Effects of terephthalic acid on rat lipid metabolism / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of terephthalic acid (TPA) on lipid metabolism in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five groups of SD rats that ingested 0%, 0.04%, 0.2%, 1%, and 5% TPA, respectively, were included in a 90-day subchronic feeding study. Effects of TPA on levels of serum protein, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), total antioxidative capability (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for concentration of ion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TPA decreased the level of serum T-AOC in a dose dependent manner. The contents of serum and bladder MDA significantly decreased in 1% and 5% TPA ingestion groups. Serum CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) lowered in groups of 0.2%, 1%, and 5% TPA. TPA subchronic feeding had no significant influences on serum TC, LDL or HDL, but increased serum TG, TP and ALB after administration of 0.04% and/or 0.2% TPA. Concentrations of urinary Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+ were elevated in 1% and 5% TPA groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Antioxidative potential decreased after TPA exposure. MDA increase in serum and bladder tissues was one of the most important reactions in rats which could protect themselves against TPA impairment. The decrease of serum CuZnSOD was related to the excretion of Zn2+.</p>

Induction of bladder lesion by terephthalic acid and its mechanism / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide more information for rational evaluation of potential risks of terephthalic acid (TPA), we studied the effects of TPA on rats' bladders in 90 days after TPA exposure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sprague Dawley rats were subdivided into five groups, ingesting 0%, 0.04%, 0.2%, 1%, and 5% TPA respectively for a sub-chronic feeding study lasting for 90 days. Urine, serum and samples of brain, liver, lung, kidney, bladder, etc. were collected and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TPA ingesting decreased the value of urinary pH, and increased the contents of Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ in urine. The volume of 24 h urine was significantly increased in male rats in the 1% and 5% TPA groups. Urinary white sediment was found in both sexes, and its formation in male rats seemed more susceptible than that in female rats. Alpha 2u-globulin (AUG) in serum and urine of male rats was markedly increased in a dose-dependent manner. Fifteen cases of hyperplasia (simple or atypical) were determined in the 5% TPA ingesting group, 14/52 in male rats and 1/23 in female rats. Among them 3 male rats had no stone or calculus. Those with either bladder stones or hyperplasia were accompanied with urinary white sediments.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>White sediment accompanied with elevated urine AUG is the basis of TPA induced urolith formation, and is also associated with TPA induced bladder epithelial cell proliferation. It can act as an early biomarker for the potential toxic effect of TPA.</p>

NS398 induced apoptosis in pancreatic carcinoma cell strain BxPC-3 through a COX-2-in dependent pathway / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor NS398 on the growth of human pancreatic tumor BxPC-3 cell strain and its possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effect of NS398 on cell growth was assessed by 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2, 5-diphenyl thiazolyl blue (MTT) assay. Apoptosis was determined by fluorescence-activated cell scanning (FACS) analysis and assessment of the floating cell/attached cell ratio. Caspase-3 activation was evaluated by Active Caspase-3 Apoptosis Kit with flow cytometry. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to demonstrate expression levels of COX-1, COX-2 mRNA, and protein, as well as Caspase-3 protein in pancreatic tumor BxPC-3 cell strain.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Selective COX-2 inhibitor NS398 significantly decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in pancreatic tumor BxPC-3 cell strain. The protein expression of Caspase-3 was induced by high-concentration NS398. Caspase-3 activity was strongly activated by NS398.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Selective COX-2 inhibitor NS398 has antiproliferative and proapoptotic potential in pancreatic tumor BxPC-3 cells. Such effect is independent of COX-2, but correlates with Caspase-3 activation.</p>

Advance in the pharmacological research on matrine / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The progress in the research on matrine was involved to provide references for the exploitation and utilization of the matrine.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Pharmacological functions and mechanism were reviewed according to related experimental studies.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Matrine has various pharmacological activities.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Matrine has extensive applied prospect and will be developed further.</p>