Objective To observe the influence of insulin resistance(IR) and isosorbide mononitrate(ISMN) on myocardial cellular apoptosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) .Methods Forty male 14‐week old Wistar(W) rats and SHR(S) each were respectively or jointly fed with normal diet (ND) ,high fat and high glucose(HFHG) diet ,normal saline(NS)and ISMN by ga‐vage .Then they were randomly divided into the normal and NS group (normal W and normal S ) ,HFHG and NS group(HFHG W and HFHG S) ,normal and ISMN group(ISMN W and ISMN S) ,HFHG and ISMN group(HI W and HI S) ,with 10 rats in each group .After 12‐week feeding ,carotid arterial blood was collected for detecting blood glucose concentration and insulin level and cal‐culating insulin resistance index (HOMA‐IR);4 myocardial tissue samples were taken for respectively observing the morphology under microscope ,and detecting the NO level ,myocardial Bcl‐2 ,Bax gene and their protein expression levels in myocardial tissue . Results Myocardial NO level ,Bax gene mRNA and related protein levels in the HFHG and ISMN intervention groups were higher than those in the normal group ,while the bcl‐2 gene mRNA and related protein expression were on the contrary ;myocardial tissue NO level ,Bax gene mRNA and related protein expression in the S groups were increased compared with the corresponding W groups ,while the bcl‐2 gene mRNA and related protein expression were on the contrary ;in the HFHG W group ,the myocardial tis‐sue NO level had significantly positive correlation with HOMA‐IR ,and in the ISMN W group ,HOMA‐IR was positively correlated with the NO level in the myocardial tissue .Conclusion Myocardial cellular apoptosis of SHR is increased compared with Wistar rats ;both IR and ISMN can aggravate the apoptosis of SHR myocardial cells ,moreover IR has a mutual induction and reciprocal causation with ISMN .

Objective To observe the clinical effect of compound danshen dropping pills on the early diabetic kidney disease.Methods A total of 850 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) at stage Ⅲ who met the criteria for DN from January 2012 to July 2012,aged 60 to 75 years [mean age (66.6±4.8) years],were retrospectively analyzed and randomized into the treatment group (n=601) and the control group (n=249).All patients received rational hypoglycemic,antihypertensive,lipids-adjusting treatment and the treatment group received compound danshen drop pill (15 pills,tid),additionally.Laboratory indexes such as urine albumin (UA) and urine creatinine (UCR) were examined 24 weeks after treatment.Results The levels of UA and UCR,and the UA/UCR ratio (ACR) in the treatment group were decreased after versus before treatment.The decreases of UA and UCR had significant differences between the treatment and control group [(39.1±78.7) mg/L vs.(14.7±77.1) mg/L,(1.1±4.5) mmol/L vs.(-0.3± 3.6) mmol/L,t=4.15 and 4.86,both P＜0.01].Conclusions The comprehensive treatment combined with compound danshen dropping pills for 24 weeks can more effectively reduce UA and ACR,thereby it has effects in treating DN and delaying the progression of DN.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects between mild moxibustion and specific electromagnetic spectrum therapy apparatus (TDP) for obsolete collateral ligament injury of interphalangeal joints.

METHODSSixty patients were randomly divided into a mild moxibustion group and a TDP group, 30 cases in each one. In the mild moxibustion group, pure moxa sticks were used at the affected digital joints locally for 20-30 min a time. In the TDP group, TDP was applied at the affected digital joints locally for 20-30 min a time. The treatment was given once a day for two courses, and 10-day treatment was made into a course. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, swelling degree of the affected digital joints before and after treatment were observed and the clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated in the two groups.

RESULTSThe excellent rate was 56.7% (17/30) and the excellent and, good rate was 83.4% (25/30) in the mild moxibustion group,which were better than 36.7% (11/30) and 76.7% (23/30) in the TDP group respectively (both P < 0.01). After treatment the score of VAS and digital joints swelling degree were improved than those before treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the improvements of the mild moxibustion group were better than those of the TDP group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMild moxibustion can apparently relieve the painful and swelling degree of obsolete collateral ligament injury of interphalangeal joints, which is superior to TDP.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Collateral Ligaments ; injuries ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; therapy ; Magnetic Field Therapy ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Pain Measurement ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of prostaglandin E: (PGE1) on recovery of early renal graft functions after transplantation. Methods One hundred and seven patients after renal transplantation were allocated in the treated group, and treated by conventional treatment with injection of 10 μg prostaglandin E1 additionally twice a day for 14 days. And eighty-eight patients who received conventional treatment alone after renal transplantation at the corresponding period were allocated in the control group. Indexes of the two groups, including incidence of delayed graft function and acute rejection reaction, volume of urine, serum certaintie (SCr), endogenous certainties clearance rate (CCr), the blood flow resistance in graft as well as blood viscosity (BV), and platelet aggregation rate (PAR), were determined. Results The urinary volume and endogenous certainties clearance rate of the treated group were significantly higher, but the level of SCr, incidence of renal function recovery retardation, BV, PAR and blood flow resistance in graft were significantly lower than these of the control group (P<0.05). The difference of incidence of acute rejection reaction between the two groups was insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion Prostaglandin E1 can improve blood microcirculation and decrease the incidence of renal function recovery retardation. These effects are helpful for recovery of renal function after renal transplantation.

Objective To investigate the effect of phosphoinositide-3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 on the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (HESC) into more mature insulin-producing cells. Methods HESCs were induced to differentiate into insulin-producing cells through five stages. Nicotinamide and B27 (group B27), nicotinamide and LY294002 (group LY) were used to induce the nesting positive cells into mature insulin-producing cells. The morphological change of each stage was observed under microscope , and expressions of insulin, c-peptide, somatostatin and glucagon were identified by immunofluorescence staining. Results After 14 days in stage 5 , there was no significant difference in rate of insulin positive cells between group LY and group B27 (P﹥0.05), but rates of somatostatin and glucagon positive cells in group LY were lower than those in group B27(P﹤0.05). Furthermore, the co-stained rate of somatostatin and insulin in group LY was also lower than that in group B27 (P﹤0.05). Conclusion HESCs can be induced to differentiate into more mature insulin-producing cells by phosphoinositide-3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 in serum-free culture medium.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture-moxibustion plus moving cupping on the back in treating sub-health in the undergraduates. Method According to the theory of preventive treatment in the Chinese medicine, 30 undergraduates with sub-health were treated by acupuncture at Baihui (GV20), Guanyuan (CV4), and bilateral Zusanli (ST36), plus moving cupping to the Governor Vessel, totally for 20 d. The Self-rating Sub-health Scale (SRSHS) was adopted for evaluation before and after intervention, for observing the clinical efficacy. Result Of the 30 subjects, 14 were recovered, 14 showed effective, 2 failed, and the total effective rate was 93.3%. The SRSHS score dropped significantly after intervention (P＜0.001). The psychological factor responded most significantly to the intervention, followed by the physical factor, while the social function factor didn’t show a significant change. Conclusion Acupuncture-moxibustion plus moving cupping is significantly effective in improving and treating the sub-health state in the undergraduates.

Objective To analyze the risk factors affecting long-term survival of recipients and renal allografts.Methods From January 1979 to December 2001,the clinical data of 1380 renal allograft recipients were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical and complication data of kidney transplantation were reviewed.Thirteen relative factors were analyzed by SAS statistical software.A Kaplan-Meier rank analysis was used to estimate the 10-year allograft survival rate.Proportional hazards regression analysis (with Cox model) was used to assess and rank the relative risk of potential variable.Results (1) As of Dec.31,2001,utility visiting rate was 93.62％,989 recipients survived over 10 years.The complications were as follows:acute rejection (191 cases),infection (112 cases),liver damage (106 cases).The postoperational 10-year survival rate of recipients and renal allografts was 71.67％ and 62.25％ respectively.(2) CAN,acute rejection,DGF,infection,diabetic mellitus,PRA ＞10％ and HLA mismatch＞3 were the independent risk factors resulting in the reduced survival rate of the renal allografts (P＜0.05).Immunosuppressive regimen with MMF could significantly increase long-term survival rate (P＜ 0.01); (3) The cardiocerebral vascular diseases,liver insufficiency,infection,tumor and diabetic mellitus were independent risk factors for long-term survival (P＜0.01).Conclusion The ideal HLA match is the key step in increasing survival rate; Low dosage of calcineurin inhibitor with MMF and Pred is the ideal regimen of immunosuppressive therapy for long-term survival; active prevention and treatment of cardiocerebral vascular diseases/CAN,infection,diabetic mellitus,and tumor are the main points focused during the follow-up period.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of switch between ciclosporin A (CsA) and tacrolimus (TAC) in the triple immunosuppressive protocol including calcineurin inhibitors (CNI),mycophenolate mofetil (MMF),and prednisone (Pred) after renal transplantation.Methods The data of 148 patients with CNI switch were collected from Jan.2000 to Dec.2010,including 51patients with Tac switching to CsA (group A) and 97 patients with CsA switching to Tac (group B).The clinical indexes were analyzed by paired t-test.Results In group A,the serum creatinine,urea and blood glucose were significantly reduced,and hemoglobin,bilirubin,cholesterol significantly increased as compared with those before switch (P＜0.05).In group B,the serum creatinine and urea began were significantly reduced from 4th and 2nd week respectively after switch (P＜0.05).Platelet counts began significantly dropping from 20th week after switch (P＜0.05).Albumin,globulin and bilirubin were significantly increased from 20th,12th and 36th week respectively after switch (P＜0.05).Blood glucose and cholesterol were significantly decreased from 12th and 3rd week respectively after switch (P＜0.05).The trough concentrations of CNI and MMF AUC kept stable before and after switch.Conclusion The renal function of all patients was improved to varying degrees by CNI switch between CsA and Tac no matter what reason.The switch of immunosuppressive agents has benefits to alleviate adverse reactions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate islet graft survival and function after co-culture and co-transplantation with vascular endothelial cells (ECs) in diabetic rats. METHODS: We isolated ECs, and assessed the viability of isolated islets in a group of standard culture and a group of co-culture with ECs. Then we put the diabetic rats in 4 groups: an islet transplantation group, an islet graft with EC transplantation group, an EC transplantation group, and a PBS control group. Blood glucose and insulin concentrations were measured daily. Cell morphology and cell markers were investigated by immunohistochemical staining and electron microscope. RESULTS: Normal morphology was shown in more than 90% of AO/PI staining positive islets while co-cultured with ECs for 7 days. Insulin release assays showed a significantly higher simulation index co-culture except for the first day (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in concentrations of blood glucose and insulin among the 4 groups after 3 days after the transplantation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EC-islet co-culture can improve the function and survival of isolated islets in vitro, and EC-islet co-transplantation can effectively prolong the islet graft survival in diabetic rats.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Coculture Techniques ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Graft Survival ; Insulin ; blood ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; Rats

The protective effect and mechanism of Oroxylin A, a naturally occurring compound in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, was investigated in this study. Isoproterenol administration to rats triggered classic cardiac failure, as demonstrated by objective parameters of cardiac dysfunction. Intragastric administration of oroxylin A at the dose of 25, 50 and 100 mg/(kg·d)significantly improved deranged cardiac parameters in the isoproterenol-induced heart failure model in a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, oroxylin A markedly ameliorated cardiac histological changes and down-regulated serum levels of various neuroendocrine factors including norepinephrine, aldosterone, brain natriuretic peptide, endothelin 1, angiotensin II and so on. Mechanistically, augmenting autophagy of myocardial cells via the inhibition of AKT1-RPS6KB1 signaling contributed to the improvement of isoproterenol-induced rat heart failure by oroxylin A. Taken together, these results suggest that oroxylin A ameliorates heart failure through promoting autophagy in myocardial cells.