Objective To investigate the protective effects of CBD and Nimodipine against injuries secondary to glutamate-inuced or traumatic injury in rat cortical neurons in vitro. Methods Mix-cultured cortical neurons of SD rat were subjected to either glutamate injury or mechanical damage. The degree of injury were detected by cell count of trypan blue staining and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the culture medium. Results When combined treatment with CBD and Nimodipine was used separately, moderate protective effects against the injury of cultured cortical neurons induced by glutamate or trauma were observed, which was obvious when compared with the injured group without treatment (P<0.01). When combined treatment with CBD and Nimodipine was administered, strong protective effect were observed than that with treatment using CBD or Nimodipine alone (P<0.01). Conclusion It is suggested that CBD combined with Nimodipine are synergetic. Combined use of different excitotoxic antagonists can be fruitful in the therapeutic intervention of secondary traumatic damage.

AIM: To investigate the effect of Z,E-butylidedephthalide (Bdph) on laser-induced experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rat model and choroid blood flow in rabbits'eyes.METHODS: Male Brown Norway rats were treated with Nd:YAG laser to break Bruch's membrane. Thirty mg/kg and 15 mg/kg Bdph were given daily through intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks after laser treatment. Fluorescein angiography (FA) and choroidal flat mount were used to measure the development of CNV. Female New Zealand white rabbits' eyes were instilled with 10g/L Z,E-butylidenephthalide solution,and ocular blood flow was measured with colored microsphere technique. RESULTS: The intensity of fluorescein leakage, indicating the ocular lesion, decreased significantly in group Bdph 30mg/kg and 15mg/kg, as compared to the control at P＜0.01.The area of neovascularization checked by FA in both groups of Bdph, at 30mg/kg and 15mg/kg decreased significantly compared to the control group at P＜0.05. On the choroid flat mount, the areas of CNV were also smaller in both Bdph groups than in control group. One percent Z,E-butylidenephthalide solution instilled into rabbits' eyes could improve the choroid blood flow at 30 and 60 minutes after drug instillation (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: Z,E-butylidedephthalide could inhibit the development of CNV in the rat eyes and increase the choroid blood flow in the rabbit eyes. These results suggest that Z,E-butylidedephthalide may be a good agent for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration(ARMD).

Objective To investigate the protective effects of CBD and Nimodipine against injuries secondary to glutamate-inuced or traumatic injury in rat cortical neurons in vitro. Methods Mix-cultured cortical neurons of SD rat were subjected to either glutamate injury or mechanical damage. The degree of injury were detected by cell count of trypan blue staining and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the culture medium. Results When combined treatment with CBD and Nimodipine was used separately, moderate protective effects against the injury of cultured cortical neurons induced by glutamate or trauma were observed, which was obvious when compared with the injured group without treatment (P<0.01). When combined treatment with CBD and Nimodipine was administered, strong protective effect were observed than that with treatment using CBD or Nimodipine alone (P<0.01). Conclusion It is suggested that CBD combined with Nimodipine are synergetic. Combined use of different excitotoxic antagonists can be fruitful in the therapeutic intervention of secondary traumatic damage.

Objective To evaluate interventional therapy for biliary stricture (BS) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Methods The efficacy of interventional therapy for BS after OLT from Oct 2003 to Jan 2006 was analyzed retrospectively. Fifty-three patients received 107 times of interventional therapy through endoscopic retrograde cholangiography ( ERC) which included 68 nasobiliary catheter placements,26 biliary balloon dilatations and stent placements and 13 ERC. Nine patients received 11 times of interventional therapy through percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography ( PTC) including 2 PTC, 7 percutaneous drainages,3 biliary balloon dilatations and 1 biliary stent replacement. One patient received bile drainage through T tube. Results The success rate of ERC was 88. 8% (95/107) , that of nasobiliary catheter placement 94% (64/68) , biliary stent placement 88. 5% (23/26). The success rate of PTC was 81. 8% (9/11) , that of percutaneous drainage was 100% (7/7) , biliary stent replacement 100% (1/1). The curative rate of interventional therapy for 53 patients with BS was 28. 3% (15/53) ,the improvement rate was 41. 5% (22/53). The curative rate of interventional therapy for anastomotic, extrahepatic, intrahepatic hilar and diffuse BS was respectively 66. 7% (4/6)、66. 7% (10/15)、50% (1/2)、0 (0/7) and 0 (0/22). Conclusions The efficacy of interventional therapy for BS after OLT was not satisfactory. The result relates to the type of BS, for anastomotic, extrahepatic and solitary intrahepatic BS this therapy was effective, while that for hilar and diffuse BS the prognosis was poor.

