Objective To investigate the influences of photochemotherapy with psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) on skin photoaging and its possible mechanism. Methods HE stain, Verhoeff stain, electron microscopy, enzyme cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry were used to study influences of PUVA on the skin photoaging with characteristic biological markers in the non-lesion back skin of patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Results After treatment with PUVA, the degenerated collagen and elastic fibers were increased with derangement profile in dermis, and fibroblasts displayed growth suppression and morphological changes of cell senescence with a permanent switch of mitotic to stably postmitotic phenotypes, of group B and group A, the positive rates of SA-?-Gal were 13.6 % and 0.00 % and the positive rates of p16 protein were 81.8 % and 42.9 % respectively, there were significant differences between group B and group A(? 2=21.412, P

The early functional changes of the heart after radiation, burn or combined radiation-burn injury were studied with an isolated working heart preparation of rats. The animals were randomized into the control group (C), the burn injury group (B) inflicted with 30% TB-SA full thickness burns from a 5 kw bromine-tungsten lamp, the radiation injury group (R) inflicted with total body irradiation of 6 Gy from a "Co source and the combined radiation-burn injury group (RB) receiving both of the injuries. No treatment was administered after injury. Left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP). maximum of LV pressure development ( ? dp/ dtmax), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), coronary flow (CF), aortic pressure (A.P) and ratio of dry/wet myocardial weight (Rw) of the perfused isolated heart were determined in the 1st, 3rd, 8th, 16th and 24th hour after injury. It was found that LVSP, ?dp/dtmax, CO and AP were decreased in RB especially in the 8th hour after injury ( P

Objective To investigate the relationship between expression of matrix metalloproteinases of dermal fibroblasts and wrinkle formation in photoaging skin.Methods In situ hybridization histochemistry and immunocytochemistry were used to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1,MMP-3mRNA and the expression of tissue inhibitor of MMP-1at(TIMP-1)protein in dermal fibroblasts from non-lesional skin of psoriatic patients during and after PUVA treatment.Results The expression of MMP-1and MMP-3mRNA of dermal fibroblasts from non-lesional skin was persistently up-regulated during PUVA thera-py,and lasted more than6months after treatment;while the expression of TIMP-1protein was only slightly expressed for a short period during PUVA therapy.Conclusion Wrinkle formation in photoaging skin after PUVA therapy is correlated with the imbalance of expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors of dermal fibroblasts.

Objective To screen for genes associated with low-dose UVA irradiation-induced adaptation reaction in cultured human melanocytes, and to explore the molecular mechanism of the adaptation.Methods Cultured human melanocytes of fifth to tenth passage were divided into two groups, experimental group was subjected to an irradiation with UVA at 7.2 J/cm2 once daily for 4 times and an additional irradiation at a lethal dose of 86.4 J/cm2 6 hours after the above 4-session irradiation, and control group subjected to a single irradiation with UVA at 86.4 J/cm2. A human genome-wide oligonucleotide chip was used to screen for differentially expressed genes between the two groups of cells followed by a functional classification based on international standard. Moreover, a part of these genes were analyzed and identified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Results In the adaptation reaction induced by low-dose UVA irradiation in cultured melanocytes, there were 129 differentially expressed genes, including 81 up-regulated genes and 48 down-regulated genes. These genes were found to be mainly involved in metabolism, transport, signal transduction, apoptosis, DNA synthesis and repair, and some of them were oncogenes or anti-oncogenes. Real-time PCR confirmed some of the differentially expressed genes. Conclusions The whole genome-wide oligonucleotide chip could screen with high efficiency for differentially expressed genes in low-dose UVA irradiation-induced adaptation reaction in cultured melanocytes.

