Molecular medicine reports
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Airway hyperreactivity and inflammation are important factors in the aggravation of lung function. Suplatast tosilate (IPD) is a novel and unique anti‑asthma clinical compound. However, the mechanisms of IPD action in the inhibition of asthma remain to be elucidated. ⋯ Similar to the effect of BUD, treatment with C‑IPD or L‑IPD was found to significantly attenuate OVA‑induced increases in airway resistance and the percentage of EOS in peripheral blood. Notably, treatment with C‑IPD or L‑IPD markedly reduced the OVA-induced expression of IL‑5 and GATA‑3. In the present study, IPD intervention was demonstrated to ameliorate airway hyperreactivity and inflammation and the mechanisms may involve inhibition of the GATA‑3/IL‑5 signaling pathway.
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A poor nutritional supply to the cells of the avascular intervertebral discs, caused by dehydration of the extracellular matrix, is a major cause of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Since hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to exert antifibrotic effects, we hypothesized that HGF treatment may be capable of retarding IDD. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of HGF treatment in retarding IDD in a rat tail model of disc degeneration. ⋯ In addition, the results demonstrated a significant trend towards a decrease in the histological score (P=0.025) and type I collagen staining in the NP compared with segments treated with the gel alone, following the induction of disc degeneration by stab injury. Following treatment with HGF, a tendency for the level of disc height to be maintained was also observed (no statistical significance). By MRI, histological and immunohistochemical evaluation, the present study demonstrated that HGF-loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA gel was able to retard disc degeneration when injected into the degenerative discs of rat tail models.
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Extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 in the spinal cord has been implicated in the development of neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain. However, a limited number of studies have investigated the role of spinal ERK in incisional pain. The present study aimed to determine the role of ERK in the spinal cord in incisional pain. ⋯ Phosphorylated ERK1/2 in the ipsilateral L4‑5 spinal superficial dorsal horn was activated 1 min following the incision, reached its peak level at 5 min and then returned to the basal level 20 min following the incision. Pretreatment, but not post‑treatment with U0126 markedly attenuated the pain hypersensitivity induced by the incision. Therefore, the present study indicates that the transient activation of spinal ERK1/2 contributes to the initiation of pain hypersensitivity following surgical incision.
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Propofol has previously been shown to have detrimental effects on the developing brain. Neural stem cells, identified in the embryonic brain as well as in the adult brain, are multipotent, self-renewing cells, which are capable of differentiating into different phenotypes of the nervous system. The present study was designed to investigate propofol-induced rat embryonic neural stem cell apoptosis and its potential mechanisms. ⋯ Using an in vitro cell culture system, we showed that propofol inhibited cell growth and induced cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, western blot analysis showed that propofol treatment significantly elevated levels of active forms of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 and cytochrome C in the embryonic neural stem cells. Propofol induced rat embryonic neural stem cell apoptosis and activated caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 and cytochrome C, suggesting that propofol-induced stem cell apoptosis may be regulated through both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways.
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The present study aimed to investigate the effect of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4)*18B polymorphisms and the interaction of the µ opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) A118G and CYP3A4*18B polymorphisms on postoperative fentanyl analgesia in Chinese Han patients undergoing radical gastrectomy. In total, 97 patients scheduled to undergo radical gastrectomy under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study. Post‑operative patient‑controlled intravenous analgesia of fentanyl was administered as analgesia up to 48 h following surgery. ⋯ No correlation between OPRM1 A118G and CYP3A4*18B and postoperative nausea, vomiting and dizziness was found. Results demonstrated that 48 h following surgery, patients with the CYP3A4*18B/*18B genotype required less fentanyl than patients with the CYP3A4*1/*1 genotype to control pain. Additionally, the combined genotype of CYP3A4*18B and OPRM1 A118G may affect fentanyl doses administered for pain control, but not postoperative nausea, vomiting and dizziness.