BACKGROUND:The quantity and function reduction of circulating endothelial progenitor cells(CEPCs)indicate that vascular endothelial repair capacity reduces in hypertension patients,but the impact of statins on the CEPCs is still not very clear.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of atorvastatin calcium on endothelial cells and CEPCs in renovascular hypertensive rats.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:Randomized controlled animal experiment was performed in Chongqing Key Laboratory ofNeurology from June 2008 to Febmary 2009.MATERIALS:Totally 24 SD male rats of SPF grade,and atorvastatin calcium was produced by Lipitor,Pfizer Inc.with batch number of 65837003.METHODS:The renovascular hypertension was induced with 2-kindey and 1-clip method in 16 SD rats,which were then randomly divided into two groups:hypertensive group(n=8)and statins group(n=8).control group(n=8)underwent the same operation,without silver slip.At 4 weeks after model construction,statins group was treated with atorvastatin calcium MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:At 4 and 12 weeks of the experiment.three groups of rats were measured blood pressure and blood lipids;at 12 weeks,the thoracic aortic endothelial cells continuity was investigated through hematoxylin-eosin stain;the quantity,proliferation,adhesion and migration capacity of CEPCs were determined.RESULTS:At 4 and 12 weeks of the experiment,there was no significant differences in the systolic pressure between statins RESULTS:At 4 and 12 weeks of the experiment,there was no significant differences in the systolic pressure between statins group group and model group,which were dramatically high than control group(P＞0.01):the blood lipids in the statins group was not changed.In the model group,rat aortic endothelial cells were greatly damaged;the injury of CEPCs was dramatically relieved in the model group.Compared with statins group and control group,the number of CEPCs was significantly decreased,the capacities of proliferation,adhesion and migration were also significantly reduced in the model group(P＜0.01);moreover,statins group was inferior to control group in terms of these capacities.with significant differences among three groups(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Renovascular hypertensive rats thoracic aortic endothelial calls are severely damaged,CEPCs decline in the humber and function;atorvastatin calcium can increase the number of CEPCs and improve the function of CEPCs.

Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin C of 3 kinds of pollen from Yunnan were studied by fluorescence spectrophotometer．The sample we re Pinusthunbergii, Fagopyrum esculentum and Brassica compestris． The results s howed that the content of Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, of pollen were rich． Th e content of Vitaimin Bl of Fagopyrum esculentum was the highest(0.39?mg/l00 g), and the Vitamin　B2, of Brassica compestris was the richest(0.70?mg/l00 ?g)． It was worth to utilize．

Objective To investigate the discriminant validity and relativity of three scales applied in fall risk estimation for senile patients.Methods The timed up and go test (TUGT),the Morse Fall Scale (MFS) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used by two trained testers to evaluate the fall risk of 161 senile in-patients.The patients were divided into a falling group and a no-fall group based on their history of falling in the previous one year.Student's t-test was applied to compare the discriminant validity of the TUGT,MFS and BBS.Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated to analyze the correlation among the three scales.Results The scores of patients in the falling group on the three scales were significantly different from those of the no-falls group.The correlation coefficients among the three scales were in the range 0.680-0.888.Conclusion The TUGT,MFS and BBS all showed high sensitivity and good discrimination in fall risks estimation for senile patients.The results with the three scales were highly correlated.Because the emphasis of these three scales is different,a suitable scale should be selected in clinical practice according to the characteristics of the senile patient.

Objective To investigate the relationship of the distribution and heterogeneity of cagA gene of Chinese H. pylori isolates with Hp-associated gastroduodenal!diseases in China. Methods Pairs of oligonucleotide primers flanking a conservative 297bp segment and the variable segment of 3' region of cagA gene were designed according to the conserved cagA sequences, and the distribution of cagA gene in 82 Chinese H. pylori isolates and the heterogeneity of variable segment of cagA gene 3' region of 77 H. pylori strains were determined with PCR. Results 77(93.9%) of 82 Chinese Hp isolates were found to be cagA-positive by PCR amplification of the 297bp segment. The variable segment of 3' region of cagA genes was detected in 71(93.9%) of 77 Chinese H. pylori strains, including two without 297bp amplicon, with predominance of PCR products of about 825bp which were designated as type Ⅰ in China. Conclusion The prevalence of cagA is high in Chinese Hp isolates, and the cagA of type Ⅰ with the shortest variable 3' region predominates in China. Neither cagA nor the length of cagA 3' region is associated with the clinical outcome of Hp infection.

