OBJECTIVETo observe whether ginsenoside Rg1 could reduce the infarcted area and improve the heart function by path of promoting bone marrow stem cells differentiated to vascular endothelial cells (VECs).

METHODSBone marrow was drawn from rabbit's ilium and labelled with red fluorochrome DiI, then it was transferred again into the rabbit's body. The rabbits was then made into myocardiac infarction model. The model rabbits were divided into the control group and the ginsenoside Rgl treated group (treated group). The infracted area at two weeks, and the left ventricular function at one and two weeks after infarction were determined respectively. The DiI positive cell rate of myelogenetic cells in ischmia area and CD31 positive cell rate of VECs were determined by confocal microscopy. Myocardial interstitial granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(GCSF) levels during ischemia and reperfusion period were determined also.

RESULTSDiI positive rate of CD31 staining positive cells in the treated group was obviously increased, and the concentration of G-CSF in myocardium interstitial obviously increased, accompanied with obviously improving of heart function and obviously reducing of infarcted area.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rgl could stimulate the G-CSF secretion in local myocardiac tissues, thus to induce bone marrow mononuclear cells migrate to myocadial tissue and further differentiate to VECs. The regeneration of endothelium cells show certain direct action in promoting capillary regeneration of infarcted myocardium tissue and maintaining the blood supply.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Coronary Circulation ; drug effects ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of epidural ropivacaine in combination with fentanyl for labor analgesia on the clinical outcome of labor.

METHODSA retrospective study was conducted involving 281 healthy primiparas, including 106 undergoing spontaneous labor who received epidural 0.15% ropivacaine in combination with fentany (1microg/ml) and 175 without epidural analgesia. The active phase duration, durations of each labor stages, delivery modes, management of labor, postpartum hemorrhage, incidence of fetal distress and asphyxia neonatorum were recorded in the two groups. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain of uterine contraction, and modified Bromage scoring system applied to evaluate the lower limb motor block.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the duration of the first, third or the total labor stages between the two groups, but the second labor stage was prolonged in the labor analgesia group. The ratio of spontaneous labor, assisted vaginal delivery, and incidence of asphyxia neonatorum were higher, whereas the duration of the active stage was shortened in the analgesia group.

CONCLUSIONEpidural ropivacaine in combination with fentanyl in labor can decrease the incidence of cesarean section, and the duration of the active stage can be shortened with application of ocytocin.

Adult ; Amides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Analgesia, Epidural ; methods ; Analgesia, Obstetrical ; methods ; Anesthetics, Combined ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Anesthetics, Local ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Labor Pain ; drug therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To explore the feasibility and safety ofventricular peritoneal shunt (VPS) in treating patients with intracranial hypertension combined with cryptococcal meningitis.Methods Twelve patients with cryptococcal meningitis,admitted to our hospital from January 2012 to January 2014 and underwent VPS for intracranial hypertension,were chosen in our study; the clinical manifestations and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results before and after operation,and mannitol dosage before and after operation were compared; follow up for 2-25 months was performed.Results Except 1 patient had no improvement of consciousness,the other 11 patients had disappeared or mitigated headache,disappeared vomiting symptoms,and improved vision and hearing; two patients with disturbance of consciousness got improvement; one patient with eyes abduction got recovery; one patient had abnormal tongue and mouth did not achieve improvement.Different degrees of fever were noted in 10 patients after operation,9 recovered after treatment.The mannitol dosage for all patients were significantly reduced or discontinued.Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid pressure,amount of cryptococcus neoformans in 11 patients were decreased significantly (P＜0.05).Conclusion Early aggressive VPS on cryptococcal meningitis patients with intracranial hypertension is effective and safe.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate safety and efficacy of preoperative administration of enteral nutrition support in gastric cancer patients at risk of malnutrition.

METHODSA single center randomized controlled clinical trial was performed in 60 gastric cancer patients in West China Hospital from May to October 2012. Thirty patients were given enteral nutrition support(Ensure(R)) manufactured by Abbott Laboratories for ten consecutive days before surgical operation in the treatment group, and 30 patients were given an isocaloric and isonitrogenous homogenized diet in the control group for 10 days as well. The laboratory parameters of nutritional status and hepatorenal function were observed and compared between the two groups on admission, preoperative day 1 and postoperative day 3, respectively. Clinical observations, such as nausea and vomiting, were carried out until patients were discharged.

