ABSTRACT Purpose: To explore effect and mechanism of olsalazine of Chinese generic drugs on ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) in BALB/c mice. Methods: The mouse model of ulcerative colitis was induced by free drinking of 3% (w/v) DSS aqueous solution for seven days. The mice were treated with olsalazine (0.6 g·kg-1) of Chinese generic drugs. The therapeutic effect of olsalazine on ulcerative colitis mice was evaluated by measuring disease activity index (DAI), colonic mucosal injury index (CMDI), histopathological score (HS), and detected the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-1β in serum and IL-7, IL-17, IL-22, epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in colonic homogenate of mice. Results: Olsalazine significantly increased the contents of IL-2, IL-10, IL-22, TGF and EGF in ulcerative colitis rats, and significantly decreased the scores of DAI, CMDI, HS and the contents in IL-7, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ when compared with the model group. It improved the degree of colonic lesion in ulcerative colitis mice. Conclusions: It was suggested that olsalazine has a therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis induced by DSS in mice, and the mechanism may be related to the increase of IL-2, IL-10, IL-22, TGF, and EGF and the decrease of the expression of IL-7, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ.

ABSTRACT Purpose To study the Periplaneta americana L. extract Ento-B on the treatment of chronic ulcerative colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene and acetic acid in rats and to explore its primary mechanism of action. Methods Using 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene combined with acetic acid to induce chronic ulcerative colitis (chronic UC) in rats. The sulfasalazine (400 mg/kg) and Ento-B (200 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg,50 mg/kg) were given by intragastric administration and the effect was evaluated according to the disease activity index (DAI) score, colon mucosal injury index (CMDI) score, histopathological score (HS) and the serum levels of Interleukin-4(IL-4), Interleukin-10(IL-10), Tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), Malondialdehyde(MDA), Superoxide dismutase(SOD) and Inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS.) Results Compared with the model group, all doses of Ento-B could reduce the score of CMDI (p < 0.05), HS(p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), significantly increased the expression of IL-4, IL-10, SOD (p < 0.01) and decreased the levels of TNF-α, MDA, iNOS in serum of UC rats, significantly improving the degree of colon lesionsin UC rats. Conclusions Ento-B may play an important role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis induced byUC rats. The mechanism may be related to the increased expression of IL-4, IL-10, SOD and reduced expression of TNF-α, MDA, iNOS.

ABSTRACT Purpose: The rat cervicitis model was established with 20% phenol glue to explore the therapeutic effect of Kangfuxiaomi shuan II on rat cervicitis and its mechanism. Methods: After modeling, the rats were treated with Shuangzuotai suppository (37.84 mg/kg), Kangfuxiaoyan shuan (205.6 mg/kg) and Kangfuxiaomi shuan II (40, 80, 160 mg/kg). The histopathological changes and injury degree of cervix in rats were evaluated by vulvar inflammation score and organ index. The therapeutic effect of Kangfuxiaomi shuan II on cervicitis was evaluated by detecting the levels of copper-protein (CP), C-reactive protein (CRP), Rat interleukin 6 (IL-6), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and epidermal growth factor (EGF), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cervical tissue. Results: Compared with the model group, the vulvar inflammation score and cervical index of rats in other groups decreased significantly (P<0.01). Kangfuxiaomi shuan II could significantly reduce the levels of CP, CRP, and MDA in serum of rats with cervicitis, and significantly increase the activity of SOD in serum of rats with cervicitis (P<0.01). The levels of EGF and iNOS in cervical tissue of rats also increased in different degrees, while the level of COX-2 decreased significantly (P<0.01), which significantly improved the pathological degree of vulvar inflammation in rats with cervicitis. Conclusions: Kangfuxiaomi shuan II has a certain therapeutic effect on cervicitis in rats, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of inflammatory cytokine network and immunity.

ABSTRACT Different light and shade intensities are the main constraints to achieve potential biomass accumulation in Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvelev. An experiment was conducted to explain the physiochemical and morphological adversity triggered by various light intensities. Adverse impacts were lessened with exogenous brassinolide (BR). Treatments consisted of 100% natural light (T0), 100% natural light + 0.1 mg L-1 BR (BT0), light shade (70% natural light) (T1), light shade + BR (70% natural light + 0.1 mg L-1 BR) (BT1), moderate shade (50% natural light) (T2), and moderate shade + BR (50% natural light + 0.1 mg L-1 BR) (BT2). These were completely randomized design treatments with five replicates. Results showed that dry biomass production and endogenous hormone levels (abscisic acid [ABA], zeatin riboside [ZR], gibberellic acid [GA], and indole acetic acid [IAA]) increased, while osmolyte accumulation (soluble sugars and proteins, free amino acids, and proline), antioxidant activity (peroxidase [POD], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and catalase [CAT]), and lipid peroxidation decreased under shade at T0. Treatment T1 depicted the most promising results for these attributes. However, biomass accumulation (33%-56%), osmotic substances (soluble sugars,13%-38%; soluble proteins, 9%-41%; free amino acids, 8%-16%; proline, 11%-41%), and antioxidant enzyme activities (POD, 11%-14%; SOD, 3%-33%; CAT, 4%-23%) increased. On the other hand, lipid peroxidation was reduced by BR application, as indicated by decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content (7%-31%) and relative conductivity (7%-19%) under both natural and shade conditions. Likewise, the biosynthesis of ABA (2%-22%), ZR (11%-24%), and GA (30%-50%) improved under exogenous BR compared with the control. The IAA contents (22%-28%) decreased under foliar-applied BR compared with the control. Results suggested that light to moderate shade improved the biomass production and physiological performance of L. chinensis, while BR application exhibited further improvement

