Objective To investigate the expression of parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone relative protein (PTH/PTHrP) receptor of osteoblast in hemodialysis patients and the effects of calcium channel blocker(CCB) and calcitriol on it. Methods Twenty-one patients on HD were randomly divided into three groups. Six patients were treated with CCB for 8 weeks. Seven patients were given calcitriol for 8 weeks. The rest 8 cases did not take either CCB or calcitriol. Five healthy people were selected as control group. The serum levels of iPTH, BUN, Scr, calcium and phosphorus were measured. The osteoblast was prepared from cultured bone marrow. PTH receptor mRNA expression was detected by semi-quantitive RT-PCR. Results The level of PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA decreased significantly in patients on HD as compared with control group, and increased in patients with CCB. In calcitriol treated group, and PTH/PTHrP receptor was obviously down-regulated with larger dose of calcitriol(0. 75?g/d), and up-regulated with low dose(0. 25?g/d) . Conclusion Expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor down-regulates in osteoblast of HD patients. CCB can up-regulate the expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor. A large dose of calcitriol may decrease iPTH level and down-regulate PTH/PTHrP receptor expression.

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of magnetic source imaging(MSI) in the preoperative localization of focal cortical dysplasia(FCD). Methods Eighty-two patients with intractable epilepsy resulting from FCD undergone preoperative assessment including MSI, video electroencephalography(VEEG) and electrocorticography(ECoG)from February 2006 to June 2012.The consistency between pre- and intra-surgical assessment was evaluated. For patients who had consistent results,postoperative curative effect was also recorded. The accuracy and predictive values of noninvasive preoperative tests were compared by χ2 test. Results For MSI and ECoG, their results were consistent in 57 cases, partially consistent in 14 cases, and inconsistent in 11 cases. In the postoperative follow-up of 57 patients with consistent results, there were 46 cases with Engel class Ⅰ, 3 cases with Engel class Ⅱ, 4 cases with Engel class Ⅲ, and 4 cases with Engel class IV. For VEEG and ECoG, the results were consistent in 43 cases, partially consistent in 33 cases, inconsistent in 6 cases.The postoperative follow-up showed that 27 cases were graded as Engel classⅠ, 5 cases as Engel classⅡ,7 cases as Engel classⅢ, and 4 cases as Engel class IV. There were statistically significant differences(χ2=5.023,P=0.025)of the concordance rate with ECoG between MSI(69.51%,57/82)and VEEG(52.44%,43/82). In the postoperative follow-up of patients with consistent results, the curative effect was better in group MSI than in group VEEG (χ2=3.989,P=0.046). Conclusions Preoperativelocalization by MSI shows advantage over VEEG, which meanswhen it achieves an agreement with ECoG, patients with FCD may get better prognosis from the surgical process.

Objective To study the association of serum L-kynurenine changes with nutritional status and vascular stiffness in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods Twenty gender- and age-matched healthy volunteers (healthy group) and 40 MHD patients,including 20 cases with α-keto aicd(α-keto acid group)and 20 cases without α-keto aicd(non-α-keto acid group)were enrolled in the study.Serum L-kynurenine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography.C-reactive protein (CRP)and interleukin 6 (IL-6)were detected.Subjective global assessment(SGA)and malnutrition inflammation score(MIS)were applied to evaluate the nutritional status.Pulse wave velocity(PWV)was used to evaluate arterial stiffness for both groups of MHD patients. Results Serum L-kynurenine was significantly higher in MHD patients than that in healthy subjects[(3.20±1.12)μmol/L vs (1.74±0.27)μmol/L,P<0.01],while such difference was not found between α-keto aicd group and non-α-keto-aicd group [(3.20±0.88)μmol/L vs (3.29±1.34)μmol/L,P>0.05].IL-6 was significantly higher in MHD patients as compared to healthy subjects[(6.45±3.78)ng/L vs(1.38±1.59)ng/L,P<0.01],while such difference was found between α-keto aicd group and non-α-keto aicd group[(3.37±0.82)ng/L vs (9.62±2.48)ng/L,P<0.051.There was no difference of CRP concentration between two MHD groups.As compared to non-α-keto acid group,higher SGA score(26.00±1.75 vs 22.67±2.61,P=0.001),lower MIS score(5.82±2.27 vs 10.00±2.62,P=0.002),lower left side PWV[(21.11±8.21)m/s vs(24.57±5.45)m/s,P=0.244]and lower right side PWV[(19.27±3.22)m/s vs (24.19±5.41)m/s,P=0.015]were observed in α-keto aicd group.Pearson analysis showed positive correlation between serum L-kynurenine and IL-6(r=0.352,P=0.011)and negative correlation between L-kynurenine and pre-dialysis Scr(r=-0.412,P=0.019). Conclusions Inflammation is common in MHD patients.Tryptophan degeneration product L-kynurenine may indicate inflammation status.α-keto acid improves nutritional status,anemia and arterial stiffness maybe through the alleviation of inflammation in MHD patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Fuzheng Huayu recipe and Huangqi tang on DMN-induced experimental liver cirrhosis in rats and explore the therapeutic characteristics of Buxu herbals on liver cirrhosis.

