Objective:A study was conducted to investigate the effect of Prunella vulgaris sulfated polysaccharide (PVSP) on the expression of angiogenic growth factors (bFGF, VEGF, and IL-8) and angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods:ELISA as-say was used to observe the effects of PVSP and the negative control drug Lentinan (LNT, non-sulfate radical drug) on secretions of the angiogenic growth factors, namely, bFGF, VEGF, and IL-8, in HepG2 cells in vitro. In an in vivo experiment, the microvessel density in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue sections treated with PVSP and LNT was calculated, analyzed, and compared with the microvessel den-sity in the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control. Results:Compared with the PBS control group, PVSP at 200μg/mL inhibited bF-GF secretion (P<0.01), whereas LNT failed to affect bFGF secretion. Neither PVSP nor LNT affected the secretions of VEGF and IL-8. In vivo results showed that PVSP at 200 mg/kg reduced the microvessel density in tumor tissue sections (P=0.03), whereas LNT at 10 mg/kg failed to affect microvessel density. Conclusion:Inhibition of bFGF secretion is a probable mechanism underlying the preven-tive effect of PVSP on hepatocellular carcinoma angiogenesis.

We have reformed our patterns and methods of graduation examination of the medical majors. That is the multi-stage comprehensive graduation examination of the clinical interns, which consists of 70% close written test of clinical theories,20% practical test of clinical skills and also oral test of related theories, and 10% writing of the medical documents. It has proved that these measures have improved the interns' attitude toward practice, aroused their initiative and positivity, and led the practitioners to attach more importance to the combination of clinical practice and theories, thus leading to better clinical education.

Aim To investigate the curative effect of rAAV-PR39-ADM,which co-expressed the gene of an-tibacterial peptide (PR39 ) and adrenomedullin (ADM),in a rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.Methods In vitro,Matrigel angiogenesis as-say was made with human umbilical vein endothelial cells.In vivo,the cerebral I/R model was established by the occlusion of the cerebral artery for 2h and then reperfused for 24 h.SD rats were randomly divided in-to sham group,I/R+normal saline group,I/R+null virus (AAV ) group, and IR +rAAV-PR39-ADM group.rAAV-PR39-ADM,saline and null virus were administered through the femoral vein after 24 h of the reperfusion in I/R group.MRI,neurological deficit score,TTC and HE staining were measured respective-ly 1 ,2,3 and 4 weeks after the injection in order to e-valuate the therapeutic efficacy.Results In vitro, rAAV-PR39-ADM group had significant angiogenic effect compared with sham group and null virus group. In vivo,successful I/R model was verified by the ima-ges of MRI.Compared with sham group,the nerve function defect score and the cerebral infarction size in each time nodes were significantly raised in I/R groups (P<0.01).There was no significant difference in in-farct size and nerve function defect score between I/R+normal saline group and I/R +null virus (AAV ) group,and obviously,the IR +rAAV-PR39-ADM group lowered these indexes compared with the other two groups.HE staining showed that the number of neurons,new capillaries vessels of I/R +PR39-ADM group were significantly more than those in group I/R and group I/R +null virus.Conclusion The treat-ment of rAAV-PR39-ADM promotes vascular forma-tion,neuron protection and reduces the infarct size in the model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

To assess and grade facial nerve dysfunction according to the extent of facial paralysis in the clinical course of acupuncture treatment for Bell's palsy, and to observe the interrelationship between the grade, the efficacy and the period of treatment, as well as the effect on prognosis.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Based on the analysis of the management of Director 's target responsibility system in China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences these years, the methods and experience were introduced in this paper. How to further improve the management was also discussed, providing a certain reference for the target responsibility system management of scientific research institutes.

We report a case of severe hyponatremia related to duloxetine and ziprasidone. A 50-year-old woman on duloxetine and ziprasidone treatment for major depressive disorder developed polydipsia, polyuria, and two episodes of seizures, followed by admission to the emergency department on the 10th day of treatment. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated creatine kinase (CK) as well as hyponatremia, hypo-osmolality, and increased urine sodium. Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) was considered, although urine osmolality was not measured. Duloxetine and ziprasidone were discontinued and the CK gradually normalized after correction of hyponatremia. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of antipsychotic-induced hyponatremia, particularly in patients with symptoms of polydipsia.
Antidepressive Agents ; adverse effects ; Antipsychotic Agents ; adverse effects ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; drug therapy ; Duloxetine Hydrochloride ; Female ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; chemically induced ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; adverse effects ; Thiazoles ; adverse effects ; Thiophenes ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVE: To observe cardiac ultrastructure and the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and hypoxia inducible factor-lα (HIF-lα) in electric shock death rats and to explore the application of these indexes as the basis of medical identification in electric shock death. METHODS: Seventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into electric shock death group, postmortem electric shock group and the control group. The changes of myocardial ultrastructure were observed by transmission electron microscope, and the expressions of myocardial HSP70 and HIF-1α were observed by immunohistochemical technology. RESULTS: Myocardial myofibril fracture, mitochondrial cristae and membrane dissolution, and disordered arrangement of Z lines and M lines were observed in electric shock rats. HSP70 and HIF-lα were strong positive expressions in the electric shock death group, significantly compared with the control and postmortem electric shock groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The expressions of HSP70 and HIF-lα were obviously increased in electric shock death group, which may be used as the diagnostic indicator of electric shock death.
Animals ; Death ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism* ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Shenluotong Decoction (SD) on serum levels of aldosterone, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), α-smooth muscle protein (α-SMA), and nuclear factor-KB (NF-κB) in obstructive nephropathy rats, and to explore the initial mechanism of SD for inhibiting renal interstitial fibrosis.

METHODSTotally 48 healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation group (n =12) and the model group (n =36). Renal interstitial fibrosis rat model was established by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). After successful modeling, 36 rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Chinese medicine group, and the Western medicine group, 12 in each group. Eplerenone was added in the forage at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg for rats in the Western medicine group. Chinese medicine was added in the forage at the daily dose of 26 g/kg for rats in the Chinese medicine group. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. All medication was performed once daily. The obstructive kidneys were extracted ten days after medication. The pathomorphological changes were observed. The contents of serum aldosterone and MCP-1, and the protein or mRNA expression of MCP-1, α-SMA, and NF-KB were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operation group, infiltration of a large amount of inflammatory cells and collagen deposition significantly increased, serum contents of aldosterone and MCP-1 obviously increased (P < 0.01), the expression of MCP-1 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated (P <0.01), the protein expression of α-SMA and NF-KB were significantly enhanced in the model group (P <0.01). Com- pared with the model group, infiltration of inflammatory cells and renal collagen deposition were attenua- ted in the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group, the serum MCP-1 level were reduced, and the mRNA and protein expression of MCP-1 were significantly down-regulated (P <0.01), the protein expression of α-SMA and NF-KB were obviously inhibited (P <0. 01). At the same time, serum aldosterone level was reduced in the Chinese medicine group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSinflammatory lesions of the renal tissue could promote the progress of interstitial fibrosis in rats with obstructive nephropathy. SD could attenuate interstitial fibrosis through reducing serum contents of aldosterone and MCP-1, down-regulating MCP-1/ NF-KB, and inhibiting the expression of α-SMA.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL2 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; genetics ; NF-kappa B ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ureteral Obstruction ; drug therapy ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among younger adults and to explore the possible mechanisms of early myocardial infarction, combined with the newly discovered risk factors of coronary heart disease.

METHODSData on comparative analysis to the exposure rates of the risk factors and inducing factors of non-CAD patients with two groups of AMI patients including younger adults group (< or =40 years old) and aged adults group (> or =50 years old). Coronary angiography was applied.

RESULTSThere were differences noticed between the frequencies of risk factors of the two AMI groups. In younger adults group the exposure rates of smoking, hyperlipidemia, positive family history, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen were markedly higher, while in elderly group the exposure rates of hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, CRP, fibrinogen and homocysteine (HCY) were markedly higher (P < 0.05). Although the clustering status of risk factors of the younger adult group was not higher than that of the elderly group. There were obvious inducing factors before the patients were attacked by AMI and the inducing factors inclined to cluster, which had obvious dose-reaction relationships with the occurrence of AMI in young people.

CONCLUSIONEarly AMI of younger adults might relate to the clustering status of inducing factors. The coexistence of several kinds of inducing factors was resulted in the occurrence of AMI of the atherosclerosis (As) and non-As patients by means of myocardial ischemia accumulation effect.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Myocardial Ischemia ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors