This study is designed to explore the possible effects of Hemerocallis citrina baroni flavonids (HCBF) on liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats. The liver fibrosis model was induced by CCl4, and HCBF were administered by gastric perfusion at 25 and 50 mg x kg(-1) qd for 50 days, while the contents of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured and the contents of PINP were measured in liver tissue, and the expression of TGF-β1 were observed by immunohistochemisty and Western blot. The pathological changes of liver tissue were examined by HE. The results showed that HCBF (25, 50 mg x kg(-1)) improved the liver function significantly through reducing the level of ALT, AST, GGT and ALP (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and increasing the content of SOD (P < 0.01), while reducing the content of MDA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the expression of TGF-β1 (P < 0.05) and the content of PINP (P < 0.05). The results suggest that HCBF (25, 50 mg x kg(-1)) may inhibit the liver injury induced by CCl4 by decreasing the oxidative stress.
Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Hemerocallis ; chemistry ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; metabolism

Objective:To determine the concentration of meropenem in human serum and investigate its pharmacokinetics in Chi-nese elderly patients. Methods:Meropenem with single dose of 0. 5-1. 0 g was given to 25 elder patients by infusion administration. The concentration of meropenem was detected by an HPLC method. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated according to the pharmacokinetic model for adults and T>MIC was calculated by simple mathematical simulation. Results: The major pharmacokinetics parameters were as follows:Cmax of (46. 2 ± 24. 4) μg·ml-1;t1/2 of (3. 3 ± 1. 8) h,CL of (8. 7 ± 5. 0) L·h-1 ,V of (9. 8 ± 1. 3) L and AUC of (148. 2 ± 75. 4)μg·h·ml-1 . Compared with that of the healthy subjects reported in the literatures, t1/2 significantly pro-longed, V significantly decreased and AUC significantly increased (P<0. 01). Conclusion: The pharmacokinetics of meropenem in elder patients is significantly different from the healthy subjects. The clinical application should pay attention to monitoring the blood concentration of meropenem.

A test was conducted to examine the effect of several electron donors such as glucose, sodium acetate, Fe0, Fe0+glucose and Fe0+sodium acetate on reductive dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) through inoculating the unacclimated anaerobic mixed bacteria. The optimum condition and sus-tainability of Fe0 as electron donor was also been discussed. The results showed that, Fe0+glucose enhanced the dechlorination of contaminant effectively compared to glucose. Sodium acetate, Fe0 and Fe0+sodium acetate were all effective electron donors and Fe0 was the optimum, the optimum initial pH was 8.0 and quantity of added Fe0 was 2.0 g/L. 4-CP was the mainly intermediate product for 2,4-DCP dechlorination. Fe0 could support the electron for reductive dechlorination of 2,4-DCP continuously. In contrast, when so-dium acetate as electron donor, the effect of dechlorination was inferior to Fe0 with the consumption of sodium acetate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the response of left ventricular (LV)function and structure to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)early stage in New Zealand white rabbits by echocardiography.Methods The New Zealand white rabbits were placed in the CIH chamber and exposed to hypoxia for 8 weeks (6 hours/day,6 days/week).The flow of nitrogen and oxygen were regulated into the customized chambers by the gas control delivery system.The fraction of inspired oxygen was changed from 21 % to 8% for 25 s of every 1 70 s.LV structure and function was assessed by echocardiography at CIH 0,1 ,2,4,6,8 weeks and histopathology was done by HE staining simultaneously.Results ①LV structural variables:compared with 0 week,LV posterior wall and interventricular septum thickness thickened at 6 week.LV end diastolic increased at 8 week (P < 0.05 ).② LV systolic function variables:compared with 0 week,LV ejection fraction increased at 2 week and 4 week,decreased at 6 week and 8 week,but it was higher than 0 week (P < 0.05).Isovolumic contraction time (IVCT)decreased at 1 week,2 week,4 week (P <0.05 ).③LV diastolic function variables:compared with 0 week,Peak velocity of early diastolic period increased at 2 week and 4 week,decreased at 6 week and 8 week with E/A>1 .Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT)decreased at 1 week and 2 week,but increased at 8 week (P < 0.05 ).④ The myocardial pathology showed that myocardial fibers disordered slightly,cardiomyocytes swelled,nuclei increased and intracellular edema when exposed to CIH for 2 week and 4 week.Vacuolar degeneration,edema and congestion were found in intercellular substance at 6 week and 8 week.Conclusions ① LV systolic and diastolic function compensation started at CIH early stage then LV structure abnormality advent later.②IVCT and IVRT are sensitive indicators of LV systolic and diastolic function compensation.

Objective: To learn the results of MNA ( mini nutritional assessment ） nutrition screening and influencing factors in the elderly living at home, so as to provide basis for improving the nutritional status of the elderly living at home. Methods: The elderly people at home were recruited from Yinzhou District, Yiwu City and Changshan County in Zhejiang Province by the multi-stage random sampling method. Their demographic information, living habits and nutritional status were collected by the MNA scale and the questionnaire for nutrition and health status surveillance. The multivariate linear regression model was used to analyze influencing factors for the nutritional status. Results: Of 374 study subjects, 186 ( 49.73% ) were males and 188 ( 50.27% ) were females. The age was ( 69.63±6.68 ) years ( range, 60-90 years ). The average score of MNA scale was 25.26±2.81. The prevalence of malnutrition risk in the elderly living at home was 20.59%. Age ( β'=-0.140), marital status ( β'=0.110 ), annual income ( β'=0.155 ), active physical exercise ( β'= 0.104 ), eating health products/nutritional supplements ( β'= 0.110 ) and satiety ( full diet β'=0.196 ) were influencing factors for MNA scores ( P<0.05 ）. Conclusion The prevalence of malnutrition risk among the elderly living at home is 20.59%. The prevalence increases with age. Having a spouse, doing active physical exercise, eating health products/nutritional supplements, having healthy eating habits are conducive to maintaining the nutritional health of the elderly.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including gamma-linolenic acid are valuable products because of their involvement in several aspects of human health care. GLA has been claimed to play a crucial role in development and prevention of some skin diseases, diabetes, reproductive disorder and others. At present, market demand for most gamma-linolenic acid is growing continually and current sources are inadequate for satisfying this demand due to the significant problems of low productivity, complex and expensive downstream process and unstable quality. Therefore, seeking for alternative sources are demanding. delta6-fatty acid desaturase is the rate-limiting enzyme for the biosynthesis of PUFAs, which catalyses the conversion of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid to gamma-linolenic acid and stearidonic acid respectively. Unfortunately, the structure information on membrane desaturases is scarce because of the technical limitations in obtaining quantities of purified protein and the intrinsic difficulties in obtaining crystals from membrane proteins. With the isolation of the genes coding for delta6-fatty acid desaturase from various organisms, its characteristics will be elucidated gradually. Here we concisely reviewed the recent progress on studies of molecular biology including the cloning of delta6-fatty acid desaturase gene, structure and function, phylogeny and prospects of gene engineering application.
Cloning, Molecular ; Fatty Acid Desaturases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; biosynthesis ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Phylogeny ; gamma-Linolenic Acid ; biosynthesis

This study was purposed to construct lentivirus vector containing human homeobox gene HOXB4 and explore changes of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSC) after infected with HOXB4 mediated by lentivirus. PCR amplification was performed to obtain HOXB4, which was cloned in lenti-shuttle vector. Four-plasmid lentivirus packaging system was used to transfect HEK293T cells. After 48 h, lentivirus Lenti-HOXB4 was harvested and lentivirus titer was determined. Lenti-HOXB4 was used to infect HUCMSC. The infected cells were observed under inverted fluorescence microscope to determine the optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI). Meanwhile, RT-PCR, immune fluorescence staining, CCK-8 and flow cytometry (FCM) were used to determine the expression of HOXB4 and its effect on cell growth. The results indicated that lenti-HOXB4 was successfully obtained by co-transfecting the 293T cells with four plasmids. The determined virus titer was 3×10(8) TU/ml; when MOI was 20. Lenti-HOXB4 had a high transfection rate in HUCMSC, over 80%. In HUCMSC infected with lenti-HOXB4, the expression of target gene could be detected both at mRNA and protein levels. It could promote the proliferation of HUCMSC. FCM results indicated HOXB4 gene did not significantly influence the surface marker of HUCMSC. It is concluded that HOXB4 gene can promote the high proliferation of HUCMSC and does not significantly influence the expression of the surface marker of HUCMSC.
Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Genes, Homeobox ; Genetic Vectors ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Plasmids ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo observe the hair follicle regeneration after subcutaneous implantation of hair follicle cell mixture in nude mice.

METHODSThe hair papilla cells, dermal sheath cells, outer root sheath and fibroblasts of human scalp were mixed with the hair follicle epithelial cells and implanted subcutaneously in nude mice to observe the regeneration of the hair follicle.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONFormation of intact hair follicle-like structures was observed in the skin sections of the recipient nude mice, suggesting the feasibility of this approach for hair follicle regeneration in vivo.

Animals ; Cell Transplantation ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; transplantation ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Regeneration ; Skin Pigmentation ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND: High-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) is technically possible in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients complicated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Continuous HVHF is expected to become a beneficial adjunct therapy for SAP complicated with MODS. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of fluid resuscitation and HVHF on alveolar-arterial oxygen exchange, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score in patients with refractory septic shock. METHODS: A total of 89 refractory septic shock patients, who were admitted to ICU, the Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University from August 2006 to December 2009, were enrolled in this retrospective study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: fluid resuscitation (group A, n=41), and fluid resuscitation plus high-volume hemofiltration (group B, n=48). The levels of O2 content of central venous blood (CcvO2), arterial oxygen content (CaO2), alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference P(A-a)DO2, ratio of arterial oxygen pressure/alveolar oxygen pressure (PaO2/PAO2), respiratory index (RI) and oxygenation index (OI) were determined. The oxygen exchange levels of the two groups were examined based on the arterial blood gas analysis at different times (0, 24, 72 hours and 7 days of treatment) in the two groups. The APACHE II score was calculated before and after 7-day treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: The levels of CcvO2, CaO2 on day 7 in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (CcvO2: 0.60±0.24 vs. 0.72±0.28, P<0.05; CaO2: 0.84±0.43 vs. 0.94±0.46, P<0.05). The level of oxygen extraction rate (O2ER) in group A on the 7th day was significantly higher than that in group B ( 28.7±2.4 vs. 21.7±3.4, P<0.01). The levels of P(A-a)DO2 and RI in group B on the 7th day were significantly lower than those in group A. The levels of PaO2/PAO2 and OI in group B on 7th day were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The APACHE II score in the two groups reduced gradually after 7-day treatment, and the APACHE II score on the 7th day in group B was significantly lower than that in group A (8.2±3.8 vs. 17.2±6.8, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: HVHF combined with fluid resuscitation can improve alveolar- arterial-oxygen exchange, decrease the APACHE II score in patients with refractory septic shock, and thus it increases the survival rate of patients.