AIM: To investigate the effects of atorvastatin calcium on vascular endothelial cells and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPCs) in hypertensive rats. METHODS: Renal hypertension rat model was constructed with two-kidney-one-clip technique. Twenty-four male SD rats were randomized into hypertension group, statins group and sham-operated group (n=8 each). On the 4th week, the animals in statins group were injected with 20 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) atorvastatin calcium intra-abdominally for 8 weeks. Blood pressure and blood lipid were measured at 4th and 12th week post-operation. On the 12th week, scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the damage of aortic endothelial cells. The circulatory endothelial cell count, CEPCs count, CEPCs proliferation ability, CEPCs adhesion ability and CEPCs apoptosis were also measured. RESULTS: The injury of endothelial cells in statins group was observed, milder than that in hypertension group, but worsen than that in sham-operated group. The numbers of circulatory endothelial cells in hypertension group, statin treatment group and sham-operated group were 5.9×10~6, 3.9×10~6 and 2.0×10~6 respectively, and the CEPCs apoptosis rate was 22.1%±2.1%, 13.4%±1.6 %and 7.4%±1.3%, respectively. Meanwhile, the numbers of CEPCs were 21.63±2.33, 40.38±6.00 and 65.38±2.97, respectively, the proliferative abilities of CEPCs were 0.13±0.01, 0.17±0.01 and 0.29±0.03, respectively, and the adhesion of CEPCs was 12.25±2.49, 21.50±2.20 and 28.88±2.85, respectively. CONCLUSION: (1) The severity of vascular endothelial cell injury is related to hypertension states. (2) Atorvastatin calcium has direct protective effects on endothelial cells, possibly through increasing CEPCs count, reducing CEPCs apoptosis and markedly enhancing reparation ability of CEPCs to endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Recently, α-hydroxy-acid and aliphatic series polyester synthetized with its derivates such as polylactide and polyglycolide have been studied extensively for scaffold of peripheral nerve tissue engineering.These materials might improve the effect of nerve guidance through overcoming several shortcomings of autografts, including permanent denervation of donor site, tissue deficiency, and potential differences in tissue structure and size.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biocompatibility of poly (DL-lactide-coglycolide) (PLGA). Copolymer ratio of lactide: glycolide was 85:15 or 50:50)and evaluate its effect on nerve guidance.DESIGN: A comparative study and observation.SETTING: Department of Orthopaedics, Xinqiao Hospital of Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: A total of 66 Wistar rats of either sex and clean grade,weighting 180-200 g, were involved; the 85:15 or 50:50 copolymer of poly (lactide-co-glycolde) (PLGA).METHODS: The experiment was carried out in Field Surgery Institute No. 6; State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Compound Injury, Daping Hospital of Third Military Medical University, from November 2001 to December 2002. ① Co-culture of Schwann cells with PLGA film: Growth of Schwann cells co-cultured with PLGA film was observed under scanning electron microscope. ② Histological observation of PLGA film: Fifteen Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (according to 1, 2, 4, 8and 12 weeks time point postoperatively) with 3 rats in each group. PLGA was trimmed to pieces of film with the size of 10.0 mm × 5.0 mm × 0.3 mmand implanted into the rat dorsal muscles under aseptic condition. Hematoxylin/eosin staining was used to evaluate inflammatory reaction. ③Bridging of sciatic nerve defect in rats with PLGA conduits: Fifty-one Wistar rats were divided into PLGA (85:15) conduit group, PLGA (50:50) conduit group and silicone conduit group, each of which was further divided into 5 subgroups according to different time points (2, 4, 6, 8, and 12weeks postoperatively) with 3 rats in each subgroup, except for 12-week time point subgroup which used 5 rats. Gross observation and electrophysiological studies (only 12 weeks time point postoperatively) were performed.The midconduit regenerated nerves were removed and then stained with toluidine blue. Histological observation of regenerated nerves was performed under the optical microscope.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome: ① Histological observation of PLGA film implanted in rat muscles. ② Electrophysiological and morphological evaluation of nerve guidance effect of PLGA conduits.Secondary outcome: Growth behavior of Schwann cells when co-cultured with PLGA films.RESULTS: All the 66 rats entered the result analysis. ① Histological observation of PLGA film implanted in rat muscles: The PLGA implants caused only minimal non-specific inflammatory reaction at an early time,as characterized by a low concentration of lymphocytes and fibroblasts,which was not present 10-12 weeks postoperatively. ② Cell attachment and morphological observation by scanning election microscopy: Schwann cells grew and proliferated well when co-cultured with PLGA film. ③Bridging of sciatic nerve defect in rats with PLGA conduits: Gross observation: Silicone induced significant proliferation of fibre tissues, characterized by encapsulation, when bridging sciatic nerve defects in rats, but the similar response could not be seen in PLGA in the same situation. At week 12 after bridging sciatic nerve defects in rats, motor nerve conduction velocity in PLGA (85:15) group was 17.03±0.66 m/s; it was 17.15±0.76 m/sin silicone group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05). Quantitative evaluation of regenerated nerves in PLGA group showed that the thickness of myelin sheath was (0.45±0.16) μm, fiber width was (3.96±1.73) μm, axon/mm2 10 135±1 053, and area percentage of neural tissues (%) was 23.4±2.7; in silicone group the corresponding data were (0.45±0.19) μm, (4.07±1.86) μm, (9879±1491) mm2 and (23.6±3.1)%, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05). Since PLGA (50:50) conduit collapsed at an early time in the same animal model, corresponding indexes couldnot be detected in PLGA (50:50) group.CONCLUSION: In contrast to PLGA (50:50) and silicone, PLGA (85:15)is a good material for peripheral nerve tissue engineering because of its good biocompatibility and proper biodegradation rate.

