Objective To investigate the effects of total flavonoids of Herba Epimedii(HEF)on the metabolism of typeⅠcollagen and the expression of cathepsin K in the bone of ovariectomized(OVX)rats. Methods Fifty-four female SD rats were allocated into 6 groups;OVX group,sham operation group,OVX rats followed by three doses of HEF(40,80 and 160 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1))and nilestriol(0.1 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1))for 12 weeks respectively.Bone mineral density(BMD)of whole body was determined by dual-energy X-ray absoptiometry.The level of cross-linked N-telopeptide of typeⅠcollagen(NTx)in the urine were determined by ELISA.The amounts of typeⅠcollagen protein and cathepsin K protein in bone tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method and Western blotting.Results Compared with OVX group,the total BMD values in the HEF treated groups were increased(all P＜0.05),and the expression levels of typeⅠcollagen in three HEF treated groups rose significantly in a dose-dependent manner after 12 week,and simultaneously,both the expression of cathepsin K in bone and the level of NTx/Cr were reduced markedly(P＜0.05),being most significant(P＜0.01)in the group treated with the highest dose of HEF(160 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)).Conclusion HEF seems to be able to elevate BMD and improve bone quality of rats via promoting synthesis and inhibiting proteolysis and absorption of typeⅠcollagen in the bone.

Adenoma, Villous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-20 ; metabolism ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Mullerian Ducts ; pathology ; Papilloma ; pathology ; Vaginal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; pathology ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; pathology ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; pathology ; Sarcoma ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

Experiments were made on 6 adult cats. Brainstem neurons that project to the phrenic nucleus were retrogradely labeled by microinjection of WGA-HRP into phrenic nucleus. The brainstem sections were doubly processed for HRP histochemical staining with the TMB-Co-DAB method, and GABA immunohistochemical staining with anti-GABA primary antibody and FITC conjugated immunofluorescent secondary antibody. HRP-FITC double-labeled neurons were observed in the pontine K(o)lliker-Fuse nucleus and areas around the retrofacial nucleus (B(o)tzinger complex). Double-labeled neurons were also observed in the raphe nucleus, the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus, and the vestibular nucleus. The results show that brainstem GABAergic neurons in these structures, especially those in the K(o)lliker-Fuse nucleus and the B(o)t.C, send axonal projections to the phrenic nucleus.

Objective To evaluate the methods and consequences of surgical technique in the treatment of Stanford A aortic dissection.Methods 108 patients with type Standford A aortic dissection underwent surgery in our study,including urgent surgery in 53 and selective surgery in 55.The operation was performed under deep hypothennic circulatory arrest (DHCA) in 85 cases.Surgical procedures included ascending and semi arch replacement or total arch replacement (some cases combined with stented graft implanted into the descending aorta),"elephant trunk" procedure.Concomitant procedures included repair of intimal tear in arch or descending aorta,Bentall procedure,aortic valve replacement,Cabrol or modified Cabrol procedure,aortic valvuloplasty,mitral valvuloplasty or mitral valve replacement,tricuspid valvuloplasty and CABG.Results In-hospital mortality was 6.5% (7 of 108 patients).The mor- tality was 7.5% (4 of 53 patients) in urgent surgery group and in elective surgery group was 5.4% (3 of 55 patients).Ninety six percent survived patients were followed up for 1 month to 13.3 years [mean (3.2?1.3) years] and 2 deaths occurred during the fel- low-up period.3 patients underwent re-operatian.Conclusion The choice of surgical procedures depend on the location of intimal tear for Stanford A aortic dissection.The better operative effects can be expected with proper surgical indication,perfecting surgical technique,and enhancing postoperative treatment.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sunitinib in the treatment of metastatic renal clear cell carcinoma in our institution.

METHODSA total of 23 patients with metastatic clear cell RCC were enrolled from June 2008 to June 2009, male 16, female 7, median age 52 years. Twenty cases were treated by using Sunitinib as first-line therapy and 3 cases as second-line therapy. All pathological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma. Sunitinib monotherapy was administered in repeated 6-week cycles of daily oral for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks off, until disease progression or intolerable toxicities occurred. Overall response rate and safety were evaluated.

