AIM In order to investigate whether resveratrol can be used as a kind of antiarrhythmic drug, the electrophysiological effect of resveratrol on pacemaker cells in sinoatrial node was studied. METHODS Using intracellular microelectrode technique to record the action potential of pacemaker cells in sinoatrial node of rabbits. RESULTS Resveratrol (30-120 μmol·L-1) significantly decreased amplitude of action potential, maximal rate of depolarization (Vmax), velocity of diastolic (phase 4) depolarization and rate of pacemaker firing, but did not affect maximal diastolic potential and duration of 90% repolarization of action potential. Pretreatment with L-type calcium channel agonist Bay-K-8644 (0.5 μmol·L-1) 10 min antagonized the effect of resveratrol (60 μmol·L-1). While applying cesium chloride (2 mmol·L-1), a hyperpolarization-activated current blocker, adding tetraethylammonium chloride (20 mmol·L-1), a potassium channel antagonist, or applying L-NAME (0.5 mmol·L-1), a NO synthase inhibitor, had no significantly influence on the electrophysiological effects of resveratrol. CONCLUSION Resveratrol exerts inhibitory electrophysiological effects on pacemaker cells in sinoatrial node of rabbits, which may be due to reduction in calcium influx via a NO-independent manner.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technique used in karyotype analysis of chorionic villi from missed abortion. Methods Feb 2008 to Oct 2008, 91 patients with missed abortion diagnosed by hormonal measurement, type B ultrasound and physical exam matched with 20 normal pregnant women undergoing artificial abortion were enrolled in this study. Chorionic villi was obtained by suction dilation and curettage in aseptic condition, then those villi was cultured and analyzed by traditional cytogenetic karyotyping method, in the mean time, the DNA extracted from villi was detected by MLPA. The results of chromosomal G-banding of chorionic villi were compared between two methods. Results The diagnostic concordance of MLPA and traditional karyotyping was observed in 92% (84/91) cases, there were 84 cases in the case group with diagnostic concordance by traditional karyotyping and MLPA except 7 cases of euploidy could not be detected by MLPA. The 84 cases included 40 normal karyotype,29 trisomy of euchromosome, 1 double trisomy of euchromosome, 10 monosomy X , 1 monosomy X combined with trisomy of euchromosome, 2 chimaera of X chromosome, 1 structural abnormity of euchromosome. Among 7 cases with discordance diagnosis, 2 cases with trisomy and 5 cases with tetrasomy of euchromosome were identified in traditional karyotyping, however, they were all diagnosed with normal disomy by MLPA. Of 20 villi from normal pregnancy, two methods got the consistent results. Conclusion The MLPA was rapid and efficacy method used for analyzing aneuploids in chorionic villi.

Objective To study the benzylphenethylamine alkaloids from the bulbs and flowers of Lycoris radiata.Methods Alkaloids were isolated by various column chromatographic methods and their structures were identified by spectral data.Results Fifteen known benzylphenethylamine alkaloids were isolated and identified as lycoramine(1),O-demethyllycoramine(2),N-demethyllycoramine(3),galanthamine(4),lycorine(5),caranine(6),ungminorine(7),narciclasine(8),5-hydroxy-10-O-demethyl-homolycorine(9),hippeastrine(10),ungerine(11),hippeastrine N-oxide(12),O-demethylhaemanthamine(13),haemanthidine(14),and 8-demethoxybostasine(15).Conclusion Compound 15 is first isolated from the plants in Amaryllidaceae,compounds 3,6,9,and 11 are first reported from the plants in Lycoris Herb.,and compounds 2,7,and 14 are isolated from L.radiata for the fast time.The 13C-NMR data of compouds 3,7,and 12 are first reported in the present study.Furthermore,the galasine-type alkaloid is isolated from the plants of Lycoris Herb.for the first time.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of rehabilitation associated with local intramuscular injection of botulinum toxic A (BTX-A) on spastic cerebral palsy (CP).Methods60 children with spastic CP were divided into experimental group and control group with 30 cases in each group. Cases of experimental group were treated with rehabilitation associated with local intramuscular injection of BTX-A. Cases of control group were treated only with rehabilitation treatment. The therapeutic efficacies of two groups were evaluated with physician rating scale (PRS) and activities of daily living (ADL) evaluation systems.ResultsImprovement of clinical evaluations index-PRS and ADL in experimental group was much more significant than that of control group (P<0.05). ConclusionRehabilitation associated with local intramuscular injection of BTX-A can improve the efficacy of spastic CP.

In order to understand the current development of cell transformation assay (CTA) and its application in the evaluation of cigarette smoke carcinogenesis, the relevant literatures were analyzed and combed from these two aspects. CTA can evaluate the carcinogenicity of various genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogens in a short period of time, and has a strong consistency with the results of animal carcinogenic test. After malignant transformation, the cells show changes in cell morphology, immortalization of cells, disappearance of cell-cell contact inhibition, and the ability to form tumors when injected into animals. The identification methods of transformed cells include transformed cell focus count, agglutination test, soft agar culture and inoculation of nude mice, etc. At present, BALB/c 3T3 cells, Bhas 42 cells and SHE cells are the most widely used cells for CTA. Cigarette smoke is a complex aerosol containing a variety of non-genetic carcinogenic chemicals. Cell transformation tests are often used as an in vitro alternative method to evaluate the carcinogenic effects of cigarette smoke, which is different from the short-term genetic toxicity test. It simulates the long-term state of human smoking induced malignant transformation of cells, through the long-term exposure of cells for several decades, which is closer to the occurrence of cancer caused by human smoking. Therefore, CTA can evaluate the carcinogenicity of cigarette smoke and other tobacco products.

Objective To investigate the effect of low-dose arsenious acid solution (As(III)) combined with total particulate matter (TPM) from cigarette smoke on cellular oxidative stress in human lung cancer cell line A549 cells. Methods A549 cells were divided into four groups: negative control group (0.75% DMSO), low dose As(III) group (0.88% μg/mL, 75% DMSO), cigarette smoke TPM group (75 μg/mL), and combined exposure group (75 μg/mL TPM, 0.88 μg/mL As (III)). After 24 hours' exposure, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) level in cell culture medium and intracellular 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) content were detected by ELISA, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by fluorescent probe DCFH-DA. 2×2 factorial design was used to evaluate the interaction. Results Compared with the control group, the level of SOD in the combined exposure group was significantly increased (P<0.05). In addition, the ROS content in the combined exposure group and TPM alone group was significantly increased (P<0.05). The levels of 8-OHdG in the combined exposure group and low-dose As(III) treated group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). The results of the factorial analysis showed that low-dose As(III) and TPM had interaction on SOD levels, ROS and 8-OHdG contents in A549 cells. The effects on SOD and ROS were synergistic, while the effect on 8-OHdG was antagonistic. Conclusion Low-dose arsenious acid solution As(III) and TPM in cigarette smoke have interaction on oxidative stress in A549 cells.