Objective To investigate the effects of the donor age on the growth of human mesenchymal stem cells(hMSCs) in vitro. Methods HMSCs were isolated by using density gradient centrifuge method from 39 donors of different ages (7 to 79 years old), and cultured in vitro. The adhesive cells were preserved to passage, then their growth and proliferation capability were determined. Results The hMSCs from younger donors showed a stronger capability of proliferation compared with the hMSCs from older donors. Conclusion The proliferation capability of hMSCs decreased with aging. The results have significant implications for the proposed clinical application of hMSCs.

Objective To assess the population pharmacokinetic parameters for propofol for Chinese surgical patients using a nonlinear mixed- effect model (NONMEN) program and qualitatively analyze the effects of gender, age and body weight.Methods Seventy-six ASA I - II patients(37 male,39 female) ,aged 17-77 years weighing 39-86 kg. Undergoing elective surgery were studied. The patients were premedicated with intramuscular sodium luminal 0.1 g and scopolamine 0.3 mg. Radial artery was cannulated for blood pressure monitoring and blood sampling. BIS, AEPindex, EGG, BP, PET CO2 and SpO2 were continuously monitored during operation. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol and fentanyl. A loading dose of fentanyl 3 ?g? kg-1 was given iv followed by infusion at 2 ?g ? kg -1? h-1 until 30 min before the end of surgery. Propofol 1 -2.5 mg ?kg -1 was given iv over 0.5-4 min followed by infusion at 3-8 mg ? kg-1? h-1 until the end of surgery. When the patient was unconscious intubation was facilitated with vecuronium 0.1 mg? kg-1 . Blood samples were obtained before propofol and 2-120 min during propofol infusion and 2-600 min after discontinuation of propofol infusion for determination of blood propofol concentration. 1 439 blood samples were analyzed using NONMEM program. Interindividual and intraindividual variability was estimated for clearance and volume of distribution. The effects of age, body weight and gender were investigated. Results The pharmacokinetics of propofol in Chinese patients was best described by a three-compartment pharmacokinetic model . Body weight was found to be a significant factor affecting the two inter-compartmental clearances and the volume of the central compartment. The shallow and deep peripheral compartments remained constant for all individuals. For a 60 kg adult these parameters were estimated to be 1.56 L?min-1, 0.737 L?min-1 , 0.360L?min-1 ,12.1 L,43 L,213 L,respectively. For elderly patients, the clearances and volume of central compartment decreased with increasing age. Conclusions The pharmacokinetics of propofol in Chinese patients can be well described by a standard three-compartment pharmacokinetic model. Age and body weight can affect the parameters of the pharmacokinetic model. Pharmacokinetics adjusted to the individual patient should improve the precision of TCI system.