This study is to evaluate the effects of Shenmai injection on the temporal alterations of action potential (AP), early afterdepolarization (EAD) and delayed afterdepolarization (DAD) in papillary muscles. The action potentials were recorded by a glass electrode. APD at 90% repolarization (APD9 ) was measured, and spontaneous EAD and DAD were observed. The results show APD90 was significantly prolonged in model group compared with sham-operated group, whereas it was remained unchanged in Shenmai injec- tion treatment group and amiodarone group. The spontaneous EADs and DADs were frequently visible in model group. In conclusion, EAD, DAD and trigger activities increase gradually during pathological progression of rat cardiac hypertrophy, and Shenmai injection could improve the action potential change in rat cardiac hypertrophy.
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Cardiomegaly ; physiopathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Injections ; Male ; Papillary Muscles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To investigate the effect of flavonoids from Sophora flavescens in aging mice induced by D-galactose and its mechanism. Totally 60 mice were randomly divided into six groups: the control group, the model group, the piracetam group (positive control group) and flavonoids from S. flavescens low, medium and high doses groups. Except for the control group, all of the rest groups were subcutaneously injected with D-galactose (160 mg x kg(-1)) for successively 30 days to establish the sub-acute senescent model. Meanwhile, flavonoids from S. flavescens low, medium and high doses groups were respectively administered with 150, 300 and 600 mg xkg-('1)of flavonoids from S. flavescens for 30 days. The learning and memory abilities of mice were determined by avoiding darkness ex-eriment and jumping stair experiment. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) tumor necrosis factor-aα NF-aα the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) Na'(+)K'(+)-ATPase and Ca2(+ )-ATPase in the brain of mice were deter-ined respectively after the behavioral experiments. The activity of lactic dehydrogenase ( DH) in blood serum was also determined and analyzed by microscope after HE staining to observe the changes in hippocampal organizational structure. Compared with the model group, flavonoids from S. favescens medium and high doses groups showed significantly increases in the latency of avoiding darkness and jumping stair experiments; flavonoids from S. fllvescens low, medium and high doses groups and the piracetam group showed de-reases in the numbers of errors in avoiding darkness experiment; the flavonoids from S. flavescens high dose group and the piracetam group showed reduction- n the number of errors in jumping stair experiment (P <0 . 5 or P <0 . 1). Flavonoids from S. flavescens me-ium and high doses groups and the piracetam group showed improvements in the activities of SOD, Na'(+)K'(+)ATPase in the brain of mice and declines in the contents of MDA and TNF-aα the activity of MAO-B in the brain of mice, the activity of LDH in blood serum (P <0 . 5 or P <0 . 1). Flavonoids from S. flavescens low, medium and high doses groups and the piracetam group also showed im-rovement in the activity of Ca2(+ )ATPase, with statistical difference from the model group (P <0 . 5 or P <0 . 1). The pathological result showed decreases in the number of cells of hippocampal dentate gyrus area, sparse cell arrangement, incomplete cellular mor-hology, scarce cytoplasm, blurred boundary between nucleus and cytoplasm, nuclei anachromasis, irregular pyknosis and unconspicu-us nucleoli in the model group. Compared with the model group, flavonoids from S. flavescens low, medium and high doses groups and the piracetam group showed improvements in hippocampal organization tissues. Flavonoids from S. favescens can improve the learning and memory ability of senescent mice induced by D-galactose. Its mechanism may be correlated with the enhancement of anti-oxidative actions by lowering TNF-aαcontent, which results in the stability of cell membrane and the reduction in MAO-B activity.
Aging ; drug effects ; metabolism ; psychology ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; Galactose ; adverse effects ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Sterigmatocystin (ST), the secondary metabolite of many kinds of filamentous fungi, is a potent carcinogen structurally related to the aflatoxins (AFT). With similar chemical structure, sterigmatocystion behaves much the homogeneous properties to aflatoxins, both of these mycotoxins exhibit similar biological properties due to their bisfuranoid structure. Since the common, and even heavier pollution, found in foods and feeds-stuff, sterigmatocystion is more harmful than aflatoxins. The reported detection methods of sterigmatocystion included the Thin-layer Chromatography, the High-Performance-Liquid Chromatography, the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay and the PCR detection to the toxic gene, however studies about both easy and inexpensive electro-chemical methods have not been found. Our previous studies had discovered that Sterigmatocystin (ST) exist similar sensitivity towards aflatoxin-detoxifizyme (ADTZ), which we had isolated from a fungus, as aflatoxin does. In this work, the preliminary study on electrochemical analysis and determination of ST with triplet electrode enzyme-biosensor system (Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode, Pt and Au as the pair and work electrode, respectively) was carried out. Multiwall-carbon-nanotube (MWNT) had been used to increase the electron transportation on electrode. In the research, the Au electrode was modified by MWNT-immobilized ADTZ, and then the voltammertric behavior of ST was studied by means of cyclic voltammogram analysis and different pulse analysis. Autoprobe CP Research Atomic Force Microscope and TECNAI 10 Transmission Electron Microscope, had been used to detect the MWNT as well as the surface of MWNT-modified ADTZ. The voltammertric behavior of ST was studied by means of cyclic voltammogram analysis and different pulse analysis. The results show that the red-ox peak potential of ST is at the point of -600 mV, the linear detection range is from 8.32 x 10(-5) to 66.56 x 10(-5) mg/mL, the detection limit is at 8.32 x 10(-5) mg/mL, and the response time is 10 seconds. This study provided a good basic work for further research.
Biosensing Techniques ; methods ; Electrochemistry ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; chemistry ; Sterigmatocystin ; analysis

