AIM: To study the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on rat atherosclerosis (AS), and elucidate the possible mechanism. METHODS: Wistar rats were fed with fat-rich diet and high dose of vitamin D_3 to induce AS, then treated with Salvia miltiorrhiza injection. Concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in serum were measured by automatic serum biochemical assay. The level of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA were determined by Western blot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the AS model group, the levels of TG and TC in serum were significantly lower in Salvia miltiorrhiza injection group (P

Objective To study on ERCP findings correlating with tumor size and staging of pancre- atic cancer(PC).Methods We selected 35 patients with PC who were identified by surgery and/or pathol- ogy and had undergone ERCP with clear imaging findings.The lengths of pancreatic duct and common bile duct stricture as well as the diameter of upstream dilated pancreatic or bile duct were measured on ERCP films.The ralationship among ERCP findings and tumor size and JPS T-stage of PC were analysed by correla- tion analysis.Results Of the 35 patients with PC,ERCP showed the pancreatic duct stricture in 25 and cut- off of pancreatic duct in 10(7 of them,the lesion lengths were revealed after a guide wire advanced beyond the obstructive site)and common bile duct stricture in 31.The correlation coefficients between tumor size and lengths of pancreatic duct or common bile duct stricture were 0.709(P=0.0001)and 0.540(P=0.0053) respectively.The correlation coefficient between JPS T-stage and lengths of pancreatic duct stricture was 0.514(P=0.0052).Conclusion The length of pancreatic duct stricture in ERCP was positively correlated with the tumor size and staging of PC.But it is not consistent when the length of stricture is rather short.The lengths of bile duct stricture also have some effects on predicting the tumor size of pancreatic head cancer.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathologic relationship between serum platelet derived growth factor-BB(PDGF-BB)and IgA nephropathy in children.Methods The level of serum PDGF-BB was detected by double antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 15 cases healthy children and 30 cases IgA nephropathy.According to patholgical degree constituted by WHO in 1982,the IgA nephropathy group divided into 5 degrees:Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ(Ⅰ,Ⅱ were light patholgic change group;Ⅲ,Ⅳ were moderate patholgic change group;Ⅴ was severe patholgic change group).The serum PDGF-BB in IgA nephropathy group and none-IgA nephropathy group,and in different renal pathology type IgA nephropathy group were analyzed.Data were analyzed by using SAS 6.12 software.Results The level of serum PDGF-BB were(247.35?55.79) ng/L in control group and(869.16?200.73) ng/L in IgA nephropathy group.It was higher in IgA nephropathy group than in control group,the difference was significant(P

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of herb-partitioned spread moxibustion and western medicine on chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into a spread moxibustion group (n = 28) and a western medicine group (n = 32). The spread moxibustion group was treated with herb-partitioned spread moxibustion at lower limb around stomach meridian, abdomen region around Guanyuan (CV 4) and lower Jiaji (EX B 2) points; and the western medicine group was treated with oral administration of Sulfasalazine. Their therapeutic effects were observed after treatment.

RESULTSThe cured-markedly effective rate was 71.4% (20/ 28) in the spread moxibustion group, and 25.0% (8/32) in the western medicine group, the former was better than the latter (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe therapeutic effect of herb-partitioned spread moxibustion for treatment of chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis is better than that of the oral administration of Sulfasalazine with less adverse reaction, and is worth popularizing in clinic.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the classification basis of functional dyspepsia in disease menu of acupuncture, and to provide regular analyzing process for classification of other diseases.

METHODSTaking the control group as the classification basis, and the 5-level literature classification of evidence based medicine as the estimation basis, literatures which complied with the inclusion criteria were examined according to the sequence from high level to low. Evidences of low levels were given up if support can be acquired from documents of high level.

RESULTSAcupuncture is approved to be effective for intervention on functional dyspepsia. Compared to the international accepted medicines such as Cisapride and Motilium, regular acupuncture has better therapeutic effects and less side effects in improving the gastro-power and relieving discomfort sensations.

CONCLUSIONFunctional dyspepsia pertains to grade I of disease menu of acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dyspepsia ; classification ; therapy ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

The cis and trans isomers separation of 2-butene-1,4-diol and lafutidine were studied by HPLC on two kinds of chiral columns: (S,S)-Whelk-O 1 and ChiraSpher. The isomers of 2-butene-1,4-diol can be separated on both chiral columns while the isomers of lafutidine can only be resolved on ChiraSpher column. The influence of different type and amount of mobile phase modifier on the isomers separation was extensively studied. The resolution of cis and trans isomers of 2-butene-1,4-diol was 2.61 on (S,S)-Whelk-O 1 column with hexane-ethanol (97:3, v/v) as the mobile phase. The resolution of lafutidine was 1.89 on ChiraSpher column with hexane-ethanol-THF-diethylamine (92:3:5:0.1, v/v/v/v) as the mobile phase. LC-MS methods were developed to identify the isomer peaks.
Acetamides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Butylene Glycols ; analysis ; chemistry ; Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Isomerism ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Piperidines ; analysis ; chemistry ; Pyridines ; analysis ; chemistry

