Porphyromonas gingivalis infection induced reproductive abnormalities in mice / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To establish a pregnant mouse model infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g), and investigate the relationship of P.g infection to prematurity and associated birth abnormalities. Methods Fifty two female mice were randomly divided into P.g infection group (n=26) and control group (n=26). Mice in P.g infection group were anesthetized, the pulp cavity of the first molar was opened and directly injected with W83 strain P.g, and the tooth was then filled. Six weeks after infection, the mice were mated with males and the formation of vagina plug was recorded as 0d. The P.g extracted from the granulation tissue in tooth root was cultivated. The pregnant days and the connatal body weight of infant mouse were recorded, the serum and placental tissue were collected to assess the systemic and local conditions during pregnancy. Results After periodontal P.g infection, the TNF-α, IL-17, IL-6 and IL-1 levels in peripheral blood sera increased significantly. The average gestation was shorter in P.g infection group (18.25d) than in control group (20.45d, P<0.01), and the connatal body weight of infant mouse was also less in the former than in the latter (P<0.01). Immunohistochemistry and PCR revealed the existence of P.g in placenta tissue. P.g infection caused premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption, degeneration and necrosis of trophoblastic and endothelial cells; significantly increased the number of neutrophils and macrophages in placenta tissues, and increased the expression of local TNF-α and COX-2 inflammatory factors at the same time. In P.g infection group, the expressions of CD-31 in endothelial cells of placenta tissues and the apoptotic factor caspase-3 decreased, and the DNA oxidative damage index 8-OHdG increased. Conclusions P.g infection in female mice may cause premature birth and lower connatal body weight of infant mouse, and increase the expression of serous and local inflammatory factors in the placenta. It is suggested that timely removal of periodontitis or gingivitis can prevent some of reproductive abnormalities.

Effect of extract of radix tetrastigma hemsleyani on apoptosis of human lung carcinoma H1299 cells and its mechanism study / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of extract of Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani on the proliferation and apoptosis of human lung carcinoma H1299 cells, and to explore its mechanisms. METHODS H1299 cells were treated with the extract of Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani in different concentrations at different time points. Its inhibition on H1299 cell proliferation was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The morphology of the H1299 cell was observed by inverted microscope. Changes of apoptosis were observed by Hoechst33258 methods. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Expression changes of apoptosis-related proteins pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9, cle-caspase-3, cle-caspase-9, and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) were detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the inhibition rate of H1299 cells increased after acted by 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 mg/mL extract of Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The longer the acting time, the higher the inhibition rate (P < 0.01). Under inverted microscope, typical morphological changes could be seen and the number of H1299 cells was reduced. Under fluorescence microscope, dark stained nucleus and formed apoptotic body could be observed. Results of flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate was obviously dose-effect correlated with the concentration of extract of Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani. Results of Western blot indicated that compared with the control. group, the protein expression of pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9, and PARP were down-regulated and that of cle-caspase-3, cle-caspase-9, and cle-PARP were up-regulated by 5 and 10 mg/mL extract of Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Extract of Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani had obvious effect in inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis of human lung carcinoma H1299 cells, which might be achieved by activating the expression of caspase protein.</p>

Study on treatment of iron-deficiency anemia by shengxuening / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of shengxuening (SXN) in treating iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and to explore its molecular mechanism on iron metabolism balance regulation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with IDA were randomly divided into the treated group and the control group, 50 in each group. They were treated with SXN (0.1 g, three times per day) and ferrous gluconate (0.1 g, three times per day) respectively, for 30 days. Levels of serum iron (Fe), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS), serum ferritin (SF), transferrin (Tf), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and blood routine test, as well as scoring of TCM qi-blood deficiency Syndrome were conducted before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate in the treated group reached 92%, it was shown that SXN could improve the iron metabolism, increase levels of Fe, TS, SF and reduce levels of TIBC, Tf, sTfR, it has obvious effect in promoting erythrocyte generation and could promote formation of leucocytes and platelets. The total effective rate in the control group was 32%, which was significantly lower than that in the treated group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effect of SXN in treating IDA and qi-blood deficiency Syndrome is evident, it could improve the iron metabolism, increase levels of Fe, TS, SF and lower levels of TIBC, Tf, sTfR.</p>