Objective To observe the effect of Ganoderma Lucidum (GL) on counteracting lipid peroxidation in cultured vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC)and to explore its therapeutic mechanism for atherosclerosis. Methods The effects of GL on the content of lipid peroxide(LPO)and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)in medium were studied . Results GL decreased LPO content and increased SOD activity in a dose-effect manner. Conclusion GL can counteract the lipid peroxidation in VSMC and its therapeutic mechanism for atherosclerosis may be related to the counteraction of lipid peroxidation and enhancement of endogenous antioxidase activity.

BACKGROUND: Dihydrolycorine (DL) can inhibit the peripheral release of catecholamine from sympathetic nerve ending and block α, β adrenalinergic receptor. It has multiple pharmacological actions, such as vascular dilation, hypotension, anti-hypoglycemia and anti-ischemia.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the selective effect of DL on basilar artery,thoracic aorta and ventricular papillary muscle of rabbit by means of observing the vasoconstriction induced by noradrenaline bitartrate and KCl.DESIGN: Observation of comparative experiment.SETTING: Pharmacological Department of Yunyang Medical College.MATERIALS: This study was carried out at Pharmacological Department of Yunyang Medical College between March and July 2001, and 46 adult healthy New Zealand rabbits were selected.METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were put to death by intravenous injection of 10 mL air from the vein of aural edge, and soon after death, brain,thoracic aorta and heart were obtained. Basilar artery and thoracic aorta was linked into 4.0-5.0 mm vascular rings; meanwhile, ventricular papillary muscle were separated and connected with tension transducer. Obserdose of noradrenaline bitartrate or KCl: Sub-maximal constriction of thoracic aorta was induced by 0.1 mmol/L noradrenaline bitartrate or W60 mmol/L KCl, and when constriction curve became stable, DL or nimodipine of different dosage was added. Basilar artery was exposed to 0.1 mmol/L noradrenaline bitartrate or 60 mol/L KCl, and rinsing fluid was changed once every 20 minutes and thrice in all when vasocontratcion reached the peak level, then different dosage of DL or nimodipine was added 20 minutes later, and the changes of vasoconstriction curve due to administration of single dose of noradrenaline bitartrate or KCl were obconstriction of ventricular papillary muscular induced by electro-stimulation: Electro-stimulation was used to stimulate the ventricle papillary muscular synchronized constriction with the frequency of once per second,wavelength of 3 ms and threshold voltage of 120%; when constriction curve became stable, DL or nimodipine was administered in a accumulative way.ence of DL or nimodipine on the half-effective concentration of noradrenaline bitartrate or KCl that contributed to the vascular ring constriction of rabbit.RESULTS: Basilar artery, thoracic aorta and ventricular papillary muscle Resting tension of basilar artery was increased by DL but decreased by niof basilar artery and thoracic aorta induced by noradrenaline bitartrate and KCl can be relaxed by DL in a dose dependant manner, and the half-effective concentration was (6.69±3.12)×10-4, (3.41±1.52)×10-3mmol/L for basilar artery, and (1.49±0.59)×10-3, (2.91±0.99)×10-3 mmol/L for thoracic aorta, displaying stronger inhibition on the constriction of basilar artery induced by noradrenaline bitartrate than on the contraction induced by KCl.On the contrary, nimodipine showed stronger depression on KCl-induced constriction than on the constriction induced by noradrenaline bitartrate.ventricle papillary muscular induced by electro-stimulation in a dose-dependant manner, and the half-effective concentration of DL on the contraction of ventricle papillary muscle induced by electro-stimulation was significantly higher than that induced by noradrenaline bitartrate.CONCLUSION: DL displays obvious selective effect on basilar artery of rabbit, the possible existence of constrictive α1 receptor subtype and dilating β receptor on basilar artery might be correlated with the selective function of DL, which benefit, for the improvement of blood supply in the ischemic region.

ObjectiveTo perform pharmacology problem-based learning (PBL) and evaluate its effects.MethodsPBL was performed for the clinical medicine class of grade 2007 and the satisfactory degree of students to teaching effects was observed with questionnaire. Results The students thought that PBL teaching had substantial contents and proper schedule and increased learning interest. Students' participating degree, mutual communication and controlling discussion procedure were fine,which reached the expected learning objective. ConclusionsThe effects of PBL teaching were excellent and most of our students could accept it.

