Objective To explore the effects of Buyang Huanwu decoction(BYHWD)on expressions of nuclear factor-κB p65(NF-κBp65)and its inhibitor( I-κB)in signal transduction of NF-κB in brain tissue of rats with focal cerebral ischemia injury. Methods 180 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into normal group,sham-operated group,model group,pynolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC)group,minocycline(MC)group and BYHWD treatment group,each group 30 rats. The rats of PDTC group were given PDTC 100 mg?kg-1?d-1 by intra-peritoneal injection. In MC group,MC was given by filling the stomach,the dose was 2.35 g?kg-1?d-1,the drug solution was prepared by adding the distilled water,and the total volume of drug solution to fill the stomach was kept at the same volume in various groups,thus the concentration of the drug was different. In BYHWD group,BYHWD was given,the dose was reduced to 5 g?kg-1?d-1 according to the body surface area dose conversion formula about people and animals. In sham-operated group and model group,the distilled water was given in the same volume as other drug solution. The protein expression levels of NF-κBp65 and I-κB in ischemic tissues were examined by using immunohistochemical method on the time points 7,14 and 21 days after treatment in each group. Results Compared with model group, the cell numbers with expression of NF-κBp65 in PDTC group,MC group and BYHWD group were significantly decreased along with the prolongation of therapy time,the decrease in number was more and more,until 21 days,it reached the valley level(cell/400 times HP:44.00±6.91,45.33±6.55,18.67±2.14 vs. 126.00±5.78,all P<0.05);the number of cells with expression of I-κB was obviously increased,the differences being statistically significant(all P<0.05),but the differences in expression of NF-κBp65 among the treatment groups at the different time points were not statistically significant(all P>0.05). After treatment for 7 days,the number of cells with positive expression of I-κB protein in BYHWD group was less than that in MC group(cell/400 times HP:55.00±3.40 vs. 72.50±4.29,P<0.05);after treatment for 14 days,the number in BYHWD group was approximately the same as that in the MC group, the difference being not statistically significant(93.50±6.15 vs. 93.00±6.20,P>0.05),and after treatment for 21 days,the number in BYHWD group was significantly higher than that in MC group(88.83±4.95 vs. 71.17±7.16, P<0.05). Conclusion BYHWD can regulate the expressions of inflammatory cytokine I-κB and NF-κB in signal transduction of NF-κB in ischemic brain tissue to inhibit the inflammatory reaction,thus it has the protective effect on cerebral ischemia.

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the immunological and virological efficacy of the therapeutic vaccine HBV CS1, a recombinant fusion protein which is composed of HBV core aa 1-155 plus PreS1 aa 3-55,against chronic HBV infection.

METHODSHBV transgenic mice were immunized with HBV CS1(5 ug) emulsified in equal volume of complete Freund adjuvant on day 0, followed by a second vaccination with HBV CS1(5 ug) emulsified with incomplete Freund adjuvant on days 21. Mice of control group were mock-vaccinated with PBS plus complete Freund adjuvant/incomplete Freund adjuvant. The splenocytes of individual mouse were subjected to T cell proliferation assays by using 3Hg thymidine, HBsAg and HBV DNA in sera of mice were detected by ELISA and quantitative PCR, respectively.

RESULTSHBV CS1 specific T cell response were induced in mice immunized with HBV CS1, with the titer of HBsAg and the level of HBV DNA decreased significantly after twice immunization with HBV CS1, while the control group almost remained the same.

CONCLUSIONHBV CS1 has the immunological and virological efficacy against chronic HBV infection in HBV transgenic mice; HBV CS1 could represent candidate vaccine for further studies on its role as therapeutic vaccine against HBV chronic infection in human.

