Objective To investigate static closure functional characteristics of lower urinary tract in continence in late pregnancy of primigravida through perineal ultrasound and urodynamieal measurement. Methods From January of 2003 to December of 2005,83 primigravida undergoing antenatal health care in Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital were randomly enrolled in the study, while 28 nulliparous women were recruited as control.The perineal ultrasound and urodynamical measurement were performed at the gestation age of 36-40 weeks,in both groups.We analysed the parameters of lower urinary tract function in late pregnancy compared with nullipara,such as maximal urethral closure pressure(MUCP),functional urethral length(FUL),maximal urethral pressure(MUP), valsalva leak point pressure(VLPP),postvoid residual bladder volume(PVRBV)and volume of first desire to voiding(VFDV).Results The average weight of 83 neonates was(3504?404)g.In all of 83 primigravida PVRBV was less than l0 ml.MUP(110 + 22)cm H_2O(1 cm H_2O=0.098 kPa),MUCP (96?22)cm H_2O and FUL(44?9)mm were significantly increased in the third trimester compared with nullipara(P0.05). There were 33 pregnant women suffering from urinary leakage throughout the terms.The data showed that MUCP was significantly lower in the pregnant women with symptoms of leaking than without leaking. Conclusion The static closure function increased significantly compared with nulliparous women.The VLPP was decreased and had relationship with symptoms of leakage.The results suggest that the function of lower urinary tract in continence in late pregnancy of primigravida is complex.

Background Ultraviolet irradiation promotes cellular apoptosis by affecting the mitochondrial transmembrane potential,including human lens epithelial cells (LECs).Gene associated with retinoid-interferoninduced mortality-19 (GRIM-19),a cell death regulatory protein,is essential for the assembly and function of mitochondrial complex Ⅰ.However,whether LECs apoptosis induced by ultraviolet irradiation is related to GRIM-19 is still unclear.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the apoptosis of human LECs caused by ultraviolet with GRIM-19 expression in vitro.Methods Human LEC line(SRA01/04)was cultured in α-MEM containing 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were exposed to ultraviolet ray at doses of 0,30,60,90,120 or 150 mJ/cm2 when cell growth reached the logarithmic phase and 80％ confluency.The rate of apoptosis of the cells was assayed using flow cytometry,and the level of expression and relative amount of GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) were detected by Western blot.The relationship between apoptosis and the GRIM-19/β-actin value among the different treatment groups was compared using One-way ANOVA,and the correlation of LECs apoptosis rate and GRIM-19 expression level was assessed by Pearson linear analysis.Results A significant difference was found in the apoptosis rate among the different treatment groups(F=149.32,P＜0.01).Compared with the 0 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation group,the apoptosis rate of LECs was significantly increased in the 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups (q =17.02,-25.20,-29.41,-8.61,P ＜ 0.01).The expression of the GRIM-19 protein in the LECs suspension was enhanced by ultraviolet irradiation at 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2.The relative expression of the GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) was significantly different among the various groups (F=6.87,P＜0.05),and the GRIM-19/β-actin values in the 60,90,120,150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups were elevated in comparison with the un-irradiated group(2.01±0.76,2.98± 1.80,3.97± 1.61,2.42± 1.28 vs.0.56±0.23),which showed statistically significant differences (q =4.12,-5.04,-7.09,-3.85,P ＜ 0.01).In addition,a positive correlation was seen between the rate of apoptosis and the expression of the GRIM-19 protein(r=0.71,P＜0.01).Conclusions GRIM-19 is expressed in normal human LECs.The apoptosis of human LECs accompanies the up-regulation of GRIM-19.The expression of GRIM-19 in LECs increases with ultraviolet irradiation in a doseindependent manner.

