Objective To evaluate collaborative effect of the combination with edaravone and ganglioside GM1 (GM1) in treatment of acute cerebral infarction.Methods Factorial design was adopted in the study.All 71 patients with acute cer- ebral infarction were divided into the general treatment group(treated routinely by Compound Salvia Mihiorrhiza Bunge In- jection and aspirin)18 eases,the edaravone group(treated by edaravone and the general treatment)17 case,the GM_1 group (treated by GM_1 and the general treatment)18 cases,the combined treatment group(treated by edaravone and GM1 and the general treatment)18 cases.NIHSS score and Barthel Index(BI) score were recorded before treatment and after treat- ment.Results edaravone and GM_1 reduced NIHSS score of patients with acute cerebral infarction respectively(edaravone :F=12.36,P

0.05).Conclusion The results of pharmacokinetic study on salvianolate can guide the clinical trial design and reasonableuse of medicaments in clinic.

OBJECTIVE:To determine serum concentrations of western medicines in patients treated with "traditional Chinese antiepileptic medicine" alone and to evaluate the curative effects.METHODS:A total of 60 epileptic patients who visited our hospital between Feb.1997 and June 2006 were subjected to plasma drug level monitoring and during which the patients were treated with "traditional Chinese antiepileptic drugs" alone.Plasma concentrations of 4 kinds of western medicin-es were determined by FPIA.RESULTS:Of the 60 cases,valproic acid,carbamazepine,phenytoin and phenobarbitone were detected in 18,40,41,and 47 cases/times,respectively.On average,more than two kinds of western medicines were detected in every patient,and the blood concentrations were mostly beyond effective plasma drug concentration.The total curative effects were unsatisfactory.CONCLUSION:The fact that western medicine ingredients detected in these traditional Chinese antiepileptic medicines is inconformity with medication principle of epilepsy.Traditional Chinese antiepileptic medicines should be used with caution in the clinic in the treatment of epileptic patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at point Fenglong(ST40) on the expressions of macrophage surface antigen CD11b and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in hyperlipidemia rats. Method Forty healthy SD rats were randomly allocated to normal control, high fat diet, high fat+common diet, high fat diet and treatment, and high fat+common diet and treatment groups. After 28 days of treatment with electroacupuncture at point Fenglong, blood lipid levels, namely, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) contents were measured in every group of rats. The expressions of peritoneal macrophage surface antigen CD11b and ICAM-1 were examined using flow cytometry (FCM) in every group of rats. Result Plasma TC and LDL-C increased significantly in the high fat diet group of rats compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). In the high fat+common diet group of rats, serum TC and LDL-C decreased significantly in comparison with the high fat diet group (P<0.01) but increased significantly in comparison with the normal control group (P<0.01). After treatment with electroacupuncture at point Fenglong, rat plasma TC and LDL-C decreased significantly (P<0.01) and TG and HDL-C did not change significantly (P>0.05). The expression rates of macrophage CD11b and ICAM-1 increased significantly in the high fat diet group of rats compared with the normal group (P<0.01). In the high fat+common diet group of rats, the expression rates of macrophage CD11b and ICAM-1 decreased significantly in comparison with the high fat diet group (P<0.05) but increased significantly in comparison with the normal group (P<0.01). The expression rates of CD11b and ICAM-1 decreased significantly in the high fat diet and treatment group compared with the high fat diet group (P<0.01) and decreased significantly in the high fat+common diet and treatment group compared with the high fat+common diet group (P<0.01) and the high fat diet and treatment group (P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that CD11b and ICAM-1 levels had a significantly positive correlation (r=0.947, P<0.01). Conclusion Electroacupuncture at point Fenglong can significantly down-regulate blood fat TC and LDL-C levels and the expressions of macrophage CD11b and ICAM-1 in hyperlipidemia rats. It has a certain therapeutic effect on hyperlipidemia.

Objective:To analyze the correlation factors between peripapillary duodenal diverticulum (PDD) and choledochectasia by CT scan.Methods:The clinical data of 220 patients with duodenal diverticulum detected by multi-slice spiral CT scan and confirmed by gastrointestinal angiography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Dahua Hospital, Xuhui District of Shanghai City were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation of the PDD, the contact of common bile duct (CBD), length of contact and exudation with choledochectasia in patients with PDD were analyzed.Results:A total of 236 duodenal diverticulum were found in 220 patients. Among them, there were 152 PDD, 41 diverticulum located superior to the duodenal papilla, 28 diverticulum located inferior to the duodenal papilla, 3 diverticulum located lateral to the duodenal papilla, and 12 diverticulumlocated in the horizontal portion. The incidence of choledochectasia in patients with PDD contacted with CBD was significantly higher than that in patients with PDD not contacted with CBD: 59.35% (73/123) vs. 37.93% (11/29), and there was statistical difference ( P<0.05); the incidence of choledochectasia in patients with contact length of PDD and CBD ≥1.5 cm was significantly higher than that in patients without contact of PDD and CBD and patients with contact length of PDD and CBD <1.5 cm: 82.43% (61/74) vs. 24.49% (12/49) and 37.93% (11/29), and there was statistical difference ( P<0.05); the incidence of choledochectasia in PDD patients with exudation was significantly higher than that in PDD patients without exudation: 10/11 vs. 52.48% (74/141), and there was statistical difference ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The patients with contact length of PDD and CBD ≥1.5 cm and patients with PDD combined with exudation could be prone to choledochectasia.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of growth hormone (GH) combined with Radix Dipsaci on the body growth and the bone mineral content (BMC) of hypophysectomized rats.