Objective:To study the protective effect of Huangqi Injection on cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin (DOX) and its mechanism. Methods: The molders of Dox-induced myocardial mitochondria damage of rat in vitro and Dox-induced cardiotoxicity in mice were used. The protective effect of Huangqi Injection on cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin was determined by biochemical method.Results: Doxorubicin can increse malondialdehyde level, induce mitochondrin swelling and decrease glutathione (GSH) content of myocardial mitochondria of rat in vitro, while all these damages caused by doxorubicin were reduced significantly by Huangqi Injection. Cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin in mice as measured by increases of myocardial malondialdehyde level and serum creatine phosphokinase activity, decreases of superoxide dimutase was significantly alleviated by Huangqi Injection. Conclusions: Huangqi Injection can protect heart against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity, which provides experimental evidence for Huangqi Injection as an anti-tumor adjuvant drug in clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility,safety and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal stenting angioplasty for severe complicated stenosis of vertebrobasilar system. Methods From November 2003 to February 2006,5 candidates underwent percutaneous transluminal stenting for severe complicated stenosis of vertebrobasilar system. Results Four out of 5 candidates,had occlusion of unilateral vertebral artery (VA),1 had severe bilateral proximal segmental stenosis of VA. There were 4 with severe proximal segmental stenosis of the VA associated with multiple segmental stenosis of intracranial VA and basilar artery (BA),and 1 with multiple segmental severe stenosis of intracranial VA and BA. Stenosis rate ranges from 80% ～95% with involved length from 10-20 mm. Technical success was achieved in all of the patient (100%),and residual stenosis rate was less than 20%. All the symptoms due to vertebrobasilar blood supply insufficiency disappeared. Follow-up with DSA 6-12 months later demonstrated no restenosis; showing satisfactory short term efficacy. Conclusions Percutaneous transluminal stenting for vertebrobasilar blood supply insufficiency is a safe and efficacious option with favorable short term outcome,especially with furthermore prevention of stroke.

Objective: To investigate reversal of drug resistance in human ovarian cancer cells by c-jun antisense. Methods: A c-jun antisense was applied to treat resistant and sensitive A2780 cell lines, and to observe the expression levels of c-jun, ?-GCS and GSH in two cell lines. Results: c-jun antisense inhibit c-jun gene expression in resistance cell lines . The mRNA level of the key enzyme in GSH synthesis, ?-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, was also reduced. The GSH content in resistant cells was dropped about 75 % . MTT analysis show that the resistant cells IC_(50) to cisplatin was dropped from 40 ?mol/L to 1.0 ?mol/L after a c-jun antisense treatment. No significant effect was observed in senstive cells (0.2 ?mol/L). Conclusion: A c-jun antisense can inhibit its gene expression in cells, and GSH synthesis in resistant cell was also inhibited. The resistant cells could be reversed to the level of sensitive cells.

AIM: To examine the quality of Radix Astragali Injection from different manufacturers. METHODS: The HPLC-ELSD method for the determination of astragaloside Ⅳ in Radix Astragali Injection was established with hypersil ODS 2 C 18 column(250mm?4.6mm,5?m), column temperature at 40℃. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-water (36∶64) and flow rate was at 1.0mL?min -1. The evaporation light-scattering detector was used with its drift tube temperature at 100℃ and the gas flow rate: 3.0L?min -1. RESULTS: Within 2.4～12?g astragaioside Ⅳ had a good linearity. The average recovery was 101.6%, RSD=2.9%,n=5. By analyzing the samples of 10 batch of Radix Astragali Injection from 5 manufactuers, it showed there were significant difference in the contents of astragaloside Ⅳ. CONCLUSION: The method is simple and fast. The results are accurate and reproducible and can be used in the quality control of Radix Astragali Injection. The significant differences in the astragaloside content may influence clinical treatmem.

