CXCL13 regulates the trafficking of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptor via IL-17 in the development of remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in rats.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate whether CXCL13 modulated the trafficking of NMDA receptor via interleukin (IL)-17 in a rat model of remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia (RIH).Although chemokines are crucial regulators of neuroinflammation, spinal N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation, and development of hypernociceptive process, little is known about specific pathogenesis and effective treatment. Inflammatory mediators are required for excitatory synaptic transmission in pathologic pain. METHODS: A neutralizing antibody against CXCL13 (anti-CXCL13), antiserum against IL-17 (anti-IL-17), and recombinant CXCL13 and IL-17 were administered intrathecally to explore the roles of CXCL13, IL-17, and NMDA receptor, as well as the prevention of hyperalgesia. Paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latency were employed to record mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the levels of CXCL13/CXCR5 and IL-17/IL-17RA in the spinal dorsal horn. The trafficking of spinal GluN2B-containing NMDA receptor was assessed by Western blot after nociceptive testing. RESULTS: This study found mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia with a remarkable increase in the expression of spinal CXCL13/CXCR5 and IL-17/IL-17RA and trafficking of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptor after remifentanil exposure. Behavioral RIH and elevated GluN2B trafficking were dampened by intrathecal anti-CXCL13 and anti-IL-17, respectively. The delivery of exogenous CXCL13 dose-dependently generated a rapid nociceptive hypersensitivity in naïve rats, which was prevented by coadministering anti-IL-17. CXCL13-induced IL-17RA overproduction and GluN2B trafficking were reversed by anti-IL-17 treatment. GluN2B antagonist also blocked CXCL13, and IL-17 directly induced hyperalgesia. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the contribution of IL-17 pathway in the trafficking of CXCL13-induced GluN2B-containing NMDA receptor in the pathogenesis of RIH.

The relation of the serum aldosterone level and central serous chorioretinopathy - a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the serum aldosterone level and abnormal levels of mineral corticoid in patients with the central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All recruited patients with CSC received fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and serum aldosterone assay. The patients were classified into spontaneously resolved group and unresolved group according to a 3-months follow-up of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) examination. Patients from unresolved group were recruited to receive treatment with 40 mg spironolactone orally for 2 months. After the treatment, the EDI-OCT and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were performed again to assess the treatment efficacy. RESULTS: The study included 61 patients (72 eyes) with 34 patients in the unresolved group and 27 patients in the resolved group. The aldosterone level was significantly associated with the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) of revolved CSC eyes (r=0.342, p<0.05) as well as the SFCT of unresolved CSC eyes (r=0.348, p<0.05). And the aldosterone level in the unresolved CSC group was greater than that in the spontaneously resolved group (161.8 ± 50.1 ng/dl vs. 122.5 ± 50.5 ng/dl, p<0.05). The central macular thickness and SFCT were decreased significantly (p<0.05) after the treatment with 40 mg/d spironolactone for two months. CONCLUSIONS: The unresolved CSC patients were characterized by high level of aldosterone and thickened SFCT. Spironolactone treatment was associated with the improvement of chronic CSC. Besides, the side effect of spironolactone treatment was rare.

Elucidating the process of co-composting of biosolids and spent activated clay.

This study elucidates the co-composting of biosolids and spent activated clay (SAC) using physio-chemical, bioassay, and spectroscopic methods. A pilot-scale pile of blended limed biosolids, SAC, and rice husk was composted for 15weeks. The changes in temperature, pH, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, C/N, and germination index (GI) of Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis) seeds with time support the goal of producing a mature compost with a decline in the SAC acidity of associated with biosolids. Cadmium, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in the initial biosolids were converted from labile fractions into relatively immobile phases upon maturation. Temperature, moisture, pH, C/N, and GI were used to separate the composting process into three phases - initial, thermophilic, and cooling, based on a score plot of principal component analysis (PCA). The values of the parameters of interest reveal that the compost fulfills the requirements of compost maturity in the literature.

A clinically relevant orthotopic implantation nude mouse model of human epithelial ovarian cancer--based on consecutive observation.

The aim of this study is to establish an orthotopic implantation nude mouse model of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and observe its biologic features. A human ovarian tumor line SKOV3ipl previously grown subcutaneously was implanted orthotopically as intact tissue into the ovarian capsule of 64 nude mice. Every week eight mice were taken randomly, and the tumor growth pattern and extent of metastatic disease were monitored continuously. Those mice that died of disease were necropsied and the end date was recorded. The orthotopic implanted tumors demonstrated a 100% take rate. Three weeks after implantation the tumors grew fast and weighed 1149 +/- 152 mg, and 5 weeks after implantation the tumors reached a flat stage. The tumors metastasized more often to peritoneum (32/56) and diaphragm (18/56), then to pelvic lymph nodes (11/56) and lung (10/56), and then to the seldom invaded organs including the pancreas, the liver, the contralateral ovary, and the para-aortic lymph node. Eight nude mice became exhausted 7 weeks after implantation and died within 68 days after implantation. Our study, utilizing the SKOV3ipl cell, is the first model of consecutive observation of the process of invasion and metastasis of EOC. It should be useful in understanding the molecular biology of EOC and in the development of therapeutic modalities against metastasis.

Establishment of a subcutaneous model of the human extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma in nude mice via transplantation of histologically intact tumor tissue.

