Rhaponticum uniflorum inhibits H2O2-induced apoptosis of liver cells via JNK and NF-κB pathways / 中国中药杂志

To study the inhibitory effect of Rhaponticum uniflorum on apoptosis induced by H2O2 in HepG2 cells. Human HepG2 cells injury models were established by H2O2, then cell survival rate was assayed by MTT method; levels of LDH, ALT, and AST were detected by chemical colorimetric method;SOD activity was detected by xanthine oxidase method; GSH content was detected by dithio-bis-nitrobenzoic acid(DTNB); MDA level was detected by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method;and the relative activities of Caspase-3, 8 and 9 were measured by Colorimetry. The expression levels of Cleaved Caspase-3(Casp-3), cytochrome(Cyto c), NF-κB, ERK, JNK, p38 MAPK, as well as the phospharylated proteins were determined with Western blotting method. The results showed that R. unifloru had no significant effect on cell viabilities of HepG2 cells at the concentrations of 25-400 mg•L⁻¹. However, H2O2decreased the cell viabilities, increased the cellular oxidative stress, and up-regulated the protein expressions of Casp-3, cytoplasmic Cyto c, p-JNK and nuclear NF-κB. As compared with the model group,R. unifloru could increase the cell viability, reduce LDH, ALT and AST leakage, reduce the MDA formation, increase the SOD and GSH levels,reduce the relative activities of Caspase-3, 8 and 9, down-regulated the protein expressions of Casp-3 and cytoplasmic Cyto c, and down-regulate the p-JNK and nuclear NF-κB levels.The results indicated that R. unifloru had the inhibitory effect on apoptosis induced by H2O2in HepG2 cells, and the mechanism maybe associated with inhibiting JNK activation and NF-κB nuclear translocation.

Effects of Rhaponticum uniflorum on angiogenesis and apoptosis of H22 transplanted tumor tissue in mice / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Rhaponticum uniflorum extract (RUE) on angiogenesis and apoptosis of H22 transplanted tumor tissue in mice. METHODS: Mice bearing H22 hepatoma cells were randomly assigned into 5 groups: model, high, medium and low dose RUE, and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) group. The intervention was lasted for 10 d. The pathological changes were detected with hematoxylin & eosin (HE) staining, the apoptosis of hepatoma cells were determined by DNA laddering method, the microvessel densities (MVD) were detected using immunohistochemical assay, and the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were detected by Western blot method. RESULTS: RUE treatment reduced the cell proliferation, aggravated the necrosis of transplanted tumor tissue, reduced DNA fragmentation of H22 hepatoma cells, decreased MVD of tumor tissue, and down-regulated the protein expression of VEGF, VEGFR2 and HIF-1α of the transplanted tumor tissue, as compared with the model group. CONCLUSION: RUE could exhibit anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic effects against H22 hepatoma cells in mice, and its anti-angiogenic mechanism is probably related to down-regulation of VEGF, VEGFR2 and HIF-1α proteins.

A Study on the Relationship between Social Support, Health Promoting Behaviors and Depression among Unmarried Pregnant Women / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to examine the level of social support, health promoting behaviors and depression among unmarried pregnant women and to identify the relationship between social support, health promoting behaviors and depression. METHOD: A descriptive correlational study was conducted. The participants were 102 unmarried pregnant women receiving shelter services from four facilities in two metropolitan cities. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The level of social support and health promoting behaviors were relatively lower and the level of depression was relatively higher than those of married pregnant women. The participants received especially low social support from their unmarried partner. There was a positive relationship between social support and health promoting behaviors. Moreover, there were negative relationships between social support and depression and between health promoting behaviors and depression. CONCLUSIONS: To promote physical and emotional health of unmarried pregnant women, more attention is necessary to increase their social support. A nursing intervention program to increase social support among unmarried pregnant women in needed.

CDNA cloning of human leptin and its expression / 生物工程学报

To clone cDNA of human leptin gene and obtain leptin protein for future study on leptin binding proteins. The cDNA of human leptin with 6 x his-tag was cloned by over-hang extension PCR protocol using human genomic DNA as template, and subcloned into in vitro expression vector pIVEX2.3MCS, and the fusion protein was expressed in vitro by Rapid Translation System (RTS) (RTS500 cycle primer Kit and RTS500 ProteoMaster of Roche company). The apparent molecular weight(19.46 kD) and the immuno-specificity of the fusion protein were confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, and the expressed fusion protein stayed mainly in the supernatant of the reaction mixture in soluble form. This work provides us solid basis for further study on new leptin-associated proteins.

Practicability study on a group of vigilant chemical compounds including chlorheridine diacetate / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To test in vitro the spermatozocidine drug which can also prevent sex transmitting diseases (STD) pathogens.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chlorheridine diacetate and other three chemical compounds were applied in vitro spermatozocidine and sperm inhibitting tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lowest concentrations of chlorheridine diacetate and p-nitrophenol which can inhibit human sperm in 20 seconds were 1.25 mg/ml. The minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration of chlorheridine diacetate and p-nitrophenol on Streptococcus albus Stemberg were 0.125 to 0.50 mg/ml and 0.25 to 1.00 mg/ml.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Chlorheridine diacetate and p-uitrophenol have strong spermatozocidine and antibacteria effects.</p>