RESULTSBefore the intervention, there were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the two groups. The levels of serum albumin [(33.9±5.6) g/L vs. (31.0±5.3) g/L, P<0.05], and hemoglobin[(103.4±7.7) g/L vs.(96.6±10.5) g/L, P<0.01] were significantly improved in the treatment group on postoperative day 3. However, the levels of body mass index, lymphocyte count, liver and renal function, serum glucose, sodium, and potassium were not significantly different between the two groups(all P>0.05). Moreover, two patients with nausea and one with vomiting in each group were found. In clinical observation period, no severe treatment-related adverse event were observed.

CONCLUSIONThe enteral supplement with Ensure(R) in gastric cancer patients at risk of malnutrition during preoperative period is effective and safe, which is superior to homogenized diet and an appropriate choice for gastric cancer patients with nutritional risk.

Enteral Nutrition ; Gastrectomy ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Nutritional Status ; Postoperative Period ; Preoperative Care ; methods ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of miR-221/222 in inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced human hepatocarcinoma cells apoptosis.

METHODmiR-221/222 mimics and inhibitors were used to mimic or block the function of endogenous miR-221/222 respectively. Western blot and flow cytometry were used to test the effects of miR-221/222 on cell cycle and apoptosis under endoplasmic reticulum stress in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

RESULTSEndoplasmic reticulum stress resulted in miR-221/222 down-regulation in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. miR-221/222 mimics and inhibitors inhibited and promoted respectively endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated p27Kip1 induction. Moreover, p27Kip1 suppression not only resulted in reduction in the fraction of G1 phase cells, but also promoted the endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONmiR-221/222 were downregulated by endoplasmic reticulum stress in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which subsequently protected human hepatocellular carcinoma cells against endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis through p27Kip1 regulation.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cross-talk between the PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways and its role in cell cycle regulation under endoplasmic reticulum stress in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

METHODSPI3K inhibitor LY294002 and MEK inhibitor U0126 were used to block the PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways respectively, and constitutively activated Akt mutant construct was used to activate the PI3K/Akt pathway. Western blot was used to study the potential cross-talk between the PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways under endoplasmic reticulum stress in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. the role of the cross-talk between the PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways in cell cycle regulation was investigated by using propidium iodide staining.

RESULTSLY294002 not only blocked Akt activation efficiently but also increased ERK phosphorylation markedly under endoplasmic reticulum stress in SMMC-7721 and Hep3B cells. Furthermore, myr-Akt inhibited endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated ERK phosphorylation. In contrast, MEK inhibitor U0126 had no effect on endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced Akt activation. It is notable that both myr-Akt overexpression and MEK inhibitor U0126 inhibited endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced G0/G1 phase arrest in SMMC-7721 cells.

CONCLUSIONEndoplasmic reticulum stress-induced Akt activation is mediated through PI3K and the PI3K/Akt pathway inactivation is involved in increased ERK activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The cross-talk between the PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK cascades plays an important role in endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced human hepatocellular carcinoma cell cycle arrest.

Butadienes ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Morpholines ; pharmacology ; Nitriles ; pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo compare the roles of alisma and gliclazide in the treatment of diabetes in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats.

METHODSGK rats were randomly divided into alisma group, gliclazide group, and blank group, and Wistar rats were used as the normal group. After two weeks of treatment, body weight, food intake,fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and other indicators were measured.

