OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of carbon monoxide(CO) inhalation in the limb ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of rats.

METHODSForty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: S, I/R and RC groups. I/R injury model was made by the occlusion of the femoral artery for four hours and the reperfusion for forty-eight hours. RC group was exposed to medical air mixed CO (the volume fraction of CO: 0.05%) during limb reperfusion in rats. The other two groups were exposed to the routine air. Gross morphology of the ischemic limb, wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D), and skeletal muscle histopathology were observed. The apoptosis index and expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 in the muscle were assessed with Flow Cytometry. The activities of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) were tested by Automatic Biochemical Analyzer.

RESULTSCompared to I/R group, W/D, serum LDH and CK activities, the apoptosis index and Bax expression level in the muscle were all significantly decreased, the Bcl-2 expression level was significantly increased, gross morphology of the ischemic limb and muscle histopathology were obviously improved in RC group.

CONCLUSIONInhaling exogenous CO can attenuate limb I/R injury.

Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; pharmacology ; Creatine Kinase ; metabolism ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Femoral Artery ; Ischemia ; physiopathology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; pathology ; Renal Dialysis ; Sarcoidosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Tuberculosis, Renal ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of carbon monoxide (CO) inhalation on the serious limb ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, and which effects caused to shock in rats.

METHODS36 SD rats were randomly divided into I/R, I/R + CO (RC), sham operation (S) groups. I/R injury models were made by the occlusion of the femoral artery for 8 h and the reperfusion for 12 h, 10 d. Before reperfusion of 2 h, RC group started to breathe medical air containing CO (the volume fraction of CO: 0.075%) continuously, until after reperfusion for 4 h, a total of inhalation 6 h. S, I/R groups exposed to air, breathe freely. Caudal artery pressures (CAP), ten days survival rate, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activity, limb wet - to - dry weight ratio (W/D) and the pathologic changes of limb were observed.

RESULTSOnce the reperfusion started, the CAP decreased rapidly in I/R group, and the mean reduced to(5.3259 +/- 0.3832) kPa when reperfusion for 8 h. Compared to I/R group, the CAP decreased slower and smaller in RC group, moreover, its mean reduced to (8.3300 +/- 0.4224) kPa when reperfusion for 8 h. The 10 d survival rate in I/R group was that 8 rats died all between reperfusion for 13 - 20 h. Only 1 rat died in RC group and the other 7 rats were still alive when reperfusion for 10 d. Compared to I/R group, the pathological features of the ischemic limb were significant ly improved, and the figures of W/D, serum LDH and CK value were remarkable lower in RC group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInhaling exogenous low-dose CO has a reverse regulation in the blood pressure decline caused by serious limb I/R injury in rats. And at the same time, it can effectively prevent the occurrence of shock, reduce physical damage, significantly increase the survival rate of animals.

Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Extremities ; blood supply ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Shock ; etiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo describe the characteristic of tongue images of patients with lung cancer of different Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes and to reveal the elemental rule on the changes of the tongue images.

METHODSA total of 207 patients with lung cancer were divided into four syndrome groups according to the theory of CM: Fei and Shen deficiency syndrome (Group A, 72 cases), Pi deficiency and phlegm deficiency and phlegm) and Shen (deficiency and phlegm) deficiency syndrome (Group A, 72 cases), Pi (deficiency and phlegm) deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome (Group B, 57 cases), phlegm-heat retention in Fei (Group C, 36 cases) and yin asthenia generating intrinsic heat syndrome (Group D, 42 cases). The tongue parameters were detected by tongue image digital analysis instrument, and the tongue images were described with qualitative, tongue color and quantitative analysis, respectively. The International Commission on Illumination (CIE) L·a·b (CIELAB) color model was used for the quantitative classification.

RESULTSThere was a significant statistical difference between different syndrome groups of lung cancer on tongue color, coating color, and thickness of tongue coating (P<0.01), and there was significant statistical difference between the four syndrome groups on Lab values of the tongue and coating (P<0.05). The correct identification rate of discriminant function on the raw data was 65.7%, including 72.2% for Group C, 69.4% for Group A, 69.0% for Group D and 54.4% for Group B.

CONCLUSIONSA tongue image digital analysis instrument can objectively describe the tongue features of patients with different syndromes of lung cancer. The tongue diagnosis is very important to syndrome differentiation in CM. Tongue diagnosis should be combined with some important characteristics of syndromes in the future to establish a "combination of four examination methods, including inspection, auscultation, interrogation, and pulse-feeling and palpation" in the tongue diagnostic system.

Color ; Discriminant Analysis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Tongue

To clarify the important functional residues in the active site of N-myristoyltransferase (NMT), a novel antifungal drug target, and to guide the design of specific inhibitors, multiple sequence alignments were performed on the NMT family and thus evolutionary trace was constructed. The important functional residues in myristoyl CoA binding site, catalytic center and inhibitor binding site of NMT family were identified by ET analysis. The trace residues were mapped onto the active site of CaNMT. Trpl26, Asn175 and Thr211 are highly conserved trace residues and do not interact with current NMT inhibitors, which are potential novel drug binding sites for the novel inhibitor design. Pro338, Leu350, Ile352 and Ala353 are class-specific trace residues, which are important for the optimization of current NMT inhibitors. The trace residues identified by ET analysis are of great importance to study the structure-function relationship and also to guide the design of specific inhibitors.
Acyl Coenzyme A ; metabolism ; Acyltransferases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Conserved Sequence ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligopeptides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

OBJECTIVETo explore the possibility of Schwann cells transplantation to promote the repair of injured brain stem reticular structure in rats.