RESULTSThe median follow-up were 7.5 months (5 cycles). Four of 23 patients (17.4%) were treated with Sunitinib achieved partial responses (PR); 18 patients (78.3%) demonstrated stable disease (SD); 1 patient (4.3%)developed progressive disease (PD) during the study. Seventeen patients received treatment over 6 months (5 cycles). The 6 months' overall survival rate was 100%, 6 months' progression-free survival rate was 88.2%. The most commonly reported grade 3 adverse events included hand-foot syndrome (13.0%), thrombocytopenia(8.7%), diarrhea (4.3%)and fatigue (4.3%). Most grade 3 adverse events were ameliorated by dose-adjustment or treatment interruption.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study demonstrate the efficacy and manageable adverse-event profile of Sunitinib as a single therapy in first-line or second-line therapy for patients with metastatic clear cell RCC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Indoles ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the spiral CT features of gastric carcinoma in the invasion and metastasis and its correlation with the expression of phosphatase and tensin horology deleted on chormosome ten(PTEN)and basic fibroblast grouth factor(bFGF).Methods Spiral CT plain scan and triphasic enhanced scans were performed in 83 patients.The postoperative specimens were embedded with paraffin to obtain 5?m thickness tissues and stained with HE and immunohistochemistry.Spiral CT findings were compared with the expression of phosphatase and tensin horology deleted on chormosome ten(PTEN)and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF).Results(1)The accuracy of spiral CT in T and N staging of gastric carcinoma was 94.0%(78/83)and 89.2%(74/83),respectively.(2)The expression of PTEN was 47.0%(39/83)in gastric carcinoma.The expression of PTEN in T_(3.4)(40.8%,29/71)and N_(1+2) (38.3%,23/60)gastric carcinoma was significantly lower than that of T_2(10/12)and N_0(16/23)gastric carcinoma,respectively(X~2=7.439,P=0.006;X~2=6.511,P=0.011).(3)The expression of bFGF was 63.9%(53/83)in gastric carcinoma.The expression of bFGF in T(3.4)(70.4%,50/71)and N_(1+2) (71.7%,43/60)gastric carcinoma was significantly higher than that of T_2(3/12)and N_0(10/23)gastric carcinoma,respectively(X~2=7.314,P=0.007;X~2=5.724,P=0.017).(4)Both PTEN-positive expression and bFGF-positive expression were detected in 16 specimens.The expression of PTEN(41.0%, 16/39)was negatively correlated with that of bFGF(30.2%,16/53)(r=-0.447,P=0.000). Conclusion Spiral CT triphasic enhanced scans combined with biologic characteristics can improve diagnostic accuracy of gastric carcinoma in the invasion,metastasis and prognosis.

Background Implantation of phakic posterior chamber intraocular corrective lens(ICL)is a new choice for correction of high myopia.Different from laser assisted in situ keratomileusis,implantation of phakic posterior chamber ICL will allow the good imaging quality because it remaines the matched relationship between cornea and lens.But its visual quality after operation is concerned by patient and ophthalmologists.ObjectiveThis study was to observe the effectiveness of implantation of posterior chamber phakic ICL on visual quality in patients with high myopia.Methods Eighty-four high myopia eyes of 42 patients accepted implantation of posterior chamber phakic ICL and follow-up of 6-month duration.The visual acuity,refractive status,wavefront,contrast sensitivity and accommodation were examined and compared before and after surgery.This clinical study complied with Declaration of Helsinki.The written informed consent was obtained from each patient before operation.Results A prospective observational trial design was used.The uncorrected visual acuity and best corrected visual acuity after operation were better than preoperative ones in all of the patients.The eye numbers of ＞ 0.3 were increased after operation in comparison with before operation with a stable result among 1 day,1 month and 6 months after surgery (x2 =10.70,P＞0.05).Spherical equivalent refraction was(-15.38 ± 1.03)D before surgery and(+0.55 ±0.06)at 1 day,(-1.22±0.09)D at 1 month and(-0.68 ± 0.06)D after 6 months,showing a significant difference among them(F=16 559.90,P＜0.05).Total aberrations and higher-order aberrations were 11.00±0.25 and 0.43 ±0.05 before surgery,the wavefront aberrations were 2.21 ± 0.56 and 0.47±0.04 at 6 months after surgery with significant difference(t =1.65,P =0.10).Each spatial frequency contrast sensitivity and glare sensitivity on photopic and seotopie conditions in postoperation were higher compared with the preoperative(P＜0.05).The accommodation in 1 month and 6 months after surgery was greater than that of preoperative in the patients ＜-16 D(preoperation:2.75 ± 1.20 ; postoperation 1 month:5.75 ± 1.44,postoperation 6 months:6.00 ± 1.52)(P＜ 0.05),however,in the ＞-16 D group,no considerably change in accommodation was seen after surgery(F=1597.70,P＜0.05).No significant difference was found in accommodation between before and after surgery in ＞-16 D group(F=2.67,P＞0.05).Conclusions Visual quality of high myopia is obviously improved after implantation of posterior chamber phakic ICL,but its long-term outcome is need to further study.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin (MT) in depression rats model induced by chronic stress, so as to explore the biological mechanism of EA for depression.