This study was purposed to investigate the dynamically monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) by flow cytometry (FCM) in patients with acute leukemia (AL) after complete remission and its relation with prognosis. From October 2010 to May 2012, 58 cases of AL (including 45 cases of AML and 13 cases of ALL) were regularly monitored for MRD in bone marrow by FCM and their bone marrow morphology was observed by light microscopy at the same time which continued to relapse or to follow-up deadline in the Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Through average follow-up for 9 months (3 - 21 months), the average MRD level of patients with CR was got. And the prognostic value of MRD level at different time points in AL patients after CR was analysed and summarized. MRD ≥ 1% was defined as positive, otherwise, as negative. The results showed that the maximum and minimum MRD levels of 45 AML patients were 9.57% and 0.01% respectively, the average was 0.67%; the maximum and minimum MRD levels of 13 cases of ALL patients were 7.9% and 0.0016% respectively, the average was 0.99%. Among 44 cases after induction therapy, the relapse rate of MRD(+) group was 53.3% (8/15), the relapse rate of MRD(-) group was 10.3% (3/29), and the relapse rate of MRD(+) group was higher than that of MRD(-) group (χ(2) = 7.58, P = 0.006). Among 58 cases after the first consolidatory therapy, the relapse rate of MRD(+) group was 62.5% (5/8), the relapse rate of MRD(-) group was 16.0% (8/50), and the relapse rate of MRD(+) group was higher than that of MRD(-) group (χ(2) = 6.11, P = 0.013). It is concluded that MRD detected by FCM has a large range (10(-6) - 10(-2)), which can not be used as a single indicator of complete remission. When MRD ≥ 1% after induction therapy and the first consolidatory therapy, the relapse rate significantly increases, MRD can be used as a sensitive indicator for prognosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Remission Induction ; Young Adult

Abstract: Due to the continued emergence of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the ongoing pandemic has resulted in severe mortality over the past two years. After the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants, the most recent new variant of concern (VOC) strain to emerge is Omicron (B.1.1.529), which evolved as a result of the accumulation of a large number of mutations. The Omicron variant, which has a much higher transmission rate than the Delta variant, soon replaced the Delta variant and others, is now the dominant variant worldwide. The emergence of Omicron poses new challenges for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and has raised a number of concerns worldwide. Recently, cases of Omicron infection have been reported in several parts of China, and therefore this paper provides a comprehensive analysis and summary of the epidemiology and immune escape mechanisms of the Omicron variant. We also suggest some therapeutic strategies against the Omicron variant, including rapid diagnosis, genome analysis of emerging variants, ramping up of vaccination drives and receiving booster doses, updating the available vaccines, designing of multivalent vaccines able to generate hybrid immunity, up-gradation of medical facilities and strict implementation of adequate prevention and control measures need to be given high priority to handle the on-going COVID-19 pandemic successfully.

