There are increasing experimental evidences and clinical data showing that inflammatory reaction plays an important role in the production and development of atherosclerosis. Inflammatory process promotes the production and release of inflammatory factors by activation of monocytes and stimulation of endothelial cells, which stimulate the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Hydrolases and cytokines are released from the activated and stimulated cells to increase local lesion and form atherosclerotic plaque with the development of inflammation. So, on the basis of the new pathogenesis of atherosclerosis,scientists try to interfere with atherosclerosis by anti-inflammatory pathway. This paper reviews the progress of drugs against atherosclerosis by the modulation of C reaction protein ,CD40-CD40L,infection and NF-?B.

AIM To observe the protective effect of quercetin on vascular endothelial cells injured by homocysteine in rabbits. METHODS The model of the vascular endothelial cells of rabbits injured by homocysteine was established; 50 mg?kg -1, 100 mg?kg -1 and 200 mg?kg -1 of quercetin were orally adminstered. After 30 days, the number of CEC, levels of MDA and NO,SOD activity in the serum were determined; ET concentration in the plasma was detected. The thoracic aorta was isolated to observe the vascular reactivity to nitroglycerin and ACh and tissue change. RESULTS The number of CEC, levels of MDA and ET were decreased and levels of SOD and NO were significantly increased in the quercetin-administered group compared with the injured group.Non-endothelium dependent relaxation of vessel caused by nitroglycerin was similar in all groups. Endothelium dependent relaxation caused by ACh was reduced in the injured group,whileas the relaxation trended to the normal degree in the quercetin-administered group. Pathological examination showed that quercetin was effective on the injured endothelial cells. CONCLUSION Quercetin produces protective effect on the injured vascular endothelial cells by homocysteine in rabbits.

Objective To discuss perioperative features, operative approach and surgical effects of spinal tuberculosis in older patients. Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 45 patients with spinal tuberculosis ranging in age from 61 to 78 years (average, 67 years). The lesion was located in thoracic vertebrae in 9 patients, thoracolumbar vertebrae in 14, lumbar in 16, and lumbosacral in 6. Preoperative Frankel grades were B in 7 cases, C in 21, D in 11 and E in 6. Among them, 21 had cardio-cerebrovascular disease, 10 had diabetes mellitus. With preoperative medicine and chemotherapy for 2-3 weeks, all patients were treated surgically. The surgical procedures included: 1) Posterior focus debridement, bone grafting and one-stage posterior transpedicular screw system fixation in thoracic vertebrae (T2-T7). 2) Anterior debridement, bone grafting and one-stage posterior transpedicular instrumental fixation in lumbosacral vertebrae (L5-S1). 3) Anterior focus elimination, bone grafting and one-stage anterior plate fixation in the other vertebrae. Results Forty-five patients were followed up for 24 to 40 months, with the average of 28.5 months. No severe complication occurred during and after operation. Forty-four cases had recovered and 1 recurred. Spinal fusion occurred 12-18 months after operation. Frankel neurological grades improved significantly. Conclusion With the effective management of comorbidities in perioperative period,the elderly could tolerate surgical treatment. The appropriate approaches, thorough debridement and reasonable bone grafting with internal fixation are key to therapeutic success.

This study aims to analyze and improve Howland current source circuit and to study the constant current source of alternating current with high output impedance and high stability. A simulation study was carried out on the constant-current characteristics of Howland current source from two aspects of resistance match value and the selection of Op amp parameters, and then the output impedance was analyzed. The simulation experiment showed that when it was with the best matched resistance, the constant-current characteristics of Howland current source was better. Op amp parameters could affect the constant-current characteristics of Howland current source. In Howland current source circuit, the current source after parameter optimization had better output impedance and load capacity. The results showed that there was the best matched resistance in the selection by Howland current source. The Op amp with large broadband, high slew rate and open loop gain, and wide range of power supply voltage is more suitable for the bioelectrical impedance detection circuit.
Electric Impedance ; Electric Power Supplies ; Electricity

Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Thyroglossal Cyst ; Thyroid Gland ; abnormalities ; Ultimobranchial Body

OBJECTIVE:To extract and identify the volatile components of the roots of Polyalthia nemoralis,and to evaluate its biological activity in vitro. METHODS:Supercritical CO2 extraction (SFE-CO2) was performed to extract volatile compounds from the roots of P. nemoralis,and the volatile components were separated and determined by GC-MS. Human hepatic cancer Huh-7 cells were cultured with 0(blank control),5,10,20,30,40 and 50 μg(medicinal material)/ml extract for 24 h,and then MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of the extracts on cells. Relative cell viability and IC50 were calculated. The an-ti-bacterial activities of extract to Staphylococcus aureus,Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,Enterococcus faecalis and oth-er strain were determined by Kirby-bauer method and broth dilution method. RESULTS:Forty compounds were identified from the SFE-CO2 extracts from the roots of P. nemoralis. The main constituents were(Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octa-decatrien-1-ol,glycerin,cinna-maldehyde,n-hexadecanoic acid and eugenol. Compared with blank control group,SFE-CO2 extracts from the roots of P. nemoralis 5 μg(medicinal material)/ml and above showed significant inhibitory effect on cell growth(P<0.05),and the inhibitory effect was strengthened as the concentration of extracts increased,IC50 values was 5.2 μg(medicinal material)/ml. However,the supercritical extract didn't showed antibacterial activity against three microorganisms in 2 kinds of antibacterial tests. CONCLUSIONS:SFE-CO2 and GC-MS method can effectively extract and identify volatile components of the roots of P. nemoralis,and supercritical extracts can inhibit the viability of cells but have no antibacterial activity.

Objective To investigate the efficiency of ring butterfly sewing in lower uterine segment aided with tourniquet in treating pernicious placenta previa combined with placenta percreta. Methods Twelve pregnant women diagnosed with pernicious placenta previa combined with placenta percreta by prenatal ultrasound in Peking University First Hospital from April 1, 2012 to November 30, 2014, were enrolled. All of them received elective cesarean delivery using ring butterfly sewing in lower uterine segment aided with tourniquet. The efficiency of this novel technique, in term of blood loss and vital signs during operation, blood transfusion, and postoperative recovery, was analyzed. Results Twelve cases were diagnosed with placenta percreta during operation, with placenta invading the perimetrium in seven cases and urinary bladder being involved in one case. Ring butterfly sewing in lower uterine segment aided with tourniquet during elective cesarean delivery was all successful in the 12 cases. The median amount of blood loss was 1 000(400-2 000) ml during operation and the amount of blood loss was lower than 1 000 ml in three cases. Two cases received no blood transfusion, and the median blood transfusion in the other 10 cases were 400(400-1 200) ml. The mean operation time was (75±22) min (43-131) min. Eleven cases had normal lochia and temperature after operation and the other one had placenta invading urinary bladder and partial placenta in situ, and developed fever at day 3 after operation, but recovered after antibiotic treatment, and no placenta tissue was seen by ultrasound at day 59 after operation. Conclusions The ring butterfly sewing in lower uterine segment aided with tourniquet is highly effective for the pernicious placenta previa combined with placenta percreta, and it is a simple, fast and fertility sparing technique with low blood loss and without usage of special equipment.

AIM: To investigate whether Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription ( JAK/STAT) signaling pathway mediates high glucose-induced damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs ) . METHODS:The cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay.The expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, caspase-9 and en-dothelial nitric oxide synthase ( eNOS) were detected by Western blot .The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) were tested by DCFH-DA staining followed by photofluorography .Mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP) was measured by rhodamine 123 staining followed by photofluorography .RESULTS:Treatment of HUVECs with high glucose (40 mmol/L glucose) for 6~12 h enhanced the protein level of phosphorylated JAK 2, peaking at 9 h.Treatment of the cells with high glucose for 6~12 h also increased the protein level of p-STAT3 with the peak value at 12 h.Pretreatment with the inhibitor of JAK/STAT pathway AG490 for 1 h before exposure of the HUVECs to high glucose significantly inhibi-ted the high glucose -induced injury , as evidenced by an increase in the cell viability , decreases in the expression of caspase-9 and the intracellular ROS production , and increases in MMP and the expression of eNOS .CONCLUSION:JAK/STAT signaling pathway is involved in the high glucose-induced damage in HUVECs .

