AIM: Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, such as simvastatin, have been shown to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by mechanisms unrelated to its lipid-lowering effect. Several studies have shown that simvastatin induces apoptosis in a varieties of cell lines including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The aim of this study was to investigate the signal pathways involved in apoptosis induced by simvastatin. METHODS: Cultured VSMC were treated with simvastatin. Calpain activity was determined by measuring Ca 2+ ionophore-specific calpain substrate (suc-LLVY-AMC), caspase-3 activation was detected by Western blot, and apoptotic changes were distinguished by annexin Ⅴ binding and DNA laddering. RESULTS: After incubated with 30 ?mol/L simvastatin for 8 h, calpain activity had a marked increase ( P

AIM: To observe the effect of simvastatin on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) induced by serum and growth factor PDGF-BB and the effect of simvastatin on the expression of PTEN,a important regulator of G 1/S cell cycle transition. METHODS: The DNA synthesis was determined by -TdR incorporation, cell cycle was examined with flow cytometry, the protein level of PTEN was measured by Western blot method. RESULTS: (1)Simvastatin inhibited -TdR incorporation in a dose dependent manner. (2) Flow cytometric DNA analysis revealed that simvastatin induced significantly enhancement of G 0/G 1 phase and decrease in S phase VSMCs.(3)Simvastatin increased protein level of PTEN and mevalonate, a metabolite of HMG-COA, reversed the effect of simvastatin on PTEN protein expression. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin may inhibit proliferation of VSMCs and retarded cell cycle in G 0/G 1 phase by increasing PTEN expression through inhibiting synthesis of mevalonate.

OBJECTIVETo culture rat prostate glandular epithelial cells and study their barrier functions in vitro.

METHODSRat prostate glandular epithelial cells were cultured in vitro. The expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry, the structure and composition of the epithelial cells observed under the inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope. The transepithelial electrical resistances (TEERs) were monitored with the Millicell system. The permeability of the prostate glandular epithelial cells was assessed by the phenol red leakage test.

RESULTSCompact monolayer cell structures were formed in the prostate glandular epithelial cells cultured in vitro. Immunohistochemistry showed the expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of tight junctions between the adjacent glandular epithelial cells. The TEERs in the cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells reached the peak of about (201.3 ± 3.5) Ω/cm2 on the 8th day. The phenol red leakage test manifested a decreased permeability of the cell layers with the increase of TEERs.

CONCLUSIONThe structure and function of rat prostate glandular epithelial cells are similar to those of brain capillary endothelial cells, retinal capillary endothelial cells, and intestinal epithelial cells. In vitro cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells have the barrier function and can be used as a model for the study of blood prostate barrier in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Cells, Cultured ; Claudin-1 ; metabolism ; Electric Impedance ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; pharmacokinetics ; Prostate ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Tight Junctions

Objective To investigate the ability of electrocardiogram-gated multislice CT(MSCT)in the diagnosis of myocardial bfidging.Methods Fifty-one patients(82 coronary arteries)with suspected coronary artery disease underwent multi-detector row CT,conventional coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasonography as well.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of MSCT for the detection of myocardial bridging were determined.The interobserver agreement was calculated by using Cohen's Kappa test.Results A total of 26 tunneled arteries exclusively located near the middle segment of left anterior descending coronary artery were found by coronary angiography and intravascular uhrasonography.Compared to the invasive methods,MSCT correctly detected 23 of 26 myocardial bridges with a sensitivity of 88%(23/26),specificity of 96%(52/54)and accuracy of 94%(75/80).The Kappa value for overall interobserver variation Was 0.62.Two myocardial bridges diagnosed by MSCT were missed with the invasive method.With the results of invasive and non-invasive methods combined as the standard of reference,the overall sensitivity.specificity,and accuracy of MSCT in detecting myocardial bridging were 89%(25/28),91%(21/23),and 90%(46/51),respectively.Conclusion As a non-invasive imaging modality,MSCT is feasible and reliable in the detection of myocardial bridging.

This article was aimed to study the stability of hesperidin in alkaline solution, in order to provide experi-ment evidences for quality control of extraction and purification as well as formulation development. RP-HPLC was applied to determinate content changes of hesperidin in alkaline solution by changing the temperature, pH and heat-ing time. The results showed that hesperidin was degraded in alkaline solution by heating. The content of hesperidin decreased along with the increasing of heating temperature and heating time. The hesperidin appeared to be more stable in a weak base. It was concluded that for the purpose of ensuring of the stability of hesperidin in alkaline so-lution, it should be kept at low temperature (below 50℃), weak base conditions and shorten the heating time during the preparation process.