METHODLiver cirrhosis in rats was induced by intraperitoneally injection of DMN for 4 weeks. Cirrhotic rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: model group, and Fuzheng Huayu recipe group, Huangqi tang group, Fuzheng Huayu recipe combined with Huangqi Tang group. The rats in treatment groups were orally administered with Fuzheng Huayu recipe, Huangqi tang, Fuzheng Huayu recipe combined with Huangqi tang (1:1), respectively. Normal and model control rats were given the equivalent normal saline. The body weight, liver weight and spleen weight were observed when rats were sacrificed. Liver histology was examined by HE staining and Sirius red staining. The liver function parameters including ALT, T. Bil and Alb were determined. The SOD activity and MDA content in liver tissues were also measured. Hepatic hydroxyproline (Hyp) content was determined by Jamall's method. The expression of alpha-SMA was determined by both immunohistochemistry staining and western blot method.

RESULTCompared with normal rats, the serum ALT and T. Bil levels in model rats increased obviously, by contrast, the serum Alb level decreased. There was a significant decline of SOD activity in model rat liver tissue, while the content of MDA and Hyp increased remarkably. A severe deterioration of liver architecture, infiltration of inflammatory cells and deposition of collagen were observed in model rat liver tissue. The expression of alpha-SMA also increased significantly. Compared with model rats, the liver function, lipid peroxidation parameters, Hyp content and liver histology were all improved in the 3 treatment groups. The combined group is better than any single-use group in decreasing collagen deposition and expression of alpha-SMA.

CONCLUSIONFuzheng Huayu recipe, Huangqi tang, Fuzheng Huayu recipe combined with Huangqi tang can attenuate liver fibrosis in DMN induced rats. Fuzheng Huayu recipe combined with Huangqi tang is better than that using alone in decreasing collagen deposition. The mechanism is partially due to the better effect of Fuzheng Huayu recipe combined with Huangqi tang on inhibiting activated HSC.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To test the effects of TNF-α inhibitor Etanercept on myocardial ischemia/ reperfusion (MI/R) injury in posttraumatic mice,and explore related mechanisms.Methods Traumatic mouse model was established with Noble-Collip drum.Five days after trauma,Notch1 was knocked down by intramyocardial injection of Notch1 small interfering RNAs (siRNA) or scrambled siRNA (20 μg).Seven days after trauma,mice were subjected to MI/R (30 minutes ischemia followed by reperfusion).Sham operation was similarly performed without coronary artery ligation.Ten minutes before reperfusion,mice received Etanercept (8 mg/kg,i.p.).ELISA was used to detect plasma levels of TNF-α and troponin I (cTnI) and myocardial nitrotyrosine content.Twenty-four hours after reperfusion,left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured by echocardiography.Infarct size was determined by Evans blue/2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) double staining.Cardiac caspase-3 activity was detected using a caspase-3 kit.Myocardial TNF-α and Notchl intracellular domains (Notch1 ICD) expressions were determined by Western blot.Chemiluminescence was used to assess myocardial superoxide anion content.Results (1) Compared to vehicle group,Etanercept treatment significantly reduced cTnl content,infarct size and caspase-3 activity (all P ＜0.01),while obviously increased LVEF (P ＜0.01).(2) Etanercept treatment also significantly reduced plasma and myocardial TNF-α contents (P ＜ 0.01),whereas markedly increased myocardial Notch1 ICD content (P ＜0.05).(3) Compared to scrambled siRNA group,Notch1 deficiency significantly increased cTnI content,infarct size and caspase-3 activity (P ＜ 0.05),whereas obviously reduced LVEF (P ＜ 0.05).(4) Etanercept significantly reduced myocardial superoxide anion and nitrotyrosine content (P ＜ 0.01),which was reversed by downregulation of Notch1 (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions TNF-α inhibitor Etanercept can alleviate MI/R injury after trauma by reducing myocardial oxidative/nitrative stress via activating Notch1 signaling pathway.