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 8 cases in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with normal diet for 21 days without any treatment. In the model and EA group, rat model was established by chronic unpredictable stress combined with solitarily feeding method, and rats in the EA group was treated with EA at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Yintang" (GV 29) 1 h before stress stimulation everyday, 2 Hz in frequency and intensity was favorable with the head of rat slightly shivering. The needles were retained for 20 min, once a day for totally 21 days. After EA treatment, open-field experiment was adopted to observe the behavioral improvement; the rats temperatures were monitored at six time points (2:00, 6:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, 22:00) and orbital blood sampling was collected. The level of serum MT was tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The circadian rhythm changes of temperature and serum MT in each group were compared.

RESULTSThe numbers of horizontal movement and vertical movement in the model group were obviously lower than those in the control group (both P < 0.05), while those in the EA group were significantly improved compared with those in the model group (both P < 0.01). The circadian rhythm of temperature and MT disappeared in the model group, which was improved into normal level after EA treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture has regulation effects on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin in depression rat model induced by chronic stress.

Animals ; Circadian Rhythm ; Depression ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Male ; Melatonin ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Salvianolic-acid B on p38MAPK signaling pathway and its transcriptional factor activated by Transforming growth factor b1 in rat hepatic stellate cells.

METHODSHepatic stellate cells were isolated from normal rat by in situ perfusion and Nycodenz density-gradient centrifugation method.TGFb1 (10 ng/ml), PD98059(50 mumol/L), SB203580(10 mumol/L) and SA-B (10-6 mol/L) were directly added to the medium of the isolated HSCs. Groups: (1)The detection of total p38, MKK3/6, MEF2A and MEF2C induced by TGFb1 in HSC: include control group, SA-B group, SA-B+TGFb1 group and TGFb1 group. (2)The detection of the phosphorylation of p38, MKK3/6 and a-SMA induced by TGFb1 in HSC: include control group, SA-B group, SA-B+TGFb1 group, TGFb1 group, PD98059 group, PD98059+SA-B group, PD98059+TGFb1 group and SA-B+PD98059+TGFb1 group. (3)The effects of SA-B on activity of MEF2 reporter and collagen a 1(I) reporter induced by TGFb1 in HSC: include mt group, wt group, TGFb1 group, SA-B+TGFb1 group, SA-B group, SB203580+TGFb1 group and SB203580 group. Total and phosphorylated p38 and MKK3/6, MEF2A, MEF2C and a-SMA were assayed by Western blot. HSCs were transfected with either MEF2 or collagen a1(I) luciferase reporter gene by Lipofectamine 2000 transfection method, Cellular extracts were assayed for both MEF2 and collagen a1(I) luciferase activities. Comparisons between groups were performed with Student-Newman-Keuls test.

RESULTSThe relative expression level of the phosphorylation of p38 of SA-B group is 0.33+/-0.05,obviously lower than control group(q=7.08, P less than 0.01); SA-B+TGFb1 group is 0.46+/-0.04, obviously lower than TGF b1 group(q=10.45, P less than 0.01); The relative expression level of the phosphorylation of MKK3/6 of SA-B group is 0.11+/-0.07, obviously lower than control group(q=3.944, P less than 0.05); SA-B+TGF b1 group is 0.28+/-0.07, obviously lower than TGFb1 group (q=7.91, P less than 0.01); The relative luciferase activity of MEF2 reporter of SA-B+TGFb1 group and SB203580+TGF b1 group is 2.93+/-0.09 and 2.50+/-0.05 respectively, both obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q=35.35 and 37.2, P less than 0.01); The relative expression level of MEF2C and MEF2A of SA-B group is 15.82+/-0.97 and 13.00+/-0.40 respectively, obviously lower than control group(q is 5.18 and 13.32, both P less than 0.01); SA-B+TGF b1 group is 13.40+/-0.72 and 20.47+/-0.83 respectively, obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q is 43.93 and 12.52,both P less than 0.01); The relative expression level of a-SMA of SA-B+TGFb1 group is 8.76+/-0.44, obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q=20.35, P less than 0.01); SA-B+SB203580+TGFb1 group is only 3.57+/-0.49, obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q=39.78, P less than 0.01); The relative luciferase activity of collagen a1(I) reporter of SA-B+TGF b1 group and SB203580+TGFb1 group is 1.61+/-0.05 and 1.42+/-0.07 respectively, obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q=26.4 and 27.62, both P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSA-B could inhibit activation of HSC induced by TGFb1 through inhibiting p38MAPK signaling pathway in hepatic stellate cells.

Animals ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism