Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

431-437

Authors: Md. Reyazul Islam, Md. Badrul Alam, Umme Tamima, Shayla Islam Jenny

Objective To investigate in vitro antioxidant and in vivo antitumor activity of the crude methanolic extract of Aponogeton undulatus (A. undulatus) (MAU) along with its various organic fractions. Methods A. undulatus leaves were successively extracted using methanol (MAU) and then fractionated by chloroform, ethyl acetate (EAU) and water. The total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation inhibition assay, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and ferrous reducing power assessment were used to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the crude extract and its organic fractions. The in vivo antitumor activity is evaluated against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell bearing in Swiss albino mice. Results EAU showed the highest antioxidant capacity as (175.80 ± 0.41) mg/g, IC50 value of DPPH scavenging activity was (38.84 ± 0.02) μg/mL and also exhibited maximum lipid peroxidation inhibition activity with the IC50 value of (42.52 ± 0.32) μg/mL than other fractions. The results demonstrate that reducing power of the extract was concentration dependent. In addition, EAU was administered at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight respectively to EAC cell bearing mice and a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable cell count and also increased the life span (17.52%, 42.53% and 62.05%). Hematological profiles were restored to normal levels in MAU treated mice as compared to EAC control mice. Conclusions The results were found to be significant and confirmed that the A. undulatus has remarkable antitumor activity with antioxidant potential.

457-463

Authors: Bereket Alemayehu, Zewdneh Tomass

Objective To establish the prevalence and associated risk factors of Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection among schoolchildren at a village in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among primary schoolchildren. A total of 384 randomly selected study subjects provided stool samples for parasitological examination by Kato-Katz and Formalin-Ether concentration techniques. Secondary parasitological data were obtained from Health Center Laboratory to see the previous history of S. mansoni infection in the area. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16. Results From the total children examined, 85.4% were found positive for at least one helminth infection. S. mansoni infection (81.3%) was the most prevalent and the prevalence of STH was 32%. Moderate and heavy infection intensities were only observed in S. mansoni infections. The overall heavy intensity of infection was 56.4%. Contact to Bisare stream was the most important factor for S. mansoni infection (OR 3.9) followed by herding cattle near the stream (OR 2.527). Males were twice more likely to get the infection than females (OR 1.923). Analysis of secondary parasitological data showed that S. mansoni infection was a leading helminthic infection over the past years. Conclusions The present study found a higher intensity and prevalence of S. mansoni infection in a rural village of Wolaita Zone. Therefore, appropriate integrated control and prevention measures need to be implemented in the study area.

468-473

Authors: Cheng-Kui Geng, Hong-Hua Cao, Xiong Ying, Hua-Lin Yu

Objective To investigate the effect of BMSCs transplantation plus hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on repair of rat SCI. Methods Seventy five male rats were divided randomly into five groups: sham, vehicle, BMSCs transplantation group, combination group, 15 rats in each group. Every week after the SCI onset, all animals were evaluated for behavior outcome by Basso–Beattle–Bresnahan (BBB) score and inclined plane test. Axon recovery was examined with focal spinal cord tissue by electron microscope at 6 weeks after the SCI onset. HE staining and BrdU staining were performed to examine the BMSCs and lesion post injury. Somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) testing was performed to detect the recovery of neural conduction. Results Results from the behavior tests from combination group were significant higher than rats which received only transplantation or HBO treatment. Results from histopathology showed favorable recovery from combination group than other treatment groups. The number of BrdU+ in combination group were measureable more than transplantation group (P < 0.05). The greatest decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-α determined by Elisa assay in combination group were evident too. Conclusions BMSCs transplantation can promote the functional recovery of rat hind limbs after SCI, and its combination with HBO has a synergistic effect.

479-484

Authors: Dan Wu, Min Shi, Xiao-Dong Fan

Objective To study the mechanism of effect of miR-21 via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in human A549 lung cancer cells and Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. Methods The effect of miR-21 on A549 cells were detected by MTT method. MiR-21 expression levels were overexpressed or inhibited in A549 cells by transfecting with miR-21 mimics or inhibitors. Correlation among key molecules (Wnt1, β-catenin, CyclinD1 and miR-21) of mRNA and protein levels in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were studied by Real-time PCR and Western blot hybridization assay. Invasive ability of A549 cells was determined via Transwell chamber cell invasion assay; the role of miR-21 in A549 cells was explored via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. A Lewis lung carcinoma animal model was established to detect miR-21 expressions in tumor animals and controlled animal tissues, and verify expression changes of the above molecules in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was determined in the animal level. Results MTT assay results showed that miR-21 overexpression could markedly enhance cell absorbance value; that is, miR-21 could increase the ability proliferation of A549 cells. β-catenin and CyclinD1 expression levels were significantly higher in miR-21 mimic transfected cells (P < 0.05), and Wnt1 gene had no significant change. Wnt1, β-catenin and CyclinD1 gene expression showed no significant change when miR-21 expression was suppressed, compared with controls. After cells were transfected with miR-21 mimics, cell invasion assay revealed that the perforated cells was significantly higher than the perforated cells in the control group (P < 0.01). Lewis lung assay revealed that miR-21 expression levels in the Lewis lung carcinoma were significantly higher; and at the same time, Wnt1, β-catenin and CyclinD1 gene expression levels were significantly increased, compared to controls. Conclusions In A549 human lung cancer cells and Lewis lung carcinoma in mice, key molecules β-catenin and CyclinD1of miR-21 expressions and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway are positively correlated.

494-497

Authors: Xiao-He Zheng, Gui-Dong Zhang, Guo-Hong Zhang, Rui-Qin Mai, Ling Shen

Objective To explore the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the mast cell tryptase (MCT) in asthmatic guinea pigs. Methods A total of 60 male or female healthy guinea pigs were randomly divided into control group (group A), asthmatic group (group B), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 group (group C), with 20 cases in each group. To establish asthmatic guinea pig models, 1 mL peanut oil was filled into stomach in the morning in group A and group B, and 1 mL peanut oil with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was filled into stomach in group C. Airway resistance (Re) of asthmatic guinea pigs was detected, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells were counted. Lung tissue with HE and MCT immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the pathological changes in lung tissue and the distribution of MCT. Results After injection of different concentration of acetylcholine chloride, the Re in group B and group C were increased significantly compared with group A (P < 0.05); compared with group B, the Re in group C were decreased significantly (t = −5.385, −5.761, −6.184, −13.574, P < 0.05); the total number of BALF cells and eosinophils were increased significantly in group B and C (t = 19.618, 9.598, 10.854, 5.388, P < 0.05); compared with group B, the total number of BALF cells and eosinophils in group C was decreased significantly (t = −5.555, −5.392, P < 0.05); the number of tryptase positive cells in group B was increased significantly than that in group A (t = 21.312, P < 0.05), and in addition to the alveolar septum and submucosa, the cells were also distributed around blood vessels and outside the cells; the number of tryptase positive cells in group C was decreased significantly compared with group B, and the difference was statistically significant (t = 5.043, P < 0.05). Conclusions After the asthmatic guinea pigs are treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, their BALF, Re, infiltration degree of inflammatory cells in the trachea and lung tissue and airway inflammatory reaction are reduced significantly. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 has a certain inhibiting effect on the activation of mast cells and the release of MCT granules.

502-505

Authors: Xin Li, Zi-Xin Wang, Zi-Sheng Wang, Quan-Fang Li

Objective To explore the effect of microRNA-101 on apoptosis of condylar cartilage cells and the specific mechanism of molecular biology. Methods IL-1 was used to stimulate and establish the model of apoptosis of condylar cartilage cells. The expression change of miR-101 in control group was compared with that in IL-1 stimulation group by qRT-PCR. Overexpression and down-regulation models of miR-101 were established by transfecting Mimics and Inhibitor and verified by qRT-PCR. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of miR-101 overexpression and down-regulation on apoptosis. Target gene of miR-101 was analyzed and calculated through bioinformatics. Western blot and Luciferase report assay were used to detect whether SOX9 could become the target gene of miR-101. Results qRT-PCR results showed that IL-1 stimulation could cause the increase of miR-101 expression. After the transfection of rabbit condylar cartilage cells by Mimics and Inhibitor, qRT-PCR results confirmed the significant effect of miR-101 overexpression and down-regulation. It was confirmed by flow cytometry that overexpression of miR-101 could promote the apoptosis of condylar cartilage cells, and down-regulation of miR-101 could reduce the apoptosis. It was confirmed by Western blot and Luciferase report assay that SOX9 was the target gene of miR-101, and miR-101 inhibited SOX9 expression through complementary pairing with 3′UTR of SOX9 mRNA. Conclusions miR-101 can promote the apoptosis of condylar cartilage cells through inhibiting the protein level of target gene SOX9.