The purpose of the study was to establish the subcutaneous model of human extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma in nude mice so as to provide a suitable model for the study of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. Surgical specimens of the patient with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma were transplanted into the subcutaneous layer of nude mice. Growth curve of transplanted tumors was drawn and its morphological and biological characteristics, as well as choromosome were observed. A well differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma model of human bile duct carcinoma in nude mice, designated as HBDCM1-ZSH (Human Bile Duct Carcinoma Model No. 1 established by Zhong Shan Hospital in April, 2001), was established via subcutaneous transplantation of the surgically resected tumor from a 56-year-old Chinese man. HBDCM1-ZSH has been maintained for 13 passages and exhibited 98.1% transplantability. Mean latent periods were 26 days. Transplanted tumors exhibited the characteristics of the original tumor in morphology and biology. Chromosomal analysis revealed numerical abnormalities ranging from 67 to 84. HBDCM1-ZSH expressed carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9, cytokeratin (CK7, CK19, CK20), PCNA, AB and PAS. In conclusion, HBDCM1-ZSH is similar to human extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma and provides an applicable animal model for research on extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

[Consideration on the problem of "ascension of the case poisoned by Chinese Traditional Medicines"].

OBJECTIVE: Desserting toxicity and reasonable usage of Chinese traditional medicines. METHODS: Analysing the understanding of toxicity of Chinese traditional medicines in Chinese medicine and pharmacology and the reason for ascension of the case poisoned by Chinese traditional medicines. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All medicines are poisonous. The venomous drug can cure disease when it is reasonably applied. On the contrary, the good medicine will be harmful to one's health if it is unreasonably used. In order to use Chinese traditional medicines securely and effectively, it is necessary to learn seriously theories of traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology and experiences of using drugs and to strengthen the study on evaluation of security of Chinese traditional medicines.

Synthesis and antitumour activity of novel diterpenequinone salvicine and the analogs.

A novel diterpenequinone named salvicine (4), structurally modified derivative of a natural product, and a series of the novel analogs have been prepared. Most of the analogs were found to be potently active against tumor cell lines in vitro. Further study on 4 in vivo demonstrated that it possessed a significant antineoplastic activity against murine S-180 Sarcoma and Lewis lung cancer, and human lung adenocarcinoma xenografts A-549 and LAX-83. The preclinical studies of 4 are now under way.

[New diterpenoids, isodoternifolins A and B, from Isodon ternifolius].

Two new diterpenoids, named isodoternifolin A and B, together with seven known compounds were isolated from the ethanol extract of dried stems and leaves of Isodon ternifolius (D. Don) Kudo. Their structures were determined as 7 beta-hydroxy-6 beta, 11 alpha, 15 beta-triacetoxy-7 alpha, 20-epoxyentkaur-16-ene (1) and 6 beta, 7 beta, 15 beta-trihydroxy-11 alpha-acetoxy-7 alpha, 20-epoxy-entkaur-16-ene (2) by chemical and spectral evidence.

[GC-MS analysis of influence of processing on volatile oil in Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc].

The variation of volatile oils has been studied for GC-MS in different processed samples of Daphne genkwa. The results show that the contents of volatile oils in each processed sample are lower than these in the raw one, and the composition of those oils is greatly varied. The vinegar-fried and vinegar-boiled samples give more unknown ingredients.

[The position of processing in traditional Chinese medicine].

Considering both the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, and existing problems in the present work, this paper has expounded the position of processing in traditional Chinese medicine and the steps to develop Chinese herbal processing science.

[The vector analysis of the anteroposterior relationship among the apical bases and the incisors].

Using the lateral cephalometric radiographs, the points A, B, maxillary incisor tip (U) and mandibular incisor tip (L) were projected onto the Frankfort horizontal plane and the projected points were defined as a, b, u and 1, respectively. According to the principle of the vector analysis, the vector formula ab - ul = au - bl can always stand irrespective of how the locations of the points a, b, u and 1 vary. The vectors ab, ul, au and bl represent the anteroposterior linear relationship between the upper jaw and the lower jaw, the upper incisor and the lower incisor (overjet), the upper jaw and the upper incisor, and the lower jaw and the lower incisor, respectively with reference to the FH plane. The lateral cephalometric radiographs taken from a total of 863 class I subjects, including 422 males and 441 females, were submitted for the study. The four vector values were obtained from the tracing of each radiograph and the mean values were computed according to sex and age. If a positive value was given to the vector ab, it denoted that point "a" was anterior to point "b", while a negative value denoted that "a" was posterior to "b". Both sexes of the subjects were divided according to their ages into junior primary (JP, 6-8 years), senior primary (SP, 9-11 years), junior high (JH, 12-14 years), and senior high (SH, 15-18 years) groups. No substantial or significant mean difference of each vector between the males and the females in each age group was noted. The mean values of the vector ab were 7.4, 6.8, 6.1 and 4.7 mm in JP, SP, JH and SH groups, respectively with the male and the female data pooled together. This indicates that there was a gradual catching up tendency of mandibular versus maxillary growth. The mean values of the vector ul were 1.4, 2.8, 2.9 and 2.8 mm in each successive age group, respectively showing that the overjet was rather constant with age except in the youngest group. The corresponding mean values were -0.4, -3.9, -5.2 and -6.1 mm for the vector au and -6.3, -8.0, -8.4 and -8.0 mm for the vector bl in JP, SP, JH and SH groups, respectively. The data indicate that both upper and lower incisors were relatively more upright in the youngest group when compared with the other age groups. In the remaining groups the upper incisors exhibited a tendency of gradual labial tipping with age, whereas the lower incisors kept stable in the procumbency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)