In this study, the buffering capacity of amphiphilic pH-sensitivity copolymer poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-cholesteryl methyl carbonate (PEOZ-CHMC) was evaluated. The ammonium sulfate gradient method was used to prepare doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX x HCl)-loaded liposomes (DOX-L), and then the post-insertion method was used to prepare PEOZ-CHMC and polyethylene glycol-distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PEG-DSPE) modified DOX x HCl-loaded liposomes (PEOZ-DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L). The physico-chemical properties, in vitro drugs release behavior, cellular toxicity and intracellular delivery of liposomes were evaluated, separately. The results showed that PEOZ-CHMC has a satisfactory buffering capacity. The sephadex G-50 column centrifugation method and dynamic light scattering were used to determine the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and particle size of liposomes. The EE and particle size of DOX-L were (97.3 ± 1.4) % and 120 nm, respectively, and the addition of PEOZ-CHMC or PEG-DSPE had no influence on EE and particle size. The zeta potentials of three kinds of liposomes were negative. The release behavior of various DOX liposomes in vitro was investigated by dialysis method. In phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 7.4, DOX x HCl was released from PEOZ-DOX-L in a sustained manner. While in PBS at pH 5.0, the release rate of DOX x HCl from PEOZ-DOX-L increased significantly, which suggested DOX x HCl was released from PEOZ-DOX-L in a pH-dependent manner. The intracellular delivery of liposomes was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The CLSM images indicated that PEOZ-DOX-L showed efficient intracellular trafficking including endosomal escape and release DOX x HCl into nucleus, as well as the DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L had no this effect. The cytotoxicity of liposomes against MCF-7 cells was detected by using MTT assay. The results showed that antiproliferative effects of PEOZ-DOX-L enhanced with pH value decreased, whereas DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L did not have any significant difference in inhibitions at different pH conditions. Therefore, the problems of the inhibition of cellular uptake of liposomes and the failed endosomal escape of pH-sensitive liposomes by PEG chain can be overcome by the pH-sensitive liposomes constructed by PEOZ-CHMC.
Cell Nucleus ; Doxorubicin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Endosomes ; Formates ; chemistry ; Humans ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; MCF-7 Cells ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylethanolamines ; Polyamines ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry

The present study was aimed to investigate whether calreticulin (CRT) was involved in the protective effect of hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) against oxidative stress injury in rat cardiomyocytes. Neonatal cardiomyocytes were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats aged 24 h, and cultured in DMEM medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. The cultured cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 8 groups as follows: (1) hydrogen peroxide stress (H(2)O(2) group); (2) brief hypoxic exposure for 20 min to simulate HPC (HPC group); (3) hypoxic exposure for 20 min followed by normoxic reoxygenation for 24 h before hydrogen peroxide stress (HPC + H(2)O(2) group); (4) SB203580 (a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK) + HPC + H(2)O(2) group; (5) CRT antisense oligonucleotide transfection (AS group); (6) AS + H(2)O(2) group; (7) AS + HPC + H(2)O(2) group; (8) control group. Morphological observation, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and flow cytometry were employed to assess cell apoptosis and necrosis. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect CRT expression and activity of p38 MAPK. All experiments were repeated at least four separate times. The results obtained were as follows: (1) HPC relieved cell injury caused by H(2)O(2). Compared with that in H(2)O(2) group, the cell survival rate increased by 18.0% (P<0.05), apoptotic rate and LDH leakage in culture medium decreased by 19.4% and 53.0%, respectively (P<0.05) in HPC + H(2)O(2) group. (2) H(2)O(2) induced CRT over-expression (7.1-fold increase compared with control, P<0.05), while HPC resulted in mild CRT up-regulation (2.4-fold increase compared with control, P<0.05), suggesting that HPC can relieve the over-expression of CRT induced by H(2)O(2). (3) CRT AS transfection weakened the protection of HPC. Compared with that in HPC + H(2)O(2) group, the cell survival rate decreased by 4% (P<0.05), and apoptotic rate and LDH leakage in culture medium increased by 2.6% and 39.0%, respectively (P< 0.05) in AS + HPC + H(2)O(2) group. (4) The protection of HPC and HPC-induced upregulation of CRT were almost eliminated when SB203580 was administered before HPC. These results suggest that HPC up-regulates CRT expression through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and protects cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress injury.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calreticulin ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Up-Regulation ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors

Objective To study the national surveillance results and learn the current situation of iodized salt consumption at household level in 2008, and to find out the remaining problems and to provide scientific basis for developing control strategies against iedine deficiency disorders. Methods In 2008, in accordance with the requirements of the "National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Surveillance Program (Trial)", the surveillance was conducted at county level in 31 provinces and at division level in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. In each county 9 townships were randomly selected according to their sub-area positions of east, west, south, north and center;4 villages were randomly sampled in each chosen township;8 households were randomly selected in each chosen village. In every county with 9 or less townships, 1 township was randomly selected respectively in the east, west, south,north and center sub-areas;4 villages were randomly sampled in each chosen township;15 households were randomly selected in each chosen village. Edible salt from these households was collected. Iodized salt coverage rate, proportion of qualified iodized salt and consumption rate of the qualified iodized salt of the households in each province were counted and analyzed. Iodized salt was determined by direct titration;the salt samples from Sichuan and other enhanced salt were detected by arbitration. Results Totally 2817 counties (districts, cities, banners) and 14 divisions of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported the monitoring results, monitoring coverage reached 99.96%(2831/2832). Mean of iodine content was 31.51 mg/kg.Sixteen provinces had a variation coefficient of iodine content for more than 20%. A total of 826 968 households were tested of their edible salt, in which iodized salt 798 725 copies, non-iodized salt 28 243 copies, and unqualified iodized salt 20 270 copies. Weighted by population,at national level, the coverage rate of iodized salt was 97.48%, qualified rate of iodized salt 97.16%, and consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 94.79%.Twenty seven provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps had a qualified iodized salt coverage rate of above or equal 90.00%. Tibet, Hainan, Xinjiang and Tianjin provinces (regions) had a qualified iodized salt coverage rate lower than 90.00%. Further, 2487 counties had the rate high or equal 90.00% accounting for 87.82% (2487/2831) of complementing monitoring counties. One hundred and four counties and 1 division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps had the coverage rate of iodized salt below 80.00%. Conclusions Sixteen provinces(autonomous regions and municipalities) have relatively a high degree of variation coefficient in salt iodine content. The quality of iodized salt needs to be improved. The coverage rate of iodized salt and the qualified iodized salt at national level are both above or equal 90.00%. However, the non-iodized salt problem is still serious and have a relatively lower coverage of iodized salt in Tibet, Hainan and Xinjiang.

Objective To understand the current level of iodized salt coverage in areas with intensified monitoring measure in China in 2008. Methods In accordance with the "National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Surveillance Program (Trial)" of Ministry of Health issued in 2007, the selected key counties (cities, districts and banner) were divided into 5 sub-areas, 1 non-iodine townships(towns, street offices) was sampled randomly in each sub-area, 4 administrative villages (neighborhood committees) were sampled from each selected township;15households salt samples in each selected village were randomly collected. All salt samples were detected by semiquantitative kit at first. The salt samples that can not be determined by the kit were tested by direct titration and the arbitration act (GB/T 13025.7-1999) detection. Iodized salt determination criteria: reagent color change in semiquantitative test kit or iodine content ≥ 5 mg/kg were identified as iodized salt. Otherwise, the salt samples were identified as non-iodized salt. Results All the provinces(autonomous regions, municipalities) except Tibet in China had conducted a specific survey on iodized salt coverage in non-iodized salt high-risk areas, which revealed that the national coverage rate of iodized salt was 93.01%(130 928/140 770). At the provincial level, twenty provinces and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp had a iodized salt coverage over 90%, while the other six provinces (Beijing, Xinjiang, Zhejiang, Fujian, Tianjin and Jiangxi) between 80% - ＜ 90% and the rest four provinces,such as Guangxi, Qinghai, Guangdong and Hainan, lower than 80%. At the county level, 64.57%(277/429) of all the surveillance counties had a iodized salt coverage over 95% while 10.02%(43/429) lower than 80%. Among all the six types of areas where specific survey were conducted, areas with incomplete iodized salt distribution network and areas with crude salt production had a iodized salt coverage lower than 90%, 81.74%(4978/6090) and 86.53%(17 098/19 759), respectively. In raw salt production area, there were 10 out of 21 provinces with iodized salt coverage rate below 90%, it consisted of 47.6%(10/21) of the total monitoring provinces in the same type areas.There were 8 out of 16 provinces with iodized salt coverage rate lower than 90% in the areas with faultiness iodized salt network, it consisted of 50.0%(8/16) of the sampling provinces in the same type area. Conclusions Most provinces(21) in China have a relatively high iodized salt coverage at household level during this specific survey.Areas with incomplete iodized salt distribution network and crude salt production are the most affected areas by noniodized salt. Aiming at the high-risk non-iodized salt areas discovered during this survey, corresponding intervention measures should be implemented with joint efforts from sectors concerned.