Objective: To investigate factors affecting X-ray structure of the spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A total of 206 AS patients were recruited. Clinical and laboratory parameters in AS patients were recorded in detail. Disease activity index [Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAScrp)], X-ray structural damage index-modified stoke ankylosing spondylitis spine score (mSASSS) and grading results of radiographic examination of sacroiliac joint were calculated. Statistical analysis using Statistical Package form Soci-science(SPSS) 17.0 Chi-square test, rank test, Logistics regression analysis and other statistical methods were used. Differences of mSASSS levels, spine involvement (mSASSS>0) and rates of bone bridge formation were compared between different groups. Results: Incidences of spine involvement (100%) and bone bridge formation(65.2%) in AS patients ≥40 years old were significantly higher than those in AS patients <40 years old (90.6%、31.9%)(χ²=4.651, P=0.031; χ²=16.647, P<0.01), and the level of mSASSS was also higher (Z=5.575, P<0.01). In AS patients with BMI ≥24 kg/m², disease duration ≥5 years (49.2%, 50.4%), rates of bone bridge formation was significantly higher than those in AS with BMI <24 kg/m², but the disease duration (34.5%, 19.7%)(χ²=4.014, P=0.045; χ²=18.173, P=0.03), and mSASSS values were significantly higher (Z=2.281, P=0.023, Z=4.828, P<0.01). Bone bridge formation rate in smoking patients (50.6%) was significantly higher than that in non-smoking patients (31.0%) (χ²=7.346, P=0.007) and mSASSS value was significantly higher (Z=2.045, P=0.041). Bone bridge formation rates in AS with high-ESR and high-CRP(48.6%, 49.0%) were significantly higher than those in patients with normal-ESR and normal-CRP(25.6%, 28.9%)(χ²=10.784, P=0.001; χ²=8.102, P=0.004) and mSASSS value was clearly higher(Z=2.379, P<0.01; Z=3.112, P<0.01). Bone bridge formation rate in AS with BASDAI≥4 or ASDAScrp≥2.1 groups (52.8%, 46.4%) were significantly higher than that in AS with BASDAI<4 or ASDAScrp<2.1 groups (34.2%, 30.7%) (χ²=5.681, P=0.017; χ²=4.646, P=0.031) and mSASSS values were significantly higher (Z=3.887, P<0.01; Z=3.895, P=0.004). Rates of bone bridge formation among different X-ray grading of sacroiliac joint (10.8%, 35.6%, 60.3%) and MRI findings (33.3%, 50.0%, 15.4%) differed with each other (χ²=25.714, P<0.01; χ²=6.855, P=0.032). Logistics regression analysis showed that BMI [OR(95%CI)=1.145(1.037, 1.265), P<0.01], disease duration [OR(95%CI)=1.144(1.055, 1.239), P<0.01], smoking [OR(95%CI)=2.832(1.343, 5.969), P<0.01] and sacroiliac joint X-ray staging [OR(95%CI)=2.584(1.337, 4.997), P<0.01] were risk factors for the bone bridge formation in spine of AS. Conclusion Spinal involvement in AS is related to disease activity. Bone bridge formation correlateswith disease duration, BMI and disease-status, especially with smoking.

Objective To explore the changes of serum vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the clinical significance of association between serum VDBP with secondary osteoporosis (OP) in RA.Methods One hundred and sixty patients with RA were enrolled in the study.Eighty-three normal subjects were recruited as the control group.The concentration of serum VDBP was determined by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA),and bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Clinical and laboratory indexes of RA patients were recorded in detail and disease activity (DAS28) score,health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and Sharp score according to X-ray examination of both hands were calculated simultaneously.The t test was used to compare the metrological data between the two groups,and the x2 test was used to compare the intergroup rate.The correlation analysis was tested by Pearson correlation analysis,the ROC curve was used to analyze the threshold of the serum VDBP,and the multivariate logistic regression analysis was used for multivariate analysis.Results ① Serum levels of VDBP in RA patients were higher than that in control group [(414±12) ng/ml vs (79±12) ng/ml,t=20.082,P＜0.01].Positive rate of serum levels of VDBP was 67.0％(118/176) in RA patients,which was higher than that in the control group (4.8％)(x2 =87.651,P＜0.01).② The threshold of serum VDBP levels for diagnosing RA was 193.74 ng/ml (AUC=0.943,Youden index=0.796,P＜0.01).③ DAS28 sore in group with positive VDBP was significantly higher than that in group with negative VDBP (P9=0.025).There was significant difference regarding on the incidence of OP in female RA patients between groups with positive and negative VDBP [41.9％(54/129) vs 31.8％(14/44),x2=4.325,P=0.038].④ Linear correlation analysis found that DAS28in RA patients was positively correlated with serum VDBP levels (r=0.252,P=0.019).And anti-CCP was negatively correlated with serum VDBP levels (r=-0.150,P=0.049).⑤ Results of logistic regression analysis showed that sex [OR=9.841,95％CI (1.349,71.810),P=0.024],age [OR=1.154,95 ％CI (1.069,1.245),P＜0.01] and Sharp score [OR=1.102,95％CI (1.002,1.021),P=0.018] were risk factors for OP in RA patients.Conclusion Serum VDBP levels are significantly higher in patients with RA.Meanwhile,serum VDBP levels are correlated with disease activity and secondary OP in RA.

