H2S,considered as the third gas transmitter besides NO and CO,has extensive biological activities.It shows great potential therapeutic use among several diseases.This review focuses on the recent research achievements on H2S and its potential therapeutic use.

Aim To establish the standards for evaluation of microcirculation in a rat hind limb ischemia model.Methods Rats were subjected to unilateral femoral artery ligation.After 4 weeks,the regional blood flow in skeletal muscles was measured by fluorescent microsphere assay.Formation of collateral vessels was determined by microangiography.Capillary density was examined by immunostaining for CD34.Results In ischemic limbs,regional blood flow decreased significantly,some collateral vessels formed with typical "corkscrew" appearance,and histological analysis showed lower capillary density.Conclusion Quantitative assessment of microcirculation in a hind limb ischemia model is established.

Aim To establish a reliable and practical rat model with hypertension induced by DOCA-Salt.Methods One week after nephrectomy,the rats were subcutaneously injected with DOCA (30 mg?kg-1) once a week and fed with a chaw with 10 g?L-1NaCl plus 2 g?L-1 KCl in drinking water for 4 weeks. Blood pressure was measured and,urine was collected for measurement of volume(UV),UNaV,UClV,UKV,UCaV and pH values,once a week. SGPT,CREA,SUGA,TRIG,CHOL,INS,ALD,ADH were measured in circulating blood samples. Kidney morphological changes and Na+,K+-ATPase activity of the renal tubular epithelial cells were also examined. Results Blood pressure,UV,UNaV and UClV were increased and histopathological changes of the kidney such as glomerulus sclerosis and tubular pachynsis were observed in the DOCA-Salt rats. Whereas UKV,UCaV,urine pH values,SGPT,CREA,SUGA,TRIG,CHOL,INS,ALD and ADH were not changed. In contrast,Na+,K+-ATPase activity of the renal tubular epithelial cells was decreased. Conclusion DOCA-Salt is a reliable hypertensive model with sodium retention.

Aim To establish a method for recording tension changes in small artery in vitro.Methods The vessel segments of intestine were dissected from the mesenteric artery of rats and mounted onto Myograph.The internal circumferences of the segments were normalized with Chart5 software.Then the internal diameters of the segments and initial setting of tension were calculated with self-made Excel file.Following these preparation steps, the tension changes induced by several stimulations were recorded by Myograph.Results Normalization procedure provided the data of lumen diameters of small arteries,which was convenient for initial setting of tension and guaranteed the uniformity of the experimental conditions.Myograph could record the tension changes of small arteries induced by several classic stimulations.Conclusion Precise recording method for tension changes in small arteries in vitro is successfully established.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy of lamivudine (LAM) and adefovir dipivoxyl (ADV) for patients with hepatitis B-induced decompensated cirrhosis. METHODS: A total of 81 patients were randomly divided into a combination group and an ADV group over 48 week treatment course. The combination group were treated with LAM (100 mg/d) plus ADV (10 mg/d), and the ADV group with ADV (10 mg/d ) for 48 weeks. All patients received hepatic function support and symptomatic treatment. The levels of HBV DNA, liver function, Child-Pugh scores and HBV DNA indicators were observed before and after the treatment. RESULTS: At week 4, the mean reduction of HBV DNA was 1.83 lgIU/mL, 17.9% of the patients achieved undetectable HBV DNA and 28.2% showed normal ALT in the combination group. The counterpart in the ADV group was 0.96 lgIU/mL, 5.3% and 10.5%. At week 4, 12, 24 and 48, the differences in the mean reduction of HBV DNA, undetectable HBV DNA and ALT normalization were statistically significant between the 2 groups. The difference in HBeAg negative conversion rates and HBeAg seroconversion at week 24 and 48 was not significant. CONCLUSION The combination therapy results in HBV suppression and improved liver function and Child-Pugh score. The combination treatment has an advantage over ADV due to low drug resistance rate and good tolerance.
Adenine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; End Stage Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; administration & dosage ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; administration & dosage

A total of 127 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from roots, branches and leaves of Huperzia serrata. These strains were identified into 19 genera based on morphological characters and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence analysis, there into Penicillium, Aspergillus and Podospora were dominant populations in H. serrata. From analysis results we found some endophytic fungi showed a certain degree of tissue preference. The isolation rate and colonization rate of stems were both larger than those of leaf and roots. After testing the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of these endophytic fungi, a total of 39 endophytic fungi belonging to 15 genera showed AChE inhibition. Eleven endophytic fungi showed potent AChE inhibition, 7 of which were isolated from leaf. The research not only provided theoretical basis for developing and utilizing the resources of endophytic fungi in H. serrata but also showed a new path for searching medicines resource which has AChE inhibitory activity.
Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Fungi ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Huperzia ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture for treatment of catatonic schizophrenia.