Abstract Background Airway remodeling is a key feature of asthma, characterized by increased proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). S100A8 is a calcium‑binding protein with a potential to regulate cell proliferation. Here, the effect of exogenous S100A8 protein on the proliferation of ASMCs induced by platelet‑derived growth factor (PDGF) and the underlying molecular mechanism was investigated. Methods Rat ASMCs were cultured with or without a neutralizing antibody to the receptor for advanced glycation end‑products (RAGE), a potential receptor for S100A8 protein. Purified recombinant rat S100A8 protein was then added into the cultured cells, and the proliferation of ASMCs induced by PDGF was detected by colorimetric‑based WST‑8 assay and ampedance‑based xCELLigence proliferation assay. The expression levels of RAGE in ASMCs were analyzed using western blotting assay. Results Results showed that exogenous S100A8 inhibited the PDGF‑induced proliferation of rat ASMCs in a dose‑ dependent manner with the maximal effect at 1 μg/ml in vitro. Furthermore, when ASMCs was pre‑treated with anti‑RAGE neutralizing antibody, the inhibitory effect of S100A8 on PDGF‑induced proliferation was significantly sup‑ pressed. In addition, neither the treatment with S100A8 or PDGF alone nor the pre‑treatment with rS100A8 followed by PDGF stimulation affected the expression levels of RAGE. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that S100A8 inhibits PDGF‑induced ASMCs proliferation in a manner depend‑ ent on membrane receptor RAGE.

BACKGROUND: BrdU is a commonly used reagent in cell proliferation assays, and WST-1 measurement is widely used to detect cell viability. However, no previous study has formally reported the combination of the two assays, which may be used to detect the proliferation and viability simultaneously. In this study, we examined the effect of adding BrdU 2 h prior to the WST-1 assay and tried to test the possibility of the combined detection using rat airway smooth muscle cells. RESULTS: The WST-1 measurements obtained from the combined detection were consistent with those obtained from the separate detection, which suggested that the addition of BrdU 2 h prior to the WST-1 analysis did not affect the WST-1 results. The BrdU measurements obtained from the combined detection also demonstrated the same trend as that obtained from the separate detection, and dosages of 200, 400 and 800 ng/ml testing reagent significantly inhibited the proliferation of rat airway smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the BrdU and WST-1 measurements can be applied simultaneously without mutual interference, which may increase the efficacy and consistency of these measurements to a certain extent.

Objetivo Estudar as diferentes formas dos infartos lacunares agudos, investigando os fatores de risco e o significado clinico daqueles com morfologia irregular. Métodos Os 204 pacientes com infartos lacunares agudos foram classificados em dois grupos: aqueles com morfologia regular e aqueles com morfologia irregular. Foram estudadas as características dos dois grupos e caracterizados os fatores de risco para infartos irregulares, deterioração neurológica e altos escores da escala de Rankin modificada. Resultados Variabilidade da pressão arterial é fator de risco independente para infartos lacunares irregulares. Tamanho do infarto, prevalência de leucoaraiose e formato irregular dos infartos lacunares são fatores de risco independentes para escores mais elevados na escala de Rankin modificada. Conclusões Variabilidade da pressão arterial está relacionada ao formato irregular dos infartos lacunares agudos. Este tipo de infarto e a leucoaraiose podem estar relacionado a desfechos clínicos desfavoráveis.

Objective Our study focused on acute lacunar infarct shapes to explore the risk factors and clinical significance of irregularly shaped lacunar infarctions. Methods Based on the shape of their acute lacunar infarct, patients (n=204) were classified into the “regular” group or “irregular” group. The characteristics of the lacunar infarction were compared between the regular and irregular groups, between patients with and without neurological deterioration, and between patients with different modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores. The risk factors for irregularly shaped lacunar infarctions, neurological deterioration, and high mRS scores were identified. Results Blood pressure variability (BPV) was an independent risk factor for irregularly shaped lacunar infarction. Infarction size, prevalence of advanced leukoaraiosis, and irregularly shaped lacunar infarcts were independent risk factors for higher mRS scores. Conclusions The irregularly shaped lacunar infarcts were correlated with BPV. Irregularly shaped lacunar infarctions and leukoaraiosis may be associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Silent brain infarctions are the silent cerebrovascular events that are distinguished from symptomatic lacunar infarctions by their 'silence'; the origin of these infarctions is still unclear. This study analyzed the characteristics of silent and symptomatic lacunar infarctions and sought to explore the mechanism of this 'silence'. METHODS: In total, 156 patients with only silent brain infarctions, 90 with only symptomatic lacunar infarctions, 160 with both silent and symptomatic lacunar infarctions, and 115 without any infarctions were recruited. Vascular risk factors, leukoaraiosis, and vascular assessment results were compared. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores were compared between patients with only symptomatic lacunar infarctions and patients with two types of infarctions. The locations of all of the infarctions were evaluated. The evolution of the two types of infarctions was retrospectively studied by comparing the infarcts on the magnetic resonance images of 63 patients obtained at different times. RESULTS: The main risk factors for silent brain infarctions were hypertension, age, and advanced leukoaraiosis; the main factors for symptomatic lacunar infarctions were hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and atherosclerosis of relevant arteries. The neurological deficits of patients with only symptomatic lacunar infarctions were more severe than those of patients with both types of infarctions. More silent brain infarctions were located in the corona radiata and basal ganglia; these locations were different from those of the symptomatic lacunar infarctions. The initial sizes of the symptomatic lacunar infarctions were larger than the silent brain infarctions, whereas the final sizes were almost equal between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic ischemic preconditioning and nonstrategic locations may be the main reasons for the 'silence' of silent brain infarctions.