Animals ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunization ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Protein Precursors ; genetics ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; therapeutic use

The aim of the present study is to explore the mechanism of estrogen on regulating cardiac function disorder by adjusting the stimulating adenylate cyclase G α protein (Gαs)-cycle adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signal pathway. Adult female rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham group, ovariectomized group (OVX), OVX and 17β-estradiol given group (OVX+E₂), OVX and isoprenaline injected group (OVX+ISO), OVX and 17β-estradiol, isoprenaline injected group (OVX+E₂+ISO). Rats were ovariectomized, and two weeks later, OVX+E₂group was injected with E₂, OVX+ISO group was injected with ISO, OVX+E₂+ISO group was injected with E₂and ISO. Another four weeks later, the hemodynamic parameters were monitored by carotid artery intubation: left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), maximal differentials of left ventricular developed pressure (+dp/dt(max)), and minimal differentials of left ventricular developed pressure (-dp/dt(max)). Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cAMP concentration in plasma were determined; Gα(s) protein expression in myocardium was determined. The results showed that the hemodynamic parameters, the concentration of BNP and cAMP in plasma had no significant changes after ovariectomy compared with sham group. But after isoprenaline injection in ovariectomized rats, LVSP and +dp/dt(max) declined (P < 0.01), LVEDP and -dp/dt(max) elevated (P < 0.01); plasma BNP concentration increased (P < 0.01); plasma cAMP concentration decreased (P < 0.01), compared with OVX group. Further estrogen supplements improved the heart function treated by isoprenaline: LVSP and +dp/dt(max) elevated (P < 0.01), LVEDP and -dp/dtmax declined (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the plasma BNP concentration decreased (P < 0.01); the plasma cAMP concentration increased (P < 0.01). Estrogen had no significant influence on Gαs protein expression. The results suggest that estrogen can alleviate myocardial injury and regulate cardiac function disorder by increasing cAMP level, finally improved the excessive suppression of myocardium.
Animals ; Cyclic AMP ; blood ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Female ; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs ; metabolism ; Hemodynamics ; Isoproterenol ; adverse effects ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Signal Transduction

Objective To evaluate the influences of statin treatment on MR vessel wall imagingobserved characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque in the thoracic aorta of the elderly.Methods Elderly subjects (≥ 60 years) without any serious cerebro-cardiovascular diseases were recruited.Thoracic aorta was imaged on MR scanner for all the subjects.The plaque burden was calculated quantitatively,the composition of plaque in thoracic aorta was evaluated qualitatively,and the contributions of statin treatment to these characteristics were also compared by image interpretation personals.The thoracic aorta was divided into three segments (AAO:ascending aorta;AOA:aortic arch,and DOA:descending aorta)on the imaging.Results Totally 55 recruited subjects had atherosclerotic plaque in thoracic aorta,with 24 subjects receiving statin treatment,and 50 ％ (12/24) male,aged 73.8±6.3 years.The level of LDL C[(2.4±0.7)mmol/L vs.(3.1±0.8)mmol/L(P＜ 0.01)]and total cholesterol[(4.4±0.6)mmol/L vs.(5.1 ±1.0)mmol/L(P＜0.01)]were significantly lower in statin group than in non-statin group.The lumen area,wall area,and total vessel area in all three segments of thoracic aorta were significantly smaller in statin group(all P＜0.05)than in nonstatin group.The average wall thickness in segment of AOA[(2.7±0.3)mm vs.(2.8±0.4)mm(P＜0.01)]and DAO[(2.5±0.4)mm vs.(2.6±0.5)mm(P＜0.01)]were smaller in statin group than in non-statin group.The incidence rate of intraplaque hemorrhage / mural thrombus [6 cases (25.0％) vs.8 cases(25.8 ％)]in thoracic aorta was a little lower in statin group than in non-statin group,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusions Statin treatment decreases LDL-C level,reduces the burden of atherosclerotic plaque in thoracic aorta,and maintains the atherosclerotic plaque stability.

Objective To investigate the frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FoxP3~+regulatory T cells (Treg)and the expression of the functional protein,FoxP3,in patients with active tuberculosis and the relationship between Treg and the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.Methods Forty-five patients with active tuberculosis(including 25 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 tuberculous lymphadenitis), 20 healthy controls,20 recovered tuberculosis patients and 6 patients with reactive hyperplasia in cer- vical lymph node were enrolled.The frequency of CD4~+ CD25~+ FoxP3~+ Treg in the peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry.FoxP3 mRNA expression was determined by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and the expression of FoxP3 protein in lymphoid tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry.Results The frequency of natural Treg in the peripheral blood from the patients with active tuberculosis was 2.91%?0.23%,which was signifi- cantly higher than that of healthy control group(1.22%?0.18%)and recovered tuberculosis patients(1.50%?0.17%,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the infection of Cryptosporidium and its epidemiological characteristics in AIDS patients of Southern China.