AIM:In this study, the rat lung injury model was induced by ammonium chloride for studying the effect of imidapril on blood gas, serum TNF-α, IL-6 and MDA concentrations, and AngⅡand CD54 protein expression in rat lung tissue.METHODS:Male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group, lung injury model group and drug group.The rats in control group were given saline (2 mL/kg), while the rats in lung injury model group were given 6% ammonium chloride (2 mL/kg).In drug group, imidapril (3 mg· kg-1· d-1) was given to the rats once daily for 1 week by intragastric gavage after given 6%ammonium chloride.On the 7th day, the rats were anesthetized with 2% so-dium pentobarbital.Abdominal aorta blood, venous blood and lung tissue were collected.The blood gas indexes and serum TNF-α, IL-6 and MDA concentrations were determined.The lung tissues were fixed and sliced, and the expression of AngⅡ and CD54 proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: The PaCO2 increased in lung injury model group compared with control group and drug group (P<0.05).The expression of AngⅡand CD54, and the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and MDA also increased significantly ( P<0.01) in model group.Pulmonary edema, inflammation, alveo-lus congestion, hemorrhage and hyperplasia in model group were obvious compared with control group and drug group. CONCLUSION:Imidapril improves blood gas indexes, and reduces lipid peroxidation and inflammatory responses in the rats with lung injury induced by ammonium chloride.

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on ultraviolet A-induced senescence as well as matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and-3 (MMP-3) mRNA expressions in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs).Methods HDFs were isolated from the prepuce by enzymatic digestion, and subjected to primary culture.Cultured HDFs were randomly divided into several groups: control group cultured in high-glucose DMEM medium and receiving no treatment, three TMP groups treated with 20, 50 and 100 mg/L TMP respectively, UVA group receiving UVA radiation alone, UVA + TMP groups pretreated with 20, 50 and 100 mg/L TMP respectively for different durations followed by UVA radiation.UVA radiation was given once daily for 5 consecutive days.The 55th passage HDFs served as the P55 group (senescence control group).Subsequently, CCK-8 assay was performed to evaluate the proliferative activity of HDFs in vitro, optical microscopy to observe the morphologic changes of HDFs after UVA radiation, β-galactosidase staining to estimate the senescence in HDFs, and real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR to quantify the mRNA expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in HDFs.Statistical analysis was carried out by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by least significant difference (LSD)-t test or Dunnett's T3 test.Results Compared with the control group, the proliferation of HDFs was significantly but transiently inhibited in vitro after the treatment with 100 mg/L TMP for 48 hours (P ＜ 0.05), but showed no significant changes after the treatment with 20 or 50 mg/L TMP for 24, 48 or 72 hours or after the treatment with 100 mg/L TMP for 24 or 72 hours (all P ＜ 0.05).The pretreatments with TMP of 20, 50 and 100 mg/L for 24, 48 and 72 hours all promoted the proliferation of HDFs to a certain degree in the UVA + TMP groups compared with the UVA group, with significant differences in cellular proliferative activity among the UVA group, UVA + TMP groups and control group at 24, 48 and 72 hours (F =17.451,15.231, 23.535, all P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the UVA group, the proliferative activity of HDFs was significantly increased in UVA + 100-mg/L TMP group at 24, 48, 72 hours, UVA + 50-mg/L TMP group at 24 and 72 hours and UVA + 20-mg/L TMP group at 72 hours.After repetitive UVA radiation, HDFs in the UVA group experienced an increase in cell volume, granule acount, and β-galactosidase expression, which was similar to the changes in the P55 group, while the pretreatments with 20, 50 and 100 mg/L TMP for 24 hours suppressed these UVA-induced changes in HDFs.The percentage of β-galactosidase-positive HDFs was 68.417％ ± 1.181％ in the UVA group, 58.167％ ± 5.620％ in the UVA + 20-mg/L TMP group, 45.167％ ± 5.502％ in the UVA + 50-mg/L TMP group, 43.000％ ± 2.000％ in the UVA + 100-mg/L TMP group, 33.667％ ± 5.865％ in the control group, and 76.000％ ± 6.557％ in the P55 group, with significant differences among these groups (F =45.918, P ＜ 0.01).Furthermore, the UVA group significantly differed from the UVA + TMP groups and control group in the percentage of β-galactosidase-positive HDFs and mRNA expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3 (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion TMP can protect HDFs against senescence induced by repetitive UVA radiation, and down-regulate the mRNA expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3 during senescence.