METHODSSchwann cells originated from sciatic nerves of 1 to 2-day-old rats were expanded and labelled by BrdU in vitro, transplanted into rat brain stem reticular structure that was pre-injured by electric needle stimulus. Immunohistochemistry and myelin-staining were used to investigate the expression of BrdU, GAP-43 and new myelination respectively.

RESULTSBrdU positive cells could be identified for up to 8 months and their number increased by about 23%, which mainly migrated toward injured ipsilateral cortex. The GAP-43 expression reached its peak in 1 month after transplantation and was significantly higher than that in the control group. New myelination could be seen in destructed brain stem areas.

CONCLUSIONThe transplantation of Schwann cells can promote the restoration of injured brain stem reticular structure.

Animals ; Antimetabolites ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; veterinary ; Brain Stem ; injuries ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Transplantation ; methods ; veterinary ; Electrophysiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Schwann Cells ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rat Schwann cell secretion on the proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs).

METHODSThe samples were divided into three groups. In Group One, NSCs were cultured in DMED/F12 in which Schwann cells had grown for one day. In Group Two, NSCs and Schwann cells were co-cultured. In Group Three, NSCs were cultured in DMEM/F12. The morphology of NSCs was checked and beta-tubulin, GalC, hoechst 33342 and GFAP labellings were detected.

RESULTSIn Group One, all neural spheres were attached to the bottom and differentiated. The majority of them were beta-tubulin positive while a few of cells were GFAP or GalC positive. In Group Two, neural spheres remained undifferentiated and their proliferation was inhibited in places where Schwann cells were robust. In places where there were few Schwann cells, NSCs performed in a similar manner as in Group One. In Group Three, the cell growth state deteriorated day after day. On the 7th day, most NSCs died.

CONCLUSIONThe secretion of rat Schwann cells has a growth supportive and differentiation-inducing effect on human NSCs.

Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; embryology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; secretion ; Sciatic Nerve ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of vardenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in aged men with diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODSOne hundred outpatients with diagnosed ED (40 diabetic and 60 non-diabetic) received vardenafil at the initial dose of 20 mg and sustained dose of 10 mg once a week for 8 weeks, and their erectile functions were evaluated by IIEF and EQS.

RESULTSThe scores on IIEF and EQS in the diabetic ED group were 18.9 +/- 0.2 and 25.1 +/- 1.4 after the vardenafil treatment, significantly higher than 8.1 +/- 0.5 and 9.1 +/- 1.3 before the treatment (P < 0.01), and the non-diabetic group scored 21.1 +/- 0.2 and 34.2 +/- 1.2 on IIEF and EQS after the treatment, as compared with the statistically lower scores of 10.1 +/- 0.3 and 10.1 +/- 1.7 before it (P < 0.01). The total rate of effectiveness was 65% in the diabetic and 73.30% in the non-diabetic group, with statistical differences (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONVardenafil can significantly improve erectile function and is well tolerated in the aged males with diabetic ED.

Aged ; Aging ; physiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Sulfones ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazines ; therapeutic use ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of Yanshu injection (a compound Chinese traditional medicine from Sophora flauescens Ait) combined with concomitant radiochemotherapy in patients with stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHODSSixty patients with stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma were randomized into Yanshu group and control group (n = 30, each). Patients in the Yanshu group received Yanshu injection in addition to intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and concomitant chemotherapy, and those in the control group were treated with IMRT and concurrent chemotherapy.

RESULTSThe 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year overall survival rates were 100%, 93.3%, 86.7%, 80.0% for Yanshu group, and 96.7%, 90.0%, 83.3%, 76.7% for the control group, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.565). The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year progression-free survival rates were 96.7%, 90.0%, 83.3%, 70.0% for Yanshu group, and 90.0%, 86.7%, 76.7%, 66.7% for control group, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.554). However, the reaction of mucosa of oral cavity, myelosuppression and thrombocytopenia in the Yanshu group were significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The quality of life of the patients in the Yanshu group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSYanshu injection combined with radiochemotherapy in patients with stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma show a good efficacy and can reduce the side effects of radiochemotherapy of nasopharygeal carcinoma, and improve the quality of life of the patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy ; methods ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; etiology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mucositis ; chemically induced ; etiology ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; adverse effects ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Survival Rate ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the outcome of surgical treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) and the associated factors.

METHODSA total of 277 patients with GIST underwent primary surgical treatment from January 1990 to February 2010 at the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University. The clinical data were retrospectively reviewed and the pathological examination was reviewed. Follow-up was performed.

RESULTSThere were 176 males and 101 females. The age ranged from 20 to 81 years old (median,57). Location of the tumor included colorectum (n=28),small bowel(n=76), stomach(n=173). All the patients had en bloc resection, including local excision in 98 patients, organ resection in 64, and extended resection in 115. The 5-year survival rates were 83.5%, 71.9%, and 61.9% in the three different procedures, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05). Cox model showed that the tumor size, recurrence and metastasis were independent risk factors associated with the prognosis in GIST patients(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSurgery remains the major approach for gastrointestinal GIST. Complete resection is the principal treatment. Extensive resection or extended lymph nodes dissection is not associated with improved survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult