ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) on cerebral edema in rats with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: Male SD rats with fluid percussion injury (FPI) were selected. After separation and culture, rats' astrocytes all suffered FPI. The expression of NF-κB and the water content were detected at the animal and cellular levels, while the activity of NOX was evaluated at the cellular level. RESULTS: According to the results, the positive expression of NF-κB and expression of mRNA were significantly increased and the water content was increased for rats after TBI, while NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7082 could significantly reduce the effect of TBI. 1 and 3 h after FPI of astrocytes, the activation of NF-κB was increased and BAY 11-7082 could significantly improve the injury-induced swelling of astrocytes. After the injury of astrocytes, the activity of NOX was also increased, while BAY 11-7082 could reduce the activity of NOX. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the activation of NF-κB in astrocytes is a key factor in the process of cerebral edema after TBI of rats.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and epilepsy. METHODS: Epilepsy patients (n = 112) in neurology clinic of our hospital during January 2012 and December 2014 were allocated to the case groups, including intractable epilepsy group (n = 96) and non-intractable epilepsy group (n = 16). Healthy individual (n = 120) who received physical examination during the same period were allocated to the control group. The expression of serum HCMV late gene pp67-RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expressions of serum HCMV immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum hypersensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was detected by latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry. The electroencephalogram (EEG) of refractory epilepsy group, non-refractory epilepsy group and control group were recorded. RESULTS: The expression of pp67-mRNA was significantly higher in intractable epilepsy group than non-intractable epilepsy group (P < 0.05) and control group (P < 0.001). The HCMV-IgG positive rate and HCMV-IgM positive rate were significantly higher in intractable epilepsy group than control group (both P < 0.001). The HCMV-IgM positive rate was significantly higher in intractable epilepsy group than non-intractable epilepsy group (P < 0.001). The HCMV-IgM positive rate was significantly higher in non-intractable epilepsy group than control group (P < 0.001). The hs-CRP and IL-6 levels presented descending trends respectively in intractable epilepsy group, non-intractable epilepsy group and control group (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: HCMV was prominently expressed in epilepsy and might contribute to the development of epilepsy.
ABSTRACT
AIM OF THE STUDY: To verify therapeutic effects of Gan-fu-kang (GFK), a traditional Chinese medicine compound, in a rat model and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liver fibrosis was established by 12 weeks of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) treatment (0.5mg/kg, twice per week) followed by 8 weeks of "recovery" in rats. Rats randomly received GFK (31.25, 312.5 and 3125 mg/kg/day, p.o.) or vehicle from weeks 9 to 20, and were sacrificed at the end of week 20 for histological, biochemical, and molecular biological examinations. In a separate set of experiments, rats received 12 weeks of CCl(4) treatment, concomitant with GFK (312.5mg/kg/day, p.o.) during the same period in some subjects, but were then sacrificed immediately. An additional group of rats receiving no CCl(4) treatment served as normal controls. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: (1) CCl(4) treatment resulted in severe liver damage and fibrosis. (2) In the main block of the 20-week study, GFK attenuated liver damage and fibrosis. (3) In the 12-week study, GFK produced prevention effect against hepatic injury. (4) GFK suppressed the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), type I collagen, platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)/PDGF receptor-beta chains (PDGFRbeta) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/active protein-1 (AP-1) signal pathways. Taken together, these results indicated that GFK could attenuate liver injuries in both settings. Our findings also suggest that the AP-1 pathway is the likely molecular substrate for the observed GFK effects.