METHODSEighty cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with electroacupuncture, Baihui (GV 20) and Taiyang (EXHN 5) were selected, once daily; the control group was treated with modified electric convulsive therapy (MECT), the treatment was given once every 2 days or 3 days, 14 to 21 days constituted one course in the two groups.

RESULTSThe markedly effective rate and total effective rate were 72.5% and 92.5% in the observation group, 77.5% and 97.5% in the control group, respectively, there was no significant difference between the two groups (both P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture is similar to that of MECT.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Electroconvulsive Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Schizophrenia, Catatonic ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEAtrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a cardiac hormone with many biological effects. Hypersecretion may lead to hyponatremia. This study examined the umbilical ANP levels in high risk neonates.

METHODSA total of 117 high risk neonates born between June, 2004 and June, 2005 were divided into Simple asphyxia and Normal score groups according to their Apgar's scores. The Simple asphyxia group was subdivided into Mild (n=20) and Severe asphyxia groups (n=17), and the Normal score group was subdivided into Infection (n=25) and Non-infection groups (n=55). Forty normal neonates were used as the Control group. The samples of umbilical cord blood were collected at delivery and the umbilical ANP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Meanwhile the sodium levels in the peripheral vein were measured.

RESULTSThe mean umbilical ANP levels in high risk neonates were significantly higher than those in the normal neonates. A more significant increase of the umbilical ANP level was observed in premature infants (1.46 +/- 0.39 ng/mL), and neonates with serious infection (1.16 +/- 0.35 ng/mL) and with severe asphyxia (2.12 +/- 0.46 ng/mL) compared with the normal neonates (0.62 +/- 0.33 ng/mL; P < 0.01). The serum sodium level was negatively correlated with the umbilical ANP level (r=-0.99, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe umbilical ANP levels increased significantly in the high risk neonates, suggesting high risk neonates are susceptible to hyponatremia.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; blood ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; etiology ; Infant, Newborn ; Risk ; Sodium ; blood

Aim To investigate the change in neuropeptide Y(NPY) Y1 receptor level in infarcted myocardium tissues of (MI) rats. 　Method MI was induced by ligating the left descending anterior coronary artery (LAD) in the heart of rats. The techniques of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to identify the exist of NPY Y1 receptor mRNA in myocardial tissues. The technique of semi-quantitative PCR wa s used to observe the change of NPY Y1 receptor mRNA level. 　Results NPY Y1 receptor mRNA distributed in the heart tissues of rat. Compared with sham operated rats ,the NPY Y1 receptor mRNA level both in infarction area and non-infarction area was increased significantly after MI fo r 1d and 3d. The NPY Y1 receptor mRNA level in the heart tissues of sham-op erated rats was also significantly increased compared with that in control rats . 　Conclusion These results suggest that MI may result in increase NPY Y1 receptor level in the heart tissues of rats. Stre ss stimulation such as surgery may also increase the NPY Y1 receptor level in the heart.

Objective To evaluate musical therapy combined with sufentanil postoperative intravenous analgesia on hemodynamic changes in patient accepted lung cancer operation.Methods Sixty lung cancer surgery patients (ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ grade) were selected and divided randomly into musical therapy (group M; n =30) and control (group C; n =30).In group M,patients accepted music relaxation training for fifteen minutes before surgery,and music intervention for one hour at 3,7,15,19 hour after surgery.Whereas,in Group C,patients did not listen to any music during the same period.In the intensive care unit,patients were connected to a patient controlled analgesia (PCA) device.The PCA device (sufentanil 2 μg/kg,100 ml saline) was set to deliver a bolus of 2 ml,with a lockout interval of 10 min and background infusion volume of 0.5 ml/h.Hemodynamic changes,the visual analog scale (VAS) and consumption of sufentanil were recorded at the 4th,8th,12th,16th,20th and 24th hour after operation.Results SBP,DBP,HR and VAS of group M were significantly decreased compared to the group C,respectively (P ＜0.05),and significant difference was found in the PCA delivery frequency [group C (30.96 ± 4.00),group M (19.06 ± 3.49),t =12.39,P ＜ 0.01] and postoperative sufentanil consumption[group C (82.65±6.19)μg,group M (52.68 ±7.07)μg,t =20.00,P ＜0.01].Conclusions Musical therapy combined with sufentanil postoperative intravenous analgesia was able to produce better analgesic effect in the treatment of patient accepted lung cancer operation,which decreased postoperative sufentanil consumption and effectively reduced SBP,DBP and HR,and relieved the patient's anxiety.