AIM: To explore whether strontium ranelate ( Sr ) promotes osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) through the Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling pathway.METHODS:BMSCs were isolated from 4-week-old rats by adherent culture and induced to differentiate into osteoblasts .According to the experimental purposes , the cells were exposed to different concentrations of Sr , cyclopamine ( Cy, an inhibitor of Hedgehog receptor ) or Gli1-siR-NA.The expression of Gli1 and Runx2 in the cells was detected by Western blotting .The activity of alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) was measured by the method of colorimetry , and the mineralized nodules were observed under microscope with aliz-arin red staining .RESULTS:Exposure to Sr at concentrations of 0.1 to 5 mmol/L for 7 d markedly increased the expres-sion of Gli1 in the BMSCs , and the increase in Gli1 expression was the most obvious following Sr exposure at concentration of 3 mmol/L.Cy at concentration of 10 μmol/L inhibited Sr-induced up-regulation of Gli1 expression.Transfection of the BMSCs with Gli1-siRNA not only obviously inhibited Sr-induced up-regulation of Gli1 and Runx2 ( a downstream protein of Gli1) expression, but also antagonized Sr-induced enhancement of ALP activity and the formation of mineralized nodules . CONCLUSION:The Hedgehog/Gli1 pathway is involved in Sr-induced osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs .

Objective To investigate the efficacy of combined monitoring of motor evoked potentials with transcranial electrical stimulation (TES-MEP),somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and spontaneous electromyo-graphy (s-EMG) in tuberculosis surgery involving the thoracic,lumbar and sacral vertebrae.Methods Twenty-seven patients with tuberculosis of the thoracic vertebrae (T2-L2) received intra-operative SEP and TES-MEP monito-ring.Combined SEP,TES-MEP and spontaneous EMG monitoring were employed in 11 patients with tuberculosis of the lumbar or/and sacral vertebrae (L3-S1).SEP and TES-MEP were used to precisely observe the status of the sen-sory and motor pathways; s-EMG responses were used to more accurately localize nerve root irritation.ResuIts (1) SEP monitoring was successful in all of the operations.TES-MEPs were successfully monitored in 35 of them (92.1％).Combined motor and sensory monitoring was successfully achieved in 35 cases (92.1％).Abnormal SEPs were observed in 3 cases (7.9％),while abnormal MEPs were observed in 11 cases (28.9％).Abnormality in both the SEP and TES-MEP occurred in 2 cases (5.3％).There were 9 cases (23.7％) where the SEPs were nor-mal and the TES-MEPs were abnormal.In only 1 case (2.6％) was the SEP normal and the MEP abnormal.The false negative rate was 0％ with combined SEP and TES-MEP monitoring,while the false positive rate was 5.3％.There were 2 cases complicated by post-operative neurological deficits.(2) Spontaneous EMG monitoring can accu-rately determine the functioning of lumbar nerve roots during lumbar or lumbosacral tuberculosis surgery.Among 5 cases where EMG responses were observed,4 cases occurred during the spinal canal and nerve root decompression,1 case occurred in the orthopedic reset phase.Conclusions (1) During tuberculosis surgery involving thoracic,lumbar or sacral vertebrae,combined monitoring of SEPs and TES-MEPs can reflect the physiological and pathological condition of the spinal cord after ruling out interfering factors.This can improve monitoring and help assure the safety of lumbar surgery.(2) Intra-operative s-EMG monitoring can accurately reveal nerve root function in real time,help-ing to avert nerve root injury in lumbar and lumbosacral tuberculosis surgery.