Objective To study the immunologic and pathologic features of an accelerated rejection model of renal allotransplantation in presensitized monkeys.Methods The accelerated rejection model of renal allotransplantation was established in presensitized monkeys,which received donor skin transplantation in advance(n=3).The changes of donor specific antibody(DSA)levels in the recipient monkeys before/after skin and kidney transplantation were measured.The kidney grafts were examined for routine pathology,antibody and complement depositions,various lymphocyte subsets infiltration by HE staining,immunofluorescence,or immunohistochemistry.Results All renal allografts in 3 presensitized monkeys developed accelerated rejection within 4 days.In 2 presentized monkeys,the levels of DSA and their mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity(CDC)were significantly increased after skin transplantation,and further markedly elevated at the time of kidney graft rejection.In the rejected renal grafts,massive C3,C4,C5b-9 and IgG deposits with few lymphocytes infiltration were found.Typical pathologic changes included severe arterionecrosis,thrombosis,interstitial hemorrhage,and infiltration of neutrophils.In the rest one presentized monkey,the levels of DSA and CDC were only marginally increased,and the pathological changes of the rejected renal graft were characterized mainly by the injury of renal tubules.Conclusion Presensitization by donor skin transplantation could elevate the levels of DSA and CDC in recipient monkeys,which resulted in severe antibody-mediated acute humoral rejection in most of the following renal transplants.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of simvastatin on the apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and its effects on the expression of apoptosis-related genes. METHODS: The presence of apoptosis was detected by electron microscope and flow cytometry assessment of PI/Annexin V stain; The protein levels of Bax, Bel-2 and activation of caspase-3 were examined using Western blot technique. RESULTS: After treatment with 30 &mgr;mol/L simvastatin for 24 h, apoptosis were identified with electron microscope in VSMC and flow cytometry showed that rate of apoptosis in simvastatin group (35.5+/-5.8)% was singificantly higher than that in control group (15.1+/-5.0)%. Western blot analyses revealed that the apoptosis process was associated with upregulation of Bax protein and activation of caspase-3, but not with Bel-2 expression. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin can induce apoptosis in VSMC in associated with induction of bax and activation of caspase-3.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qianlie Huichun capsule on the microstructure and ultranstructure of prostate glandular tissue in the model rat.

METHODHynertophy of prostate model rat was established by injecting testosterone to gelding male rats. After having been fed with Qianlie Huichun capsule for 30 days, the rats were killed and prostate tissues were resected for pathomorphological studies with microscope and electromicroscope, and the diameter of glandular lumer and the height of glandular epithelial cells were measured under the microspcope for different groups of rats.

RESULTIn the model groups, the glandular epithelial cells mutiplycated notably, showing stratified and pseudostratified cells that made the glandular lumer cramped. Under the electromicroscope, the glandular epithelial cells became high columnor and the rough endoreticulum extremely expanded. But in treatment groups, the change of the diameter of the glandular lumer and the height of the glandular epithelial cells were less remarkable than those in model groups. So the differerence between the model group and the treatment groups was remarkable (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONQianlie Huichun capsule can depress the glandular epithelialceu multiplication of prostate gland in model rats.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Male ; Materia Medica ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prostate ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Some research on intelligent non-invasive temporary pacemakers is introduced in this paper. An industrial computer, some IC chips and other elements are used to construct its hardware, and its software is in C++ language. The experimental device has some intelligent functions of recognizing some arrhythmia. The system has a pacemaker module and an ECG monitor module. Its software includes a main program, a RS-232C communication program, a printer VxD, a pacing control VxD and ECG signal pretreatment and recognizing program and so on. The pacing-generating circuit is employed to make the precision control of pacing current. The communication between industrial-computer system and ECG module is completed through the DLL. The real time processing of ECG signals is based on filter method for a higher recognizing ratio. The system calculates several parameters to recognize certain arrhythmia and uses MIT/BIH database to validate the reliability of ECG recognition.
Algorithms ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Artificial Intelligence ; Echocardiography ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; classification ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; Software Design

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the roles of radiograph, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), three-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT) in early diagnosis of femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) in 17 cases.

METHODSPlain radiographs of the pelvis, 3-D CT, and MRI of the hip were made on 17 patients with groin pain, which was worse with prolonged sitting (i.e. hip flexion). There was no history of trauma or childhood hip disorders in the patients who did not complain of any other joint problems or neurologic symptoms. All patients had positive anterior or posterior impingement test. Plain radiographs included an antero-posterior (AP) view of the hip and a cross table lateral view with slight internal rotation of the hip. CT scan was performed with the Lightspeed 16 row spiral (General Electric Company, USA) at 1.25 mm slice reconstruction. MRI scan was performed on the Siemens Avanto (Siemens Company, Germany)1.5T supraconduction magnetic resonance meter. The CT and MRI scans were taken from 1 cm above the acetabulum to the lesser trochanter in 5 series.

RESULTSThe plain radiographs of the pelvis showed that among the 17 patients, 12 (70.59%) had "Cam" change of the femoral head, 6 (35.29%) had positive "cross-over" sign, and 17 (100%) had positive "pincer" change of the acetabulum. The 16 row spiral CT noncontrast enhanced scan and 3-D reconstruction could discover minus femoral offset and ossification and osteophyte of the acetabulum labrum in all the 17 cases (100%). The MRI noncontrast enhanced scan could discover more fluid in the hip joint in 15 cases (88.33%), subchondral ossification in 3 cases (17.6%), and labrum tears in 3 cases (17.6%).

CONCLUSIONSPlain radiographs can provide the initial mainstay for the diagnosis of FAI, 3-D CT can tell us the femoral offset, while MRI can show labrum tears in the very early stage of FAI. Basically, X-ray examination is enough for the early diagnosis of FAI, but 3-D CT and MRI may be useful for the treatment.

Acetabulum ; pathology ; Adult ; Early Diagnosis ; Femur Head ; pathology ; Hip Joint ; pathology ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Joint Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods