OBJECTIVETo discuss the reverse effect of Yinchenhao decoction(YCHD) in dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

METHODThe rat hepatic fibrosis model was established through the intraperitoneal injection with 1% dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN) with a dose of 1.0 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1) for consecutively three weeks, once for the first three days of each. The rats were randomly divided into six groups: the silymarin positive control group (50.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), YCHD high (20.0 g x kg(-1) d(-1)), middle (8.0 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and low (3.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) dose groups, the model group and the normal control group. The model group and the normal control group were orally administered with normal saline for consecutively five weeks. The pathologic changes in liver tissues were observed by HE staining. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), g-glutamyltransferase (g-GGT), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), collagen type IV (CIV) and type III procollagen amino terminal peptide (PIIINP) in serum were determined. The metabolite profiling of amino acid and the content of hydroxyproline in liver tissues were also measured.

RESULTCompared with the model group, YCHD high and middle dose groups could significantly reverse the pathologic changes in liver tissues of rats. YCHD could reduce the levels of ALT, AST, gamma-GGT, HA, LN, CIV, PIIINP in serum and the content of hydroxyproline in liver tissues in a dose-dependent manner, and altered the metabolite profiling of amino acid in rat liver tissues.

CONCLUSIONYCHD has the effect in reversing dimethyl nitrosamine induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and blood pressure as well as target organ damage in essential hypertension, and to evaluate the effects of enalapril and losartan on them. METHODS: Forty-two newly diagnoszed patients with essential hypertension were randomly divided into enalapril-treated group and losartan-treated group. Serum ADMA, L-arginine, and nitric oxide( NO) were measured before and after the treatment for 8 weeks. Twenty-three healthy volunteers were included as control subjects. RESULTS: The concentrations of ADMA and L-arginine in serum were significantly higher but the level of nitric oxide was relatively lower ( P < 0.01 ) in hypertensive patients than those in control subjects. Serum ADMA was higher in different levels of blood pressure and target organ damage. Treatment with enalapril or losartan for 8 weeks not only reduced blood pressure but also decreased serum ADMA (P <0.01 ). Furthermore, treatment with these drugs also increased the level of serum nitric oxide but didn't change the level of L-arginine. CONCLUSION The concentrations of serum ADMA and L-arginine were increased, but the level of nitric oxide was decreased in the early stage of essential hypertension. Both enalapril and losartan could ameliorate the endothelial function by reducing the concentration of ADMA.
Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Enalapril ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; drug therapy ; Losartan ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors

In this work, the experimental conditions for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of subretinal fluids (SRF) matrix metalloproteinases were established. The conditions tested included the composition of lysis solution and lysis method, the composition of rehydration solution and isoelectric focusing program (IEF), the composition of equilibration buffer and equilibration process and the composition of incubation solution and incubation methods. The main equipments used were IPGphor isoelectric focusing system from Amersham pharmacia and PROTEAN II xi cell from Bio-Rad, the gel strips used were the 18 cm long, pH 3 - 8 Linear immobiline DryStrips. Among the 9 samples analyzed, 2 were PVR-A, 2 were PVR-C1, 2 were PVR-C2, 2 were PVR-C3 and the remaining one could not be classified definitely. The new 2-DE MMPs method is better than Gelatin SDS-PAGE zymograhpy method, as it is higher in resolution, sensitivity and reproducibility. The experimental results suggested that the four types of MMPs expressed differently at different stages of PVR. Two of the MMPs isomers have same molecular weight (MW) but different in isoelectic points (pI). The four MMPs are determined to be MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-9, with MMP-9 has two active forms. In addition, MMP-9 and MMP-1 may be present in PVR-A samples but not in PVR-C samples, whereas MMP-2 is present in PVR-C but not in PVR-A samples. These results revealed the complex profiles of MMPs' expression in PVR. The new method can be applied to test MMPs expression in tissues, cells and other types of samples with a little modification in the protocol, and can be followed by mass spectroscopic analysis of MMPs.
Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Humans ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retina ; enzymology

