Objective To study the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on traumatized cerebral neurons and investigate its mechanism in attenuating cerebral damage.Methods Seventy-two rats were randomly assigned to a control group,a traumatic brain injury group or a traumatic brain injury group treated with hyperbaric oxygen. Each group was observed 1,7 and 24 days after the operation.TUNEL was used to examine the distribution of apop- tosis cells.An immunohistoehemical method was used to examine the distribution of Bcl-2 and Bax immunoreactive- positive cells in the brain tissues.Results The average percentages of both apoptosis cells and Bcl-2 immunoreac- tive-positive cells were lower in the CAl region of the traumatized brains treated with hyperbaric oxygen than in those of the traumatic injury group at each time of observation.A significant difference in Bax immunoreactive-positive cells between the two groups was also observed.Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can significantly protect neurons against traumatic brain injury and modulate the expression of the apoptosis related genes Bcl-2 and Bax.This may ex- plain the protective mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating traumatic brain injury.

Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnosis ; therapy ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; United States

Aristolochic Acids ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quality Control ; Research Design

Allyl Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Garlic ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; adverse effects ; Sulfides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity

Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; therapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Cell Phone ; DNA Damage ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Mutagenicity Tests

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of American Ginseng Capsule (AGC) on the liver oxidative injury and the Nrf2 protein expression in the liver tissue of rats exposed by 900 MHz cell phone electromagnetic radiation.

METHODSTotally 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Shuifei Jibin Capsule (SJC) group, and the AGC group,10 in each group. Rats in the normal control group were not irradiated. Rats in the rest three groups were exposed by imitated 900 MHz cellular phone for 4 h in 12 consecutive days. Meanwhile, rats in the SJC group and the AGC group were intragastrically administrated with suspension of SJC and AGC (1 mL/200 g body weight) respectively. Normal saline was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. The histolomorphological changes of the liver tissue were observed by HE staining. Contents of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX)were detected by colorimetry. The Nrf2 protein expression of hepatocytes was detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, hepatocyte nucleus was atrophied or partially disappeared, the contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein obviously increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); contents of liver SOD and GSH decreased (P <0. 05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, karyopyknosis was obviously attenuated and approached to the normal level in the SJC group and the AGC group. The contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P <0. 05), and the contents of liver SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX obviously increased (P < 0.05) in the SJC group. The contents of liver MDA and the Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P < 0.05), and contents of SOD and GSH obviously increased in the AGC group (P <0.01, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe electromagnetic radiation induced by 900 MHz cell phone could affect the expression of Nrf2 protein, induce oxidative injury, and induce abnormal morphology of liver cells. SJC and AGC could promote the morphological recovery of the liver cells. Its mechanism might be related to affecting the expression of Nrf2 protein and attenuating oxidative damage of liver cells.

Animals ; Cell Phone ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Liver ; Male ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Panax ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Aged ; Cross Reactions ; Female ; Heparin ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Factor 4 ; immunology ; Thrombocytopenia ; blood ; chemically induced ; immunology

Objective:To investigate the role of anaphylatoxin C 5 a in patients with asthma .Methods:A prospective study was performed between September 2006 and February 2007.A total of 33 patients with acute exacerbation of asthma and 13 healthy subjects were recruited into the study .The patients with acute exacerbation of asthma were also studied when they returned to the remission state .Levels of lung function, levels of C5a in induced sputum and cell differential count in induced sputum were determined . Results:The level of C5 a in induced sputum was significantly higher in patients with acute exacerbation of asthma [0.85(0.68-2.13) μg/L] than that in patients with stable asthma [0.45(0.26-0.88)μg/L, Z=-2.193, P=0.013];Sputum C5a levels in stable asthma patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls [0.14(0.06-0.45) μg/L, Z=-2.141, P=0.015].The level of C5a in patients with severe exacerbation [2.21(1.27 -9.0) μg/L] was significantly higher than those in patients with mild exacerbation [0.34(0.17-0.63) μg/L] and moderate exacerbation [0.85(0.55-1.67) μg/L,χ2 =12.330, P=0.001].The level of C5a in induced sputum was positively correlated with the number of total cells count (r=0.797, P=0.004), neutrophils (r=0.504, P=0.032) and macrophages ( r =0.424, P=0.036 ) in acute exacerbation of asthma .Conclusion: C5a levels in induced sputum could be identified as an important prognostic biomarker , which involved in asthma ’ s pathogenesis .

Objective To explore the optimal concentration of heparin sodium solution, which to seal up intravenous indwelling needle, in patients with Ⅳ thrombocytopenia. Methods A total of 90 patients withⅣthrombocytopenia who required intravenous indwelling needle were randomly divided into three groups which namely A, B and C groups with 30 cases each. A group was sealed up the tube of intravenous indwelling needle with 1 ml heparin sodium solution of 6.25 U/ml, B group with 12.50 U/ml and C group with 25.00 U/ml. The change of the platelet count, plasma prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), plasma fibrinogen (Fbg) after extubation were observed in three groups and the incidence of blocking up and retention time were compared among three groups. Results The change of the platelet count, PT, APTT, Fbg were showed no statistical significance among three groups (P>0.05). The incidence of blocking up was 66.7%(22/30) in A group , 43.3%(13/30) in B group and 16.7%(5/30) in C group. They were showed statistical significance (χ2=15.000, P < 0.01). Retention time of tube above or equal to 3 days were observed respectively 13 person (43.3%,13/30) in A group, 21 cases(70.0%, 21/30) in B group, 25 patients(83.3%, 25/30) in C group. All above were showed statistical significance (χ2=11.000, P<0.01). Conclusions Heparin sodium 25.00 U/ml sealing up the tube of intravenous indwelling needle is safe in patient with Ⅳthrombocytopenia, which will reduce the ration of blocking tube and extend the life of tube.