The present study is to investigate the protective actions of guggulsterone against the cytotoxicity produced by exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in PC12 cells. It was evaluated by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide] reduction assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, and the release of nitric oxide (NO). ROS and Ca2+ in cells were evaluated by DCFH and Fura 2-AM, respectively. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed by the retention of rhodamine 123 (Rh 123). Apoptosis and morphological alteration in PC12 cells were monitored with flow cytometry and electric microscope. Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, was employed as a comparative agent. The results showed that preincubation of PC12 cells with guggulsterone (0.1-10 μmol·L-1) prevented cytotoxicity induced by H2O2. Extracellular accumulation of LDH, NO and intracellular accumulation of ROS, Ca2+ resulting from H2O2 were significantly reduced by guggulsterone. Incubation of cells with H2O2 caused a marked decrease in MMP, which was significantly inhibited by guggulsterone. The percentage of H2O2-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells was 24.3%, and decreased in the presence of guggulsterone (0.1-10 μmol·L-1) by .8.4%, 15 .9%, 11.8%, respectively. Guggulsterone exhibited comparable potency against oxidative stress induced by H2O2 in PC12 cells as that of vitamin E. The present findings showed that guggulsterone attenuated H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, extracellular accumulation of LDH and NO, intracellular accumulation of ROS and Ca2+, loss of MMP, and apoptosis, which may represent the cellular mechanisms for its neuroprotective action.

Objective To evaluate the effect of early endoscopic treatment for patients with severe acute biliary pancreatitis.Methods Ninety patients with severe acute biliary pancreatitis were divided into three groups: Thirty patients underwent early endoscopic treatment(group A),30 patients underwent expectant treatment(group B) and 30 patients receive surgical treatment(group C),respectively.complications and safety were evaluated.Results The symptoms and signs disappeared in all 30 cases after early endoscopic treatment.All the 30 patients(100%) of endoscopic treatment(group A) were cured which significantly better than the other groups(group B 83.3% and group C 93.3%,respectively).Conclusions Early endoscopic treatment relieves the orifice obstruction of biliary and pancreatic ducts,decreases the pressure of biliary and pancreatic ducts,it is safe,mini-invasive and highly effective for the treatment of severe acute biliary pancreatitis.

Objective To evaluate the application of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of traumatic hemothorax. Methods We performed VATS in 60 cases of traumatic hemothorax with medium amount of bleeding or above from March 2000 to March 2004, including 12 cases accompanying the prodrome of shock and 6 cases associated with injuries of liver or spleen. Unilateral VATS was carried out in 48 cases, all of which were completed under thoracoscope except 3 cases of heart injuries were supplemented with mini-incision repair. Bilateral VATS was conducted in 6 cases and the combination of thoracoscopy with laparoscopy was required in 6 cases. Results The operation time was 45～175 min (mean, 105 min) and the postoperative hospital stay was 7～13 days (mean, 11 days). No complication occurred. Conclusions VATS in the management of traumatic hemothorax is safe, effective and minimally invasive, with a relatively short operation time and quick recovery.

Aim To study the effect of cyclosporin A and tetrand ri ne on P-glycoprotein (P-gp)of bovine brain capillary endothelial cell. M ethods The fluorescent dye, rhodamine-123 (Rh-123) was used to evaluate t he functional activity of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux transport system in primary cultured bovine brain capillary endothelial cell (BCEC) monolayer. Results Rhodamine-123 accumulation was increased significantly in monola yer treated with the P-gp modifying agent, cyclosporin A and tetrandrine. Conclusion The observation suggests that this Rh-123 method is sens itive, stable to evaluate the function of P-gp of blood-brain barrier (BBB). R h-123 accumulation is also increased by tetrandrine in dose-dependent manner.

Objective:To probe the effect of prenatal ethanol exposure on the mitochondrial protein expression in fetal mouse cerebrum. Methods:Pregnant CD-1 mice were given 5.0 g/kg ethanol intragastrically from pregnant days (PD) 6-15. Fetal cerebral mitochondria were isolated on PD 18. The overall mitochondrial protein was applied to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Differentially expressed protein spots were cut off and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Activities of respiratory chain complex Ⅳ(72.3%?4.6% of control)and ATP synthase, and ATP content in the fetal cerebral cells were measured. Results:Expressions of some constructional and functional proteins were altered by in utero ethanol exposure. Activities of respiratory chain complex Ⅳ and ATP synthase (80.3%?5.1% of control)were both decreased. ATP content (67.9%?3.9% of control) in the cerebral cells was reduced in the in utero ethanol exposure fetuses. Conclusion:In utero ethanol exposure affects the mitochondrial protein expression of fetal mouse cerebrum, even in the tissue without obvious morphological malformations, which may be a possible mechanism of behavioral defects found in children with prenatal ethanol exposure.