OBJECTIVE: The current study retrospectively evaluated whether the percutaneous N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) seal-off technique is an effective treatment for controlling the angioplasty-related ruptures, which are irresponsive to prolonged balloon tamponade, during interventions for failed or failing hemodialysis vascular accesses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 1588 interventions performed during a 2-year period for dysfunction and/or failed hemodialysis vascular access sites in 1569 patients. For the angioplasty-related ruptures, which could not be controlled with repeated prolonged balloon tamponade, the rupture sites were sealed off with an injection of a glue mixture (NBCA and lipiodol), via a needle/needle sheath to the rupture site, under a sonographic guidance. Technical success rate, complications and clinical success rate were reported. The post-seal-off primary and secondary functional patency rates were calculated by a survival analysis with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Twenty ruptures irresponsive to prolonged balloon tamponade occurred in 1588 interventions (1.3%). Two technical failures were noted; one was salvaged with a bailout stent-graft insertion and the other was lost after access embolization. Eighteen accesses (90.0%) were salvaged with the seal-off technique; of them, 16 ruptures were completely sealed off, and two lesions were controlled as acute pseudoaneurysms. Acute pseudoaneurysms were corrected with stentgraft insertion in one patient, and access ligation in the other. The most significant complication during the follow-up was delayed pseudoaneurysm, which occurred in 43.8% (7 of 16) of the completely sealed off accesses. Delayed pseudoaneurysms were treated with surgical revision (n = 2), access ligation (n = 2) and observation (n = 3). During the follow-up, despite the presence of pseudoaneurysms (acute = 1, delayed = 7), a high clinical success rate of 94.4% (17 of 18) was achieved, and they were utilized for hemodialysis at the mean of 411.0 days. The post-seal-off primary patency vs. secondary patency at 90, 180 and 360 days were 66.7 +/- 11.1% vs. 94.4 +/- 5.4%; 33.3 +/- 11.1% vs. 83.3 +/- 8.8%; and 13.3 +/- 8.5% vs. 63.3 +/- 12.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the NBCA seal-off technique is effective for immediate control of a venous rupture irresponsive to prolonged balloon tamponade, during interventions for hemodialysis accesses. Both high technical and clinical success rates can be achieved. However, the treatment is not durable, and about 40% of the completely sealed off accesses are associated with developed delayed pseudoaneurysms in a 2-month of follow-up. Further repair of the vascular tear site, with surgery or stent-graft insertion, is often necessary.
Aged ; Aneurysm, False/etiology/therapy ; Angioplasty, Balloon/*adverse effects ; Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical/*adverse effects ; Enbucrilate/*administration & dosage ; Ethiodized Oil/administration & dosage ; Female ; Graft Occlusion, Vascular/etiology/*therapy ; Humans ; Male ; *Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Vascular Patency

OBJECTIVEHPLC-ESI-MS to establish a method for simultaneous determination of adenosine and cordycepin in Cordyceps sinensis and C. militarris.

METHODHPLC-ESI-MS method. An electrospray ionization (ESI) interface and selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode were used. The analytical column was a 2.0 mm x 150 mm Shimadzu VP - ODS column and the mobile phase was water (94%), methanol (5%) and formic acid (1%). 2-Chloroadenosine was used as internal standard for this assay.

RESULTThe regression equations and coefficient were Y = 0.134 6X + 0.001 29 (r = 0.998 4) for adenosine, Y = 0.216 4X + 0.021 5 (r = 0.999 1) for cordycepin. The liner range was 0.5 approximately 124.5 microg x mL(-1) and 0.5 approximately 136.5 microg x mL(-1) for adenosine and cordycepin, respectively. The average recoveries of adenosine and cordycepin were 95.8% and 98.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis method is highly sensitive, fast and selective, which can be used for the determination of nucleosides in C. sinensis and its substitutes. This method can also be applied for the quality control of above herbs.

Adenosine ; analysis ; Animals ; Bombyx ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; classification ; Deoxyadenosines ; analysis ; Lepidoptera ; Quality Control ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo present a new mini-invasive surgery for compressive optic neuropathy (CON) in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) by adequately decompressing the orbital apex and correcting proptosis, and to analyze its results.

METHODSA retrospective chart was reviewed in 29 patients receiving orbital decompression for the treatment of CON secondary to GO from October 2006 to May 2011. All patients diagnosed CON were in stable and inactive phase of GO at least for 6 months. All patients received endoscopic transethmoid medial orbital wall decompression to reduce the compression on the orbital apex. In the meanwhile, an endoscopic transethmoid intraconal fat-removal orbital decompression was performed to remove parts of intraconal fat with a special aspiration/cutting instrument to further reduce the proptosis. All patients were followed up periodically.

RESULTSof improvement of visual acuity (VA), color vision, and amount of proptosis reduction and incidence of induced diplopia 9 months after surgery was recorded for analysis its feasibility.

RESULTSForty-five orbits of 29 patients were included in the study. At the 9 months review, 44 of 45 eyes (97.8%) improved their VA from -0.65±0.30 (x±s) preoperatively to -0.24±0.22, with a mean improvement of 0.55±0.17 (t=-13.012, P<0.001), 23 of 29 eyes (79.3%) had improved color vision (P<0.001), and the mean reduction in proptosis was (7.07±1.59) mm (range 4-11 mm). Postoperative symmetry to within 2 mm were achieved in all patients. Except 1 patient complaining of deterioration in diplopia following surgery, no patients presented new on-set diplopia postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONThe endoscopic transethmoid medial orbital wall decompression combined with the endoscopic transethmoid intraconal fat-removal orbital decompression is an effective treatment with minimal morbidity for both visional recovery and improvement of proptosis for CON in GO.

Adipose Tissue ; surgery ; Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Endoscopy ; Ethmoid Bone ; surgery ; Female ; Graves Ophthalmopathy ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orbit ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESTo establish the testicular fibrosis model in rats.

METHODSWistar rats were divided into control group(n = 12) and model group(n = 40) randomly. Testicular fibrosis model was built with the classical method of establishing experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) combined with injecting Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) into left testis.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of EAO and the rate of testicular fibrosis were 100%, 11.1% and 100%, 81.5% at 80, 140 days after the first infection, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe model of rat testicular fibrosis was established successfully.

Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Orchitis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; pathology

OBJECTIVESTo study the effects of c9,t11-conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-CLA) on invasive ability of human gastric carcinoma cell line (SGC-7901) and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSReconstituted basement membrane invasion assay was used to evaluate invasive ability of cancer cells. Expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and nm23-H(1) mRNA was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in SGC-7901 cells.

RESULTSAt the concentrations of 200 micromol/L, 100 micromol/L and 50 micromol/L, c9,t11-CLA suppressed their reconstituted basement membrane invasion of SGC-7901 by 53.7%, 40.9% and 29.3%, respectively. c9,t11-CLA could induce the expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and nm23-H(1) mRNA in SGC-7901 cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe invasion of SGC-7901 cells could be inhibited by c9,t11-CLA through reconstituted basement membrane. Anti-invasion action of c9,t11-CLA might be associated with induction of expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and nm23-H(1) mRNA in tumor cells.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Linoleic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; prevention & control ; Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; drug effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple and rapid HPLC-MS method for determining the contents of olmesartan in human plasma.

METHODSPlasma were precipitated with trifluoroacetic acid, then analyzed on an HyPurity C(18) column (150 mm 2.1 mm, 5 microm). Samples at 40 degrees celsius;. The mobile phase consisted of water-methanol- acetonitrile(14:60:26) with a flow rate of 0.22 ml/min.

RESULTSThe lower limit of qualification was 25 microg/L. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 25-3200 microg/L (r=0.9998), with the intra-day and inter-day RSD less than 15%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is sensitive, rapid and suitable for the study of pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of olmesartan.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; blood ; Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; blood ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tetrazoles ; blood

Nutcracker syndrome occurs when the left renal vein (LRV) is compressed between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta, and this syndrome is often characterized by venous hypertension and related pathologies. However, invasive studies such as phlebography and measuring the reno-caval pressure gradient should be performed to identify venous hypertension. Here we present a case of Nutcracker syndrome where the LRV and intra-renal varicosities appeared homogeneously hyperintense on magnetic resonance (MR) fast-spin-echo T2-weighted imaging, which suggested markedly stagnant intravenous blood flow and the presence of venous hypertension. The patient was diagnosed and treated without obtaining the reno-caval pressure gradient. The discomfort of the patient lessened after treatment. Furthermore, on follow-up evaluation, the LRV displayed a signal void, and this was suggestive of a restoration of the normal LRV flow and a decrease in LRV pressure.
Abdominal Pain/etiology ; Adult ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases/complications/*pathology/surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Renal Veins/*pathology/surgery ; Stents ; Syndrome ; Vascular Diseases/complications/*pathology/surgery ; Young Adult