OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of a new anticoagulant, annexin V derivative (AND) on anticoagulation and antithrombosis.

METHODSHigh and low doses of AND were given to rabbits (groups 1 and 2 respectively) by intravenous (iv) bolus injections followed by half the respective AND doses by iv infusion over 2 hours. Control groups were iv given heparin (group 3) and saline (group 4) of the same volume and procedure as that in group 1 and 2. Blood cell count, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen level were examined before and 15, 30 and 60 min after iv bolus and 2 hours after the end of iv infusion. A 3.0 mm x 15 mm balloon was put into femoral artery to induce endothelial denudation 15 min after IV bolus and the blood pressure of femoral artery was monitored until the pulse pressure recorded 0 mm Hg when the vessel was occluded completely by a thrombus. The femoral arteries were collected and the thrombi were stripped off for measuring their lengths, wet and dry weights.

RESULTSAnticoagulation parameters: APTT at 15 min after iv bolus in AND group was significantly longer than that in group 4 (P < 0.05) but shorter than that in group 3 (P < 0.05); APTT and TT in group 3 were significantly longer than those in groups 1, 2 and 4. Fibrinogen: 0.70 mg/kg AND may decrease fibrinogen. Antithrombosis values: the wet and dry weights in AND groups were significantly lighter than those in group 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). The dry weight in high-dose AND group was remarkably lighter than that in low-dose group (P = 0.029). The length of thrombus in low-dose AND group was remarkably shorter than that in group 4 (P = 0.013), but not for group 3 (P > 0.05). It was remarkably shorter in high-dose AND group than in both group 3 (P < 0.001) and 4 (P = 0.015). The time when pulse pressure equaled to 0 was longer in AND group than in group 4 (P < 0.05), but not in 3.

CONCLUSIONAND is an effective anticoagulant and antithrombosis agent, the highest anticoagulation effect occurs at 15 min after IV bolus. Its anticoagulation effect is not more potent than that of standard heparin, while antithrombosis capacity is more effective. AND in treating thrombosis clinically might be promising.

Animals ; Annexin A5 ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Anticoagulants ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrinogen ; analysis ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Prothrombin Time ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Thrombin Time ; Thrombosis ; prevention & control

Many of the epiphytic Orchids are used as traditional Chinese medicine. The chemical components and pharmacology have been studied in recent 15 years. This article reviewed the studies which will be beneficial to reveal the relatives among these medicinal plants in the Orchid Family and be helpful to develop new drugs.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Stilbenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Geobiontic type medicinal plants subjected to Orchidaceae family are used as important traditional Chinese medicine. Scientists are paying more attentions to their chemical components and pharmacology recently. This paper reviewed their chemical components involved in phenanthrene, bibenzene, flavone, sterol, terpenes, alkoloids and pharmacology such as antibacterium, cytotoxic activity, antihyperliposis effects. All these information are beneficial to reveal the relative among these medicinal plants in Orchidaceae family and are helpful to develop new drugs.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of external ear reconstruction using expanded postauricular scar flap and Medpor framework in burn cases.

METHODSExternal ear reconstruction using expanded postauricular scar flap in combination with Medpor framework was performed in 17 cases whose ear had burn injury.

RESULTSOf the 17 cases, 15 cases achieved success; 2 cases experienced partial exposure of the framework due to inadequate wrapping of the subcutaneous fascia flap and later injury. The longest follow-up was three years, and the final result was satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSExternal ear reconstruction using expanded postauricular scar flap in combination with Medpor framework is a reliable method for adult (over 25 years) who has ear defect from burn injury.

Adult ; Burns ; complications ; surgery ; Cicatrix ; etiology ; surgery ; Ear, External ; injuries ; surgery ; Fascia ; transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylenes ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Reoperation ; Stents ; Surgical Flaps

OBJECTIVETo screen the radiosensitivity-related genes of colorectal cancer cells.

METHODSGene expression profiles of two different radiosensitivity cells(colorectal cancer cell line Lovo and SW480) were obtained by cDNA array and the differences of gene expression profiles between the two cells were analyzed.

RESULTSGenes of more than 2-fold expressive differentiation were screened. In Lovo cells, 908 up-regulated genes were found, including higher expression genes CEACAM5, THBS1, SERPINE2, ARL7, HPGD, while 1312 genes were down-regulated. In SW480 cells, higher expression genes were SCD, NQ01, LYZ, KRT20 and ATP1B1.

CONCLUSIONGene profiles can reflect the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells, which will provide the choice for the further study of radiosensitivity in colorectal cancer.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Radiation Tolerance ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Anoectochilus roxburghii.

METHODSilica gel and sephadex LH-20 column chromotography were used in the isolation from the ethanol extracts of the whole plant, the compounds were determined on the basis of various modern spectroscopic analysis and physical constants.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated from the CHCl3 soluble portion, identified as p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde (I), ferulic acid (II), quercetin (III), daucosterol (IV), cirsilineol (V).

CONCLUSIONAll these compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time, compound V was isolated from the Orchid Family for the first time, the other compounds were isolated from this genus for the first time.

Benzaldehydes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Coumaric Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To explore and compare the relevant regional anatomies as they relate the fron- tolateral keyhole approach under microscopy and neuroendoscopy for operations in anterior cranial base and sellar region.Methods Fifteen silieone-injected cadaveric heads were dissected to reveal and compare the extent of expesure through the transfrontolateral keyhole approach under neuroendoscopy and microscopy. Results Portions in the areas of olfactory groove,sellar region and sylvian tissure were blind under micro- scope.Endoscope could allow observation of areas considered blind under the microscope.It could increase light intensity during the approach to objects,extend viewing angles,clear depiction of details in close-up po- sitions and inspect hidden structures.But images of endoscope were two dimensional,lack of view depth.Mi- croscopy and neuroendoscopy could help each other to recuperate deficiency.Conclusion Endoscope-assis- ted neuromicrosurgery is helpful,safe and minimally invasive to treat deepseated lesions in anterior cranial base,sellar region by transfrontolateral keyhole approach.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of damage-regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM) on radiosensitivity and the related mechanisms of implanted tumors of SGC7901 human gastric carcinoma cells in nude mice.

METHODSNude mice were randomly divided into model control group, radiotherapy group, and DRAM treatment group and radiotherapy combined with DRAM treatment group. When volume of transplantation tumor were 1.0 cm(3), radiotherapy, DRAM treatment was given. On days 3, 6 and 9 after treatment, the inhibition rate of tumor growth, pathological changes in tumor specimens, expression levels of P53, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), C-myc, Fas-L, as well as apoptosis indexes in tumor samples were observed.

RESULTSInhibition rates of tumor in DRAM combined with radiotherapy were 9.3%, 14.1%, 16.7% on day 3, 6 and 9, respectively, all significantly higher than those in the radiotherapy group(5.0%, 8.8%, 6.5%, P<0.05). The expressions of PCNA and C-myc protein were down-regulated, while the expressions of P53 and Fas-L were upregulated.

CONCLUSIONDamage-regulated autophagy modulator gene may promote cell apoptosis and inhibit cell growth to enhance the radiosensitivity of transplanted gastric tumor in vivo in nude mice.

Animals ; Autophagy ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Radiation Tolerance ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and CEA in the tissues adjacent to the tumor within different distances.

METHODSA total of 42 colorectal cancer tissues were collected.The adjacent tissues within 3 cm to the tumor were procured every 1 cm. Normal tissue was also collected. RNA was extracted and the expression of CEA and COX-2 was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe CEA mRNA levels of the tumor, the tissues of every 1 cm adjacent to the tumor, and the normal tissue were 135.2 ± 23.3, 78.2 ± 17.3, 75.9 ± 16.5, 56.2 ± 10.7, 52.3 ± 12.8, 18.2 ± 7.9, 16.2 ± 6.5, and 16.6 ± 7.0. The levels of COX-2 mRNA in above positions were 134.9 ± 31.1, 79.2 ± 20.2, 77.0 ± 20.5, 62.7 ± 21.9, 58.0 ± 18.1, 21.2 ± 10.3, 18.3 ± 7.6, and 17.1 ± 6.3. These data showed a decreasing trend of CEA and COX-2 as the distance increased from the tumor. The CEA mRNA levels showed positive correlation with the levels of COX-2 mRNA(r=0.725, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCEA and COX-2 may be considered to be used as biomarkers for the study of molecular resection margin of colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of intracoronary transfer of autologous HO-1 overexpressed MSCs in porcine model of myocardial ischemia (1 h)/reperfusion.

METHODSApoptosis was assayed and cytokine concentrations in supernatant were measured in cells exposed to hypoxia-reoxygen in vitro. In vivo, Chinese male mini-pigs were allocated to the following treatment groups: control group (saline), MSCs group (MSCs), MSCs transfected with pcDNA3.1-nHO-1 (HO-1-MSCs). 1 x 10(7) of autologous stem cells or identical volume of saline was injected intracoronary into porcine hearts 1 h after ischemia. MRI assay and postmortem analysis were assessed 3 months after stem cell transplantation.

RESULTSIn vitro, cell apoptosis rate post hypoxia-reoxygen was significantly reduced in HO-1-MSCs group (30.30% +/- 7.64%) compared with that in MSCs group (56.93% +/- 4.68%, P < 0.001) and LacZ-MSCs group (55.88% +/- 4.38%, P < 0.001), VEGF was also significantly upregulated in HO-1-MSCs group [(768.44 +/- 78.38) pg/ml] compared with that in MSCs group [(555.27 +/- 67.67) pg/ml, P < 0.001] and LacZ-MSCs group [(522.97 +/- 71.45) pg/ml, P < 0.001]. In vivo, cardiac function was significantly improved in both MSCs transplantation groups compared to saline group (all P < 0.05 vs.saline) and the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in HO-1-MSCs group compared with that in MSCs group at 3 months after transplantation (53.50% +/- 2.09% vs. 49.54% +/- 2.74%, P = 0.017), capillary density in the peri-infarct area was also significantly higher in HO-1-MSC group than that in MSCs group [(14.59 +/- 2.39)/HPF vs. (11.78 +/- 2.48)/HPF, P = 0.033].

CONCLUSIONSEfficacy of HO-1 overexpressed MSCs on improving cardiac function and promoting angiogenesis was greater than those by MSCs in this porcine ischemia/reperfusion model.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Genetic Vectors ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Myocardial Ischemia ; therapy ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Transfection