METHODSStool samples colleted from AIDS confirmed patients. The samples were detected for oocyst of Cryptosporidium by acid fast bacteria stain and indirect fluorescent antibody stain respectively, CD4 count was detected by Flow Cytometry.

RESULTS212 samples of fresh stool obtained from the AIDS patients who live in Guangdong and Yunnan province. The total infection rate of Cryptosporidium in AIDS patients was 4.25% (9/212), the infectious rate of oocyst in the group of 50- 59-years-old was significantly higher than those in 30-39 (P < 0.01); the infectious rate of oocyst in patients with antiretroviral therapy (ART) was also significantly lower (P = 0.0000); we found the patients coinfected with Cryptosporidium with CD4 count all below 100 cells/microl. However, there were no any difference between the infectious rate to the patient's gender, areas and stool shape.

CONCLUSIONAIDS patients infected by Cryptosporidium are not rare in southern China, and the infectious rate was lower than western country. Patients received ART could decrease the infectious rate of Cryptosporidium, Cryptosporidium always happen in patient whose CD4 count was very low (< 100 cells/microl).

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections ; parasitology ; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; parasitology ; Animals ; Antigens, Protozoan ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; China ; Cryptosporidiosis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; immunology ; parasitology ; Cryptosporidium ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Feces ; parasitology ; Flow Cytometry ; HIV Infections ; parasitology ; Humans ; Oocysts ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of perioperative dexamethasone on nausea, vomiting and pain after unilateral total knee arthroplasty and to evaluate its safety. METHODS: From February 2014 to June 2016, 100 patients with unilateral advanced osteoarthritis treated by total knee arthroplasty were divided into two groups: 50 patients in dexamethasone group including 27 males and 23 females, aged (72.30±7.02) years, were given intravenous drip of dexamethasone 10 mg before operation; 50 patients in saline group, including 26 males and 24 females, aged (71.30±6.08) years, were given the same amount of saline at the corresponding time. The VAS scores of pain at rest and at 45 degrees of knee flexion were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after operation. Vomiting, antiemetic drugs and opioids were recorded at 0 to 24 h and 24 to 48 h after operation. The side effects and complications were recorded. RESULTS: All the 100 patients were followed up for an average of 14.5 months. VAS score of pain at rest in dexamethasone group was lower than that in saline group at 8, 24 and 48 h after operation (<0.05); VAS score of dexamethasone group at 45 degrees after knee flexion was lower than that of saline group at 8 and 48 h after operation(<0.05); VAS score of dexamethasone group at rest and 45 degrees after knee flexion was lower than that of saline group(<0.05). The dosage of opioids and total opioids in dexamethasone group was lower than that in saline group at 0 to 24 h, 24 to 48 h after operation (<0.05). The proportion of nausea and vomiting occurred at 0 to 24 h and 24 to 48 h after operation, and the proportion of antiemetic required at 0 to 24 h after operation had statistical significance between two groups(<0.05). The total antiemetic dosage of dexamethasone group was less than that of saline group(<0.05). As of the last follow-up, no complications such as infection, gastrointestinal ulcer and bleeding occurred in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative systemic application of dexamethasone can effectively reduce pain and nausea and vomiting after TKA without increasing postoperative complications.
Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Vomiting

BACKGROUNDSpinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of neurodegenerative disorders that primarily cause the degeneration in the cerebellum, spinal cord, and brainstem. We study the clinical characteristics, radiological features and gene mutation in Chinese families with SCAs.

METHODSIn this study, we investigated 10 SCAs Chinese families with SCA1, SCA3/Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), SCA7, SCA8. There were 27 people who were genetically diagnosed as SCA, of which 21 people showed clinical symptoms, and 6 people had no clinical phenotype that we called them presymptomatic patients. In addition, 3 people with cerebellar ataxia and cataracts were diagnosed according to the Harding diagnostic criteria but failed to be recognized as SCAs on genetic testing. Clinical characteristic analyses of each type of SCAs and radiological examinations were performed.

RESULTSWe found that SCA3/MJD was the most common subtype in Han population in China, and the ratio of the pontine tegmentum and the posterior fossa area was negatively correlated with the number of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats; the disease duration was positively correlated with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale score; and the CAG repeats number of abnormal alleles was negatively correlated with the age of onset.