This study was designed to investigate the correlation between autophagy and polarization of macrophages in atherosclerosis (AS) plaque in arteriosclerosis obliterans amputees. Femoral artery specimens from arteriosclerosis obliterans amputees were performed hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, oil red O and immunofluorescence staining to observe the morphology of atherosclerotic plaque, phenotype of macrophages and autophagy in plaque; using real-time quantitative RT-PCR technology to detect the mRNA level of M1 and M2 type markers in arterial tissue; to analyze polarized signal pathway and autophagy protein levels in macrophages by Western blotting. Arterial specimens staining showed obvious lipid deposition and obvious infiltration of amount of foam cells and inflammatory cells. Macrophages were mainly expression M1 type in percentage in fibrous plaque. Although both M1 and M2 macrophages were upregulated in atheromatous plaque, the increase was dominant in M2 type in percentage. The level of autophagy was significantly higher in the atheromatous plaque than that of fibrous plaque. The expression of tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) mRNA was significantly higher in fibrous plaque than that of atheromatous plaque (P < 0.01 or 0.05), and arginase-1 (Arg-1), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), CD163 and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA was significantly lower than that in atheromatous plaque (P < 0.01). The levels of p-STAT1 and NF-κB were significantly increased in fibrous plaque (P < 0.01), while p-STAT6 expression was significantly increased in atheromatous plaque (P < 0.01). The level of LC3-II was significantly higher in atheromatous plaque than that in fibrous plaque (P < 0.01). Macrophages in early atherosclerotic plaque were induced to M1 type through p-STAT1/NF-κB pathway and expressed moderate levels of autophagy; while macrophages in advanced plaques were induced to polarization of M2 type through p-STAT6 pathway. M2 macrophages expressed a higher level of autophagy than M1 macrophages.
Amputees ; Arginase ; metabolism ; Arteriosclerosis Obliterans ; pathology ; Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; Autophagy ; Cell Polarity ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Phenotype ; STAT6 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Objective To investigate the feasibility and primary therapeutic effect of inverted Y-shaped self-expandable metal stent for complex airway stenosis.Methods On the standpoint of the peculiar anatomic structure and the pathological changes of complex airway stenosis,we designed the inverted Y-shaped self- expandable metal stent.Under the fluoroscopic guidance,7 stents were implanted in 7 cases of airway complex stenosis.Results The inverted Y-shaped self-expandable metal stents were placed seccussfully,with instantaneous relief of dyspnea and improvement of living quality.Conclusion The placement of inverted Y- shaped self-expandable metal stent is feasible and safe for treating airway complex stenosis.(J Intervent Radiol, 2007,16:92-94)

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Radiography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of serum sex hormones and parathyroid hormone (PTH) with the biochemical markers of bone turnover in aged men.

METHODSWe collected the laboratory data of 465 men aged 60- 93 (73. 1 +/- 8. 3) years old, who came for routine physical examinations in our hospital. We obtained the levels of serum follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), PTH, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25(OH) D3), and bone turnover markers C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), osteocalcin (OC) and amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP). We also determined free testosterone (FT) , bioactive testosterone (BT) , testosterone secretion index (TSI) and FT index (FTI), and analyzed the correlation of each index with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.

RESULTSThe concentrations of serum FSH, LH, and SHBG increased, while the levels of FT, BT, TSI, FTI, PTH, CTX, OC and PINP decreased with age, especially in those over 80 years old (P <0.05). PTH was positively correlated with CTX, OC and PINP (r =0. 227, 0. 269 and 0. 162, P <0. 01), even after the adjustment for age, while SHBG negatively correlated with OC (r = -0. 100, P <0.05). The bone turnover markers increased with the elevation of the PTH quartiles, with significant differences between the first and the fourth quartile (P <0. 01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age was correlated inversely with CTX, OC and PINP ( beta = -0. 126, -0. 141 and -0. 122, P <0.05) , PTH positively with the three markers (beta = 0. 196, 0.279 and 0.189; P <0. 001), and SHBG negatively with OC ( beta = -0. 100, P <0.05) .

CONCLUSIONAging is the fundamental cause of reduced bone turnover in aged men. The levels serum PTH and SHBG are significantly associated with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; physiology ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood

A new aporphine alkaloid (1), together with five known analogues (2-6), has been isolated from the branch of Litsea greenmaniana by using various chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis ( MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR) as 2,9-dihydroxy-1,10-dimethoxy-4,5-dihydro-7-oxoaporphine (1), laurotetanine (2), N-methyllaurotetanine (3), isodomesticine (4), isocorydine (5), and norisocorydine (6). Compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2-6 were obtained from this plant for the first time.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Aporphines ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Litsea ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization