Alterations in antioxidant function and cell apoptosis in duck spleen exposed to molybdenum and/or cadmium

To investigate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and/or cadmium (Cd) on antioxidant function and the apoptosis-related genes in duck spleens. Sixty healthy 11-day-old ducks were randomly divided into six groups of 10 ducks (control, low Mo group, high Mo, Cd, low Mo + Cd, and high Mo + Cd groups). All were fed a basal diet containing low or high dietary doses of Mo and/or Cd. Relative spleen weight, antioxidant indices, apoptosis-related gene mRNA expression levels, and ultrastructural changes were evaluated after 120 days. The results showed that the relative spleen weight decreased significantly in the high Mo + Cd treatment group which compared with control group. Malondialdehyde levels increased and xanthine oxidase and catalase activities decreased in the Mo and/or Cd groups compared with levels in the control group. Bak-1 and Caspase-3 expressions were upregulated in the high Mo + Cd group, while Bcl-2 was downregulated. In addition, mitochondrial crest fracture, swelling, vacuolation, deformed nuclei, and karyopyknosis in both Mo + Cd treated groups were more severe than in the other groups. The results suggest that Mo and/or Cd can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis of spleen via effects on the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. Moreover, the results indicate the two elements have a possible synergistic relationship.

The protective effect of Clostridium butyricum on intestinal injure in newborn rats with necrotizing enterocolitis / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the influence of Clostridium butyricum on the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and tight junction protein claudin-2 in intestinal tissue in newborn rat with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Methods Forty-eight-hour-old Sprague-Dewley (SD) rats were randomly divided into model group, control group, low-dose group, mid-dose group, and high-dose group, 12 rats each. Rats in each group were fed with milk substitute. The NEC model were created by hypoxia and cold stimulation for 3 consecutive days in model group, low-dose group, mid-dose group, and high-dose group. Meanwhile, low-dose group, mid-dose group, and high-dose group were intervened by being fed with Clostridium butyricum 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 g/(kg·d), respectively. All rats in each group were sacriifced on day 4 and the intestines tissue was obtained. The pathological changes had been observed. The expression of VEGF, PCNA, and claudin-2 were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of VEGFR-2 was detected by RT-PCR. Results The intestines pathological scores was signiifcantly different among ifve groups (P?0 . 05 ). Conclusion The expression of VEGF, VEGF-2 , and claudin-2 were higher in rats with NEC, while the expression of PCNA was lower. Supplementation of Clostridium butyricum may protect newborn rats by its act on these factors.

Elevated level of renal xanthine oxidase mRNA transcription after nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus infection in growing layers

To assess relationships between xanthine oxidase (XOD) and nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus (NIBV) infection, 240 growing layers (35 days old) were randomly divided into two groups (infected and control) of 120 chickens each. Each chicken in the control and infected group was intranasally inoculated with 0.2 mL sterile physiological saline and virus, respectively, after which serum antioxidant parameters and renal XOD mRNA expression in growing layers were evaluated at 8, 15 and 22 days post-inoculation (dpi). The results showed that serum glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in the infected group were significantly lower than in the control group at 8 and 15 dpi (p < 0.01), while serum malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.01). The serum uric acid was significantly higher than that of the control group at 15 dpi (p < 0.01). In addition, the kidney mRNA transcript level and serum activity of XOD in the infected group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 8, 15 and 22 dpi (p < 0.05). The results indicated that NIBV infection could cause the increases of renal XOD gene transcription and serum XOD activity, leading to hyperuricemia and reduction of antioxidants in the body.

Adverse reactions of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and treatments of the adverse reactions / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To explore the adverse reactions of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and treatments of the adverse reactions. Methods 6035 patients examined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound were closely observed in the process and 20 minutes after the examination. The occurrence and clinical manifestations of adverse reactions were recorded. The patients were gave symptomatic treatments. Results Two of 6035 patients experienced mild adverse reactions related with contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The incidence rate was 0. 031% (2/6035). No moderate or serious adverse reaction occurred. The two patients recovered well after symptomatic treatments. Conclusions The contrast-enhanced ultrasound has high safety and low incidence rate of adverse reaction. Patients should be under close observation in the process of contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The symptomatic treatments should be gave in time.

The inhibitory effects of calcium-channel blockers on tne growth of SMC stimulated by MDGF / 中国病理生理杂志

Cultured rabbit peritoneal macrophages could produce and secrete a growth-stimulatory factor (MDGF) that could stimulate the growth of cultured SMC in vitro(P

The effect of Radix Sal viae Miltiorrhizaon the inhibitory activity of vascular smooth muscle cells to the plasminogen activators secreted by endothelial cells / 中国病理生理杂志

Cultured porcine endothelial cells (EC) produce and secrete plasminogen activators (PA). If the serum free medium conditioned by vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC-CM) mixed with the medium conditioned by endothelial cells (EC-CM), the PA activities of the latter decreased significantly. Coeultivation of EC with SMC inhibited 70.7% PA activity of EC. Gel eletrophoretic analysis (SDS-PAGE) of SMC-CM followed by reverse fibrin autography demonstrated PA inhibitory activity in the molecular weight range of 49, 000-52, 000 similar to those identified by Laug (1985).In this study it was also investigated the effect of a Chinese herbal medicine-Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM) on the inhibitory activity. SMC were incubated with RSM (0.1% in M-199, the final concentration was 1.5mg/ml) for 24hr. The SMC-CM collected before and after RSM treatment were mixed with EC-CM and urokinase respectively. The results show that the residual PA activities in EC-CM or urokinase samples mixed with SMC-CM treated with RSM were significantly higher than that mixed with SMC-CM without treatment with RSM. SMC-CM neutralized the PA activities in EC-CM or urokinase samples in a concentration dependent manner (P