CONCLUSIONSCollectively our study is a systematic research on SCAs in China, which may help for the clinical diagnosis and prenatal screening of this disease, and it may also aid toward better understanding of this disease.

Adult ; DNA Repeat Expansion ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Machado-Joseph Disease ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; genetics ; pathology ; Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo introduce the clinical application and curative effect of lateral lag screw technique in fixing condylar intracapsular sagittal fractures.

METHODSThirteen condyles with intracapsular sagittal fracture of 11 cases were fixed using lateral lag screw technique. Curative effects were observed by clinical and radiological follow-up for 6 approximately 30 months (mean 12 months) postoperatively.

RESULTSThe favorable results were obtained in all cases. All patients were satisfied with the clinical results. slight malocclusion existed in 2 cases. Radiological abnormalities were seen in 3 cases by CT scanning, but without any obvious function disturbances.

CONCLUSIONSLateral lag screw technique is a simple and effective treatment in fixing intracapsular sagittal condylar fractures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle ; injuries ; Mandibular Fractures ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEOn the basis that pinacidil can produce an "all or none" repolarization in right ventricular wall of canine, to observe the effects of quinidine on the marked transmural dispersion of repolarization. Recent studies have shown that ventricular myocardium is composed of at least 3 electrophysiological distinct cell types: epicardial, endocardial, and midcardial cells. Differences in the response of the 3 cell types to pharmacologic agents and/or pathophysiological states often result in amplification of intrinsic electrical heterogeneities, thus providing a substrate as well as a trigger for the development of arrhythmias. The study was designed to observe the right ventricular transmural heterogeneity in vitro canine heart tissue preparation level.

METHODSThe strips were isolated from the anterior wall of the right ventricular of canine. The preparations perfused with oxygenated (95%O(2)/5%CO(2)) Tyrode's solution. The tissues were stimulated at basic cycle lengths of 1000 ms. Standard microelectrode techniques were used. Transmembrane action potentials were recorded from epicardial, midcardial and endocardial cells respectively from right ventricular free wall of canine on different conditions [perusing with Tyrode's solution (Control), pinacidil (2.5 micromol/L), and quinidine (5 micromol/L) in turn].

RESULTSCompared with that of endocardial cells, the action potentials of canine ventricular epicardial and midcardial cells had more obvious spike and dome morphology. Pinacidil (2.5 micromol/L) caused a loss of the dome of transmembrane action potentials and a marked abbreviation of the action potential duration (APD) in right ventricular epicardial and midcardial cells, especially in epicardial cells, but not in endocardial cells (n = 10). With pinacidil (2.5 micromol/L), in epicardial cells, phase 2 amplitude of action potentials decreased from (117.7 +/- 9.3) mV to (71.3 +/- 6.4) mV (P < 0.01), and 90% of the APD(90) decreased from (198.2 +/- 20.8) ms to (103.9 +/- 13.5) ms (P < 0.01). The transmural dispersion of action potential duration increased from (48.5 +/- 9.2) ms to (128.7 +/- 13.5) ms (P < 0.01). Quinidine (5 micromol/L) effectively prolonged the APD abbreviated by pinacidil, restored or partly restored the dome of transmembrane action potentials of epicardial and midcardial cells but not of endocardial cells (n = 10). In epicardial cells phase 2 amplitude increased from (71.3 +/- 6.4) mV to (106.6 +/- 7.7) mV (P < 0.01), and 90% of the APD(90) increased from (103.9 +/- 13.5) ms to (185.9 +/- 15.7) ms (P < 0.01). The transmural dispersion of action potential duration significantly decreased from (128.7 +/- 13.5) ms to (54.3 +/- 10.8) ms (P < 0.01). Quinidine reduced pinacidil-induced transmural dispersion of phase 2 amplitude and the APD in right ventricular wall of canine.

CONCLUSIONBy restoring the dome and the APD of the epicardial and midcardial cells action potentials, quinidine (5 micromol/L) could reduce the marked transmural dispersion of repolarization caused by pinacidil.

Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Dogs ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Pinacidil ; pharmacology ; Quinidine ; pharmacology