Objective To explore the value of patient global assessment (PGA) on evaluating disease activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA),Methods A total of 222 patients with axial SpA were recruited.Scores of PGA,disease activity index [Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI),ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS)crp] and spondyloarthritis research consortium of Canada (SPARCC) were calculated.Differences of PGA scores between different disease activity groups in axial SpA were compared and correlations between different disease activity index with PGA scores were analyzed.Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software (version 17.0).Comparison of frequency among different groups was performed by x2 test.Rank-sum test was used to compare the median of measurement data in different groups when the data were skewed in distribution.Cut-off value of PGA for assessing disease activity in axial SpA was calculated by ROC curve.Results Medians of PGA score in groups with BASDAI remission[3(1,4) vs 5(4,7)] and ASDAScrp remission [1(1,2) vs 4(2,5)] were lower than that in disease activity group (P＜0.01).BASDAI scores [1.80(1.20,2.90) vs 3.40(2.28,4.63) vs 5.15 (4.08,5.88)] and ASDAScrp scores [2.19(1.34,2.76) vs 2.86(2.08,3.54) vs 4.08(2.96,4.41)] were significant different among PGA groups (≤3,4-6 and ≥7) (P＜0.01).Differences of SPARCC scores [6.00(0,18.00) vs 7.50(3.75,18.00) vs 18.50(6.75,24.50)] were statistically significant among PGA groups (Z=7.427,P=0.037).Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) [12.00(5.00,23.00) mm/1 h vs 19.50(7.00,44.50) mm/1 h vs 18.00(7.75,54.75) mm/1 h],C-reactive protein (CRP) [7.85(2.37,22.49) mg/L vs 10.07(3.02,28.51) mg/L vs 21.28(7.14,37.74) mg/L] and Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI) [0.70(0.10,1.30) vs 2.25(0.60,3.30) vs 2.85(0.83,6.53)] were also different among PGA groups (P＜0.01,separately).Proportion of axial SpA patients in BASDAI disease activity group or ASDAScrp higher disease activity group were different among PGA groups (P＜0.01,separately),while represented as positive correlations (P＜0.01,separately).Correlation analyses revealed that PGA was positively correlated with ASDAScrp (r=0.694),BASDAI(r=0.616),SPARCC (r=0.271),ESR (r=0.288),CRP(r=0.215),occipital wall distance (r=0.196),finger-floor distance (r=0.385) and negatively correlated with Sschober's test (r=-0.195) (P＜0.05).Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis found that PGA-BASDAI AUC was 0.813,the cut off value of PGA was 3.5 and PGA-ASDAScrp AUC was 0.860,the cut off value of PGA was 2.5.Conclusion PGA has good correlations with the disease activity indexes in axial SpA patients.It can also reflect the degree of inflammation in iconography.PGA may reflect disease activity especially when the value of PGA is around 3.

Objective To explore the serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to investigate the relationship between FGF23 and RA disease activity and the occurrence of osteoporosis (OP).Methods Serum levels of FGF23 from 174 cases of patients with RA and 88 normal subjects were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.All the clinical and laboratory indexes of RA patients were recorded in details,disease activity score (DAS28) and health assess questionnaire (HAQ) were also calculated in the meantime.Radiographic changes in both hands of RA patients were assessed by Sharp's method.T test,nonparametric test,x2 test,correlation analysis and Logistic regressive analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results Serum levels of FGF3 [145.46(67.67,245.93) pg/ml] in RA patients were higher than the control group [32.64(12.34,44.70) pg/ml,Z=11.416,P＜0.01].The positive rate of serum levels of FGF23 (≥71.95 pg/ml) in RA was 74.7％(130/174),while the positive rate in control was 4.5％(4/88,x2=115.16,P＜0.01).The threshold of FGF23 serum levels for diagnosing RA was 48.56 pg/ml (AUC=0.932,Youden index=0.743,P＜0.01,sensitivity 89.1％,specificity 85.2％).In RA patients with serum FGF23 ≥48.56 pg/ml,compared with negative FGF23 group,VAS,HAQ,number of joint swelling and BMD at femoral neck,Ward,GT,Total hip,L4 and L1-4 were significantly higher in FGF23 positive group (P＜0.05).Linear correlation analysis found that in RA patients with serum FGF23 ≥48.56 pg/ml,anti-CCP was negatively correlated with serum FGF23 levels (r=-0.171,P=0.035).And DAS28 was positively correlated with serum FGF23 (r=0.163,P=0.045).BMD at femoral neck,Ward,GT,Total hip,L4 and L1-4 were negatively correlated with serum FGF23 (P＜0.05).Results of logistic regression analysis showed that sex (OR=8.518,95％CI (2.636,27.522),P＜0.01,age [OR=1.129,95％CI (1.079,1.180),P＜0.01] and Sharp score [OR=1.008,95％CI(1.003,1.013),P=0.001]were risk factors for OP in RA patients.BMI[OR=0.801,95％CI(0.707,0.909),P=0.001] was a protective factor for OP in RA patients.Conclusion Serum FGF23 level is significantly higher in RA patients.Meanwhile,the serum FGF23 level correlates with RA disease activity and BMD.