Objective To study the relationship of carotid atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease and cerebral infarction. Methods One hundred and forty patients were divided into three groups: coronary artery disease(CAD) group,cerebral infarction(CI) group and control(C) group.All the patients accepted carotid ultrasonograph. Results The incidence of multiple plaques in carotid artery was much higher in CI group than in C group and CAD group(P

Objective To study the relationship of microinflammation,nutrition and common carotid artery intima-media thickness(CCA-IMT) for the early prevention and interference of ischemic stroke. Methods(CCA-IMT was) measured by carotid arterial ultrasound in 250 elderly subjects.The levels of serum high-sensitivity C-(reactive) protein(hsCRP),ferritin,albumin,pre-albumin and transferrin were assayed at the same time.According to the results of CCA-IMT,all the subjects were divided into five groups:

Objective To study the change of metabolism of serum lipids in patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI). Methods The serum levels of total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipoprotein(LDL) and high density lipoprotein(HDL) were measured in 60 patients with MCI and 100 age-matched normal controls. ResultsThe serum levels of TC,TG and LDL were significantly higher and HDL significantly lower in patients with MCI than in normal controls(P

AIMTo investigate the water-soluble phenolic glycosides from the whole plant of Bulbophyllum odoratissimum.

METHODSColumn chromatography techniques were used to isolate the chemical constituents, physico-chemical constants and spectroscopic analysis were employed for structural elucidation.

RESULTSBulbophyllinoside (1), a new phenolic glycoside and three known compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Bulbophyllum odoratissimum Lindl. Their structures were determined as 3-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol 4-O-( 6'-O-beta-apiofuranosyl) -beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 3-methoxyphenethyl alcohol 4-O-beta-D-glucopynanoside (2), 3, 5-dimethoxyphenethyl alcohol 4-O-alpha-D-glucopynanoside (3) and syringin (4).

CONCLUSIONBulbophyllinoside (1) is a new compound.

Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phenylpropionates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Solubility ; Water ; chemistry

This paper is aimed to develop a rapid and sensitive HPLC-fluorescence detection (FLD) method for the determination of tetrahydropalmatine (TET) in rats' plasma. The influence of combinations of Extractum Angelicae Dahuricae Siccum (coumarin and volatile oil) and total alkaloids (TA) from Rhizoma Corydalis (TA) on pharmacokinetics of TET in rats was studied. Plasma samples were treated with hexane-isopropanol (95:5) to precipitate the protein, and were determined by HPLC-fluorescence detection. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 2.096-167.68 microg L(-1). The limit of quantification was 2.096 microg L(-1). The method recovery of TET was 94.0%-100.0%. The extract recovery was 72.0%-81.5%. RSDs ofintra- and inter-day precisions were all less than 7.0%. Pharmacokinetics of TET in rats was fitted to two compartments open model after oral administration of TA, TA-volatile oil (VO), TA-coumarin (Cou) and TA-VO-Cou. Compared with TA, AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), MRT(0-t), and MRT(0-infinity) of TET had significant deviation when combined with VO and/or Cou. The determination method is sensitive, specific, accurate, and appropriate for determination of TET in vivo. Coumarin and/or VO combined with TA can prolong the resistance time of TET significantly, delay elimination and enhance bioavailability of tetrahydropalmatine.
Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Angelica ; chemistry ; Animals ; Berberine Alkaloids ; pharmacokinetics ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Oils, Volatile ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of eucalyptus globulus oil on the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-kappaB) in THP-1 cell line.

METHODSTHP-1 cells were cultured with or without eucalyptus globulus oil at different concentrations (1, 10, 100 mg x L(-1), 30 min) before being stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg x L(-1), 30 min). The location of NF-kappaB p65 subunit (NF-kappaB/p65) in THP-1 cells was detected by indirect immunofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscope. The expression of NF-kappaB/p65 in nuclei was measured by Western-blot analysis.

RESULTThe FITC-label NF-kappaB/p65 was mainly located in the nuclei after THP-1 cells were stimulated with LPS. Whereas, no fluorescence were seen in the nuclei of cells pretreated with eucalyptus globulus oil. This effect on NF-kappaB/p65 nuclear translocation was in a concentration dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONEucalyptus globulus oil inhibits the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB induced by LPS in THP-1 cells.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Eucalyptus ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Plant Oils ; pharmacology ; Tosyllysine Chloromethyl Ketone ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDRelapses occur frequently in patients with lupus nephritis. Renal biopsy is the gold standard for assessing renal activity and hence guiding the treatment. Whether repeat renal biopsy is helpful during flares of lupus nephritis remains inconclusive. In the present study, we retrospectively reviewed the patients with lupus nephritis who had more than one renal biopsy with the hope to find the clinical value of repeat biopsy.

METHODSPatients who had a diagnosis of lupus nephritis and two or more renal biopsies were selected from the database of the patient pathology registration at this renal division. Renal biopsy was evaluated according to the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) classification of lupus nephritis. The pathological patterns and treatment regimens were analyzed after a repeat biopsy.

RESULTSWe identified 44 systemic lupus erythematosus patients with serial renal biopsies. In total, there were 94 renal biopsies. Overall, the pathological transition occurred in 64% instances according to the ISN/RPS class. When the transition was analyzed according to proliferative, membranous or mix lesions, it showed different profile: 35% in patients with proliferative lesion, 23.5% patients with mix lesions, 100% in patients with pure membranous lesion. The pathological transition could not be predicted by any clinical characteristics. After the repeat renal biopsy, 34% of patients had a change in their treatment regimens.

