AIM: To explore the protective effect of curcumin on high glucose-induced decrease in contraction of isolated rat aortic rings, and to elucidate its underlying mechanism. METHODS: The thoracic aortic rings with endothelium of male Sprague-Dawley rats were mounted on a bath system. Isometric contractions of aortic rings were measured. HO activity was also evaluated. RESULTS: (1)Four hours after incubated with 44 mmol/L of glucose (high glucose),the vascular contraction responses to phenylephrine (PE) decreased compared to control group (containing 11 mmol/L of glucose). (2)Coincubation with curcumin (3×10~(-11)-3×10~(-10) mol/L) and high glucose,the high glucose-induced decrease in contraction responses to PE of arteries was partly inhibited. (3)Four hours after incubation with curcumin,the HO activity in thoracic aorta increased. ZnPP,an inhibitor of HO-1,completely abrogated the protection effect of curcumin. (4)Methylene blue,an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase (GC),partly abolished the protective effect of curcumin. CONCLUSION: Curcumin prevents the high glucose-induced decrease in contraction responses to PE in intact aortic rings. The mechanism might be mainly involved in the activation of HO-1 and GC.

Objective Investigate the prognosis of patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for end-stage autoirnmune liver disease (ALD).Method The clinical data of 45 patients with endstage ALD undergoing LT from April 2001 to March 2015 in the first affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University were analyzed retrospectively.The postoperative cumulative survival rate of the recipients was calculated,and the causes of death were analyzed.The postoperative rejections,new onset viral hepatitis and ALD recurrence were also analyzed.Result In 45 ALD recipients,33 cases survived and the postoperative 5-year cumulative survival rate was 78.8％.Causes for 12 dead cases were mnultiple organ failure,liver graft failure,respiratory complications,hemorrhage and hepatic artery embolization.In 45 ALD recipients,6 cases suffered rejection after operation with the incidence bing 13.3％.One case suffered new onset hepatitis B infection 8 years after opcration.One recipient suffered primary disease (primary biliary cirrhosis) recurrence 2 years after operation,and 1 recipient with primary disease (primary sclerosing cholangitis) developed into overlap syndrome.They all survived for a long term after active treatments.Conclusion Most LT recipients with endstage ALD can obtain a long term survival.Attentions should be paid to the immunosuppressive regimens in early period after LT,prevention of infection,rejection and postoperative new onset viral hepatitis,and timely diagnosis of primary disease recurrence.