RESULTSThe body weight increased after the treatment in the normal group,blank group,and gliclazide group [(241.3 ± 7.0)g vs.(263.5 ± 11.1)g, (242.8 ± 7.1)g vs.(267.9 ± 16.8)g, (243.9 ± 12.2)g vs.(277.9 ± 9.8)g, P<0.05] but decreased in alisma group [(244.6 ± 9.2)g vs.(227.9 ± 13.7)g, P<0.05]. The food intake showed no significant change before and after administration among different groups(P>0.05). Fasting glucose was significantly lower in normal group than in control group,alisma group,and gliclazide group [(4.8 ± 0.2) mmol/L vs.(8.2 ± 1.4) mmol/L,(8.1 ± 0.6) mmol/L, (8.1 ± 0.9)mmol/L, P<0.05] one week after drug administration; it was not significantly different among blank group,alisma group,and gliclazide group before drug administration (P>0.05); however, it significantly decreased in alisma group and gliclazide group two weeks after administration [(6.9 ± 0.7) mmol/L vs.(8.1 ± 0.6) mmol/L; (5.8 ± 0.5) mmol/L vs.(8.1 ± 0.9) mmol/L, P<0.05]; compared with the blank group, the fasting glucose was significantly lower in the alisma group and gliclazide group,and it was also significantly different between these two groups [(6.9 ± 0.7) mmol/L vs.(8.8 ± 0.6) mmol/L,(5.8 ± 0.5)mmol/L vs.(8.8 ± 0.6)mmol/L, (6.9 ± 0.7) mmol/L vs.(5.8 ± 0.5)mmol/L, P<0.05]. Compared with the normal group,glucose tolerance was abnormal in blank group,alisma group,and gliclazide group;after two weeks of treatment,glucose tolerance was significantly improved in alisma group (P<0.05); compared with the pretreatment level and that in the blank group,the glucose tolerance in gliclazide group showed no significant difference (P> 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth alisma and gliclazide monotherapy is effective in lowering fasting blood glucose. As a single-target drug,gliclazide has stronger effecacy in lowering fasting glucose. However, alisma, as a mixture, can also control weight and improve glucose intolerance.

Alisma ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Gliclazide ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore the reconstruction method of large through-and-through palate defects.

METHODSFrom 2003 to 2006, 7 cases of large through-and-through palate defects were reconstructed with vascularized folded free forearm flap. 8 flaps were used, including 7 free forearm flaps and 1 pectoralis major myocutaneous flap.

RESULTSAll the tissue flaps survived well except one flap necrosis because of arterial thrombosis. The appearance of reconstructed palate was acceptable, and the functions of swallowing and speech were normal or almost normal.

CONCLUSIONSIt is feasible and effective to repair large through-and-through palate defects with folded free forearm flap.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Forearm ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palate ; injuries ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore a surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODS12 cases were treated during the period from Jan 1998 to Aug 2006. Partial soft palate was resected in rhombus shape from the middle to shorten the soft palate and enlarge the pharyngeal cavity. The uvula was reserved.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for six months to five years. There was no complication. Good results were achieved in 9 patients. 2 cases got some kind of improvement. No improvement happened in one case who received a partial tongue resection later.

CONCLUSIONSA rhombus shape excision of the soft palate from the middle is effective for the treatment of OSAHS with few complication.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palate, Soft ; surgery ; Pharynx ; surgery ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Tongue ; surgery ; Uvula ; surgery

Objective To investigate the presentationand significance of circulating autoantibodies to erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods One hundred and twenty-four consecutive patients with SLE, seven with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), 19 patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and 45 normal individuals were involved in this study. In all patients with SLE, the disease activity was evaluated using the European consensus Lupus Activity Measurement scale. Antibodies to EPOR were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All data were tested with Chi-squared or Student's t tests by SPSS software. Results A higher frequency of antibodies to EPOR were detected in SLE patients than healthy controls (20.2% vs 2.2%, P=0.004), however, they could not be detected in AIHA and IDA patients. Moreover, anti-EPOR antibodies were detected in 17 (33.3%) of 51 SLE patients with anemia, compared with that in 8 (11.0%, P=0.002) of 73 patients without anemia. Furthermore, patients with antibodies to EPOR had more severe anemia and often presented as microcytic anemia (P =0.005) than those without anti-EPOR antibodies. Finally, anti-EPOR antibodies seemed to be more likely to occur in patients with skin rash (P=0.014), low levels of C3 component of complement (P=0.01), positive anti-dsDNA antibodies (P=0.000) and higher disease activity scores (P= 0.024). Conclusion The higher incidence of antibodies to EPOR in SLE patients with anemia suggest that anti-EPOR antibodies might play a vital role in the development of anemia in SLE patients. Thus, detecting anti-EPOR antibodies in SLE patients with anemia may be helpful.