Background Epithelial-myofibroblast transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) induced by transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) is the main mechanism in the pathogenesis of posterior capsular opacification(PCO).Seeking an effective drug capable of inhibiting this process is important for the prevention and treatment of PCO.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of rapamycin (RAPA)on the proliferation of human LECs and TGF-β2-induced EMT.Methods Human LEC strain(SRA01/04)was cultured in DMEM with high glucose and 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were consequently cultured in serumfree DMEM with 5 mg/L TGF-β2,TGF-β2+10 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA or TGF-β2 +10 000 mg/L RAPA for 72 hours,and SRA01/04 cultured in serum-free DMEM were used as control.The proliferation rate(A490)of SRA01/04 in the different groups was detected using the MTT assay and the rate of inhibition of RAPA was calculated.The expressions of the α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) and E-cadherin(E-cad)mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot,respectively.The changes in the expression of α-SMA and E-cad in SRA01/04 were evaluated by Western blot 24,48 and 72 hours after TGF-β2 +400 mg/L RAPA treatment.Results The A490 value of SRA01/04 was 0.680±0.020,0.550±0.013,0.480±0.014,0.400±0.011 and 0.200±0.019 in the control group,TGF-β2 group,TGF-β2 + 10 mg/LRAPA group,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA group,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA and TGF-β2 + 10 000 mg/L RAPA group,respectively,showing a gradually declining trend in SRA01/04 rate of proliferation with increasing RAPA concentrations (F =101.920,P =0.000).RT-PCR and Western blot assay showed that the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA (α-SMA mRNA/β-actin mRNA)and protein (α-SMA/β-actin)in the cells were significantly increased in the TGF-β2 treatment group.However,with exposure to RAPA,the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA and protein were significantly lowered with increasing RAPA concentrations,but the expression levels of E-cad mRNA and protein were raised (α-SMA mRNA:F =294.660,P =0.000 ; α-SMA protein:F =346.950,P =0.000 ; E-cad mRNA:F =264.250,P =0.000 ; E-cad protein:F =317.327,P =0.000).In addition,after exposure to 400 mg/L RAPA,the expression levels of α-SMA protein gradually reduced and those of E-cad protein gradually increased with increasing treatment durations,showing significant differences among the different time points (α-SMA:F =693.864,P =0.000 ;E-cad:F=369.286,P =0.000).Conclusions RAPA can inhibit the proliferation of SRA01/04 in vitro and arrest EMT of SRA01/04 induced by TGF-β2 in a dose-and time-dependent manner.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of acupoint sticking therapy with Mian Tan Gao (facial paralysis paste) plus electroacupuncture (EA) for treating peripheral facial paralysis and its influence on patients' facial nerve functions, facial disability index and clinical symptoms and signs. Methods: A total of 96 peripheral facial paralysis patients were allocated into an observation group, a medicine group and an EA group by simple randomization, with 32 cases in each group. Patients in the medicine group were treated with oral mecobalamine and prednisone acetate; patients in the EA group were treated with EA on the basis of the medicine treatment; while patients in the observation group were treated with acupoint sticking therapy with Mian Tan Gao (facial paralysis paste) plus EA. After 4-week treatment, the clinical efficacy, the adverse events, and the scores of House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grading scale, visual analog scale (VAS), clinical symptoms and signs, and facial disability index (FDI) were compared. Results: After 4-week treatment, the total effective rate was 96.9％ in the observation group, higher than 68.7％ in the medicine group and 75.0％ in the EA group (both P<0.05). After 4-week treatment, the scores of H-B grading scale, VAS and clinical symptoms and signs in the three groups dropped significantly compared with those before treatment, and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the medicine group and EA group (all P<0.05). After 4-week treatment, the facial disability index-physical function (FDIP) in the FDI in the three groups increased significantly, with a higher value in the observation group compared with that in the medicine group and EA group (both P<0.05). The facial disability index-social function (FDIS) in the FDI dropped significantly, with a lower score in the observation group compared with that in the medicine group and EA group (both P<0.05). However, the comparisons of the items above between the medicine group and the EA group showed no statistical significance (all P>0.05). The between-group comparison of the adverse event across the three groups showed no statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion: Acupoint sticking therapy with Mian Tan Gao (facial paralysis paste) plus EA can decrease H-B grade, reduce pain severity and improve clinical symptoms and signs as well as the facial disability condition in peripheral facial paralysis patients. This method produced more significant efficacy compared with oral medicine and medicine plus EA.

The deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin specific peptidase 15 (USP15) is regarded as a regulator of TGFβ signaling pathway. This process depends on Smad7, the inhibitory factor of the TGFβ signal, and type I TGFβ receptor (TβR-I), one of the receptors of TGFβ. The expression level of USP15 seems to play vital roles in the pathogenesis of many neoplasms, but so far there has been no report about USP15 in psoriasis. In this study, immunohistochemical staining of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 was performed in 30 paraffin-embedded psoriasis specimens and 10 normal specimens to investigate the expression of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 in psoriasis and to explore the relevance among them. And USP15 small interfering RNA (USP15 siRNA) was used to transfect Hacat cells to detect the mRNA expression of TβR-I and Smad7. Of 30 cases of psoriasis in active stage, 28, 24 and 26 cases were positive for USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 staining, respectively. The positive rates of USP15 and Smad7 were significantly higher in psoriasis specimens than in normal skin specimens (44.1%±26.0% vs. 6.1%±6.6%, 47.2%±27.1% vs. 6.6%±7.1%), and positive rate of TβR-I (20.3%±22.2%) in psoriasis was lower than that in normal skin specimens (46.7%±18.2%). There was a significant positive correlation between USP15 and Smad7 expression, and significant negative correlations between USP15 and TβR-expression, an I d between TβR- and Smad7 expression I in psoriasis. After transfection of USP15 siRNA in Hacat cells, the expression of TβR-mRNA was up I -regulated and that of Smad7 was down-regulated. It is concluded that USP15 may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis through regulating the TβR-I/Smad7 pathway and there may be other cell signaling pathways interacting with USP15 to take part in the development of psoriasis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the expression of turnor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA in fat tissue of intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) rats and insulin resistance, and the long-term effects of early different nutritional diet.

METHODSThe IUGR rat model was established by food restriction of pregnant rats. A total of 32 newborn IUGR rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: IUGR model (S/N) group, IUGR high caloric diet (A) group, IUGR high caloric and high protein diet (B) group, IUGR high protein diet (C) group. Only the mother rats were given those different diets individually, and all IUGR newborn pups were lactated for 3 weeks. From the beginning of the 4(th) week, all IUGR pups were weaned and fed with normal diet till the end of the experiment. Eight normal birth weight newborn rats were used as the control group fed with the normal diet. Weight, perirenal fat weight, fasting glucose and insulin concentration and quantified TNF-alpha mRNA expression in adipose cell were measured at the 48(th) week. The insulin sensitive index (ISI) and the relation index between TNF-alpha mRNA and fat weight, fat weight/body weight (fw/bw) ratio and ISI were calculated.

RESULTSISI of IUGR model group, IUGR A and B groups was lower than normal control group, while perirenal fat weight, fw/bw and the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in adipose cells were all significantly higher (P < 0.05 or 0.01). There were no significant differences in these indexes between IUGR C group and normal control groups (P > 0.05). A positive correlation was found between TNF-alpha mRNA and fat weight and fw/bw (r(1) = 0.755, r(2) = 0.782, P = 0.000). Significant inverse associations between ISI and TNF-alpha mRNA (r = -0.556, P = 0.000) and fw/bw (r = -0.513, P = 0.02) were also found.

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of insulin resistance in IUGR rats is possibly associated with central obesity and accumulation of the abdominal fat and adipose cell over-expression of TNF-alpha. The adipose TNF-alpha may be an important pathogenic factor of insulin resistance of IUGR. High protein diet is a reasonable nutritional intervention. Because it promotes the skeleton muscle catch-up growth but not fat catch-up growth, it can avoid the occurrence of central obesity and insulin resistance in IUGR rats.

Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; Animals ; Diet ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Insulin Resistance ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in rats with pulmonary damage induced by paraquat (PQ).

METHODSFifty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into the control group (normal saline), the PQ-treatment groups (4 groups) and the PDTC treatment groups (4 groups). Except the rats in the control group, the rats in the PQ group were gavaged only with 40 mg/kg PQ, and PDTC group with 40 mg/kg PQ plus immediate injection 120 mg/kg PDTC (i.p). On the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and 28th day after treatments, one group rats of each treatments were sacrificed and lung and blood samples were collected. The level of TGF-beta(1) protein in the plasma, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta(1), MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were evaluated using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, while pathological changes of lung were examined under optical microscope and electrical microscope.

RESULTSThe TGF-beta(1) protein, TGF-beta(1) and MMP-2 mRNA expression were increased significantly in the earlier stage and then decreased after PQ administration (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the mRNA level of TIMP-1 was augmented continuously (P < 0.01) throughout the study compared to the control group. In comparison with the PQ group, in the PDTC treatment group, the TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression on the 3rd and the 14th day, 0.54 +/- 0.08 and 0.72 +/- 0.04 respectively, the MMP-2 mRNA expression on the 7th and 14th day, 1.62 +/- 0.50 and 1.97 +/- 0.34 respective-ly, and the TIMP-1 mRNA on the 7th and 21st day, 1.79 +/- 0.21 and 2.00 +/- 0.34 respectively, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPDTC could attenuate paraquat-induced up-regulation of TGF-beta(1) and its mRNA expression, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA levels, which indicates that PDTC may exert its protective effects on paraquat-induced pulmonary damage by alleviating the earlier inflammation damage and adjust-ing the balance between MMPs and TIMPs. However, further studies are still warranted to investigate and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this complicated process.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pyrrolidines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application and adverse reactions of shengmai injection and their related factors.

METHODSChina National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database was searched with the key word of "Shengmai Injection" from January 1983 to March 2009 to collect the literature regarding clinical study on shengmai injection, and the dose, indication, medicating path and method, solvent of the drug used, as well as the duration of treatment course and adverse reaction occurred were analysed.

RESULTSFinally, 647 documents involving 28,305 patients were included. Adverse reactions occurred in 215 patients, including anaphylactic response (anaphylactic shock, systemic anaphylaxis and skin rash) in 56 patients, and the adverse reactions on various systems, organs and tissues in 159 patients among whom there were a case of acute severe liver damage and a case of heart damage with severe sinus arrest. All patients were improved after treatment with no report of dead case.

CONCLUSIONShengmai injection has been widely applied in clinical practice since it came into the market in 1983, and its chief adverse reaction is the anaphylactic reaction. Excepting the relation with individual constitution, the occurrence of the adverse reaction is also related to its improper clinical application, such as incorrect combination with other drugs, over-high dosage used and age factor, etc. The prevention, monitoring and in time treatment of the adverse reactions and standardized rational medication of the drug should be stressed in the application of Shengmai Injection by clinical physicians.

Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Injections

This investigation was made to assess the effect of iron overload on function of pancreatic islet cells in Wistar rats. Sixty-five male rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group A received repeated intraperitoneal (i. p.) injections of ferric nitrilotriacetate (FeNTA); Group B received the equivalent dose of Na2 NTA; Group C received i. p. injection of Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid in addition to FeNTA; and Group D rats were untreated controls. Glucose tolerance tests were performed at the beginning, 5th week, and 10th week. Serum iron(SI) and serum ferritin (SF) were measured. The pancreatic tissues were taken for immunohistochemical exam; the levels of Insulin, Glucagon, ss in islets were also evaluated. At the 10th week, the levels of plasma glucose at 2 hours after glucose load in groups A and C were higher than those in groups B and D (P = 0.043); the granules of insulin in beta cells of group A were decreased obviously, the area of islets of group A was smaller than those of other groups (P = 0. 000). Iron overload might influence glycometabolism. And the beta cells' capability to secrete insulin was decreased obviously. Therefore, by way of removing iron, it is possible to protect the rat's glycometabolism to some extent.
Animals ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Insulin ; secretion ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; physiology ; secretion ; Iron Overload ; complications ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIM: To investigate therapeutic efficiency of amniotic extraction on dry eye in rabbit model induced by topical benzalkonium chloride (BAC).
METHODS: Totally 26 rabbits (26 right eyes) with dry eye model were studied and divided into two groups:group A (control group with PBS eye drops, n = 13) and group B ( amniotic extraction group, n = 13). Another two rabbits were chosen as normal control. The SchirmerⅠ tests ( S Ⅰ t) and corneal fluorescein staining ( FL) were made, and the tear total protein content, amylase activity, lactoferrin, lysozyme contents, goblet cell density were performed in two groups before treatment and 1, 2, 4 and 8 wk after treatment.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in SIT, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density among different groups at different time points (P<0. 05). But, there was no significant differences in SⅠt, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups before treatment (P>0. 05). After 8wks' treatment with PBS, the mean differences of the group A showed great changes in SⅠt, lysozyme and goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P < 0. 05); but there was no significant differences in FL scores compared with those before treatment (P>0. 05). As for group B, 8wks after treatment, there were statistical changes in SⅠt, FL, lysozyme (P<0. 05); but there was no significant differences in goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P > 0. 05). It was evident that statistical differences were observed in S Ⅰ t, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups at each time point (P<0. 05). However, there were no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity at different time points (P>0. 05). Meanwhile there was no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups before treatment ( P > 0. 05 ). But there were significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups after 4 and 8 wks'treatment (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: Amniotic extraction has significant therapeutic effect on the dry eye in rabbit model.