METHODSThe GH deficiency rats model was established using the hypophysectomized operation through the skull and the throat. Qualified rats were divided into the sham-operation group (n = 15), the negative control group (n = 13), the GH intervention group (n = 13), and the GH combined with Radix Dipsaci group(n = 12). GH (0.25 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected from the cervical part in the GH intervention group and the GH combined with Radix Dipsaci group at the same time, while equal volume of normal saline was injected to the rest groups. 0.7 mL/100 kg Radix Dipsaci was given by gastrogavage to the GH combined with Radix Dipsaci group at the same time, while equal volume of normal saline was given by gastrogave to the rest groups. The body weight, the tail length, and the body length were measured during the intervention period. Blood was withdrawn after 14-day intervention. The femoral bone and the tibial bone were taken out. The levels of GH, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin (OC) were measured. The width of the tibial epiphyseal plate was measured. The bilateral femur bone mineral density (BMD) and BMC were measured using the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTSThe body weight, the body length, the length of the femoral bone, the length of the tibial bone, the width of the epiphyseal plate, the levels of the GH, IGF-1, ALP, and OC increased in the GH intervention group and the GH combined with Radix Dipsaci group after 2-week intervention, showing statistical difference when compared with the model group (P < 0.01). But there was no statistical difference in the tail length though it also increased (P > 0.05). There was insignificant difference in the aforesaid indices between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the BMD of the GH combined with Radix Dipsaci group increased with statistical difference (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the BMC of the GH intervention group and the GH combined with Radix Dipsaci group increased with statistical difference (P < 0.01). It was highest in the GH combined with Radix Dipsaci group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGH combined with Radix Dipsaci showed unobvious effect on promoting the growth. But it could elevate BMD and BMC, and improve the bone metabolism.

Animals ; Bone Development ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Dipsacaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; Hypophysectomy ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Cadmium ; toxicity ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

Objective:To investigate the correlation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PRRC2A gene with the susceptibility to sporadic breast cancer among Han women in Jiangsu Province, China. Methods:Using the genotyping technique of matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, we analyzed the polymorphisms of an SNP (chr6_31697494) in gene PRRC2A in 214 breast cancer patients and 212 healthy controls admitted to the Huaian Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital. The genotype frequencies were analyzed using a Chi-square test between the case and control groups. Unconditional lo-gistic regression analysis for calculating the odds ratio (OR) and 95%confidence interval (95%CI) was conducted by analyzing the cor-relation between the susceptibility to breast cancer and genotypes. Additional analysis was then performed based on the immunohisto-chemical results of the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR). Results:The genotype frequencies for chr6_31697494 between the case and control groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). Further analysis indicated that the genotype frequencies of the site were significantly different in the ER (+/-) groups or the PR (+/-) groups (P<0.05). Heterozygous genotype (chr6_31697494, CT) was related to the breast cancers with ER (+) and PR (+) (OR=0.40, 95%CI:0.33-0.47;OR=0.49, 95%CI:0.43-0.57, respectively). Conclusion:No significant difference was found between the polymorphism of chr6_31697494 in the PRRC2A gene and the suscepti-bility to breast cancer among Han women in Jiangsu Province. The heterozygous genotypes were associated with breast cancer tissues with ER (+) and PR (+).

Objective:To investigate the effects of oxymatrine(OM)on the apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells and its possible mechanisms.Methods:HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of OM.The proliferation inhibition was measured by MTT assay and the apoptosis of HepG2 cells were examined by Hochest staining method.Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rate.The expression of caspase-3,Bcl-2,Bcl-x_L and Bax proteins was assayed by Western blotting assay.Results:OM inhibited HepG2 cells growth in a time-and dose-dependent manner.After treatment with OM for 24 hours,some cells appeared typical apoptotic characteristics and the apoptosis rate was increased. Treatment with OM also increased caspase-3 activity and Bax expression in HepG2 cells,and decreased the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L.Conclusion:OM can induce HepG2 cell apoptosis,which may be related to the down-regulation of PI3K/Akt signal pathway,suppression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L activity,and activation of caspase-3.

Technological improvement for microorgnism isolation is important since isolation provides substantial materials for the exploitation of new microbial resources. In this study, a new approach, dispersion and differential cetrifugation (DDC), was applied in the isolation of acidophilic and acidoduric streptomycetes from 12 acid soil samples. Contrast with traditional method, the new approach yielded satisfying results with 2 - 20 times isolation efficiency and good selectivity. 45 representatives out of 249 streptomycetes isolates, which belonged to 12 color groups, showed morphology and cell wall type consistent with streptomycetes. The optimum pH range for their growth were between pH 4.5 - 5.5. It is proved that we succeeded in the rare-streptomycetes isolation using DDC approach.