BACKGROUNDNon-valvular atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke; however, the appropriate intensity of anticoagulation therapy for Chinese patients has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and the efficacy of standard-intensity warfarin therapy, low-intensity warfarin therapy, and aspirin therapy for the prevention of ischemic events in Chinese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

METHODSA total of 786 patients from 75 Chinese hospitals were enrolled in this study and randomized into three therapy groups: standard-intensity warfarin (international normalized ratio (INR) 2.1 to 2.5) group, low-intensity warfarin (INR 1.6 to 2.0) group and aspirin (200 mg per day) group. All patients were evaluated by physicians at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months after randomization to obtain a patient questionnaire, physical examination and related laboratory tests.

RESULTSThe annual event rates of ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or systemic thromboembolism were 2.6%, 3.1% and 6.9% in the standard-intensity warfarin, low-intensity warfarin and aspirin groups, respectively (P = 0.027). Thromboembolic event rates in both warfarin groups were significantly lower than that in the aspirin group (P = 0.018, P = 0.044), and there was no significant difference between the two warfarin groups. Severe hemorrhagic events occurred in 15 patients, 7 (2.6%) in the standard-intensity warfarin group, 7 (2.4%) in the low-intensity warfarin group and 1 (0.4%) in the aspirin group. The severe hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups were higher than that in the aspirin group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.101). The mild hemorrhagic and total hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups (whether in the standard-intensity warfarin group or low-intensity warfarin group) were much higher than that in the aspirin group with the annual event rates of total hemorrhages of 10.2%, 7.6% and 2.2%, respectively, in the 3 groups (P = 0.001). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in all cause mortality among the three study groups.

CONCLUSIONIn Chinese patients with NVAF, the warfarin therapy (INR 1.6 - 2.5) for the prevention of thromboembolic events was superior to aspirin.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Warfarin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate plasma glutathione S-transferase(GSTs) activity and GSTP1 gene Ile105Val polymorphism in Bijie City, Guizhou Province, a coal-burning fluorosis endemic area. Methods One hundred and sixty villagers from Yachi Twon using non-improved cooking stoves were selected as the non-intervened group in Bijie City, Guizhou Province where coal-burning fluorosis was prevailing; 153 villagers as the intervented group were chosen from Changchun Twon, where cooking stoves were improved; 151 villagers were served as the control group from Baiyunshan Twon, Changshun County without endemic fluorosis. The activity of GSTs was tested by colorimetric analysis with spectrophotometer. The genotype of the GSTP1 gene Ile105Val polymorphism, presenting as either homozygous wild-type (AA), or heterozygous mutation type (AG), or homozygous mutation type (GG), was detected through the PCR-RFLP procedure. Results The activity of GSTs in plasma of non-intervened group [(12.44±4.97) kU/L]was significantly lower than that of intervened group (P < 0.05), and that of intervened group[(20.78±6.20)kU/L]was significantly lower than that of control group[(24.30±6.27)kU/L, P< 0.05]. The difference of the enzyme activity of three groups were statistically significant (F = 51.71, P < 0.05), but this enzyme activity did not vary significantly in each sex of each grnup(P > 0.05). Compared intervened group [AA:67.3%(103/153), AG:29.4%(45/153),GG:3.3%(5/153)]and non-intervened group[AA:66.9%(107/160), AG:30%(48/160), GG:3.1%(5/160)]with control group[AA:74.8%(113/151), AG:25.2%(38/151), GG:0 (0/151)], the Ile105Val polymorphism site of GSTP1 gene had significant difference(χ2= 6.04,6.07, both P< 0.05), but not significant between intervened and non-intervened groups(χ2 = 0.02, P>0.05). Conclusions Fluorosis can decrease the activity of GSTs and introduce the GSTP1 gene Ile105Val polymorphism, intervention with the fluorine intake will improve the effect of fluoride on the body.

Objective:To use the high performance liquid chromatography method to determine the content of formononetin in Jinji Pills and by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry,method to determine the harmful elements of heavy metal in Jinji Pills in orer to provide the scientific foundation for improving its quality standards and safety evaluation. Methods:Use Waters XBridge? C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm), set mobile phase at acetonitrile-1% phosphoric acid solution (27:73), flow rate 1.0 ml/min, column temperature 30 ℃, detection wavelength 249 nm, column temperature 30 ℃; Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) was detected by graphite furnace method; arsenic (As) was detected by cold steam series graphite furnace method; copper (Cu) was detected by flame method; mercury (Hg) was detected by cold steam method.Results:The formononetin had a good linear relationship between 0.02-2.01 μg, the recovery rate was 98.5%, RSD was 1.53%. Lead (Pb) recovery rate was 103.6%, cadmium (Cd) recovery rate was 95.7%, arsenic (As) recovery rate was 92.4%, mercury (Hg) recovery rate was 104.9%, copper (Cu) recovery rate was 112.5%. Conclusion:This method is of accuracy, specificity, high sensitivity and good reproducibility, which could provide strong evidence for quality improvement and safety use of Jinji pill.