The progression of immunotherapy in Alzheimers disease was summarized,including active and passive immunotherapy. The therapeutic effect and side effects were indicated. The model of action and strategies for solution of side effects were analyzed.

Objective To observe clinical effects of fleabane injection treating patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Methods One hundred and sixty cases with UAP were randomly recruited into two groups: a control group (including 80 patients) received Asprin and Nitrate medication, and a treatment group(including 80 patients) received fleabane injection (20 mg/d, ivdrip) on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for two weeks. Results Compared with the control group, the treatment group showed significantly better clinical effects and electrocardiograph. Conclusion Fleabane injection has obvious clinical effects for treating patients with UAP.

Aim To investigate the drug-containing serum of Rhizoma drynariae on osteogenesis differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem, and discuss the possible mechanism.Methods BMSCs were cultured in media with different concentrations of medicine containing serum.BMSCs proliferation ability was detected in 3,5,7,9 days by CCK-8.ALP activity was detected after 7,10,14 days′ induction.After 3 weeks culturing, alizarin red staining was performed to observe the formation of calcium nodules.The expression of β-catenin,LRP5,RUNX-2 and Osteriex mRNA were detected using RT-PCR.The protein expression of β-catenin,LRP5 was detected using Elisa method.Results Rhizoma drynariae drug-containing serum could obviously promote the proliferation of BMSCs and calci-fied nodule formation.Besides, the ALP activity was improved in a certain period of time.The expression of β-catenin,LRP5,GSK-3β,RUNX-2 and Osteriex mRNA were significantly up-regulated,and the protein expression of β-catenin,LRP5 was up-regulated too.The expression of GSK-3β was down-trgulated.Conclusions Rhizoma drynariae drug-containing serum promotes mineralization and osteogenic differentiationof BMSCs, and the mechanism is closely related with activating WNT/beta-catenin signaling pathway, raising the beta-catenin, LRP5, RUNX-2, and Osteriex mRNA expression, beta-catenin, LRP5 protein expression,and down-regulation of GSK-3β mRNA expression.

Objective To evaluate the safety of simultaneous transurethral green laser vaporization therapy in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and nonmuscle-invasive bladder transitional cell carcinoma (NMIBT).Methods The clinical data of 27 patients (observation group) who had undergone simultaneous transurethral green laser vaporization therapy in BPH and NMIBT between May 2004 and October 2010 were analyzed retrospectively.Meanwhile 27 patients(control group) only had undergone green laser vaporization therapy in NMIBT during the same period were selected.Clinicopathologic parameters,rate of recurrence and progression,rate of recurrence in the bladder neck and prostatic urethra were determined and compared.Results The time of follow-up in observation group and control group were (28.61 ± 19.53) and (30.20 ± 21.46) months.The rates of recurrence,progression and recurrence in the bladder neck and prostatic urethra between observation group and control group had no significant differences [ 18.5％ (5/27) vs.25.9％ (7/27),3.7％ (1/27) vs.0,0 vs.0] (P ＞0.05).Conclusion Simultaneous transurethral green laser vaporization of NMIBT and BPH can be safely performed without increasing the risk of tumor recurrence in the prostatic urethra.

Objective To explore a new pathogenic gene mutationin in COL4A3 and COL4A4 genes of a family with thin-basement-membrane nephropathy (TBMN), and explain its mechanism.Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples.Mutation screening for all the exons in COL4A3 and COL4A4 of the proband was carried out by direct PCR sequencing.The sequences of the proband were compared with standard sequences in GenBank.After identifying the mutation in COL4A4, screening for the mutation site in 200 healthy controls and the rest of family members were conducted.RNA sequence of the proband was analyzed by reverse transcription PCR and TA cloning.The positive clones were sequenced for RNA screening.Results There was a G to A mutation in the 1459 site of COL4A4 (c.1459+G ＞ A) in the proband, her mother, and the elder sister, whereas the mutation was not found in other family members and healthy people.RNA screening showed that the COL4A4 (c.1459+G ＞ A) mutation was a heterozygous substitution in position + 1 of exon 21, in the splicing region.This mutation leaded to eliminating of exon 21 from the COL4A4 mRNA, causing the exon 21 deletion and frameshift mutation following the exon 20 in its amino acids sequence.Conclusions It is described that COL4A4 (c.1459+G ＞ A) is a new pathogenic mutation in TBMN, which further help understanding the pathogenesis and clinical diagnosis of TBMN.