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Li-Xia Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Li-Xia Zhang.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

[Experimental research on the liver-qi stasis induced erectile dysfunction by mouse model].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a mouse model of erectile dysfunction (ED) induced by liver-qi stasis for observing the changes in the mouse's sex organs and investigating the possible mechanism of ED. METHODS: Seventy-two Kunming mice, 24 males and 48 females, were randomly divided into a liver-qi stasis group, a severe liver-qi stasis group and a control group. A stressing box was used to exert gradual stress on the mice of the two experimental groups by confining them to the box and gradually reducing their room of movement so as to induce liver-qi stasis. In addition, the males of the severe liver-qi stasis group were further prohibited from any sexual activities to repress their sexual desire and intensify their liver-qi stasis. RESULTS: Obvious differences were observed in the autonomous behavior, sexual activity and body weight of the mice of the three groups. Pathological examination showed that the sex organ indexes descended in the liver-qi stasis group and even further in the severe liver-qi stasis group as compared with the controls. CONCLUSION: The stressing box can induce and intensify ED associated with liver-qi stasis.

Animals↗

Soluble eggshell membrane protein: preparation, characterization and biocompatibility.

The preparation, characterization and biocompatibility of soluble eggshell membrane (SEP) are reported. The dissolution process, which is the key step of the preparation of SEP, has been followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe the changes of the surfaces and thickness of the eggshell membrane (ESM). The composition of SEP has been investigated by amino acid analysis and elemental analysis. Based on the fact that SEP losses significantly cystine, and that SEP has a higher content of sulfur, an assumption involving combination with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (the reagent used for reductive cleavage of disulfide bonds) following the cleavage of the original disulfide bonds has been proposed, which explains the solubility of SEP. The thermal and surface properties have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and contact angle measurement. The biocompatibility of SEP, as demonstrated by cell culture of NIH3T3, is comparable to collagen type I and superior to raw ESM either inside or outside surface.

Animals↗

Induced production of rabbit articular cartilage-derived chondrocyte collagen II on polyhydroxyalkanoate blends.

Three-dimensional porous scaffolds made from blend polyesters of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) were evaluated with respect to their effects on collagen II production. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assay collagen II mRNA for evaluation of the ability for the blend scaffolds to induce collagen II production. It was found that scaffold of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) blended with a copolyester consisting of 3-hydoxybutyrate-co3-hydroxyhexanate (PHBHHx) in a radio of 1:2 had strong ability to induce collagen II production compared with other ratios of PHB/PHBHHx and poly-L-lactic acid (PLA). Collagen II expression level remained approx. 1.5-times higher on the above-mentioned blend compared with that of PLA throughout four weeks cultivation. At the same time, the PHB/PHBHHx blend (1:2) exhibited a similar tendency as PLA to maintain the collagen 11 expression level over the entire culture period. The results showed that the PHB/PHBHHx blend (1:2) reported to improve mechanical properties compared with PHB or PHBHHx improved biocompatibility in comparison with PHB, PHBHHx, PLA and other blending systems consisting of PHB/PHBHHX in ratios of 2:1 and 1:1, respectively.

Animals↗