemia/hypoxia for 10 minutes group with 21 fetal rats and 20 minutes in the ischemia/hypoxia for 20 minutes group with 17 fetal rats, respectively. Fetal rats were directly obtained from control group with 19 ones. None of fetal rats died. All the fetal rats received Apgar score and decapitation. The blood of trunk was collected and the whole brain was obtained. OFQ content in hypothalamus and peripheral blood was measured with radioimmunoassay.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: OFQ content in hypothalamus and peripheral blood of fetal rats in each group.RESULTS: Totally 57 rats were involved in the result analysis. ①The levels ofOFQ in hypothalamus and peripheral blood were (71±14) pg/g and (31±7) ng/L in ischemia/hypoxia for 10 minutes group, (114±21) pg/g and (58±11) ng/L in ischemia/hypoxia for 20 minutes group, (48±9) pg/g and (19±4) ng/L in the control group. Compared with the control group, the levels of OFQ in hypothalamus and peripheralblood increased in the ischemia/hypoxia for 10 minutes group and ischemia/hypoxia for 20 minutes group (P＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.01), and it in ischemia/hypoxia for 10 minutes group was significantly higher than that in ischemia/hypoxia for 20 minutes group (P ＜ 0.05). ②The score of Apgar was lower in the two groups than in the control group (P ＜ 0.01 ), of which it was lower in the ischemia/hypoxia for 20minutes group than in the ischemia/hypoxia for 10 minutes group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The perinatal ischemia and hypoxia can induce the increase of OFQ content in hypothalamus and peripheral blood.
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BACKGROUND: Endogenous opioid peptides are mainly mediated by μ receptor and produce inhibitory effect on breathing and heartbeat, and because of this, fetal distress happens and develops. Therefore, μ receptor mediation is the most important way that endogenous opioid peptides participate in the fetal distress and the pathological process of suffocation. Β-FNA (β-Funaltrexamine, μ-receptor antagonist) and ICI174864(δ-receptor antagonist) are helpful to reduce the happening of fetal distress.OBJECTIVE: To explore the roles of μ and δ receptors in the fetal distress based on the point of view that opioid peptides are involved.DESIGN: Completely randomized allocation and randomized and controlled trial using experimental animals as the subjects.MATERIALS: Twenty healthy white New Zealand purebred rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups, and among them 16 rabbits were pregnant for 30 days and were put to death with the method of suffocation. The fetal rabbits were taken out immediately after cesarean section, with 6 - 8 fetal rabbits in each den. The fetal rabbits were classified into the following groups: untreated fetal distress group, (fetal distress group, 29 fetal rabbits), normal saline rabbits group(Normal saline group, 25 rabbits), rabbit distress β-FNA group(β-Funaltrexamine ) (FNA group, 28 rabbits), fetal rabbits ICI174864 treatment group(ICI174864 group, 31 rabbits).INTERVENTIONS: Pregnant rabbits in the saline group, FNA group , ICI group were intravenously given a bolus of normal saline or the opiate antagonist β-FNA or ICI174864 and were then asphyxiated. Another 4 rabbits that were pregnant for 30 days were put to death with the cut on the neck, and 28 fetal rabbits were taken out as the control group. After being delivered by cesarean section, all rabbit fetuses in the above five groups were assessed by Apgar scoring for respiration, heartbeat, skin color, muscle tension, and response to stimulation at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes of age.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Apgar scoring for respiration, heartbeat,skin color, muscle tension, and response to stimulation at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes of age was made.RESULTS: The total Apgar score for respiration, heartbeat, skin color, muscle tension in the control group was the highest (8. 8 ± 1.1 ). And that of FNA group was 6. 8 ± 1.7, obviously higherthan that of the fetal distress group (2.1 ±1.0) and the saline-treated pups(2.5±1. 1) and(t=2.832 and 2. 795, P < 0.01 ). That of group ICI was 4.9 ± 0.7, markedly higher than that of the saline-treated pups and the fetal distress group( t = 2. 232 and 2. 195, P < 0.05) . There was no marked difference between the saline group and the distress group ( P > 0.05 ) and between the FNA group and the control group(P < 0.05) . The total Apgar scores of the ICI group,saline group, and distress group were significantly lower than that of the control group ( t = 2.913,2. 893, P < 0.01 and t = 2. 174, P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Endogenous opioid peptides participates in the process of the happening and development of fetal rabbit distress that is mediated by opioid peptides receptor, the effect of μ receptor was much more than that of δ receptor. This study provides a basis for the evaluation of fetal distress and intervening at an earlier stage to enhance prognostic function.
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BACKGROUND: Endogenous opioid peptide is an important medium and regulator that participate in many physical and pathologic processes of the body. Its relationship with fetal encephalopathy has attracted much attraction.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of endogenous opioid peptides (EOP) in fetal distress.DESIGN: A case-control observatory study based on healthy pregnant women.SETTING: Wards of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-three healthy women who were hospitalised in Changzheng Hospital and Changhai Hospital affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA and met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 40 were normal healthy pregnant women(the control group) and 43 were healthy pregnant women with fetal distress(the fetal distress group).METHODS: Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the levels of blood EOP(β-endorphin, dynorphin A1- 13 and leu-enkephalin) of the venous blood of the pregnant women in fetal distress group and the control group and the EOP level in the umbilical blood of the newborns. Also, blood gas analysis of the blood from the umbilical artery was conducted.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The levels of EOP in the venous blood of two groups of pregnant women and the umbilical blood of newborns and the correlation of EOP level with fetal distress.RESULTS: The levels of the umbilical artery blood EOP(β-endorphin,dynorphin A1-13 and leu-enkephalin) in the fetal distress group[(453± 68 ) ng/L, (242 ± 33)ng/L, and(498 ± 68)ng/L respectively] were significantly higher than those in the control group[ (251 ± 39) ng/L, (103± 22 )ng / L and(322 ± 40 )ng / L respectively ( t = 2. 713,2. 762, P＜ 0.01; t = 2. 132, P ＜ 0.05 ) ]. The umbilical artery blood gas analysis;pH was (7.0 ± 0. 1 ) , PO2 was ( 1.7 ± 0.6) kPa, PCO2 was (8.9 ± 0. 7) kPa.The levels of β-endorphin were negatively correlated with pH and PO2 of the umbilical artery blood(r= -0.418 and -0.437, P ＜ 0.01), but they were positively correlated with PCO2( r = 0. 442, P ＜ 0. 05) . The level of dynorphin A1-13 was negatively correlated with pH and PO2( r = -0. 337,-0.383, P ＜ 0.05), but it was positively correlated with PCO2(r= 0. 346, P ＜ 0. 05). There was no significant difference among the three kinds of blood EOP of the two groups( P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: EOP participates in the pathological progress of the fetal distress and was closely correlated with the occurrence and development of the fetal distress. This finding has a reference value for early rehabilitation and intervention after the fetal was born that can be tested quantitatively.
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Objective To analyze the constituent and clinical features of the senile females who underwent surgery for gynecological tumors and traumatic diseases,so as to enhance the surgical safety and efficacy.Methods From Jan.2003 to Dec.2006,a total of 178 female patients,who were undergone surgery for gynecological tumors or traumatic diseases,were involved in present study,of whom the clinical data,the patients' constituent and pre-operative complications were retrospectively analyzed.The cases selected were allocated into two groups according to their age:the observation group included 116 patients with age ≥60,among them 86 cases were undergone operation for gynecological tumors and 30 cases for traumatic diseases;the control group included 62 patients with age of 40-50 and comparable parity and body weight,among them 54 cases were undergone operation for gynecological tumors and 8 cases for traumatic diseases.Results The number of the patients operated for gynecologic tumors remained the majority annually,whereas a yearly increase of traumatic diseases was noticed with 3.1 and 1.8 folds increasing in 2006 compared to that in 2003 and 2004,respectively(P
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Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma neuropeptide Y(NPY) and asphyxia in newborns. Methods Thirty-seven patients with neonatal asphyxia (asphyxia group) and 33 healthy pregnant women(control group )in their third trimester were chosen. The concentrations of plasma NPY were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results The levels of NPY in umbilical artery plasma was (187.47? 46.63) ng/L in asphyxia group,and (115.33?29.42) ng/L in control group. There were significant difference between them ( P 0.05). Conclusions The neonatal asphyxia was associated with NPY. NPY might play an important role in the pathophysiological changes in neonatal asphyxia.
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Objective To understand the kinds and content of antibiotic used in the toothpaste selling in China. Methods 10 kinds of toothpaste samples labelled to be able to prevent and/or cure some oral diseases were collected from the supermarkets, the contents of antibiotic were determined by HPLC after selected by disk diffusion susceptibility test. Results Norfloxacin was detected in one kind of toothpaste collected from several supermarkets, the content was 0.06%. Metronidazole was detected in two kinds of toothpaste, the contents were 0.01% and 0.37% respectively, no tinidazole was detected in all samples. Conclusion Some antibiotic in common use have been detected in some toothpaste sold in supermarkets in China.
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Objective To study the characteristics of the variations of formaldehyde concentration in indoor air of newly decorated living rooms. Methods The formaldehyde concentrations in indoor air of newly decorated rooms were determined with model 4160_2 formaldehyde analyzer during the different periods after decoration. Results At the 10th minute after closing all the windows and doors in the newly decorated rooms, the formaldehyde concentrations of indoor air exceeded the standard nearly as high as 2 times, reached 51% of the peak concentration at the 30th minute, and reached the peak concentration (0.652 mg/m 3) at the 420th minute, then decreased gradually with the prolongation of periods after decoration and accorded with the sanitary standard in the 4th month after decoration. The whole study was carried out at the indoor air temperature of 27.8～29.9 ℃. Conclusion The indoor air pollution by formaldehyde was serious in newly decorated living rooms. The ventilation should be enhanced during the first 4_month period after decoration, so that the formaldehyde concentration could be decreased gradually.
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Objective:To study the changes of plasma orphanin (OFQ) level in post-partum depression (PPD). Methods:The level of plasma OFQ of 24 patients with post-partum depression (PPD group) and 25 healthy lying-in women (control group) were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results:The level of plasma OFQ in PPD group was 27.39?6.04 ng/L , and that of control group was 10.37?3.65 ng/L,the difference was statistically significant(P