ObjectiveTo observe the distribution of vitamin D receptor(VDR) gene polymorphisms in coal-burning borne fluorosis in Guizhou province and investigate the relationship between VDR gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to coal-burning borne fluorosis.MethodsOne hundred and fifty villagers from non-improving cooking stove villages were selected as a non-intervention group in Bijie area,Guizhou province where coal-burning borne fluorosis was prevailing; 150 villagers were chosen from cooking stove improved villages as a intervention group; 150 villagers were selected from non-endemic area Changshun county as a control group.DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of these people.Genotype of VDR gene Bsm Ⅰ and Fok Ⅰ loci were detected using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).ResultsDistribution of Bsm Ⅰ polymorphism site of VDR gene of control group [AA:19.3％ (29/150),AG:39.3％ (59/150),GG:41.3％(62/150)],was compared with that[AA:4.7％(7/150),AG:14.0％(21/150),GG:81.3％(122/150)] of the non-intervention group and that[AA:7.3％(11/150),AG:23.3％(35/150),GG:69.3％(104/150)] of intervention group,and the difference was statistically significant(X2 =56.6,P ＜ 0.05).The frequency of VDR-Fok Ⅰ loci in non-intervention group [TT:29.3％(44/150),TC:55.3％(83/150),CC:15.3％(23/150)] and intervention group [TT:32.7％(49/150),TC:55.3％(83/150),CC:12.0％(18/150)] was compared with that [TT:45.3％(68/150),TC:48.7％(73/150),CC:6.0％(9/150)] of control group,and the difference was statistically significant(X2 =11.9,P ＜ 0.05).Univariate analysis showed that individuals carrying the GG genotype had increased risk of suffering fluorosis than individuals carrying the AA and AG genotypes(OR values were 6.2,3.2,all P ＜ 0.05),while carrying the TC and CC genotype had increased risk of suffering fluorosis than individuals carrying the TT genotype (OR values were 1.3,2.8,1.3,2.1,all P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionVDR gene polymorphisms may be one of the predisposing factors of coal-burning borne fluorosis.

Objective To explore the relationship between -262C/T and -21A/T polymorphisms of catalase(CAT) gene and coal-burning borne fluorosis. Methods In 2007, 150 villagers were taken as a nonintervention group in Bijie city from the village of coal-burning borne fluorosis areas with unchanged cooking stoves;150 villagers were taken as the intervention group from the town of Changchun county where cooking stoves changed; 150 villagers were taken as control from non-endemic fluorosis areas in Baiyun town of Changshun county.PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism were employed to detect genotypes of CAT-262C/T and CAT-21A/T polymorphism of CAT gene. Results The genotypic frequencies of CAT-262C/T and CAT-21A/T in nonintervention group,intervention group and control group were in line with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium law (P＞ 0.05 ).The genotypes of CC and CT were detected while no TT were detected for CAT-262C/T polymorphism; the genotypes of AA, AT and TT were detected for CAT-21A/T. The genotype frequencies of CAT-262 CC, CT in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were (89.33%(134/150), 10.67%(16/150); 88.67%(133/150), 11.33% (17/150),93.33% (140/150),6.67% (10/150), respectively. The gene frequency of C in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were (94.67% (284/300), 94.33% (283/300),96.67%(290/300), respectively. The gene frequency of T in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were 5.33%(16/300), 5.67%(17/300), 3.33%(10/300), respectively. The genotype frequencies of CAT-21 AA,AT and TT in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were 48.67%(73/150),46.00%(69/150),5.33%(8/150) ,52.67%(79/150) ,38.00%(57/150) ,9.33% (14/150) ,51.33%(77/150) ,38.00%(57/150), 10.67%(16/150), respectively. The gene frequency of A in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were 71.67%(215/300),71.67%(215/300),70.33%(211/300), respectively. The gene frequency of T in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were 28.33% (85/300),28.33% (85/300),29.67% (89/300),respectively. CAT-262C/T and CAT-21A/T genotype and allele frequencies in the control group, the intervention group and non-intervention group showed no significant differences in the distribution(x2= 0.331,0.336, all P ＞0.05 ). Conclusion CAT-262C/T and CAT-21A/T polymorphism is not associated with coal-burning borne fluorosis.

Objective To evaluate the enhanced magnification endoscopy in the diagnosis of Barrett esophagus,and to explore the relationship between mucosal surface patterns and pathological epithelial types of Barrett esophagus.Methods Enhanced magnification endoscopy was performed 'after spraying 2%-3% acetic acid on the surface of distal esophagus in 40 Barrett esophagus patients.Mucosal specimen were biop- syed.Results According to the mucosal types of Toyoda in 2003,there were three mucosal types:Ⅰ dot pat- tern 7(17.5%),5 of 7(71.4%)fundie type,Ⅱ reticular pattern 24(60.0%),16 of 24(66.7%)fundic type,Ⅲ cerebroid/villous 9(22.5%),intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia.Conclusion Enhanced magnifi- cation endoscopy helps to identify areas with intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia,and is useful in the diagno- sis of Barrett esophagus.