CONCLUSIONSThe pathological conversion was very prevalent in patients with lupus nephritis. However, the transitions became less prevalent when they were analyzed according to pure membranous, proliferative, and mix lesion. Repeat biopsy might be helpful to avoid unnecessary increased immunosuppression therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Lupus Nephritis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male

BACKGROUNDCystic echinococcosis due to Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) is one of the most important chronic helminthic diseases, especially in sheep/cattle-raising regions. The larval stage of the parasite forms a cyst that grows in the liver, lung, or other organs of the host. To ensure a long life in the host tissues, the parasite establishes complex inter-cellular communication systems between its host to allow its differentiation toward each larval stage. Recent studies have reported that this communication is associated with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in helminth parasites, and in particular that these protein kinases might serve as effective targets for a novel chemotherapy for cystic echinococcosis. The aim of the present study investigated the biological function of a novel ERK ortholog from E. granulosus, EgERK.

METHODSDNA encoding EgERK was isolated from protoscolices of E. granulosus and analyzed using the LA Taq polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach and bioinformatics. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was used to determine the transcription level of the gene at two different larval tissues. Western blotting was used to detect levels of EgERK protein. The expression profile of EgERK in protoscolices was examined by immunofluorescence.

RESULTSWe cloned the entire Egerk genomic locus from E. granulosus. In addition, two alternatively spliced transcripts of Egerk, Egerk-A, and Egerk-B were identified. Egerk-A was found to constitutively expressed at the transcriptional and protein levels in two different larval tissues (cyst membranes and protoscolices). Egerk-A was expressed in the tegumental structures, hooklets, and suckers and in the tissue surrounding the rostellum of E. granulosus protoscolices.

CONCLUSIONSWe have cloned the genomic DNA of a novel ERK ortholog from E. granulosus, EgERK (GenBank ID HQ585923), and found that it is constitutively expressed in cyst membrane and protoscolex. These findings will be useful in further study of the biological functions of the gene in the growth and development of Echinococcus and will contribute to research on novel anti-echinococcosis drug targets.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Helminth ; genetics ; Echinococcus granulosus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Genome, Helminth ; genetics ; Helminth Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and hepatic artery infusion of autologous cytokineinduced killer (CIK) cells in treating clinical stage I hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods A total of 80 patients with confirmed HCC,who were treated with comprehensive interventional therapy during the period from January 2009 to May 2010,were enrolled in this follow-up study.The patients were divided into the study group (n=38),receiving TACE,RFA and autologous CIK cells therapy,and the control group (n=42),receiving TACE and RFA only.The quality of life (QOL),changes in immune function indexes,progression free survival (PFS) and survival rate were calculated,and the results were compared between the two groups.Results (1) QOL score:after the treatment the QOL score of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).(2) Immune function:the post-treatment immune function values were different from the pre-treatment ones in both groups,the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05);and the differences between the two groups were also statistically significant (P＜0.05),with the changes of the study group being more obvious.(3) PFS and survival rate:the median PFS of the study group and the control group was 48.0 and 40.1 months respectively,while the one-,2-,3-,5-year survival rates of the study group and the control group were 100％,89.5％,71.1％,55.3％ and 95.2％,88.1％,64.3％,28.6％ respectively.Both the median PFS and survival rate in the study group were higher than those in the control group.Conclusion In treating clinical stage I HCC,TACE combined with RFA and hepatic artery infusion of autologous CIK ceils can improve QOL of patients,strengthen patient's immune function,prolong the median PFS,and increase the overall survival rate.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of cationic multi-peptide mastoparan-1 (MP-1) on the protection of mice from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.

METHODSThirty Kunming mice were divided randomly into MP-1, injury, protection groups with 10 mice in each group. The mice in MP-1 group were injected with 3 mg/kg MP-1 by tail vein, while those in injury group were injected with 20 mg/kg LPS by tail vein, and those in protection group 3 mg/kg MP-1 within 20 seconds after 20 mg/kg LPS injection were injected. The effects of MP-1 on the protection of mice from LPS challenge were observed. In vitro, the affinity of MP-1 and PMB to LPS was compared by biosensor and FAST fit construct and expressed as Kd. And the neutralizing activity of MP-1 and PMB in dose of 5, 10, 20, 40 micromol/L on LPS (2 microg/L) was detected by dynamic turbidimetric limulus test with LPS neutralizing 0 micromol/L MP-1 and PMB as control. The mRNA expression levels of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in murine peritoneal macrophages (PM phi) after exposure to LPS (100 ng/ml) were assayed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSMP-1 could significantly protect mice from LPS challenging with protection rate of 90%. In vitro, MP-1 had a high affinity (Kd value: 484.0 nmol/L) and neutralizing ability with LPS, but it was lower than that of PMB (Kd value: 18.9 nmol/L). The neutralizing effect of 20 and 40 micromol/L MP-1 was obviously stronger than that in 0 micromol/L (P < 0.01). MP could obviously inhibit the expression of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA in LPS-stimulated murine PM phi.

CONCLUSIONMP-1 can evidently protect mice from lethal LPS challenge, and the mechanism might be related to the activity of MP-1 which binding and neutralizing LPS, blocking the combination LPS with its receptors. So the murine macrophage activation induced by LPS was inhibited.

Animals ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Wasp Venoms ; pharmacology