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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Bushen Ningxin recipe (BNR) on atherosclerosis in ovariectomized rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-six female New Zealand white rabbits of three months old were randomly divided into four groups, the normal group, the sham operation group, the control group (ovariectomized) and the treated group (ovariectomized and treated with BNR). All rabbits, except the normal group, were fed with high-cholesterol diet starting from two weeks after operation, and to the treated group BNR was given additionally for 3 months. Levels of blood lipid (TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C) and NO were measured at the end of the 12th week, and at the same time, histomorphological and pathological examination of aorta under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and the ratio of atherosclerotic area of lesion/endothelium ratio (AL/AE) and thickness of endothelium/medium ratio (TE/TM) were estimated using image analyzer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference was found in levels of blood lipid between groups, except those in the normal group. As compared with the control group, in the treated group, level of serum NO was higher, AL/AE and TE/TM were lower and the pathological changes of aorta was milder.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BNR could inhibit the atherosclerosis formation in ovariectomized rabbits, it showed protection on vascular endothelial cells.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Rabbits , Arteriosclerosis , Pathology , Cholesterol , Blood , Cholesterol, Dietary , Cholesterol, HDL , Blood , Cholesterol, LDL , Blood , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Nitric Oxide , Blood , Ovariectomy , Postmenopause , Random Allocation , Triglycerides , BloodABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the anti-hCG antibody level in vaginal lavage fluid after vaginal mucosa immunization with the recombinant lactobacillus excreting the human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit, hCG?.Methods:The recombinant Lb. casei hCG? was passaged in MRS containing no Erythromycin for 50 generations to get continual secretion. Radio immunol assay(RIA) was used to determine the level of hCG? in the supernatant. Mice of 8 weeks old were immunized with the recombinant continual expressing strain through vaginal inoculation. Two weeks later, level of the hCG? and anti-hCG? IgA antibody in the vaginal lavage was determined by radio-immunology assay and indirect ELISA respectively.Results:The hCG? was secreted by Lb. casei continually. The recombinant hCG? and anti-hCG? IgA antibody in the vaginal lavage were higher than the negative control group(P
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Objective:To probe into if human molecular adjuvant hC3d3 promote the immunogenicity of hCG? antigen to human immuno-competent cells on the basis of fusion protein.Methods:The isolated B cells, the combination of B cells and T cells, PBMC and Raji cells were treated in vitro respectively with 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L hCG?, hCG?-hC3d3 or PWM for 8-12 days. The cell proliferation was determined by incorporation of [3H] thymidine. The Ig levels in the 12-day culture supernatants were measured by indirect ELISA. The Ig-secreting cells in the 10-day cultured lymphocytes were detected by the enzyme-linked immunospot(ELISPOT) assay.Results:It was found that the proliferation of B cells, the combined B and T cells, PBMC and Raji following exposure to hCG?-C3d3 fusion protein was significantly higher than that of hCG? alone. The levels of total Ig the in 12-day culture supernatants of B cell, the combined B and T cells, and PBMC treated with 100 nmol/L hCG?-C3d3 fusion protein were 4-fold, 10-fold and 10.85-fold more than that of hCG? alone. The Ig-secreting cells were significantly increased after treated with hCG?-C3d3 fusion protein compared to the hCG? alone.Conclusion:The human molecular adjuvant hC3d3 improves the immunogenicity of hCG? in human immuno-competent cells if fused to the antigen.
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Objectives To evaluate prospectively the bone markers of serum osteocalcin (BGP),bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP),C-terminal peptide of type I collagen (CICP),urinary pyridinoline (PYD),urinary calcium to creatinine value (uCa/Cr),and hydroxyprolin to creatinine ratio (uHOP/Cr),and to assess their responsiveness to subtle changes of bone metabolism,and furthermore to compare which of the bone markers are more sensitive to estrogen shortage caused by menopause.Methods Markers of above bone formation and bone resorption were measured in 146 women classified into three groups: group I: 51 normal premenopausal women,group II:42 postmenopausal women,and group III: 53 bilateral ovariectimized women.Correlation analysis was made between these indexes and bone mineral density (BMD).Results The mean values of the four bone markers of BGP,BAP,CICP,PYD in group II and III were significantly higher than those in group I (P<0.05).All correlations between the biochemical markers of BGP,BAP,CICP and PYD for bone turnover were highly significant and exhibited a significant connection to BMD.The best correlation was found between BGP and PYD,BGP and BAP.However,the levels of Ca/Cr and HOP/Cr made no difference in the three groups,and there was no correlation with any other indexes.Conclusion In postmenopausal women (natural menopause and surgical menopause) suffering from severe E2 dificiency,BGP,BAP,CICP and PYD are significantly increased,indicating a clear correlation between E2 diffciency and these markers of bone turnover,so they are clinically useful in the assessment of bone turnover during changes of the estrogen status that modify the metabolic activity of the skeleton.But the traditional markers of Ca/Cr and HOP/Cr have limitations in gynecological practice because of lack of sensitivity and specificity.
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Objective:Investigating the expression of HIV-1 co-receptors CXCR4,CCR5 and chemoking SDF-1 in human placentae and trophoblasts is to explore the mechanism of in-utero transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1).Methods:Using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction,detected the transcripts of CXCR4,CCR5 in placenta tissues and trophoblasts.Immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry analysis revealed the expression of CXCR4,CCR5 in primary cultured first trimester trophoblasts and villous tissue.Also the expression of SDF-1 in villi of first trimester,and the presence of SDF-1 in the culture of isolated trophoblasts were examined by in situ hybridization,immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:CXCR4 and CCR5 mRNA were detected in placentae of various gestational phases and in first trimester trophoblasts.However,primary cultured trophoblasts were found to be reactive only with antibodies against CXCR4.In the villous tissue sections,CXCR4 was found in trophoblasts,while CCR5 in stromal cell and/or Hofbauer cell.First trimester trophoblasts expressed SDF-1 strongly and secreted SDF-1 in vitro.Conclusion:CXCR4 and CCR5 were expressed in placentae.Hence,they maybe involved in in-utero transmission of HIV-1 as co-receptors.However,SDF-1 expressed in trophoblasts may protect fetus from being invaded by X4-HIV-1.R5-HIV-1 may infect CCR5+ stromal cells and/or Hofbauer cells through placental disruptions.
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AIM: To study effect of the Bushen Ningxin decoction, a Chinese medicine, on the adherence of monocytes to endothelial cells and its mechanism. METHODS: Using cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as target cells, oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) was added to the endothelial cell culture to prepare the model of human endothelial cell injury. The serum of rabbits having been treated with Bushen Ningxin decoction was added to trial architecture, the adherence of monocyte-like cell line U937 to HUVECs was analyzed using Rose Bengal staining. In addition, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) and E-selectin in HUVECs was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Treatment of HUVEC with ox-LDL (100 mg/L) for 24 hours significantly increased adhesion of U937 to HUVECs. If serum of the animal treated with Bushen Ningxin decoction was added to trial architecture, the adhesion decreased significantly. The flow cytometry analysis showed that ox-LDL could induce the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin in HUVECs. Serum of the animal treated with Bushen Ningxin decoction significantly decreased the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin in HUVECs. CONCLUSION: The Bushen Ningxin Chinese herb-containing serum has an inhibitory effect on the adherence of monocytes to endothelial cells, probably by way of down-regulating the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E -selectin in endothelial cells.