Objective To study the Hainan Utstein templates used for cardiac arrest and resuscitation registries to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of the patients with CPR by multi-center study. Methodsccording to the Utstein templates for cardiac arrest and CPR set by International Liaison Committee on resuscitation in 2004, a Hainan Utstein CPR registry chart was designed and a prospective descriptive study was carried out to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics, impact factors and outcomes of the patients with resuscitation attempt in emergency departments of thirteen hospitals in Hainan Island between January 2007 and December 2010.Results Of 1125 patients with cardiac arrest, male accounted for 73. 8％ and female was 26. 2％. The mean ( ± S. D) age of the cardiac arrest patients was 53.9 ± 13. 1 years old.Coronary heart diseases and hypertension were the most common preexisting chronic diseases in the studied patients. The ROSC rate and discharge rates after survival in 1125 patients with CPR were 23. 8％ and 7.4％ respectively. The ROSC rate and discharge rates after survival were 36. 3％ and 11.6％ in the in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) group, respectively whereas 11.5％ and 3. 3％ in out-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) group. Of 188 patients with ventricular fibrillation/Pulseless ventricular tachycardia, the ROSC rate and discharge rate after survival were 58.0％and 21.8％,respectively. Of them, 448 (39. 8％ ) of the cardiac arrest patients had underlying cardiac causes, and the ROSC rate and discharge rate after survival were 36. 3％ and 11.5％ respectively in IHCA group whereas 11.6％ and 3. 3％ in OHCA group. The ROSC rate and discharge rate after survival were 69. 8％ and 7. 4％respectively in the tertiary hospitals whereas 30. 2％ and 7. 3％ in the secondary hospitals. Conclusions Patients experienced cardiac arrest were predominantly male. Coronary heart disease and hypertension were the two most common preexisting chronic diseases. The ROSC rate and discharge rate of patients with IHCA were higher than those with OHCA. ROSC rate and discharge rate after survival were higher in the ventriculat fibrillation/Pulseless ventricular tachycardia group than the other cardiac rhythms first witnessed groups. The time delayed of starting CPR after onset of cardiac arrest had a critical impact on survival and discharge rate in both IHCA and OHCA groups.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the risk of formaldehyde hazards in a plywood manufacturing factory using two risk assessment methods,and to evaluate the occupational health risk. METHODS: Occupational health investigation and formaldehyde detection for workplaces were carried out in a plywood manufacturing factory in Shandong province. The risk ratings of different posts were assessed by US Environmental Protection Agency( EPA) inhalation risk( EPA assessment model) and Singapore Semi-quantitative Assessment Model( MOM assessment model). The risk classification results of the 2 risk assessment methods were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The concentration of airborne formaldehyde on the positions of shaving,woods feeding,gluing,hot milling,hot pressing,sanding and reprocessing were 0. 25,0. 13,1. 47,0. 72,0. 92 and 0. 58 mg/m~3,respectively. By the EPA assessment model,all of the positions were evaluated as high carcinogenic risk. Through the MOM assessment model,the feeding position was evaluated as medium risk,the positions of shaving,hot milling,hot pressing sanding and reprocessing were high risk,and the position of gluing was higher risk. CONCLUSION: It suggests that there is a high formaldehyde exposure in several posts in the plywood production processing. EPA assessment model is a suitable for occupational health risk assessment for formaldehyde exposure.