Effect of miR-467b on atherosclerosis of rats.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of miR-467b on the atherosclerosis (AS) of rats with apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene knockout (ApoE(-/-)). METHODS: ApoE(-/-) rats were fed with high fat and high cholesterol diet and were randomly divided into group A, group B and group C, with 10 rats in each group. Group A: rats were injected with ApoE agonist through the caudal vein; group B: rats were injected with ApoE antagonist through the caudal vein; group C: as negative control group. Enzyme oxidation method was used to detect the blood lipid levels of rats. Western blotting method was used to detect the aortic lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression levels of rats. HE staining and oil red O staining were performed to observe the AS lesions and lipid accumulation state. RESULTS: Compared with group C, blood lipid level, aortic intima and aortic sinus lipid accumulation area ratio, aortic sinus lesion area and LPL expression level in group A significantly reduced; while blood lipid level, aortic intima and aortic sinus lipid accumulation area ratio, aortic sinus lesion area, and LPL expression level in group B significantly increased, with the statistical difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: miR-467b can alleviate the AS lesions of ApoE(-/-) rats, and its inhibiting effect on AS may be related to LPL expression.

[Apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells induced by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(omega-3PUFAs) on the apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 and to explore the potential mechanisms. METHODS: Cells were treated with eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 omega-3,EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega-3, DHA) at concentrations of 10, 20 and 40 microg/ml. Cell growth and apoptosis were analyzed with MTT assay, cell morphology, DNA electrophoresis and flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential ( triangle right psi mt) was measured by fluorescent probe rhodamine 123. The distribution of cytochrome C in mitochondria and cytosol was determined by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay. The composition of mitochondrial membrane phospholipid(MMP)was examined by gas chromatography. RESULTS: Both EPA and DHA markedly inhibited the SGC-7901 cell growth and induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. After incubation of the cells with 40 microg/ml EPA or DHA for 24 hours, the level of Deltapsimt siginificantly decreased (P<0.001), and cytochrome C largely released into cytosol from mitochondria. The proportions of EPA and DHA in MMP rapidly elevated while that of arachidonic acid sharply decreased. CONCLUSIONS: omega-3PUFAs inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells through promoting apoptosis. Compositional and functional alterations in mitochondrial membrane may be an important initiator of apoptosis induced by omega-3PUFAs.

[Effect of ecoimmunonutrition on gut barrier function in rats with systemic inflammatory response syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of ecoimmunonutrition on gut barrier function in rats with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). METHODS: Rat models of SIRS were established by injecting lipo polysaccharide (LPS) via the tail vein. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. One of the four enteral nutrition formulas (standard EN, immunonutrition, econutrition, ecoimmunonutrition) was given to each group respectively for 7 days. Serum D-lactate, diamine oxidase (DAO), ratio of urinary lactulose to mannitol (L/M) were measured on day 1 before LPS injection (D (-1)) and day 1, 3, 6 after LPS injection (D(+1), D (+3), D (+6)). RESULTS: After 7 days of treatment,the level of serum D-lactate in econutrition group was significantly lower than those in standard EN or immunonutrition group (P< 0.05), and the level of serum D-lactate in all above three groups were significantly higher compared with ecoimmunonutrition group (P< 0.01). The level of serum DAO in standard EN group was higher than those in other three groups(P< 0.01). The L/M was increased in all the groups on D(+1), D(+3). It fell back to the basic level on D(+6)) in all the groups.The L/M in immunonutrition group was lower than those in other groups on D (+1) (P< 0.05), and it was higher in standard EN group than those in other groups on D (+3) (P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: Ecoimmunonutrition, a enteral nutrition composed of immune-enhanced nutrient and ecologic, may protect the gut barrier function more effectively in rats with SIRS.

Efficacy of intra-tumor injection of Kang-Lai-Te in treating transplanted hepatoma in rats.

BACKGROUND: Non-operative therapy takes an important position in comprehensive therapy of liver cancer. Despite some effects by using ethanol, acetic acid and heat saline for intra-tumor injection in the treatment of liver cancer, it is difficult to attain a complete cure but bring about injury to the liver to some extent. Hence, searching for other drugs for the local treatment of liver tumor is an important option. This study was designed to set up rat models of transplanted liver cancer, intra-tumor injection of Kang-Lai-Te (KLT), and negative control (saline) and positive control (ethanol). The effect of intra-tumor injection of KLT in treating transplanted hepatoma in rats and its advantages and disadvantages were assessed and the possibility of its use in treating patients with liver cancer was evaluated. METHODS: Forty rats were divided into 4 groups (G1, G2, G3 and G4, 10 rats in each group). Different drugs were injected into their implanted hepatoma (G1 with 0.2 ml saline as control, G2 with 10 mg KLT, G3 with 20 mg KLT, G4 with 0.2 ml ethanol). After 3 and 8 days, the hepatoma volume (HV), the serum levels of albumin, alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and creatinine, as well as the expression of proliferation cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in hepatoma were detected. RESULTS: After 3 days, the HVs were smaller in G3 and G4 than in G1 (P<0.05), the serum levels of albumin were higher in G2 and G3 than in G1 and G4 (P<0.05), the serum levels of ALT and AST were lower in G2 and G3 than in G4 (P<0.05), the serum levels of ALP was lower in G2 and G3 than in G1 and G4 (P<0.05),the PCNA labeling indexes (PCNA LI) were lower in G2 and G3 than in G1 and G4 (P<0.05). After 8 days, the HVs were smaller in G2, G3 and G4 than in G1 (P<0.05), and the differences of HVs among G2, G3 and G4 were not significant. The serum levels of ALP were lower in G1, G2 and G3 than in G4 (P<0.05), and the PCNA LI were lower in G3 than in G1 and G4 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Intra-tumor injection of KLT into implanted hepatoma is evidently effective, but it is less effective than ethanol. The effect of KLT on liver function is markedly lower than that of ethanol.